Right Honorable:
So waking and omnipotent has ever been the eye and hand of God, that nothing by himself designed to worth and use, could wholly be debased or laid aside. Moses and Cyrus devoted in their infancy to ruin and obscurity, were by that eye and hand kept and advanced to highest honors and employments for his Church.
Some footsteps of which care and power, we have observed, upon the birth and bringing forth to light of this orphan: which, in relation to the painful labor of him, who (as the Mother) brought it forth, and died in travail with it, we thought might well be styled BENNONI, Son of my sorrows; But, when we saw the strength and holiness imprinted on the child by God the father of it, we doubted not to call it BENJAMIN, Son of the right hand. For, as dying Jacob laid his right hand upon the youngest son of Joseph: So God did stretch forth his on this, the last issue of the dying Author; when out of a womb (as then) so dead and dried, he brought forth a man-child so strong and vigorous: As also, when by the Parent's immature departure, it seemed to be adjudged to death and darkness, that yet by the same hand it was preserved, and at last through many hazards delivered to us, who by the dying Parent, were appointed to the midwives' office, in bringing it forth to the public view.
And, if we may estimate the writings of men, by the same rule whereby we are to judge of the works of God himself; and those works of God excel the rest, which do most clearly show forth him the Author of them: and therefore grace, though but an accident in the soul, is of far more price with God, than all men's souls devoid of it, because it is the lively image of his holiness, which is his beauty. We could not imagine, how this work should not be valued when it came abroad, that presents to all men's understandings so clear, evident and immediate expressions of God, his name and attributes. And indeed what vast and boundless volumes of heaven, earth and hell, has God been pleased to publish to make known his wrath, eternal power and Godhead? And how long has he continued that expensive work of governing the world, to show forth the riches of his goodness, patience and forbearance? Yet when all were bound together; so little knew we of him, that he set forth his Son, the express image of his Person, as the last, and best edition, that could be hoped for.
And, it being much more true of God which is usually said of knowledge in the general, Non habet inimicum nisi ignorantem, that being so good, he has no enemies nor strangers to him, but those that know him not; surely then the knowledge of him is a most necessary and effectual means to friendship with him.
And indeed, as, that God knows us, is the first foundation of his covenant of mercy with us (2 Timothy 2:19), so, our true and savory knowledge of him, is made the first entrance into covenant, continuing of acquaintance, and increasing of communion with him (Jeremiah 31:33-34). Indeed further, as to make known himself was the utmost end of all his works (Romans 1:19), so rightly to know him, is the best reward attainable by us for all our works (John 17:3). This is eternal life to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Which great reward we doubt not, but this servant of God attained. Who, after he had spent the most of his living, thoughts and breath in unfolding and applying, the most proper and peculiar characters of grace, which is God's image; whereby believers came to be assured, that God is their God, and they in covenant with him; was in the end admitted to exercise his last and dying thoughts, about the essence, attributes and greatness of God himself, who is their portion and exceeding great reward.
In the very entrance almost into which, he was carried up so near to Heaven, that he came not down again, but died in the mount into which (by God's appointment) he was ascended; and before many of God's glorious backparts were passed by him, he was taken up to view the rest more fully face to face. So that, as he was often in his sickness used to say, I shall but change my place, and not my company; we may also truly say, he did but change his studying place, not his thoughts nor studies. God being the only immediate subject about which the studies of men and angels are wholly taken up for all eternity.
Which change, though to him full of gain, had been to us more grievous, had not this little piece, like Elijah's mantle fallen from him, as he was ascending. Wherein we have those lofty speculations of the schools (which like empty clouds fly often high, but drop no fatness) digested into useful applications, and distilled into spirit-full and quickening cordials, to comfort and confirm the inward man.
Not only showing (as others) what God is; but also what we therefore ought to be. At once, emblazoning the divine essence, and glorious attributes of God; and withal delineating the most noble dispositions of the divine nature in us, which are the prints and imitations of those his attributes, applying as a skillful builder, the pattern to the piece he was to frame. So, as by his unfinished draught, it may be gathered, what enlarged and working apprehensions, and impressions of the Deity possessed his heart. He speaks of God, not as one that had only heard of him, by the hearing of the ear, but whose eye of faith had seen him.
But does he, or this relic of his, need epistles of commendation from us to your Honor, who knew him so well? Or to others, besides this inscription of, and dedication to your name? Which we account our only choice, and best epistle to the reader; You, are our epistle, etc. Seeing in your Honor, those more heroical graces, and noblest parts of God's image, which in these sermons the author endeavored to raise his hearers to, are found already written, and imprinted not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God: indeed, and not only written, but also by reason of the greatness of your birth, the nobleness of your deportment in your country, known and read of all men. Such ingenuous simplicity lodged in depth of wisdom: holiness of life so set in honor and esteem, and immovably settled with evenness of walking in midst of all vanities: such humility in height of parts: graciousness of heart in greatness of mind. So rare, fixed and happy a conjunction, in a house so eminent, does not fall out, without a general observation.
To your name and honor, therefore, we present it (most noble Lord) as the last legacy bequeathed by him to the Church, as a pledge of our service, and a counterpart of your Lordship's most raised thoughts and resolutions.
And likewise to others, as honored with your Lordship's name; that those who study, either men or books, may read these sermons together with your Lordship's virtues, each as the copy of the other, to invite them to the imitation of the same.
And that the world, which (like that Indian Monarch) accounts such true pictures of the beauty of holiness as this, to be but counterfeit, because not tawny, like their own; and look upon so high principles of godliness, as empty notions raised up by art and fancy to make a show, may see and know in you, the true, real, uniform subsistence of them; and that God has indeed some such living, walking patterns of his own great holiness, and more transcendent graces.
Which graces, He, who is the God of all grace, increase and perfect in your Lordship here, that hereafter you may be filled with all the fullness of him; So pray
Your Honor's ever to be commanded, Thomas Goodwin, Thomas Ball.
