The patriarchs portion or, the saints best day Deliuered in a sermon at the funerall of Sir Thomas Reynell of Ogwell in Deuon. Knight, Aprill. 16. 1618. Wherein may be seene, 1 The shortnesse of mans life. 2 A Christians combat against 1 Sathan. 2 The world. 3 The flesh. 4 Sinne. 3 A preparation to die well. 4 The reward of glory after warfare. By Iohn Preston, preacher of Gods word at East-Ogwell, in Deuon.

TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull, Richard Reynell, Esquire, and Thomas Reynell, and Walter Reynell, his brethren, Grace, happinesse, and Peace, &c.

Right Worshipfull,

THe world may well woonder what winde hath driuen these Papers of mine to the Presse, or what should presse me to send these vnpollished me∣ditations

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Censure of the world, which ••ere conceiued and brought forth in fewer dayes then a weeke affords, but (be∣ing sent abroad) why I should bequeath them to your protections, none need to wonder; conside∣ring the many encourage∣ments and continuall kindnesses I receiued frō your worthy father, whose Funerals these are, and vnto whose fauour, next vnder God, I ascribe, the

greatest part of my world∣ly wel-being. I am ••ot•• to r••bbe vp and open 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ound of griefe, which o••r co••ntrey recei••••d; but you most of all by the death of the Right Wor∣shipfull, your deare fa∣ther. The griefe will bee the lesse to you, for the losse of his Person, if you follow his footsteps in that Religious course of life which he hath trodde forth before you. For I may say of him as Au∣stin••

o•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 qui∣dem •…•…ma in ••ocieta 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fidelium & c••••t••rū re∣cepta, laudes nec curat nec quaerit humanus imitationē tantū quae∣rit: The imitation of his vertues will be more pleasing and praise-wor∣thy, then either my com∣mendation of his life or your lamentations for his death. Children wil most willingly writè after their father's Copy, and few fa∣thers can set fairer Co∣pies

〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 childre•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yours hath done to you if you write not well, the world will wonder: But ••old on as you haue begun & you ••il make it doubt∣ful 〈…〉〈…〉; whether 〈…〉〈…〉 happy, the chil∣dren who had such a fa∣ther 〈…〉〈…〉 them, or the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, who had such•• children to follow fast after him; My due respect for that vndeser∣ued loue which I haue al∣wayes found from your

〈…〉〈…〉 these papers ••••to your hands, wherein you may find something which may helpe forward your happy course towards heauen, it hath pleased God to set some of you in places of Authority, to serue 〈…〉〈…〉 Coun∣trey, others he hath sent to serue his Prince at the Court, and you haue need both of good heads and good hearts too, that you may hold out in these high

places. If these poore me∣ditatiōs of mine may serue as Phillips boy, to put yo•• in mind of your mortality, which it m••y make you di•• the happier, but neuer•• whit the sooner; I shoul•• thinke my smal labor ful ly recompenced, and m•• maine end, which is God: glory▪ somwhat furthered, To your honorable accep∣tance therfore, I commē•• these short meditations, and both you and them t•• Gods blessing.

Yours in the Lo••d. I. P.