The which (such as it is) I have boldly presented unto your Lordship upon a three-fold consideration. The first this: God who hath made you a principal member in this great body of our land, both in gifts personal and public, hath justly proportioned a principal place of employment for you above others. Your complements of Nature, Art, Experience, he hath (I doubt not) accomplished with saving grace. Your piety towards God, testified by your reverend hearing his word, and reflecting itself in love upon his Ministry: your sage and well managed government of civill affairs: your learning bewrayed by your judicious and assiduous reading of Scholars books, and favouring their authors: all these argue strongly, that though Popery, ignorance, injustice and evil manners could well forgo you, yet the Church, the Commonwealth and literature could ill want you. And the same God who hath thus enriched you, hath crowned his gifts in you, so that while you live, your Name is blessed, and at the end of this life, you shall not dye undesired▪ Why hath the Almighty thus graced you? Doubtless not for yourself only, but to this end, that as the Sunbeams drawing up the sweet vapours from the earth, suffer them to fall upon their thirsty mother again, with a doubly fruitful influence: so Gods talents measured out largely unto you, might entirely return their honour unto the giver with overplus. The vessel that is full, and runneth over, hath for itself, and bedeweth the earth also ⟨image 4⟩which is near it. And seeing the greatest goodness of the best creature cannot reach so high as God himself: therefore he expects that you drop it upon this lower region of Saints who 1excel in virtue; yea upon his Church and Gospel, (whereto he hath by letter of Attorney made over all such debts) to the promoting and advancing whereof, the advantage of your Honour and authority (besides your other gifts) is chiefly to be employed. Give me leave then (I beseech) to improve that common interest, which our Mother the Church claimeth in you, for the undertaking of this my writing. You are chief among the sons of wisdom, which is justified of all her children.2
The which (such as it is) I haue boldly presented vnto your Lordship vpon a three-fold consideration. The first this: God who hath made you a principall member in this great bodie of our land, both in gifts personall and publique, hath iustly proportioned a principall place of employment for you aboue others. Your complements of Nature, Art, Experience, he hath (I doubt not) accomplished with sauing grace. Your pietie towards God, testified by your reuerend hearing his word, and reflecting itselfe in loue vpon his Ministerie: your sage and well menaged gouernment of ciuill affaires: your learning bewraied by your iudicious and assiduous reading of Schollers bookes, and fauouring their authors: all these argue strongly, that though Poperie, ignorance, iniustice and euill manners could well forgo you, yet the Church, the Commonwealth and literature could ill want you. And the same God who hath thus enriched you, hath crowned his gifts in you, so that while you liue, your Name is blessed, and at the end of this life, you shall not dye vndesired▪ Why hath the Almightie thus graced you? Doubtlesse not for yourselfe onely, but to this end, that as the Sunbeames drawing vp the sweet vapours from the earth, suffer them to fall vpon their thirstie mother againe, with a doubly fruitfull influence: so Gods talents measured out largely vnto you, might entirely returne their honour vnto the giuer with ouerplus. The vessell that is full, and runneth ouer, hath for itselfe, and bedeweth the earth also ⟨image 4⟩which is neere it. And seeing the greatest goodnesse of the best creature cannot reach so high as God himselfe: therefore hee expects that you drop it vpon this lower region of Saints who 1excell in vertue; yea vpon his Church and Gospell, (whereto he hath by letter of Attorney made ouer all such debts) to the promoting and aduancing whereof, the aduantage of your Honour and authoritie (besides your other gifts) is chiefly to be employed. Giue me leaue then (I beseech) to improue that common interest, which our Mother the Church claimeth in you, for the vndertaking of this my writing. You are chiefe among the sonnes of wisedome, which is iustified of all her children.2
- 1Psalm 16. 2.Psalme 16. 2.
- 2Matth. 11. 19.
