For I. The Concluding Part of a Christian's Life doth agree with his Preceding Course and Conduct and therefore is a confirming Testimony unto his former Conversation 'T is taken for granted That Dying Persons judge more wisely than at other times Whence 't is that the Sayings and Counsels of such are especially valued and regarded because at such a time Men will not dissemble and are least byass'd by Common Opinion When therefore the last Words and Actions of a Christian agree with his former Life they are an Authentick Seal by which he signs his Religious Choice and Conversation 'T is often seen that Wicked Men when Death approacheth change their Note and heartily condemn their own Evil Life yea they will warn others against such a Course as themselves liv'd in By this they blemish their former Course and proclaim the Folly of it If a Dying Christian did reâ—ant at last and confess his Mistake this would quite spoil all the Efficacy of his Example But when He seals the Doctrin which he profess'd and obey'd with his last Breath yea when he is call'd with his Blood this gives a mighty force unto the holy Example which he leaves behind him When the Apostle would strongly excite these Believing Hebrews to imitate the Holy Patriarchs after a Description of their Vertues he saith of them These all died in Faith Heb. 9.13 i. e. At their Death they acted the same Faith which had govern'd their Lives There is no just Pretence to suspect that strict Religion is a Cheat or Counterfeit-shew for 't is own'd and stuck to at a time when Men are the most oblig'd to use the greatest Sincerity And II. The Concluding Part of a Christian Life demonstrates the singular Advantage of Faith and Holiness One of the most common Objections against a Religious Life is that which was made in the Days of the Prophet Malachi chap. 3.14 It is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinance The happy Conclusion of a Christian Life doth fully refute and silence this Objection and withal strongly enforces the Imitation of such an Example We are therefore expressly required to Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace or happiness Psal 37.37 This might easily be prov'd by many Evidences of which I shall only mention Three that are most obvious 1. The Fortitude and Courage of a Dying Christian proves the excellent Usefulness of Faith and Piety 'T is no contemptible Privilege to overcome the Fear of Death as the Apostle and his Companions had done who could say We are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5.8 All the helps of Wit and Learning of Reason and Education can't do this Service 'T is often seen that the Wits and Beaux Esprits the Bold and Valiant are afraid to die their Courage fails when they receive the sentence of Death whereas a Real Christian though of the Timorous Sex and of a Vulgar Education is enabled to Triumph over Death and the Grave because to such God has given the victory through Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.55,57 2. The supporting Hope in a Dying Christian is another fruit of Faith and Holiness It will be granted that We can never stand more in need of this Cordial than at the End of our Lives when we are entring into the dark Valley of the shadow of Death But 't is not Riches and Treasures not Greatness and Power not a Crown or a Kingdom that can furnish with this sustaining Hope Death will certainly overturn the Hopes of Wicked Men who had nourish'd a strong Confidence on the Mercy of God and some lifeless Form of Religion What is the hope of the hypocrite when God taketh away his soul Job 27.8 But The Righteous hath hope in his death Prov. 14.32 A Faith that worketh a Gospel Obedience is the only Root which can bring forth the Hope which sustains a Dying Christian The Consideration of which is a very forcible Motive unto the Imitation of such an Example 3. The Inward Peace and Joy which sweeten the Death of a Christian evidence the great Advantage of a Holy Conversation The Peace and Gladness of a Wicked Man are like a House built on the Sand that makes a fair shew as long as nothing assaults it How oft is it known that the approach of Death quite spoils the Mirth of a secure Sinner who then feels an Earthquake in his Breast and the Review of his past Life changes his Joy into Sadness and Terror The Midnight Cry that proclaims the Coming of the Bridegroom must be terrible to the foolish sleeping Virgins who had not made themselves ready for the Marriage-Supper But the diligent Christian who has employ'd his Time and Opportunities in Pleasing and Honouring of God hath just reason of Rejoycing when he is near the End of his Race and is going to receive the Glorious Prize No question but the Apostle felt a most reviving Gladness when he us'd the language which we read 2 Tim. 4.7,8 I have finish'd my course henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness c. 'T is related in the Life of St. Ambrose That when the Noblemen of Milan visiting him in his last Sickness requested Him that He should Pray for the lengthning of his own Life which they judged necessary for the Publick Good He made this most excellent Answer I have not so lived among you that I should be ashamed to live longer Nor am I afraid to die for we have a Good Master Non ita inter vos vixi ut pudeat me vivere nec timeo mori quoniam bonum Dominum habemus If we reflect on these Particulars we shall discern how proper and suitable is the Direction laid down in the Text which requires to consider the End or Concluding Part of the Conversation of those who have liv'd and died in the Faith of Jesus and especially of those whose eminent Station had made their Example more obliging and efficacious And this Character certainly belongs unto the deceased QUEEN MARY of ever Happy Memory whose Faith and Piety I come now to represent None must expect an accurate Delineation of such a Pattern from so rude a Hand as mine This Work either is or will be done by some Able Hand I shall only attempt without Flattery to relate such Instances of Her Unfeigned Piety as were manifest to All who had Opportunity of observing Her Life and can't be deny'd even by her Enemies Her Parentage and Descent Her Beauty and Wit Her Moral Conjugal and Royal Vertues must be past over in Silence as not necessary to my Design which is only to represent the Christian Vertues which did shine in Her Carriage and Conversation Of which the I. First and indeed the Foundation of all the rest was Her Spiritual Knowledge and thorough Acquaintance with Religion Ignorance or a consus'd