And one of the angels (saith Saint
John) spake, saying unto me, "What
are they, which are arrayed in long white
garments; and whence come they?" (before
the people, before sealed by the angel). And
I said unto him, "Lord, thou wottest!"
And he said unto me, "These are they
which came out of great tribulation; and
washed their garments, and made
them white in the blood of the
Lamb. Therefore are they in
the presence of the Throne of
GOD, and serve Him, day and
night, in His Temple:
and He that sitteth
in the Throne
will
dwell among
them."
To the Right Honourable
Lord Parr, Marquis of Northampton;
Thomas Price, your Lordship's daily Orator,
wisheth continual increase of grace,
concord, and consolation in Him
that is, was, and is to come,
even the First and
the Last.
Amen.
It may please your goodness, Honourable Lord! to receive in good part, the little labour of my pen: which, albeit the rudeness and quantity thereof procureth not to be dedicate[d] to so honourable a Personage; yet the matter itself is of such worthiness, as duly deserveth to be graven in gold. But who goeth about so finely to depict with Apelles's instrument, this said Register, thinking to exceed the rest? Not I! poor wretch! because I am assured that such a worthy work as thereof may be written, cannot, neither shall pass untouched among so many godly learned. But were it, that no man hereafter should, in more ample and learned manner, set forth the same; yet should my presumption (if I so meant) be turned to reproach: for this I believe, that they be in such sort registered in the Book of the Living, as passeth either pen, ink, or memory to declare.
This my simplicity and too bold attempt might move your Honour to conjecture in me much rudeness, or, at the least, might persuade me so to think: but that experience hath showed me the humility and gentleness of your long tried patience; the certain knowledge whereof hath pricked me forward in this my pretence. And being thereunto requested of a faithful brother and friend; I have, with more industry than learning, GOD knoweth! finished the same.
Which being, as I thought, brought to good end; I desired, according to the accustomed manner, to dedicate the same unto such [an] one, as would not contemn so simple a gift. And calling you to mind, Right Honourable Lord! I knew none more meet. First, because your knowledge in Christ teacheth you the same godly and virtuous life; which not only your Lordship, but all other Honourable, &c., ought to ensue. Secondly, because these late years, you have had good experience of the troubles and miseries of the faithful, which have patiently embraced in their arms, the comfortable, although painful, cross of Christ; which, in so great a number, is commonly not so plenteous as commendable. But what stand I praising this patience in them (which yet deserveth the same)? seeing the mighty GOD and His Christ hath prepared, from everlasting, for such, a glorious, rich and incomprehensible Crown of Felicity and continual comforts.