AN ADMONITION TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.

AN ADMONITION TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.

FOR the commendation of this work, and the Author thereof, there shall not need I trust at this present any great discourse to be made, forasmuch as so many good books of the same writer be already set abroad, whereby may sufficiently be conjectured what is to be thought of this also. Again because the work it self is such, containing such matter of heavenly consolation, that without any further commendation of other, it yieldeth cause sufficient to commend it self. Only this then remaineth, to entreat and exhort the reader, but to peruse & read the same, who in so doing shall find I doubt not, neither to lack great cause in us to set forth these Sermons, nor less necessity in the readers to bestow pains in perusing and reading them, for the dignity of the matter, and singular fruit therein to be found. For what more worthy matter can be, than to set forth Christ in his right glory, in his full riches and royal estate to the hearts and souls of men, especially such as are heavy laden and distressed in spirit? what more comfortable hearing, or doctrine more true, then of forgiveness and remission of since, so graciously purchased, so freely offered by our Saviour, so clearly preached by his ministers? or what riches more excellent, then faith fixed in Christ, and hope stablished in the promises of life? or what study more fruitful, then to seek the kingdom of God? For ⟨image 8⟩where the fruit of all other studies decayeth and hath his end, the fruit of this study abideth for ever. And therefore not without cause we be so willed by our Saviour him self, first to seek for this kingdom and righteousness thereof, promising withal in an other place, that he which seeketh shall find. In the seeking of which kingdom two special notes we have to learn and search, first the glory & grace of the King, secondly the wealth and felicity of the subjects. In which two parts as the whole sum of all our spiritual comfort most principally consisteth, grounded in the holy Scriptures: so of all expositors of the same Scriptures, I know none or few, in these our days, more lively to open these comforts unto us out of Gods word, then this Doctor and Preacher of these Sermons here following: which as he hath done most effectually first in his own tongue to his country people, then in Latin to the learned:

FOR the commendation of this worke, and the Author thereof, there shall not neede I trust at this present any great discourse to be made, forasmuch as so many good bookes of the same writer be already set abroad, whereby may sufficiently be coniectured what is to be thought of this also. Againe because the worke it selfe is such, conteining such matter of heauenly consolation, that without any further commendation of other, it yeldeth cause sufficient to commend it selfe. Onely this then remaineth, to intreat and exhort the reader, but to peruse & reade the same, who in so doing shall fynde I doubt not, neither to lacke great cause in vs to set forth these Sermons, nor lesse necessitie in the readers to bestow paines in perusing and reading them, for the dignitie of the matter, and singular frute therein to be found. For what more worthie matter can be, thē to set forth Christ in his right glorie, in his full riches and royall estate to the hearts and soules of men, especially such as are heauie laden and distressed in spirit? what more comfortable hearinge, or doctrine more true, then of forgiuenes and remission of synnes, so graciously purchased, so freely offered by our Sauiour, so cleerely preached by his ministers? or what riches more excellent, then faith fixed in Christ, and hope stablished in the promises of life? or what studie more frutefull, then to seeke the kingdome of God? For ⟨image 8⟩where the frute of all other studies decayeth and hath his ende, the frute of this study abydeth for euer. And therefore not without cause we be so willed by our Sauiour him selfe, first to seeke for this kingdome and righteousnes thereof, promising withall in an other place, that he which seeketh shall fynde. In the seeking of which kingdom two special notes we haue to learne and search, first the glorie & grace of the King, secondly the welth and felicitie of the subiects. In which two partes as the whole summe of all our spirituall comfort most principally consisteth, groūded in the holy Scriptures: so of all expositors of the same Scriptures, I know none or fewe, in these our dayes, more liuely to open these comforts vnto vs out of Gods worde, then this Doctor and Preacher of these Sermōs here following: which as he hath done most effectually first in his owne tounge to his contry people, then in Latin to the learned:

so this translator hath no less plainly and faithfully englished the same for the commodity and use of our countryfolk of England. By whose means and industry this vantage we have now gained, that we have gotten unto us one good preacher in England more then we had before, to the comfort and edification of all such as be disposed to read and learn. So that in such towns and villages, wherein before were mute ministers, [Greek or Hebrew], this Preacher now may supply the lack, and there be received as their person, if they please, preaching now in their own speech unto them, and putting them to no charges of any tithes. And in other places where more plenty of learned teachers is, yet notwithstanding no hurt shall come to admit this stranger as a coadjutor, or fellow helper unto them. Whereby I nothing doubt, but in so doing, all such as shall be willing to give ear to this Preacher, as well they ⟨image 8⟩that be learned, shall find wherein to grow in more perfection, as also the unlearned wherein to be instructed sufficiently to their souls health in Christ Jesus. In whom I wish to thee and to all true Christian readers all spiritual grace and heavenly wisdom, to bless thy studies, to prosper thy labours, to stablish thy faith, to multiply thy consolations, to direct thy ways, and finally to glorify thee both body and soul in his blessed kingdom for ever. Amen.

so this translator hath no lesse plainly and faithfully englished the same for the commoditie and vse of our contryfolke of England. By whose meanes and industrie this vantage we haue now gayned, that we haue gotten vnto vs one good preacher in England more then we had before, to the comfort and edification of all such as be disposed to read and learne. So that in such townes and villages, wherein before were mute ministers, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, this Preacher now may supplie the lacke, and there be receiued as their person, if they please, preaching now in their owne speech vnto them, and putting them to no charges of any tythes. And in other places where more plentie of learned teachers is, yet notwithstanding no hurt shall come to admit this stranger as a coadiutor, or felow helper vnto them. Whereby I nothing dout, but in so doing, all such as shalbe willing to giue eare to this Preacher, as well they ⟨image 8⟩that be learned, shall fynde wherein to growe in more perfection, as also the vnlearned wherein to be instructed sufficiently to their soules helth in Christ Iesu. In whom I wish to thee and to all true Christian readers all spirituall grace and heauenly wisedom, to blesse thy studies, to prosper thy labours, to stablish thy faith, to multiplie thy consolations, to direct thy wayes, and finally to glorifie thee both body and soule in his blessed kingdome for euer. Amen.

I. FOX.

[figure]