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TO THE MOST HIGH AND ALMIGHTY God the Father, Creator of the World, and to the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and onely Ruler of Princes, Iesus Christ, the Glorious Redeemer of the World, And to the most holy & Blessed Spirit, the Comfort of all true Beleeuers, and Sanctisier of the World, Three Persons, and one Eternall Omnipotent God.
MOst mighty, gracious, mercifull, and glorious God, that triest the heart, and searchest the reines, from whom no secret is hid; in the assurance of thy neuer-failing clemency, and hope of thy gracious acceptance, I humbly offer to thy most dread Maiestie, these my poore labours, which out of thine owne Word, and by and through thy bles∣sed assistance, I haue (for the glory of thy great Name compiled) I ac∣knowledge my selfe the meanest of men, and the most vnworthy of thy vnworthy seruants, to present my polluted & imperfect duty to thee, that art the Foun∣taine of perfection, purity and holinesse; but thou that knowest mine intentions meeke and humble, free from the expectation of worldly applause, and onely ayming to repre∣hend and reforme the too much, too frequent impieties of Cursing and Swearing, so hate∣full to thee, and so abusiue to thy Law, vpon the knees of my heart I prostrate my selfe before the feete of thy Mercy seate, beseeching thee for thy Names sake (too much pro∣phaned) for thy Glories sake, too much abused, for thy Sonnes sake, who with thy selfe art neglected, contemned and reuiled, that thou wilt be pleased to arise, O Lord, and scatter thine enemies; that though this worke of mine bee but weake, and I the worke∣man far weaker, yet through my frailty be thou pleased to shew thy power; let my lines be like Shamgars Goad, Iudges, 3 31. Like Iaels Nayle, Iudges 4.21. Or che Iawe-bone which Samson fought withall, Iudges 15. Or Dauids Sling, 1. Sam. 17. That (through thy might) these accursed Philistines, with vncircumcised hearts, may be either amen∣ded or confounded; That all the reuiling Rabshakehs may be made to know, that thou art icalous of thy glory: so blesse, I beseech thee, these my labours, that children reading them, may be seasoned with a feare and reuerence of thy Maiestic: that those who al∣ready doe hate Cursing and Swearing, may hereby be the more confirmed in that godly hatred: That the wretched carelesse blasphemers and accursed takers of thy Name in vaine, may be ashamed & reformed, that thereby thou maist be glorified, thy Church cō∣forted and edified, and our sinfull liues amended, and finally our soules euerlastingly sa∣ued, through thy meere and infinite mercy, and our blessed Sauiours boundlesse merits: To whom (with thee and the holy Ghost) be all praise, power and glory, now and for euer.
Thy Eternall Maiesties lowest and least of thy vngracious seruants, IOHN TAYLOR.