The ensuing Sermon was preached upon as sad an occasion, as on any particular account hath been given to this Nation in this our Generation. It is now published, as at the desire of very many who love the savour of that perfume which is diffused with the memory of the Noble person peculiarly mentioned therein: so also upon the requests of such others, as enables me justly to entitle the doing of it, Obedience. Being come abroad, it was in my thoughts to have directed it immediately in the first place to Her, who of any individual person was most nearly concerned in Him. But having observed how near she hath been to be swallowed up of sorrow, and what slow progress, he who took care to seal up instruction to her soul by all dispensations, hath given her hitherto toward a conquest thereof: I was not willing to offer directly a new occasion unto the multitude of her perplexed thoughts about this thing. No doubt, her loss being as great as it could be upon the account of one subject to the law of mortality, as many grains of grief and sorrow are to be allowed her in the balance of the Sanctuary, as God ⟨image 3⟩doth permit to be laid out and dispended about any of the sons of men. He who is able to make sweet the bitterest, waters, & to give a gracious issue to the most grievous trial, will certainly, in due time, eminently bring forth that good upon her spirit, which he is causing all these things to work together for. In the mean time, Sir, these lines are to you: Your near relation to that rare example of Righteousness, Faith, Holiness, Zeal, Courage, Self-denial, Love to his Country, Wisdom and Industry, mentioned in the ensuing Sermon, the mutual tender affection between you whilst he was living; your presence with him in his last trial and conflict, the deserved regard you bear to his worth and memory; your design of looking into, and following after his steps and purpose in the work of God in his Generation, as such an accomplished pattern, as few ages have produced the like; with many other reasons of the like nature, did easily induce me hereunto. That which is here printed is but the notes I first took, not having had leisure since to give them a serious perusal, and upon that account, must beg a candid interpretation unto any thing that may appear not so well digested therein as might be expected.
THe ensuing Sermon was preached upon as sad an occasion, as on any particular account hath been given to this Nation in this our Generation. It is now published, as at the desire of very many who love the savour of that perfume which is diffused with the memory of the Noble person peculiarly mentioned therein: so also upon the requests of such others, as enables me justly to entitle the doing of it, Obedience. Being come abroad, it was in my thoughts to have directed it immediately in the first place to Her, who of any individuall person was most neerely concerned in Him. But having observed how neere she hath been to be swallowed up of sorrow, and what slow progresse, he who tooke care to seale up instruction to her soule by all dispensations, hath given her hitherto toward a conquest thereof: I was not willing to offer directly a new occasion unto the multitude of her perplexed thoughts about this thing. No doubt, her losse being as great as it could be upon the account of one subject to the law of mortality, as many grains of grief and sorrow are to be allowed her in the balance of the Sanctuary, as God ⟨image 3⟩doth permit to be laid out and dispended about any of the sons of men. He who is able to make sweet the bitterest, waters, & to give a gracious issue to the most grievous triall, will certainly, in due time, eminently bring forth that good upon her spirit, which he is causing all these things to work together for. In the mean time, Sir, these lines are to you: Your neer relation to that rare example of Righteousness, Faith, Holiness, Zeal, Courage, Self-denial, Love to his Countrey, Wisdom and Industry, mentioned in the ensuing Sermon, the mutuall tender affection between you whilest he was living; your presence with him in his last triall and conflict, the deserved regard you bear to his worth and memory; your designe of looking into, and following after his steps and purpose in the work of God in his Generation, as such an accomplished patern, as few ages have produced the like; with many other reasons of the like nature, did easily induce me hereunto. That which is here printed is but the notes I first took, not having had leisure since to give them a serious perusall, and upon that account, must beg a candid interpretation unto any thing that may appear not so well digested therein as might be expected.
