last sicknesse notwithstanding that her weake body was chiefly sustained by sleepe and her friends and Children would often perswade to it vrging Gods gracious acceptance of the will for the deed where abilitie was wanting to actuate good desires howsoeuer in the iudgement of the strictest Diuines it is very lawfull and tolerable yet in the exuberance of her zeale her answere still was thus or to this effect no she would not yeeld that day to sleepe it was the Lords day the Soules market-market-day if I lose this day what shall the Soule feede on all the weeke after How should I answere it if my Lord should come and call to take mee hence finding mee this day sleeping I will not doe it can I not watch one houre the health of body I both respect and desire preferring still the welfare of the soule and though I cannot spend it as I would being Gods prisoner yet my endeauour shall not be wanting in heart and minde to ioyne with the publike assembly and such indeed her manner was to spend the whole day when she could not goe to Church her lingring disease did stay her long and often in prayer reading and meditation a shame to such among vs that prophanely mis-spend the Lords day sleeping all the morning securely till the Bell cals them as if putting on of our best cloathes and running away were all nothing else required when some preparation is as necessary as the seruice he shall bring home but little good that goes to market without money in his purse greater shame to such as come to sleepe in the Church her zeale would not permit her to sleepe in great weakenesse on her bed alone where none could be offended Gods awfull presence cannot keepe you from sleeping in health in Gods house amongst a multitude where many are offended thereby if her vigilancie bee to be admired take heede least Iudgement finde you napping Thirdly that she obserued constant houres euery day for priuate prayer on her knees euen when for very weakenesse shee could not rise againe till some came in to helpe her vp Oh happy Soldier thy warre is ended victory wonne and the crowne obtained sing deare Saint the songs of Zion thy teares are washt away enioy thy rest I could delightfully stay here to admire this free prisoner in her heauenly conuersation till the houre of her desired dissolution To behold in a weake leane dying body true beautie and to obserue the picture of pietie in this spirituall anatomie how welcome is weakenesse when accompanied with such strength of grace but me thinkes I see already your eyes full and the glasse emptie I may not stay One thing I would request of her Husband and Children before I leaue and that is they would make knowne vnto the world their loue dutie and respect vnto her by imitation of her in pietie humilitie sobrietie frugalitie and loue towards Gods Children follow her in grace you shall follow her to glory and let this be ingrauen on her Tombe As she liued in the feare of the Lord. So shee dyed in the feare of the Lord. Lastly to conclude in a word to you all my right dearely beloued if you like this that you haue heard to day and desire so much might be spoken of you after death goe home and do likewise sell all you haue for this Iewell shake off your dearest sinne liue in the feare of the Lord you shall dye in his fauour the fruit of your hands shall bee giuen you and your owne workes shall praise you in the gates Soli Deo Gloria FINIS
cast downe many wounded strong men haue beene slaine by her her house is the way to Hell going downe to the Chambers of death Prou. 7.26.27 When the Foxe saw many going none returning from the Lions denne he refused to goe for feare of like danger Let vs hence learne to be wise Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum least wee complaine too late How haue wee hated instruction and despised reproofe how haue we disobeyed the voice of our teachers and refused to incline our eare to them that instructed vs Secondly wee haue in this Chapter an exact description and Commendation of a vertuous woeman beginning at the tenth verse which I would commend to all that are or desire to be good wiues that you would peruse it once a weeke not omitting set Tymes for reading other parts of holy writ my Text is the conclusion of it wherein you may obserue with me 1. The fading Condition of outward endowments comprised in Fauour is deceitfull and Beautie vanitie 2. The lasting worth and dignity of inward grace contained in But a Woman that feareth the Lord shee shall bee praised 3. The dutie of all men towards vertuous women Exprest in the last words Giue her the fruite of her hands c. Wherein I shall briefly touch these particulars 1. Who they are must be praised Woemen 2. For what The feare of the Lord. 3. How they must be praised By the fruit of their hands and their owne worthes 4. By whom By their Children Husbands Neighbours all are enioined to giue good woemen their due praise Of all which in their order and first by way of Explication The censure of Nature and naturall endowments Fauour is deceitfull Fauour may be taken 2. wayes first for inward affection which is a motion of the mind stirred vp by the apprehension of some excellencie in the partie fauoured as when wee say this or that great man fauours vs smiles vpon vs loues vs entirely then this fauour what more deceitfull who can tell when hee hath it or discouer a false heart vnder a flattering forehead did not Cain commune with his brother whom he meant to kill was not Ioabs speech peaceable when his purpose was to smite Abner how sweet were his words to innocent Amasa Art thou in health my Brother when a sword was in his hand to free him from all diseases Absalon inuites his brother Ammon to feast with him but the guest must be slaughtered by him Iudas cries haile Master when he came to betray the sonne of man with a kisse What apish Complements bowing becking scraping the foolish froth of feigned loue doe we behold amongst men while there is no correspondencie betweene the heart and the hand what promises haue wee had what protestations haue wee heard which haue proued abortiues liuing and dying in the same moment who relyes thereon in these daies builds on sandy ground Beleeue them that speake out of experience trust not fauour it is deceitfull so true is that of the Psalmist mens words may be smoother then oyle when there is no truth in the inward parts Or suppose one to haue it who can tell how long he shall enioy it health and sicknesse life and death sun-shine and stormes day and night change not so often as this deceitfull fauour to day wee may heare Iacobs voice to morrow feele Esaus hands the least error rumor or conceit of one crushes this affection rich words with an ayery issue proclaimes the Parents folly This fauour of wicked men and women is nothing worth like smoake to the eyes or the reede of Egypt to the hand what extremity of folly driues worldly Polititians then or boone companions and good fellowes as they are tearmed to preferre it before the fauour of God to seeke more greedily for it then reconciliation with God in the blood of Christ The fauour of great men may be sought preserued good vse made of it yet one dram of Gods fauour in Christ is more worth then the fauour of all the Princes in the World Let mee be Gods fauorite I care not whether the World smile or frowne let others pursue this deceitfull fauour but Lord doe thou lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs. Secondly fauour may be taken for outward proportion in bodie and face ioyned with a iustly tempered complexion when all the humours manifest an equall power without any selfe-ruining desire of dominion this is the fauour here meant and is deceitfull two wayes First actiuely when it deceiues others and that either in regard of iudgement when men thinke woemen to be such as they seeme to be perfect for parts beautifull healthie sober chaste temperate there being indeede and truth not any one but the shadow of these qualities in them or in regard of loue and liking when men suffer themselues to bee ensnared with the very outward fauour making Sense the guide vnto reason and beautie the ground of their affection Gen. 6.2.34.2 so were the sonnes of God deceiued in the old world Sechem the sonne of Hamor Sampson with Dalilah Iudg. 16. 2. Sam. 11.2 Dauid with Bathsheba and many more in euery age few eyes that haue not thus beene foyled looking through these deceitfull spectacles haue beene mistaken in their obiect Experience hath taught vs to tell you this fauour is deceitfull and least it should not be enough deceitfull of it selfe there are certaine appurtenances which make it more deceitfull as painting perewigs false eyes arteficiall teeth cawles of net-worke to catch wantons round tyers chaines bracelets mufflers rings earrings with the rest of that wardrobe set open by the Prophet Esay 3.19.20.21.22.23 gaze not on this fauour faire and louely it appeares but defiles the heart leaues a staine vpon the Soule and is it not deceitfull Secondly passiuely deceiuing it selfe promising constancie when nothing is more fraile see if it euer could indure the shining of the Sun blowing of the wind falling of the raine the least inward griefe two or three fits of an Ague the small pocks bearing of Children consume and leaue it no place this day it lookes as if it would bee alwayes soe to morrow as if it had neuer beene so and is it not deceitfull a meanes it is to coozen many of the foode of life They cannot goe to Church in Summer for heate nor in winter for cold it will spoile their complexion and is it not deceitfull what meane the multitude of vailes and maskes the closer you keepe it the lesser while it will last and is it not deceitfull Beautie is vanitie here wee haue a more liuely expression of the former I know no great difference betweene fauour and beauty in our ordinary speech they are often put one for another except this fauour is refer'd to proportion beautie to complexion though in strictnesse of speech beautie being something arising from both Beautie is twofold 1. Inward of the heart and mind mentioned Psal 29.2
feare of God 1. Timo. 2.9.10 with good workes seconded by his partner in labour 1. Pet. 3.4 whose adorning speaking of good woemen let it not be that outward of plaiting the hayre wearing of gold or putting on of apparell but let it be the hiden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible euen the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price Let common woemen gull themselues and others with paynted shewes euery vertuous matron knowes good workes to be a better ornament then cut or plaited haire pearles gold or costly array many simple ones either know not or beleeue not this obserue them strutting with their spangled foreheads as peacocks vse to doe with their tailes haue nothing to glory in but what is borrowed from the Creature wanting the chiefest Iewell all the rest are as filthy rags This truth will further appeare vnto vs if we consider first that which the Scripture speakes of the feare of the Lord in those seuerall places cited Psal 19.9 Prou. 1.7.10 27 14 27. Math. 13. â—5 â—6 1. Tim. 4.8.6.6 Philip. 4.11 wherby we may easily discerne the excellencie of it Secondly that sweet contentation of mind with our portion allotted as with what wee are and haue beautifull or deformed riches or pouertie which followes as an effect of this feare it hath the promise of this life and that to come Godlines with contentment is great gaine heereby was S. Paul taught in what estate soeuer he was to be contented therewith and good reason for as the Prophet tels vs there is no want to them that feare him they want not beautie riches pleasure nor content Christ is all in all vnto them Thirdly The continuance of this Iewell it endures for euer hauing the promise of both Kingdomes this of grace the other of glory when fauour deceiues and beauty failes the feare of the Lord endures without change when all other pleasures leaue a dampe behind the feare of the Lord onely makes rich and hee addes no sorrow with it Fourthly the desire of the best woemen in euery age seeking to attaine it rather then beautie riches foode or rayment whose actions are for your imitation let others pin plait and paint spend you these precious howers in prayer Let Martha bee troubled with many things take you Maries choice it will bring Marthaes gaine without her trouble Like as Salomon asking wisedome obtained also honour riches long life so fals it out with those that feare the Lord it brings with it all other necessaries fauour and beautie may bee without the feare of God the feare of God not without them and as it was a chiefe part of wisedome in Salomon to desire wisedome so is it a speciall part of holy policie in woemen to chuse the feare of the Lord 1. Cor. 15. vlt. as their chiefest ornament God will adde the rest no man euer serued the Lord in vaine In the application of this doctrine wee find matter first to informe woemen what they should most earnestly seeke after if they would be good wiues and bring a lasting portion with them to their husbands The feare of the Lord. Math. 6.33 It is the Command of our Sauiour strengthened by a promise seeke first the Kingdome of Heauen and all other things shall be added vnto you this makes woemen most louely and onely praise-worthy their presence highly esteemed during life and their memory honoured after death this makes woemen shine in the darkest age fruitfull in euery good worke conscionable in their wayes both toward God and man obserue and you shall find how pious such are vnto God dutifull to their husbands carefull of their houshold teaching Children guiding seruants giuing good example to both patternes of humility in speech going attire They are helpefull hopefull euery way beautifull I want Epithetes to expresse their excellency a woman with this Iewell is one of the greatest outward blessings to man on earth prouided it hang not in the tounge nor at the eare onely but in the heart The Question onely here will be how this Iewell may be knowne Answere By these or some of these three things First by antecedents or things going before First knowledge of God his will presence iustice mercie of our selues what we haue wee should not haue what we want that we should haue Secondly sorrow of heart for what we perceiue amisse Thirdly desire of amendment which we must feele before we can attaine it Fourthly enquirie after and diligently vse the meanes hearing and reading of the word of God with prayer and meditation Secondly by some properties which are first to inlighten the vnderstanding in some measure according to the capabilitie of the subiect Secondly to purifie the heart not from the being but from the raigne of sinne Thirdly to heate and enkindle zeale in the affection for Gods glory Fourthly to direct in the right way to heauen like as the Load-stone turnes the singer towards the North soe this feare of God makes women still looke vnto Christ that they may safely saile betweene the dangerous rockes of doubtfull and vnlawfull things Thirdly by some Consequents as first to hate euery sinne and foule fashion of the world so soone as knowne Secondly to delight in the practice of sincere obedience without partialitie hypocrisie formalitie or temporizing neuteralitie to be more in deedes then words to doe more at home then abroade Thirdly to make conscience of both these to eschew euill and doe good in obedience vnto God 2. Question But how may this Iewell bee attained Answere First by meditation vpon the former particulars secondly by practice and that is first remotion of all lets and hinderances with the wise Merchant we must part with all wee haue to buy this pearle Secondly resolution to doe what euer the Lord commands vs in his word both for time and manner without distinction pretence or exception Secondly to teach men what they should most affect and praise in woemen not riches or beautie though both the gifts of God Did you know the worth of a vertuous wife her fidelity sedulitie sobrietie humilitie patience sweet carriage and behauiour you would seeke her more greedily then any hungry Spaniard doth the Indian gold or any amorous wanton his deceitfull minion know this further woemen would not offend so much about their faces did not men offend first in excessiue praises of their fading beauty Thirdly to stirre vp the parents care by their godly endeauour to leaue this portion to euery one of their Daughters you would haue your children doe things praise-worthy then giue them good example teach them the feare of the Lord and they shall bee praised God hath spoken the present sight of a vertuous face is more delightfull then gold or laud the one as vncertaine respects the body only the other as a lasting Iewell regardes both body and soule But alas the greatest care in many parents is to
without this all the rest are little worth chuse no wife praise none chosen without some signes of grace some manifestation of the power of Religion Thirdly it is required she be obedient humble chaste sober discreete in her carriage and outward behauiour obserue a woman in her house table and furniture for order and dsposition of things left to her trust in her cloathing going laughing and talking and you may quickly discerne her what she is in these as in a glasse the minde is represented formall hypocrites faile manifestly in some of these when an honest heart keepes a decorum in all Secondly you may iudge of a woman by what you heare of her not from euery tongue some inuent to publish what may please their owne or the itching fancie of an il-willing neighbour some passe sentence rashly without Iudgement or experience vpon heare-say from others as bad as them selues so fame becomes a liar but from the best and most iudicious who are so obseruant of good things that a gracious woman cannot misse a good report where ere she liues Feare not omit not to giue such a one the fruit of her hands and let her owne workes praise her in the gates A sort of men there haue beene and are a viperous broode of degenerating Adamites who doe so basely deiect woeman-kinde as to thinke and say nothing they can doe is praise-worthy so their actions though painfull and pious neuer come in remembrance to be spoken of or in a cold slight and scornefull manner onely how highly these offend and dishonour God Almightie in denying them the worke of their owne handes and disesteeming that exact part of his workemanship I would they knew enuying the good they might see in them or fretting at their praise Notwithstanding this vnnaturall spight and wicked behauiour of some men in denying women due praise and giuing them the heauy fruit of their vnmanly hands beating in stead of praising who haue their reward what comfort and encouragement should the consideration of this Scripture yeeld to godly vertuous and religious woemen though men should not yet God you see doth respect you hee hath done it and will continually raise vp others to giue you the fruit of your hands onely remember to doe worthily in Ephrata Ruth 4.11 and you shall be famous in Bethelem You cannot lose the reward of wel-doing 1. Cor. 15. vlt. your labour is not in vaine in the Lord sowe nothing you will be ashamed to receiue Gal. 6.7.8 9 10. in due season you shall reape if you faint not your owne good workes of pietie and charitie done during life though all things else should conspire in a sinfull silence shall speake and praise you in the gates Of the Text hitherto And now for conclusion it may bee expected and is as it hath beene a commendable custome in this and other Churches in the purest season I should adde something in particular concerning the occasion of our meeting which is to interre the Corps ere-while containing a vertuous soule of Mistris Marie Crosse And were not my purpose such I should be iniurious to her name vniust to her desert and first of all giue ill example in thwarting my owne Doctrine which I hope through Gods grace enabling I willingly neuer shall It is no arbitrary but a necessary dutie to giue this good woeman some part of her due commendation for the comfort of the shruiming friends and the encouragement of many vertuous Matrons left behinde To name the Text onely were sufficient Fauour is deceitfull and beautie vanitie but a woman that feares the Lord shall be praysed You are all perswaded I doubt not she was a woman that feared the Lord heartily and therefore must be praised deale iustly with her giue her the fruit of her hands and let vs permit her owne good workes to speake for her and praise her in the gates For my owne part as Peter and Iohn answered the Scribes and Rulers Acts 4.20 I cannot but speake of her the good things I haue heard and seene willing and resoluing as Ierome concerning Marcella to praise nothing in her but what was truely made her owne by the gift of God What Boaz said of Ruth in her is fitly verified You haue all long knowne her to bee a vertuous Matron euery way commendable whether wee consider her as a Woeman as a Wife or as a Christian As a Woman with her Birth and Parentage I was neuer acquainted this I know what the Scripture speakes of Abigail applies it selfe vnto her she was a Woman of a good vnderstanding wise iust sober chaste louing discreete in all her actions temperate in wordes in pleasure diet apparell from faults I exempt her not sinnes shee had inward corruptions whereof she would often complaine with teares else we nor shee had beene here to day As a Wife you haue beene eye-witnesses of her dutifull obedience submissiue and reuerend behauiour indued she was with a great measure of patience carefull to content her Husband gouerne her house and to bring vp her children in the feare of the Lord reading to them examining of them in the grounds and principles of Religion the practice of euery good woman according to abilitie so spending spare houres when others were at the Gossips play neither was it labour in vaine Gods blessing in her Children was one of her chiefest comforts to her dying day As a Christian she hath beene an ancient Disciple a professour of Religion in the power thereof and a practitioner of pietie in truth and sinceritie this was her onely ioy comfort else being wondrous sickly shee had but little in this world ornaments with other feminine toyes shee esteemed none in comparison of this Iewell much good I haue obserued in her my selfe but haue heard much more admiring the truth and power of God that some should praise her for her pious deuotion and religious behauiour who yet were neuer guiltie of any good Three things especially are reported of her by faithfull witnesses First that she spent constantly some part of euery day in reading and meditating on the word of God and that shee read ouer the Bible this last halfe yeare before her death as if her commission had run thus read my will once more and then come home a shame to such who haue liued in health many whole yeares and hitherto haue neuer read it ouer many vse their booke a little on the Lords day turne to places cited as if they would note them for future meditation but returning home the booke is laid vp in a spare roome nere troubled more till some seruant come to shake off the dust that it be fit for publike vse in the eye of the Church with such formalities God is not pleased if she be blessed for delighting in the law of God day and night as she did what are they Secondly that she would not sleepe on the Lords day no not in the greatest extremitie of her