C. BRETTERG DEATHS ADVANTAGE LITTLE REGARDED AND THE soules solace against sorrow Preached in two funerall Sermons at Childwal in Lancashire at the buriall of Mistris Katherin Brettergh the third of Iune 1601. The one by William Harrison one of the Preachers appointed by her Maiestie for the Countie Palatine of Lancaster the other by William Leygh Bachelor of Diuinitie and Pastor of Standish Whereunto is annexed the Christian life and godly death of the said Gentlevvoman The second Edition corrected and amended PHIL. 1. 21. Christ is to me both in life and in death aduantage REVEL 12. 17. Then the dragon vvas vvroth vvith the VVoman and vvent and made vvarre vvith the remnant of her seede vvhich keepe the commaundements of God and haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ. AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston 1602. TO THE CHRISTIAN Reader grace and peace in Christ be multiplied IF any doe wonder why I would presume to publish this rude Sermon in these bright Sun-shine daies of the Gospell wherein so many learned bookes profitable treatises be alreadie set forth by others and yet are little regarded by the people I wish them to vnderstand that I was drawne hereunto by the importunitie of some who hearing it preached earnestly desired to haue it printed their request being importunate and yet reasonable I could not well deny it And yet I hope it wil not be hurtful to any but profitable to sorâ—e I know that speaking hath alwaies been accounted more powerfull than writing and therfore Papias a companion of Polycarpus thought he did not profit so much by the writings and bookes of the Apostles followers as by the authoritie of the persons and the liuely voyce of the speakers And Hierome said that the liuely voyce had a secret force and being powred from the mouth of the speaker into the eares of the hearer hath a stronger and more powerful sound Whereupon Aeschines when he had read the oration which Demosthenes had made against him and perceiued that the people did greatly wonder at the force and excellencie of it answered them What would you haue thought if you had heard him pronounce it with his owne mouth Yet writing hath his vse and profit both for the instruction of those which did not heare the doctrine deliuered by liuelie voyce and also for the helpe of their memories which before heard it Our Sermons are like an vntimely fruite which dieth so soone as it is borne they are forgotten so soone as they are heard And therefore as Paul was not grieued to write the same things to the Philippians but thought it a sure thing for them so wee neede not to be ashamed to write those things which before we preached that the people may the better vnderstand and remember the same Moreouer I was willing to giue a publike testimonie of that godly Gentlewomans death at whose buriall it was preached to cleere her from the slanderous reports of her popish neighbors who will not suffer her to rest in her graue but seeke to disgrace her after her death It is not vnknowne to them which either reade the histories of these later times or are acquainted with popish practises that the religioÌ„ of Papists was first set vp and is still maintained by crueltie and lyes By crueltie in murthering the Martyrs in persecuting the Protestants and now of late in these parts in beating and wounding the bodies in killing spoyling the cattell of those which withstand them by publike authoritie By lyes in teaching forged miracles to confirme their owne doctrine and in spreading abroad false reports against our best professors to hinder our doctrine as they haue bitterly reuiled them for the course of their liues so haue they most shamefully slaundered them for the manner of their death It would make a mans eares to tingle to heare what malitious slaunders and manifest vntruths some of the Romish faction haue published concerning the death of Luther of Caluine and Bucer worthie instrumeÌ„ts of Gods glorie and faithfull teachers of his truth As also concerning the death of the Lord Cobham of Richard Hunne of Thomas Bilney and of Perotine Massie holie Martyrs which sealed the truth of Christ with their owne blood Yea haue not some of that sect scattered abroad slaunderous Libels of Master Beza his reuolting at his death when he was liuing and able to answere them with his own hand-writing No marueile therefore though their followers treading in their steps do now vniustly reproch them which professe the same doctrine and being dead indeede cannot answere for themselues It were better for them with Balaam to desire to die the death of the righteous then thus to slander them after their death I will not blame them with cursed speaking seeing Michael the Archangell would not so deale with the diuell but I shall pray vnto the Lord to forgiue them and to open their eyes that they may see his truth And God grant that we which now professe his truth may so liue and die as that we may giue them no occasion to speake euill of it Amen Thine in the Lord WILLIAM HARRISON Analysis of Deaths aduantage little regarded Concerning the death of the godly meÌ„tioned Isai 57. vers 1. these 4. points may be obserued 1. The persons which dyed who are described by two titles 1. The righteous where wee may consider 1. The causes by which they are made righteous namely by 1. Faith applying Christs merits to make them righteous before God 2. Sanctification and the fruites thereof to make them righteous before men 2. The markes whereby they may bee knowne to bee righteous which be foure 1. The generalitie of their obedience if it extend it selfe to the whole course of their life 2. The end of it if it be directed to Gods glory 3. Their perseuerance if they continue therein vnto the end 4. Their affection to righteousnesse in others which is shewed in Labouring to make them righteous which yet be not Louing them which be alreadie righteous 2. Mercifull men so called Passiuely because God hath receiued them to mercie Actiuely because they shew mercie vnto others both to their Bodes and Soules 2. The manner of their death expressed by two phrases 1. Doe perish which must be vnderstood Not in regard of their soules for they are immortall and incomptible But in regard of their bodies for they perish yet only for a time and during that time remaine members of Christs mysticall bodie by vertue whereof they shallrâ—e againe 2. Are taken away and that is in respect of their Soules anâ— so their death differeth much from the death of he wicked Bodies anâ— so there is no difference betwixt them and the vicked 3. The careles regarde in others which is declared by two seuerall sentences 1. No man coÌ„sidereth it in heart 2. No man vnderstaÌ„deth it Concerning which consideratioÌ„ 3. points are obserued 1. The reasons why all
professors In Sionis gaudium Anglo-Papistarum luctum Amen Amen FINIS A BRIEF DISCOVRSE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE and death of Mistris Katherin Brettergh late wife of Master William Brettergh of Bretterghoult in the Countie of Lancaster Gentleman who departed this world the last of May. 1601. With the manner of a bitter conflict she had with Satan and blessed conquest by Christ before her death to the great glorie of God and comfort of all beholders Micha 7. 8. Reiovce not against me O mine enemies though I fall I shall rise againe And when I sit in darkenes the Lord shall be a ligâ—â— vnto me Psalm 37. 37. Marke the vpright man and behold the iust for the end of that man is peace LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston 1602. TO THE CHRISTIAN Reader grace and peace in Iesus Christ. WHen Achimaaz the sonne of Zadoc requested that he might be the messenger to bring Dauid word of Absoloms death Ioab would not suffer him Thou shalt not saith he be the messenger to day but thou shalt cary newes another time but to day thou shalt cary none for the Kings sonne is dead He knew Dauids affection was such that the newes of his childs death would be most heauie to him and the messenger himselfe not welcome for his message sake This is all our infirmity no tidings more grieuous to vs then when wee heare of the death of those whom wee loue The Parent bewayles his Child the Husband his Wife the Friend laments the death of his Friend and we thinke it the losse of another friend to depart with this our griefe Iacob mourned for Ioseph his son that he would not be comforted of a long season but thought he would weepe for him as long as he liued When the Amalekites had burned Ziklag and led away captiue the mens wiues and their children Dauid and his company wept till they could weepe no more When Lazarus dred his sisters Martha and Mary were much discomforted for him Gâ—egory Nazianzen reports that when Basil the great died euen the wisest men in the city stroue to exceede one another in weeping and complaining for his death And as for my selfe saith he now I am bereaued of the fellowship of such a man what shall I do but either dye or liue in miserie Which way shall I turne me What shall I do What counsell shall I take now I haue lost him that was my comfort So heauy a thing we see it is to be seuered for a time from those that are deere vnto vs. One only thing there is which is able in this case much to temper our affections when we see our friend to die in the Lord that is in comfort of conscience assurance of saluatioÌ„ through Christ. And this his comfort he expresseth outwardly vnto vs by performing those duties which are required of a man when he dyes and so he makes a ioyfull and a holy end When our friend departeth this life in this maner we haue iust cause to take his death the more comfortably And thus it pleaseth God many times to stirre vp some especiallie such as in their life time haue a care to pursue Religion and to keep themselues vndesiled of the world at their death to expresse wonderfull comfort of spirit and to shew forth such fruit of Religion that we wonder at it and acknowledge the extraordinary worke of Gods spirit in them They wrastle against temptations they confesse their faith feele the assurance of their saluation condemne their sinnes exhort the beholders praise God sing Psalmes wish to dye that in their death they are better Christians then euer they were in their life This blessed departure God giues to many for diuers good purposes 1. That the world may know that peace is the end of the iust and comfort in death is the portion of the righteous 2. That his eternall truth in our holy profession may appeare to be able to comfort vs not onely in our life but in our death also when all other comforts forsake vs. 3. That our enemies may see our faith is not in vaine 4. That the weake by their example may be incouraged to a holy life when they see it bring with it so happie a death and that they may be strengthened against the feare of death seeing it is alwaies comfortable to those that leade a godly life 5. and finally that the friends of the departed by their heaueÌ„ly departure may be admonished not to mourne so much for their death as to reioyce for their life and to thanke God that euer it was their lot in any degree to be ioined or matched with so blessed seruants of God This Gentlewoman Mistresse Katherine Brettergh was one of this number her life as long as God continued it was deere to those among whom she was as the life of a friend might be Her husband friends kinsfolks brethren sisters and all the godly that knew her inioyed a great blessing of God of her and her death no doubt was grieuous to her husband as the death of a vertuous yoke-fellow And if worldly affection would haue holpen it it was the same in him that Dauids was to Absolom his sonne when he mourned for his death O my sonne Absolom my sonne my sonne Absolom would to God I had dyed for thee ô Absolom my sonne my sonne But sure her death was such her behauiour in her sicknes so religious her heart so possessed with comfort her mouth so filled with the praises of God her spirit so strengthened against the feare of death her conquest so happy ouer her infirmities that such as loued her most haue greatest cause to reioyce in her death and by seeing the wonderfull worke of God in her to learne to renounce their owne affections This is the thing I thought with profit might be presenâ—â—d to the view of others also that knew her not for when I had for my own priuate vse and the vse of my friends faithfully collected out of the fresh memories of those that were present and eye-witnesses as wel as my selfe and set downe the manner of her sicknes and death I considered that the knowledge thereof could not but be welcome to al those that desire to die the death of the righteous And so the same causes that moued me to collect it gaue me also occasion to publish it I remembred the saying of one That it is great pietie to set foorth the vertues of the departed if they haue excelled therein yea it is a meanes to increase grace in our selues I thought so great mercie of God shewed to one among vs ought not to be forgotten but should remaine to vs our childre an example to teach vs how good God is to them that loue him and to assure vs that he will neuer forsake vs but in like manner as he did her helpe and comfort vs when we shall by death be called vnto him I considered the vngodly
mother Paula Let vs not mourne because we haue lost such a one but let vs rather giue thankes that we haue had such a one yea rather that we still haue such a one for all liue vnto God and whosoeuer returneth vnto the Lord is reckoned in the number of the fanstlie Let vs learne to imitate those good things which were in her let vs be stirred vp by her death both to consider the vncertaintie of our owne liues and also to prepare our selues for our last end that it may be the beginning of our euerlasting glory The Lord God graunt that euery one of vs may doe it Amen FINIS THE SOVLES SOLACE AGAINST SORROW A funerall Sermon preached at Childwall Church in Lancashire at the buriall of Mistris Katherin Brettergh the third of Iune 1601. in the afternoone of the same day By W. LEYGH Bachelor of Diuinitie and Pastor of Standish PSALME 126. 5. 6. 5 They that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy 6 They went weeping and caried precious seede but they shall returne with ioy and bring their sheaues IONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston 1602. To the reuerend man of God and faithfull Preacher M. William Leygh Bachelor of Diuinity and Pastor of Standish in Lancashire William Brettergh wisheth increase of all good graces for the gathering of Gods Saints and building vp of his Church and for his owne euerlasting saluation in Iesus Christ. GOod Sir after I had read with comfort that which I gayned from you with much intreaty I meane a copie of your Sermon preached at my wiues Funerall I was so ful and pregnant of the birth that I could beare no longer but must needs bring foorth the same and lay it in the lap of Gods children which how euer I vse it in the nursing was from your selfe a perâ—est birth Happily you will deem I do you wrong to publish the same without your futher warrantie indeede you may and my selfe should thinke none other but that fearing vpon a second intreaty you might either perswade me in your loue or ouer-awe me by your authority to desist from printing the same I haue thought good rather to venture vpon all carthly replies theÌ„ to hazard the want of so heauenly a solace Good sir pardon my boldnes for and if you would giue me your house full of gold I cannot keepe in what God will haue out nor can I bee silent where God will speake The best is I lacke no priuiledge The Lord hath giuen good success The Examiner full allowance The Learned good approuall And my conscience is cleare within I doe it neither to your praise or my own but with a single heart to set out the Lords glory And for the wantonnes of the world the iniquitie of the time and the multitude of malicious wreslers of whom you speake let them alone whilest they but pine themselues in feeding vpon our best things The Lord giue you grace countenance and continuance in the bleshed worke of the Ministery for his Sions sake London this 20. of Nouember 1601. Your assured in Christ Iesus William Brettergh The Soules Solace against Sorrow ISAIAH 57. 2. Peace shall come they shall rest in their beds euerie one that walketh before him IT was the preparation day before the Saboath when Ioseph of Arimathea with Nichodemus and the women that came from Galile begg'd of Pilate the bodie of Iesus wrapt it in sindon imbalm'd it with spices buried it and so gaue him the last dutie of eternall obsequie As that was honourable in Christ the head so is it not dishonourable in vs his members And for that I hold this day you haue done well who haue followed the hearse of this our deare sister to giue her the last honour of buriall though last I say yet not the least of Christian duties All which on your behalfes blessed preacher and blessed people how readily and religiouslie hath beene performed I rather ioy to feele in my heart then can finde the way to expresse with my tongue howbeit in lieu of my vnfained loue to her that resteth now in peace as also of you my deare brethren who yet a while must indure the warres of this wofull world giue me leaue in respect of both to charge my selfe with a dutie more particular more abounding For as the Maries could not bee satisfied with al that was done by Ioseph and Nichodemus for their maister Christ vnlesse their poore balme went withal so can I not content my self with al you haue done though most sufficient vnlesse I bring some sindon of mine owne and buy some balme to bestow vpon this Saint As loue is full of labour so it spareth no cost and for that I say with Dauid I will not offer burnt offerings vnto the Lord my God of that which cost me nothing so then being called vnto this place by him who may commaund me much for that his praise is in the Gospell I meane the saddest Saint in all the assemblie I did not consult with flesh and blood but haue as you may see most willinglie obeyed the heauenlie call Desirous by my best endeuours sweetest balme to comfort the liuing by commending the dead so did Isaiah in this place as you haue heard from the former Angell who tooke the commination to himselfe out of the verse going before of Gods peremptorie summons of all by death iust and vniust righteous and vnrighteous faithfull and faithles and hath left the consolation for me thereby to raise you vp from deepe despaire and put you in a place of peace lay you in a bed of rest with the Saint that gone is and all such as walke before the Lord. That all must die as hath bin told you there is no remedie for wee come by the wombe and goe by the graue and ere you come to the sweet running waters of Shilo that runneth softlie you must passe the turbulent waters of Iordan that goe roughlie Death is the Lady and Empresse of all the world her seasure is without surrender and from her sentence there is no apple It is not the maiestie of the Prince or holines of the Priest strength of bodie feature of face learning riches or any such secular regard can pleade against death or priuiledge any person against the graue nay I say more be thy dayes neuer so few or thy yeeres neuer so full count with Adam and tell with Methusalem 969. yeares truelie told yet die thou must be they many or be they few all is one yeeres are no priuiledge against the graue For the generall then I thus conclude statutum est omnibus semelmori The decree is out all must die Balthashars embleme is vpon euerie wall and his imprese is vpon all flesh Mene Mene Tekel Vparsin Numerauit appendit diuisit God hath numbred thy dayes he hath laid thee vpon the ballance thou art found wanting thy kingdome is diuided and giuen to the Medes and Persians Say
godlines Much like vnto many wantons in these our dayes who deeme that diuinitie may goe by the drum whilest they vrge pyping to bring on preaching and minstrilsie to grace our ministerie with multitudes in the afternoones of many our wofull and solitarie Saboaths But to the matter in hand and point of pardons I say with Augustine O vanitie selling vanities to them that will heare vanitie and vaine are they that will beleeue it Nay rather beleeue your owne Poets who durst freely say If wee haue any thing from Rome they be trisles it receiueth our gold and deceiueth our soules Say with Veselus one of your owne Doctors Among vs in Rome Churches Priests Altars Masses Crownes Fire Incence Prayers and Heauen are set to sale yea and God himselfe among vs may be had for money Say with Budaeus The Popes Canons seeme not now to guide mens liues but if I may so say they rather serue to make a banke and to get money Say with Becket one of your owne Bishops Rome our mother is become an harlot for money reward laieth her selfe to sale If then for coÌ„clusion my deere brethreÌ„ beloued in the best loue that euer was which is of Iesus Christ if Saints helpe not for that they heare not if Purgatorie case not for that it is not and lastly if pardons preuaile not for that they reach neither quicke nor dead why doe wee listen to these vngodly Sirens who blacken the ayre with the fogge of their dearne diuinitie and driue away al comfort from distressed soules with these wofull outcryes and doubtfull voyces Helpe Saints Purge fire Pardon Pope Away away get you hence for who euer required these things at your hands saith my God Let onely the price of the bloud of my Lord auaile me vnto the perfection of my deliuery He is my peace he is my rest in life and in death Christ is to me an aduantage O death where is thy sting Hell where is thy victorie Pope where is thy pride Purgatorie where is thy gaine Thankes be vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie peace and rest thorough our Lord Iesus Christ. And now who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen it is God that iustifieth who shall coÌ„demne it is Christ which is dead yea rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God maketh request also for vs. And what shal diuide vs froÌ„ his loue Shall tribulation or anguish or persecutioÌ„ or famine or nakednes or perill or sword shall life or death In all these we are more then conquerours in him yâ— loued vs. And I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come neither height nor depth Pope nor Purgatorie shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Venâ—endo veniet Peace shall come they shall rest from their labours euery one that walketh before him Thus you haue heard I hope to your comfort of peace after war rest after toile life after death and a blessed being after a miserable bondage to all Gods children vpon the last farewell with this wofull world It now remaines we come to the second part and declare out of the text to your further comfort who are partakers of the blessing euen all such as are parties to the cause and none but such as haue walked before him All haue not faith so saith Paul All haue not peace so saith the Prophet Not euery plant is for this Orchard Not euery tree is for this building each peeble stone may noy lie with the Carbuncle Topaze or Chrysolite in the habitation of his holinesse For without shall be dogges and inchaunters and whoremongers and murtherers and Idolators and whosoeuer loueth or maketh lyes But blessed are they that doe his commandements that their right may be found in the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the citie Blessednesse with the Apostle is to such as doe his commandements Peace and rest with the Prophet is to such as walke before him Both absolute in the promise of God both defeaseable on the condition of man It is an ouerruled case in schoole diuinitie Comminationes promissiones diuinae sunt hypotheticae comminations promises from God are conditionall euer limited within the bounds of our obedience or disobedience Yet fortie dayes and Niniue shall be destroyed if Niniue repent not and I am perswaded that yet not many yeares the whole world shall bee destroyed if the world amend not Excellent things were spoken of thee thou Citie of God but now execrable things are done to thee for that thou art fallen from God Bethel is become Bethauen the house of God the house of iniquitie Heudomus antiqua quam dispari domino dominare Thy ruines are relickes of thy sinne and iudgements of thy God God promised a Priesthood of continuance with an eternall couenant and said he would neuer faile Salomon of a sonne to succeed in that throne of gouernmeÌ„t if his children would doe right and walke in his waies but when they failed in the condition the Lord failed in his promise that they might know his promises are conditionall and his mercies euer with limitation Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you so saith Christ a mercifull Messias but with this implication if yee aske not yee haue not if yee seeke not yee finde not if yee knocke not it shall not be opened vnto you And I pray you what is implied in all the titles and dignities of Christ where either he saith of himselfe or others of him that he is the way the truth and the life but that we should walk in him shine through him and liue by him or what of this that he is the doore the shepheard and the vine but that wee should enter be guided and grow together in him A Priest hee is to please our God A Prophet to instruct our soules and a king to conquer our enemies All defeaseable on our behalfe if we yeeld him no sacrifice no care no obedience I say for conclusion whatsoeuer Christ is to me I am nothing to him if Eccho-like and by reflexion I doe not answere to his holie and heauenlie call with my true faith and due obedience Qui fecit te sine te non saluabit te sine te Hee that made thee without thee will neuer saue thee without thee We are his workemanship created to good workes that we should walke in them In which walking I doe further obserue out of the text that God is no respecter of persons but euerie one that walketh shall haue peace and finde rest whether Iew or Gentile circumcised or vncircumcised man or woman rich or poore bond or free master
our crosses but they feele not our comforts so said the Saints of olde and therefore to such as thinke it a straunge thing that the Saints of God should haue their fiâ—ie trial in this world by bickerings buffetings and winnowings of Satan They are fooles and slowe of heart to beleeue like the two disciples who went to Emmaus thinking still of their Christ crowned but neuer crossed till the Lord had rectified their thoughts and laide a necessitie of triall vpon all flesh beginning with himselfe thus Ought not Christ to haue suffered these things and to haue entred into his glorie Whereby I gather no peace without warre no rest without toyle no crowne without a crosse no entrance without suffering no glorie without shame and shaking in this wofull world But happely you will say some be neuer broken in heart nor yet haue any conflict with Satan sinne or death they are feared with no temptations nor doe they grieue because of him whom they pearced They haue made a couenant with the graue and a league with hell of such I say their case is desperate and their condition is no better then the beasts fatâ—ed vp in the best pastures reserued for the slaughter of whom Iob speaketh when hee saith The houses of the wicked are peaceable without feare and the rod of God is not vpon them they spend their daies in wealth and suddenly they droppe down to hell As also Dauid there are no bands in their death they haue no knots as it is in the originall they are nâ—t troubled like other men There be many in the world which would faine haue a Church of sugar or of veluet as one saith they would feede vpon manchet and tread vpon Roses I meane in seruing God they would be freed from afflictions they loue Canaan but they lothe the wildernesse they like the crowne but they loue not the crosse Shilo runneth sweetely but Iordan is to too turbulent all like Zebedeus his sonnes Iames and Iohn who sought to sit in the seate of honour but not to drinke of the cup of afflictions But the truth is you may beleeue it the way to heauen is not strowed with flowers but set with thornes and happily you shall finde it in your experience true that Whosoeuer will liue godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecutioÌ„ Quater luctatus est Iacob in vtero cum Esau in via cum eodem in Mesopotamia cum Laban in Bethel cum Angelo Iacob wrestled foure times in the wombe with Esau in his iourney with Esau in Mesopotamia with Laban and at Bethel with the Angell To teach vs that if we wil be the Israel of God we must arme our selues for all trials at all times in all places and with all persons retaining no longer the name of Iacob as supplanting our troubles but the name of Israel as preuailing with God and neuer leauing him without a blessing Excellent things are spoken of thee thou Church of God A woman clothed with the Sunne crowned with the Starres and treading vpon the Moone yet trauailing in birth pursued with the dragon and readie to be deuoured both her selfe and her sillie babe But heauen sung her triumph against the accuser of the brethren and he was cast downe which accused them before God day and night To be accused before men is much but to be accused before our God is more Now and then to be accused is much but night and day is more And such are the persecutions of Gods children in this world they neuer haue an end nor euer shall till the world be without hatred the diuell without enuie and our nature without corruption Thinke it not straunge my deere brethren concerning the firie triall which did befall this Gentlewoman to prooue her at her end as though some strange thing had come vnto her but reioyce rather in as much as she hath been partaker of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall appeare she may be glad and reioyce Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed he fall not There hath no temptation taken her but such as appertaineth to man And God was faithfull who would not suffer her to be tempted aboue that she was able and euen gaue the issue with the temptation that she might be able to beare it When the beholders thought the Whale had swallowed vp Ionah to kill him hee swallowed him vp to saue him The Lord hid his face from her she was troubled But ye are witnesses who were present at her death that his wrath indured but the twinckling of an eye and though heauines continued for a night yet ioy came in the morning when you saw her fined like gold renewed like an Eagle soring high into the bosome of Christ with this powerfull speech and godly ouation at her end Heare O Lord haue mercie vpon me Lord be thou my helper Thou hast turned my mourning into ioy thou hast loosed my sacke and girded me with gladnesse therefore shall my tongue praise thee and not cease O Lord my God I will giue thankes vnto thee for euer-more Well she is gone and now behold her seate is emptie and her graue is full and me thinkes for the present wee feele her want on earth whom God hath found in Heauen Our prayers lesse powerfull our preaching lesse precious and our Psalmes lesse melodious on her behalfe For you all know that there she sate and there she sung there she read and there she prayed there she heard the word there she receiued the Sacraments there lately she liued and there now she is dead therefore may I say with the Prophet All flesh is grasse and all the grace thereof as the flower of the field But comfort your selues in hope of a ioyfull resurrection as also in respect of her holy life blessed end and most happie state in glorie and sith she is gone let it be remembred as a sacrament of her rest that she went vpon a day of rest one of the chiefest of Sabbaoths and high feast of Pentecost euen then that she should ascend when the holy Ghost did descend by which spirit she was sealed vp to the day of redemption Worshipfully was she descended but most honorably may I now say is she ascended yet behold the husband mourneth for that hee hath lost a wife the mother mourneth for that she hath lost a daughter the brother mourneth for that he hath lost a sister which is me thinks not much vnlike the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo And yet this is not all for wee Preachers may mourne most for that wee haue lost an auditor who heard with reuerence felt with passion and followed with perseuerance But beloued what we haue lost heauen hath found and the holy Angels reioyce at the gaine in the meane time the Lord of Heauen supplie the want vpon earth and increase the number of faithfull
she was once or twice troubled with vaine speeches as of her child the killing of her husbands cattell that she thought shee saw a fire by her c. But euery one saw that these things proceeded of weakenes emptines of her head and want of sleepe which her disease would not afâ—oord her These fits though they were for the time griouous to her selfe and discomfortable to her friends yet were they neither long nor continuall but in the very middest of theÌ„ would she oftentimes giue testimonie of her faith striuing and fighting against her temptations Many times when the standers by iudged her afflictions at the sharpest would she call vpon God lifting vp her eyes and hands to heauen and desire him to giue her strength against her temptations Many times with a cheerefull countenance she would desire those that were by not to faint or giue her ouer but constantly to pray and helpe her against the tempter Once in the middest of her temptation being demaunded by Master William Fox whether she did beleeue the promises of God nor no and whether she could pray she answered O that I could I would willingly but he will not let me Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeliefe which shee pronounced with a still low voyce And when he replied that if she had a desire to pray and beleeue shee did pray and beleeue and that so effectually that hell gates should not ouercome her according to that of the Apostle God accepteth it according to that a man hath not according to that a man hath not shee was much comforted thereby Once after a great conflict with Satan she said Satan reason not with me I am but a weake woman if thou haue any thing to say say it to my Christ he is my aduocate my streâ—gth and my redeemer and he shall pleade for mee Sometimes when she was aâ—â—ucted with the accusation of her sinnes and want of feeling Gods mercie she would with many a pitifull â—ob and much weeping pray to the Lord Iesus Christ to helpe and comfort her a poore wofull distressed woman and request others to pray for her And when shee was moued to make confession of her â—ath she would doe it oftentimes saying the Apostles Creede and concluding the same with words of application to her selfe I beleeue the remission of my sinnes the resurrectioÌ„ of my bodie and eternall life to mee Amen And hauing done she would pray God to confirme her in that saith euer concluding with the Lords prayer as deuoutly and reuerently as any that were present A Christian friend who by his daily attendance on her discharged the dutie of a faithfull Christian standing by told her that no temptation had befallen her but that which appertained to the child of God and that God is faithfull and true and had promised to giue an issue with the temptation whereat she expressed great comfort Maister Edward aspinwall a faithfull professor of the truth and a true Israelite was much with her in the time of her sicknes and ministred much heauenly instruction vnto her and comforted her at all times with apt places of scripture meeting with her temptations and so put the sword of the spirit into her hand He propounded to her the most plentiful comforts of God vnto his Church in the 40. 41. 42. and 43. Chapters of Isaiah vttered in such speeches phrases as might most fitly answere her discomforts Also he directed her to consider the Passion and Prayer of our Sauiour Christ for all his Iohn 17. Math 26. Luke 22. 23. But specially did he often inculcate that sweet inuitation of our Sauiour Come vnto me all you that trauell be heauie laden I will ease you But the difficulty shee had somtimes to apply these generals vnto her owne soule in particular made the case more full of anguish to her selfe and fearefull and lamentable to the standers by Albeit she acknowledged Gods maiesty mercy faithfulnes and truth yet still complayned she of her owne weakenes and vnworthines and could hardly appropriate each thing to her selfe To helpe her somewhat herein for properly otherwise it is the peculiar worke of the holy spirit of God to perswade the heart and soule of her particular interest in these generall promises shee was told that the Almighty who was merciful as she had proued and faithfull as she confessed intended all these mercies to as many as he did call and make promise to And that hee called her she must needs confesse both because that then she not onely her selfe read but heard others reade those blessed words of God vnto her and also for that in former times she had been touched with the loue of God and that his truth and had well profited in the detestation of sinne and imitation of her Sauiour in a holy life And for yâ— proofe thereof she was wished to remember in former times her Baptisme her frequenting of Sermons and often receiuing the most comfortable repast of the holy Communion her daily and almost continuall exercise of reading meditating and praying c. Also he assured her that neither the present agony she was in nor the speeches then in that distresse tending to the signification of despaire extorted from her were any iust causes why either she or any that heard her should iudge fearefully of her because all might see the fault was not in her will as appeared by her prayers confessions plaints sighs teares and grones to God for mercie and full assurance in the bloud of Christ but in her iudgement not able at that time to discerne the wayes of the Almightie And therein he told her she was made comformable not only to many the holy Saints of God Iob Ieremy Dauid and others more but also to her head our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus of whom we reade that some haue cursed the day of their birth and called for their end and darknes to couer them They haue been as men without hope and swallowed vp in despaire They haue cryed how the wrath of God hath torne them and the terrors of the almightie haue fought against them They haue had no peace in their soules nor comfort in their consciences their prayers haue beene shut from God their sinnes haue been terrible vnto them crying that their iniquities had gone ouer their heads and were a burden too heaâ—â—e for them to heare And they haue thought themselues â—â—â—â—â—â—les of shame and reproch and â—s monsterr v 〈…〉 They were grieuâ—d for the sinnâ—s of their 〈…〉 nd complained that they â—ere 〈…〉 and most miserable and wretched â—n the world yet for all this were they still the d 〈…〉 ildren of God as you â—â—â— this day Nay saith he I pray you coâ—sider what â—orments God inflicted vpon his deare Sonne on the Crosse did he not cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me He complained that his soule was heaâ—y vnto death
of her sicknes after the Lord had once enlarged her heart from the temptations of Satan But vpon Saterday about eleuen of the clocke in the morning the Lord disclosed himselfe in mercie to her more plentifully then euer before and as I may say he dealt familiarly with his hand-mayd for from that time to her very death which ensued the next day the feeling of Satans temptations seemed quite to bee banished from her so that she made no shew of them her thoughts were not occupied with yâ— world husbaÌ„d child or any thing els to our thinking neither was her sicknes troublesome to her as before it had beene but as one raised from death to life or rauished in spirit so seemed she to vs that stood by her countenance ioyfull her tongue flowing with the praises of God and her voyce as most heauenly musicke and melodie of peace sounding praise and honour and glorie to God in a wonderfull manner as followeth About eleuen of the clocke she began to tremble and quake a little and withall she asked her husbaÌ„d if he would help her with prayer to God against the tempter saying will yee neither pray with me nor bring some godly man that may put holie things into my minde whereby I may be able to resist Satan Hauing thus said she vttered these words O Lord God of my saluation help my weaknes pleade thou my cause O God of truth for in thee doe I trust After this they prayed together and she answered Amen to euery petition Then after this she required him to reade some part of the scripture whereupon he read vnto her the 8. to the Romans the 91. Psalme and the 17. of Iohn the which as hee read and came to the 4. verse I haue finished the worke which thou gauest me to do and now glorifie me She desired him to pause a while and theÌ„ said Blessed be thy name O blessed Sauiour perfect the worke I humbly beseech thee which thou hast begun in me Then as he read the 9. verse I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast giuen me for they are thine she interrupted him againe saying O Lord Iesu doest thou pray for me O blessed and sweete Sauiour how wonderfull how wonderfull how wonderfull are thy mercies Reade on said she the blessedst reading that euer I heard the comfort whereof doth sweeten my soule Then reading verse the 22. And the glorie which thou gauest me I haue giuen them that they may be one at we are one With marueilous ioy she vttered the words of Dauid many times ouer I confesse before the Lord his louing kindnes and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men for he hath satisfied my soule and filled my hungrie soule with goodnes When he came to the 24. verse Father I will that they which thou hast giueÌ„ me be with me euen where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen me Stay said she and let me meditate on the goodnes of the Lord for this is the sweetest saying that euer came to my soule for now I perceiue and feele the countenance of Christ my redeemer is turned towards me and the bright shining beames of his mercie is spread ouer me Oh happy am I that euer I was borne to see this blessed day Praise praise ô praise the Lord for his mercies for he hath brought me out of darknes and the shadow of death he hath deliuered my soule from the snare of the hunter and hath taken me out of the den of Lyons euen from the iawes of Leuiathan that piercing crooked serpent and hath set me in a place of rest and sweete refreshing Oh praise the Lord O my soule al that is within me praiseh holy name my soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits which for giueth all thine iniquities and healeth all thine infirmities which hath redeemed thy life from the graue and crowneth thee with mercy and compassion This she often repeated And then againe remembring the 21. and 22. verses of the 17. of Iohn she said O my sweete Sauiour shall I be one with thee as thou art one with thy Father And wilt thou glorifie me with that glory which thou haddest with the father before the world was And doest thou so loue me which am but dust and ashes to make me partaker of glorie with Christ What am I poore wretch that thou art so mindfull of me Oh how wonderfull how wonderfull how wonderfull is thy loue Oh thy loue is vnspeakable that hast dealt so graciously with me oh I feele thy mercies and oh that my tongue and heart were able to sound forth thy praises as I ought and as I willingly would doe oh that you all would helpe me to praise the holy one of Israel the God of all consolations And thus for the space of fiue houres together at the least she continued praysing and lawding the Lord with such a gladsome and heauenly countenance testifying such inward ioy from a comfortable feeling of the mercies of God in her soule and vsing such sweete senteÌ„ces and sâ—gred phrases of perfect and holy eloquence as the trueth thereof if it could haue been taken were admirable continuing so many houres together some part whereof was this O my Lord oh my God blessed be thy name for euermore which hast shewed me the path of life Thou didst O Lord hide thy face from me for a little season but with euerlasting mercie thou hast had compassion on me And now blessed Lord thy comfortable presence is come yea Lord thou hast had respect vnto thy handmaid and art come with fulnes of ioy and abundance of consolations O blessed be thy name ô Lord my God Then she repeated part of the 16. Psalme saying The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance wherefore my heart is glad and my tongue reioyceth Thou wilt shew me the path of life In thy presence is fulnes of ioy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore oh that I could therefore praise the Lord as he is worthie to be praised I will sing to the Lord I will sing to the praise of the God of Israel come come saith the and helpe me ô helpe me to praise the Lord. And with yâ— she began to sing the third Psalme and continued to the end of the Psalme as perfectly and with as sweete a voyce as euer she had before in her health and concluded with the 49. verse of the 106. Psalme The Lord the God of Israel be blest for euermore Let all the people say Amen praise ye the Lord therefore And after this she said O praise the Lord for hee hath filled me with ioy and gladnes of hart and brought me from the gates of hell and of death repeating that of the 16. Psalme My line is fallen vnto me in a pleasant place yea I haue a saire heritage for the Lord is the