To the Reader.

THat gentle Reader which
at the earnest request of
certaine my good friends, I
refused to do as diuers can
testifie necessitie now forceth
me vnto: namely, to
publish this my Sermon in
print, which at the appointment
of the reuerend father in God, my Lord the
Bishop of London, I made at Paules Crosse on the 25.
day of Iune last past: the which in words I haue very
little altered, so far as my notes and memorie would
serue me, but in matter and substance nothing at all,
as they which then heard me may easily perceiue. One
place I haue by occasion somwhat inlarged, the reason
whereof is rendred in the margent. Now heerin, specially
in the former part, handling matters of most
great controuersie between the Papists and vs, which
altogither would seeme to rely vpon the Doctors, I
vsed diuers authorities of som of the ancient fathers,
chiefly of that most excellent Doctor S. Augustine:
the causes whereof I briefly rendred in the Sermon it
selfe as it is to be seene which I thought would haue
satisfied the reasonable hearer. Notwitstanding, one,
whom I neuer heard of before that time and what he
is God knoweth shortly after in the same place as it
was reported to me did bitterly reproue me for so doing.
Whether he hath in this point, vnaduisedly, and
vncharitably abused me or not, let it be iudged by the
reading of the very same things, in the same order
that they were then vttered. The iudgement whereof
I refer to all the godly learned and discreet readers.

A 2

For my part, I take God to witnes, who is the searcher
of all mens harts, that I tooke this busines in
hand, in the feare of God, directing my whole Sermon
to these ends principally, that our faith might bee
grounded vpon the onely truth of Gods word: that
false counterfet religion might be detected an abhorred:
that all worldly confidence and wickednes
might be auoided: and that true Christian peace possessing
our harts and our minds, we might knowe and
performe our dutie towards God and our Prince, and
also one towards another in this present life, that heerafter
we may enioy euerlasting life.
In the meane time, let vs take diligent heed, to
the counsell and commandement of the blessed Apostle
to the Philippians, who biddeth that nothing be
done through contention, or vaine glorie, but that in
meeknes of mind, euery man esteem other better than
himselfe. Looke not saith he euery man on his owne
things, but euery man also on the things of other men.
Then followeth immediately in the same place, the
most woonderfull example of our Sauior, who for our
sakes humbled himselfe to the lowest degree, that we
in humilitie following his most blessed example, may
by him and with him in the end be exalted.
Whereunto, that we may effectually conforme our
selues, I will conclude with the same praier, that the
Aspostle vseth, writing to the Romans: The God of
patience and consolation, giue vs, that we be like minded
one towards another, according to Christ Iesus,
that we with one mind, and with one mouth, may praise
God euen the father of our Lord Iesus Christ, Amen.

Thine in the Lord Iesus,
WILLIAM GRAVET.