SIR, I have put up the Wolfe, though not hunted him; as judging my self too weak for that sport-earnest. It is no desertless Office to discover that subtle and insatiate Beast; to pull the Sheep-skin of Hypocrisy over his ears; and to expose his feming malice and sanguisugous cruelty to mens censure and detestation. Let those hands strike him, that have darts of authority put into their Quivers. Our Land is no Forrest, literally or metaphorically understood: but whether for Church or Common-wealth, profession or soil, an Orchard of Gods own planting; fruitful in goods and good works. Wolves we have none, but some Mystical ones; whose ferocity is yet hidden under the habits and ⟨image 46⟩cases of those Lambs, they have devoured. These I have set in view, or at least meant my best to do it. I have seldom pretended that common poise, that (by their own report) sets so many mad pens, like wheels, a running, Importunacy of friends. I have willingly published, what I had hope would do good published. Only this I feared to keep from the Press, lest it should steal thither another way. Being there, I could not with better confidence fasten upon a known Patron, then your self: who can both understand it, and will read it: not only the Epistle, but the whole Book. Though that fashion with many patrons, of perusing more then their own Titles, be now as a Suit of the old make. I know you spend some hours of all days in such good exercises; abandoning those idle and excessive customs, wherein too many will please themselves, and none else.
SIR, I haue put vp the VVolfe, though not hunted him; as iudging my selfe too weake for that sport-earnest. It is no desertlesse Office to discouer that subtle and insatiate Beast; to pull the Sheepe-skinne of Hypocrisie ouer his eares; and to expose his feming malice and sanguisugous cruelty to mens censure and detestation. Let those hands strike him, that haue darts of authority put into their Quiuers. Our Land is no Forrest, literally or metaphorically vnderstood: but whether for Church or Common-wealth, profession or soile, an Orchard of Gods owne planting; fruitefull in goods and good workes. VVolues we haue none, but some Mystical ones; whose ferocity is yet hidden vnder the habites and ⟨image 46⟩cases of those Lambes, they haue deuoured. These I haue set in view, or at least meant my best to do it. I haue seldome pretended that common poyse, that (by their owne report) sets so many mad pens, like wheeles, a running, Importunacy of friends. I haue willingly published, what I had hope would do good published. Onely this I feared to keep from the Presse, lest it should steale thither another way. Being there, I could not with better confidence fasten vpon a knowne Patron, then your selfe: who can both vnderstand it, and will reade it: not onely the Epistle, but the whole Booke. Though that fashion with many patrons, of perusing more then their owne Titles, bee now as a Sute of the old make. I know you spend some houres of all dayes in such good exercises; abandoning those idle and excessiue customes, wherein too many will please themselues, and none else.
