Samuels Funeral, Title page – Dedication
SAMVELS FVNERALL. OR A SERMON PREACHED AT THE FVNERALL of Sir ANTHONIE COPE Knight, and Barronnet.
BY Mr. ROBERT HARRICE.
PSALME 37. verſ. 37.
Marke the perfect man, and behold the vpright, for the end of that man is peace.
AT LONDON Printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, and are to be ſold at the ſigne of the Talbot in Pater-noſter row. 1618.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL THE LADIE ANNE COPE, LATE WIFE to Sir A. C. Knight, and Barrennet at Brewdene, &c.
MADAM, Your right is greateſt to this Sermon, as being heire to the man, though not to his lands: what he was, I neede not tell your Ladiſhip; nor will I ſay of you as once one ſaid of a Romane Ladie: I know not, Hic haeres vxoris at haereditatis alij poſſeſſores. Hiero. of Pammach. and Paulina. Valer. of Cornelia; Neſeis an faeliciorem dixerim, quòd talem vir… habuerit, an miſeriorem quòd amiſerit. l.4. Nec doleas quòd talem amiſeris, ſed gaudeas quòd talem habueris. Ier. to Heliodor. for his nephew.whether your vnhappineſſe be greater in now looſing him, then was your happineſſe in once enioying him. A Chriſtian may be happy in loſſes and croſſes, as well as otherwhere; and wee in Chriſts ſchoole muſt learne with Iob, to bleſſe God for friends paſt, as well as preſent; and rather praiſe him for once lending them, then ouergrieue for his calling for them againe. The time will be better ſpent, if (leauing theſe impertinencies) I call vponupon your Ladiſhip, and my ſelfe, for ſome improuement of this croſſe: and firſt (Madame) let vsus obſerue the crookednes of our nature, which neither feares croſſes till it feeles them, nor ſees mercies till they are out of ſight; it being with the ſoule as with the eye, that ſees nothing that is not ſomwhat diſtant frō it. Next, be pleaſed (I pray) to conſider the vanity of this world, what is now leſt of your Honourable husband more then his goodnes? Where is health, where is beauty, where is honour now? In how ſhort a ſpace were two of the chiefeſt flowers in the Copes garden withered? Ah (Madame) it is grace, it is grace and wiſedome that will cauſe our face to ſhine, and name to liue: as for the glory of this world, it is like a rotten poſt, that ſhines indeed, but it is onelyonly in the darke; neuer build vponupon it, for all its gliſtering, it is but a rotten poſt. Thirdly, remember we (I beſeech you) our owne eſtate: indeed it were much if we ſhould forget death, Salus corporis, patrimonium pauperis. Aug. in Pſal. 76.who are aboue halfe dead. For mine owne part, the Lord hath already ſtript me of the poore mans portion, health: for your Ladiſhips, a great part of your ſelfe is now turned into duſt, ſeeing parēts, childrē, husbands are gone before you, and death hath come very neare you, when thrice it hath cut off your head; the time will ſhortly come when you alſo muſt yeeld to the ſtroke of death. In the meane, I beſeech you remember S. Iohns words, in an Epiſtle to another Ladie, Looke to your ſelfe, that wee loſe not thoſe things which wee hauehave wrought, but that wee receiue a full reward: indeed your loſſe will bee ours too (for wee expect a tithe in heauen of our heauenly encreaſe, as well as heere): and therefore (good Madame) husband your ſoule well, ſowe much, worke much, giuegive much, pray much, and you and wee ſhall ſpeed the better at that harueſt. Thus praying your fauourable conſtruction and acceptance of theſe rude lines, with humble thanks for all your louelove to mee, (eſpecially to thoſe many poore members of Chriſt, to whom it pleaſeth you (thorough my hands) to conuey yeerely ſo great reliefe) I commend you to the Lords grace; who abundantly returne all that comfort vponupon you, which you hauehave ſo frankly yeelded to ſo many naked backes, and hungry bellies in this Church. From Hanwell, Iuly 11. the ſame day whereon (foure yeeres before) your worthy husband was there interred.
Your Ladiſhips in all Chriſtian ſervices, RODERY HARRICE.