Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	holy_a	read_v	scripture_n	8,342	5	5.9261	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65259	Mary's choice declared in a sermon preached at the funeral of the Right Honourable Lady Mary Wharton, late wife of the Honourable Sir Thomas Wharton, Knight of the Bath, at Edlington in the county of York together with a narrative of the religious and holy life, and death of that excellent lady / by P.W., Rector of Edlington.	P. W. (Peter Watkinson), d. 1688.	1674 (1674)	Wing W1079; ESTC R38495	55,178	52

offend him in any thing her grief frequently expressed that she was not more holy her earnest desire of and longing for farther assurance of divine favour her exemplary Humility ever having low thoughts of her self and of any thing she did alwaies acknowledging her great defects in each Duty and her unworthiness of the least mercy esteeming her self the greatest of sinners and the least of all Saints as St. Paul nothing esteeming any thing she was or did 1 Tim. 1. 15 Ephes 3.8 Phil. 3.8 Opibus nobilitate contemptâ facta est in humilitate nobilior Hier. Ep. 16. Psalm 50.23 no not her greatest attainments in Grace and Holiness as to any dependence upon them much less her outward priviledges of Nobility and worldly greatness that she might gain Christ II. As for her Conversation it was sutable to her Qualifications ever studying to walk according to the rule of holiness Her great care was to prepare her heart to seek the Lord that she might in all things order her conversation aright both towards God and man 1. In respect of God what is said in Scripture of Enoch Noah and other holy persons that they walked with God was also verified in her How she did deport her self in secret duties was known only to God and her own Soul according to her Saviours admonition Yet if we may measure her more retired Devotions Mat. 6.6 by what was evident in Church and Family Duties nothing could be more affectionate Her secret Prayers as also her Meditations and heavenly raptures were more immediate exchanges between her pious Soul and him whom her Soul loved Some part whereof could not yet be so concealed but that such as were near her could observe her constant retirements and by her Discourses take notice at least in general how her time was employed in her Closet For such is the nature of true Love that it cannot contain but must at sometimes break forth in the praises of its beloved and express its joys and heavenly content in him whom it so much admires as is evident by the Discourse of the Church in the Canticles Vid. Cant. 2.16 5.10 c. 6.3.7.10 Those ravishing joys cannot be concealed the Daughter of Jerusalem must be acquainted with the excellencies of her beloved and how exceedingly she is affected with and to him Thus much and much more was known to her dear and indulgent Husband who himself was not only an incourager but also an excellent example and Pattern of private Devotions as followeth 1. Her diligent and careful Reading of the holy Scriptures which being a considerable part of her retirements brought her to a familiar acquaintance with the revealed Will of God She tasked her self with Reading a daily portion which was studiously performed And what good use she made thereof may be gathered from her Observations which were found among her Papers written with her own hand Prov. 3.3 These were called Totaphoth or Phylacteries and by the Rabbins Tephilin Of which read Buxtorf Synagog Jadaic cap. 4. Ainsw Synops Critic in Exod. 1● which I have seen and perused wherein no less than three hundred remarkable passages were transcribed verbatim to be the subject of her private Meditations and that she might more firmly imprint them in her memory according to that injunction of Solomon write them upon the Table of thy heart Thus the Lord commanded the Israelites that they should write certain Sections of the Law which they should wear upon their hands and as Frontlets before their eyes that the Law might be had in perpetual remembrance These were in time superstitiously and hypocritically abused as appears Mat. 23.5 But she was far from ostentation nor was this pious care of hers known till after her death Amongst others these Scriptures she most especially proposed to her Reading and Meditation at such times as she set apart for private humiliation Dan. 9. Isa 61. Ezr. 9. Neh. 9. Joel 2. Jam. 4.9 10. Mat. 6.18 Isa 58.1 Joh. 1.9 Neh. 1. ad 10. I have transcribed them as they were found in her Papers And as she was thus diligent in reading the holy Scripture so did she also take great pains and delight in reading of such Books as were written by those worthy persons who were of greatest esteem among the most serious and religious Readers For as her great design in reading was to understand the good and acceptable and perfect Will of God so she rationally conceived Rom. 12.2 that none could more likely acquaint her with the mind of God than those who were designed to this Office and who conversed most with him in their pious exemplary and constant practice remembring that the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Psalm 25.14 Prov. 3.32 These Authors were commended to her by B. usher and others who were fully for the Church of England Amongst these she chiefly read Mr. Daniel Dyke of the deceitfulness of the Heart a Book she highly prized and oft times read over Mr. Arth. Hildersham's works also and Dr. Preston's Dr. Sibs Mr. Dod Mr. Rogers's seven Treatises and the Epitome called The Practice of Christianity Mr. John Downham's Christian Warfare though very voluminous yet could not the bigness of any good Book prevent but rather excite her diligence Near her end she was Reading Mr. Calvin's Institutions translated into English the second time having not many weeks before Read it quite through Many other such good and practical Authours she had carefully Read with great profit turning their words into Works For she was ever careful not only to take in more light by such good mens pains but chiefly to feel her heart warmed by their kindly heats She used her Reading in stead of a Looking-Glass whereby to discover and reform whatsoever was amiss in her practice and also how to adorn her conversation with regular obedience so that her Reading did not only enrich her mind with knowledge but beautifie her life with vertuous practice knowing that God hath given us his Word and Law not only to be known but to be actually obeyed For what doth it profit to learn what we should do if we do not what we have learned When she would recreate her mind with any pleasant Discourse besides her Reading of serious History she took great delight in Reading Mr. Herbert's Verses most of which she could repeat without Book These her recreation instead of Play-books and Romances 2. Besides her diligent and unwearied Reading which was not only part of her Closet work but usually her afternoons employment when not hindred by company or not exercised in needle-work for she was never idle she constantly observed her designed and slated times for secret Prayer In which if she were at any time hindred by entertainment of friends c. yet would she redeem time even from her sleep rather than shorten her accustomed Devotions And here though no other account can

read and remember your old Mother by In the first place Love and fear God and press and strive every day to increase more and more in the love and service of him in whom you live move and have your being There is no Wisdom or Policy like it And the more you converse with Gods Word and his People the more you will find it and the better you will like it For in his Service is perfect freedom Let me conjure you to let no day go without reading the holy Scripture and other good Books as you have leisure you will find them excellent company And do not only Read but consider what you Read to remember it I should be very glad you would early fit and prepare for the communion of the blessed Body and Blood of Christ not rashly because others do it but advisedly finding the want of it and the preciousness of it which may give you a true hunger and thirst after it and all other Ordinances of God upon which I pray attend very diligently Next Honour and Love your King and look upon Rebellion as the sin of Witchcraft Observe and obey all his just commands and what ever they be pray for him and submit and suffer what you cannot obey of them but never rise nor murmur at any lawful Authority though it be never so cross to your own humour but patiently bear what you cannot amend Lastly Reverence Honour Obey and Love your Father Obey his commands observe his instructions mark his reproofs to prevent the need of them any more And let them not make you love his company less for it is his kindness When he is angry be your very mild and discreet in your replies and do not expostulate with him but own your fault which will quickly obtain pardon for he loves you dearly and so would I fain have you do him Be careful of him in Age or Sickness Love to be in his company And alwaies choose the best company for there is no good got in ill mean company And avoid as much as you can all Debauchery and these that are so Let the fear of God first prevail with you then the pleasing of your Father and your dead Mothers injunctions when she was alive And consider well your Vow made in Baptism which though it were then promised by others yet you are bound to perform now as your Catechise teacheth you To which end consider the Church-Catechise well and there you will find your obligation which I beseech God to enable you to strive to perform in resisting the World the Flesh and the Devil and Loving our good God and our Neighbours I would give you warning of two sorts of People the Flatterer and the Backbiter and of being either your self And when any flatters you to your Face be not pleased with it but have a more strict guard upon your behaviour and actions and examine whether it belong to you or no if it do give God the glory if not take that occasion to endeavour after being what you would be thought to be And if you hear any speak ill of others who do not deserve it Look to your self for you are like to have the same when your back is turn'd My dear Child be careful of your waies and let not these things I say be slighted by you for they come from one that loves you and wisheth your welfare I assure you by Name your old Mother Mary Wharton Feb. 26. 1667. By this it may appear what pious and loving regard she had to her dearest and nearest Relations that after her Death they might have this as her last Legacy to put them in mind of her dear affection to them and of her most godly desire of their spiritual welfare after her departure She had reserved these Papers by her in her Cabinet till she apprehended her approaching Dissolution And then though exceedingly faint yet with a chearful countenance which had ever been her ordinary aspect Index animi vultus an argument of a serene mind she with her own hands transmitted them to theirs And since we are in hand with Paper-evidences of her pious Vertues it shall not be amiss in this place to insert the Testimony of the Right Reverend Bishop of Elphin in Ireland formerly mentioned who had spent much of the time with them during the troubles in Ireland whereby he had the opportunity of intimate acquaintance with the Family and therefore most able to give a good account of their Conversation Having received intelligence of her Death he writes this consolatory Epistle to her soffowful Husband from Elphin Honoured Sir ALthough the decease of your pious Consort and sense of your loss must needs work an exceeding great grief Yet the consideration of her holy Life religious End and the hope of receiving her again cannot but revive and comfort you I need not tell you that her publick carriage was an exact Commentary upon that description which Solomon's M●ther gives of a Vertuous Woman Her gentle discreet well-temper'd demeanour all that ever knew her or had the happiness to converse with her will without blushing be witnessed by them But that which sets her beyond all verbal praises As she was of a Vertuous so of a Gracious disposition I speak it unfainedly The fear of God was planted in her heart she had not an outward semblance or shew of Piety but the Power of Godliness which she manifested in her conscionable frequenting of the publick Ministry with Mary treasuring up the Word in her heart and bringing it forth into action What hours were spent in her Closet in Prayer Reading Meditation which was a great means of her spiritual progress in Knowledge and Grace and the surest evidence and seal of sincerity is best known to your self It pleased God by a long and lingring Sickness to mean her from the delights of this World to carry her thoughts and desires Heaven-ward living fruitfully and dying comfortably The Lord shewed in her that it is not in vain to serve him and that a constant course of a Religious Life will minister abundance of sweet consolation at the hour of Death c. And in another Letter of a much later Date having occasion to make mention of her he hath these words Little is nothing and much not enough to be recorded of her Piety Loyalty Charity and Devotion Her own Works will praise her in the gates Thus much I thought good to Transcribe from the Letters of that Holy and Reverend Prelate as an unquestionable confirmation of what I have declared in this Narrative Hitherto we have had a general account of some remarks in her exemplary Life And even as she lived so she died Qualis vita Finis ita Indeed a great part of her Life was but as it were a lingring Death For many years before her Death she was afflicted with an Asthmatical distemper which caused as I conceive an Hectick under which she laboured till she