Gray Hairs Crowned with Grace, Title page – Dedication
Gray Hayres CROWNED WITH GRACE. A SERMON Preached at Redriff, Aug. 1. 1654. At the Funerall of that Reverend, eminently Learned and faithfull Miniſter of JESUS CHRIST Mr THOMAS GATAKER
PROV. 20. 29. The beauty of old men, is their gray head.
PROV. 12. 26. The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour.
ISA. 43. 4. Since thou waſt pretious in my ſight, thou haſt been honourable.
LONDON, Printed by A. M. for George Sawbridge at the Sign of the Bible on Ludgate-hill. M. DC. LV.
To the Reverend, and my much HONOURED BRETHREN, the Presbyterian MINISTERS of the Goſpel within the Province of LONDON.
Brethren,
THe ſad occaſion of this Sermon, and not any opinion of its worth, hath moved me to preſume upon this Dedication. I know that you are ſenſible of the ſmart of that providence, which having, not long ſince, removed worthy Dr Gouge and M. Whitaker, hath alſo taken from us famous Mr Gataker; and the rather, becauſe they all were not only members of, but alſo cordiall friends unto our Provinciall Aſſembly. And theſe our late loſses, may well minde us ofMr George Walker. M. Herbert Palmer. M Edwards. M John Gere. M. Robrough. M. Love, &c. the death of many more of our brethren, whoſe hearts, heads and hands, went along with us in the ſetting up and exerciſing of the Presbyterian Government in our reſpective Congregations, with mutuall aſsiſtance, Claſsicall and Provinciall, both for the Ordination of Miniſters, and the more pure administration of the Sacraments.
Hereby doubtleſs the Lords voice crieth to the City, Mic. 6. 9.more particularly unto us the Miniſters thereof: Oh, that his Majeſty would make us men of wiſedom, exemplartly to ſee his Name! This is the advice of the Holy Ghoſt, Hear the rod and who hath appointed it.
Brethren, I will not undertake to teach you who are able to inſtruct others, what uſe ſhould be made of theſe dolefull diſpenſations. Have we not cauſe to complain, that we did neither thankfully prize, nor fruitfully improve their Miniſteriall gifts, graces and experiences, as we ſhould and might have done?
And ſeeing they (though dead) do still ſpeak, by their uſefull Books printed, or their holy Lives remembred, or by both; ſhould not we be conſcientious imitators of their conſtancy and fidelity, in thoſe wayes of holy truth, diſcipline and worſhip, which were heartily approved by them, even unto their death?
Moreover, Becauſe ſo many active members of our Province are tranſlated, ought not we who ſurvive, to ſtrengthen one anothers hands the rather, unto double induſtry, with undaunted courage, in our whole Ministeriall imployment, and to be the more affectionately frequent in prayer, that our good God would make up our loſs, by the more abundant communications of his peculiar grace?
And although this ſaying may be ſighed out with ſorrow, we heretofore had the ſociety and aſſiſtance of the forementioned fellow-helpers, becauſe now we have them not: yet may it alſo be a matter of incouragement, becauſe our Presbyterian path, hath been trodden without fainting (yea with joy,) by the foot of them, whoſe remembrance will be as a ſweet perfume unto poſterity. Having ſpoken thus much, give me leave (upon the ſame account,)Mr Cortwright. M. Hilderſham. M. Dod. M. Gleaver. M. Dorrell. M. John Paget. M. Bradſhaw. M. Ball, &c. to minde you of ſome few good old Nonconformiſts (unto whom many more might be added) who many years ſince (when under Prelaticall power and oppreſsion) endeavoured, by preaching, printing, praying and ſuffering, to introduce this Presbyterian government which we do now exerciſe. Though thoſe men diſliked the uſe of ſuperſtitious Ceremonies, yet they oppoſed their tenents and practice, who ſeparated from the Church of England, condemning it, and the Miniſtry of it as Antichriſtian: But they ſtudiouſly ſought to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, whoſe labours God bleſſed to the converſion of thouſands of ſouls and to the maintaining of the power of godlineſs all their dayes, and whoſe profitable Works do ſtill praiſe them in the gate? But what need I look ſo farre backward, ſeeing we can eaſily remember a great company who formerly joyned with us here in London, in ſetting up and exerciſingDr Harris. D. Arrowſmith. D. Tuckney. D. Wilkinſon. D. Chambers. D. Wallis. M. Lea. M. Timothy Dod. M. Cawdry. M. Blake. M. Burgeſs. M. Gower. M. Roberts. M. Burdall. M. Strickland. M. Cauton. M. Fiſher. M. Allen Gear, &c. the Presbyterian government (beſides the many others in the ſeverall parts of the Land) who now are of chief note for Learning and Piety, in both Univerſities and other places; whoſe hearts and prayers (I am confident) ſtill go along with us, for our incouragement.
As this bright clowd of ſo many witneſſes (ſome in Heaven and ſome on earth) may be relieving unto our mourning hearts under our great loſs; ſo (bleſsed be God) we have not yet cauſe to complain with the Prophet, that there is no cluſter *Mic. 7. 1, 2.: for though much contempt is caſt upon us (by many, who rather ſeek great things for themſelves in the world, then the things of Jeſus Christ) as an inconſiderable number, yet we have (I will ſpeak it to the praiſe of the Lord) threeſcore Presbyterian Miniſters within the precincts of our Province, who preach profitably, and live godly, who are not tainted with the erroneous tenents either of the Arminians, Antinomians or Anabaptiſts. And the moſt high will (I humbly hope) incouragingly appear farther for us in theſe pathes, which (as our conſciences be perſwaded) are chalked out in the Scriptures of truth, for the welfare of his Churches, and the honour of his own Name by Jeſus Chriſt. Upon all the glory ſhall be a defence.Iſa. 4. 5.
I will conclude this my addreſs unto you (my much honoured brethren) with this hearty prayer, that you may hold on in this good old way, till you be gray-headed; nothing doubting, but that your heary heads will be a Crown of glory, being found in theſe wayes of righteouſneſs.
Your loving brother, and fellow labourer in the work of the Goſpel, SIMEON ASHE. Novemb. 24th 1654.