Funeral Sermon for Judith Hamond, Title page – Dedication
A Funeral Sermon ON THE DEATH Of that Pious Gentlewoman Mrs. JUDITH HAMOND. Late WIFE of the Reverend Mr. George Hamond, Minister of the Gospel in LONDON.
By JOHN HOWE, Minister of the same Gospel.
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst, at the Bible and Three Crowns at the Lower End of Cheapside, near Mercers Chappel, MDCXCVI.
To the Reverend Mr. Hammond.
MY offering this Discourse to the Eye of the World together with your own, shews how great Power our Ancient Friendship hath given you, over me; whereof I have the less unpleasant Sense, believing you will understand it so; who, in great part, know how difficult, my circumstances made it, to me, to comply with your desire herein. Your Opinion of the fitness of publishing so uncompos'd a thing, discovers how far you were subject also to the same Power; whose Judgement I am little apt to distrust, where it meets not with this byas.
It will be a joy to me, if it help to mitigate your Sorrow which is, in great part, justify'd, by the greatness of your Loss, in being separated, after so long Conversation, from so Excellent a Consort, that lived in this World, so much above it.
I reckon it an evidence of the real greatness of her Spirit that She thought that, so little a thing, wherein others place Greatness. And that in almost Forty Years Acquaintance with you both, I should never hear of her nearness to a Noble Family, till, occasionally, since her Death. It seems the Blood that fill'd her Veins, did not swell her Mind. And her Heavenly Birth and Relation to the House and Family of God, made her forget her Earthly Kindred, and Parents House.
SIR,
Though, whom God hath joyn'd together, no man might put asunder; yet when he that made the Union, makes the Separation, there's no saying to him, What dost thou? We must a while, tug with the difficulties of our State and Work. Wherein the hope of helping Some (as God shall graciously help us) to gain this Victory over Death; and of being, at length, through his Grace, Victors our selves, will be a constant Releif and Support to you, and
Your very respectful Brother and Fellow-Servant in the Labours of the Gospel. John Howe.