Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
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A54464
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A sermon preach'd upon the occasion of the Queen's death on the 4th Sunday in Lent, being the 3d of March, 1694/5 / by W. Perse ...
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Perse, William, 1640 or 41-1707.
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1695
(1695)
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Wing P1655; ESTC R33385
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16,721
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28
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Ostentation 2. The Praise that is given of her is a true and real Praise setled upon a solid foundation she is not much extolled for the Ornaments and good qualities belonging to the Body as Beauty comeliness and the like which she had in great Perfection all which are common to the bad as well as to the good but she is magnifyed for the Graces of her Mind for her vertuous and charitable Works and is the only Praise that Solomon admitteth in a Woman Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her Workes praise her in the gates with which he concludes his Proverbs and I the second General and proceed to the last which I can barely mention 3. We have here the extent of this manifestation of Maryes Praise It shall reach as far as the sound of the Gospel shall be heard and that is from one end of the Earth to the other And this had I leisure to prosecute it would yeild much matter worthy our consideration I will give you in a little to understand how much might be said of it 1. It teaches us that the praise of the Just is of a certain duration and continuance in respect of him from whom it proceedeth for it is not founded upon the Judgment of Man who often judgeth things to be Praise worthy according to the outward appearance which oftentimes have no real and intrinsick worth and value in them But this is grounded upon the Judgment of God who neither is nor can be capable either of Ignorance or Error I say unto you Judge not saith the Apostle 1 Ep to the Cor 4. c. at the 5th v. before the time untill he come that shall bring to light the things that are done in darkness and manifest the Counsels of the heart and then every one shall have Praise of God 'T is Christ who gave this Testimony of this Woman whose word is more firm and assured then the Poles and Basis of Heaven and Earth for Heaven and Earth shall pass away but his word shall not pass away It showes that the Extent is universal for the Gospel is a Message of glad Tidings that is to be communicated to all People It is not sent into the World to be concealed or kept close not to be mutter'd in an unknown Tongue No Man lighteth a Candle to put it under a Bushel the light of the word is not to be shut up in a dark Lanthorn nor is the Gospel given unto Men that with that unfaithful Servant they should hide it in the Earth nor is it to be kept in the heart only Mistake me not God grant that it may take deep root there and that the fruits of it may appear in our Lives and Conversations my meaning is this All those to whom God hath been pleas'd to reveal the Mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are bound when lawfully call'd and Authoriz'd thereunto to Preach and divulge it unto others yea a woe is denounced against all such as do it not Though it may be thought foolishness in some who would be thought to be carnally wise yet it hath pleased God by such foolishness to make them that believe truly wise unto Salvation Let men therefore Reverence the Lords dispensation and be glad to accept of Salvation upon such termes and by such means as he hath appointed Thus have I at length finisht my observations upon the main design of the Text so farr forth as the time allotted for this Exercise would give me leave and in some measure answered one End in pitching upon it Suffer me now therefore in the second place which both my Duty and inclination lead me to to pour a little sweet Oyl and to present a few drops not of what is Precious for such have I none but of the best that I have of that which is true and sincere as preparatory to the Solemn Exequies of our most incomparable and most Vertuous Princess suddenly to be celebrated and perform'd Another Mary our late gracious Queen whose Memory shall be preserved fresh and sweet in the lasting Records of Fame so long as Vertue Piety Charity Meekness Humility Wisdome and all that chain of Graces that added lustre to her Royal Quality shall find any respect or Countenance in the World And truly if ever a larger Tribute of tears then ordinary were due if ever a more then usual Portion of sorrow were allowable it is certainly at this time for the great and never enough to be lamented Losse of that most excellent Priucess who as she was the Glory of this Age so shall she be the wonder and Admiration of the next To say nothing of the infinite and irreparable Losse sustained by her right Valiant and truly kind Lord the sole partner of her Affection as well as Power whose mutual indearments were as much above the ordinary level as their Sacred Persons were To say nothing of the inestimable Damage that the Nation in general feels for want of such a main and strengthning Pillar for the support both of Church and State we cannot but passionately mourn and lament the sudden and untimely end of her still blowing ever growing Vertues which even in their early Spring yielded such a Sweet Fragrant Scent like the precious Oyntment in my Text that perfumed the whole Room as comforted and refresht all that had the happiness to bee near her My intention is not as an Herald to proclaime her great Quality the royall stemme from which she was descended nor to set forth the worthiness of that ancient and Illustrious family of Nassau the Support of the Protestant Religion in the Low Countries for the Last Ages into which she was so happily married But give me leave ut Proeco Evangelicus as an Herald of the Gospell of Jesus Christ to blazon Some few of those many vertuous and most excellent qualities for which she was and ever shall be eminent and which shall allways be told for a memorial of her These are the most fragrant flowers that can bee strewne upon her herse the richest Spices the sweetest Gums the most precious Oyntments wherewith her honourable Name can bee embalmd Her Exemplary Piety and Devotion justly challenge the first place for as that was allways payed first by her unto her God so ought it first to bee remembred by us How frequent yea how constant was shee in her private Addresses to the Throne of Grace Her Closet that little Oratory was allways filld with the sweet Incense of fervent and well directed Prayer There was no ceaseing of that holy Sacrifice from her Altar Shee preferred that with-draweing Roome before her own Presence Chamber as that beloved place where she could enjoy a more ravishing delight and Satisfaction then in all the pompous Ceremonies of her own Splendid and magnificent Court where at highest she could converse but with Princes who though they are called Gods must which alass she her selfe hath too Soon for us experimented dye