9 / 504
THE
EPISTLE
DEDICATORY.
To
the
Right
worlliipful,
His
Reverend,
learned
,
and
worthy
freinds,
and
Brethren,the
Heads and
Governours
of
the Colledges,and
Halls in
the
Univerfity
of
Ox
FORD.
S
I
R
S,
He dedication
of
Bookes
to the
names
of
men Worthy
,
and
of
e-
fteem
in
their generation,
takes fandtuary in
fo
Catholiek
and Anci-
ent
prcfcription
that
to
ufe any defenfative
about
my
walkingin
the
fame
path, cannot but forfeit the
lofs
offomewhat
more
,
then
the
paines
that would
be (pent therein.
Now although
in
addreffes
of
this kind,men ufually prevaile themfelves
dale
occalon to de
liver
their thoughts
as
to particulars
,
in
great variety according
as
theirconcernments
may be
;
yet the
Reafons which are general-
ly pleaded as diredtions
for the
choife
of
them, to
whom
with their
labours, and writings
they
fo
addrefs themfelves
,
are for
the molt
part
uniforme
;
and
'n their
various courfe
,
tranfgrefs
not the
Rules
ofcertaine heads,
from whence they flow.
To
esprefs
a
gratitude for
refpedts
and favours received
,
by
retur-
ning
things in
their kind eternal
,
for
thofe which are
bet
temporal
:
ro obtaineCounte-
nance and
Approbation
unto
their
endeavours in their breaking
forth into the world
,
froth
names
of
more el
teem ,
orat
leaffmore knowne, then theirown
t
to
advance
in
repute
by a
Correfpondency in
Judgment with
men
of
fuck efteem ,
intimated thereby;are the more in-
genuous
aimes
of
men in
the
dedications
of
their
writings.
Though
there
,
and fundry
other
pretences
of
the
fame
kind, might
;Wily
be
drawn
into
my plea,
for
this addrefs
unto you;yee
your
peculiar
defignation and Appointment
, through
the
good hand
of
the
providence
of
God
,
to the
defence
of
the Gofpel; and
your eminent
Furnifhment with
Abilities
from the
fame
hand,
for
the performance
of
that
glorious duty,is
that
alone,upon theaccount where-
of
I
have fatisfied my
felfe,and hope
that
I may
not
diffatisfie
othets,as to this
prefent Appli-
cation.
What
there
is
of
my own peculiar
concernment,wherein
I
am like
to obtaine
a
more
favourable Condefcention
in
Judgment
,
as
to
my prefent
undertaking from you
,
then
from other men
,
will in the cfofe
of
my
addref,
crave leave
to
have
mention made there-
of.
Brethren!
the outward obligations that are upon you from the
God
of
truth
,
with
the
Advantages which he
hath intruftedyou withal
,
for
the
defence
of
his
Truth,above the
molt
of
men
in
the
world, are evident,
even
to
them
that
maitre by
the gray,
and
turne little
Miele
to
the
confideration
of
things
of
this nature
, importance,
and
Condition.
And
it
is
to
mean
evidence
of
no fmall
incouragement,that
God
will
yet gracioully
ins
ploy
you
in
the work and
labour of
his
Gofpel,by
his
conftant
giving a mifcarrying
mombe
to
all
them,who
have
attem-
pted
to defraud the Nation,
and
the Churches
of
God therein,of
thole
helpes
and furtheran-
ces
of
Piety and
Literature,
with whole management,for their fevice,
you
are at prefent
in-
trufled.
Of
the
Jewels
of
Silver and
Gold,
whereof
by
the Lord's appointment,the Children
of
Ifrael
coming
out
from
amongft them,
fpoiled the
Egyptians, didthey dedicate to
the Ta-
bernacle
in
the wildernefs;
when, the Lord
planted
the
Heavens
,
and
laid
the
foundations of the
Earth;
and
(aid
to
Sion
Thon
arr
my people.
Though
force
outward
provifions,and
furnitures
of
Literature, now, through the good hand
of God,
made
ferviceable
to you
in
your Atten-
dance
upon the great Worke
, and
imployment committed to you
,
were firft depofited,when
ehickdarknefs was
over
the
land: Yet
that
they
may be
madeeminently fubfervient
to
the will
of
God
, in
railing up againe
the
Tabernacle
of David,that
mat
fain
down,
the
Experience
of
a
few yeares I no way
doubt,
will
abundantly
reveale
and manifeft.
That
in
the
vicifíitude
of
all
things given them by
tie
myflerious and
dreadful
wheeles
of
providence
,
your
good
things
alto
,
(as
every
thing
else
that
is
pleafant and
deferable ,
or
given
of
God unto
the
Sons
of
men
bath
done ) have fallen into
the
poffeflion and difpofal
of
men
,
force
enemies,
others utterly
ufelefs
and
unfruitful
to
the
Lord
intheir
generations
,cannot
be
denyed: But what
is
there
in
his waies
,
or worfhip,
in his
wotkes,or
word,that God hath
not,
at
fame feafon or
other
delivered into
the
power
of
thernen
office
world,
though they
have abufed and perverted them
to their
own
deárud'ion
?
Neither
is
there any
other
ufe
of
this
Confideration,but only to
informe
them,of
the Obligations they
lye
under,
to
a
due
and
zealous improvement
of
them, to
whofe
Trull
and Care the Lord comrnitts any
of
his
mer-
ges,
when
he
relines
them from the Captivity,under which they have been detained,by uns
godly
men.
This
is
now your lot,and cond tion,ìn reference to many who
for
fundry
generati-
ons,poffeffed chafe
places,and
advantages
of
eminent
fervice
for the
house
of
our
god,which
54
yott