SIR, it is a point well known unto your Worship, that in duties of absolute necessity we must regard what God doth command and enjoin, not what men do approve and like of: and that we must still offer up our service in obedience to the Almighty, whatsoever men do think or speak of us. As for this work of publishing the labours of such faithful and painful Ministers, as desire rather to spend their time in preaching, than in writing, I take it not to be a duty of that kind: ⟨image 3⟩but of an inferior nature; wherein the acceptance or disallowance of those that are godly wise, should have a great stroke, either for encouragement to proceed in it, or for discouragement to desist from it Herein having made some trial, I have (through Gods blessing) found success beyond my expectation: which as it ministereth unto me matter of much rejoicing, in regard there are many thousands in Israel, who desire and embrace the sincere and plain doctrine of the Gospel; so doth it set an edge on my desires to take up some vacant hours in this employment: being right glad, if by any means I may be an helper to the truth, and an instrument of refreshing hunger-bitten souls, by conveying unto them some baskets full of such fragments, as may be communicated without any detriment or disadvantage to my self, or to any else. These Sermons I have made bold to recommend unto your favourable acceptance and patronage, not only in regard of the interest which you have in them, and that encouragement which I have often received from your ⟨image 3⟩Worship in businesses of this nature; but also because I persuade my self that your very countenancing of them, will add, though not unto their goodness, yet unto their good esteem, among many that are religiously affected.
SIR, it is a point well knowne vnto your Worship, that in duties of absolute necessity we must regard what God doth commande and enioyne, not what men doe approue and like of: and that we must still offer vp our seruice in obedience to the Almighty, whatsoeuer men do thinke or speake of vs. As for this worke of publishing the labours of such faithfull and painefull Ministers, as desire rather to spend their time in preaching, than in writing, I take it not to be a duty of that kind: ⟨image 3⟩but of an inferiour nature; wherein the acceptance or disallowance of those that are godly wise, should haue a great stroke, either for incouragement to proceed in it, or for discouragement to desist from it Herein hauing made some tryal, I haue (through Gods blessing) found successe beyond my expectation: which as it ministreth vnto me matter of much reioycing, in regard there are many thousands in Israel, who desire and embrace the sincere and plaine doctrine of the Gospell; so doth it set an edge on my desires to take vp some vacant houres in this imployment: being right glad, if by any meanes I may be an helper to the truth, and an instrument of refreshing hunger-bittensoules, by conueying vnto them some baskets full of such fragments, as may be communicated without any detriment or disaduantage to my selfe, or to any else. These Sermons I haue made bolde to recommend vnto your fauourable acceptance and patronage, not onely in regard of the interest which you haue in them, and that incouragement which I haue often receiued from your ⟨image 3⟩Worship in businesses of this nature; but also because I perswade my selfe that your very countenancing of them, wil adde, though not vnto their goodnesse, yet vnto their good esteeme, among many that are religiously affected.
