The Good Man Perished from the Earth, Title page – To the reader
THE Good Man perished from the Earth.
BEING A SERMON Preached upon the Death of that Eminent and Faithful Servant of CHRIST Mr. Christr. Fowler, Formerly of READING, and lastly of LONDON Minister.
By WILLIAM COOPER M.A. and Minister of the Gospel.
Psal. 12.1.
Help Lord, for the godly man faileth.
Extincto Pastore fideli,
Lampas extinguitur Templi,
Stella decedit Coelo.
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1677.
TO THE READER.
READER,
THou hast here both a Memento and Monument, the first for the Living to behold their frailty in this Glass: a Glass materially frail and brittle, and a Glass reflecting our own condition, when we look on it: The other to testifie and perpetuate the name of the Deceased: Plain, I confess, and not painted, because thereby more agreeable to the occasion and persons concerned both living and dead. A good man and a good name, as precious ointment themselves, need therefore no embalming; as being above all flattery or calumny. If there be any thing in this following Discourse that looks like praise, know it was seasonably necessary and justly due to him that is gone; sith his unreasonable and importune Maligners, worse than the Ravens of the Valley, have pursued him both living and dead; which carriage towards holy men is both cruelty and sacriledge. Thou hadst had this little much sooner, but that to tell thee plainly it hath been all this while in the agonies of the Press, and that very near strangling too and stillborn; and which is most strange to tell, for this very cause, that the Name of Mr. Fowler appeared in the face or front; so powerful is even fancy vitiated with prejudice; that (as of old) it arrayes innocence it self in Beasts skins, thereby the more easily to expose and bait it. I say, had not importunity as well of friends as enemies extorted, I my self had smother'd it to death, that it should never have seen the Sun; but felt the Fire only. Let all such as judge it worthy of that fate, blame themselves and not me. As it was delivered from my mouth, so it comes into thy hand, hasty, and naked; which I pray thee to cover with the Mantle of thy Love, for him that is wrapped in those course sheets. I have told thee why thou hadst it no sooner, nor no better; it was not in my power to help it: it is in the power of God alone by all Dispensations to teach us to profit: which is my prayer from my soul for thine and mine, that running our Race as he ran, and quitting our selves like men, as he did, by being zealous for the glory, and valiant for the truth of Christ, as he was; filling our narrow Sphears, serving our generation, and finishing our testimony; we may at last partake of the same Crown of Eternal Life and Glory. Amen.