Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

TO THE READER.

EXceptions are easier prevented, than removed; a dim eye may fore-fee such as this Book must en∣counter, reducible to two heads, as made either against the Author, or Matter thereof. Against the Author, as if it were presumption in him, no Scholar by profession, to adventure on such a design; It is answerd; First, I know no such Monopoly, for Scholars to engrose Book-making to themselv••s: Secondly, He hath from his Child-hood conversed with Books and Book-men; and, alwaies being where the Frankincense of the Temple was offer∣ed, there must be some perfume remaining about him. Lastly, What he lacks in Learning, he hath supplyed in industry; In∣deed, filling stones, which require more pains for portage, then art for polishing, are in their kind (though not so gracefull) as useful as squared stones, and as much benefit may redound from the reading of this Book, as from those of more elaborate composure.

Against the matter of the Book it may be objected; That it is taken out of other Mens Books, and Sermons; But was it not, I pray, true of the Ax, of the Son•• of the Prophet, 2 Kings 6. 5. Alas, it was borrowed? Is the Spiders poyson the better for being suckt out of her self, or Bees h••ny the worse, for being extracted from flowers? Some Mens ••ooks are indeed meer Kites-nests, a collection of stolen thing••, such are pure Pla∣giares, without any grateful acknowledg••ment; but herein the

Ingenuity of our Author is commendable, that on the Margin he hath entred the names of such, at whose Torch he hath lighted his Taper; and I am confident, that by such quotations, he hath revived the memories of many Worthies, and of their speeches, which otherwise had utterly been lost.

The Title acquaints us with the nature of the Book, Things NEW and OLD. Onely to propound things New and New, doth please rather then profit, and more tickle the itch of the ears, then satisfie the appetite of the Soul: On the other side, to pre∣sent us with things Old and Old, doth shew a lazy Writer, and will make a weary Reader; such Books are like an im∣perfect Map of the World, wherein all America is want∣ing. This Author hath endeavoured to compound both toge∣ther, and I hope with good success; And like as changeable Taffata, having the woof, and the warp of different colour, seemeth sundry stuffes to several standers by; so will this Book appear, with wrinckles and gray-headed to the lovers of Anti∣quity, smooth and with doun 〈◊〉〈◊〉 such, to whom Novelty is most delightfull; He doth desire ••nd hope, that his Book shall find that candor of course, a••d courtesie generall (which Cu∣stome hath almost made a due) to forgive all venial (though false Divinity, true Morality) mistakes. But the Reader will catch cold, by keeping him too long in the porch of this Pre∣face, who now (the door being opened) may enter into the House it selfe, with the best wishes of

From my Chamber in Sion Coll. London, Jan. 10th. 1657.

Thy servant in Christ Jesus, THO. FULLER.