Right Worshipful, I stood obliged to the Stock you both sprang from, before I was able to apprehend what such obligation meant. Your worthy Mother was one of those that presented me to the sacred Laver, ⟨image 3⟩and that undertook there in my behalf. She answered there for me, *when I could not answer for my self; and did further also then seal up her free affection to me with a real testimony of her Love. Neither did her kindness towards me then and there expire; but as it was oft renewed in her life time, when occasion thereof was offered, so it ceased not until her self deceased. She performed one of the first religious offices for me soon after my birth: and it was one of her last pious works to remember me, among others whom she had performed the like office for, at the time of her decease. Some monument of my thankful acknowledgement hereof being desirous to have extant, whom should I address it unto rather than yourselves; the only two Principals now left of that Family? Being therefore moved to make public two of my weak Discourses, containing the explication of two portions of Scripture, of some near relation the one to the other; the one of them relating a ⟨image 3⟩memorable example of the performance of that that is promised in the other, to wit, of Gods blessing o• those with temporal things, that are careful to look after the spiritual: This of the twain I chose the rather to present your Worships withal; partly, because at the motion of the one of you,2 being then Head of that worthy Society, which I acknowledge my self also a debtor unto, it was by word of mouth at first delivered; and partly also, that it may help (for the best also, even *Jacob himself, in this kind need helps) to egg you on, whom God hath blessed with so large a portion of his bounty, unto those religious offices, that by occasion of Jacobs example, men of your rank are therein incited unto, whether risen from mean estate, as with him here it had been, or from the first largely and liberally endowed, as your selves. The Work indeed is grown much larger, than at first was delivered, by reason that a Question between us and the Romanists, concerning Mans Merit, is therein now discussed, which ⟨image 4⟩was then but touched upon and pointed at only;
RIght VVorshipfull, I stood obliged to the Stock you both sprang frō, before I was able to apprehend what such obligatiō meant. Your worthy Mother was one of those that presented mee to the sacred Laver, ⟨image 3⟩and that undertooke there in my behalfe. Shee answered there for mee, *when I could not answer for my selfe; and did further also then seale up her free affection to me with a reall testimonie of her Love. Neither did her kindnesse towards me then and there expire; but as it was oft renewed in her life time, when occasion thereof was offered, so it ceased not untill her selfe deceased. Shee performed one of the first religious offices for mee soone after my birth: and it was one of her last pious workes to remember me, among others whom shee had performed the like office for, at the time of her decease. Some monument of my thankfull acknowledgement hereof being desirous to have extant, whom should I addresse it unto rather than yourselves; the onely two Principalls now left of that Family? Being therefore moved to make publike two of my weake Discourses, containing the explication of two portions of Scripture, of some neere relation the one to the other; the one of them relating a ⟨image 3⟩memorable example of the performance of that that is promised in the other, to wit, of Gods blessing o• those with temporall things, that are carefull to looke after the spirituall: This of the twaine I chose the rather to present your Worships withall; partly, because at the motion of the one of you,2 being then Head of that worthy Societie, which I acknowledge my selfe also a debtor unto, it was by word of mouth at first delivered; and partly also, that it may helpe (for the best also, even *Iacob himselfe, in this kinde need helps) to egge you on, whom God hath blessed with so large a portion of his bounty, unto those religious offices, that by occasion of Iacobs example, men of your rancke are therein encited unto, whether risen from meane estate, as with him here it had beene, or from the first largely and liberally endowed, as your selves. The Worke indeed is growne much larger, than at first was delivered, by reason that a Question betweene us and the Romanists, concerning Mans Merit, is therein now discussed, which ⟨image 4⟩
- *[Greek or Hebrew] P•• q•am respondere possem: uti Junius vert•t, P•alm. 119.67.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 P•• q•am respondere possem: uti Iunius vert•t, P•alm. 119.67.
- 2The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.The Worshipfull Company of Haberdashers.
- *Genes. 35.1.
