publications of Rev. John Wing

The Dedication of Rev. John Wing's first book "The Crown Conjugal", printed November, 1620. Rev. John Wing inscribes it:

"To the Right Worshipful Master Matthew Peke Esquire, Mayor of the Towne and Port of Sandwich, and to the Worshipful, the Jurates his brethren, the Common Counsell and whole Corporation of the Same John Wing, doth with Grace and Peace and all good from living God through the love of our Lord Jesus Christ by the worke of the Holy Spirit. Your former favours, and the aboundant fruits of your love Right Worshipful and welbeloved in the Lord, which I have from time to time experienced, ever since it pleased the Lord to cast affliction upon mine external state, doe daily provoke and deeply challenge from me, the manifestation of a thankfull hart unto you all, to whose kindness I stand a Debtor much engaged to this day."

Also written in the Crown Conjugal, Rev. John Wing wrote in the forward;
"To the Christian Reader"

"If I have spoken truth who neede protect me? If not who can? All the powers under heaven are insufficient to support error, and the truth is able to sustain itself against the gates of hell."

"And because we have but very few English forces in this land, I seeing the want, have thereupon, (though but weake) resolved to make one, and to doe my best to rescue the honour and happiness of this Ordinance of God. My armour is not guilded, nor my weapon damask or engraven; my care is to handle all the proofe, noe matter how plaine, for I intend not to trayne, or make a flourish, but profess to fight."

The Best Merchandise was printed in 1622 and is dedicated "To the Right Worshipful and worthy friends Mayor Edward Bennett, Dep. the Corporation and Generality the famous fellowship of Merchants Adventures of England, residents of Delft, in Holland." It was preached at Middleburg, in Zeeland, immediately before the removal of the Merchants Adventurers from England to Delft. The book contains 138 printed pages and was printed in Flushing by Martin Abraham Vander Nolck, dwelling at the sign of the Printing House 1622." Reverend John Wing was then living in Flushing, for after signing his name to the dedication, he adds: "From my house in Flushing, March 26, 1622."

Abel's Offereing, or The Early And Most Accepted Sacrifice Of a Christian is dedicated "To the Right Honorable, Theophilas, Lord Clinton, Earle of Lincoln, with the virtuous and the Right Honorable, the Lady Bridget, his wife, and to the Right Honorable, William, Lord Say and Seale, with the virtuous Right Honorable, the Lady Elizabeth, his wife....John Wing, a poore unworthy Minister of Jesus Christ, wisheth all increase of all true honour and Happiness with God and Men."

Samuel Austin Allibone, in the "Dictionary of Authors," makes mention of Mr. Wing's publications: "Wing, John, pastor of the English congregtion at Flushing, Zeeland: The Crowne Conjugal, or The Spouse Royall, Middlebury, 1620, 4 to 2. Jacob's Staffe To Beare Up The Faithfull And To Beat Down The Profane, 1621, 4 to 3. The Best Merchandise, 1622. (To these we must add, Abel's Offering and The Saints Advantage

Five of the volumes of John Wing's publications are held by the British Museum and have been seen and examined there by several members of the Wing Family from America.

"The Saints Advantage" is a part of the great John Adams collection in the Boston Public Library, and was at one time owned by Thomas Prince, the New England annalist. Mr. Prince was born in 1687 and lived at Sandwich about the beginning of the 18th century. It is thought that he secured the book from some one of the descendants of the Rev. John Wing that lived there. The book is carefully guarded under lock and key by the keepers of the library. Mr. Prince made this note on the title page: "This Wing was Pastor of ye English Puritan Chh. at Middleborough in Zeeland, wh. widow bro't her children to Sandwich in New England who afterwards turned Quaker and frm whm ye Wings at Sandwich, Wareham, Rochester and Dartmouth are descended.

In September 1908, Mr. George Wing Sisson, at that time Vice President of the Wing Family of America Incorporated, received from Miss Miriam H. L. Wing, of Coventry, England ,a bound volume containing "Jacob's Staffe", "The Best Merchandise" and "Abel's Offering" bound within the same covering. Miss Wing, the daughter of an English clergyman stated that the volume had been purchased by her father of a London bookseller, principally because the author bore his surname. (All five of Rev. John's published sermons have been reprinted by a family member and were at various times offered for sale at the "Fort House", about 1980-1990). Over 800 pages of his writings and preachings are accessbile to those of his posterity living today. They reveal to us a man of strong spirtuality, classic learning, masterful characteristics, ready wit, fierce invective, a facile pen and a ready tongue. He lived in an age of cant and long-winded rhetoric, and at times his preachings take on the color of the age, but through them all, gleams the effort to be of sincere use to his fellowmen.