Samuels Funeral, To the reader
TO THE GODLY READER.
THis Sermon, at it was neuer meant to the Preſſe, ſo bath it been kept from it almost foure yeeres: Now it is conſtrained to ſhew it ſelfe, as ſometimes Trinces bee, leſt ſome counterfeit ſteale their name, and vſurpe their place. Whileſt Samuels body ſlept, the aSo Auſten paſſim; immundus ſpiritus, malignus ſpiritus.diuell would be Samuel, & deceine with bImage Samuelis, ſumilitudo Sam, imaginaria ſimulatio Samuel, &c. ſo others v. D. Rayn. leſt.ſhewes, I had reaſon to feare ſome ſuch like ingling with Samuels funerall, being fore-threatned. In this extremity, if I had rather my owne child beare my name then a baſtard, blame mee not. Now thou ſeeſt it, take me with thee a little, before thou readeſt it: Know, that the firſt point onelyonly was enlarged, the reſt thus briefly (as thou findeſt them) touched by reaſon of haſt, being tyed to an houre. Secondly, know, that I neuer wrote forth theſe notes but once, and that is the reaſon of the moſt of the marginall quotations and references, it being now my ordinary practice to referre my ſelfe in priuate notes to ſuch Authors, as hauehave written (within my memory and reading) of the ſame ſubiect, although in publike I quote ſparingly. Thirdly, vnderſtand the true reaſon of my forbearing perſonall praiſes in the cloſe: my text gaue me occaſion of ſaying ſomthing before, & me thought it handſomer to lay al my ſtuffe vponupon the foundation, then to ſet vp a leane-to. Secondly, I remembred what a wiſe man ſaid, Sapientia non quaerit vocis teſtimon um, ſed operum. Hierod. in Math. lib. 2.Wiſdome grounds vponupon mens workes, rather then words. Thirdly and eſpecially, I finde the practice (though in it ſelfe lawful) exceedingly abuſed, I hauehave no leiſure now to take vp the complaints of worthy Writers againſt this abuſe; onelyonly I could wiſh, that our age would diſtinguiſh betwixt funerall Orations, and funerall Sermons, as former ages hauehave done, and not confound ſo different things. It is fit that grace ſhould be followed euen to heauen with honour: but oh that eueryevery of Chriſts meſſengers would remember his maſter, and before he ſpeakes, aske himſelfe the queſtion; Would my Lord and maſter ſpeake this himſelfe, were he now to preach in perſon? but I must not dwell in the porch. One thing more before I leaue thee, thou ſeest the guiſe of this world, Printers get copies for their profit; Readers buy and reade for their pleaſure, and (perhaps) ſome print too for their credit: but where is the man that proiects his owne ſpirituall good? Ʋerily the number of ſuch is ſmall, be thou of that number, make ſome vſe of others liues, of others deaths, trifle not as many doe: what is this ſame R. H. &c? who was this A. C. a good or a bad man, &c? bee thou godly, and I care not what thou eſteemest of me: as for this worthie Gentleman in ſpeech, vnderſtand, that as I neuer flattered him liuing; ſo will I not deifie him (as the Heathen did their Patrones) being dead. Herodian.He had his wants, his faults, nor did wee concurre in all opinions: but I would that thou and I, and eſpecially men of his owne rank would follow him in theſe particulars: first, in praying most earneſtly, and particularly againſt our ſpecial ſinnes; ſecondly, in louing and reuerencing our own teachers; and that ſo much the more, by how much the more frecly and plainly they reprone vsus. For theſe things (not to ſpeake of other particulars) much commend the truth of that Honourable Knight, that in his ſtanding prayers with his family, hee would ſhame himſelfe moſt in his confeſſions for his owne moſt ſpeciall ſinnes. And againe, as he much reſpected, and greatly countenanced eueryevery learned and vnſcandalous Preacher: ſo most of all thoſe that leaſt fauoured his corruptions; often bleſſing God for ſuch teachers as would not giuegive him rest in ſinne, and not ſeldome prouoking them, at leaſt my ſelfe (to ſpeake of my owne knowledge onelyonly) with ſuch like words: Goe on, ſpare vsus not; though corruption may buſle a while, yet God will giuegive vsus hearts to come in at length, and to ſubmit to the ſcepter of his Word; howſoeuer, it ſhall bee a Preachers Crowne to be faithfull, and to baulke none. Thus bee many a time to mee in priuate, after that I had been (as the world thought) ſharpe enough with him in publike. Oh that we had more ſuch Knights, ſuch hearers now! But I forget my ſelfe to remember thee of a dutie, Shall I ſay on: thing more in his bonour? The Papists neuer loued him; and therefore if they in thy hearing now perſecute his name, ſay as a Father once ſaid of a cruell perſecuter, That religion which they ſo perſecute, must needs be excellent: This I can aſſure thee, his end was moſt comfortable, and his honour no way obſcured, nor his memorie loſt in his owne country by death. More then this I hauehave not now to ſay to thee, onelyonly remember, that thou haſt gotten one more witneſſe againſt thee in the last day, by reading this Sermon, vnleſſe thou put it to ſome vſe. Farewell.
Thine in the Lord, R. H.