Three Sermons, Preface
The Preface.
BEloued in Chriſt Ieſus, we are met together this day to performe the laſt office and duty of Charity to Chriſtian brother, an aged and reuerend gentleman, a Magiſtrate of eminent and beſt place amongſt vsus. And though I know the principall end of ſuch ſermons be the inſtruction of the liuing; yet I take it there is a lawfull and warrantable commemoration of the vertues, and deſerued praiſes of the dead, as well to ſtirre vp to praiſe God for his graces that ſhined in them, as to prouoke others to imitate their holy example. Concerning this worſhipfull Gentleman deceaſed, theſe thinges I can ſpeake neither for faſhion, nor for flattery. For Religion, the principall commendation of all men, of meaner, or higher place in the world, this teſtimony we can all giuegive him; that he was an ancient, and conſtant profeſſor of the truth, now taught and maintained in this Church of England; yea a man delighted in the title of a profeſſour of the ſtricteſt ſort; a thing that moſt great ones throw of with that odious nickname of Puritaniſme. For louelove of this truth theſe worthy euidences he gaue of it, while health laſted, an ordinary, attentiue, delightfull, and, as I perſwade my ſelfe, a profitable hearer. In this kind that one thing is eminent, his care to furniſh this place where himſelfe was an ordinary hearer, with a Miniſter of ſome competent ability to inſtruct the people, and free from ſcandall in life. And herein how free he was from all Simoniacall practiſes, my ſelfe am a thankefull witneſſe; and the ſame teſtimonie can many others giuegive him touching my predeceſſor whoſe ſoule is now with God, a rare and worthy example. And if ſuch vertues were capable of bequeathment, I could wiſh he had left this commendable part amongſt others for a Legacy to men in his ſort; to ſee the cunning couetous dealing of moſt men in this kind it is lamentable, ſuch reſeruations and annuall gratuities, ſuch curtolling of Miniſters maintenance, as Hanun vſed the garments of Dauids ſeruants, they are cut off by the middle. And Michas his wages, ten ſhekells of ſiluer, a liuery, and meate and drinke, a large allowance for a Miniſter, and indeed fit maintenance for ſuch Chaplaines, but yet a filthy practiſe in ſuch Patrons. For practiſe of life, ſubiect to frailties, and who is free? But for aught I know cleare from notorious crimes; If any hauehave beene ſo credulous as to cenſure him vponupon bare rumour, let him remember, that ſuch credulity agrees not with charity, and let him feare, leaſt the hard meaſures he hath mete vntounto this gentleman, be no… rendred him double in Gods iuſt iudgement. For ſtate and calling, a Magiſtrate of higheſt place amongſt vsus; employed in affaires of weightieſt importance; a good argument of his tryed fidelity: For louelove of his Country conſpicuous; for diſpatch of buſineſſe ſpeedy, and painefull, yea euen in time of weakeneſſe: And as I hauehave heard, bewailing his weakeneſſe for noe one thing more, then that it diſabled him for ſeruice of the Country. Come we to behauiour in ſickneſſe, it pleaſed God to afflict him with a long, violent and painefull diſeaſe; yet this hath bin obſerued in him, that he neuer vttered any one ſpeech of impatience, and diſcontentment at the hand of God. So great patience vnderunder ſo great afflictions argues (me thinkes) ſome apprehenſion of Gods louelove euen in afflictions. And that we might ſee his conſtancy in louelove of the truth, when God had debarred him from the congregation, be was not onelyonly willing, but deſirous to heare in priuate; often melting into teares, as well at the propounding of Gods ſweete mercies, as at reproofes and denuntiations of iudgements. In priuate conference deſirous and glad to be farther informed touching his owne eſtate, and meanes of Saluation, anſwering with teares to moſt things propounded; to me a good arguargument of a contrite heart, which God hath promiſed not to deſpiſe. In the laſt agony ſo long as God gaue memory often calling on that ſweete name of Ieſu for helpe, mercy, pardon of ſinnes. Yet when ſome diſtractions were on him through violence of paines, able and ready to giuegive a reaſon of his hope, being demanded of the ground of his hope of Saluation he profeſſed to cleaue only to the merits of Chriſt: demanded againe a reaſon of his hope to hauehave part in Chriſts merits; he thus anſwered; becauſe I ſeeke him: and ſurely, ſaith Dauid, thou Lord neuer faileſt them that ſeeke thee in ſincerity. Yea after vſe of outward ſenſes was gone, we often heard paſsionate callings on the name of Ieſu (I doubt not but he found ſweetneſſe in that name) to help him, and hauehave mercy on him. Theſe ſo many, and ſo worthy preſcriptions, methinkes muſt needes wring from the moſt vncharitable amongſt vsus at least a hopefull perſwaſion that he dyed Gods Child. And for mine owne part I cannot but profeſſe more then a hope that his ſoule is with God. If any man thinke I hauehave beene too prodigall of his prayſes, let him thus iudge, that Chriſtian charity as it loues not to tenter the ſins of others, but euer to extenuate human fraileties, ſo is it delighted to amplifie to the vtmost the iuſt praiſes of them it reſpects. Yet this withall; if I hauehave any way faulted; I feare it is rather in omiſsions through forgetfulneſſe, then in any ſort by ouerreaching thruogh flattery.