Funeral Sermon of Richard Fincher, Title page – Dedication
A SERMON Preached Feb. 19. 1692. Upon the FUNERAL Of that late Excelllent Servant of Our LORD JESUS, Mr. Richard Fincher, Who Finiſhed his Courſe, Feb. 10. 1692.
By SAMUEL SLATER, M. A. Miniſter of the Goſpel.
LONDON, Printed by J. Aſtwood for John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey. 1693.
To that Flock of CHRIST, of which Holy Mr. FINCHER was the Faithful Paſtor.
DEAR FRIENDS,
GOD having made a ſore Breach upon you by taking home his Servant to himſelf, you made it your joint Requeſt that I would Preach to you upon that ſad and ſolemn Occaſion. The entire Love between him and me, together with the Kindneſs I have for you, forbad my Denial. I did the thing, through Divine Aſſiſtance: You then came upon me for the Publiſhing of what had been delivered, and therein prevailed too. Here it is, the Lord accompany this Sermon with a Bleſſing, that it may be profitable to you all, and many more. Having given you ſo much Counſel already, I ſhall deſire your following it, and will here add no more, but begg for you the Divine Conduct, Grace and Influence.
And you, MADAM, whoſe Conjugal Relation to this Worthy Perſon hath been diſſolved; I have rejoiced to ſee patiently bearing it, as one Taught of God; and Oh that you may have fuller refreſhings flowing into you from the Fountain of all good, now that pleaſant ſtream is cut off. And though your Communion here was but ſhort, may you have in Heaven an Eternal Communion with one another, and both with God. You all I commend to him and the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an Inheritance among them that are ſanctified. In ſhort, be you all upright with God, ſtudy Godlineſs in its Power, live the Truths you Hear and Profeſs, adorn the Goſpel by an Exemplary Converſation, do not divide, but walk in Peace and Love; though the Shepherd be ſmitten, let not the Sheep ſcatter, but the Lord give you another after his own Heart. I am
Yours in our Dear Lord Jeſus, Samuel Slater. From my Study, March 10. 1692/3.