Being desirous to testify my dutiful mind towards your good Lordship, I thought there could be no better mean in all respects, than the dedication of this present work; which containeth a large exposition of the whole Law of God, and of the practise thereof in the Commonweal of Israel: whereof the only reading with due consideration, may justly commend it many ways, even to such as are of greatest learning, wisdom, authority and virtue. For if we have an eye to the author of the groundworks thereof; it is God and not man. If to the Lawmaker; it is the Law of the Judge of the whole world, the lamp of light, the wellspring of wisdom, the touchstone of truth, the rule of right, the ground of goodness, the bond of blessedness, the lodestar to life, the opener of our understanding, and the governor of our wits: the faithful following whereof is the way to welfare, the procurer of peace, the path of true pleasure, the entry of immortality, and the harbourer of happiness. Or, if we have an eye to the manner of the delivering thereof; it is most wonderful, accompanied with many great miracles, signs, and tokens, and honoured with the glory and majesty of Gods own presence. If to the intent of the Lawgiver; it is the repairing and reforming of man according to the Image of his maker, in true holiness and righteousness. If to the end of the Law, it is to drive us unto Christ, that by him we might be saved. If to the obedience which it requireth; it is altogether spiritual, holy & everlasting. All which things are not only great, but the greatest that can be, and fuller of majesty and glory than can be expressed or conceived by man. Again, if we have an eye to the party by whose service and ministry this law was published; he was a man peculiarly chosen of God, endued with most excellent gifts, full of the holy Ghost, such a prophet as never had his like, (Christ only excepted) a figure of Christ, familiar with God, a perfect pattern of a good governor, and a very father of his Commonweal. Or if we have an eye to the parties to whom it was delivered; they were a people whom God had purposely chosen, redeemed, and delivered from most miserable thraldom, to the intent to be their King, and to dwell among them, and that they should be unto him a holy people and a royal Priesthood for ever:
BEing desirous to testifie my duetifull minde towardes your good Lordship, I thought there could be no better meane in all respects, than the dedication of this present worke; which containeth a large exposition of the whole Lawe of God, and of the practise thereof in the Commonweale of Israel: wherof the onely reading with due consideration, may iustly commend it many wayes, euen to such as are of greatest learning, wisedome, authoritie and vertue. For if we haue an eye to the author of the groundworks thereof; it is God and not man. If to the Lawemaker; it is the Lawe of the Iudge of the whole world, the lampe of light, the welspring of wisdome, the touchstone of truth, the rule of right, the ground of goodnesse, the bond of blessednesse, the loadstarre to life, the opener of our vnderstanding, and the gouernour of our wits: the faithfull following whereof is the way to welfare, the procurer of peace, the path of true pleasure, the entrie of immortalitie, and the harbourer of happinesse. Or, if we haue an eye to the maner of the deliuering thereof; it is most woonderful, accompanied with many great myracles, signes, and tokens, and honoured with the glorie and maiestie of Gods owne presence. If to the intent of the Lawegiuer; it is the repayring and reforming of man according to the Image of his maker, in true holinesse and righteousnesse. If to the end of the Lawe, it is to driue vs vnto Christ, that by him wee might be saued. If to the obedience which it requireth; it is altogether spirituall, holie & euerlasting. All which things are not onelie great, but the greatest that can be, and fuller of maiestie and glorie than can be expressed or conceiued by man. Againe, if we haue an eye to the partie by whose seruice and ministery this law was published; hee was a man peculiarlie chosen of God, indued with most excellent giftes, ful of the holy Ghost, such a prophet as neuer had his like, (Christ onlie excepted) a figure of Christ, familiar with God, a perfect paterne of a good gouernour, and a verie father of his Commonweale. Or if we haue an eye to the parties to whom it was deliuered; they were a people whom God had purposely chosen, redeemed, and deliuered from most miserable thraldome, to the intent to be their King, and to dwell among them, and that they should be vnto him a holie people and a royall Priesthoode for euer:
