Abrahams Death, Title page – Dedication
Abraham's Death, THE MANNER, TIME, and CONSEQUENT of it. Opened and Applied IN A FUNERAL SERMON, Preached upon the Death Of the Reverend Mr. THOMAS CASE, Miniſter of the Goſpel.
June 14th, 1682. With a Narrative of his LIFE and DEATH.
By THOMAS JACOMB, D. D.
LONDON; Printed for Brabrazon Aylmer, at the three Pigeons againſt the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1682.
To Mrs. Anne Caſe, Wife to the Reverend Mr. THOMAS CASE, Miniſter of the Goſpel, lately deceaſed.
Much Honoured Friend,
IT was the reiterated Requeſt of your Dear Husband, (and my worthy Friend), that I would perform the laſt Office of Reſpect to him in the preaching of his Funeral Sermon, when-ever it ſhould pleaſe God to take him hence. And this Requeſt of him (whilſt living), your ſelf was pleaſed to back after his Death.
I have again and again publickly teſtified my Averſeneſs from engaging in Services of this Nature; and (poſſibly) as to engaging in this, there were ſome ſpecial Reaſons and Conſiderations to heighten my Averſeneſs. Yet, conſidering how I was preſſed to it, by the Deſires both of the Dead and of the Living; I thought, I ſhould be diſingenuous and defective in the Obligations of Friendſhip, if I did not comply with them; which therefore accordingly I did.
Having diſcharg'd the Preaching Part, you further deſired me to publiſh what I had preached. To gratify you in that, I was the more inclinable, becauſe I had left things in the Sermon ſo imperfect and unfiniſh'd; (for I had not time to go through a conſiderable part of what I had to ſay, both upon the Text, and alſo upon the Occaſion). The Truth is, while I graſpt at too much, I did nothing (to purpoſe); and therefore was willing to do what you deſired, that I might have an Opportunity of filling up what then was wanting.
I am very ſenſible what a Captious and Litigious Age we live in, how Diviſions and Animoſities do abound amongſt us, how hard a matter it is for One to commend One of his Party, (eſpecially if he be of any conſiderable Eminency therein); but ſome or other of a differing Party will be finding fault, and picking out ſomething to be the matter and ground of ſevere Cenſures. If this ſhall be my lot, I muſt ſubmit; but I have done whatever I could to prevent it▪ For I have ſo commended the Perſon diſcourſed of, as not in the leaſt to reflect upon any others of a different Perſwaſion. And as to the commanding of him too, I have not done is foreign; but all along, (to the beſt of my Knowledg … ha… kept with in the ſtrict Bounds of Truth and Juſtice. Yea, to avoid Partiality and Flattery (the too common Attendants of Funeral Sermons), I have, (with all due Modeſty), taken notice of his Infirmities as well as of his Excellencies. If all this will not …, I hope I ſhall bear them with Patience, (if not with Contempt).
How many Funeral Sermons did your dear Husband live to preach for others! here is now one preached for himſelf; and God knows how ſoon ſome may do that for me, which I have now done for him. We live in a fluid State, and have no Abiding hare. No ſooner had I diſpatch'd what I had to do upon the Death of this Friend, but God threatens me with the Death of Another; (a most Eminent Perſon of another Profeſſion): Vanity of Vanities, all is Vanity!
The Lord bleſs you and yours; and grant you all to reap the Benefit of thoſe many, many fervent Prayers, which he (who is gone) ſent up to the Throne of Grace daily for you. All that I ſhall further ſay it, but to aſſure you, that now you are deprived of the Prayers of the Dead; you ſhall ever have the hearty Prayers of him, who whilſt he lives, ſhall be ready upon all occaſions to ſhew himſelf,
Your Servant and Friend in Chriſt, Tho. Jacomb. July 21, 1682.