The benefit of afflictions to the people of God opened and applyed in a sermon preached at St. Maryes in Nottingham, March 31, 1659, at the funerall of Mrs. Winnifrid Pierrepont, onely daughter to the honourable Mrs. Alissamon Pierrepont, widdow to the Honourable Francis Pierrepont, Esq; son to the right Honourable Robert, late earl of Kingston / by John Whitlock ...

TO THE HONOURABLE The Lady ALISAMON PIERREPONT At London.

Madam,

YOU have your self sometimes been pleased to intimate your desires, that the Sermon I preached upon the sad occasion of the Funerall of your late Dear, and (at the time of her death) only remaining Child and Daughter, Mris Winifred Pierrepont, might be printed: A matter I did, and do earnestly desire to be excu∣sed in, as not at all affecting to appear in Print, having never done it but once upon a like sad, nay sadder occasion. And I was and am the more unwilling, because I would not alwayes in my ad∣dresses to you be as one of Jobs Messengers, at least so far as to renew the remembrance of your great losse in, and sad sorrows for the death of, first your dearest Husband, and since dear and only Child. And I well hoped the causing the Notes of the latter Sermon to be written out for you, might have satisfied your Honours desires, and served for your private use: But you have

since been pleased by your Chaplain (my Reverend and very good friend) Mr. Stevens, more fully to expresse your desires, which are to me instead of commands, and earnestly to solicit me at least to permit that Sermon to be printed: A thing I know not how well to yield to, and yet I know not how to, nay cannot, deny you; lest I should shew my self unthankfull, having been and still being so exceedingly engaged to your Honour. And there∣fore, Madam, I do without a Complement pro∣fesse my self your servant, and my Sermon to be at your dispose; and if no less then the publish∣ing of it will satisfie, I am glad it is like to passe through so careful a hand as your Chaplains, my self being at such a distance. Had I known your intentions soon enough, I might perhaps have re∣viewed it: but the Notes being at such a distance, I must let it passe as it is, desiring, if it be made publick, the blessing of God may accompany it to render it useful and profitable to your Honour, and all others that shall read it.

I doubt not, Madam, but you have found that Text and Sermon exemplified in your own expe∣rience, so that although Gods dispensations in taking away your dear relations have been very bitter to present sense, yet having been well di∣gested by repentance, prayer, and faith, they have proved very sweet and precious in their effects, bringing forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness: And that you can say they have turned to the fur∣therane of your salvation, the rather seeing that as in your fullest prosperity, in the midst of your most comfortable relations, and greatest confluence of Creature-comforts, you have ever exprest a

very high respect to the Ministers, Ordinances and People of God, and a very great care to promote Religion in your Family, so that I may say that in all these, and many other vertues and graces you have under Gods chastnings abounded yet more and more, which is highly commendable in you, and may afford much comfort to you, it being a blessed, and promised effect of Sanctified Affli∣ctions.

God hath indeed deprived you of very comfor∣table Relations, but he is able to supply the want of them to you, and to give you an hundred-fold in this life with persecution, and in the life to come, life everlasting. Yea he hath promised to those that keep his Sabbaths, chuse the things that please him, and take hold of his Covenant, a name better than of Sons and Daughters, a name in Gods house, even an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. And as I make no question but God hath wrought in you the condition of the promise, which he hath enabled you to shew forth in the fruits of holinesse in your life, so you need not in the least doubt the reaping the comfort of the promise.

That I have further to adde is to acquaint you how much your presence is desired in these parts. The use God hath made of your Honour, in these parts of the Countrey where your habitation hath been, to incourage Piety and reall Religion, and to promote the good of souls makes me, and many others the lesse know, how to bear your absence, and more earnestly desirous of your residence among us, so far as may make for Gods honour and your comfort, that you may continue to be a

prop to declining Religion, a shelter and encou∣ragement to many of the Messengers and people of Christ, who meet with very great discourage∣ments from too many others.

Now, that God would blesse you, and yours; that he would abundantly supply to you in, and from himself, what you have lost or do find wan∣ting in the Creature, and that he would enable you to abound yet more and more in grace and comfort, and that he would continue to guide you by his Counsel, even untill at last he hath brought you to his Glory, is the continued prayer of him, who desires to approve himself,

Madam,

Your Honours most
devoted Servant,
especially in soul-
concernments,
John Whitlock.

Nottingham Sept: 11.
1661.