Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A37226
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The phoenix, sepulchre, & cradle in the holy death of the right honourable Isabella, Theresa, Lucy, Marchioness of Winchester / by J.D.
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J. D.
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1691
(1691)
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Wing D39; ESTC R33430
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9,203
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23
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his Power appears in our Infirmities that his Mercy is seen in our Recoveries Besides Sickness doth wean us from the Earth and bereaving us of the Use of Pleasure prepares us for a holy Death which was welcome to our couragious Heroine even under any shape whatsoever under the most horrid Forms whether shameful cruel or lingring 3. Hence Though Death is as frightful as unavoidable yet this most Christian Lady esteemed Death rather a Favour than a Punishment And though this may seem a strange Paradox to those that have their Hearts wholly wedded to this Life yet is it a Maxim approved of by Christians and embraced by all that are of the Faithful If Death is frightful because 't is the punishment of Sin 't is also pleasing to good Souls because it is now the Child of the Cross Death has changed Nature since it was consecrated in the Person of Christ who overcame that Monster by dying defeated it with the Cross and triumphed over it when Death seemed to triumph over him Mortuus ille Mortis Interfector saith St Austin Death has now forgone those dreadful Names which caused Terror to assume those pleasing ones of Sleep from which we shall awake refreshed of Passage to eternal Bliss of Sacrifice which God requires of us adds St. Austin and whereby his Justice is appeased Mors quae in Lege Naturae erat Poena Peccati facta est in Lege Gratiae HOSTIA pro Pecoato So that what was formerly a Torment is now become a Favour and what was formerly the Cause of our Fear is now become the Subject of our Hope No wonder then if our Pious Lady who knew these Truths was free from the Fear of Death Nay looking upon Death as rather the end of her Sins than of her Life she had Courage enough even to desire it If there is any occasion where Christians have the Advantage over Prophane Philosophers 't is chiefly in that which concerns Death For not only they fear it not but they even desire it One would think that the same Vertue which makes them faithful makes them couragious Wherefore Tertullian defining what Christians are says 'T is a sort of Men distinct from all others by their readiness to die Genus Hominum Morti expeditum Tert. in Apolog. Never more content than when nearer their Death They have always this Thought imprinted in their Minds and this Desire engraved in their Hearts Maids adds St. Ambrose who are naturally timorous desire Death amongst us and the Theclas Agnes and Pelagia's ran to Martyrdom as the others ran to a Ball or Comedy Apud nos Puella de Mortis appetentia usque ad Coelum erexere Virtutum gradus Ambr. Lib. 2. Ep. 7. Our incomparable Marchioness was of the same Mind Her Love for Christ caused in her a Desire of Death and to leave her Body to go and enjoy her God And thus as the Phoenix springing out of her Ashes she may multiply her Days and never see the End of her Happiness Sicut Phoenix multiplic tbo Dies The Close SInce then this Bird of Paradise the Illustrious Isabella Theresa Lucy Stafford Marchioness of Winchester was humble in her Greatness constant in her Afflictions let all Christians profit by so rare an Example For as a Heathen said formerly The Great Ones are born to give good Example Magni nati sunt in Exemplum Vell. Paterculus Let us learn from this Noble Lady not only not to fear Death but even to desire it 'T is but little Christians not to fear Death since the very Philosopers overcame that Fear We must grow familiar with this Monster which amazeth those that never beheld it We must learn to die whilst we live Nay since we are Christians let 's change our Fear into Desire our Hatred into Love And being Heirs of God made Man who changed the Punishment of our Crime into a Sacrifice of Piety le ts desire what he desired let 's love what he loved and le ts give him in dying Marks of our Obedience Non terreant Crucifixi haeredes Mortis Supplicia Cypr. Serm. De Coena Domini But as for you of the Noble Family of the Staffords give me leave to tell you That you are bound not only to honour her as a Person of Signal Piety but also to love her as your Sister and Relation being united by the strictest Bands of Friendship in the world because you are Children of the same right Honourable Father and of the same Illustrious Mother because you were bred up together in the same Family because you are all Members of the same Body quickned with the same Spirit and inflamed with the same Love And though I hope she is now among the number of Blessed Spirits yet she that was formerly a tender Sister slights you not now But as Joseph in his Greatness still preserved Love for his Brethren though unworthy thereof she still retains Love for you who so justly deserve it But joyn Imitation with your Love For 't is in vain you love her if you resemble her not Homage without Imitation is injurious to those that receive it You are more bound to imitate your Ancestors than others because being your Domestick Patterns their Condition takes away all Excuse and their Actions ought rather to be your Laws than Examples Order then your Lives according to hers make use of that good Example she has left you in becoming like her humble in your Greatness and constant in your Afflictions to the end that being partakers of her Vertues on Earth you may pretend to the Glory which we hope she enjoys in Heaven and like this Spiritual Phoenix multiply your Days of Happiness for all Eternity Amen She Departed this Life Sept. 2. 1691. FINIS