Honourable Sir, I acknowledge freely that the World is oppressed with the Press, a•d the confluence of Books hath bred a confusion of errors, of Vices; so hard is it to distinguish betwixt profitable and vain Writings; and having culled out the best, so easy is it with much good Meat to surfeit; yet is not therefore Meat unnecessary: It is no sober inference, because both Text and readers have been corrupted with false Glosses, to reject all Expositions, all Applications: both are fit, this latter most necessary; for our Understanding is better then our Conscience: there is some light in our Minds, little warmth in our Affections: So against Nature is it true in this, that the essential qualities of Fire, Light, and Heat, are divided; and to say, whether our light of Knowledge be more, or our heat of Devotion less, is beyond me: Let this (considered) plead for me, that I (do but) rub this swooning Knowledge in us, to bring it back to some life of Obedience: If any feel their thick eyes hence to receive any clearness, or their numbed Affections to gather (the least) Spirit, let them at once, give God the glory, and take to themselves the comfort. Sin hath got strength with age, and against all natural order, is more powerful, subtle, ⟨image 3⟩and fuller of active dexterity now in the dotage of it, then it was in the nonage: Both Pulpit & Press are weak enough to resist it. It therefore this small Arrow of Reproof can wound (but even) one of his Limbs, it shall a little enervate his tyranny. Whatsoever this Sermon is, it is wholly yours, and he that made it: whose Patronage, I could not be ambitious of, if I should only fix my eyes on my own deservings: but in the affiance of your good natures, mature judgements, and kind constructions of my weak endeavours, I have presumed to make you the Patron of my Labours, who was freely the Patron of my self. I know, that Gods word can countenance it self, and needs not the shelter of an human arm, not, though it had as many Edomites to deride it, as it hath Patrons to defend it: But I find not only the best Writings of the best Men, but even some of those Holy Books, inspired from Heaven, bearing in their foreheads (as from the pen-men) a dedication. I confess, it is not all for your Protection, somewhat for your use;
HOnorable Sir, I acknowledge freely that the World is oppressed with the Presse, a•d the confluence of Bookes hath bred a confusion of errours, of Vices; so hard is it to distinguish betwixt profitable and vaine Writinges; and hauing culled out the best, so easie is it with much good Meate to surfet; yet is not therefore Meate vnnecessarie: It is no sober inference, because both Text and readers haue been corrupted with false Glosses, to reiect all Expositions, all Applications: both are fitte, this latter most necessary; for our Vnderstanding is better then our Conscience: there is some light in our Minds, litle warmth in our Affections: So against Nature is it true in this, that the essentiall qualities of Fire, Light, and Heat, are deuided; and to say, whether our light of Knowledge be more, or our heate of Deuotion lesse, is beyond me: Let this (considered) plead for me, that I (doe but) rubbe this sowning Knowledge in vs, to bring it backe to some life of Obedience: If any feele their thicke eyes hence to receiue any clearenesse, or their nummed Affections to gather (the least) Spirit, let th•m at once, giue God the glory, and take to themselues the comfort. Sinne hath got strength with age, and against all naturall order, is more powerfull, subtile, ⟨image 3⟩and fuller of actiue dexteritie now in the dotage of it, then it was in the nonage: Both Pulpit & Presse are weake enough to resist it. It therfore this small Arrow of Reproofe can wound (but euen) one of his Limbes, it shall a litle eneruate his tyranny. Whatsoeuer this Sermon is, it is wholly yours, and he that made it: whose Patronage, I could not be ambitious of, if I should onely fixe my eyes on my owne deseruinges: but in the affiance of your good natures, mature iudgementes, and kind constructions of my weake endeauours, I haue presumed to make you the Patron of my Labours, who was freely the Patron of my selfe. I know, that Gods word can countenaunce it selfe, and needes not the shelter of an humaine arme, not, though it had as many Edomites to deride it, as it hath Patrons to defende it: But I find not onely the best Writinges of the best Men, but euen some of those Holy Bookes, inspired from Heauen, bearing in their foreheads (as from the pen-men) a dedication. I confesse, it is not all for your Protection, somewhat for your vse;
