Death unstung a sermon preached at the funeral of Thomas Mowsley, an apothecary, who…

but the result of them came to this, I did then engage my self by a fresh vow, that the next morning I would play so as ⟨p. 127⟩to venture about two shillings, and if I lost that, then not to play any more for such a certain time, and to my best remembrance, (for as I would not add, so I would not diminish, and so rob God of his glory, and my poor soul of comfort) I did at that time lift up my heart to God (but with what affections I cannot tell, I hope not without great shame) to crave his aid that I might be enabled to keep my great vow; and so when the time came that I was to venture my money, which I thought very long, with great cheerfulness I went to play, being very willing, and I think desirous to lose, which was soon accomplished according to my hopes; which when it was ended, I cannot say what I thought, or how my heart worked, but as I think that very day my heart was somewhat troubled by what follows; for I having lost a great part of that in which my heart so much delighted, and idolized as its God, and rested in as its ultimate end, I could not find rest in it as formerly; and so being much troubled, I went to peruse some toys that I had by me, and amongst them there was one Jewel, which the Lord was pleased to put into my hand, (which was a Book entitled, The Crumbs of Comfort) the which, when I felt my heart somewhat inclined to peruse, I was much ⟨p. 128⟩perplexed within my self, and could not but wonder what manner of salutation this should be; and now I hope I have great cause to acknowledge that the hand of God was in all this; but I will not on this account any ways turn aside, but go on as my own heart and conscience now witnesseth to me, and I hope the Spirit of God likewise; and so very desirous I was to know the meaning of this dark providence, as then it appeared to me to be; that more or less for two days together I often perused more of the Book, but my heart was little affected to any particular thing, and yet I was troubled more and more within me, and could find no rest for my poor soul;

but the result of them came to this, I did then engage my self by a fresh vow, that the next morning I would play so as ⟨p. 127⟩to venture about two shillings, and if I lost that, then not to play any more for such a certain time, and to my best remembrance, (for as I would not add, so I would not diminish, and so rob God of his glory, and my poor soul of comfort) I did at that time lift up my heart to God (but with what affections I cannot tell, I hope not without great shame) to crave his aid that I might be enabled to keep my great vow; and so when the time came that I was to venture my mony, which I thought very long, with great chearfulness I went to play, being very willing, and I think desirous to lose, which was soon accomplished according to my hopes; which when it was ended, I cannot say what I thought, or how my heart worked, but as I think that very day my heart was somewhat troubled by what follows; for I having lost a great part of that in which my heart so much delighted, and idolized as its God, and rested in as its ultimate end, I could not find rest in it as formerly; and so being much troubled, I went to peruse some toyes that I had by me, and amongst them there was one Jewel, which the Lord was pleased to put into my hand, (which was a Book intituled, The Crumbs of Comfort) the which, when I felt my heart somewhat inclined to peruse, I was much