The Character of Anna the Prophetess Considered and Applied, Half title – Errata
Mr. Foxcroft's SERMON After the Funeral OF Dame Bridget Uſher.
The Character OF Anna, the Propheteſs, Conſider'd and Apply'd.
In a SERMON Preach'd after the funeral Of that Honourable and Devout Gentlewoman, Dame Bridget Uſher; Who deceas'd at Boſton, N. E. May 25th, 1723. Being a Widow of a great Age.
Publiſh'd (with ſome Enlargements) at the Deſire of the honoured Executors to her Will.
By Thomas Foxcroft, M. A. And a Paſtor to the Old Church in Boſton. With a Preface by the Rev. Mr. Wadſworth.
BOSTON: Printed by S. KNEELAND, MDCCXXIII.
PREFACE.
BECAUSE all Men are Sinful, therefore they are Mortal. For as by one Man Sin entred into the World, ſo Death hath paſſed upon all Men for that all have ſinned. But, Eternal Praiſes be to the Ever-living God, that, As by one Man's diſobedience many were made Sinners, ſo, by the Obedience of One ſhall many be made Righteous. Our bleſſed Lord Jeſus Chriſt, God-Man-Mediator, is the Only One, by whom ſinful Men can be Saved. He ſaves, in Juſtifying Perſons by His Righteouſneſs; in Renewing and Sanctifying them by His Spirit. Praiſes be to His Great Name, that from time to time there are many ſuch Triumphs of His Grace. We have ground to hope (ſo far as we can judge) that Several lately remov'd from us by Death, were ſuch.
Particularly, that Aged Handmaid of the Lord Madam Bridget Uſher, upon whoſe Death the following Sermon was Preached. I never heard to the contrary, but that from her Youth up, her Life was Sober, Vertuous, Religious. Ever ſince I have known her (which has been many Years) ſhe has had (and I think juſtly) the Character of an holy, blameleſs, cloſe Walker with God. She was firm and ſtedfaſt in the Faith, even to the end. She ſo walked, as to adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour. She was watchful, not only over her Actions, but over her Words too; far from that backbiting, reviling temper, which too ſhamefully and commonly appears in many. She was very ready to promote and incourage pious ſavoury Diſcourſe… a thing too much neglected by many Chriſtians. She was a wonderful Example of Chriſtian Patience under great Pains and Bodily Afflictions. She was a careful, conſtant, diligent Attender on God's publick Worſhip and Ordinances; and would not ſuffer ſmall Inconveniencies or difficulties to keep her therefrom, as too many are apt to do.
AS her Outward Carriage was commendable, courteous, religious; ſo her great Sollicitude was (as appear'd from Diſcourſe and Conference) to be a Chriſtian indeed, to have Faith Unfeigned, to have Integrity and Uprightneſs of Soul before God that trieth the Hearts.
After a long and holy Life, ſhe died in the Lord, and reſts from her Labours, and her Works follow her. Let us follow her, ſo far as ſhe followed Chriſt. To be ſincerely and practically Godly and Religious; is our indiſpenſable Duty, higheſt Honour, and greateſt Intereſt. Let us be moſt ſtudious and careful to lead ſuch a Life; for we know not how ſoon we may be call'd to an Account by our Glorious Judge, who can't be deceiv'd and wont be mock'd.
That the Sermon publiſhed herewith, by my dear and worthy Colleague and Fellow-Labourer in the Work of the Goſpel; may be Inſtrumental of quickening Perſons to an holy Life, which is the beſt Preparation for Death; is the Prayer of him, who writes this ſhort Preface,
Benj. Wadſworth. Boſton, N. E. July 20. 1723.
ERRATA.
PAge 23. line 4. for in, read, is. Lin. 13. for Collection, read, Concourſe. P. 38. l. 33. after better, add, and the oftner the better. P. 39. l. 28. for this, read, His. P. 53. l. 22. read, the pious.