The Earthly and Heavenly Building Opened, Title page – Dedication
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The EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY Building, Opened in a SERMON ON 2d. Corinthians, Chap. v. Verſe 1. AT THE FUNERAL OF THE Late Reverend Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt, Henry Hurſt, M. A. Sometime Fellow of Merton Colledge in Oxon.
Preached and publiſhed at the earneſt Deſires of his Relatives and People.
By Richard Adams, M. A. ſometimes Fellow of Brazen-Noſe Colledge in Oxon
LONDON, Printed for John Weld at the Crown between the Temple-Gates in Fleet Street, MDCIC.
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To the much reſpected Mrs. DOROTHY HƲRST, the ſorrowful Widow of Mr. HENRY HƲRST, late Miniſter of the Goſpel, together with his People, who deſired the Preaching and publiſhing of this enſuing Sermon.
THO I am ſenſible of ſeveral Failures in this Diſcourſe, which Second Thoughts might have ſomewhat amended, by expunging, altering, or adding ſomewhat which came to the Ear: Yet, that I might not incur more Cenſures, by varying much from what was preached; I have altered, added, or omitted nothing material, further than what is requiſite betwixt the Pulpit and the Preſs: That what you have made current, by your Approbation and Deſires, may hopefully paſs with fewer cenſorious Remarks.
To you the diſconſolate Relict of the Deceaſed: I heartily wiſh, for the allay of your Grief, and compoſure of your Spirit, That you would ſeriouſly deliberate upon what that excellent young Gentlewoman, in her Day, Mrs. Katherine Stubbs, ſaid to her Husband on her Death-bed, deſiring him not to mourn for her, upon this ſtrong Reaſon: That ſhe was not in a Caſe to be mourned for, but rather to be rejoiced of, for that ſhe ſhould paſs from Earth to Heaven, from Men to holy Angels, Cherubims, and Seraphims; to holy Saints, Patriarchs and Fathers, yea, to God himſelf. Changing Perſons. I doubt not, but upon the departure of your moſt pious Son Arthur, you have heard your own dear Husband, that Righteous Abel (as I may allude) comforting of you his Wife, from the ſame unanſwerable Reaſon. And being Dead he yet ſpeaketh aHeb. 11.4.: I pray you hear his Voice. Now is the time you ſhould hear his Voice from God: As you know the Day before he was ſummoned hence, in his laſt Sermon, He was preſſing the People, to Day to hear God's Voice. If you now ſtop your Ears, and do not mind it; his ſurviving Son and Daughter, your dear Children, who will yet a while be more led by their Mothers Example, than by her Directions, will heardly believe their Fathers preſent Joys. I queſtion not, but their Father ſaid to You, at your laſt great Mourning, as Elkanah ſaid to his Wife Hannah b2 Sam. 1.8., Dorothy, Why weepeſt thou? Why eateſt thou not? And why is thy Heart grieved? Am not I better to thee than Sons? Thy Maker is thy Husband, (the Lord of Hoſt is his Name. cIſ. 54.5.Doth not he ſay unto you now? Am not I better than Ten Husbands? Let theſe deareſt young ones know, that you really believe it, by your cheerful Carriage, that when Nature hath had its Courſe with decencie, and they begin to conſider what it is to want ſuch an earthly Father, as they had, they may begin to hope and ſay, Our Heavenly Father will be better to us than Ten earthly Fathers. Add not therefore to your ſweet Childrens Loſs, by caſting your ſelf into their Father's Grave; which you are likely to do, if you immoderately mourn over it. You know what your excellent Husband's laſt Lecture at High-gare was, as if it ſounded his own Knell, from Luke 2.29. Lord now letteſt thou thy Servant depart in peace, for mine Eyes have ſeen thy Salvation.
To you that were of his Congregation and ſpecial Charge, having in the cloſe of the Sermon urged a ſteddy Practice of what your worthy Paſtor did deliver and recommend to you, I ſhall add little more: Yet I would be your Remembrancer of what he recorded in his Sermon, at the Funeral of Mr. Cawton, as his Words ſpoken to his People, viz. Prize a Guide that will be faithful to your Souls; keep the Unity of the Spirit into which you are called by the Goſpel; and ſeek God earneſtly for both. I ſhall add no more, but heartily begg of God, That he would take care of the mournful Widow and hers; and of the Widowed People. And ſupply all your Wants, upon the departure of ſo obliging a Relative, through Jeſus Chriſt, the beſt Husband, and chief Shepheard. In his Hands He leaves you, who looking to Jeſus, doth commend you all to God, and to the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an Inheritance among all them which are Sanctified dAct 20.30..
Your Souls Friend and Servant, in our dear Lord Chriſt, Richard Adams. April 24. 1690.