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
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
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
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
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
and love of a spouse Math. 28.8 She gave to God both totum cor and totum cordis her whole heart and that in the sincerity of it she was watchfull as well in duties as against sins and as well against one sin as another though she could not keep totum logis yet she observed totam legem Iames 2.10 Psal 119.5 6. She lived though not sine vitio without sin yet sine crimine without blame as Elizabeth and Zachary did Luke 1.6 She well knew that though God did not ordain good works that we should live by them yet that we should live in them Eph. 2.10 she desired as well a Christ in her Gal. 2.20 Col. 1.27 as a Christ for her as well as to pertake of Christs redemption by power to rescue her from corruption by his spirit as of his redemption by price to rescue her from condemnation by his merit she was much troubled to see men seek so much after new light and so little after new life to hear men talke so much of Christs temporall raign in the world and yet observe so little of his raign in their hearts and lives She speaks to you more to vallew grace and love godlinesse wherever you see it to prize goodnesse above greatnesse magnitudinem virtutis supra magnitudinem molis she was of Moses's minde Heb. 11.25 26. prized real Saints above all the world as the most (a) Scripture calls Good Magistrates the onely men of that place Jer. 5.1 and elect men as if they were all the men in the world Joh. 12.32 because they are the top and chief of men As men for that cause are called every Creature Mark 16.16 excellent Psal 16.3 Piscelinus being a great Scholler was made by the Emperour a Noble man and afterwards he rejected the society of Schollers and clave wholly to the Company of the Nobility which made the Emperour Sigismund to scoffe him saying I can give Nobility but not parts and learning But as the Scripture calls grace glory 2 Cor. 3.18 so she did valew it as her glory here and way to glory hereafter and her heart was much after those above all worldly pomp in whom she judged that grace bare sway I think she was somewhat of the minde of some of the Ancients that said that Herod might have kept his oath Mark 6.23 and yet have spared John Baptists head because Johns life was worth more then all Herods kingdome She speakes to you to be more weaned from this world and to have yours affections and conversations more in heaven I will not say of her what Luther said of himself that though Satan shot his fiery darts (b) Hortibilia de deo terribilia de fide c. of remptation against him yet he never tempted him to covetousnesse nay I am bold with Learned Mr. Capell to think that Luther spake herein as he verily thought but not really as it was though if he spake as it was I wish that herein we were all Lutherans yet I can truly say that by faith she had in a great measure weanednesse from and victory over this world 1 Ioh. 5.4 She speakes to you to get up your evidences and assurance that Christ is yours and you are Christs and not to know onely that there is a God a Christ a Heaven but that this God this Christ c. are yours Psal 48.14 144 15. Cant. 2.16 Quid est Deus si non sit meus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Chrysostome Faith appropriates God to a mans self Gal. 2.20 If it was not for this possessive Mine saith Learned Mr. Trap the devil might say the Creed to as good purpose as we See that you can say with Thomas truly My Lord and my God David in one verse viz. Psal 18.2 names eight titles and in the whole verse nothing but those eight expressions concerning God and appropriates them all to himself my rock my fortresse my deliverer my God c. Shee speakes to you to bear afflictions patiently cheerfully When she observed her legs to swell and it was told her that that was a dangerous signe oh how cheerfully and joyfully did she speak which makes me think of good Grasserus when he observed his legs to swell with a dropsie he joyfully said Euge Deo sit laus gloria quod jam mea instet liberatio horula gratissima Blessed be God my freedome now drawes so near Though grace be not that lapis philosophicus yet it s farr better it s that lapis theologicus that precious stone that can turn all afflictions yea death its self into gold and gain (a) Marble sweates against rain yet never the softer so the wicked relent under afflictions yet after with Pharoâ—h repent of their former repenting but to the elect afflictions lead them to the truth and the holy Ghost leades them into the truth to a believer Phil. 1.21 as Christs obedience for us takes not away the necessity of our obedience so neither do his sufferings for us take away the necessity of our suffering afflictions and death but yet they take away the sting and curse and sweeten them to a believer she that with Paul Gal. 1.18 2 1 counted her life not from her first but her new birth or as old godly Similes said that he had been in the world 60 years but had lived but seven she needed not fear that sting of death She speaks to you to search your own hearts diligently Psal 4.4 77 6. and not to be Athenians all for newes abroad and strangers to your own hearts Seneca saith that its the nature of men magis uti perspecillis quam speculis rather to use spectacles or optickglasses to see abroad among others then looking-glasses to reflect upon our selves it was never well with the Prodigall till he came to himself Luke 15. She speaks to you to pitty those even your very enemies that lye in their blood she could do those two things that no wicked man can righly do 1. love her bodily enemies 2. hate her spirituall enemies she was far from Poyery yet did she often pray for the dead and commend others for preaching to the dead such as were dead while they be alive not dead Physically and orporally but morally and spiritually She speaks to you still to look well to your spiritual marriage with Jesus Christ here by faith that is your great promotion and honour that bond will not break in the saddest hour †Armundus Visabunda One tells us of five sisters of the same birth pedigree and race whereof one was married to a King another to an Earle a third to a Gentleman a fourth to a mean man a fifth to a filthy beggar though they all were alike by birth descent yet their difference lyes in their marriage Truly we are all alike by creation by the fall by nature by the first birth but the hearts and affections of some are joyned to the
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
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
Mundi gubernator when Melancthon was sad about the Churches troubles Let God alone to govern the world said he let God chuse our afflictions for us that may do what he will that will do what is best though we do not so well know yet till all the wheels of Providence further move what God meanes and why he doth as perhaps we think lay his hands crosse and therefore with Ioseph we desire to remove them Gen. 48.17 yet we shall know hereafter Gods meaning better Joh. 13.7 and find that God did it wisely Gen. 48.14 and in very faithfulnesse Psal 119.75 and perhaps say periissemus nisi periissemus Tiberius the second a good Emperour by taking up a crosse found a masle of treasure under it so may we in time find benefit by this crosse Psal 119.71 7. Let us look as well at the bright side of the cloud and not only at the dark side thanksgiving is a duty not only limited to mercyes but required in afflictions 1 Thess 5.18 Iob 1.21 we must glorifie God in the very fires Isa 24.15 This would stop the flood-gates of all immoderat sorrow you know your habitation is very near the ebbings and flowings of the Sea and we see the flowing is usefull as well as the ebbing but if it overflow the banks then its dangerous and hurtfull So look we as well at our abundance of undeserved mercies as at this ten times deserved crosse as 1. we had the society of this servant of God many years I had her 25 years to a day God might have called for his own the first hour may not the Lord do with his own what he will Themistocles invited many Philosophers to supper and borrowed all his dishes in the midst of the supper the owner sends for the one halfe of them Can you indure this disgrace said the Philosophers Yes said he very well for he might have sent justly for them all God hath left to you a Father and to me Children still to both of us Friends sweet Christian Friends which the Scripture calls necessaries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 10.24 nay more hath not taken away Himself from †Fas nobis non est de fortunâ queri salvo Christo promissionibus evangelil Salvo Christo salva sunt omnia us this was Davids comfort at Ziglag when goods wives all were gone Towne burnt Souldiers ready to stone him yet God was not gone 1 Sam. 30.6 he still affords us his Gospell Promises Spirit his Son and not onely a Competency in this world but the tenders and hopes of a kingdome in heaven 2. Look down below us what others want what sorer afflictions they bear what greater troubles they have endured see Martyrs remember Musculus of whom you have read at large a learned holy Minister forced to weave for his living and turned out there forced to dig in the ditch a pad of straw for his bed See those Scripture Martyrs Heb. 11. Remember Davids troubles and sorrows Psal 69. near perishing Psal 119.92 see Iob eminent for piety and as eminent for afflictions nay Jesus Christ himself a man all of sorrows Isa 53.3 God had one son without sin but none without sorrow unum sine †Unum sine corruptione nullum sine corruptione Omnis Christianus est Crucianus Iuther flagitio nulium sixe flagello Read over the book of Lamentations think of our Bretheren in Piedmont and Poland c. at this day nay see the lot of all the Lords people Heb. 12.8 Acts 14.22 3. To quiet our hearts see Gods wise over ruling providence in it that orders all things to the falling of a sparrow Math. 10.29 30. its he appointed it 1 Thess 1.3 he ordered it so that she dyed not as many precious men in the Sea or from home but in our arms 1 Sam. 7.14 15. 4. Afflictions are part of Gods Covenant with us he hath promised them in mercy to us with his Son He that promised that he would not condemn us yet pomised to correct us Psal 89.31 32 33. 5. Gods loving-kindnesse remaines still we have lost a Friend but not a God Jer. 30. 46 28. 6. God hath neither done her nor us any wrong He had best right to her and had fitted her for himself and said That he would have her where he is Iohn 17.24 Exod. 33.32 Isa 49.1 not only God knew her name but in Scripture Phrase God knew her by her name which is much sweeter and he called for her by her name 7. She died not as a fool dieth 2 Sam. 3.33 we had no such cause to mourn as David for a wicked Absolom whose destruction he might justly fear she went but from the lower to the higher house to her Father and our Father John 20.17 And therefore in regard of her it may be said as Christ said if we loved her we would rejoyce because she is gone to the Father John 14.28 It s sweet when God fits †When God calls us from death to life before God calls us from life to death 1 Joh. 3.14 before he calls us away 8. Consider we the Change that she hath made lest us for better Friends she dearly loved the people of God now she is with onely Saints and they freed from corruption and temptation Doctor Taylor blessed God that ever he came to prison because there he had the company of that Angel of God Mr. Bradford Oh what is Heaven then Themistocles about to sell some Land bid the Cryer proclaim that who everwould buy it should have good Neighbours as if they added to the worth of the purchase Oh how sweet is a Heaven full of blessed Saints for Christ to be here with Paul is great security but for Paul to be with Christ is perfect felicity She could not here see Gods face and live Exod. 33.20 22. therefore she was willing with Augustin to dye that she might see it and that more clearly 9. The very body now laid to sleep shall rise again †Hence some think that Sarah is 8. times in one Chapter called Abrahams dead Gen. 23. because of the hope of the resurrection Fiducia Christianorum resurrectio mortuorum Tertull this Paul fully proves 1 Cor. 15. and not only a mortall and a corruptible body but as pointing to himself he saith this mortall shall put on immortality and this corruptible 1 Cor. 15.53 Credo resurrectionem hujus carnis said the Primitive Saints Iob 19.25 26 27. See how Christ confutes the Sadduces Math. 22.29 30. yea and she shall rise again though with the same body yet far more glorious as the same bell new cast as iron fomerly rusty now glossy in the smiths forge is still the same yet more glorious so shall the Saints bodies be like Christs glorious body Phil. 3.21.1 Cor. 15.53 c. No more thirst hunger or sorrow Rev. 7.16 17 21.4 no more death but shall be as the Angels Luke 20.36 Ejus