A Crown of Life, Title page – Dedication
A Crown of Life, The Reward of FAITHFULNESSE. BEING A SERMON Preached Septemb. 12. 1661. At the Funerals of Mr. William Taylor, M. A. Miniſter of the Goſpel, at Saint Stephens Coleman-ſtreet. London.
By William Spurſtowe, D. D. Miniſter of the Goſpel at Hackney, near London.
Cum omnes virtutes currant in ſtadio, ſola perſeverantia accipit bravium. Aug.
Non quaeruntur in Chriſtianis intia ſed finis. Hierom.
LONDON, Printed for Ralph Smith, at the Bible in Cornhil, near the Royal Exchange. 1662.
To the Right Honourable Lady, ANNE, Counteſs of Balcarres, &c.
Right Honourable,
THIS ſlender Sermon, I am fully ſenſible, is by its Publication, and by its Dedication, made two things, for which it is very unmeet: By its Publication, it becomes a kind of monument for a worthy friend, and faithful ſervant of Chriſt, whoſe name deſerves rather to be engraven in a laſting Pillar of marble, than in this periſhing Paper, which cannot add ſo much to him, as it receives from him. By its Dedication, it is made a tender of my ſervice to your Honour, which ſhould not have been done by ſo mean an addreſs as this is, but in a way more anſwerable to your worth and goodneſs; and therefore I had wholly deſiſted from this work, had I not been animated thereunto by a double plea.
1. After its preaching, you were pleaſed to let fall ſome ſuch expreſſions, as that you hoped it might ere long come abroad, which words did ſway the more with me, in regard I might thereby take an occaſion to teſtifie my thankfulneſs in the behalf of him, to whom you were pleaſed to ſhew much kindneſs whil'ſt he lived, and now to continue your bounty unto his, in taking upon you the care and education of one of his ſons.
2. I was willing, among others, to expreſs my unfeigned rejoycing, in your hopeful recovery from a long and dangerous ſickneſs, beſeeching God to renew and double your former ſtrength, that you may long continue in the land of the living, as an inſtrument of good, and an example of holineſs; that great Perſonages may ſee, that it is not only their duty, but their glory, to ſerve God above others, who hath made them to ſhine like Suns in the Firmament, when others twinkle like Stars; and now I have no more to ſay in my own behalf, but that I made ſome ſtay of its coming forth for a time, that I might the more chearfully preſent it to your Honours hands. All that I ſhall take leave to ſpeak to your ſelf, is, That the practice of faithfulneſs is a moſt ſeaſonable duty for you to exerciſe; ſickneſs is the time of making vows, and health the time of paying them; and if what I here offer, may any way tend to the ſtrengthning of your hands in God, I ſhall rejoyce, and make that my prayer for you, which was the Apoſtles counſel to the elect Lady. That you may look to your ſelf, that you loſe not thoſe things which you have wrought, but that you may receive a full reward. So I remain,
Madam, Your Honours, In all Chriſtian ſervice, WILLIAM SPURSTOWE. Hackney, Decemb. 4. 1661.