fairer any are the more carefull should they be not to offend by it themselues or others and the more thankfull for it many good things of nature require more seruice to glorifie the author thereof beauty with grace a faire face with an humble holy heart are Iewels of inestimable worth Did faire woemen know how highly outward beauty is set forth by the presence of inward grace Gratior est pulchro c. they would striue for it and seeke each to exceed other Beautie without grace is one of Sathans snares to entrap possessors and passengers both at once Secondly men may hence learne wisedome in two respects First to recall this truth into minde when they are tempted with beautie shall we trust what is knowne to bee deceitfull Secondly that they doe not so much delight in and admire it as to make it the chiefest motiue or ground worke of their loue and liking hee is accounted in the iudgement of wisedome a foolish man that builds on a sandie foundation Math. 7.26 especially considering the following danger For first Stories tell vs that many great ones haue falne hereby Prou. 6.25.7.26 other mens harmes should make vs the more wary principall pillars in Israell Dauid and Salomon father and sonne were foulely shaken what may weake ones feare Secondly besides the discord hath beene raysed betweene Brethren warre proclaimed blood shed onely about this deceitfull beautie the practice of Paris may at any time bring Grecians to the walles of Troy Thirdly and after all suppose it peaceably obtained when outward fauour decaies that loue grounded first thereon will decay also if no further hurt ensue It is reported of Helen or some other of her complexion that on a time after sicknesse viewing her selfe in a glasse and seeing her beautie decayed suddainly fell into a relapse and through the malignitie of a strong conceit dyed Secondly this censures and condemnes the practice of many amongst vs both men and woemen woemen who hauing and seeking nothing else but fauour and beautie bestow all or most part of their time about it curling and cutting the haire painting pinning lacing dressing adorning c. it argues great lightnesse and want of the loue of grace to toyle so about a knowne vanitie how light then many of our English Dames are their practice shewes looking more on the Glasse then on the Bible being more carefull of their faces then their hearts pitty it is faire Creatures should so befoole themselues onely with a meere out-side of good Men that are carried away most with beauty let them learne to see and acknowledge their youthfull error as they desire to be saued are not you one cause of their misery offences may come but woe to them by whom they come I see not how it can be auoyded for did not woemen by experience see men preferring outward endowments to inward graces we should quickly finde a generall change woemen would striue to be good did they see men affect goodnesse it is ordinary policie to vse that baite which the fish most delight to play with in this worst age of ours what is most looked after in woemen but beautie riches or both are they rich beautifull of rich parentage is there any hope of preferment by them in the world Religion the chiefest linke between man and wife grace and a vertuous education is little respected this makes woemen admire the one as their chiefest good neglect the other as little worth Let such men know a day will come when they shall confesse and bewayle this pleasing and selfe-deceiuing error if they bee not arraigned as guiltie in part of Female folly Thirdly here is comfort for such as settle their affection on better ground vpon the image of Christ and the graces of the spirit shining in the partie affected this Foundation is rockie durable the proportion will neuer change nor the beautie decay the gates of hell shall neuer preuaile against it by vse it increases and out-liues the nipping blasts of all-consuming time fauour is deceitfull and beautie is vanitie why should any bee proud that haue it or grieue that want it a wrinckled forehead swarthy complexion a person in bodie or in face any wayes deformed with a vertuous religious mind appeares more beautifull to the eye of iudgement then the fairest Creature in the world Not so since Eue assented to the craftie Serpent none of her posterity appeare beautifull but such as are dipt in the blood of Christ and cloathed with his righteousnesse For the censure of some scornefully foolish in bewraying their owne ignorance passe it ouer it cannot harme you a good soule shall not be denyed entrance into heauen for want of beautie Let me therefore exhort you my dearely beloued in the Lord men and woemen affect not fauour it is deceitfull dote not on beautie it is vanitie To Professors of Christs Gospell I speake fashion not your selues to this world mispend not precious time in pampring foode for wormes the greatest gallant and fairest face shall stoope ere long to lodge in clay beleeue it now or else you will one day find it so when it is too late build not your affection on such a sandie foundation the sturdie windes will ruinate whatsoeuer you erect thereon Salomon spake out of experience deare bought you haue wisedome offered you at a cheape rate and it may be as good as that which is further fetcht contemne nor flight it not Consider what is truth and the Lord blesse it vnto you Secondly in that the feare of the Lord is here opposed to fauour and beautie and by opposition preferd we learne that the feare of the Lord with good workes are woemens chiefest Iewels things of greatest worth I ioyne these two because they cannot well be seperated no filiall feare of God without good workes no good workes without the feare of the Lord these are woâ—mens chiefest Iewels and of greatest worth in regard they last longest and become them best yeelding certaine comfort with a free reward that soule which once feeles the benefit will not part with it for all the world The Scripture is euery where full to this purpose Psal 19 9 Esa 33.6 Prouer. 11.16.15.16 the feare of the Lord is excellent and endures for euer the feare of the Lord is a treasure a gracious woman retaines true honour better is a little with the feare of the Lord then great treasure better is a little beautie with the feare of the Lord nay fairer is the foulest face with inward grace then Helens beautie with a proud wanton luxurious mind Prou. 31.10 who can find a vertuous woeman her price is farre aboue rubies therefore it is the Apostles aduice that woemen should array themselues in comely apparell with shamefastnesse and modesty not with broydered haire gold pearles or costly apparell no better ornament for a woeman then an humble mind no richer pearle then a pure heart but as becommeth woemen that professe the
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
sowe in their Children the seedes of pride and idlenes by keeping them in the fashion for their haire face attire gesture complement c. neglecting the old fashion after which God made them to set them vp on high the churlish thistles daughter must marry with the Cedars sonne only for his height plodding to leaue them rich though gracelesse a greater fault there is in some other parents whose indeauour is to dishearten and hinder their forward children in good courses like the Scribes and Pharisees will neither enter heauen nor suffer those that would I aduise children to honour their parents because of our precept but God more because of many parents are deare Christ dearer their loue precious his inestimable the parents care may adorne the body this feare of the Lord is the soules ornament Secondly this serues to vnuaile the deformed pouertie of such women as want this Iewell though faire yet faithlesse and may be compared to an Irish bogge or quagmire which appeares greene and solid till it be tried then opens her mouth to deuoure the passenger such are faire rich women without grace to looke vnto they are like a bed of downe to touch like a bundle of the sharpest thornes whosoeuer deales with them had better grapple with a nest of snakes their ornaments are all outward and such as are indeede the disgrace of Christianitie borrowing poudering frizeling and cutting of their haire naked breasts ear-rings nose-iewels with strange fantasticke fashions yet what a gay show doe such make esteeming themselues no meane persons no more they are not for they are alwaies in extreames how haughtie are they walking with stretched-forth neckes wanton eyes tripping nicely as they goe how are they admired by simple ones that know them not when as there is nothing in them praise-worthy it must needs bee folly flâ—ttery or both to commend them if wee giue them the fruit of their hands and let their owne workes speake for them what a haruest must they reape will they not blush to heare and see pride idlenesse lust drunkennesse laid before them as their owne Oh consider this yee back-sliding proud wanton wine-bibbing loud-speaking daughters the fruit of your hand shall be giuen you when nothing can be spoken of you but will dispraise you here and after death your name and memory shall rott away it is not a bare out-side will praise you nor painting that can preserue you your muffes ruffes laces lawnes perfumes rings bracelets with the rest of that deceitfull burthen a compleatly fashionable woman in our age beares a little packe about her laid aside what is left but a barren carcasse that neuer did nor is like to receiue any good without speedy repentance and reformation Let no vertuous Matrons be discouraged hereby nothing is spoken against yea I haue comfort for them in store Feare not yee I know you feare and seeke the Lord Iesus and what can daunt you should pouertie Christ is your riches sicknesse Christ is your health contempt in this world honoured you are and shall be in heauen want of a good complexion alas it is nothing and it may be it is in mercy those that haue it sinne more about it and encrease sinners amongst men or of due proportion amongst the partes of the body mee thinkes a little grace doth abundantly supply all defects in nature a woeman that feares God appeares alwaies most amiable and louely though in bodie neuer so deformed let this Iewell of the soule comfort you against all other crosses though you had nothing else in this world glorie in this that you know and feare the Lord. I may stay no longer here let me exhort you that haue heard or by any other meanes shall heare what I haue deliuered this day to affect true prayse bee wiues indeed and truth like helpfull parts in a liuing body not in name and shew onely like artificiall eyes which supplying the roome performe no part of the office of an eye wiues neglecting their dutie when they should be helpfull become hurtfull are but the shadowes of wiues and were they shadowes onely it were well with those that haue them if you would haue the reward doe the worke of good wiues seeke the chiefest Iewell weare the best ornament then know though fauour be deceitfull and beautie vanitie yet a woeman that feares the Lord shall be praised We all stand bound to acknowledge this grace in those woemen on whom God hath bestowed it husbands children neighbours yea the whole Church must giue them the fruit of their hands whence arises for our instruction this third and last conclusion That it is a necessary no arbitrary action to giue vertuous women their due commendation beautie is vanitie and fauour deceitfull not worthy naming but a woman that feares the Lord shee shall bee praised that is acknowledged for such and commended besides this precept we find the spirit of God hath practised it else-where it is storied of Ruth Ruth 3.11 that all the people of the Citie did know her for a vertuous woeman that is acknowledge commend and praise her of Abigail 1. Sam. 25.3 that she was a woman of a good vnderstanding in the booke of Kings 2. Kings 4.9 we find the good Shunamite commended and our blessed Sauiour himselfe enioynes it to bee done of one woman Math. 26.13 for a good worke performed by her wheresoeuer this Gospell shall be preached in the whole world there also shall this that this woman hath done be told for a memoriall of her So of Tabitha the spirit records Acts 9.36 that she was full of good workes and almes-deeds which she did Neither is it without Gods guiding prouidence but by speciall direction that humane histories haue beene such faithfull records of the acts of vertuous woemen I confesse some haue impiously dipt their pens ouer-deepe in the waters of Marah going to describe the female sexe so painfully publishing their owne disgrace Suetonius makes mention of Claudia who seeing her father riding through the streets of Rome to be pluckt from his triumphant Chariot by the Tribunes with a masculine boldnesse freed him from their hands placed him againe in his seate and neuer left till shee saw him receiued withall magnificent pompe into the Capitoll Solinus mentions another Romane Lady who when her mother was committed to straight prison by the Triumuiri there to be starued to death shee nourisht her with the milke of her owne brest Plinie tels vs of another who did the like vnto her owne condemned Father Wee read of Alceste that died to saue the life of her husband Admetus drawing from her owne chaste breast such and so many solid drops of blood as erected for her selfe a liuing monument of honour to out-last time the like instance I find in Iulia the wife of Pompey mentioned by Plutarch in Portia the wife of Brutus commended to vs by Valerius Maximinus and in Pompeia Paulina the wife of Seneca with