Christ crucified, or, The marrow of the gospel, evidently holden forth in LXXII sermons,…

I am, my Noble Lord, the more easily prevailed with and encouraged, to address the Dedication of these Sermons to your Lordship more particularly, when I remember the unfeigned faith that first dwelt in your Grand mother, as an other Lois; and in your Mother, as an other Eunice; and more lately, in your own choice Lady, who, as an other beloved Pierce, laboured much in the Lord; and though she had but a very short Christian race, (in which she was much encouraged by coming into your Noble Fathers Family, and her beholding how hard your blest Mother did run and press toward the Mark, even when in the last stage and turning in a manner the last stoop of her Christian course); yet it was a very swift one, wherein she did quite out-run many that were in Christ long before her; (all three Ladies of Honour, almost (if I need to say almost) without parallels in their times, in the serious and diligent exercise of Godliness, and Patterns worthy to be imitated by others); and I trust in your Lordships self also; yea, and in several others of your elder and younger Noble Relations (for Grace hath had such a draught of Souls amongst you, as it useth not often to have in Societies of so Noble Extract (for not many noble are called;) which, as it deservedly draweth respect to such of you as are thus privileged, from the observers of it; so it layeth a mighty strong obligation upon you, to be much for God, and in service to your Generation according to his will. Further, when I observe your Lordships Christian and Exemplary Carriage, under such a conjunction and combination of so very cross, and almost crushing calamitous Providences; choosing rather contentedly and satisfiedly to be ⟨image 15⟩(if it so please the Lord, and O! that it may not) the last of that Ancient and Honourable Family, then to be found endeavouring to keep it from sinking by any sinful and unwarrantable course, particularly by defrauding just Creditors (though the Debt was not of your Lordships own contracting) under whatever specious pretexts and advantages of Law; whereof many make no bones, who, if they may keep up their superfluities, care not to ruin their Friends engaged in Suretyship for their Debt, and to live on the Substance of others.

I am, my Noble Lord, the more easily prevailed with and encouraged, to address the Dedication of these Sermons to your Lordship more particularly, when I remember the unfeigned faith that first dwelt in your Grand mother, as an other Lois; and in your Mother, as an other Eunice; and more lately, in your own choice Lady, who, as an other beloved Pers, laboured much in the Lord; and though she had but a very short Christian race, (in which she was much encouraged by coming into your Noble Fathers Family, and her beholding how hard your blest Mother did run and press toward the Mark, even when in the last stage and turning in a manner the last stoop of her Christian course); yet it was a very swift one, wherein she did quite out-run many that were in Christ long before her; (all three Ladies of Honour, almost (if I need to say almost) without paralels in their times, in the serious and diligent exercise of Godliness, and Paterns worthy to be imitated by others); and I trust in your Lordships self also; yea, and in several others of your elder and younger Noble Relations (for Grace hath had such a draught of Souls amongst you, as it useth not often to have in Societies of so Noble Extract (for not many noble are called;) which, as it deservedly draweth respect to such of you as are thus priviledged, from the observers of it; so it layeth a mighty strong obligation upon you, to be much for God, and in service to your Generation according to his will. Further, when I observe your Lordships Christian and Examplary Carriage, under such a conjunction and combination of so very cross, and almost crushing calamitous Providences; choosing rather contentedly and satisfiedly to be