The Laboring Saints Dismission to Rest, Title page – Dedication
THE LABOVRING SAINTS Diſmiſſion to REST.
A SERMON Preached at the FUNERAL of the Right Honourable HENRY IRETON Lord Deputy of IRELAND: In the Abbey Church at Weſtminſter, the 6th. day of February 1651.
BY JOHN OWEN, Miniſter of the Goſpel.
Licenſed and Entered according to Order.
LONDON, Printed by R. and W. Leybourn, for Philemon Stephens, at the Gilded Lion in Pauls Church-yard. 1652.
To THE HONOURABLE, And my very worthy friend Colonell HENRY CROMWEL.
SIR,
THe enſuing Sermon was preached upon as ſad an occaſion, as on any particular account hath been given to this Nation in this our Generation. It is now publiſhed, as at the deſire of very many who love the ſavour of that perfume which is diffuſed with the memory of the Noble perſon peculiarly mentioned therein: ſo alſo upon the requeſts of ſuch others, as enables me juſtly to entitle the doing of it, Obedience. Being come abroad, it was in my thoughts to have directed it immediately in the firſt place to Her, who of any individuall perſon was moſt neerely concerned in Him. But having obſerved how neere ſhe hath been to be ſwallowed up of ſorrow, and what ſlow progreſſe, he who tooke care to ſeale up inſtruction to her ſoule by all diſpenſations, hath given her hitherto toward a conqueſt thereof: I was not willing to offer directly a new occaſion unto the multitude of her perplexed thoughts about this thing. No doubt, her loſſe being as great as it could be upon the account of one ſubject to the law of mortality, as many grains of grief and ſorrow are to be allowed her in the balance of the Sanctuary, as God doth permit to be laid out and diſpended about any of the ſons of men. He who is able to make ſweet the bittereſt, waters, & to give a gracious iſſue to the moſt grievous triall, will certainly, in due time, eminently bring forth that good upon her ſpirit, which he is cauſing all theſe things to work together for. In the mean time, Sir, theſe lines are to you: Your neer relation to that rare example of Righteouſneſs, Faith, Holineſs, Zeal, Courage, Self-denial, Love to his Countrey, Wiſdom and Induſtry, mentioned in the enſuing Sermon, the mutuall tender affection between you whileſt he was living; your preſence with him in his laſt triall and conflict, the deſerved regard you bear to his worth and memory; your deſigne of looking into, and following after his ſteps and purpoſe in the work of God in his Generation, as ſuch an accompliſhed patern, as few ages have produced the like; with many other reaſons of the like nature, did eaſily induce me hereunto. That which is here printed is but the notes I firſt took, not having had leiſure ſince to give them a ſerious peruſall, and upon that account, muſt beg a candid interpretation unto any thing that may appear not ſo well digeſted therein as might be expected. I have not any thing to expreſs concerning your ſelf, but only my deſire's that your heart may be fixed to the Lord God of your fathers, and that in the middeſt of all your Temptations and Oppoſitions wherewith your pilgrimage will be attended, you may be carried on and eſtabliſhed in your inward ſubjection unto, and outward contending for the Kingdome of the dearly beloved of our ſouls; not fainting, or waxing weary until you receive your diſmiſſion to reſt, for your lot in the end of the dayes.
SIR, Your moſt humble and affectionate ſervant JOHN OWEN. Ox. Ch. Ch. April. 2d.