Consolation in Life and Death, Title page 1 – Errata
CONSOLATION IN LIFE and DEATH, Wherein is ſhewed, That Intereſt in Chriſt, is a ground of Comfort under all the Troubles of Life, and Terrors of death. How they that have an Intereſt in Chriſt, may retain the ſame!
Begun in A Funeral Sermon, occaſioned by the death of Mrs. Ellen Aſty, and ſince much enlarged.
By Owen Stockton, late Miniſter of the Goſpel at Colcheſter in Eſſex.
TOGETHER With the Life of the ſaid Mrs. Ellen Aſty,
Rom. 8. v. 38.
For I am perſwaded that neither Death nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come.
Rom. 8. v. 39.
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other Creature ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the love of God, which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord.
London, Printed by J. R. for Tho. Parkhurſt, at the Bible and three Crowns, at the lower end of Cheapſide. 1681.
To the Worthily Honoured John Clark, of Bury in Suffolk, Eſquire.
SIR,
IT is your ſeriouſneſs in Religion, together with your intimate Acquaintance with, and reſpect for, Reverend Mr. Owen Stockton, that occaſioneth the prefixing your name to the enſuing Treatiſe, of which he was the Author. He was one, mighty in the Scriptures, whoſe Life was much deſired, and his Death much lamented. As you delighted to hear him Preach when he was alive; So I doubt not, but he being dead, you are willing to hear him yet ſpeaking; eſpecially in a word of Conſolation againſt the troubles of Life, and the fears and terrours of Death.
I hope the Lord hath delivered your ſelf from the Sting of Death, but yet you may need ſome help againſt the fear of it. Take a ſurvey of your Mercy, that you are not under the unhappineſs of Chriſtleſs Souls, who, through the fear of Death, are all their life time ſubject to Bondage.
It is ſaid, that the Indians being alarum'd with the Approaches of Death by its Arreſtment, ſo as all hope of recovery is paſt, then to behold and hear their throbbing ſobs, and deep-fetched ſighs, their grief-wrung hands, and tear-bedewed cheeks, their doleful cries, would draw tears from Adamantine Eyes, that be but Spectators of their mournful Obſequies.
Indeed it is unexpreſſibly ſad, to be under a Conviction (as many are) of the immortality of a never dying Soul, and yet to be Strangers to the promiſe of Eternal Life. Such muſt needs be Mourners without hope.
All the Cordials in the World in this caſe, will not afford the leaſt drop of refreſhment to ſuch diſconſolate Souls: nor will a Righteouſneſs of our own be a ſure bottom for Comfort againſt that laſt Enemy Death.
But behold, here is a way deciphered, whereby we may not only be helped to leave Riches, Friends, Wife, Children, Houſes, Lands, and depart in peace, but alſo with exceeding joy. [Intereſt in Chriſt] will be a means to turn Death the King of Terrors into the King of Comforts; it will make it of a bitter Enemy, a familiar Friend, an Out-let to Affliction, and a Portal to Glory.
How that [Intereſt] conduceth to the fitting a Soul with Conſolation, is diſcovered here, by this eminent Servant, and Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt, Mr. Owen Stockton, in a Funeral Sermon upon the Death of Mrs. Ellen Aſty, (the Relict of that Reverend Mr. Aſty, late of Stratford in Suffolk) which afterwards he much enlarged, and ſo left it under his own hand. It was intended that the ſaid Mr. Stockton ſhould have printed it together with her Life; but Death arreſting him, before he had Accompliſhed that work; Providence hath caſt it upon my hands to draw her Portraiture out of the papers which were in his hands to that end; which I have done accordingly, and here preſent it to your ſelf, and to publick view. I muſt ſay further, that this is a Branch, or part of a Treatiſe of his, on the ſame Text, entituled [the beſt Intereſt], which probably will follow ſpeedily. This, and that together, compleat the Subject, yet either of them might have appeared to the Reader, as a perfect and diſtinct Treatiſe, had I not hinted thus much.
I ſhall only add, that my ardent deſire is, that the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, may bleſs you with all Spiritual Bleſſings in Heavenly places in Chriſt, ſo prayeth,
September 1. 1681. Honoured Sir, Your Servant in the Goſpel, Sam. Petto.
Errata.
PAge 3. l. 25. dele for. p. 23. l. 26. r. there are. p. 29. l. 12. r. grace. p. 37. l. 29. dele ſhould. p. 42. l. 16. for ready r. really. p. 44. l. 3. for upon r. yea. p. 59. l. 10. for ſight r. fight. p. 60. l. 28. r. carried on. p. 70. l. 13. r. truſting. p. 88. l. 13 for here r. how. p. 96. l. 17. for preſerving r. preferring.
In Mrs. Aſtys Life,
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