May your Honours in these saying-dayes wherein is so much disputing and unedifying janglings about Religion 1 Tim. 1.4 6 5. wherein Rachells sight exceeds Leahs fruitfulnesse may your Honours I say take that counsell which holy and learned Melancthon gave his mother then troubled with variety of disputes about Religion namely Go on in holy practise to do what you know and trouble not your selves as you do not with the endlesse and needlesse brabbles of the times which would weary and not edifie you and which made holy Strigellius and Melancthon very learned pious men to desire to dye to be freed from (h) They desired to dye to be freed ab implacabilibus odiis Theoiogorum them how many in stead of heart-searching holy practising mind only opinions notions and disputes which the serious thoughts of death might happily aellay the Poet saith and perhaps you know that swarmes of Bees meeting in the aire will sometimes fight with great violence yet if you cast a little dust (i) Virgil. Hi motus animorum atque haec certamina tanta Pulveris exigui jactu compressa qâ—iescunt Sir Hen. Wotton Provost of Eaton would have no other Epitaph on his Tombe but this Hic situs est author illius Sententiae Disputacdi pruritus fir Ecclesiarum scabies saith learned Dr. Arrows And Luthers prayer was à doctore glorioso a pastore contentioso inutilibus quaestionibus liberet ecclesiam suam Dominus amongst them they are presently quiet Oh that the serious consideration of our dust and mortality might cease and quiet our needlesse differences and unprofitable disputes Go on I beseech you to study Gods word and your own hearts death and your great account Learned Suarez used to say that he more esteemed that little pittance of time which he constantly set apart every day for the private examination of his own heart then all the other part of the day which he spent in Voluminous controversies hold on therefore in Gods work and fear not to lye down in the bed of the grave which Christ hath made soft for you Christ hath both conquered for you and conquered in you the great work is past here if God hath made you new Creatures raised you from the dead the death of sin and nature hath changed you from darknesse to light it s an easier work to put that new Creature so made so raised into heaven and to remove him from the lesser light of grace to the greater light of glory he that hath done the greater which you experience will surely do the lesser But I cease your Honours further trouble onely humbly crave your pardon for this my boldnesse herein and my plainnesse in the ensuing narrative for sorrow knew neither exactnesse of method nor curiosity of phrase and when your Honours have leasure vouchsafe to read the life and death of her who was most dear to him that is A poor faithfull remembrancer of your Honorable Consorts and your Ladiships at the throne of grace I. S. Charter-house near Kingston upon Hull December 23. 1657. TO The Dear Kinred Friends and Acquaintants of his deceased servant of Christ Mr. Dorothy Shaw especially those now inhabiting in Kingston upon Hull in Derbyshire Cuttthorp Somersall c. in Yorkshire at Penistone York Sickhouse Hal-broom Brom-head Rotherham c. in Lancashire Manchester Alding-ham c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dear and Christian Friends THe Apostle saith Heb. 11.4 that Abel being dead yet speaketh or is spoken †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of as is said of that woman Mat. 26.13 I question not but this pretious servant of the Lord mentioned in this ensuing Narrative will be much spoken of among you and the good example of her holy life and happy death still speaks aloud to you all and calls upon you to attend the meanes of grace watchfully whereby she felt very much profit and take heed that you be not drawn from them by the subtilty of the old Serpent or his factors who are full of wiles for whom Satan cannot keep wholly ignorant or draw away to open prophanesse yet with other sleights he withdrawes them by degrees from all Gods ordinances one after another so as they grow quickly cold or negligent in Family duties which they call not their duties but liberties and put all their Religion in their private opinion on which they spend all their zeal and though they regard the Lords day no more then singing Psalmes yet seem to do something on that day merely to keep their proselytes that day from a powerfull Ministery a Popish Antichristian plot and set on by the Prince of darknesse lest his kingdome should go down and poor seduced souls be saved Our Saviour forewarns us that before his coming Math. 25. divers Virgin-professours who though they had no oyl of grace in their hearts ver 3. yet had something that kept their Lamps burning verse 8. some sound principles and common graces shall before Christ come even lose those Principles and their Lamps go out And truly many sometimes-professors have in these dayes lost even their principles and become almost no-Christians or very Atheists but this servant of the Lord kept both sound Principles her Lampe burning and saving Graces she was not like Nebuchadnezzars Image her feet were of gold as well as her head she relyed on Christ alone as the onely personall foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 fundamentum fundans and on the Scriptures as on the only doctrinal foundation Eph. 2.20 fundamentum fundatum Christi satispassio fuit ejus satisfactio scriptura fuit vita ejus regula regulans conscientia regula regulata she could not bear with cursed blasphemies Rev. 2.2 but as Zuinglius when the Heretick Servetus condemned him for his harshnesse towards him he answered in aliis mansuetus ero in blasphemiis in Christum non it à or as Luther Inveniar sanè superbus c. modo impii silentii non arguar dum dominus patitur or as Ierome in the like case Mori possum tacere non possum She still speaks to you more to look after the power of godlinesse and to faith and profession joyn sincere obedience we use to say that Philosophy seeks †Philosophia quaerit Theologia invenit religio possider divinity finds but the power of godlinesse possesseth the sweet and comfort of true happinesse though she could not to use Junius his distinction placare Deum pacifie God that is Christ's worke alone yet did she placere Deo she had this testimony that she pleased God Heb. 11.5 She did what Luther directs servare mandata scilicet in Christo and that is sweet She obeyed God with fear and love Psal 2.11 she had obedientiam servi yet not servilem She had amorem mercedis an eye to the recompence of the reward yet not amorem mercenarium she served God as well with the heart and love as with the hand and life with the fear of a child
down in any State that may consist with reprobation and damnation love the power of godlinesse 13. Seeing we have parted though to her advantage with such a helper adviser c. learn we to run more to God to fly to Christ for Counsell and support daily and lean lesse to Creature Comforts which Luther calls consolatiunculae Creaturulae Christ said the dying Martyr in his Letter to his sad wife will rock the cradle wash the dishes do all for thee that thou wantest if we thus run to him here we may sweetly resigne up our selves to him hereaster and say with Wigandus Do sordes morti caetera Christe tibi Hos 6.1 Be sure to make God your friend other friends we see will leave us and whosoever hath him a friend in Heaven shall not want friends on Earth as namely his own conscience within godly men so far as regenerate yea ungodly men so far as good Prov. 16.7 As Cyrus Darius Ez. 6. c. 14. Learn we to be willing to be at Gods disposing in what condition he sees fit we are worst when we are at our own disposing and best when at Gods trust God who hath been with us in the six troubles that he will be with us in the seventh yea through the fire and water Isa 43.2 It s good Scripture Logick for a Saint to argue thus God hath done thus for us therefore do for us still O Lord thus Psal 85.1 2 3 4. in the 3 first verses are six Hasts thou hast thou hast c. and all to usher in the fourth verse therefore do for us still Numb 14.19 thou hast pardoned therefore do pardon 1 Sam. 17.37 2 Cor. 1.10 15. It drawes towards evening let us be packing up pack up all our Comforts in God and then we shall never lose them Ipse unus saith Austin erit tibi omnia quia in ipso uno beno insunt bona omnia quiet not our selves in any riches on this side infinite nor in any gold on this side Eliphaz his gold God himself Iob 22.25 nor in any thing that may consist with hell Plutarch tells of a great Gentlewoman of Ionia that shewed to the wife of Phocion all her rich treasure pearls and jewels which she had Phocions wife again shewed to her her Husband saying all my riches and jewels are in my Husband so should we say of God Habet omnia qui haber habentem onania Psal 73.25 and with Bernard ipse deus sufficit ad praemium When the States of Venice shewed to the Spanish Embassadour the rich treasury of St. Mark as they call it in Venice which is so cryed up through the world the Embassadour groped underneath to see if it had any bottome and being asked why he answered my Master the King of Spain his treasure differs from yours for his hath no bottome meaning the Indies We may soon find a bottome and a vanity in all earthly but not in God not in Heavenly treasures which are unsearchable Eph. 3.8 The mother of Iohn Galear Duke of Millain when her husband was dead caused a Coyn to be stamped with this Motto Sola facta solum deum sequor while her husband lived he too much doted and trusted on him as perhaps she did 1 Tim 5.5 but now found that she got good by that which she thought would have been her ruine it made her more pack up all her Comforts in God 16. Take heed in these seducing times that you be not drawn aside from the faith which you have been taught Col. 2.7 hold fast the form of sound words 2 Pet. 3.17 2 Tim 1.13 Many much delight in new and strange words and love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 affect new and uncouth expressions which Austin of old and Luther since observed are very prejudiciall to the truth and usually when men Coyne now Pharses they are about to forge some new Doctrines Did we more mourn aright for our sins we should prevaile for the removing this unclean spirit of error out of our Land compare Zach. 12.12 13 14 with 23 2. non parum interest ad Christianam venitatem quibus verbis utamur saith Austin quia ex mutatâ temerè phrasi secuta esi dogmatum mutatio Satan that old Serpent is subtill and hat hhis Methods depths devices and hath his factors lying in every corner with their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plausible words and fair speeches fine phrases Rom. 16.18 such as have their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4.14 their coggings sleights toylsome craft and Methods all to deceive take heed of itching eares 2 Tim. 4.3 4. hearken to whole some words and doctrine that is according to godlinesse 1 Tim. 6.3 you know how sound how established and careful she was this way whom no thing would divert but like that devout pilgrime travelling to Ierusalem and by the way visiting many Stately Cities Townes Buildings c. and meeting with many friendly entertainments yet would still say I must not stay here this is not Ierusalem and so do you and I. 17. Prepare we for our own death that we may not be dismayed and troubled thereat which is approaching and inevitable God hath given us fair warnings to prepare for death both by this breach in our own family by the great mortality in these dayes in the Country and Nation about us yea death is in our own backs and bones When Christ was transfigured on the mountain Moses and Elia long since departed hence talked with him would you know what discourse they there had the text tells us it was about death Luke 9.30 31. well may we then often seriously meditate of it and yet how backward are we herein Deut. 32.29 Lament 1.9 How prone to forget our latter end like men in two boates on a river they in the one boate see the other as they think go swiftly but their own boate seems to stand still or move but slowly so we see others dying and decaying yet are we prone to think that we may still live long but alas Omnia sunt hominum tenui pendentia filo Et subito casu quae valuêre ruunt Now to enccu age us against the time that death come and seize on us Consider of these 7 meditations 1. that Jesus Christ hath gone through the grave and sweetened it taken away all curse from it and made it a sweet bed to sleep in for a time Isa 57.1 2. The Welch men were never use to flye till their Generall or Leader flye shall we be afraid to follow such a Leader who will be with us though we go through the valley of the shadow of death 2. As Christ hath sanctified the grave so he hath provided mansions and resting places for his in glory and is gone before to welcome us to glory as he came for us from Heaven to Earth
opportunity in publique or private meetings for any worldly business usually yea when others thought that she was very unable and weak yet she would attend the meanes of grace and say that she never got any harm by attending on Gods Ordinances or doing him service she kept that ear-mark of Christs sheep which many have lost in these dayes she was careful to hear with attention of body intention of mind retention of memory as in that Text John 10.27 where all the five steps of our salvation are laid down Since we were acquainted I never knew her part from me with that grief as she did last October the 11th being the Lords day whereon the Sacrament of the Lords Supper was administred and her weakness of body would not allow her to be there present sure I am we parted with teares truly I faw no such appearance of trouble or grief in her when death apparently seized on her and the next Sacrament-day Novemb. 15. which was the last time the Lords Supper was administred before she dyed she was a sweet partaker of that sealing Ordinance though forced to rest her sometimes in the way 'twixt her house and the Congregation Psal 122.1 I was glad when they said to me let us go into the House of the Lord. 5. I never heard any motion or proposition made tending to the service of God and advancing piety but she was pressed in spirit and her heart was hot after it and more eager to suffer it then a worldling could be for a great bargain Isa 2.3 6. She was a special help to her Husband for saving his life and liberty in these troublesom times and a chearful sufferer with him Phil. 4.3 to the hazarding both of her-health liberty and life in the time of the Wars and since sometimes she was hurried by the Cavaliers towards prison in Rotherham sometimes fled in great danger by Sea in Lancashire her House and Goods robbed or plundered that she might say as Paul 1 Cor. 11.26 that she was in danger both by Land and Sea by robbers by false Brethren c. 7. She was as free from * She did ubique pietatem attendere nunquam ostentare causas pride and covetousness as I ever knew or in these dayes heard of any whether pride in apparel (f) Plautus calls the body only vestis farium She minded the soul much above the body she followed Tertullians Counsel who advised the gallant women in his time to put on the Silk of piety the Sattin of sanctity and the purple of modesty so said he shall God himself be your suitor or rather the Apostle's advice 1 Pet. 3.3 4. like modest Rebeckah Gen. 24.65 of both whom that of the Poet was not true Fastus inest pulcris sequiturque superbia formam and free from pride in gifts performances which rots and spoils all we have and do Hence Austin Caetera vitia in peccatis superbia in rectè factis maximè est timenda 3 Joh. 2. So also from covetousness only she had a great measure of that godly covetousness after grace 1 Cor. 12 31. She would say Proud persons are called pride it self Jer. 50.31 32. I desire never to hoard up any of these things only I would have to bear my charges through my Inn here below much of Pauls mind Phil. 4.11.12 8. 1 Tim. 6.6 Luther had rather be the Author of the meanest work of the poorest Saint then of all the Victories of Alexander's and Caesar's She did more value and love the poorest godly man or woman yea Servants in whom she judged the life and power of grace to appear and more rejoyced in their Company then in all the greatest persons and honours in the world she might truly say what another godly woman said before her that she never loved the Company of the wicked alive and therefore hoped that God would never send her to them when she died Psal 16.3 and 119.63 Fiscellinus valued Nobility above learning which made Sigismund the Emperor to marvel she valued godliness above them both as the best gain 9. She would oftentimes presse her Husband to act vigorously for God and to go boldly and thorough-stitch in Gods work and let never the care of her or their Children be any impediment to him herein for she could trust God with them fully she knew that God cared for them and reason good for he bought them dear 1 Pet. 5.7 10. When motions were made to her Husband of removing from Hull where he had very much work and very little pay to a place of very great preferment as to outward meanes he desired as usually to know her mind herein her answer was I will go with you any where chearfully as I have hitherto done through Darbishire Devonshire Yorkshire c. but I mainly desire that you would only look herein at this end where you think that God may have most honour by you and let no other by-end whatever move you at all God having never put us to any straits for temporal estate she would not have him stir a foot †Exod. 33.15 without the Lord any way she was troubled to see any follow the Ministry as a Popish writer complains of their Priests tantum ut eos pascat vestiat only as a Trade for back and belly or as men-pleasers 11. In all these 25 years she never once failed in her Husbands absence her self to pray with the Family at the least twice a day a morning and evening sacrifice and usually sing a Psalm and read some portion of Scripture to them and when her Husband was sometimes very late busie at his study she would constantly call the Family together and have some Scripture read and sing a Psalm and so keep the Family imployed till her Husband came down from his study to perform the rest of the Family-duties 12. She was of a most meek and quiet spirit and was upon all occasions stirring up her Children in the Doctrine and practice of godliness and very much rejoyced to see godliness so much appear in them she was much of holy Clavigers mind who said if I can but find the fear of God in my Yoke-fellow and Children and those about me satis habeo satisque mihi uxori mea filiis filiabus prospexi then I have enough in this world 2 John 4. She would often say that if God was so pleased she desired that her Husband might out-live her because she judged him more able to educate their Children in the wayes of Heaven 13. She was a very great helper to Gods poor Saints that were troubled in these late national distractions and was alwayes full of courage professing since that when she was hurried towards prison in Rotherham that she did not fear any thing save only that her Husband should have suffered some want through her absence he being at that time hid in Rotherham where the Enemy sought him narrowly yet he could
so is he gone for us from Earth to Heaven to intercede for us in life and to entertain us at death we shall not be strangers there Iohn 14.2 3. 3. Our debt is fully paid we are not in danger of any arrest or prison our sins are fully paid for to the utmost farthing our sins though many are but the sins of men but the satisfaction is by the payment of God-Man who gave not his Heaven and Earth but his very Self to pay to the full 4. Consider that we are not to stand and appear in our own rags but in such a robe wherein God himself can find no spot and therefore may rejoyce in the thought of that appearing before God Rev. 19.7 8. Let us be glad and rejoyce c. and why to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white which is the righteousnesse of the Saints 5. we shall not dye for our times are not in mens but in Gods hands Psal 31.15 till Gods work be wrought in us and till his work be wrought by us till his work be wrought in us and so we fit to dye As Christ took not away the being but the raigning of sin so neither took he away the being but the hurt of death sin in the godly is like those beasts Dan. 7.12 whose dominion was taken away but their being is prolonged for a time like ripe fruit fit for the barn Iob 5.26 and till we have finished our work Iohn 17.4 The work of payment and purchase is by Christ fully wrought for us and that work of duty and obedience that God hath sent us into the world to do in our generation shall be wrought by us we shall finish our testimony ere we depart Rev. 11.7 6. Death when it comes will be our very good Friend as old Mr. Iordan used to say it will not kill a Saint but kill his sin non mors hominis sed peccati sin brought in death into the world and death carryes sin out of the world Christ doth that for us by death which he did not do by grace for us at our first conversion for then he took away the raigning but never till the wall fall down by death the in-being of sin death is to such the out-let to sin and sorrow and the in-let to perfect glory mors est sepulcrum peccati And death will do that for us which all Friends and Physitians could not do to the body cure us of all pains diseases c. as Hugh Laverock and Iohn Aprice two Martyrs in Queen Maries dayes burnt at Stratford-Bow whereof one was blind the other lame one said to the other Be of Comfort Brother My Lord of London is our good Physitian he will help you to legs and me to eyes for ever 7. Fear not the paines of death see the joy of the Martyrs in their death Remember how patiently comfortably cheerfully this servant of the Lord dyed you are frequent in reading the book of Martyrs see how old Latimer when ready to suffer urged that promise 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able c. 18. Search we our hearts Lam. 3.39 40. and beg we of God to know why the Lord contends with us what Ionah what cursed thing there is amongst us provohing the Lord Iob 10.2 Learn we the voice of the rod for we may say of sin what Martha said to Jesus John 11.21 if sin had not bin here our dear Relation had not dyed 19. Seeing we are under the Lords rod let us more avoid and watch against our sins learn we the sweet lesson of Elihu Iob 34.31 32. Surely its meet to say unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more c. And that of Christ John 5.14 The Lord puts us in this boyling pot to take away our scum Ezek. 24.6 puts us in the furnace to take away our drosse Isa 1.25 into the water to whiten us Dan. 11.35 20. God whips us to sharpen us in the wayes of God we have gone too slow a pace let us now be zealous and amend Rev. 3.19 per vineula cresco is the Saints motto they grow better by afflictions And now as Ioseph sometimes put off his prison Garments when he went in to King Pharaoh and put on his robes so this Friend of Christ hath put off the rags of mortality and put on the robes of immortality And if we had such an officer in use amongst us as once was amongst the Greeks which did measure the monuments of persons when they were dead according to their vertues and good conversation in their life then might she have had a chief Sepulcre 2 Chron. 32.33 Sic mihi contingat vivere sicque mori So let me live so let me dye That I may live eternally Discupio solvi tecumque O Christe manere Portio fac regni sim quotacunque tui Beza Horribilis mors est fateor sed proxima vita est Ad quam te Christi gratia certa vocat Praesto est de Satanâ peccâto morte triumphans Christus ad hunc igitur laeta alacrisque migra Musculus I may now say what a Pious and Learned man said before me and so conclude Quae mihi vita fuit dulci cum conjuge fugit Proh dolor infelix ut felicissimus idem Quòd sic uxori monumentum fio sepultae Mr. Dugard FINIS Courteous Reader These Books following are Printed for Nath. Brooks and are to be sold at his Shop at the Angel in Cornhill Excellent Tracts in Divinity Controversie Sermons Devotions 1. THe Catholique History collected and gathered out of Scripture Councels and Ancients Fathers in answer to Dr. Vanes Lost Sheep returned home by Edward Chesensale Esq Octavo 2. Bishop Morton on the Sacrament in Folio 3. The Grand Sacriledge of the Church of Rome in taking away the sacred Cup from the Laity at the Lords Table by Dr. Featly D. D. Quarto 4. The Quakers Cause at second hearing being a full answer to their Tenets 5. Re-assertion of Grace Vindiciae Evangelii or the Vindication of the Gospel or a Reply to Mr. Anthony Burgess Vindiciae Legis and to Mr. Rutherford by Robert Town 6. Anabaptists anatomized and silenced or a dispute with Master Tombs by Mr. J. Crag where all may receive clear satisfaction in that controversie the best extant Octavo 7. The Zealous Magistrate a Sermon by T. Threscot Quarto 8. Britannia Rediviva a Sermon before the Judges August 1648. by J. Shaw Minister of Hull 9. The Princess Royal in a Sermon before the Judges March 24. by J. Shaw 10. Judgement set and books opened Religion tried whether it be of God or men in severall Sermons by J. Webster Quarto 11. Israels Redemption or the Prophetical History of our Saviours Kingdom on Earth by K. Matton 12. The Cause and Cure of Ignorance Error and Prophanesse or a more hopefull way
Mistris SHAWE'S Tomb-stone OR The Saints Remains Being a brief Narrative of some few amongst many Remarkable passages in the holy life and happy death of that precious servant of the Lord Mrs. Dorothy Shaw late the dearly beloved wife of Mr. John Shaw Preacher of the Gospell at Kingstone upon Hull who sweetly slept in the Lord Decemb. 10th and was interred at Trinity Church in Hull Decemb. 12. 1657. Collected by her dearest Friend with many usefull instructions especially for his own and his six daughters consolation and imitation Job 1.1 Job was a perfect and upright man and one that feared God and eschewed evil Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Psal 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of glory In Christo vixi morior vivoque beata Do sordes morti caetera Christe tibi Nolui aliquid loqui vel scribere quod improbaturum putem Christum Oecolamp London Printed for Nathanael Brooks at the Angel in Cornhill 1658. TO THE Right Honorable and truly Religious Ladyes the Lady Frances Strickland the pious Consort of William Lord Strickland of Boynton and the Lady Anne Strickland the gracious Consort of Walter Lord Strickland One of his Highness the Lord Protector 's Honorable Councell J. S. Wisheth grace and peace Right Honorable THough I my self cannot bring forth any thing worthy your Honour's view yet that which is dearest to me the memory of my dear and precious wife I commend to your Honours and though I have ever judged both of you Eminent in Piety yet something perhaps in this deceased servant of Christ may not be unworthy of your serious thoughts and may further stirr up your pure mindes in the wayes of God yet more to honour that God who hath so much honoured you The Lord hath exceedingly blessed you both with Pious (a) Your marriage is conjugium non conjurgium Comfortable and Eminent Yoke-fellows and yet hath more honoured you by marrying you to Gods own Son the heir of heaven and indeed therein lies your chief and lasting happinesse Probably this short discourse which was very hastily written as it dropt from my pen in much grief and sorrow on the suddain to divert that flood of grief which I found my self unable to withstand at present as well as I would may somewhat further your Honours Comforts against the hours of approaching and inevitable death God hath called both your Honours to great estates and places and you cannot but know that therein lye snares When the Duke of Venice had shewea to Charles the 5th his most stately Palace he after the sight thereof onely answered (b) Haec sunt quae nos faciunt invitos mori These things are they that make us unwilling to dye We use to say there are two manners of Enough and indeed there is Esaw's enough or (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 much in the world without God Gen. 33.9 and Jacobs enough (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or all first God and then content in these other things with him Gen. 33.11 This latter enough I hope God hath given you Christ and with him all other needfull things Rom. 8.32 Let this Tombstone be to your Honours as King Phillips Monitor to put you in mind of what is certain yet we are too prone to forget Lam. 1.9 viz. death The Egyptians used to have a deaths-head at their greatest feasts thinke we of death in the greatest plenty When Moses and Elias talked with Christ at his glorious transfiguration on the Mount their discourse was about death Luke 9.30 31. Christ once cured the blind mans eyes with clay so may he still more open our eyes with the consideration of our clay and mortality do as Eumolpus (e) Ego sic semper nbique vixi tanquam ultimum diem nunquam rediturum consumerem said he did namely endeavour to live every day as if it should prove his last day God hath of late much exercised both your Honours with weak bodies so that what would be a curse to some would be a blessing to you to wish that which John wished to Gaius 3 John 2. that your bodies may prosper as your souls prosper The gracious God give you these two choise mercyes which are most sweet when they go together Psal 103.3 forgive your sins and heale all your diseases I hope you will not take it ill from me whom you have Constantly so much †I may say of both your Honours with Jerome vobis quod possum debeo quod non possum favoured that I propound to your Honours so mean a person for your imitation be pleased to consider that its the best that I had (f) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 said the poor Grecian to the Emperour and whose example I my self desire to follow in the way to life It is the use at the Election of the Emperour of Germany to shew to him on his Election day severall marble-stones desiring him to chuse of which of those he would have his Tomb-stone made to mind him even then of his Death I have here shewed you the Tomb-stone of one that lived very holily and dyed very happily which may encourage your Honours against the night of sable death Satan is busie to vex whom he cannot destroy and though he cannot bring a childe of God to Hell yet he will bring Hell to a childe of God and oftimes brings his sharpest darts towards his death though Satan cannot make him fall out of the state of grace yet he labours to make him fall in the state of grace its good to have your hearts Comforted against that day Senarclaeus saith of John Diarius that the day before he was slain by his own brother as Abel was by Cain for Religion's sake he spake to him so sweetly and feelingly that he thought that he felt the holy Ghost come powerfully upon him with his words and surely I could say much to this purpose concerning this deceased servant of Christ that she spake even to her death with that affection warmth and life as one that first felt what she spake and then spake what she felt That holy learned man Mr. Brightman who dyed about fifty years since desired much if the only wise so pleased to dye a suddain though to him not suddain death so he did Augustus Caesar was wont when he heard of any that dyed easily and suddainly to wish such a happy (g) Which he called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 death I cannot say that she dyed exceeding suddenly †Though she was at the Congregation twice on the Lords day Decemb 6. and asleep in the Lord on Thursday Decemb 10. but I can say that she dyed exceeding happily
number of 1657 but sure I am this world then ended as to her Decemb. 10. †Being just that very same day whereon 25. years before we were married 1657. and my self and 6 poor Pupils may say that much of our worldly comfort or portion Eccles 9.9 then ended here and may sadly remember that which God bad the Prophet Ezekiel so perfectly remember viz. the tenth month and the tenth day of that month Ezek. 24.1 it s thrice in the 2d verse that day this same day this same day But for 1. the Authour of this Narrative he cannot so clear himself for know that these thoughts suddenly dropt from him in a sad hour and were immediately sent to the presse as they stood in their Sheetes the Authour not having any Copy of them left with him but upon second and better thoughts the Authour sent for these back again to review correct or enlarge them but not obtaining that he by Letters prevailed with some reverend and godly and learned bretheren to view and judge of these notes and according to their judgment they then be to prest or supprest but their modesty overmastered their great abilities as you may see after that he sent up half a sheet more to be added but for want of a Coppy at home to direct him he could neither righly informe the Printer where it should be inserted nor himself whether any of those new additions were formerly in the Narrative and this is the true reason of some Tautologies repetitions of some things and of the displacing of others though l a l he done it more exactly he could not have expected to have satisfied all for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. quis satia verit omnes theog 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neque enim posset Jupiter And 2. for the Printer know that the Authour lives above 130 miles off from the presse and therefore many faults are and many I fear uncorrected and I am much of Carthagena's mind who to those three things which the Antients held impossible saith that to find a Book Printed without Errata's should undoubtedly have been added as a fourth Impossible if the art of printing had been then invented though the Author had Briarius's hand and the Printer Argus's eyes I can only say with the Poet liber optimus ille qui minimis urgetur at est sine crimine nullus I onely beg thy care good Reader 1. to amend thy own faults 2. to pray for the Author that he may amend his 3. to do thy understanding that right as to correct these following being some of greater mistakes of the Presse thus Expect but fear not death Death cannot kill Till God that first must seal her patent will Wouldst thou live long keep time in high esteem Which gone if thou canst not recall redeem Quarl Hierogl Vade liber quanquam fis parvus mole sed ampium Lectori fructum Det deus Omnipotens Jo. Sh. M. A. sometimes of C. C. C. P. at Kingston upon Hull THE Testimony of the worshipfull Doctor Robert Wittye of the City of York Concerning the deceased servant of the Lord Mrs. Dorothy Shaw in a Letter to her Husband soon after her death Dear Sir I Cannot but Sympathize with you in your loss and so do all here who have lost a dear loving Friend she was in all my observation most loving to her Friends faithfull in her Relations eminently pious towards God owning both the form and power of godlinesse and as I can well witnesse one that was never daunted or discouraged when you was involved in the greatest troubles that I have known you in from truth's most potent and bitter enemies she was pittifull to the poor and helpful to such as stood in need she was Nathanaels Sister an Israelite in whom was no guile Iacobs daughter who was a plain man her inside was alwayes outward her life was to all her sex a patterne of piety and her death of patience she now reaps the fruit of her labours and the end of her faith and is in the armes of her Saviour which is better then yours and bears her part with that heavenly quire whose song is Halleluiah As to the world and its emnity wherein she had some share with you she is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am certain her gain is greater then your losse which may much lessen your and our sorrow Me thinks I hear her say with our sweet Saviour †Luke 23.28 Weep not for me but for your selves c. Fixe your eye on her gain rather then lay your finger on your own sore she was very fit to dye and had nothing else to do Which that we may so be is the prayer of Sir Your Sympathizing Friend R. Witty York Decemb 23. 1657. THE Testimony of Mr. Heathcote Pastor of Rowley in the East-riding of the County of York concerning the precicus servant of the Lord Mrs. D. Shaw whom he had been acquainted withall from her youth in his Letter to Mr. Shaw dated Jan. 8. 1657. To my Reverend Friend and beloved Brother Mr. John Shaw Preacher of Gods word at Kingstone upon Hull Dear Sir I Am very sensible of and deeply affected with your great loss in that sad breach which the Lord hath been pleased to make in your Family I know you have parted with as sweet a Yoke-fellow and as meet an help in my opinion as ever I knew I cannot therefore much blame you for your much sorrowing yet when I consider her incomparable gain I rejoyce much more on her behalf then I can possibly sorrow on yours and I beseech you moderate your passion and divert your sorrow from her and mourn for your self and the sins of the times she hath left behind her in the hearts of all the godly that knew her a most pretious name and for my part I doubt not in the least but she hath sound by happy experience that her deaths-day was far more joyfull to her then her marriage day her buriall day then her birth day Eccles 7.1 she hath onely changed her habitation and her company and is arrived where she desired and obtained what she had earnestly laboured and much longed for Phil. 1.23 I have known her about these thirty and four years and I can with much delight and do to my great comfort call to mind her great paines and constant labouring in her young dayes after the meanes of grace for the obtaining of that grace which did abundantry shine forth in her in her latter dayes I remember her constant coming every Lords day from Cutthorp-Hall to Chesterfield which was two good miles to partake of worthy Mr. Wain-wrights Ministery and was neither detained by the scorching heat in Summer nor yet deterred by the coldnesse of the Winter she had resolved to take Gods Kingdome by force and violence Math. 11.12 and I am most consident she is now an inheritrix thereof and hath reaped the sweet of all her labonr and sweat
When she kept her Fathers house after her Mothers decease though then she was young she made it a receptacle for the Saints and was very bountifull to the poor especially to the houshold of faith her old father freely allowing her liberty to do therein as she pleased I have often admired and observed her sincere spirit and true zeal for God in whose cause and for whose Saints she would have spoken even before any Psal 119.46 and neither have been ashamed nor shrunke yet alwayes with much humility mildnesse modesty and discretion excelling therein most of her sex that I ever knew or heard of the paines that she took and the care she had to educate her six daughters in a godly and religious manner both by private instruction and catechising and also by bringing them constantly to the publique ordinance doth very much already and I hope will more and more appear in every of them to your comfort and all their benefit her soundnesse of judgment and constant profession of the truth in these wanton times and that to her very end together with her sweet and comfortable declaration of her faith and joy in Christ concerning her eternall estate when I was last with her about two dayes before her death stoppeth the current and streame of my passion and I desire that you would comfort your self with these things and many others of the like nature well known to you Now the good Lord whose doing this is give you a submissive heart herein and teach you and all her friends to make a right true spirituall use of this wise providence and all other His dispensations which is and shall be my hearty prayer for you whilst it pleaseth God to continue me Your very loving fellow labourer in the Lords Vineyard Nicolas Heathcote Rowley Jan. 8. 1657. Courteous Reader IT is not that I have a conceit that my Testimony can add any reputation to this piece that I appear here but onely because I was intrusted with it by the reverend Authour and because having had some knowledge and full information of that Worthy Saint deceased whose memoriall is here intombed I am the more able to attest to the truth of what is here suggested concerning her Nor do I in the least doubt of the verity of every particular here spoken to her praise not onely because of the known integrity and unquestionable veracity of the worthy Authour but also because of that savour which her name hath left in these Northern parts which I have a speciall Relation to by birth and education And therefore I do heartily commend this piece to thy diligent perusall and am confident thou wilt not count it lost labour Thou wilt find here an illustrious example proposed to thy imitation by looking to which thou wilt see if thou art one of a more private capacity how thou maist be serviceable to the publick without going out of thy Sphere Nor is this proposed in a rude and indigested manner Here is not only a good dish but it is well cook'd and serv'd up with such sawce as will both provoke and satisfie thy appetite The Authour hath well temper'd utile dulci But I have detained thee too long from the Treatise it self I commend it and thee to the blessing of the Almighty begging that He would make it effectuall to every one that reads it Math. Poole Pastor of Michael's in the Quern London Some Consolatory thoughts sent to my Dear and Reverend friend Mr. John Shaw upon the death of his late excellent wife Mrs. Dorothy Shaw 1. MOst tell more news then truth yet he who shewes Thy wife 's in heav'n speaks truth but tells no news Now heav'n hath took her up what did it more Than oft it did heav'n took her up before She taken up with heav'n on earth exprest She should took up to heav'n from earth be blest Eve'n here heav'n dwelt in her if so they tell No news who speak her now in heav'n to dwell The Hen to th' yong of flying fouls may lend Her brooding wings yet fledg'd they upward tend She whom heav'n natur'd earth but nurtured So fully grown to heav'n is fitly fled I' st strange she should with time be fild since she Foretasted here a blest eternity Allow we with her Bridegroom to reside In love so strong of love so sick a bride Who found no cordiall like His Company To cure her of her fainting Malady T is true his pictures pleas'd her though the same She saw set oft but in a rotten frame She lov'd indeed those messengers He sends Who said Thy Lord to thee his love Commends Her Love's love-letters too with joy she ey'd Yet rather come thy self than send she cry'd He came and knockt at th' door by sicknesse some Started at it she said I hope He 's come She opes unto him sees him joys he tells He 's come to lead her lodg her where he dwells She lay but in John's bosome while she stayd Now she 's in His where John belov'd was layd Thus lov'd and lodg'd 't were cruelty to crave Her thorny pillow she again might have Seems it not cross to love and all its lawes If that which cures her sorrows thine should cause While here she stayd thy helper she was known Now grudg her not to go and be her own She living said My husband's gain is mine And now she 's gone her gain esteem as thine Her worth instructs us how a wife to choose And may thine teach us how a wife to loose If God thy Friend hath kild he kills thy sins Though Sampson dies yet 't is with Philistins If God remove's the good which sense injoyes He takes the bad which more the soul annoyes To spare the precious soul the sin he spils He loves the garment and the moth he kills T is gainfull loss when ere mine eye shall part From that which seen from Christ takes off my heart The slip is service Joseph fitly flies When 's mistris him more than her husband eyes Dear friend t is fit what ever hinders love From Christ or sharp or short or both should prove Blest change not robbery for God to give What cannot dye and take what cannot live Yet one gain more the fellow of your bed You loose we gain this issue of your head That losse the north solely though sorely wounds But both to north and south this gain redounds All ill from th'north Fond proverb cease to live Since th'north such wives and such a book can give W. Jenkyn Pastor of Blacktryers London TO THE Christian Reader Good Reader THe Reverend Author was pleased to give me a sight of these papers wherein he hath imbalmed the memory of his dear and gracious Yok-fellow before they were comitted to the presse I cannot dissemble the contentment that I took in the perusal of them finding him to discover every where as much of the holy Christian as the tender Husband and of the able Minister as
that she spent the third part of her time in reading the holy Scriptures Scriptures her meditation was in it night and day Psal 1.2 It was said of Thomas a Kempis that he found no rest any where nisi in angulo cum libello in a nook with his book And Luther said he would not live in paradise without the word and with the word he could live in hell I may truly say of her that she dearly loved the Scriptures and was daily reading some part of it and made conscience to read as well with her heart as with her eyes and practise it also †Shee was one of those to whom the word of God was not only delivered but they delivered into it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 6.17 Ille verè Scripturas legit qui verba vertit in opera 23. When her husband would sometimes be saying to her that he had been a constant and according to his abilities a painfull Preacher now well towards 30. years and had perhaphs preached as many Sermons as our Chronicle saith Doctor Lichfield made viz. 3083. in the raign of King Henry the 6th and though he had had considerable maintenaince and might have had greater yet never to this day one year considered with another had he got so much as had maintained him and his Family by the Ministery she would cherfully answer God saw that we did not need it and hath ever kept us before hand from all wants and straits this way and not you as many other a 1000. times better or at least not so ill deserving as we are to study as well for maintenance of their †Though he lost much and got nothing in tehse late troubles Families as for their Sermons and if God had not otherwise provided for us to live on I hope said she I could have cheerfully sit down with bare cloaths and bread and water and have done what that godly dying servant of Christ Anne Winter of Rotherham said of me on her deathbed when her head by feavour was much distempered which Story was thus When Rotherham was taken by the Kings party May 4. 1643. of which before and in the preface When Panlinus had his City gold silver and all taken away he said Lord let not the losse of all these troubled me for thou art all and more then all these to me more fully to the 3. Kingdomes case and this deceased Saint was very hardly used a pretious godly woman of Rotherham Anne Winter lying very weak her head distemptered so as she knew not wel what she said so me good women being whispering together in the roome where she lay she spake to them sharply thus What are you whispering about if it be any thing for the advancing the cause and Church of God go on else leave off and if it be about the troubles of the Mistresse meaning Mrs. Shaw fear not for she can live of a penny a day if God call her to it as the Martyrs did in their troubles 24. She was a most strict observer of the Lords day and much bemoaned the coming out of the book of Sports allowing them on the Lords day since when she would say Gods hand had ever lay heavy upon this Land though even this God could turn for good she accounted the Sabbath her delight Isa 58.13 as the ancients called it desiderium dierum and regina dierum she said not When will the Sabbath be gone Amos 8 but When will it come like that holy man that went forth that morning and said veni sponsa mea she remembred the Sabbath before it came when it came and when past and was very carefull all that day of her thoughts words deeds and duties as also of all her relations I well remember that when her Ague had seised upon her about the beginning of September last which continued till about 14. dayes or near it before her dissolution and then as we thought left her a faithfull and intimate Friend of hers and an able godly Physitian vir sui †Dr. Witty nominis as was said of the Emperour Probus being then in Hull told her that they must needs take the disease in the beginning and it being known that her aguish fit would seize on her the next time on the next Lords day in the afternoon the Doctor told her it would be necessary for her to take a vomit on that Lords day to remove the approaching Malady she was perswaded to it as a work of mercy and necessity but would go to the congregation in the morning yet some have observed that she stayed at home in the afternoon with sadnesse of spirit and took her vomit but when it was perceived that she was troubled at the taking of it on the Lords day because it hindred her from the evening service of that day in publique sufficient meanes of satisfaction was given her yet it was sometimes replyed so it was lawful to fly in case of necessity on the Sabbath day yet it was grievous to the godly Mat. 24.20 25. She did oftimes very directly foretell things to come as her own death shortly approaching as is in part before flinted and that she should never see her Daughter Dorothy again after she should marry go to Rotherham which proved true and divers other things considerable the truth whereof I will try before I will publish them lest we might seem to be as foolish as some others who have vainly printed and preached Christs coming on Earth personally to Reign in the year 1656. and 5. great things to come passe in the years 1655. or 1656. which foole ies God hath confuted and both God and Man have befooled them or rather they have made fooles of themselves Only concerning Revelations in generall in these dayes I think 1. that all Revelations of the spirit are not wholly ceased but that there still are and may be Revelations 1 Cor. 2.10 or inspirations Iob 32.8 yet 2. all Revelations pretended to be of and from the Spirit but not according to Gods word Isay 59.21 are to be rejected and abhorred in these dayes as proceeding from mens deceived Phantasies or Diabolicall delusions and God never revealed such things to them they have seen nothing more no nor so much as other men Ezek. 13.23 Jer. 14.13 14 23 16. And though I believe that God since the Canon of the Scripture sealed revealed no new truth but that all needfull truths are in the Scripture expresly or by consequence yet I conceive that God may and sometimes doth to some choise Saints reveale matters of fact according to the word and though no new light yet new sight and discovery of the mysteries in the Word as for example in Queen Maries dayes Mr. Fox that wrote the book of Martyrs being with other exiles and confessors at Basil beyond the Sea Mr. Fox preaching to his bretheren there told them confidently that now was the time for their return
2.12 13. Nor did she think that this assurance would make any one more secure and carelesse how they lived but more holy 1 Iohn 3.3 more to purifie themselves the more hope they have and though she had not alwayes been without her doubts and fears our Lord Jesus who had alwayes the grace of union and of unction yet had not alwayes the grace of vision yet she still recovered her comforts again and could and did dye with much assurance and joy and free from that trouble of Roger Bishop of Salisbury in King Stephens dayes who was so troubled that he could not live and durst not die c. But oh in the gleaning of these few how many handfulls have I lost that might most profitably have been observed in her life and in these few how far doth the picture come short of the life of her glistering graces so that when I run over what I most hastily and passionately currente calamo have write I am ashamed of my self and may sadly say in regard of my own defects herein Cum relego scripsisse pudet quia plurima desunt Plurima sunt quae me judice digna lini But now she is gone to sleep having put off her Cloths not her life as we do when we go to bed she still lives nay never lived so well as now vita Christi nostram instruxit mors Christi nostram destruxit Bern and I hope I may say as that learned Lord du Plessis did concerning his wife when she was dead that she had been an aid to him in living well and should be so hereafter in dying well her death shall make me more consider I hope the vanity of this life and say with the Poet Oh! What is man A Scuttlefull of dust Quarles a measured Span Mans breath 's a bubble and his dayes a Span T is glorious misery to be born a man The first piece of houshould-stuffe that Zeleucus brought into Babylon was a Tomb-stone and 't is the last that I have brought into Hull the Tomb-stone of a dear Saint of whom I with hundreds more may say what Uylsses sometimes did of Achilles Si mea cum vestris valuissent vota c. if our prayers and teares could have prevented she had not died but herein is our comfort that her soul is happy and her body shall ere long be like to Christs glorious body Phil. 3.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for quality not quantity as Theodoret speaks When she could not longer live yet she could sweetly and happily dye and might say with the Poet certè coelum patet ibimus illâc and though much work be yet undone yet her work is done though she was not very long yet she did much in a little time and wrought hard for God while she had time Christ dyed about the 33d year of his age younger then she and though much work was then to do yet he said I have finished that work that thou gavest me to do John 17.4 so Paul 2 Tim. 4.7 And now she is gone to her rest Rev. 14.13 Isa 57.1 2. She sweetly slept in the Lord on Thursday Decemb. 10. being that day just 25. years from her marriage in Yorke and was carried to the place appointed for all living Iob 30.23 December 12. 1657. where she lyes interred in the middle alley of Trinity Church in Hull Papists take it for a great wonder that Stapleton their great controversall Divine was born on the same day whereon their Sir Thomas More dyed and why may not we take notice that this Saint dyed neer Hull the same day 25. years that she was married in York And that by a quite unexpected providence her Daughter Dorothy was married the †On Decemb. 10. 1657. The Sun shone very bright but that night the Moon was sore Ecclipsed and so it proved to be with us same day whereon but before her Mother dyed surely these Wheels are full of eyes the Martyrs used to call their dying day their wedding day and invite their Friends that day to their wedding so this Saint was betrothed to Christ here Hos 2.19.20 but married to him at death And others observe that the same day whereon Pelagius was born in Brittain Augustine was born in Africa as Remarkable God set a death's heads at our feast as the Egyptians used her blessed marriage day Mr. Firth of Mansfield by a speciall providence lying then in Mr. Shaws house when she dyed preached an excellent Sermon at her Funerall at which there was the greatest assembly of people that any remember that they have seen in Hull at a Funerall for many years as sometimes to Hezekiah all Israel did her honour at her buriall 2 Chron. 32.33 His Text was John 20.17 whence he observed that Covenant relations are soul quieting and heart comforting relations will comfort men against the departure of dearest Friends which Sermon I wish that he would recollect and publish for the good of many The last Sermon that ever she heard on Earth was preached by her Husband on that text Isa 56.5 being on the Lords day in the afternoon Decomb 6. holding out comfort to Godly persons that wanted some worldly priviledges as Sons and Daughters to comfort them here and bear up their names when they are dead yet God would give them far better priviledges then these which would abundantly supply all other wants even an everlasting name which now she hath got in heaven and though she hath not left any Children but only daughters on Earth and we know that the word in Hebrew that signifies a male * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes of a root that signifies to remember and the word that signifies †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 women comes of a root that signifies to forget because males keep up the name of the family which females cause to be forgotten yet hath she left a sweet name †She was not filia terrae Jer. 13.13 nor desired a name among the great men upon Earth 1 Chron. 17.8 but looked after a name in Heaven Luke 10.20 in the book of life Phil. 4.3 savour on Earth which will make her family to be remembred for whom she had sent up formerly many servent prayers to heaven and they shall find it All her troubles and enemies and dangers by Land and Sea could not cut her off till her work was done Rev. 11.7 and her hour come Iohn 7.30 8 19 20. God kept her to a day but her soul being joyfull embraced in the armes of her best and lasting Husband and her body laid down in her bed of rest to sleep till the better Resurrection of the just Let us for a while draw the curtains quietly about her and see what good we may get to our selves by this sharpe affliction for the good and wise God would never have suffered any evil either of sin or forrow to be in the world but that he knew how to bring