est timere mortem qui ad Christum nolit ire said Cyprian let them fear death who are loath go to God 10. Though she shall not return to us yet we shall go to her 2 Sam. 12.23 8. Let us lay hold on eternall life make sure of salvation 1 Tim. 6.12 We cannot make sure our houses our Estates our Friends our lives but we may make our election and salvation sure which is far more sweet and needfull 2 Pet. 1.10 consider how short our time is here The last week we enjoyed her now her seat here is empty as sometimes Davids was at the feast 1 Sam. 20.18 but she is placed for eternity let our thoughts much run upon eternity It 's said that Mr. Wood after some holy discourse being at dinner fell a musing and cryed out for near half a quarter of an hour together for ever for ever A great †Sir T.M. man of this Nation being in prison for that which he called his Conscience his Lady coming to him did chide him that he would not do as others did and so live at his own gallant house with his wife and children Wife said he if I should do so how long think you I might live I think said she you may live these 20 years well said he it is but 20 years and yet it s not likely that I should live so long yet they would end but I must be after that for ever and ever Mind we eternity if that as once one said be well looked to all is well looked to 9. Let us lay up some Cordialls against our own death which may comfort us in such an hour First Cordiall Consider that though death which is unavoidable will break many near bonds as 1. the union twixt near kinted and acquaintance nay twixt Mother and Children which are one blood 2. yea nearer the union twixt Husband and Wife which are one flesh nay 3. yet nearer union twixt body and soul which are one person yet there are 3 better unions or bonds which death cannot break as 1. the bond of the Covenant twixt God and his people the Covenant is everlasting though we be mortall and dye Ier. 32.40 Many hundreds of years after Abraham Isaac and Iacob were dead yet God saith that he was still their God I am and Math. 22.31 32. namely their God in Covenant and they then alive to him God is as well their God when they are rotting in their graves as when flourishing in their houses God promised Iacob Gen. 46.4 that he would go down with him into Egypt and he would surely bring him up again yet Iacob was dead ere he was brought out of Egpyt but Gods promise still was of force 2. the bond of union twixt the believing soul and Jesus this marriage-knot death cannot break When Christ dyed death seperated twixt his body in Iosephs tomb and his soul in paradise yet the union with the godhead was as firme as ever so here though the naturall union twixt soul and body may be dissolved by death yet not the Mysticall union twixt the soul and Christ 3. the bond twixt the soul and eternall life is not dissolved by death the believer hath not onely right to it by purchase promise c. but hath possession the beginning of eternall life already earnest of heaven here John 3 36. and though temporal life may fail yet this other here begun will never end Some tell us of a temporall Kingdome of Christ that must onely last certain years is yet to begin and must have an end but the Scripture saith that it s begun not after but in the dayes of those Kings Dan. 2.44 and shall last for ever even for ever and ever Dan. 7.18 so shall the beleevers eternall life here begun never end 2d Cordiall that though the grave be our long home yet it is not our lasting home it s our long home Eccles. 12.5 but not our last home A godly man doth as Myconius writ to Luther mori vitaliter non lethaliter dyes to live he dyes as corn dyes to spring again and that more gloriously as a grain of wheate cast into the ground riseth again with more beauty blade and eare 1 Cor. 15. 20 21. 3d. Cordiall Consider that to godly men death is not an eeven bargain but great gain Phil. 1.21 The sting of death is gone but the honey is still to be reaped all ill is gone by death it cures them of all sin sorrow possibility of sinning or suffering from man or devil Christ our Sampson hath slain this Lyon death and brought us honey out of the carcase of it we not onely may but we must needs dye 2 Sam. 14.14 must is for this King We use to say that necessity hath no law but for death there is both necessity and law necessity by reason of our constitution and corruption our bodyes are like tents patcht up of a few bony sticks covered over with skin and flesh our food and cloathing shew our death we feed on dead beasts and often wear their hides and fleece death was born with us into the world rockt with us in the cradle bred in the bone will nor out of the flesh we travell work lodge lye down with it daily we cannot out run it but especially sin hath so fretted all the threads of our garment that it easily falls in peices we do not dye because we are sick but because we have sinned yea though Christ hath not taken away the course of death yet hath he taken away the curse of death and made it to be every way for our advantage We do not think it any losse to part with an ague the stone c. cold water out of our shooes no more losse hath a godly man by dying it s our perfection Luke 13.32 not our destruction a way to rest Rev. 4.13 not ruine it brings us home 2 Cor. 5 to our kingdomg Fourth Cordiall Consider that to a godly man death is a most happy change Iob 14.14 thereby is neither body quite lost nor soul lost we lose not our friends nor any goods that we have need of or use of Prests wife of Exeter for as that Exeter-Martyr said In Heaven money bears no worth is not currant we shall then and not till then be above ordinances 1. We shall need no repentance c. shall have better houses friends c. Here are nothing but changes sorrow and joy health and sicknesse changes in body soul and estate but death ends all changes there shall be no more 5. Cordiall Though here we part and lye down in severall beds at night and at several hours yet we shall comfortably meet again in the morning 1 Thess 4.17 Psal 49.14 My dear and tender (a) Who dyed in December 1634. father and my onely (b) January 1636. son lye interred at Bradfield where I was born in the Westriding of Yorkshire My dear and loving (c) January 1652. mother
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
cannot separate them from God Rom. 8.38 but perfect them Luk. 13.32 it brings them to a better house 2 Cor. 5.12 to a Mansion-house Joh. 14.12 for indeed here are no Mansion-houses Heb. 13 14. though some are so called to a better Countrey Heb. 11.15 16. In this low-Countrey we are strangers the world knowes us not 1 John 3.1.2 David was so in his own house and kingdom and therefore must not wonder at strange usage here Psal 39.12 David saith not that he was a stranger to God but a stranger with God that is as some expound it God and he were both strangers here but death will bring them to their own the high Countrey for a godly man to die is but as Bernard calls it repatriâsse †Ubi pater ibi patria to go home again to his own Countrey where or from whence he was born as he is godly viz. new-born death brings him to a better Inheritance of which Peter mentions 5. excellent properties 1 Pet. 1.4 it s kept for him and he for it v. 4.5 death brings them to their resting-place Heb. 4.9 Rev. 14.13 where is their Father Husband Brethren Friends c. to their reaping-place Gal. 6.9 yea to their Crown justly gotten a Crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 and everlasting a Crown of life Jam. 1.12 Rev. 2.10 and full of honour a Crown of glory 1 Pet. 5.4 These earthly Crowns have two great wants want satisfaction and perpetuity they are both unsatisfying at present and uncertain for the future here all is not only vanity but vexation every Crown of gold ilned with a Crown of thorns which made a great man once say of his Crown O Crown (c) Lam. 4 5. more noble then happy and here we read of many heads that have been weary of Crowns and Crowns weary of Heads In this Nation how hath the Crown walked even since Christs birth from Britains to Saxons Danes Normans Plantagenets Tudors Stuarts c. William the Conqueror was crowned three times every year in three several places namely Glocester Winchester and Westminster yet soon did his Crown fade and he as great Alexander before him when dead could scarce get a grave for some time we read in Scripture of a City for strength called infinite namely No or Alexandria in Egypt Nahum 3.9 and of an (d) Constantius so Rome was called aeterna yet is falling and Roma mira perenis erit c. Emperor in story that would needs be styled his eternity ordinary Titles would not content him yet the first was soon ruined vers 10. and the last but short-lived only 40. years but death brings us to a satisfactory Crown where no want Rev. 7.16 17 21.4 nor any more death but shall be as the Angels Luk. 20.36 and everlasting Hujusmodi comparandae sunt opes quae cum naufragio simul enatent said good Lewes of Bavyer Look well to such Crowns as will last to eternity House and Lands are moveables as well as Goods if not from the Center yet from the owner godly may live poorly but they die rich but however a wicked man lives rich yet he dies poor to him death is properly the King of terrors †As Aristotle called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Job 18.14 Which made a great man in this Nation when he was assured by his Physitians that he must die to cry out I would said he I might live though but the life of a Toad for better that then Hell And it made Cardinal Wolsey when he died at Leicester to say If I had served my God as I have served my King God would not now have left me but now I am forsaken both of God and man Drexellius tells us of a young man of very bad life who was very fearful of being in the dark who after falling sick and could not sleep cryed out Oh if this darkness be so terrible what is eternal darkness Such are men without hope as Homer saith of Achilles that he wished rather to be a servant to any poor Countrey Clown then to be a King to all the souls departed because he had no hopes of a better life It s a sad case when at once the body stinks the soul burns and the name rots Prov. 10.7 yet to the godly death is no losse they part with nothing but sin and vanity but great gain others may gain while living but these gain by dying it brings them to perfection of grace and glory to see Christ and therefore to be like him 1 Joh. 3.12 not through a Glasse but clearly 1 Cor. 13.12 face to face to enjoy him whom our soul loveth to be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4.17 Only our duty is while we live to be making our Title sure that which is sure in it self should be made sure to us 2 Pet. 1.10 this ornamental grace is so necessary to our well-being that without it we can neither live nor die comfortably therefore a good man when he was asked why he constantly prayed six times a day and lived so strictly he only answered I must die I must die King Henry the 7th of England pretended a sixfold Title to the Crown by Conquest Military Election of Souldiers in the Fields near Bosworth by Parliament by Birth Donation and Marriage but sure I am a Child of God hath a farre better Title to the Kingdom of Heaven by Christs purchase by new birth by Marriage with Christ the Son and Heir by Gods free promise c. yea here they have eternal life already Joh. 3.36 5.24 Ephes 2.6 in our Head in the promise the earnest seal bud c. They are in Christ now therefore though they may have a crosse yet no curse correction yet no condemnation a Fathers rod yet not an enemies wroth how sweetly may such as these go to the grave which the Jewes call Beth Chajim the House of the living Job 30.23 and not only use Chaucers Motto mors mihi aerumnarum requies or as he whom some call St. Francis who when Physitians assured him that death drew nigh said benĕ veniat soror mea mors welcom Sister Death but as old Alderman Jordan used to say that Death would be the best friend that he had in the world he would willingly go forth to meet it or rather say with holy Paul Oh Death where is thy sting c. triumphing over it 1 Cor. 15.55 For as Austin said of Elect men that by Christs death they are non solum instaurati sed meliorati so by their own death they are brought to a sarre better condition then here they had but quorsum haec All this is but to usher in and give you an example and instance hereof in the boly life and happy death of that pretious servant of the Lord still Gods Servant Josh 1.2 still Christs friend Joh. 11.11 though she sleep Mrs. Dorothy Shaw late the dearly beloved Wife of Mr. John Shaw Preacher of the
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
lyes interred at Pattrington in the Eastriding of of Yorkshire where my eldest daughter and husband Mr. Mathew Woodell then Pastor there didolive And now my dear and pretious (d) December 1657. wife I interred in Hull and where we shall be sown in the Earth the onely wise God knowes but erre long all the Eagles shall flock to the carcase Luke 17.37 Sixt Cordiall Consider though the streame be gone yet the fountain is as full as ever we that live in Hull oft times see the cocks that convey water to private houses cut off yet still men may freely go to the spring so we have a God a Christ a promise still as fresh as full as ever Open our mouths wide suck hony out of this rock God careth for us 1 Pet. 5.7 Nimis avarus cui Deus non sufficit he is too covetous whom a God cannot suffice Luther said Lord do with me what thou wilt since thou hast pardoned my sin 10. Learn we to price Gods Ordinances as this deceased Saint did above her necessary food When Christ was hungry Mark 11.12 and went to a fig-tree and found no fruit to eat v. 13. yet when he came to the City Ierusalem v. 15. he went not that we read of to any victualling house but to the Temple and taught shewing it was his meat and drink to be doing his fathers will In former times want of bread was Englands misery we read in Queen Elizabeths days that such a man was one of the 4. or 5. Preachers in such or such a County in her dayes Mr. Tavernâ—ur Sheriff of Oxfordshire did in Charity not ostentation saith Mr. Fuller give the Schollers a Sermon at St. Maries in Oxford with his Gold chaine and sword And before that in King Henry the 8. and Queen Maries dayes how would some have given whole cart-loads of hay or corn for a few Chapters in the New Testament But alas our fault is surfetting contempt and loathing of the Manna as it s said of us in regard of ears of corn That if there be much scarcity of corn the poor pine if great plenty and cheapnesse the rich repine so it s for soul-food When great store of it many slight it Heretofore was sad perfecution when Ioan Clerke said to be a godly woman was forced by the bloody Papists to set fire to burn her dear Father William Tylsworth who was burnt for the Gospel at Amersham in Buckinghamshire and many suffered much for private meetings wherein they did pray for themselves the Church and State but now we are in more danger of sleighting or of hypocrisie to professe the Gospell and the service of God only for reward which Antigonus so condemned yea for reward and advantage amongst men nay many in these dayes that in times of persecution seemed forward are now Apostatized and gone back Diogenes once in a great assembly went backward at which all the people laughed him to scorn whereupon he told them that They might rather be ashamed who had so long gone backward and declined from good manners and conversation oh how many hath Satan cheated and seduced of late from the ordinances and holy practises 11. Learn from her to be very tender and watchfull against the least sinne how afraid was she of the very appearance of evil how did she mourn for originall sinne which both is in its nature a sinne crosse to Gods pure law 1 John 3.4 defiling our whole natures and the sruit and effect of sin Dr. Prideaux as Adams sin which as a learned man saith was peccatum originans ours peccatum originale the cause of sin the spring of our actual sins How did that poor woman cry to King Solomon of a dead childe found in her bosome so may we though not quite dead yet of that deadnesse in our hearts to what is good as Paul Rom. 7.24 that while we carry a dying body without we are pestered with a body of death within nay alas often we are guilty of much sin in our inside when it appears not yet in our practise Christ said to Iudas Iohn 13.27 What thou doest c. He was then doing viz. betraying murthering of Christ whilest he was at supper There are not onely strong bony sins so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notes Amos 5.12 But sins of omission which Bishop Usher so Complained of he was murthering of Christ inwardly what sin we would do but cannot dare not or are prevented that we do in Gods account Josh 24 9. Balak is said to warre against Israel because he gladly would but durst not so speculative adultery Math. 5.28 and heart-murder 1 John 3.15 is loathsome to God Mr. Howel tells it as a strange thing that a Serpent was found in the heart of an English man when he was dead but alas this old Serpent is by sad experience found to have too much power in many of our hearts whilst alive labour to withstand the first beginnings of sin else you will find though you are no great Logicians that if you yeild the Premises you cannot deny the Conclusion Austin saith that his good Mother Monica by sipping and supping when she filled the cup to others came at last to take a cup of nimis sometimes 12. Learn from her to love godlinesse above all empty vanities and fading joyes I do not discommend decency in your garbe our Chronicles tells us that starching is but an invention brought out of Flanders hither by Mrs. Dinghen in the year 1564. not a 100d years since nor the use of lawfull things in a right way but look upon piety and godlinesse as your life 1 Pet. 3.7 And your choicest Ornament 1 Pet. 3.3 4 5. as you know that was the very joy of the heart of your dear Mother Diogenes could say of a fair woman without virtue ôh quà m bona domus sed malus hospes but make you Moses choice Heb. 11.25 and Davids choice Psal 4.6 7. account not gain to be godlinesse but godlinesse to be your gain 1 Tim. 6.5 6. Learn from her not to content your selves with glittering yet dead morall virtues which very Heathens had though Austin and Prosper deny that but look to living saving and distinguishing graces you know how carefull she was this way though she was well furnished with morall virtues Scipio that gallant Roman and Conqueror of Affrica had a Son that had nothing of the worth of the Father but onely his name he was cowardly and dissolute who coming into the Senate-house with a ring on his finger having his Fathers picture livelily engraven the Councell made an Act of State forbidding him to weare that ring who would not imitate his Fathers virtues and Alexander seeing a Cowardly Souldier of his own name bad him be valiant or forsake his name I have not hitherto had any discomfort in you nor any visible grounds of fears yet I beseech you let her that is dead but yet speaketh prevaile with you not to sit
world some to their lusts and sins and some to Christ and there is their true honour in life and death and after death But my sad thoughts detain you too long only let us all learn by her example so to live as that we need not to fear death which will shortly ceaze upon us We read of King Lewis the eleventh of France and some other Grandees in the world that they charged their servants and all about them that when they saw them sick they should not dare ever to name that terrible word death in their hearing But she of whom I now write took Hezekiahs medicine in her life to prevent the terror of death Isai 38.3 and Paul's 2 Tim. 4.7 8. so as she could look either backward (b) Hoc est Vivere bis vitâ posse priore frui or forward with joy Whom you loved living now follow her steps to her death then shall you not need to fear death so as if dying and damning would (c) Non metuo mori sed damnari said a dying man go together but as Sir Fulke Grevill defired to have this Epitaph on his Tomb here lyes a Friend of Sir Philip Sidney so may you have that comfort and honour when you are laid to sleep which this servant of Christ now enjoyes here lyes a Friend of Jesus Christ Iohn 11.11 A Courtier and favorite of King Cyrus being poor and one telling him of it he said he had enough because King Cyrus was his Friend the like Polybius said being in Caesars Court because the Roman Emperour was his Friend but these Friends soon dyed but in life death and ever hapyy they who have God reconciled for their (d) Exod. 33.11 2 Chron. 20.7 Isa 41.8 Joh. 11.11 15.14 15. James 2.23 Friend These hasty Observations following dropping from a sad pen which might justly have had Antoninus his title Notes for my self I have communicated to you and others for your and my own consolation and direction pray pray pray and when you have sweetest Communion with God forget not him who begs an interest in the intercession of Christ ' and supplications of his hidden ones and who is Christs and his Churches and yours or not his own John Shaw Four things there be that in my heart I fixed have The thoughts of Heaven of Hell of Doomsday and my Grave Birk TO The Christian and Candid Reader Reader STay but a few words before thou passe to the ensuing Narrative and then much good may it do thee 1. Know that what followes was not any Sermon or Sermons Preached and therefore wonder not that there are so many Histories and humane quotations otherwise I readily yeild what Lipsius saith to be a truth ut drachmam auri sine imagine Principis sic verba praedicantis sine authoritate Dei contemnent homines In Sermons its Scripture authority only that comes cum privilegio 2. know that the Authour hereof when this was penned had but half a heart left and his head full of thoughts and both head and heart much very much disturbed and gathered up such thoughts as suddenly offered themselves Wonder not then if there be not that exact Method and curiosity which perhaps thou mayest expect 3. There is no worth and excellency in these thoughts more then in many Sermons Preached by the Authour I think it s no vain-glory to say that there is lesse for I am sure those Sermons have been far more desired to have seen the light which yet lye buried as many will confesse into whose hand this will come how much they have importuned him to publish those Sermons vindicating of and directing to a right use of Gods Ordinances as the right call to the Ministery qualification necessity and work of the Ministers of the Gospel the great enemies of all Antichristianism with satisfaction to Cavills and Scruples from those texts 1 Cor. 4.7 2 Cor. 6.1 the necessity and use of a Christian Magistrate under the Gospell with the extent of his power circa sacra about matters of Religion from Isa 1.16 Rom. 13.4 and the case of peoples subjection in these dayes the lawfulnesse benefit and right manner of singing Psalmes from Col. 3.16 in the dayes of the New Testament The warrant for benefit by and right improvement of Child-baptism together with the error and danger of Antipaedobaptism from Col. 2.12 The nature ends and use of the Lords supper and who ought to come and how qualified and if men offer to come by whom and upon what account men ought to be admitted or rejected from severall sorts the morality of the Sabbath in the new Testament and the right manner of observing the Lords day c. And therefore if thou get any good by these ensuing thoughts thou art in part beholding to the Authors passion and affection I only now commend 5 things to thee and beg other 5 for thee and then farewell 1. Take speciall care to love thy self no◠thy lusts thy carcase c. but thy soul is thy self Compare Mark 8.36 lose his own soul with Luke 9.25 lose himself the soul is the man 1 Pet. 3.20 2. Hate thy enemy and be revenged on him not thy neighbour whom thou shouldst love as thy self and who at worst can but kill the body but thy sins which are God's and thy soul's worst enemies and which can kill the soul be revenged on them 2 Cor. 7.11 here kill or be killed Zenacherib after his Army was destroyed by an Angel Isa 37. and he returned home again with a hook in his nose Isa 37.29 he enquired of one about him what he thought the reason might be why God so favoured the Jewes he answered That there was one Abraham their Father that was willing to sacrifice his Son to death at the command of God and that ever since then God favoured that people Well said Zenacherib if that be it I have two Sons and I will sacrifice them both to death if that will procure their God to favour me which when his two Sons heard they as the story goeth slew their Father Isa 37.38 as rather willing to kill then be killed so deal thou with thy sins 3. Strive to get riches and be as covetous after them as thou canst but not these riches which are full of poverty and vanity but true riches Luke 16.11 James 2.5 unsearchable riches Eph. 3.8 Covet the best things 1 Cor. 12.31 get all get Christ who is all in all Col. 3.11 beg the spirit which is all good things compare Math. 7.11 with Luke 11.13 4. Labour alwayes to have thy own will but this onely in Luther's sense by alwayes resigning and submitting thy will to Gods will fiat voluntas mea quia tua Domine let Gods will be thy will and so thou mayest alwayes have thy own will without sin 5. Be sure to take the stronger side not in that sense as those meant whom Epiphanius calls Cainits or Cainists who he reckons among
of the Christian whilst he improveth her example for thy good and interlineth the passages of her life with many holy and useful instructions The Lives of Gods precious Saints how private so ever their station be are very well worthy of record and publick notice as exhibiting not onely a pattern and lively transcript of Religion and truly now and then 't is good to look upon Christs †2 Cor. 3.3 Living Epistles but also much of provocation and incouragement to holiness Simeon the Metaphrast in the Life of Chrysostome doth so fully speak out my sense in the case that to the Learned I shal put down his very Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Examples have a secret Charme by which they draw out the heart to imitation and practise when we press strictnesse people think our doctrine is calculated for Angels and blessed Spirits that have devested themselves of the interest and concernments of flesh and blood and so go away with a prejudice but when they read in the lives of Gods Children that had like passions necessities temptations with themselves with what strictnesse and diligence they carryed on their hopes of a Blessed eternity it hath a marveylous convictive influence upon their hearts and a secret excitation pressing them to go and do likewise therefore I say the Lives of the Saints written are very useful and I doubt not but this being so faithfully collected and judiciously improved wil have its use and find acceptance with the godly Thine in the Lord Tho. Manton Covent-Garden May the 3d. 1658. The Author of this Narrative hath divers other peeces in print As 1. The Grand sacrifice or broken heart on Psal 51.16 17. 2. Two clean birds or the cleansing of the Leper on Lev. 14.4 8. 3. Brittaines Remembrancer or the Nationall Covenant on 2 Chron. 15.12 4. The Three Kingdome 's case with their causes and cure c. on Isai 42.24 25. 5. Britannia rediviva or The Soveraign remedy c. on Prov. 14.34 6. ΕΙΚΩΠΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΗ or the Princes Royal on Psal 45.16 THE Saint's Tombstone Or a plain NARRATIVE OF SOME Remarkable passages in the holy life and happy death of Mrs. Dorothy Shaw lately the dearly beloved Wife of Mr. John Shaw Preacher of the Gospel at Kingston upon Hull who sweetly slept in the Lord Decemb 10th And was interred in Trinity Church in Hull Decemb. 12th 1657. Collected by her dearest Friends specially for her sorrowful Husband 's and six Daughters consolation and imitation THe man after Gods own heart holy David tells us Psal 112.6 that the right eous shall be in everlasting rememforance with God with good men as Demetrius 3 Joh.v. 12. and in the Consciences of wicked men and his Son wise Solomon confirms it Prov. 10.7 that The memory of the just is blessed he is full of bles sings while he lives v. 6. and his memory is blessed when he dies v. 7. yea the Hebrew is his memory shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a blessing which a learned (a) Dr. Jermin Expositor interprets thus The very remembring of them shall bring a blessing to such as do remember them God will blesse those that honour the memory of his Servants and besides the memory of them will make them imitated which is a blessing that shall be rewarded with blessedness The Septuagint reads it the memory of the just is with praises The godly are the only rising persons in the world happy in life better at death better at judgment that better resurrection of the just and best of all to all eternity contrarily wicked are the most falling (b) As Pope Pius Quintus said that when he first entred into holy Orders he had some good hope of his salvation but after he was made cardinal much feared it and now being Pope he quite despaired of it men Prov. 10.7 The godly are positively happy and blesled in their poorest and lowest condition for as Peter names a Chain of graces 1 Pet. 1.5 6 7. better then all Chains of Gold or Pearl and Paul a Chain of life and salvation reaching from eternity to eternity Rom. 8.30 So doth our Saviour name a chain of happiness Mat. 5.3 to 12. consisting of 8 links the first is Poverty the last is Persecution yet in both the person is Blessed which Moses that wise States-man well knew and therefore when he came to perfect years of understanding full 40. years old he chose the poorest condition with the Lords people before the highest condition of all wicked men Heb. 11.25 26. nay they are comparatively happy there is more happiness in their estate then all the riches of this world can afford Psal 144.15 which made David so rejoyce in that above all worldly interests Psal 4.7 and Austin say that he would not be a wicked man one half hour for all the world because he might die that hour yea they are superlatively happy Psal 1.1 Blessed is the man the Hebrew is blessedness in the abstract eminently happy yea blessednesses superlatively happy Blessed is the man Heb. that man with an accent that eminent man as 2 Cor. 12.2 a man in Christ Such are happy in life and more happy in death death cannot kill them Rev. 2.23 but cure them it is not death but life that kept them so long from God and glory Death cannot kill a godly man totally not his soul which is with Christ far better Phil. 1.23 is in Paradise death doth by the godly as they Mark 14.51.52 did by the young man caught his Garments but the person escaped so death catcheth the body but the principal part escapes to glory nor can death kill the body finally only brings it to bed as King Asa's Coffin is called 2 Chron. 16.14 so are the Saints graves called Isa 57.12 Death only layes them to sleep till the morning Joh. 11. It was an antient Custom among the Jews as I read for people as they went with a dead Corpse to pluck up grasse by the way intimating that the dead friend should spring again as grasse Death comes to a godly person in the hand of a Mediator as part of the Covenant a Covenant-affliction Psal 89.32 33 34. as part of our joynture with Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. The sting and curse of death is taken away by Christ their head who hath sanctified the grave and made death to be to them no other then as Elijahs fiery Charet to fetch a dear Child from a hard Nurse or sharp school to his Father's house Godly men are in the 4 next verses Heb. 2.11 12 13 14. twice called Christs Brethren and twice his Children and therefore to such Christ turns their water into wine the Serpent in Moses hand into a staffe to lean on and makes that rod to blossom and bring forth fruit meat out of the eater water from the Rock so that this red Sea doth not drown them but hasten them from Egypt to the promised Land death
for sin * The Scholemen say that sorrow for sin ought to exceed all sorrows 1. in Conatu 2. in Extensione 3. in appretiatione 4. in intensione He grieves with a witnesse that grieves without a witnesse for his sin which was forbidden for affliction compare Isa 22.12 with Levit. 19.27 28 21 5. Deut. 14.1 they might not make themselves bald in their sorrow for the dead but in their sorrow for sin God called to it She is now above our tears so also is she above our praises yet Solomon highly commends a virtuous woman which thing the holy Ghost registers Prov. 31.10 c. and the Septuagint as I hinted renders Prov. 10.7 thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 memoria justorum cum encomiis and so the vulgar cum landibus the memory of the just shall be with praises Bernardus Bauhusins made a book in praise of the Virgin Mary a large book yet all of it but one verse he calls his book unius libri versus unius versûs liber only he changed this verse 1022. wayes according as he thought to the number of the Starrs the verse was this Tot tibi sunt dotes virgo quot sidera coelo How do our Chronicles commend the wise of Archbishop Parker as a great example of humility chastity fidelity c. as also Magdalen the wife of Dr. Paraens for that after she was maried and 40. years of age out of love to the Scriptures she learned to read and took such delight in the word that she got much of it by heart and many other virtuous women are much commended for our imitation I am far from comparing this deceased servant with the first yet I think she was not exceeded by the last or if so yet as Josiah exceeded Hezekiah in some things but was exceeded by him in others so if in any thing they exceeded her probably in other things she out-stript them why may I not therefore commend her example to you and to others But my pen is full of sorrow and drops apace Let us come to such lessons as we may to our profit learn by this example and sad providence 1. Learn we to be more weaned from this vain world which is both uncertain and uncertainty it self 1 Tim. 6.17 not onely unsatisfying but vexeth with thornes and hinders satisfaction 1 Tim. 6.10 not onely unsanctifying but hinders oftentimes sanctification Math. 13.22 Let this sharp affliction teach us for afflictions are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods free Schoolmasters Psal 94.12 schola crucis schola lucis let it I say teach us more to consider the emptinesse and vanity of all these †Divitiae terrenae sunt paupertat is plenae things below if life it self be so uncertain and short what are all these things that depend upon it Eccles 1. 12. as holy Clavger said Omnia praetereunt praeter amaere Deum Let us not so plot for this world as if it would never end and so little regard the next world as if it would never begin as if we were pilgrims and strangers in the next world and onely at home here That will in some measure be true of us which was said of our King Henry the 2d Cui satis ad votum non esseut omnia terroe Climata terra modo sufficit octo pedum He whom alive the world could scarse suffice Psal 62.9 146 4. 131 2. When dead in eight-foot earth contened lyes Though the South wind be hot and dry and the North wind cold and moist yet every wind blowes good and profit to those who can gain by losses and by death and therefore let it blow Cant. 4.16 2. Be we humbled that we got no more good by her alive by her heavenly discourse and example Plato Xenophon thought it fit and profitable that mens speeches at meals should be written as Luthers Colloquia mensalia his table talk is printed had we well observed this what good might we have got Let us yet gather up some crums such as we can remember better late thrive than never 3. Let me who have now so many obligations from God and your Mother upon me charge you as holy Mr. Bolton on his death-bed did his 5. Children that you do not dare to appear before God and her at the great day in an unregenerate estate 4. Redeem we our time be carefull how we spend every day which may be our last When that good old man was invited to a feast on the morrow he answered Ego à multis annis crastinum non habui It 's long since I had a morrow said he If a Heathen Emperour would bewaile any day which he had spent and could not remember some good that he had done saying Diem perdidi †Nulla dies sine lineâ oh how much more we Christians if heathen Seneca could say Non multum temporis habemus sed multum perdimus we rather wast time then want it hoc animo tibi hane epistolam scribo tanquam cum maximè scribentem mors evocatura sit let us redeem our time from sin and vanity for God and piery When I have sometimes said to her that now triumphs we are as sure to part and dye as if it was just now in doing and others were at this hour carrying us to our graves how would she have been affected and stirred up therefore to improve her time for heaven while she had it 5. Let us have a care so to live as we need not fear death Bernard saith that he heard his Brother Gerard when just in dying rejoyce and triumphing say Jam mors mihi non stimulus sed jubilus or to use holy Mr. Steph. Marshalls Phrase so to believe in Christ rather as not to be afraid of death knowing that death ends a godly mans death and not his life get we our oyle ready in our vessells that when the bridegroome calls he may find us ready having nothing to do but to dye 6. Lay we our hands on out mouths hold our peace submit we to Gods will which we have prayed may be done on earth let us not think to call God to account for any of his works before our tribunall who must shortly call us to account let not our weaknesse and folly dispute with Gods infinite wisdome and say to that great King Why doest thou thus but rather say Good is the word and work of the Lord I said nothing because thou didst it Psal 39.9 The Lord gave and the Lord rook away and Blessed be the name of the Lord as well for taking away as for giving Iob 1.21 Say we There is infinite wisdome goodnesse mercy faithfulnesse in this stroke therefore seeing its Gods will let it be our will for had that great Physitian that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Iehova Rophe Mal. 4.2 been so pleased she had not now dyed Remember that saying of Luther to Melancthon Monendus est Philippus ut desinat esse
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