Because sickness hath restrained me from preaching, I am content to do any good by writing. Happy is that author which is instead of other, that after his book is read, men need read no moe of that matter. I go upon a Theme which many have traversed before me prolixly,1 or cursorily, or barrenly: If I have performed by study any more then the rest, let my Reader judge, and give glory to him which teacheth by whom he will, What I have endeavoured, my self do feel and others know. We are ignorant of many things for a few that we understand: but I have bin alway ashamed, that my writings should weigh lighter for want of pains, which is the bane of printing, and surfeiteth the Reader. Now I send thee like a Bee to gather honey out of flowers & weeds. Every garden is furnished with others, & so is ours. Read, pray, and meditate: thy profit shall be little in any book, unless thou read alone, and unless thou read all, and record after, as the Bereans did the sermons of Paul. It is one of the births of my fainting, therefore take it with a right hand: and if thou find any thing that doth make thee better, I repent not that others importunity hath obtained it for thee. Farewell. As Jacob blessed his sons when he left them, so now I must leave ⟨image 6⟩my fruit to others; I pray God to bless it, that it may bring forth fruit in other, and be the savour of life to all that read it.
BEcause sicknesse hath restrained mee from preaching, I am content to doe any good by writing. Happie is that author which is instead of other, that after his booke is read, men need read no moe of that matter. I go vpon a Theame which many haue trauersed before me prolixly,1 or cursorily, or barrenly: If I haue performed by studie any more then the rest, let my Reader iudge, and giue glorie to him which teacheth by whome he wil, What I haue endeuoured, my selfe do feele and others know. We are ignorant of many things for a few that we vnderstand: but I haue bin alway ashamed, that my writings shuld weigh lighter for want of paines, which is the bane of printing, and surfetteth the Reader. Now I send thee like a Bee to gather hony out of flowers & weeds. Euery gardē is furnished with others, & so is ours. Read, pray, and meditate: thy profit shall be little in any booke, vnlesse thou read alone, and vnles thou read all, and record after, as the Bereans did the sermons of Paul. It is one of the births of my fainting, therfore take it with a right hand: and if thou find any thing that doth make thee better, I repent not that others importunitie hath obtained it for thee. Farewell. As Iacob blessed his sonnes when he left them, so now I must leaue ⟨image 6⟩my fruit to others; I pray God to blesse it, that it may bring forth fruit in other, and be the sauour of life to all that reade it.
- 1Reverendum Coverdalum excipio.Reuerēdum Couerdalum excipio.
