SIBBES AND GATAKER*
To the Eight Worshipful llr Koeert Offley, Master of the Company of Haberdashers, and the Right Worshipful Sir John Garret, Knight, Mr Alderman Hammersly, Mr Alderman Whitjiore, ]VIr Alderman Ronton, and other worthy Fathers and Brethren of the said Company, all prosperity in this world, and happiness in the world to come.
Right Worshipful,
Albeit the expressions of a gracious heart by lively voice breed deeper impressions (God attending his own ordinance of preaching with a more special blessing), yet writing hath in this respect a prerogative, that holy truths thus conveyed to the world spread further, and continue longer. Those, therefore, deserve well of the church that this way impart those things to public and future use, by which God wrought on the hearts of the hearers for the present. In which respect, this funeral sermon, preached out of love and honour of the graces of God in a poor yet well esteemed Christian (Master Winter), may gain acceptance, as being not only for matter sound, for handling clear, but for the times seasonable. For what were necessary in these times, wherein many are ashamed of the downright profession of that rehgion by which they hoped to be saved, than to press constant faithfulness in known truths, unto which all pro- mises are entailed ? Particular points have been much and long urged amongst us ; it is very needful that constant cleaving to all those blessed truths likewise be enforced. And from what stronger encouragement can this be, than from a crown of life here promised to the crown of all graces, Perseverance ? Since the fall, one dangerous disease of the soul is, unsettled- ness in good purposes, especially where either discouragements or aUure-
* The above ' Epistle Dedicatory' by Sibbes, which has hitherto escaped all notice, is prefixed to a ' Funeral Sermon,' the title-page of which is as follows : — ' Christian Constancy crowned by Christ : a Funerall Sermon on Apocalyps 2 : 10. Preached at the buriall of Mr "William Winter Citizen of London. Together with the Testimony then given unto him. By Thomas Gataker, B of D. and Pastor of Eotherhyth. Veritas Filia Temporis. London Printed by Anne Griffin for Edward Brewster, and are to be sold at the signe of the Bible, at Fleet-bridge. 1637.' This characteristic ' Epistle ' forms another contribution to chap. ix. of our Memoir.
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ments are offered. But -what will not a soul break through, that hath in the eye of it a crown, held out to all that hold out to the end, by him who hath both obtained it for us, and kecpeth it for us, and us for it ? There is a mutual passage of trust between God and us, for thus graciously he condescendeth to us. We trust him with the salvation of our souls, he trustelh us with his truth, which, if by grace we be enabled to keep, it will keep us, and raise up our hearts to an expectation of all good from our faithful and good God, even at that time when our souls gasp for comfort, at the hour of death. And at the day of judgment the sentence will pass, not according to greatness of parts and place, but according to faithfulness, Well done, not learned, wise, rich, but faithful servant, &c. This sermon, entreating of things thus useful, is presented by me, as entreated by the widow of the late deceased (Master Winter), and some others whom I respect, and to you as chief of that company whereof he was a poor member ; and this by willing consent of the author, my reverend and ancient friend, of whom I am not willing to take this occasion to speak : his long, faith- ful, learned labours in the church have made him sufficiently known. He gave her full power of the copy for her use ; which, in her behalf, and at her desire, I offer unto your worships as a testimony of her respect ; as like- wise, if there be a blessing in your hands in the behalf of the orphans of such as have been of your company, I was not unwilling to take this advantage of presenting her estate to your merciful considerations, considering she traineth up a son at the university, for the future service of the church. It is a special blessing of God, where he hath given power and a willing mind to do good, to offer likewise the opportunity of fit objects, that bounty be not misplaced, which here undoubtedly you shall have, and the blessing of the fatherless and widow shall come upon you. The Lord lead you on in a course of faithfulness, to which we are here encouraged, that in the end you may receive the crown of life which is here promised.
Yours in all Christian service,
E. SiBBS. Gkay's Inn, Jan. 2. 1G23.
* ^* Gataker has received the highest praise of, earlier, Salmasius, Aenius, Morhof, Baillet, Witsius, and, later, of Hallam and Dr Wordsworth. He died 1654. His works, ' Opera Critica,' were collected by Witsius into 2 vols, folio, 16Q8 ; his ' Sermons,' &c., occupy a noble folio, 1637. The ' sermon' to which Sibbes's epistle was prefixed, is contained in it. The 'son' of ' Master Winter,' referred to, after- wards became minister of West Acre, Norfolk; several fugitive sermons were published by him. G.