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The Printers to the Reader.

to feek the

He dedication of this work having been made by the Authour to the Divine Majefty onely, how fhould we now prefume to intereft any mortall man in the patronage of it? Much leffe think we it meet recommendation of the Muses, for that which himself was confident to have been infpired by a diviner breath then flows from Helicon. The world therefore shall receive it in that naked fimplicity, with which he left it, without any addition either of fupport or ornament, more then is included in it felf. We leave it free and unforeftalled to every mans judgement, and to the benefit that he fhall find by perufall. Onely for the clearing of fome paffages, we have thought it not unfit to make the common Reader privie to fome fewv particularities of the condition and difpofition of the Perfon;

Being nobly born, and as eminently endued with gifts of the mind, and having by industry and happy education perfected them to that great height of excellencie, whereof his fellowship of Trinitie Colledge in Cambridge, and his Oratourfhip in the Univerfitie, together with that knowledge which the kings Court had taken of him, could make relation farre above ordinarie. Quitting both his deferts and all the opportu nities that he had for worldly preferment, he betook himself to the Sanctuary and Temple of God, choofing rather to serve at Gods Altar, then to seek the hoT2

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nour of State-employments. As for thofe inward enforcements to this courfe (for outward there was none) which many of these enfuing verfes bear witneffe of, they detract not from the freedome, but adde to the honour of this refolution in him. As God had enabled him, fo he accounted him meet not onely to be called, but to be compelled to this fervice: Wherein his faithfull discharge was fuch, as may make him juftly a companion to the primitive Saints, and a pattern or more for the age he lived in.

To teftifie his independencie upon all others, and to quicken his diligence in this kind, he used in his ordinarie fpeech, when he made mention of the bleffed name of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Christ, to adde, My Mafter.

Next God, he loved that which God himself hath magnified above all things, that is, his Word: fo as he hath been heard to make folemn proteftation, that he would not part with one leaf thereof for the whole world, if it were offered him in exchange.

His obedience and conformitie to the Church and the difcipline thereof was fingularly remarkable. Though he abounded in private devotions, yet went he every morning and evening with his familie to the Church; and by his example, exhortations, and encouragements drew the greater part of his parishioners to accompany him daily in the publick celebration of Divine Service.

As for worldly matters, his love and efteem to them was fo little, as no man can more ambitiously seek, then he did earnestly endeavour the refignation of an Ecclefiafticall dignitie, which he was poffeffour of. But God permitted not the accomplishment of this defire, having ordained him his inftrument for reedifying of the Church belonging thereunto, that had layen ruinated almost twenty yeares. The reparation whereof,

having been uneffectually attempted by publick collections, was in the end by his own and fome few others private free-will-offerings fucceffefully effected. With the remembrance whereof, as of an especiall good work, when a friend went about to comfort him on his death-bed, he made answer, It is a good work, if it be fprinkled with the bloud of Chrift: Otherwife then in this refpe& he could find nothing to glorie or comfort himself with, neither in this, nor in any other thing.

And these are but a few of many that might be said, which we have chofen to premife as a glance to fome parts of the enfuing book, and for an example to the Reader. We conclude all with his own Motto, with which he used to conclude all things that might feem to tend any way to his own honour;

Leffe then the leaft of Gods mercies.

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