The Crown of Righteousness, Title page – Encomium
THE CROWN OF Righteouſneſs. Set Forth In A SERMON PREACHED At Stephens Walbrook, May 1. 1656. At the Funeral of Thomas Hodges ESQƲIRE.
By THOMAS WATSON, Miniſter of Stephens Walbrook, in the Citie of LONDON.
1 SAM. 2. 30.
They that honour mee, I will honour.
LONDON, Printed for Joſeph Cranford, at the ſigne of the Kings Head in Pauls Church-yard, Anno Dom. 1656.
JUNE 10. 1656. Imprimatur Edmund Clamie.
TO THE Virtuous, and my worthie Friend, Mris MARY HODGES.
HONOURED FRIEND!
IT was not my intention when I preach'd this Sermon, that it ſhould go any further then the Pulpit; But ſeeing you were pleaſed to requeſt me to print it, that I might herein gratifie your deſire, and exhibit a teſtimonial of that reſpect which I did bear to your deceaſed Husband, I was willing to make it more publick, and the Lord make it profitable. You are ſenſible enough, I doubt not, of the late loſſe you have ſuſteined, I did therefore chooſe to treat on this ſubject, that I might revive you with the hope of future gain: not forgetting that of Solomon, Prov. 31. 6. Give wine to thoſe that be of heavie hearts.
The Jewes have this forme of Speech at their Funerals, whereby they would chear up the party ſurviving; Let thy conſolation bee in heaven *Sic conſolatio tua in coeli….ſo I ſay to you, Look up to Heaven, let the Crown laidup comfort you The Lord help you to make a ſanctified uſe of this ſad ſtroke of Providence; learn (dear Friend) to make ſure of Chriſt, when you cannot make ſure of other relations. Faith will Contract you to CHRIST, and if your Maker bee your Husband, *Iſa. 54. 5.Death ſhall not diſſolve, but perfect the Ʋnion: Labour ſtill to Anchor within the vail, *Hebr. 6. 9.'tis no caſting Anchor downward; wee break our earthly comforts while we lean too hard on them, but I muſt not expatiate. I have here preſented you with the Sermon as I preach'd it, onelyonly I have caſt in ſome few additionals, which through ſtraits of time I was then forced to omit. The bleſſing of the Almighty reſt upon you, and let that golden Oil bee powred out upon your Poſteritie.*foreign Ignatius ad Heronem.
So praieth Your faithful friend and ſervant in the Lord, THO. WATSON. From my Study at Steph. Walbrook June 2. 1656.
IN OBITUM Thomae Hodges ARMIGERI.
LAurus Apollinoi nemoris ditiſſima proles
exulet, & crinem taxus opaca premat.
Et mea faerales humectent carmina guttae,
carmina lugubri, commemoranda ſono.
Nuper enim triſti noctis ſqualore ſepultus
eximiae cecidit maximus urbis honos.
Scilicet egregius generoſi nobilis haeres,
quem tenuit verae Religionis amor.
Nullus amicorum lateri conſtantior haeſit,
civibus aut paſſim clarior alter erit.
Non auri coluit radios, nec pauper ut eſſet
ſponte, tenebroſo carcere clauſit opes.
Sed bene divitiis quaeſitis noverit uti;
ſanctorum ut merit as poſſit habere preces.
Tranſegit placidam chaſtâ cum Conjuge vitam
Exemplo natos, conſitiìſque regens.
Huc tamen, (O nigri rigor inſatiabilis orci).
fatales ictos mors inopina dedit.
Ecce hic marmorea ſopitum dormit in urnâ
corpus, at aethere as mens petit alta domus.
Illio terreſtris diſcuſſo pondere limi
exultat, pſeno necteris amne lavans.
O utinam digno celebrarem funus honore,
& tacito cineri debita jura darem.
Non cuperem violas molliſve roſaria peſti,
nempe haec vix tumulo congrua dona forent.
Non caret unguentis nec picti floribus horti,
quem ſequitur famae nobilioris odor.
Edm. Hall.