The Art of Building Comfort, Title page – Defense of epitaph
ARCHITECTONICE CONSOLATIONIS: OR, THE ART OF BVILDING COMFORT: OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF THAT RELIGIOVS GENTLE-WOMAN, IANE GILBERT; TO BE STVDIED: AND WITH ALL A PLATFORME OF COMFORT TO BE RAISED VP BY HER HVSBAND WILLIAM GILBERT DOCTOR IN DIVINITY.
Ierem. 8. 22. Queſtion. Is there no balme in Gilead? Is there no Phyſitian there?
Rom. 15 4 Anſwer. Whatſoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through Comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Reaſon. Aegrotanti animo Medious eſt Oratio Conſolatoria.
Comfortable words are a Phyſitian for one not well in minde: even to cure One Sicke at the Heart.
1 Theſ. 4. 18. Illation. Wherefore Comfort one another with theſe Words.
London, Printed by Iohn Legatt, for G. Lantham and are to be ſold at the ſigne of the Biſhops-head in Pauls-Church-yard. 1640.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE EDWARD LORD VISCOVNT CONAWAY, AND …ILVLTA, BARON OF RADGLEY MARSHALL OF IRELAND, AND ONE OF HIS Majeſties Moſt Honourable Privie Councell of ….
May it pleaſe your Honour,
TO admit this Act of Recordation, that 'tis full Fourteene yeares ſince the happy Aſpect of your gracious Favour did reflect upon me, for my good both by Sea, and Land: which left in me ſuch an Impreſsion of the Character of your Noble and Religious Diſpoſition, that to this very Day edgeth a freſh deſire to take this advantagious (though in another reſpect, a ſad) Opportunity to teſtifie my dutifull reſpect to your Honour. It may be, this Art of Building Comfort is not ſo artificially, and laboriouſly compoſed, as you have heard, and was pleaſed to countenance ſome Vniverſitie-Pieces of mine: there might be more oyle beſtowed on them, to varniſh the Face of their ſtyle; but this Treatiſe is allowed more Wine to comfort the Heart of the Reader. This induced me to preſent to your gracious Acceptation, this Earneſt of that Debt of Thankfulneſſe, wherein both your Favours, and Deſerts (tàm Arte, quàm Marte) have bound me to you: a ſmall Earneſt is ſufficient to binde the greateſt Contract 'twi…t a bountifull hand, and a thankfull Heart. Let this be ſuch of my Gratitude, and not onelyonly a Pledge of Mine, but a Remembrance of Hers, (I meane my dead Wife) whoſe Living Thankfulneſſe to God for your Favours to me, you had, though not made knowne unto you. And if your more then ordinary Employments will permit you to read over, either Her deſerved Commendation: or Her Epitaph which is much too narrow for her worth, (both are in the adjoyning Pages) then I hope your Lordſhip will have no cauſe to repent the Dedication of this Treatiſe. In the meane time my Experimentall knowledge, that in you the Nobilitie of Deſcent and Minde concurre: the Eminencie of Parts in your ſelfe, and Affabilitie of Diſpoſition to others do mutually reflect each on the other: which Harmonie may well challenge this my voluntary Oblation, as a neceſſary Obligation, that for ever tyes me to fixe my Devotions on Heaven, and heartily to pray for your temporall, ſpirituall, and eternall Happineſſe.
Your Honours to diſpoſe of William Gilbert.
EPITAPH. AND A DEFENCE OF IT.
THE Imputation of Superſtition or Gentiliſme in them that raiſe up Memorials of the Dead is eaſily wiped away. 1. By Reaſon. 1. By Reaſon.1. 'Tis an Honour to the Dead, to have their Memories ſurvive them. 2. 'Tis a comfort to the Living to treaſure up the worthy Acts of the Dead. 3. The Religious, vertuous Practiſe of the Dead, is an admirable Paterne for the Living to worke by. 2. By 2. By Scripture.Scripture; where are Pillars ſet up as Civill Monuments, and Remembrances of mens Fame Abſalom reared up for himſelfe a b.2 Sam 18. 18.Pillar to keepe his Name in Remembrance. But yet which is more appoſite and adaequate to my purpoſe. Rachel dyed, And Iacob ſet a Pillar upon her grave bGen. 35. 19, 20.. Iacob? a Preſident unparallel'd. Therefore will I lay a Grave-ſtone on my wife, and ſet this Commemorative Epitaph upon it.
The Remaines of Iane Gilbert.
Favour is deceitfull, and Beauty is vaine: but a woman that Feareth the Lord, She ſhall be praiſed.
Prov. 31. 30.
The Ring of her Life ſet with the Diamond of Feare:
Th' Poeſie of Faith: to Truſt in my God, All my Care.
Her Hope tryed like Gold: And the Circle of Her Love
From God to man, from man to God againe did move.
1639. Septemb. 4. And She dyed.