I Know not under whose wings I might better shelter an Apology for the Ministry, then under your Honours, who have ever lived a ready Patron to defend us from the oppositions and wrongs of our Adversaries; making them no friends to your self, that are enemies to the Gospel: wherein you have procured some (blessed) trouble to your self, by frequent complaints; deserved great love of your Country, and secured your Soul of an eternal recompense: Let it be your praise, happiness, comfort, that you have (not only not lived in opposition to the Trueth, as our refractary Papists: nor in the luke-warm Neutrality of this age, that conceives a mixed Religion, compounded of Zion's and Babylon's; nor thought it enough to countenance Preachers, as some that would make God beholding to them for their looks; but you have) stood to, seconded, succoured, and (which is ⟨image 3⟩yet a higher testimony) relieved, many a distressed Servant of the Lord, not with Micah's wages, or pittances of Charity, but with ample Rewards, worthy your Honour's bounty to give, and their necessity to receive. Let all these true and happy reasons plead for, and (somewhat) justify my ambition, that have dared to look so high for Patronage, at your Honour: Worthier Pens have contented themselves with meaner Protections: It is not the excellency of the work, but the Nobleness of your disposition, that encourageth me, who am thence prompted, not to fear your acceptation. You that have been s• gener•ll• Shadow of Refreshing to Ministers, take from me all cause to distrust your favour: specially in the countenancing of that written, which you have ever actually and really furthered. Proceed (most honoured Lord) to affect the Trueth, (yet) more zealously, by your help to support it, by your favour to protect it: so shall you make blessed use of that Honour, God hath here invested you withal, and interest your self to the honour of Heaven: and whiles Nobility without Religion dyes in infancy, and is buried in the grave of Oblivion, your Noble zeal, or zealous Nobleness, shall live here to your Makers glory, and the Churches comfort: and hereafter leave behind it a never-decaying monument of Honour; which if the ingratitude of men should forget, shall never pass the hand of God, unrewarded with glory. This Book salutes your Honour with the New year:
I Know not vnder whose winges I might better shelter an Apologie for the Ministrie, then vnder your Honours, who haue euer liued a ready Patron to defend vs from the oppositions and wronges of our Aduersaries; making them no friendes to your selfe, that are enimies to the Gospell: wherein you haue procured some (blessed) trouble to your selfe, by frequent complaintes; deserued great loue of your Countrey, and secured your Soule of an eternall recompence: Let it be your prayse, happinesse, comfort, that you haue (not onely not liued in opposition to the Trueth, as our refractary Papistes: nor in the luke-warme Neutrallitie of this age, that conceiues a mixt Religion, compounded of Syon's and Babilon's; nor thought it enough to countenaunce Preachers, as some that would make God beholding to them for their lookes; but you haue) stoode to, seconded, succoured, and (which is ⟨image 3⟩yet a higher testimony) relieued, many a distressed Seruant of the Lord, not with Micha's wages, or pittances of Charitie, but with ample Rewardes, worthy your Honour's bountie to giue, and their necessitie to receiue. Let all these true and happy reasons plead for, and (somewhat) iustifie my ambition, that haue dared to looke so high for Patronage, at your Honour: Worthier Pennes haue contented themselues with meaner Protections: It is not the excellencie of the worke, but the Noblenesse of your disposition, that incourageth me, who am thence prompted, not to feare your acceptation. You that haue been s• gener•ll• Shadow of Refreshing to Ministers, take from me all cause to distrust your fauour: specially in the countenauncing of that written, which you haue euer actually and really furthered. Proceede (most honoured Lord) to affect the Trueth, (yet) more zelously, by your helpe to support it, by your fauour to protect it: so shall you make blessed vse of that Honour, God hath heere inuested you withall, and interest your selfe to the honour of Heauen: and whiles Nobilitie without Religion dyes in infancie, and is buried in the graue of Obliuion, your Noble zeale, or zealous Noblenesse, shall liue heere to your Makers glory, and the Churches comfort: and hereafter leaue behind it a neuer-decaying monument of Honour; which if the ingratitude of men should forget, shall neuer passe the hand of God, vnrewarded with glory. This Booke salutes your Honour with the New yeare:
