he regarded not his purse, but followed his book, and as Bernard said, he lived in terra auri sine auro, in a kingdom of gold without gold. An excellent gift he had to define properly, divide exactly, dispute subtly, answer directly, speak pithily, and write judicially: and how he preached, if these Sermons do give a testimony, what witness had they who often heard him themselves? I have published of his now two Discourses, and I only did it, that these his labours might not perish: I have no benefit by them, but exceeding great pains. And since I understand that his other labours are in the hands of his friends, to make benefit for his children, I will ease my self of the like labour, and be a means that they may have the benefit of the future impressions of this book: the which, how faithfully I have published, I appeal to the godly and indifferent Reader, and I hope no honest minded ⟨image 7⟩man will be hired to calumniate it. Thus as one desirous to be serviceable in my calling, profitable to the Church, not forgetful of my friend, and to testify the happiness of your house, which was in your fathers time, and is now (as it is said of Aurelian the Emperors,) Refertapi•s & Ecclesia Dei, replenished with the godly, and a Church of God, and withal to leave a monument of my duty to you all, I have as you see, published this exposition of seven Epistles under your eight names, nothing doubting but it will be as welcome to you, as by your countenance it may be profitable to the Church. The God of heaven give you all that blessing of blessings,1 which (if Jerome say true) few men have, that you may transire à deliciis ad dilicias, go on from grace to grace, and be a long time happy in this life, and ever for happy in the life to come. London: Saint Martins in the fields, from my worshipful friend Master Oldisworth's house,2 by which family (as Paul was by the house of Onesiphorus) in the time of this late (and I wish I may say) the last visitation, I have received no small refreshing.
hee regarded not his purse, but followed his booke, and as Bernard sayd, he liued in terra auri sine auro, in a kingdome of gold without gold. An excellent gift he had to define properly, diuide exactly, dispute subtilly, answere directly, speake pithily, and write iudicially: and how hee preached, if these Sermons doe giue a testimonie, what witnesse had they who often heard him themselues? I haue published of his now two Discourses, and I onely did it, that these his labours might not perish: I haue no benefit by them, but exceeding great paines. And since I vnderstand that his other labours are in the hands of his friends, to make benefit for his children, I will ease my selfe of the like labour, and be a meanes that they may haue the benefit of the future impressions of this booke: the which, how faithfully I haue published, I appeale to the godly and indifferent Reader, and I hope no honest minded ⟨image 7⟩man will be hired to calumniate it. Thus as one desirous to be seruiceable in my calling, profitable to the Church, not forgetfull of my friend, and to testifie the happinesse of your house, which was in your fathers time, and is now (as it is sayd of Aurelian the Emperours,) Refertapi•s & Ecclesia Dei, replenished with the godly, and a Church of God, and withall to leaue a monument of my duty to you all, I haue as you see, published this exposition of seuen Epistles vnder your eight names, nothing doubting but it will bee as welcome to you, as by your countenance it may bee profitable to the Church. The God of heauen giue you all that blessing of blessings,1 which (if Ierome say true) few men haue, that you may transire à deliciis ad dilicias, go on from grace to grace, and be a long time happie in this life, and euer for happie in the life to come. London: Saint Martins in the fields, from my worshipfull friend Maister Oldisworths house,2 by which familie (as Paul was by the house of Onesiphorus) in the time of this late (and I wish I may say) the last visitation, I haue receiued no small refreshing.
- 1Epist. ad Julianum.Epist. ad Iulianum.
- 22. Tim. 1 16.
