The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-05-14
A QUAINT Old Sermon.

n 0uulhJ oIu SCIIIOhs
To tie Editor:-I send you copy of
Al ancient sermon obtained under the
circumstances: Having occasion
to visit portion of the County Of Nor
folk, England, some ten years aga. look
Jag up an old lady's interest It. an English
es ate, came to the village Of Burstou,
near Diss Hundred. After sscertainiDg
my client 5 interest in the domain OF her
AL Ct stors, l wandered, as usual, into the
church yard and was struck with tie
names of two coltuieS Of COMMISSIONERS it,
scrbed with nun 'rOns names Of Buxtors
ana Proctors Some workmen were
taking down ~ old vail of the rectory,
forming a closet beneath a stairway, and
discovered a mass OF papers and manu-
scripts, among which was a sermon which
to have been preached about
the time of Queen Anne Il bore no date,
but for other memoranda, found near by,
it seems to have been delivered by the
Rev. Mr.. Moore, of Burston. upon the
funeral of Mr.. Proctor, minister of
Gissing, some time between the year 1896
and 1925. had not time to exsmine the
parish register tor furthe- particulars,
but was allowed to take copy OF the
sermon thus strangely brought 10 light,
the copy being made Heratim ct punctu-
atm
FERNANDO JONES
Fight the good right l TIN. is., Il
Beloved we are met together to
solemnize the funeral of Mr. Proctor; his
fathers name was Mr.. Thomas Proctor,
of the second family; his brothers name
was also Mr.. Thomas Proctor; lie lived
some time at Burston Hall, in Norfolk,
and was high constable of DIss Numbered
this mans name was Mr. Thomas Proctor
and his wife was Mrs. Boxton; late wife
of Mr.. Matthew Blxtoa; she came from
Helston Hall beyond Norwich He was
good husband and she good house
wife; ald they got money, she brought
thousand pounds with her for her portion.
But now, beloved, l shall make it clear
by demonstrative arguments.
First. He was good man, and that
in several respects: he was loving man
to his neighbours, charitable man to
the poor, ii favorable man in his tithes
and good landlord to his tenants; there
sits one, Mr.. Sturgeon, can tell what a
great sum of money he forgave him upon
his deathbe ld, il was four score pound.
Now, beloved, WAS NJ this god m1n
and a man of God, and his wife good
woman? and she.came from H'lston Hall
teyond Norwich. Thls is the first ar
gument.
Secondly TO prove this man to be a
cool man aud mau of God: in the time
his sickness, which was long and
tedious, he sent for Mr. Cole, minister of
Shimpfling, to pray for him. He was
not self ended man 10 be pray ed
for himself only; no, behaved, he desired
him to pray for all his relotions and
acquaintance, for Mr.. Buxton's children
against it should please God to send him
any: aud to Mr.. Coles prayers he
devoutly SAID, Amen, Amen, Amen; was
not this a good man aud a man of God,
think you, and his wife Il good woman?
and she came from Helston Hall beyond
Norwich. Then he sent for MIR. Gibbs
to pray for him; when he came and
prayed for him, for all his friends,
relations and acquaintances; for Mr.
Buxton's worship and for all Mr.. Bux-
toms children, against it should please
God to send him any, and TO Mr.. Gibbs
prayers he likewise deyoutly said, Amen.
Amen, Amen; was not this a good man
and man of God, think you, and his
wife a good woman? and she came from
Heston Hall beyond Norwich. Then be
sent for me and l came and prayed for
this good man, Mr.. Proctor. for all his
friends, relations and acquairtances; for
Mr.. BuxtOn's worship, and for Mr.
Buxton's children. against it should
please God to send him any;
and to my prayers he devoutly said,
hInCbf lbCi wa NV tbiS a S'tN'
man and man of God, think you, and
his wife good woman? and she came
from Helston Hall beyond Norwich.
Thirdly, aud lastly, beloved, l come to
a clear demOnstrative argument to prove
this man TO be a good man aud ii man of
God, and that is this: there was one
Thomas Proctor, very poor heggar boy
he came into this country upon the back
of dun COW, it was not a black COW nor
a brindle COW, nor a brown COW; no, be
loved, it was dun COW; well, beloved,
this poor boy came begging to this
good mans door, he did not do as some
would have done, give him a small aims
and send him away, or chide him, and
make him pass and send him into his
own country; no, beloved, he took him
into his own house and bound hiia an
apprentice to q gunsmith in Nor@ iCb .
after his s:me was out he took him to a
kiuswoman of bis wife's, ole Mrs.
Christian Robertson, here present, there
she sits, she was a very good fortune,
and to her this good man gave con-
siderable jointure; hy ner he had three
daughters; this good man took homa the
eldest, brought her Up to woman's
estate, married her to very honorable
gentleman, Mr.. Burxton here present,
there he sits; who gave him a vast portion
with her, and the remainder of his estate
he gave to his two daughters. Nov was
not this good man and a man OF God.
think you, and his wife good won II !?
And she came fro Hes,on II al be- ood
Nor wich
Beloved, you may remember some
time since l preached at the funeral OF
MIS- Proctor, all of which time | troubled
you with many of her transcandeAt
virtues; but your memories perhaps may
fail you, and, therefore, SHALL now
remind you of one or two of them. TIT
first she was good knitter, rs any in
the country of Norfu.k; when her
I'D ,,,A