The Day of a Godly Mans Death Better than the Day of his Birth, Title page 1 – To the reader 1
The day of a godly Man's DEATH, Better than the day of his BIRTH, SHEWED In a SERMON, Preach'd, Feb. 25, 1722.
By Thomas Foxcroft, Pastor to a Church in Boston.
Act. 26 22.
Having obtained help of God I continue unto this day.—
2 Cor. 5 4.
We that are in this tabernacle do grone, being burdened:—
Phil. 1. 23
Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better.
Dies mortis, aeternae vitae Natalis.
—… bonorum—Nascitur.
BOSTON in New-England: Printed by B. GREEN. 1722.
TO THE READER.
THE faithful Ministers of our Lord Jesus Christ … built on the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets; and are to be followers of there in respect of their Doctrine & Example: Preaching the great Truths of GOD; speaking His Word faithfully; practising agreeably themselves; and using all the wisest & best Methods possible that their Hearers why likewise … Doers of the Word—. And as it was the … practice of the Prophets and Apostles, (many of them at least) to Pen and put on standing record some of their respired … (whether Epistles or Sermons) to their People; that by this means they might be able after their Decease to have them always in remembrance: So it is but a just Conformity to those excellent patterns, when the ordinary … of the Gospel … publish in print such Treatises … are agreeable to the Words of the Wise, those Masters in Israel, and e…spire with them in … the … glorious and blessed …. And truly next to the holy & inspired Scriptures those … are the best & most valuable (not which most … with wit & learning; but) which are profitable for instruction in righteousness. & calculated to make men wise unto Salvation, to promote the Kingdom of Christ & … the great Interests of Religion. And when … to be the … of every Christian, no well mean… (tho' weak) … are to be despis'd; or of they be so, this must … from … & cheerfully using our talent and putting to …, however …. And since every … being serviceable are so very short and uncertain, … quicken … to the earliest and most … of there, as becomes those that expect … long to give … to the Judge of …. I shall not therefore (… some probably … there is … enough for … other … of … at any time. I … into a …, …hat Authors are fond of their own performances; and it may be not unjustly …, too many write … to spread their own fame, than to advance the Reader's profit; loving the praise of man, rather than the praise of God. But I can truly say, as I have not the … to wise or hope to obtain Applause by any Performances of …; so much less can it be supposed. I am acted by such a … in … to the Publick the following plain practical Sermon; (Meditated with a special reference to some personal circumstances of my own, tho' accommodated also to further the common Education) drawn up in a very small time, without the least … of it's appearing in Priest, and now Published from my … untranscribed Notes, (with only some few Additions, especially towards the …) whence it … needs be attended with … defects and disadvantages. It is therefore not without some … that I suffer so … a …, th… unfinish'd, to appear a … in this curious (I had about said, censorious) Age … forbear making many excuses, since it is not … to gratify the … of the Vain, but chiefly … & … of the humble; and lest I sould … judgment of such as have been …, it might for the light; … on the other hand, I have … making many … to method or language where it might seem … any meant … the … of such as were … in the Reaching. I hope the Reader's Benefit is what … and really …, above the Writer's Credit; … the expected censure of captious Criti…ks, … my pious Friends, who see … to … the … their generous approbation of a plain Discourse. Blessed be GOD, who was pleased to own it, & give it any acceptance and influence, when delivered from the Pulpit! May … Blessing (which alone can give the Increase) … follow it, now 'tis Published from the …ess; that the good impressions … in the hearing, man be renew'd and increas'd in the … and that it may become … beautiful by it's … Appearance. In which petitions, I … Christian, … may full, … beauty … GOD, for me: who … and less than
The least of all Saints, T. Foxcroft, …