The whole Design of this Dedication, as to the Ground and End of it, is so clearly transparent to those who know, how Gods Providence hath set me, a weak Labourer in the Lords Vineyard, to work under the shadow of your Lordships protection, that it is a superfluous waste of words and time, to defend the presumption of this Address, which, without mine Apology, may be reasonably taken for a just expression of my duty. It were moreover an unpardonable trespass against your Lordships quick Apprehension, whose vigorous spirit is active and piercing in the observing of Occurrents, if I should make a tedious Harangue, to discover mine intentions in thus testifying the sense I have, both of the common benefit, which I enjoy together with other sons of the Prophets, who dwell in safety under the sheltering and refreshing shade of your Lordships ⟨image 3⟩Patronage, and also of those peculiar obligations laid upon me by your Lordships singular favour, the repetition whereof in particular were impertinent, but my public acknowledgement in general is as decent, as my private remembrance of them is perpetually and indispensably requisite. I have only a mind to wish, that the product of my own Soil, which I pay as tribute unto your Lordship, were as agreeable for the workmanship to the divine matter which I handle, as the discourse it self is proper, and (as I humbly conceive) suitable to your Lordships pious inclination. For I cannot with silence pass by, what I have seen with huge satisfaction; that as your Lordship hath had a share in Timothy's happiness, in knowing the holy Scriptures from a child, 1which are able to make Thee wise unto salvation: so It hath grown in knowledge, by the advantage of Gods special endowment, a capacious and tenacious Memory. It is also a blessed and pleasing Rarity, that in an Age of men sadly degenerate into Atheism, who endeavour to forget that they are Gods off-spring, and would fain be taken for the Mushrooms of Chance, and are not only sunk below Beasts in enormous sensuality, but also fallen beyond the apostasy of the Devils in absurd Incredulity, with a perverse ingratitude denying the Lord that bought them, and with a sottish insolencie denying the God that made them;
THe whole Designe of this Dedication, as to the Ground and End of it, is so clearly transparent to those who know, how Gods Providence hath set me, a weak Labourer in the Lords Vineyard, to work under the shadow of your Lordships protection, that it is a superfluous waste of words and time, to defend the presumption of this Address, which, without mine Apologie, may be reasonably taken for a just expression of my duty. It were moreover an unpardonable trespass against your Lordships quick Apprehension, whose vigorous spirit is active and piercing in the observing of Occurrents, if I should make a tedious Harangue, to discover mine intentions in thus testifying the sense I have, both of the common benefit, which I enjoy together with other sons of the Prophets, who dwell in safety under the sheltring and refreshing shade of your Lordships ⟨image 3⟩Patronage, and also of those peculiar obligations laid upon me by your Lordships singular favour, the repetition whereof in particular were impertinent, but my publick acknowledgement in general is as decent, as my private remembrance of them is perpetually and indispensably requisite. I have onely a minde to wish, that the product of my own Soyl, which I pay as tribute unto your Lordship, were as agreeable for the workmanship to the divine matter which I handle, as the discourse it self is proper, and (as I humbly conceive) suitable to your Lordships pious inclination. For I cannot with silence pass by, what I have seen with huge satisfaction; that as your Lordship hath had a share in Timothy's happiness, in knowing the holy Scriptures from a childe, 1which are able to make Thee wise unto salvation: so It hath grown in knowledge, by the advantage of Gods special endowment, a capacious and tenacious Memory. It is also a blessed and pleasing Rarity, that in an Age of men sadly degenerate into Atheism, who endeavour to forget that they are Gods off-spring, and would fain be taken for the Mushrooms of Chance, and are not onely sunk below Beasts in enormous sensuality, but also fallen beyond the apostasie of the Devils in absurd Incredulity, with a perverse ingratitude denying the Lord that bought them, and with a sottish insolencie denying the God that made them;
- 12 Tim. 3. 15.
