The orthodox foundation of religion long since collected by that iudicious and elegant man, Mr. Henry Ainsworth, for the benefit of his private company, and now divulged for the publike good of all that desire to know that Cornerstone, Christ Jesus crucified / by S.W.

TO MY MVCH HONOVRED, THE two vertuous young Gentlewomen, M^ris Elionor Carent, and M^ris Elionor Warre, Cousin Germans in the flesh, Concordants in the Spirit, and Co-inhabitants under the domesticke government of the Right Worshipfull, and truly religious Matron M^ris Amy Long widow, of Steeple Ashton, in the County of Wilts, my singular good friends, and neighbours, peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost, be mul∣tiplied here in this life, and endlesse glory be assured hereafter, in the life to come.

Sweete Lady,

AS I desire not to flatter your apparent youthfull, and fu∣ture hopefull deserts, both for your Christian professi∣on, and godly conversation: so for your farther incou∣ragement herein, I feare not to publish to the World (under your only protection & coun∣tenance) this insuing Treatise, wherein my ayme is onely at Gods Glory, the Churches good, and your acceptance. It hath in a Ma∣nuscript long lyen by mee, as a dead letter,

without any vulgar use; but now having the approbation of some judicious Divines my Friends and Acquaintance, I am resolved (maugre all the malice of Belial's Brats, who fancy nothing but to satiate themselves with terrene pleasures and profits) to propose it to the reading & perusing of all that chearfully endeavour to know the Lord Iesus, and him crucified, to the salvation of their soules; in comparison whereof the whole World, & all things therin cannot afford the least parallel.

Let mee make so bold with you (lovely M^ris Carent) as to call to your remembrance, how Solomon (unto whom your Sexe is much be∣holding for divine instructions) concludes his Proverbs; Favour is deceitfull, and beauty is va∣nity, but the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised: wherin (be it spoken in verity with∣out any obsequiousnesse) you have exceeded many of your Sexe, and Age, but yet I know that you acknowledge,* 1.1 that it is the Lord on∣ly that hath put this feare in your heart, and I pray God continue it unto the end;* 1.2 then shall his eyes be alwayes upon you,* 1.3 and nothing shal be wanting unto you, to make you com∣pleat

in the whole duty of man,* 1.4 & then shall you be incomparably more rare and preti∣ous in the sight of God in respect of your soule, then you are now faire, and comely in the eyes of man in regard of your body. I doubt not, but you well consider, what an in∣valuable thing it is to be one of the Lords Iewels; as all his children are termed, Mal. 3.17. whereas others are compared to the loath∣somest of all vessels,* 1.5 wherein there is no plea∣sure. Muster up, I pray you, all the devout wo∣men, from Sarah the mother of the faithfull, Heb. 11.11. to the Elect Lady, to whom S. John dedicated his second Epistle, and you shall find a whole Army to animate you in the Lords battell, and receive in the end with them the Salary of your victory, 2 Tim. 4.7. Once more, meditate upon the Honourable Prerogatives Gods children have: for their noblenesse they are the Sons of God; for their education, they are the Schollers of Christ; for their protection, the Angels are their servants; for their calling, they are Saints; for their riches, it is Christ, and with him all things else; for their life, it is spirituall, for

their death, it is pretious in Gods owne sight, and their birth-day to all felicity.

Now to conclude; that you are already of this Tribe, I am throughly perswaded, ear∣nestly imploring the highest Mercie Seat, that you may so persist to the end. In the in∣terim, let mee beseech you diligently to read this your owne Booke, and the Lord give his Blessing, that you may increase your knowledge of him, your faith in him, your delight to serve him, and your feare to offend him; which the Almighty granting, and you my misprisions pardoning, you have nobly gratified the poore endeavours of

Your reall and affe∣ctionate friend SAMUEL WHITE.

Polsholt, the first Moneth of this hopefull yeare. 1641.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Jer. 32.40.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 35.18.
• * 1.3

  Ps. 34.9.
• * 1.4

  Eccl. 12.13.
• * 1.5

  Hos. 8.8.