A Wedding-Ring Fitted, Title page – Dedication
A VVEDDING-RING, FITTED TO THE FINGER OF EVERY PAIRE THAT HAVE OR SHALL MEETE IN THE FEARE OF GOD: OR, THAT DIVINE CIRCLE OF HEAVENLY LOVE, WHEREIN man and wife ſhould walke all their dayes. THE POSIE WHEREOF IS AN expreſſion of A good Husbands Kindneſſe towards his vertuous wife, with her retaliacion of like affection.
LONDON, Printed by ELIZ. ALLDE for EDWARD BLOVNT. 1632.
To my worthy and much honoured friends, M aſter William Hackwill Eſquire, one of his Maieſties Iuſtices of Peace for the Countie of Buckingham, with his truely vertuous and religious Bedfellow, Miſtris Elizabeth Hackwill, the dew of Heauen, and fatneſſe of the Earth, Grace and Peace bee multiplied in Ieſus Chriſt.
WOrſhipfull, and right dearely beloued: I hauehave often ſought opportunitie to ſalute you ioyntly; acknowledging my ſelfe your debtor many wayes, & which is more; vnable to ſatisfie any: it was the griefe of Darius, that he ſhould die indebted to his friend, which departing he bewayled, as his laſt, not his leaſt miſ-hap, hauing receiued a courteſie, hee ſhould not liue to requite it. if ſuch an acknowledgement may not goe in part of payment, I might deſpaire; hauing receiued many from you, both while J liued neere you, as ſince my remouall at your motion, into theſe parts (diſtance of place hath not ſtopt the current of affection, nor abſence begot obliuion) and yet find my ſelfe able to doe no more: onelyonly this is my comfort, Good-will hath not beene wanting; if abilitie anſwered deſire, you ſhould find me as readie to pay, as to confeſſe: J would not faigne a debt; to encreaſe it, the propertie of inſinuating flatterie; neither would I denie it, where it is due, the guiſe of ſeruile baſeneſſe; iudging it better thus to publiſh my owne pouertie, then to be cenſured as vngratefull, or of my friends forgetfull.
Preaching at the Marriage of Mr. Iohn Berrie.Occaſion lately directed my meditations vponupon this ſubiect: wherein the mutuall happineſſe of your choyce, did often preſent it ſelfe vntounto my thoughts; the matter and manner of handling;
(If the teſtimonie of an experienſt friend may be thought impartiall) applying it ſelfe moſt fully & fitly to you both; that I could not forbeare to impart it as a meſſenger of thankfulneſſe, no worke of worth; except you bee pleaſed by acceptation, to make it worth peruſing: here you may read your ſelues, and be ſtir'd vp to bleſſe God, the maker of Marriages, for his good prouidence in your meeting; here you may ſee that Wedding-ring, which you both put on, in conceit and reſolution, at the Marriage-day; that Diuine Circle or heauenly round of heartie reflecting-louelove, wherein you doe, and all married perſons ſhould moue during life; to account of their owne vertuous mates, as excelling others; am I deceiued? or experience hath taught mee what I hauehave written: no more: neither may I ſpeake; what I hauehave ſeene and obſerued, of your happineſſe in this kind: liue long more happy; it is lawfull to pray, as Ioab for Dauid: 2. Sam. 24.3.The Lord your God adde vntounto it an hundred-fold, that your eyes may ſee it: the Lord increaſe your content daily, and double the portion of the ſauing graces of his Spirit vponupon you both: otherwiſe I cannot ſteed you; prayers you ſhall not want, while I remaine.
From my ſtudie in Barſtaple, Ianuary 1. 1630. W. CROMPTON.