The Art of Embalming Dead Saints, Title page – Dedication
THE ART OF EMBALMING Dead SAINTS, diſcovered in a Sermon preached at the Funerall of Maſter William Crompton, the late Reverend and faithfull Paſtor of the Church in Lanceſton Cornwall.
Ianuary the fifth, 1641.
By G. Hughes B. D. Paſtor of the Church in Taviſtocke Devon.
Mors lucrum,
Phil. 1.21.
Sepulchrum cubile,
Eſay 57.2.
Infernum nihil,
Heb. 2.14.
Fides victoria,
1 John 5.4.
Imperatrix ſanctitas.
Eſay 49.7, 8.
Dei, & Christi. Hac ſunt Sanctorum trophaea.
LONDON, Printed by A. N. for John Rothwell, and are to be ſold at his Shop in Pauls Churchyard, at the ſigne of the Sun, 1642.
To the VVorſhipfull the Major, Recorder, and Aldermen of the Towne of Lanceſton in Cornwal, with all in that place, who love the LORD JESUS in ſyncerity.
Worthy, and beloved Friends,
IF queſtion be, Why comes this in print? I will truly tell you; not my Ambition to be publicke by the Preſſe in this Worke: when I preached the ſumme of it unto you, my thoughts were not in the leaſt motion this way (God knows it.) But as by ſtroking, and by wringing the milke is drawne from an hard-milch't beaſt, ſo hath it fared with me. The love of Friends, who thought better of it than I my ſelfe, hath been ſtroking it out: but however a motion was made, yet did it not come by that: Shortly after, falſe and uncharitable aſperſions upon the dead and living, with defective copies of my Sermon flew about the Country; and theſe did wring mee, ſo that I reſolved to hold back no longer: Having therefore deſired at the throne of Grace, that not my ſelfe but God might be eyed in it, I ſet upon the perfecting of my Notes, and yielded, that the World ſhould ſee, what doctrine I delivered, and whether I ſpake any thing of your deceaſed Paſtor that was not deſerved. My friends thus have their deſire, but the Enemies perhaps an Eye-ſore, I ſhall pray it may be an Heart-healer to them, if they vouchſafe to uſe it?
Now having thus prepared it, as I ſend it to the World, ſo have I thought good to direct it with a ſpeciall Dedication unto you, not for patronage over it, but for a believing Entertainment of it. If it be truth God is the Patron of it, he wil defend it, if it be falſhood, it is not worth the countenance of a man to ſhelter or abet it: And for my owne part, I thank God, my prayer & my ſtudie is, not to get Patrons to my ſelfe, but to make Friends and Favorites in the World to Chriſt. Upon this condition, this worke is yours, Deare Friends, truly yours, all yours, and I am yours, and ſhall rejoyce to be ſo, if you be Chriſts. I have but one word more unto you to ſtay you in the entrance, and it is of humble requeſt not for my ſelfe, but your owne precious ſouls. The hand of God hath bin againſt you in breaking and burying one famous Chariot, wherin you were carried ſwiftly towards Chriſt; And no leſſe hath it been for you, in a ſweet providence repairing that loſſe, and ſending you a Man of God, to carry on his ſaving work among you. Now therefore I beſeech you, Forget not your loſſe, let his name be precious to you, let his labours live in your hearts and ways, fulfill his dying deſires, that yee be holy: and undervalue not this great merciemercy in your repaire. In many places Wolves watch over the poore flocke of Chriſt, that hurry them, & ſuck the bloud of their ſouls. What a mercy is it to have a Paſtor after Gods owne heart to keep & feed them? Such hath God given you: Accept this bleſſing and rejoyce in it; Love, honour & obey him that is ſet over you in the Lord to watch for your ſouls, that he may give up his account at laſt with joy to himſelfe, and abundant profit and gain to you. This I beg of you, for this cauſe I ſhall pray for you. The Lord of Glory, who is exalted to ſhew mercy to his people, from his High throne and boundleſſe fulneſſe, power out upon you the riches of his grace, he ſtrengthen, perfect, and ſtabliſh you. To him be Glory for ever, And in him I am,
From my ſtudy in Taviſtock, March 28. 1642. Your obliged friend and ſervant for Ieſus ſake, George Hughes.