A Christians Acquiescence in Divine Providence, Title page – Dedication 1
ΗΣΥΧΙΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΟΥ, OR A CHRISTIAN'S ACQUIESCENCE In all the Products of DIVINE PROVIDENCE: Opened In a Sermon, Preached at Cottesbrook in Northampton-Shire April the 16. 1664. At the Interment of the Right Honourable, and eminently Pious Lady, the Lady ELIZABETH LANGHAM Wife to Sir JAMES LANGHAM Kt. By Simon Ford B. D. and Miniſter of Gods Word in Northampton.
Salv. de Gub. Dei L. 1. Religioſi hoc cunctis beatiores ſunt, quia & habent quae volunt, & meliora quam quae habent, omnino habere non poſſunt. At turpia atque obſcoena ſectantes; etſi juxta opinionem ſuam beati ſunt, quia adipiſcuntur quod volunt, re tamen ipſa beati non ſunt, quia quod volunt, nolle debuerant.
LONDON, Printed by R. D. for John Baker at the Peacock in St. Pauls Church-Yard. 1665.
ELIZABETHA Ferdinandi & Lucia Comitum. Huntingdoniae Filia Ja Langham Eg. A…r. A…er. & Desiderium
HONORANTES ME HONORABO NEC SINET ESSE FEROS
Imprimatur.
Tho. Grigg R. T. D. Humfr. Ep. Lond. a ſac. dom. Ex Aed. Lond. Oct. 15. 1664.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFƲL Sir JAMES LANGHAM KNIGT.
Honoured Sir,
I Have at length ſurrendred into your hands to diſpoſe of at your pleaſure, the Sermon and Narrative, which you have long called for (to uſe Quintilians phraſe) quotidiano convitio, with an importunity reflecting a continual reproach upon my ſlow diſpatch: which (though I confeſs it hath withall ſomething of natural in it, yet) principally owns it ſelf to a deſire I had (wherein I knew alſo I correſponded with yours) that the Character of your dear Lady might be perfected by all poſſible acceſſions of Intelligence for the view of Poſterity to which I underſtood you deſigned it. For although it requires not much accurateneſs (as the Sen. de Tranq.Philoſopher ſaies) ſcribere in Diem; yet aeternitati pingere, to raiſe a Monument for Ages had need be a work of ſome Time. I know not, nor ſhall I much concern my ſelf in the future Fate of my mean ſcribles; Had I the confidence to think, they have any thing of that Genius which the Poet ſaies, gives eternity to Victurus Genium debet habere liber.mens Writings, I aſſure you I would willingly contribute the utmoſt of it to Embalm the memory of a Perſonage ſo worthy to live in the remembrance of lateſt Poſterity: but having much more reaſon to fear they will prove but ſhort-lived, I doubt, when I have done my utmoſt, I ſhall only prove guilty of hindering her of the ſervice ſome better pen might have done her.
Indeed, ſhe was ſo excellent a Piece as required the Pencil of the moſt exact Apelles living to expreſs her to the Life: it being impoſſible to conceive, much leſs to delineate her rare perfections, without wronging them, by any Idea, but that of a moſt compleat vertue. She was one, that might be thought to have been born on purpoſe for the Correction of the Age ſhe lived in: but that theſe two things ſeem to argue the contrary; the one that ſhe her ſelf ſtudied ſo much to hide her ſelf from its Notice; and the other, that ſhe dyed ſo early, as not to allow it the advantage of making a full improvement of her example.
But why do I preſume to inform you, who too well underſtand it, how to rate your own Loſs, and teach your grief how much it hath to plead for the juſtification of its exceſſes? I wiſh, rather, that it were within my power to contribute any thing of aid to that Reaſon, and Grace, which (althongh you are much Maſter of them both at all other times, yet) I fear, in this Conflict, may be engaged in an unequal encounter. I know the juſt ſtandard of all Grief is judged to be its Commenſurateneſs to the Cauſe,
—Flagrantior aequo
Non debet dolor eſſe viri, nec vulnere major.Juv. ſat. 13.
and I confeſs, I could allow yours, by that proportion, ſomething of extraordinary, even the utmoſt of what Religion will indulge to the very infirmities of mortality under the greateſt of Creature-Loſſes. But I deſire you, withall, to remember, that it will not be ſafe to give the juſteſt Affection the Temptation of its utmoſt Liberty, in which the facility of exceeding may entice it beyond its bounds. I hope, you will take heed that you be not found inter exempla eorum quos dolor vicit (as the proud Stoick (for all his Sen. Epiſt. 63.profeſſed Apathy) complains of himſelf) an Inſtance of the Conqueſts of ſorrow: but rather (as Tertullian ſaies of Job) of the number of thoſe who do, Dei Feretrum de Diabolo extruere, Tertul. de Pat.by a magnanimous Patience furniſh Gods Triumphs over the Tempter, who is never in more likelihood of obtaining a Victory, than when he can draw in our Reaſon (as he did Jonah's Jonah 4. 9.) to undertake the Patronage of our Paſſions.
I know, you look upon your ſelf as obliged to be a true mourner for ſo deſerving a Wife, becauſe you were a true Lover of her: and you cannot but ſend now and then a deep ſigh after her, as tokens of your continued affection to her. In this reſpect, Mittamus donae ſpiritualia conjugi tuae, tu imitationem, & ego laudem. Aug. Cornel.let me beſpeak you as St. Auſtin doth Carnelius; I think it meet, ſaith he, that both you and I ſend tokens indeed, but ſpiritual ones, of our affection to your deceaſed Lady; on your part Imitation; on mine, Commendation. Thus He. Yea, rather, (ſay I) let both you, and I, (Sir) join both theſe together, in reference to yours; both commend her vertues, and imitate them; yea moſt really commend them, by imitating them.
To which purpoſe, I deſire (for her ſake, as being conſcious that nothing but her name can entitle it to ſuch an Honour) that this ſmall labour of mine may be admitted into your Cloſet; wherein, if the Narrative do you the unkindneſs now and then to renew your Tears, I hope the Sermon ſo near it, may contribute towards the drying them again: and let them both teſtifie, how willing I am to endeavour ſomething at leaſt (though I am ſenſible how little I have effected therein) which may witneſs to times to come how much I am,
Honoured Sir, Your moſt affectionate Servant in the work of the Lord Jeſus. Simon Ford. Northampton Octob. 20. 1664.