Several Sermons, Dedication 4
TO THE HONOVRABLE AND VERTUOUS, The Ladie LUCIE OF CHARLCOT, Grace and Peace.
Madam,
STrange not my ſlowneſſe. I never penn'd and printed more unchearefully, more ſadly. Sorrow moves ſlowly. And what is this your Ladiſhip hath now woone from me! alas! I cannot print your Lord alive againe: nor did I intend any pourtraiture of him. What I ſpake was meant to the Living. The Dead needed not my attestation. Indeed I loved Him more (as another once ſaid) than to ſay much of Him. All that I can wiſh, is, that all, who pretend to Him, and his Religion, would expreſſe him in theſe particulars.
1 That they would See with their Owne Eyes, and ſatisfie themſelves in their Owne Grounds.
2 That they would be True to their Owne Principles; that ſo a man might know where to have them, and ſee, that they did Believe themſelves.
3Cic. de ſinbus lib. 2. Epicurei mihi videntur melius ſacore, quan dicere.3 That they would Say leſse and Doe more, and ſo difference themſelves from other men, as once ſome Philoſophers did.
4. That they would give leave to Diſsent, where Aſſent cannot be without Diſſembling.
It is confeſſed, Madam, That Sir Thomas and I were not alwaies of one minde. Diſſent we did, in ſome things: But this I ſhall ever honour in Him, That He was Himſelfe, and his Friends too. Neither proſtituting his owne, nor raviſhing another mans judgement; Herein we concur'd, and for this I honoured him, and he was pleaſed to owne me.
He was as Avistotle ſaies of the magnanimous foreignThe world conceives my loſſe to be exceeding great. And it is a truth. For I have loſt the Freeſt Reprover that ever I met withall. But why ſhould wereckon our friends Gaines to our Loſſes! I have done, Madam, with him.
And now let us (I beſeech you) get off from our ſelves. At leaſt, Let's improve our ſorrows to ſpirituall purpoſes. Mourne for this Kil-friend, Sin. Mourne for the loſſe of our time, and our not inhanſing opportunities and ſocieties. And henceforward ſet our faces Homeward, Heaven-ward. Study Heaven; Secure Heaven; Trade and dwell in Heaven. There looke our ſelves; thence expect our Saviour.
Meane while conſider, Noble Lady, your great truſt. A Great Eſtate, A great Family. You have many Servants to order; Children to educate; Neighbours to relieve. Here ſeale up your Thankfulneſſe to God; your Faithfulneſſe to your Deareſt Husband. And the God of Heaven help you. Thus at last I returne you your own. What to call theſe Funerall Diſpatches, I wot not. Yours (ſuch as it is) it is, you will owne it withall its imperfections, and ſtand betwixt blame and me.
I could not come home to your Deſires fully. Some things I forgat in the Delivery; and ſome I then abridged for haſte, and now make ſhort breathd enough. But I am come as neare to my meaning, and my own Copie, as I can. The Lord go with it, and ever be with you, and all yours. So will Pray
Your Ladiſhips conſtant ſervant in the Faith, ROBERT HARRIS.