Ecclesiastes The worthy church-man, or the faithfull minister of Iesvs Christ. Described by polishing the twelve stones in the high-priests pectorall, as they were first glossed and scholyed on in a Synod-sermon; and after enlarged by way of discourse, to his two brethren. By Iohn Iackson parson of Marske in Richmond-shire.

To the Reader.

VOuchsafe in briefe to understand the occasion of bringing these Medi∣tations from the Pulpit to the Presse. The Author, so neere to me, as nature and function could allye us, at a Synode held at Richmond in the North sermoned upon these twelve stones. A gratefull fame of which discourse found quicke and safe conveyance to mee by men of severe judgments.* 1.1 Whereupon I desired of him a copy, which upon re∣quest he was pleased (repriving a while his more serious studies) to transcribe, fyling and burnishing it over againe, and adding hereunto 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & se∣cundam manum. He is my brother, and therefore love will not suffer me to dispraise any thing, nor mo∣desty to commend much: let this small peice speake for him; yet thus farre I dare charge my judgement, (if I may be allowed to judge,) The conceit is new, and the proper birth of his owne braine, the matter likewise partly of his owne fresh invention, and his readings (which may commend him the more) clad with the mantle of his owne wit and phrase. He is throughout curt, cult, and methodicall. The whole smelling of

the oyle of his lampe, and (which is much better) of the anoynting of Gods Spirit.

And tho the* 1.2 forwardnesse and ambition of some is justly complained of, who the better to put forward themselves, put forth their Sermons: A sermon preached at the Court, A sermon preached in the Vniversity, A sermon at the Crosse, A sermon at an Assizes, A sermon at a Visitation, A sermon before the Right Honorable, A sermon before the Right Worshipfull, A sermon in Latin, A sermon in English, A Mariage sermon, A Funerall sermon, A sermon, a sermon, a sermon, &c. Yet in lieu thereof take the Censure and Sentence of a No∣ble and learned* 1.3 Gentleman speaking definitively: to wit, that if the choise and best of those Observations, that have beene made dispersedly in sermons, within his Majesties Ilands of Britaine, by the space of these 40. yeares and more (leaving out the largenesse of ex∣hortations and applications thereupon) had beene set downe in a continuance, it had beene the best worke in Divinity which had beene written since the Apostles time; and I doubt not but some things in this discourse may worthily be cast into that volume. This little bee spoken by way of Apology, not for him but my selfe, lest any charge mee with unnecessary intermed∣ling. Thus committing the Author, the booke, and the publisher to thy kind love and acceptance, I rest

Thine in Christ, N. ••.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Capita libri excurro, vbi{que} summa cruditio, vbi{que} fastidij ex∣pultrix, blandita varietas, & (quod plurimum ingenij ac laboris postulant) tot tantorum{que} Au∣thorum testimo∣nio res agitur, vt quicun{que}; su∣gillare aliquid ex istis lucubra∣tionibus tuis ten∣taverit, canis la∣trator haberi pos∣sit non demorsor. Iac. Antiquarius in Miscell. A. Pol.
• * 1.2

  Burton in his Preface to his booke of Me∣lancholy.
• * 1.3

  The L. Veru∣lam in his Ad∣vancement of Learning ad finem. Emanationes scripturarum in doctrinas posi∣tiva••.