Living Loves Betwixt Christ and Dying Christians, Dedication
To the Right Honourable ELIZABETH, Counteſſe Dowager of Exeter.
MADAM,
HOw irreſiſtible is the power of love and importunity? The holy Scriptures do plentifully manifeſt, that divine love doth ſet Gods All (whether within or without himſelf) on work for his childrens good, and that his childrens importunity hath in al Ages prevailed with his Omnipotency, to appeare for their comfort: And multitudes of daily experience do evidence the prevalency of theſe two Arguments among the ſons of men. My ſelf makes one inſtance for the verifying hereof, by preaching at Reverend, worthy Mr. Whitakers Funeral, and by printing my Sermon with the Narrative of his mem…rable life; both which come abroad with enlargements; becauſe ſtreights of time, and the diſcompoſedneſſe of my ſpirit through grief, would not ſuffer me thus fully to dilate upon in the Pulpit. Madam, I am confident that your Ladyſhip can of your own knowledge, not only atteſt the truth of moſt paſſages in my Narrative, but adde alſo much more from your own obſervation, which will render his memory precious unto poſterity.
And will your Honour give me leave to give ſome further account unto the world, wherefore I have preſumed to dedicate unto your Ladyſhip theſe expreſſions of my great reſpect to my precious much endeared brother Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker; Gratitude is at the bottom of this Dedication. Madam, As I ſhall alwayes really acknowledg your Honours favour towards my worthleſſe ſelf; ſo I judg it meet to make known upon this occaſion that more then many thanks are moſt due unto your Ladyſhip from all Mr. Whitakers Relations, for your many and great teſtimonies of your conſtant reſpects unto him all his life long ſince your firſt acquaintance with him. I have often heard him mention before the Lord with praiſes and prayers, your Honours abundant kindneſſes, both unto himſelfe and his family, which I beleeve are on record in heaven to be fully recompenſed in due time, becauſe they were the products of your ſincere love unto him, as the faithful Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt. Madam, there are not many who be ſo deeply ſenſible as your ſel…e of the great loſſe ſuſtained by the death of this holy man of God: What mine own loſſe is, I had rather expreſſe it before the Lord, then publiſh it unto the world. He was (Madam) a faithful ſervant to your immortal ſoul, the wel are whereof God in mercy hath given you to mind much more then all matters ſublunary whatſoever. In reference hereunto, he was your wiſe counſellour, in all your doubts and difficulties, your compaſſionate comforter; in all ſtraights and ſorrows, your vigilant Phyſician to prevent ſpiritual ſickneſſe and infection; your zealous Incourager in all wayes of holy ſervice, and a daily Remembrancer of you and yours before the Throne of Grace. Though theſe things ſpeak your loſſe, which may warrantably afflict your heart, yet I beſeech you (good Madam) conſider with comfort, that notwithſtanding this bucket be broken (as Dr. Preſton was wont to expreſſe it) nevertheleſs the fountain of light, life, grace, ſtrength, comfort and ſatisfaction is ſtill at hand, ever full, and alwayes flowing. He who is now removed out of the Land of the living (to be ſerviceable by preaching, praying, conference no more) was only one of thoſe golden pipes through which the God of your mercies conveyed relief ſweetly and ſeaſonably unto your ſoul: the wel-head is not removed, and many other choice conveyances of grace and conſolation from Chriſt be ſtill continued to you. Let this therefore be the language of your faith. The Lord liveth, and bleſſed be the … o… my ſalvations, who will never forſake nor faile the ſoule which in humility and faithfulneſs doth depend upon his Majeſty. And (Madam) Mr. Whitaker his rich receipts of much ſanctifying grace, ſtrong confidence, invincible patience, undaunted courage, un-interrupted peace, with pure elevating joyes from the Lord may encourage the hopes of the pooreſt Chriſtians to expect great things from heaven, according to their neceſſities and deſires, becauſe God is no reſpecter of perſons, but free and liberal in the communications of his peculiar goodneſſe. Theſe are the words of his grace, Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it, Pſal. 81. 10. If any man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink. He that beleeveth on me (as the Scripture hath ſaid) out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water, Joh. 7. 37, 38. The Almighty hath given you ſome taſtes of that incomparable fruit which comes from the Land of promiſe, that you may be encouraged to hold on in the way thither with cheerfulneſſe and perſeverance. Madam, It is no ſmall addition unto your honour here, and it will undoubtedly make to your happineſs hereafter, that you do own God in unwearied attendance upon his ſacred Ordinances, laying forth your ſelf for his name faithfully with that prudence, ſelf-denial, and plainneſs of heart wherewith he hath adorned you, through his rich mercy in Jeſus Chriſt. Madam, I humbly beg pardon for this my boldneſs, and crave leave to ſubſcribe my ſelf
(Madam) Your Honours humble Servant, SIMEON ASHE.