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
Gospel in Kingston upon Hull who died in the Charter-house near Hull on Thursday Decemb. the 10th 1657. Concerning whom observe these among very many other few gleanings remarkable in her life and death and learn especially her Husband and Children these few Lessons after her death She was born in the Parish of Brampton in the County of Derby two miles from Chesterfield the Daughter of Mr. George Heathcot and Dorothy his Wife of Cutthorp-Hall persons of very good note both for the things of Heaven and Earth both for needful spirituals and useful temporals She was the eldest of eight Children four Sons and four Daughters whereof three only now remain alive namely two Daughters married in Hull and one Son late an Officer in the Army †Ninis serò te amavi domine said Austin Gods adverb is manè early the Devils verb is Manè tarry and now in Ireland She began to look after Heaven and godliness betimes * she first sought Gods Kingdom and gave her first fruits to God which her Father joyfully observing would usually call her forth to read Chapters and good Sermon-books at evenings to the Family and question her about the Sermons that they and she had heard and other points of Religion wherein she would alwayes give a very profitable account and was a great help and good example to all the Family when she was but young shewas much unsatisfied with one called a reading Minister in Brampton Parish therefore shewent usually every Lords day to Chesterfield which was two long miles to hear a faithful Preacher and instead of her dinner went to a private house where many godly persons used to meet where the Sermon was repeated and other duties performed and so again to the publick Ordinance in the afternoon and so home at night and all this very joyfully and chearfully till they got a faithful and powerful Preacher oft times to help them at Brampton whom she was very instrumental though young to procure thither and after her Fathers death contributed towards his maintenance out of her portion to and beyond her abilities and besides that she did with much hungring affection frequent the word on the week dayes as she had any opportunity and sure if David so prized the Word above thousands of Gold and Silver that he oft calls it his delights in the plural number Psal 119.29.92 14. when there was but a little of it written neither the new Testament nor a great part of the old no wonder if now in the dayes of the Gospel she hungred for the word above her necessary food who might say with Austin Sacrae scripturae tuae sunt sanctae delitiae meae Lord thy holy Scriptures are my holy delights But pass we these and come we to the times since I better knew her in which time I have others might clearly observed these particulars 1. Psal 32.2 She was not without guilt yet without guile there were none but the two Adams in whom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet there are some in whom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 1.47 She did not uti deo ut frueretur mundo with Jehu and Judas Amongst all the Saints that yet I had the happiness to be acquainted with I never knew any more eminent in that bottom and top grace of a Christian namely sincerity plainness and uprightness in all her wayes towards God and man the weakest Saint is sincere and the tallest Saint is but sincere Sincerity is the honour of a godly man in his life Job 1.1 and his great comfort at his death Isa 38.3 And for this grace all that knew her did honour and admire her she looked as much at Gods glory and as little a squint as any I knew The Hebrew word that signifies blessedness comes of a root that signifies to go right forward having oculum ad metam an eye to the mark sure upon this account this Saint was blessed They say that in the Low-Countries half of the cost and pains in building their Houses is in the foundation under ground unseen sure she was much for the foundation unseen-work to mens eyes Mat. 6. a plain Jacob a sincere Nathaniel much in inside heart-work which was much in this age where so many are for talk notions shewes many like Antigonus doson that promised much but in deeds performed nothing and though they are unwilling to have head and body severed by the Axe yet are willing to have heart and body severed by hypocrisie Mr. Firth of Mansfield she was as it was expressed by him e that excellently preached at her Funeral a doing Saint in saying-times and so afraid to be too high for others that she was rather sometimes too low for her self and surely persons are better judged by their doings then their sayings Mat. 7.21 Prov. 20.11 How many in these dayes have the Rickets their heads swell with notions talk strange phrases speak of high attainments but all their life withers audi nemo melius specta nemo pejus She could never like of womens †She was of the Apostles mind 1 Cor. 14.34 35. 1 Tim. 2.11 12 13 14. preaching and yet her life was a continual Sermon Exemplis sanè quae docet illa docet God loves curristas magis quà m quaeristas saith Luther walkers better then talkers motion more then notion 2. When ever she heard of the Church of Christ or any that stood up for Religion truth and godliness in our Nation or abroad to be in trouble or danger she did constantly spend much time in her Closet in prayer and her eyes were constantly so bleared with weeping that they told that which she would fain have concealed from men Rivers of waters ran down her eyes Psal 119.136 She was one that sighed and mourned in Jerusalem Ezek. 9.4 When any Diurnals weekly were brought to the house she would say let me hear so far as concerns the Church and Cause of God for other things I let them passe she was no Athenian like them Act. 17. but with Nehemiah enquired much how it went with Jerusalem and the Church Nehem. 1.2 3. Her Husband cannot remember that in all these 25 years for so long just to a day she was married to him she did ever do any thing that she thought might offend †That could not be said of her which a Doctor saith of some Women liberum arbitrium pro quo tantopere contenditur viri amiserunt uxores arripuerunt him yea but whatever she thought might be his just desire she would be sure that that was done and if she at any time saw him displeased she would meekly hold her peace till she saw a fit opportunity to give him all just satisfaction She was farre from the Heathens mind that said Non amo quemquam nisi offendam 4. The zeal of Gods house and love to his publick Ordinance did even consume * Non amat qui non zalot her she would neglect no
that she spent the third part of her time in reading the holy Scriptures Scriptures her meditation was in it night and day Psal 1.2 It was said of Thomas a Kempis that he found no rest any where nisi in angulo cum libello in a nook with his book And Luther said he would not live in paradise without the word and with the word he could live in hell I may truly say of her that she dearly loved the Scriptures and was daily reading some part of it and made conscience to read as well with her heart as with her eyes and practise it also †Shee was one of those to whom the word of God was not only delivered but they delivered into it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 6.17 Ille verè Scripturas legit qui verba vertit in opera 23. When her husband would sometimes be saying to her that he had been a constant and according to his abilities a painfull Preacher now well towards 30. years and had perhaphs preached as many Sermons as our Chronicle saith Doctor Lichfield made viz. 3083. in the raign of King Henry the 6th and though he had had considerable maintenaince and might have had greater yet never to this day one year considered with another had he got so much as had maintained him and his Family by the Ministery she would cherfully answer God saw that we did not need it and hath ever kept us before hand from all wants and straits this way and not you as many other a 1000. times better or at least not so ill deserving as we are to study as well for maintenance of their †Though he lost much and got nothing in tehse late troubles Families as for their Sermons and if God had not otherwise provided for us to live on I hope said she I could have cheerfully sit down with bare cloaths and bread and water and have done what that godly dying servant of Christ Anne Winter of Rotherham said of me on her deathbed when her head by feavour was much distempered which Story was thus When Rotherham was taken by the Kings party May 4. 1643. of which before and in the preface When Panlinus had his City gold silver and all taken away he said Lord let not the losse of all these troubled me for thou art all and more then all these to me more fully to the 3. Kingdomes case and this deceased Saint was very hardly used a pretious godly woman of Rotherham Anne Winter lying very weak her head distemptered so as she knew not wel what she said so me good women being whispering together in the roome where she lay she spake to them sharply thus What are you whispering about if it be any thing for the advancing the cause and Church of God go on else leave off and if it be about the troubles of the Mistresse meaning Mrs. Shaw fear not for she can live of a penny a day if God call her to it as the Martyrs did in their troubles 24. She was a most strict observer of the Lords day and much bemoaned the coming out of the book of Sports allowing them on the Lords day since when she would say Gods hand had ever lay heavy upon this Land though even this God could turn for good she accounted the Sabbath her delight Isa 58.13 as the ancients called it desiderium dierum and regina dierum she said not When will the Sabbath be gone Amos 8 but When will it come like that holy man that went forth that morning and said veni sponsa mea she remembred the Sabbath before it came when it came and when past and was very carefull all that day of her thoughts words deeds and duties as also of all her relations I well remember that when her Ague had seised upon her about the beginning of September last which continued till about 14. dayes or near it before her dissolution and then as we thought left her a faithfull and intimate Friend of hers and an able godly Physitian vir sui †Dr. Witty nominis as was said of the Emperour Probus being then in Hull told her that they must needs take the disease in the beginning and it being known that her aguish fit would seize on her the next time on the next Lords day in the afternoon the Doctor told her it would be necessary for her to take a vomit on that Lords day to remove the approaching Malady she was perswaded to it as a work of mercy and necessity but would go to the congregation in the morning yet some have observed that she stayed at home in the afternoon with sadnesse of spirit and took her vomit but when it was perceived that she was troubled at the taking of it on the Lords day because it hindred her from the evening service of that day in publique sufficient meanes of satisfaction was given her yet it was sometimes replyed so it was lawful to fly in case of necessity on the Sabbath day yet it was grievous to the godly Mat. 24.20 25. She did oftimes very directly foretell things to come as her own death shortly approaching as is in part before flinted and that she should never see her Daughter Dorothy again after she should marry go to Rotherham which proved true and divers other things considerable the truth whereof I will try before I will publish them lest we might seem to be as foolish as some others who have vainly printed and preached Christs coming on Earth personally to Reign in the year 1656. and 5. great things to come passe in the years 1655. or 1656. which foole ies God hath confuted and both God and Man have befooled them or rather they have made fooles of themselves Only concerning Revelations in generall in these dayes I think 1. that all Revelations of the spirit are not wholly ceased but that there still are and may be Revelations 1 Cor. 2.10 or inspirations Iob 32.8 yet 2. all Revelations pretended to be of and from the Spirit but not according to Gods word Isay 59.21 are to be rejected and abhorred in these dayes as proceeding from mens deceived Phantasies or Diabolicall delusions and God never revealed such things to them they have seen nothing more no nor so much as other men Ezek. 13.23 Jer. 14.13 14 23 16. And though I believe that God since the Canon of the Scripture sealed revealed no new truth but that all needfull truths are in the Scripture expresly or by consequence yet I conceive that God may and sometimes doth to some choise Saints reveale matters of fact according to the word and though no new light yet new sight and discovery of the mysteries in the Word as for example in Queen Maries dayes Mr. Fox that wrote the book of Martyrs being with other exiles and confessors at Basil beyond the Sea Mr. Fox preaching to his bretheren there told them confidently that now was the time for their return
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
May your Honours in these saying-dayes wherein is so much disputing and unedifying janglings about Religion 1 Tim. 1.4 6 5. wherein Rachells sight exceeds Leahs fruitfulnesse may your Honours I say take that counsell which holy and learned Melancthon gave his mother then troubled with variety of disputes about Religion namely Go on in holy practise to do what you know and trouble not your selves as you do not with the endlesse and needlesse brabbles of the times which would weary and not edifie you and which made holy Strigellius and Melancthon very learned pious men to desire to dye to be freed from (h) They desired to dye to be freed ab implacabilibus odiis Theoiogorum them how many in stead of heart-searching holy practising mind only opinions notions and disputes which the serious thoughts of death might happily aellay the Poet saith and perhaps you know that swarmes of Bees meeting in the aire will sometimes fight with great violence yet if you cast a little dust (i) Virgil. Hi motus animorum atque haec certamina tanta Pulveris exigui jactu compressa qâ—iescunt Sir Hen. Wotton Provost of Eaton would have no other Epitaph on his Tombe but this Hic situs est author illius Sententiae Disputacdi pruritus fir Ecclesiarum scabies saith learned Dr. Arrows And Luthers prayer was à doctore glorioso a pastore contentioso inutilibus quaestionibus liberet ecclesiam suam Dominus amongst them they are presently quiet Oh that the serious consideration of our dust and mortality might cease and quiet our needlesse differences and unprofitable disputes Go on I beseech you to study Gods word and your own hearts death and your great account Learned Suarez used to say that he more esteemed that little pittance of time which he constantly set apart every day for the private examination of his own heart then all the other part of the day which he spent in Voluminous controversies hold on therefore in Gods work and fear not to lye down in the bed of the grave which Christ hath made soft for you Christ hath both conquered for you and conquered in you the great work is past here if God hath made you new Creatures raised you from the dead the death of sin and nature hath changed you from darknesse to light it s an easier work to put that new Creature so made so raised into heaven and to remove him from the lesser light of grace to the greater light of glory he that hath done the greater which you experience will surely do the lesser But I cease your Honours further trouble onely humbly crave your pardon for this my boldnesse herein and my plainnesse in the ensuing narrative for sorrow knew neither exactnesse of method nor curiosity of phrase and when your Honours have leasure vouchsafe to read the life and death of her who was most dear to him that is A poor faithfull remembrancer of your Honorable Consorts and your Ladiships at the throne of grace I. S. Charter-house near Kingston upon Hull December 23. 1657. TO The Dear Kinred Friends and Acquaintants of his deceased servant of Christ Mr. Dorothy Shaw especially those now inhabiting in Kingston upon Hull in Derbyshire Cuttthorp Somersall c. in Yorkshire at Penistone York Sickhouse Hal-broom Brom-head Rotherham c. in Lancashire Manchester Alding-ham c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dear and Christian Friends THe Apostle saith Heb. 11.4 that Abel being dead yet speaketh or is spoken †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of as is said of that woman Mat. 26.13 I question not but this pretious servant of the Lord mentioned in this ensuing Narrative will be much spoken of among you and the good example of her holy life and happy death still speaks aloud to you all and calls upon you to attend the meanes of grace watchfully whereby she felt very much profit and take heed that you be not drawn from them by the subtilty of the old Serpent or his factors who are full of wiles for whom Satan cannot keep wholly ignorant or draw away to open prophanesse yet with other sleights he withdrawes them by degrees from all Gods ordinances one after another so as they grow quickly cold or negligent in Family duties which they call not their duties but liberties and put all their Religion in their private opinion on which they spend all their zeal and though they regard the Lords day no more then singing Psalmes yet seem to do something on that day merely to keep their proselytes that day from a powerfull Ministery a Popish Antichristian plot and set on by the Prince of darknesse lest his kingdome should go down and poor seduced souls be saved Our Saviour forewarns us that before his coming Math. 25. divers Virgin-professours who though they had no oyl of grace in their hearts ver 3. yet had something that kept their Lamps burning verse 8. some sound principles and common graces shall before Christ come even lose those Principles and their Lamps go out And truly many sometimes-professors have in these dayes lost even their principles and become almost no-Christians or very Atheists but this servant of the Lord kept both sound Principles her Lampe burning and saving Graces she was not like Nebuchadnezzars Image her feet were of gold as well as her head she relyed on Christ alone as the onely personall foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 fundamentum fundans and on the Scriptures as on the only doctrinal foundation Eph. 2.20 fundamentum fundatum Christi satispassio fuit ejus satisfactio scriptura fuit vita ejus regula regulans conscientia regula regulata she could not bear with cursed blasphemies Rev. 2.2 but as Zuinglius when the Heretick Servetus condemned him for his harshnesse towards him he answered in aliis mansuetus ero in blasphemiis in Christum non it à or as Luther Inveniar sanè superbus c. modo impii silentii non arguar dum dominus patitur or as Ierome in the like case Mori possum tacere non possum She still speaks to you more to look after the power of godlinesse and to faith and profession joyn sincere obedience we use to say that Philosophy seeks †Philosophia quaerit Theologia invenit religio possider divinity finds but the power of godlinesse possesseth the sweet and comfort of true happinesse though she could not to use Junius his distinction placare Deum pacifie God that is Christ's worke alone yet did she placere Deo she had this testimony that she pleased God Heb. 11.5 She did what Luther directs servare mandata scilicet in Christo and that is sweet She obeyed God with fear and love Psal 2.11 she had obedientiam servi yet not servilem She had amorem mercedis an eye to the recompence of the reward yet not amorem mercenarium she served God as well with the heart and love as with the hand and life with the fear of a child
number of 1657 but sure I am this world then ended as to her Decemb. 10. †Being just that very same day whereon 25. years before we were married 1657. and my self and 6 poor Pupils may say that much of our worldly comfort or portion Eccles 9.9 then ended here and may sadly remember that which God bad the Prophet Ezekiel so perfectly remember viz. the tenth month and the tenth day of that month Ezek. 24.1 it s thrice in the 2d verse that day this same day this same day But for 1. the Authour of this Narrative he cannot so clear himself for know that these thoughts suddenly dropt from him in a sad hour and were immediately sent to the presse as they stood in their Sheetes the Authour not having any Copy of them left with him but upon second and better thoughts the Authour sent for these back again to review correct or enlarge them but not obtaining that he by Letters prevailed with some reverend and godly and learned bretheren to view and judge of these notes and according to their judgment they then be to prest or supprest but their modesty overmastered their great abilities as you may see after that he sent up half a sheet more to be added but for want of a Coppy at home to direct him he could neither righly informe the Printer where it should be inserted nor himself whether any of those new additions were formerly in the Narrative and this is the true reason of some Tautologies repetitions of some things and of the displacing of others though l a l he done it more exactly he could not have expected to have satisfied all for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. quis satia verit omnes theog 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neque enim posset Jupiter And 2. for the Printer know that the Authour lives above 130 miles off from the presse and therefore many faults are and many I fear uncorrected and I am much of Carthagena's mind who to those three things which the Antients held impossible saith that to find a Book Printed without Errata's should undoubtedly have been added as a fourth Impossible if the art of printing had been then invented though the Author had Briarius's hand and the Printer Argus's eyes I can only say with the Poet liber optimus ille qui minimis urgetur at est sine crimine nullus I onely beg thy care good Reader 1. to amend thy own faults 2. to pray for the Author that he may amend his 3. to do thy understanding that right as to correct these following being some of greater mistakes of the Presse thus Expect but fear not death Death cannot kill Till God that first must seal her patent will Wouldst thou live long keep time in high esteem Which gone if thou canst not recall redeem Quarl Hierogl Vade liber quanquam fis parvus mole sed ampium Lectori fructum Det deus Omnipotens Jo. Sh. M. A. sometimes of C. C. C. P. at Kingston upon Hull THE Testimony of the worshipfull Doctor Robert Wittye of the City of York Concerning the deceased servant of the Lord Mrs. Dorothy Shaw in a Letter to her Husband soon after her death Dear Sir I Cannot but Sympathize with you in your loss and so do all here who have lost a dear loving Friend she was in all my observation most loving to her Friends faithfull in her Relations eminently pious towards God owning both the form and power of godlinesse and as I can well witnesse one that was never daunted or discouraged when you was involved in the greatest troubles that I have known you in from truth's most potent and bitter enemies she was pittifull to the poor and helpful to such as stood in need she was Nathanaels Sister an Israelite in whom was no guile Iacobs daughter who was a plain man her inside was alwayes outward her life was to all her sex a patterne of piety and her death of patience she now reaps the fruit of her labours and the end of her faith and is in the armes of her Saviour which is better then yours and bears her part with that heavenly quire whose song is Halleluiah As to the world and its emnity wherein she had some share with you she is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am certain her gain is greater then your losse which may much lessen your and our sorrow Me thinks I hear her say with our sweet Saviour †Luke 23.28 Weep not for me but for your selves c. Fixe your eye on her gain rather then lay your finger on your own sore she was very fit to dye and had nothing else to do Which that we may so be is the prayer of Sir Your Sympathizing Friend R. Witty York Decemb 23. 1657. THE Testimony of Mr. Heathcote Pastor of Rowley in the East-riding of the County of York concerning the precicus servant of the Lord Mrs. D. Shaw whom he had been acquainted withall from her youth in his Letter to Mr. Shaw dated Jan. 8. 1657. To my Reverend Friend and beloved Brother Mr. John Shaw Preacher of Gods word at Kingstone upon Hull Dear Sir I Am very sensible of and deeply affected with your great loss in that sad breach which the Lord hath been pleased to make in your Family I know you have parted with as sweet a Yoke-fellow and as meet an help in my opinion as ever I knew I cannot therefore much blame you for your much sorrowing yet when I consider her incomparable gain I rejoyce much more on her behalf then I can possibly sorrow on yours and I beseech you moderate your passion and divert your sorrow from her and mourn for your self and the sins of the times she hath left behind her in the hearts of all the godly that knew her a most pretious name and for my part I doubt not in the least but she hath sound by happy experience that her deaths-day was far more joyfull to her then her marriage day her buriall day then her birth day Eccles 7.1 she hath onely changed her habitation and her company and is arrived where she desired and obtained what she had earnestly laboured and much longed for Phil. 1.23 I have known her about these thirty and four years and I can with much delight and do to my great comfort call to mind her great paines and constant labouring in her young dayes after the meanes of grace for the obtaining of that grace which did abundantry shine forth in her in her latter dayes I remember her constant coming every Lords day from Cutthorp-Hall to Chesterfield which was two good miles to partake of worthy Mr. Wain-wrights Ministery and was neither detained by the scorching heat in Summer nor yet deterred by the coldnesse of the Winter she had resolved to take Gods Kingdome by force and violence Math. 11.12 and I am most consident she is now an inheritrix thereof and hath reaped the sweet of all her labonr and sweat
When she kept her Fathers house after her Mothers decease though then she was young she made it a receptacle for the Saints and was very bountifull to the poor especially to the houshold of faith her old father freely allowing her liberty to do therein as she pleased I have often admired and observed her sincere spirit and true zeal for God in whose cause and for whose Saints she would have spoken even before any Psal 119.46 and neither have been ashamed nor shrunke yet alwayes with much humility mildnesse modesty and discretion excelling therein most of her sex that I ever knew or heard of the paines that she took and the care she had to educate her six daughters in a godly and religious manner both by private instruction and catechising and also by bringing them constantly to the publique ordinance doth very much already and I hope will more and more appear in every of them to your comfort and all their benefit her soundnesse of judgment and constant profession of the truth in these wanton times and that to her very end together with her sweet and comfortable declaration of her faith and joy in Christ concerning her eternall estate when I was last with her about two dayes before her death stoppeth the current and streame of my passion and I desire that you would comfort your self with these things and many others of the like nature well known to you Now the good Lord whose doing this is give you a submissive heart herein and teach you and all her friends to make a right true spirituall use of this wise providence and all other His dispensations which is and shall be my hearty prayer for you whilst it pleaseth God to continue me Your very loving fellow labourer in the Lords Vineyard Nicolas Heathcote Rowley Jan. 8. 1657. Courteous Reader IT is not that I have a conceit that my Testimony can add any reputation to this piece that I appear here but onely because I was intrusted with it by the reverend Authour and because having had some knowledge and full information of that Worthy Saint deceased whose memoriall is here intombed I am the more able to attest to the truth of what is here suggested concerning her Nor do I in the least doubt of the verity of every particular here spoken to her praise not onely because of the known integrity and unquestionable veracity of the worthy Authour but also because of that savour which her name hath left in these Northern parts which I have a speciall Relation to by birth and education And therefore I do heartily commend this piece to thy diligent perusall and am confident thou wilt not count it lost labour Thou wilt find here an illustrious example proposed to thy imitation by looking to which thou wilt see if thou art one of a more private capacity how thou maist be serviceable to the publick without going out of thy Sphere Nor is this proposed in a rude and indigested manner Here is not only a good dish but it is well cook'd and serv'd up with such sawce as will both provoke and satisfie thy appetite The Authour hath well temper'd utile dulci But I have detained thee too long from the Treatise it self I commend it and thee to the blessing of the Almighty begging that He would make it effectuall to every one that reads it Math. Poole Pastor of Michael's in the Quern London Some Consolatory thoughts sent to my Dear and Reverend friend Mr. John Shaw upon the death of his late excellent wife Mrs. Dorothy Shaw 1. MOst tell more news then truth yet he who shewes Thy wife 's in heav'n speaks truth but tells no news Now heav'n hath took her up what did it more Than oft it did heav'n took her up before She taken up with heav'n on earth exprest She should took up to heav'n from earth be blest Eve'n here heav'n dwelt in her if so they tell No news who speak her now in heav'n to dwell The Hen to th' yong of flying fouls may lend Her brooding wings yet fledg'd they upward tend She whom heav'n natur'd earth but nurtured So fully grown to heav'n is fitly fled I' st strange she should with time be fild since she Foretasted here a blest eternity Allow we with her Bridegroom to reside In love so strong of love so sick a bride Who found no cordiall like His Company To cure her of her fainting Malady T is true his pictures pleas'd her though the same She saw set oft but in a rotten frame She lov'd indeed those messengers He sends Who said Thy Lord to thee his love Commends Her Love's love-letters too with joy she ey'd Yet rather come thy self than send she cry'd He came and knockt at th' door by sicknesse some Started at it she said I hope He 's come She opes unto him sees him joys he tells He 's come to lead her lodg her where he dwells She lay but in John's bosome while she stayd Now she 's in His where John belov'd was layd Thus lov'd and lodg'd 't were cruelty to crave Her thorny pillow she again might have Seems it not cross to love and all its lawes If that which cures her sorrows thine should cause While here she stayd thy helper she was known Now grudg her not to go and be her own She living said My husband's gain is mine And now she 's gone her gain esteem as thine Her worth instructs us how a wife to choose And may thine teach us how a wife to loose If God thy Friend hath kild he kills thy sins Though Sampson dies yet 't is with Philistins If God remove's the good which sense injoyes He takes the bad which more the soul annoyes To spare the precious soul the sin he spils He loves the garment and the moth he kills T is gainfull loss when ere mine eye shall part From that which seen from Christ takes off my heart The slip is service Joseph fitly flies When 's mistris him more than her husband eyes Dear friend t is fit what ever hinders love From Christ or sharp or short or both should prove Blest change not robbery for God to give What cannot dye and take what cannot live Yet one gain more the fellow of your bed You loose we gain this issue of your head That losse the north solely though sorely wounds But both to north and south this gain redounds All ill from th'north Fond proverb cease to live Since th'north such wives and such a book can give W. Jenkyn Pastor of Blacktryers London TO THE Christian Reader Good Reader THe Reverend Author was pleased to give me a sight of these papers wherein he hath imbalmed the memory of his dear and gracious Yok-fellow before they were comitted to the presse I cannot dissemble the contentment that I took in the perusal of them finding him to discover every where as much of the holy Christian as the tender Husband and of the able Minister as
opportunity in publique or private meetings for any worldly business usually yea when others thought that she was very unable and weak yet she would attend the meanes of grace and say that she never got any harm by attending on Gods Ordinances or doing him service she kept that ear-mark of Christs sheep which many have lost in these dayes she was careful to hear with attention of body intention of mind retention of memory as in that Text John 10.27 where all the five steps of our salvation are laid down Since we were acquainted I never knew her part from me with that grief as she did last October the 11th being the Lords day whereon the Sacrament of the Lords Supper was administred and her weakness of body would not allow her to be there present sure I am we parted with teares truly I faw no such appearance of trouble or grief in her when death apparently seized on her and the next sacrament-Sacrament-day Novemb. 15. which was the last time the Lords Supper was administred before she dyed she was a sweet partaker of that sealing Ordinance though forced to rest her sometimes in the way 'twixt her house and the Congregation Psal 122.1 I was glad when they said to me let us go into the House of the Lord. 5. I never heard any motion or proposition made tending to the service of God and advancing piety but she was pressed in spirit and her heart was hot after it and more eager to suffer it then a worldling could be for a great bargain Isa 2.3 6. She was a special help to her Husband for saving his life and liberty in these troublesom times and a chearful sufferer with him Phil. 4.3 to the hazarding both of her-health liberty and life in the time of the Wars and since sometimes she was hurried by the Cavaliers towards prison in Rotherham sometimes fled in great danger by Sea in Lancashire her House and Goods robbed or plundered that she might say as Paul 1 Cor. 11.26 that she was in danger both by Land and Sea by robbers by false Brethren c. 7. She was as free from * She did ubique pietatem attendere nunquam ostentare causas pride and covetousness as I ever knew or in these dayes heard of any whether pride in apparel (f) Plautus calls the body only vestis farium She minded the soul much above the body she followed Tertullians Counsel who advised the gallant women in his time to put on the Silk of piety the Sattin of sanctity and the purple of modesty so said he shall God himself be your suitor or rather the Apostle's advice 1 Pet. 3.3 4. like modest Rebeckah Gen. 24.65 of both whom that of the Poet was not true Fastus inest pulcris sequiturque superbia formam and free from pride in gifts performances which rots and spoils all we have and do Hence Austin Caetera vitia in peccatis superbia in rectè factis maximè est timenda 3 Joh. 2. So also from covetousness only she had a great measure of that godly covetousness after grace 1 Cor. 12 31. She would say Proud persons are called pride it self Jer. 50.31 32. I desire never to hoard up any of these things only I would have to bear my charges through my Inn here below much of Pauls mind Phil. 4.11.12 8. 1 Tim. 6.6 Luther had rather be the Author of the meanest work of the poorest Saint then of all the Victories of Alexander's and Caesar's She did more value and love the poorest godly man or woman yea Servants in whom she judged the life and power of grace to appear and more rejoyced in their Company then in all the greatest persons and honours in the world she might truly say what another godly woman said before her that she never loved the Company of the wicked alive and therefore hoped that God would never send her to them when she died Psal 16.3 and 119.63 Fiscellinus valued Nobility above learning which made Sigismund the Emperor to marvel she valued godliness above them both as the best gain 9. She would oftentimes presse her Husband to act vigorously for God and to go boldly and thorough-stitch in Gods work and let never the care of her or their Children be any impediment to him herein for she could trust God with them fully she knew that God cared for them and reason good for he bought them dear 1 Pet. 5.7 10. When motions were made to her Husband of removing from Hull where he had very much work and very little pay to a place of very great preferment as to outward meanes he desired as usually to know her mind herein her answer was I will go with you any where chearfully as I have hitherto done through Darbishire Devonshire Yorkshire c. but I mainly desire that you would only look herein at this end where you think that God may have most honour by you and let no other by-end whatever move you at all God having never put us to any straits for temporal estate she would not have him stir a foot †Exod. 33.15 without the Lord any way she was troubled to see any follow the Ministry as a Popish writer complains of their Priests tantum ut eos pascat vestiat only as a Trade for back and belly or as men-pleasers 11. In all these 25 years she never once failed in her Husbands absence her self to pray with the Family at the least twice a day a morning and evening sacrifice and usually sing a Psalm and read some portion of Scripture to them and when her Husband was sometimes very late busie at his study she would constantly call the Family together and have some Scripture read and sing a Psalm and so keep the Family imployed till her Husband came down from his study to perform the rest of the Family-duties 12. She was of a most meek and quiet spirit and was upon all occasions stirring up her Children in the Doctrine and practice of godliness and very much rejoyced to see godliness so much appear in them she was much of holy Clavigers mind who said if I can but find the fear of God in my Yoke-fellow and Children and those about me satis habeo satisque mihi uxori mea filiis filiabus prospexi then I have enough in this world 2 John 4. She would often say that if God was so pleased she desired that her Husband might out-live her because she judged him more able to educate their Children in the wayes of Heaven 13. She was a very great helper to Gods poor Saints that were troubled in these late national distractions and was alwayes full of courage professing since that when she was hurried towards prison in Rotherham that she did not fear any thing save only that her Husband should have suffered some want through her absence he being at that time hid in Rotherham where the Enemy sought him narrowly yet he could
have touched them they proclaimed him Traytor and all others Traytors that knew of him and brought him not in * John 11.57 within 24. houres plundered him to the full yet God hid †So was David hid 1 Sam. 20.5 26.1 and the Prophets 1 King 18.4 him Jer. 36.26 the story hereof is fully related in the Praeface to a Sermon of his on Isa 42.24 25. called The three Kingdom 's case he lay hid on the hard stones most part of three dayes and three nights from Thursday May the 4th 1643. when the Town was taken till Saturday even May 6. The like courage had she when she fled to Sea in Lancashire yea her Husband heard of some pieces of her charity in the Sermon preached at her Funeral †And more since Acts 9.39 which she had kept secret though she had alwayes from him a general grant and allowance for all such works of charity which he never knew before she would not let her left hand know what her right hand did Swine only do good when they die but sheep while they live many leave their estates to others meerly because they cannot keep them but she did good both heart and hand alive 14. Most tender she was of the poor people in the Charter-house both for their bodies and souls and was daily conferring with and advising of them and seeing them supplyed and did much endeavour to have such preferred therein as were noted for piety and godliness 15. She had a very fresh look but exceeding weak Body so as usually at night when she was lying down in bed she would speak to this purpose Oh how weary am I what a wise and good God have I that did not necessitate me to get my living by hard labour as many Servants do Oh how good is God to provide these beds of rest how many work hard all day yet have none or hard beds at night Oh how are our Brethren in Piedmont or Poland c. now suffering it may be And yet here is the sweet of this mercy that this is not my portion but that there still remains a better rest for the people of God 16. She would much complain of spiritual wants as hardness and badness of heart as the Church complains Isa 63 17. though others †As Hannah 1 Sam. 1.15 complaints that she was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hard in Spirit ah a hard beaâ—â— thought that she had a large measure of grace yet she would say oh but they know not my heart much she complained of her weak memory that she could not remember the particulars in a Sermon though she would bring away the sweetnesse and savorinesse of most Sermons and find her heart love the word and Christ more yet she would cheerfully recollect and check her self sometimes and say Yet this is some comfort to me that I find my memory is bad also in other things that concern this world which gives me hope that its not altogether spirituall wickednesse but naturall weaknesse if ever she was drowsy under the ordinance she would much bewail it And indeed if Nero was so angry with Vespasian because he slept at his Musick how much more may our God justly be angry with such as sleep at the dispensing of the Mysteries of life and of the kingdome she was very far from †She was far from the mind of proud Vega that said coelum gratás non accipiam boasting or presuming on any thing in her self frustrà nititur qui non innititur the voice said to Austin In te stas ideô non stas Learned Ames saith of such men that their case is more desperate by how much they do lesse despair she was far from Castellio's opinion that men are of 3. sorts some unregenerate some regenerating and others regenerated and that these last have no combate betwixt flesh and spirit this was crosse to Pauls experience Rom. 7. Gal. 5. 17. She was not only a willing companion but also a great Comforter of her husband in all the oppositions that ever he hath met with in the course of his Ministery for the Gospel's sake of which he hath had his †Theologus nihil aliud est quam centrum ad quod omnes lineae dolorum tendunt Meis Veritas est causa discordiae mori possum tacere non possum Hieron share from different hands and when ever he had unbosomed his troubles to her she would quickly so cheer up his spirit with the Lord's word former experiences which he would readily recollect and discover such issues and wayes of delivery that usually he went away with Hannah 1 Sam. 1.18 and was no more troubled but found his muddy bitter waters turned into wine she was not like Iob's wife to aggravate his afflictions 18. She was mighty in prayer and would therein expresse much warmth and affection that she had not onely the gift but a large measure of the grace of prayer and much familiarity with the Lord and as a dropping vine she wept much in prayer like Iacob Hosea 14.2 Hos 12.4 As it s said of Charles the Great That he talked more with God then with men so was she frequent and fervent in Prayer which can Vincere invincibilem ligare omnipotentem bind Gods hands Exod. 32.10 as Iacob and Moses did She offered to God not labia vitulorum but vitulos labiorum the Calves of her lips as learned Rivet speakes 19. Shee would often especially of late speak to her husband to this purpose I am afraid that we do too much love one another and take from God that which is his due and that God will not therefore let us live long together here but however we shall meet together again where we can neither sinne nor part for ever 20. She would oftentimes be pressing and calling upon her husband that besides family and secret prayer they two might go to prayer together by themselves And upon this account I well remember what straits they have sometimes run through when at first they tabled in the house of a Friend and to this end she would often be remembring to him the Example of Mr. Bolton who used to pray 6. times a day twice by himself twice with his wife and twice with his Family and the practise of the Lord Harrington and such as she had read of She did not like Jezabel stir him up to evil but to good Isa 2.3 21. She was a knowing Christian for her Sex well acquainted with the doctrin practise of Religion she had both scientiam visûs gustûs head heart-knowledg she knew the History and Mystery of the Scripture in a good measure or to use Calvins phrase she knew not onely Cerebralitèr but Cordialitèr she felt the word she talked of and so was haypy Joh. 17.3 first felt what she spoke then spoke what she felt 22. She did much read the †It s said of the virgin Mary
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
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