IT shall not greatly need (well disposed Reader) to commend to thy kind allowance, this godly, learned and necessary Treatise, of the reformation of that sin, which of our ancient Philosophers and Divines, hath bin condemned for the original and root of all evils; since the Author thereof (now dead) while he lived, received a true approbation of his faithful labours from the most judicial, grave and learned censures of our time. The never-wearied virtues of his inward soul, still labouring like the Sun to illuminate and enlighten the darkness of our understandings, amongst other of his industrious studies, have left this token to the world, that his whole care⟨image 3⟩ and endeavour was always bent to the begetting of a general profit. How necessary the publishing of such a subject is, in respect of the Idolatrous worshipping of the wicked Mammon, I refer me to the truly▪ zealous & soul-labouring Ministers in the Lords vineyard; whose voices like brazen trumpets continually sounding in the obdurate and stiff-necked worldlings, work little or no motion at all in them, either for compassion of their poor distressed brethren, or salvation of their own souls. My request therefore is, that thou wouldst reach thy gentle hand of acceptance to the New-years gift of a dead man, who by a virtuous and godly life, hath chased oblivion from his grave, and now surviveth in the hearts and tongues of all godly Christians.
IT shall not greatly neede (well disposed Reader) to commend to thy kinde allowance, this godly, learned and necessary Treatise, of the reformation of that sin, which of our ancient Philosophers and Diuines, hath bin condemned for the originall and roote of all euils; since the Author therof (now dead) while hee liued, receiued a true approbatiō of his faithfull labors from the most iudiciall, graue and learned censures of our time. The neuer-wearied vertues of his inward soule, still laboring like the Sunne to illuminate and enlighten the darkenesse of our vnderstandings, amongst other of his industrious studies, haue left this token to the world, that his whole care⟨image 3⟩ and endeuour was alwaies bent to the begetting of a generall profit. How necessary the publishing of such a subiect is, in respect of the Idolatrous worshipping of the wicked Mammon, I referre me to the truly▪ zealous & soule-labouring Ministers in the Lords vineard; whose voices like brazen trompets cōtinually sounding in the obdurate and stif-necked worldlings, worke little or no motion at all in them, either for compassion of their poore distressed brethren, or saluation of their owne soules. My request therefore is, that thou wouldst reache thy gentle hand of acceptance to the New-yeares gift of a dead man, who by a vertuous and godly life, hath chased obliuion from his graue, and now suruiueth in the hearts and tongues of all godly Christians.
