Right deer, and unfeignedly beloved in Christ Jesus, I have a long time much desired some good occasion of testifying mine hearty affection to your selves in particular among others of ⟨image 4⟩that Family, which I acknowledge my self so deeply indebted unto. And I seem now at length to have lighted on that, that I have so long longed for. Being to publish a wedding Sermon of a worthy Friend deceased,1 (which I wish, if Gods good will had so bin, he had lived to do himself) containing matter concerning the holy disposition & Christian managing of Marriage Feasts; I thought good to adjoin to it (being it self but short) some Meditations of mine own, of somewhat a near subject, the occasion of such Feasts, to wit, A good Wife, by Solomon said to be Gods Gift. That which here I address unto you, as to remain a Monument of mine hearty well-wishing unto you, so to abide by you, as a Monitor to put you both in mind, what a blessing of God ⟨image 4⟩you enjoy either in other, and what cause you have to be thankful to him either for other. Since it pleased God by his providence and your Friends agreement to bring you together, and to knit that sacred knot between you, I have not yet bin so happy, as to be an eye-witness of your Christian & religious cohabitation & conversation: but have by many bin informed of it, to my great joy, that you tread both in the steps of your pious Parents, and therein show your selves to be their Children,a not according to the flesh only, but (which would have bin their greatest comfort, had they survived to have seen it, and shall be your chiefest happiness both here and hereafter) according to the promise, even of eternal salvation, annexed to the gracious Covenant of ⟨image 5⟩Faith in Christ; which by your godly practise you show your selves to have common interest in with them. And indeed to speak in the Holy Ghosts language, thenb are we truly the Children of our religious Parents and Ancestors, when in goodness and godliness we take after those that we come of. cThey are Abraham's Children, that do Abraham's works; and dthat tread in the steps of Abraham's Faith, who is the Father of all the Faithful. Those that take other courses, and degenerate, (ase too many do,) from the Faith and Piety of their Parents, are in Gods account, as our Saviour termeth the Jews, but fa bastardly brood;
RIght deere, and vnfeinedly beloued in Christ Iesus, I haue a long time much desired some good occasion of testifying mine hearty affection to your selues in particular among others of ⟨image 4⟩that Familie, which I acknowledge my selfe so deeply indebted vnto. And I seeme now at length to haue lighted on that, that I haue so long longed for. Being to publish a wedding Sermō of a worthy Frend deceassed,1 (which I wish, if Gods good will had so bin, he had liued to doe himselfe) conteyning matter concerning the holy disposition & Christian managing of Mariage Feasts; I thought good to adioyne to it (being it selfe but short) some Meditations of mine owne, of somewhat a neere subiect, the occasion of such Feasts, to wit, A good Wife, by Salomon said to be Gods Gift. That which here I addresse vnto you, as to remaine a Monument of mine hearty well-wishing vnto you, so to abide by you, as a Monitor to put you both in minde, what a blessing of God ⟨image 4⟩you enjoy either in other, and what cause you haue to be thankfull to him either for other. Since it pleased God by his prouidence and your Frends agreement to bring you togither, and to knit that sacred knot betweene you, I haue not yet bin so happy, as to be an eye-witnes of your Christian & religious cohabitation & conversation: but haue by many bin informed of it, to my great ioy, that you tread both in the steps of your pious Parents, and therein shew your selues to be their Children,a not according to the flesh onely, but (which would haue bin their greatest comfort, had they survived to haue seene it, and shall be your cheifest happines both here and hereafter) according to the promise, euen of eternall saluation, annexed to the gratious Couenant of ⟨image 5⟩Faith in Christ; which by your godly practise you shew your selues to haue common interest in with them. And indeed to speake in the Holy Ghosts language, thenb are we truly the Children of our religious Parents and Ancestors, when in goodnes and godlines we take after those that we come of. cThey are Abrahams Children, that doe Abrahams works; and d
- 1Mr. W. Br.
- aRom. 9. 8.
- bEorum filij dicimur, quorum actus imitamur. Origen. in Ezech. hom. 4. & Greg. Rom. mor. lib. 20. cap. 17.
- cJoh. 8. 39. Etiam virtus fecit mihi fratrem Jesum, patrem Abraham. Origen. in Ezech. hō. 8. & in Rom. c. 4.Ioh. 8. 39. Etiam virtus fecit mihi fratrem Iesum, patrem Abraham. Origen. in Ezech. hō. 8. & in Rom. c. 4.
- dRom. 4. 12, 23. Israel spiritalis à carnali, non nobilitate patriae, sed novitate gratiae, nec gente, sed mente distinguitur. Aug. doctr. Chr. l. 3. c. 34.Rom. 4. 12, 23. Israel spiritalis à carnali, non nobilitate patriae, sed nouitate gratiae, nec gente, sed mente distinguitur. Aug. doctr. Chr. l. 3. c. 34.
- e[Greek or Hebrew]. Homer. Odyss. [Greek or Hebrew]. Eurip. Heracl. Hinc Demosthenes, [Greek or Hebrew]. Aristid. in Cimon. Et inde diverbium, [Greek or Hebrew]. Neminem prope magnorum virorum filium optimum reliquisse satis claret Tales plerique habuerunt, ut melius fuerit de rebus humanis sine posteritate discedere. Spartian in Severo.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Homer. Odyss. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Eurip. Heracl. Hīc Demosthenes, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Aristid. in Cimon. Et inde diverbium, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Neminem prope magnorum virorum filium optimum reliquisse satis claret Tales plerique habuerunt, vt melius fuerit de rebus humanis sine posteritate discedere. Spartian in Severo.
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