A Lasting Jewel for Religious Women, Title page – Dedication
A LASTING IEWELL, FOR RELIGIOVS WOEMEN.
In the ſumme of a Sermon, Preached at the Funerall of Miſtris MARY CROSSE, late Wife of Mr. HENRY CROSSE of Barneſtaple in the Countie of Deuon Merchant, Nouemb. 11. 1628. and now publiſhed with ſome Additions.
With a briefe deſcription of her life and death.
By WILLIAM CROMPTON, Preacher of the Word of God at Barneſtaple in Deuon.
Thus ſhall it be done to them whom the Lord will honour.
LONDON, Printed for EDVVARD BLOVNT. 1630.
TO THE WORSHIPFVLL CHRISTOPHER BLACKHALL Eſquire, and to the vertuous Gentle-woman, Miſtris DOROTHIE BLACKHALL, his Wife, Grace, Mercy, and Peace.
WOrſhipfull Sir, my loſſe hath occaſioned this gaine to the Church, the death of my deareſt friend giuing life to this Monument: Iacob erects a Pillar vponupon the Graue of his beloued Rachell, Gen. 35.20. my deſire was, the memory of mine might not periſh; nor her Vertues with her body, be buried in the Land, where all things are forgotten: for that end I hauehave at length preuailed to make that publike, which was deliuered vponupon a ſhort warning (the ſpeaker limited both for time and Text) at her funerall: neither knew I any to whom I might more fitly Dedicate the ſame (of right belonging to her neereſt Kinſman) then to your ſelfe, with your vertuous ſecond: deare ſhee was vntounto you, while liuing, and I know the fragrant ſmell of a bruiſed roſe, will not be vnwelcome, though dead. I could not then wiſh her to liue ſtill in miſery; I now deſire ſhee may liue in memory; according to the promiſe of God, made vntounto his Saints; Pſal. 112.6. Prou. 10.7. The memory of the iuſt is bleſſed; and the righteous ſhall be had in euerlaſting remembrance.
Worthy Sir, if you may hereby reape any comfort, I ſhall hauehave the more content; if God may hauehave any glory, the Church any benefite, religious Woemen encouragement hence, the Author, I know, obtaines his expected reward: who otherwiſe was vnwilling to feele againe the laſhes of this cenſuring Age. Thus, not doubting to finde a kinde acceptance of a good meaning; I commit all to the bleſſing of God, leauing you and yours to the rich mercies of God our Father in Chriſt, and reſt now as euer,
Barum, this 14. Nouemb. 1629. Your Worſhips Kinſman to be commanded, in what I am able, HENRY CROSSE.