The Inseparable Union Between Christ and a Believer, Title page – Dedication
THE Inſeparable Union Between CHRIST AND A BELIEVER, Which Death it Self cannot Sever.
OR The Bond that can never be broken.
Opened in a Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Dorothy Freeborne, who was Interred at Prittlewell in Eſſex on 24. of Auguſt, 1658.
By Thomas Peck, M. A. And Preacher of Gods Word at Prittlewell.
Ioh. 13. 1.
Having loved this own, which were in the world, he loved them to the end.
foreign.
2 Tim. 2. 19.
London, Printed for Thomas Parkhurſt, and are to be ſold at his Shop at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapſide near Mercers Chappel, and at the Bible on London Bridge 1671.
To the truly Pious, and his much Honoured Friend Mr. Samuel Freeborne, S. P. wiſheth increaſe of Grace and fruition of Glory.
Honoured Sir,
WHen you firſt view this Paper, I know you will be ſtricken with wonder what I aim at, or intend by it; but when you underſtand both the occaſion and end of this undertaking, you will (I doubt not) accept it with mildneſs and candour, and forgive my boldneſs in preſuming upon your Patronage, ſeeing I know not any, who hath a juſter right to it, than yourſelf. The occaſion of making this Sermon (delivered by my Father at the funeral of your late religious *Mrs. Dorothy Freeborne.Conſort) publique was the deſire and ſolicitation of her two aCaptain Richard and Captain William Goodlad.Sons, to whom I bare ſo ſingular a reſpect, and am ſo much ingaged, that I could not deny this their firſt, and ſo reaſonable requeſt; nor ſhall deny any other, which is in my power to grant: this was the occaſion. The end of it is twofold, private and publique, and I hope both good. Private for the benefit of you and them, of your Family and theirs; by receiving the memory of ſo choiſe a Saint, who was a pattern of Piety in all her relations, more eſpecially in thoſe two, of a Wife and a Mother; whoſe example if her Children follow, they will manifeſt themſelves born again, and ſo to have a right to that Glory, which ſhe now poſſeſſeth.
The publique end I aim at, is the Spiritual good of all thoſe, that ſhall read the Sermon with diligence, and Prayer to profit by it. This (the good of Souls) was, I am ſure, my Fathers chiefeſt end in Preaching it, and is mine alſo in Publiſhing it. His great care and deſign in his work (when ever God gave him opportunity) was to win Souls, and God was pleaſed to let him ſee of the travel of his Soul, the fruits of his labours, long before he took him to himſelf; which was great comfort and ſatisfaction to him, upon his dying Bed. You know Sir, it was never his cuſtome or ambition, to interline his Sermons (eſpecially upon ſuch ſolemn occaſions as this) with much reading, nor yet to glaze them with much Rhetorick, well underſtanding, that the leaves of Antiquity would make but a weak Shield againſt the ſtroke of Death, and that the fine flowers of Rhetorick would not be Armour of proof againſt the conquering fears of the King of terrors. His manner was to Preach a crucified Chriſt in a cracified ſtile, to hold faſt the form of ſound words, delivering the mind of God, in Scripture language, not in the inticing words of mans wiſdom; to ſee that his Doctrine was ſound, wholeſome, ſavoury, and edifying, not meerly notional, ſuited to mens corrupt humours; but well grounded on holy writ, and ſuited to the Souls of his hearers; which ſavours of a more divine-like ſpirit, than the light jingling of ſome, and ſpiritual bombeſt of other Preachers and Writers in our dairs.
Such as it was in the Pulpit, ſuch you have it from the Preſs, there is nothing added to adorn it, nor yet to enlarge it; ſomthing more there is, than was delivered, (time preventing him) yet nothing more, than what I find in his own Notes. As to the dead, if any thing be added, tis but what he could have ſpoken of her, if occaſion had permitted; and but what all perſons who had the happineſs to know her, and be acquainted with her, will witneſs to be true; yea and ſay, that all that is written doth not ſet forth half of her Glory, the half of her excellency. The Charracter, which the Holy Ghoſt hath given of Abigall, 1 Sam. 25. 3. May be 1 Sam. 25. 3.given of her; ſhe was a woman of good underſtanding, and of a beautiful countenance. She was eminent for her Piety, Modeſty, Humility, Charity, and (which made her amiable in the eyes both of God and men) ſhe was adorned with the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit. So richly decked with all Chriſtian excellencies, that as Solomon ſpeaks of the Vertuous Pro. 31. 10.Woman, Prov. 31. 10. Her price was far above Rubies; for what doth the wiſe man mention Commendable in Women, that was not found in her? She ſtretched out her Verſe 20.hand to the Poor, yea ſhe reached forth her hand to the Needy. She opened her mouth with wiſdom, in Verſe 26.her tongue was the Law of kindneſs. She looked well to the waies of her Verſe 27.Houſhold, and eat not the bread of Idleneſs. Her Children riſe up, and Verſe 28.call her bleſſed, her Husband alſo, and he praiſeth her. Many Daughters have done Vertuouſly; but ſhe Verſe 29.excelleth them all, and her own works praiſe her in the gates. But leſt, Verſe 31.while I mention her (though God hath been pleaſed to Compenſate your loſs in another Pious Conſort) I ſhould renew your grief, I forbare, and only add my prayer to the God of all grace, to perfect his own work, begun in you, and to increaſe your graces, till you ſhall attain the meaſure of aſſurance, which ſhe enjoyed; till you ſhall certainly know there is ſuch an Union betwixt Chriſt and your Soul, as death it ſelf ſhall never be able to looſe; that ſo when your work is finiſhed, and your graces perfected, according to the meaſure of that ſtature, which God hath appointed you in Chriſt Jeſus, here on Earth, You may go triumphantly to Heaven, which is, and ſhall be the fervent deſire of
Sir, Your truly Reſpectful, and Loving friend. Samuel Peck. Auguſt 18. 1671.