Heaven and Hell, Title page – Dedication
Heaven and Hell; OR, The Unchangeable State OF Happineſs or Miſery For all MANKIND In Another WORLD.
Occaſion'd by the Repentance and Death of Mr. Shetterden Thomas, who departed this Life, April 7, 1700. Aetat. 26.
Preach'd and Publiſh'd at the Deſire and Direction of the Deceaſed. With ſome Particulars he order'd ſhould be mentioned, in hope of doing Good to Others.
By John Shower.
With a further Account of ſome Paſſages of his laſt Sickneſs, by a Pious Lady, who often viſited him.
LONDON, Printed by J. Heptinſtall for John Sprint, at the Bell in Little-Britain. 1700.
THE Epiſtle Dedicatory TO Mr. DANIEL THOMAS OF HIGHGATE.
SIR,
I Should look on my ſelf as juſtly expos'd to the Cenſure of the World, if before a Treatiſe of ſo ſerious a Nature, and ſuch Important Conſequence, I ſhould prefix any thing that looks like Flattery, either of You, or of the Honoured Lady, the Relation of whoſe Diſcourſe with Your Deceaſed Brother, in his laſt Sickneſs, is here annex'd. How much You reckon'd Your ſelf indebted to Her for that Inſtance of her Friendſhip, I have heard You acknowledge with great Thankfulneſs.
You have reaſon to own the ſingular Goodneſs of God, who gave him ſo Merciful a Seaſon of Repentance, and his Grace, (as we charitably hope,) to make uſe of it to better purpoſe than moſt late Penitents do. I endeavour'd to be Faithful to him while he liv'd; and to fulfil his Deſire after his Deceaſe, in what was Preach'd, and is now more largely Publiſh'd. May neither You, nor I, loſe the Impreſſions of this Inſtructive Providence, or of that Awful Subject, it led me to treat of! If no Others ſhould profit by either, I wiſh with all my Heart, and moſt earneſtly beg it of God, that You and Yours may.
Sir, I ſhall only put You in mind with what Kindneſs and Affection he ſent for Your Children a little before his Death, and recommended to You, and my Siſter, a particular Care of their Education in the Knowledge and Fear of God; and mention'd it with Pleaſure, that they were like to have that Advantage. May both of them live to have it, and improve it! to Honour God in the World, and partake of the Bleſſings of the Everlaſting Covenant! And may All mine do ſo likewiſe! Which is the Earneſt Prayer of him, who is with unfeigned Reſpect,
SIR, Your Affectionate Brother, and Faithful Servant, J. Shower. London, May ult. 1700.