The persecuted minister, in defence of the ministerie, the great ordinance of Jesus Christ.: Setting forth the severall names of Apostles, prophets, &c. [brace] 1. That there is a ministerial office. 2. That the sacrament of baptisme by a lay-person is invalid. 3. That necessity is no plea. 4. That the long omission of the Lords Supper is unwarrantable. With many other things, plainly and methodically handled / by William Langley late of S. Maryes in the city of Lichfield, minister ...

To the Right Worshipfull, truely Noble, and Virtuous, Sir GEORGE BOOTH Knight and Baront, Grace and Peace be multiplied.

I Presumed (Right Wor∣shipfull) to dedicate the former part to a Kinsman of your Worships, and a highly Honoured friend of mine; this pleads your Worships Patro∣nage against the oppugners of CHRISTS great Ordinance (THE MINISTERIE:) Never did any that was in this Sacred Function (if of any merit) depart asha∣med

and discontented from your face: whereas by others they are wondred at, ut pueri Junonis avem, made a spectacle unto the world, Angels, and men; and are the filth and off-scouring of all things: these scorners of so sacred an Office make a low step to their own dam∣nation; for, indignities done to the Mini∣sters of the Gospel shall not sleep in the dust, but stand up in judgement. If policy were my aime, some Bramble should be my Patron, under whose shadow I might (for the present) have shelter and pro∣tection, perhaps honour and advancement; but plain dealing is a jewell of great price, and of that worth and excellency, that (with it) I had rather embrace a mean condition, than all the world with indirect dealing and dishonesty. I have made choice of your Worship, whose Name, like a pretious ointment hath sent forth a

fragrant smell. To omit the ingenuity of your minde, generosity of spirit, milde tem∣per, and sweet disposition, with many o∣ther shining virtues; I will onely men∣tion your piety in the worship of God, and pity to all his poor distressed Members.

There are (I finde) four degrees of Honour; naturall by Birth, externall by Riches, internall by Virtue, and super∣naturall by Grace: though God hath blest you with all, yet all must crouch to the last, and kisse the Scepter of the Christian Noble; for what is to draw our pedi∣gree from Noahs flood? may we not de∣scend as well from cursd Cham, as blessed Sem? and therefore the best derivation is from Heaven.

Tota licèt veters exornent undi{que} terrae Atria, nobilitas sola est at{que} unica, virtus.

This moved Ambrose to tell Auxentius,

Quid Honorificentius quàm ut Imperator Ecclesiae Filius dicatur? VVhat Honour can be greater than that the Emperour should be call'd the Son of the Church? Let me adde, poor Man the son of God; yet this honour have all his. Theophilus was Noble, because Theophilus a lover of God. As this is your highest privilege, let me intreat you to esteeme it your highest honour, that so when all things cease and be not, you may not cease to be immortal, inestimable. Bonum est suum esse, (saith Seneca) It is a Royall thing to be a mans own; but much more to be guided by the Law of CHRIST. I grieve to see that our Age yields so few Josephs of Arimathea to step forth to their Pilates and speak for the honour of Jesus; so few Esthers that adventure their lives for the safeguard of the People, up∣on her resolved terms, If I perish, I pe∣rish;

so few Pauls that vindicate the glory of our Israel, THE MINISTERIE: though the great red Dragon hath drawn away a great part of the starres of our fir∣mament, yet (God be praised) some continue in their orbes to give light to this crooked Generation, which is to your Worship, and many more, the joy and re∣joycing of your heart.

There are, I know, too many full of subtilty that seek their overthrow, and stu∣dy their finall fall, but An curat oves oviumque magistros? Let your zeale for Truth against every opposite Errour remain constant to the provoking of others, and let them say of your Worship. Ad si∣militudinem vivimus.

VVhat I have done in this Treatise is for publick benefit, and the discharge of my duty, knowing, That Inutilis & mor∣tuus aequiparantur in lege, An unprofit∣able,

and a dead man, the law holds both alike.

Gratitude (I finde) hath made it a custome wih us, even antiently practised by sundry Heathens, that where Great∣nesse and Goodnesse have nourished the life and sap of Learning, there by a due retaliation, Learning should honour and etrnize your Memories to all future Ages.

You have opened to me the Fountain of your good opinion, which gives encou∣ragement to Dedicate these my Labours to your Worship.

Here you are onely Patron, though by your naturall gifts and observations you might be the Authour of a better piece.

I doubt not of acceptance, because I have received so many testimonies of respect, and have no other means to ex∣presse

my gratefull remembrance of your favours, than to Dedicate this Poor PA∣PER to the Memory of your lasting Name. In magnis voluisse sat est, In matters of importance the will is to be acceppted. Praying the Lord to bless your Worship, Noble Lady, and sweet Chil∣dren, with all increase of heavenly joyes, and earthly happinesse, I remain,

From my study at Lichfield, June 12. 1655.

Your Worships in all Love, Service, and Thankfulnesse, VVILL: LANGLEY.

Notes

• Juven. lib. 3, Sat. 2.