The Mourners Companion, Dedication 2
TO My Honoured Friend, Mr. SHOWER.
SIR,
WHen after an unpleaſing ſeparation, the Providence of God gave Opportunity of renewing our Converſe, in your Habitation; I promis'd my ſelf an unmix'd ſatisfaction, during my ſtay with you: And as none is more oblig'd to rejoyce in all the Good, which you, or yours, are partakers of; ſo none could be more heartily diſpos'd to do it. Indeed the hopes of enjoying your Society ſweetned the fatigues of a Voyage, which (after many Years abſence) I lately made unto my own Countrey: In which I was truly delighted to find, that not only your Perſon and Miniſtry were acceptable and uſeful, but that there was a proſpect that God would make your Houſe to grow. But when I was preparing to return, I perceived that God had brought me to mourn with you, under a moſt afflictive Providence: In which though my Character had made me unfit to preſent Comfort to you; yet few of your Friends had more light to diſcern the deepneſs of your Wound, and greatneſs of your Loſs. For the intimate Friendſhip between us, and our cohabitation in Holland, gave me opportunity of underſtanding the worth of Her, whom now you lament. Though this Conſideration, as it makes your Tryal greater, renders your Reſignation more acceptable to God, and uſeful to Men.
To part with an ordinary Poſſeſſion with willingneſs, is a kin to that Patience which is exercis'd under merited Puniſhment, which in the Apoſtles judgment hath no Glory or Commendation in it: (1 Pet. 1.20.) But 'tis an Heroick Spirit, a reſemblance of that Faith which dignifi'd the Father of all who believe, to give up a rare and endearing Treaſure: And if any Conſideration hath ſtrength to work this Noble Diſpoſition in our Souls, that which is taken from the Glory of God, and the Redeemer, hath: 'Twas this which led my thoughts unto the Meditations in the following Diſcourſe, which though much below the dignity of the Subject, am willing to make thus publick, that they may be a laſting Monument of the Gratitude and Reſpect I owe unto your Deceas'd Conſort, and with the Divine Bleſſing may be uſeful to thoſe who may be call'd unto like Tryals.
Many of your Brethren would have performed this Service with far more juſtice unto both the Subjects of the Diſcourſe, than one who is in a journeying State: But when your ſelf, and ſome near Relatives deſir'd this laſt Office, I was not unwilling to comply; eſpecially having the advantage of knowing by how ſingular a Providence your Marriage-Ʋnion was brought about, and how happy it was to you both.
I need not tell you how this ſorrowful Event makes the thoughts of my intended Voyage much more uneaſie to me, who muſt leave ſo dear a Friend depriv'd of his delightful Half: But an Intereſt in the whole Deity, (who cannot dye) will abundantly compenſate this loſs, which together with your long continuance in Temple Service, and the deſirable ſucceſs of your Labours, is with utmoſt earneſtneſs prayed for, by
London, Sept. 1. 1691. SIR, Your Affectionate Faithful Servant, J. Spademan.