thee or accept thy person and can they thinke this great GOD will bee pleased with them King 18 If RABSHECHA and HOLOFERNES Iudith 5. but Messengers for theyr Lords tooke it so ill that the Iewes came not forth to make theyr peace with them that they threatned nothing should pacifie their furie but theyr Destruction How much more shall this King of Kings and Lord of Lords whose wrath is so kindled for theyr wickednesse condemne them into utter Darknesse where shall bee wayling and gnashing of teeth for no dead carrion so lothsomly stinketh in the nostrils of an earthly man as doth the wicked abhominable unrepentant man in the presence of God yet not considering this they goe on in a carelesse security heaping one sinne upon another till the burthen become unsupportable and the vials of Gods wrath ready to bee powred on them not once calling them to theyr remembrance or if they doe it is so farre from Contrition that it is rather a delight to them often glorying in the often cōmittings therof they neyther thinking of theyr account nor their end wherein yet they might haue some happines if death were the dissolving both of their body soule For being rid of their bodies they should also be rid of theyr Soules and Sinnes But forasmuch as it is evident that the Soule is immortall there is left no comfort for the wicked to trust in Therfore let such remember ESAV Who hauing once rejected the Blessing Gen. 27. could not after obtayne it though he sought it with teares when it is too late with the fiue Foolish Virgins they may cry Lord Math. 25 Lord open to vs but the gates of Mercy will bee shut and it will be answered I know you not Then woe bee to the sinfull wicked men that haue not power to turne from the filthy workes of this finfull and wretched World that hindereth them from the blissfull state and keepeth backe theyr Soules from the presence of God For when Gods Serjeant Death shall arrest them and they shall bee summon'd to appeare before the Tribunall of the Almighty with what terrible feare will that Soule be shaken and smitten and with how many speares of a piercing Conscience is hee gored and thrust through he will thē begin to thinke of the time past present and that to come the time past he may behold with astonishment to perceiue how fast it fleeted and the multitude of sinnes therein committed the which were accounted pleasures but are now terrors for every one of which he must answere for as saith a Philosopher An accusing Conscience is the secret most terrible thing that can bee at the approaching and cōming of Death and infinit vnspeakable are the feares and griefes it will bring with it for then hee will grieve that the time of Repentance hath beene so ill lewdly past he seeth the divine Cōmandements which he hath contemned he is aflicted because he seeth the inevitable houre approach of rendring an account of the divine just vengance he would tarry still but he is constrained to depart he would recover that is past but time is not granted if he looke behind him he seeth the course and race of his whole life led as a moment of time if he looke before he beholdeth the infinit space of Eternity which expecteth him he sorroweth and sobbeth because he hath lost the joy of euerlasting Eternity which hee might haue obtained in so short a time hee tormenteth himselfe because he hath lost the ineffable sweetnesse of perpetuall delight for one sensuall carnall and momentany pleasure he blusheth considering that for that substance which is Wormes-meat he hath dispised that which Angels prize so highly and weighing the glory of those immortall riches hee is confounded that he hath changed them for the basenesse and vildenesse of Temporall things but when he casteth his eyes upon things below and seeth the darke and obscure valley of this world and beholdeth above it the shining brightnesse of eternall Light then he confesseth that all that he loved in this world was blacke night and ugly darknesse To behold the time present is as ill for there hee can finde nothing but weakenesse and paines his friends eyther mourning by him or else not able to stay with him to see his torments which in this life God hath begun to let him taste having painefull Limbes darke Eyes a faultering Tongue hard browes short breath and a panting heart hasting to appeare before God whō he must behold not as his Father but a most feirce Iudge whose pure eyes beheld all his actions and that through all his life saw nothing but wickednesse no sorrowing teares to wash away those pollutions and therefore that leporous life must receiue a heauie condemnation there will not be any to speake for him neyther will he be able to answere one word for a thousand all those pleasures now stand up to accuse him and his owne Conscience giues in evidence against him saying to himselfe the words of SALOMON Pro. 5. How haue I hated instruction and my heart despised reproofe and I haue not obeyed the voyce of my teachers nor enclined mine eare to them that instructed me woe is me poore wretch into what a laborinth haue my sinnes led me how suddenly and thinking nothing lesse hath this houre intrapped me how hath it rushed vpon me I never dreamed of it what doe now my Honours profit me what doe now all my Dignities helpe me what doe all my friends for me what profit doe now my servants bring mee what fruit doe I now reape of all my riches and goods which I was wont to possesse for now a small piece of ground of seaven foot will containe me and I must be content with a dwelling in a narrow Coffin and with a lodging in a poore Winding sheet my riches shall remaine here behind mee which I scraped together with so great toyle and sweating others shall enjoy them and shall spend them on theyr pleasures onely my sinnes which I haue committed in gathering them wayte upon me that I may suffer deserved punishment for them what can I make now of all my Pleasures and Delights seeing they are all over-past onely theyr dregges are my Potion which are scruples and bytings of Conscience which like Thornes doe pierce me and runne thorough my miserable heart In what taking is this poore Soule if time were now againe with what an austere kinde of life would hee passe it how would hee shun all those alluring Syrens sower sauce findes he for his sweetes and for a minute of Pleasures must possesse a world of Woes nay woes without end soone ended those delights endlesse are those miseries O thou wretched man thou that didst chose rather to sit by the Flesh-pots of Aegypt then by induring a little wearisome travailes to enter into the promised Land which floweth with Milk and Honey See! O see now what a long chayne of
Meditations OF MAN'S MORTALITIE OR A WAY TO TRVE Blessednesse WRITTEN By Mrs ALICE SVTCLIFFE wife of Iohn Sutcliffe Esquire Groome of his Maiesties most Honourable Privie Chamber The Second EDITION enlarged ROM 6. The wages of Sinne is Death but the guift of GOD is Eternall life through IESVS CHRIST our Lord. LONDON Printed by B. A. and T. F. for Henry Seyle at the Tygers head in St. Pauls Church-yard 1634. TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS AND GRACIOVS PRINCESSE KATHERINE DVTCHESSE OF BVCKINGHAM AND THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND VERTVOVS LADY SVSANNA COVNTESSE OF DENBEIGH her Sister Gracious Princesse WHen I read how the Gods sooner accepted of a Handfull of Franken-sence offered by pure Devotion then whole Hecatombes of Arabian Spices in Ostentation I am incouraged having duely considered Your unlimited Goodnesse to present this my Mite unto your Grace and your Honourable Sister For as you are Twinnes in Virtues so I have joyned You in my Devotions Where first I most humbly crave of You to passe a favourable Censure of my proceedings it beeing I know not usuall for a Woman to doe such things Yet ELIHA sayth There is a Spirit in Man and the inspiration of the Almightie giveth them Vnderstanding And it is sayd againe Out of the mouthes of Babes and Sucklings thou shalt perfect Praise I am assured I shall meet with mocking Ishmaels that will carpe at Goodnesse wherefore I runne to Your selves for refuge humbly craving to bee assisted by your Graciousnesse which will appeare as the Splendant Sunne to disperse those Mists I have chosen a subiect not altogether Pleasing but my ayme is that it may prove Profitable having observed in this short course of my Pilgrimage how apt Man is not to thinke of his Mortalitie which stealeth upon him as a Thiefe in the night Experience teacheth mee that there is no Action wisely undertaken whereof the End is not fore-casted in the first place howsoever it bee last put in execution I have ever accompted Ingratitude to be like a Beast who having received benefites thinkes not of any acknowledgements Owing therefore a due Debt of Thankefulnesse for Your unexpressable undeserved Favours and being no wayes able to cause the desires of my Heart to appeare worthy-your Acceptances I have made choyse of this as being perswaded thereto by that truely Noble vertuousnes which hath evidently appeared in You to the strengthening of Goodnesse that heere it may find admittance which otherwise might want Entertainement and for that you have beene more then a Mother to mee I having onely from her received life but next under God from your Grace your honorable Sister the being both of mee and mine By which as there is none greater then your Selfe to whom in duty I am bound so there is not any to whom I wish greater Prosperity both for Temporall and Spirituall blessings then to your Grace beseeching God to preserve you and your Honorable Off-spring here upon Earth with my no lesse vertuous Lady your Sister to whom I am tyed by the same bonds of Thankfulnesse that as God hath made your Renownes great upon earth so I beseech him to adde to your Lives length of dayes and after life Eternall happinesse in the Heavens whither CHRIST is gone to prepare a place for You. I alwayes remayning Your Graces and your Honors truely devoted Servant Alice Sutcliffe AN ACCROSTIQVE Vpon the Renowned Name of the most vertuous Princesse KATHERINE Dutchesse of Buckingham KNow you this Princesse BVCKINGHAM'S Chast Dutchesse ASke aged Time with his worm-eaten Crutches TO find amongst the numbers of his Role HEr-Paralell of such a Heavenly moule EXcelling so i' th' beauties of the Soule RIch in all Treasures that to Virtue tend IN Faith Hope Charity the blessed's end NOr is there ought that lives in Woman kinde EXceeding the rare prowesse of her Minde BOrne of High blood from RVTLANDS Family VNited to a Duke of Royall state CVrs'd bee the time more curs'd his cruelty KIll'd him and reav'd this Turtle of her mate IN peerlesse woe we still lament that fate NOr shall his memorie e're out of date GOe on then Gracious Princesse grac't by Fame HOnour shall still attend your noble Name ANd as your Goodnesse hath abounded so MAy Heaven the greatest good on You bestow AN ACCROSTIQVE Vpon the Name of the Right Honourable and truely vertuous Lady SVSANNA Countesse of Denheigh SEe heere a Lady blessed in her birth VNto whose Greatnesse Goodnes ioyn'd is still SVSANNA ne're so famous was on Earth AS is this Lady lead by vertuous will NOthing so sweete to her as heavenly mirth NO Musike sounds like Haleluia still A Happy Soule which those delights doth fill DAigne then to view these lines where truely I EXpresse but truth not vsing Flattery NO Fallaces within my mouth once lurkes BVt hates all those that use dissembling workes EVen as your Goodnesse merits so speake I I Am your Servant bound untill I dye GIve leave then gracious Lady for I finde HEaven hath indu'd you with a vertuous minde AN ACCROSTIQVE Vpon the name and Titles of the Right honourable and my ever honored Lord PHILIP Earle of Pembrooke and Montgomery Lord Chamberlaine of his Majesties Houshold c. PEMBROOKE's great Peere your Princely favour I HEere humbly crave to guerdon my weake pen IF this doth show my imbecilitie LIke a good Patron shroud it from bad men I By your favours mov'd doe this present PRay then my Lord accept my good intent POore are my weake endeavours yet if you ENcourage my Minervaes infant Muse MY cherisht thoughts by that may frame anew BOoke of true thanks unto your Lordships use RIght Noble then view but the vertuous tract OF this small Volume and if you shall finde OVght good expressed by our Sexes act KNow honor'd Lord my starres are very kinde MOVNTGOMERY my Caelique Muse doth mount ON Cherubs wing from this low Orbe to heaven VErtue is here exprest vices account NOr is' t a Tale or Fable that is given TRuth never is asham'd to shew it's face GReat man and good but alwayes loves the light OMay it then find an accepted Grace MOre cause a woman did the same indite EVen then as DERORAH's sweet tuned song Run RVng out her sacred Peale in holy Writ OSo I pray my heart my pen my tongue YEa all my faculties may follow it Your Lordships Devoted Servant Alice Sutcliffe TO Mrs. Alice Sutcliffe on her divine Meditations WHen I had read your holy Meditatiōs And in them view'd th' uncertainty of Life The motives and true Spurres to all good Nations The Peace of Conscience and the Godly's strife The Danger of delaying to Repent And the deceipt of pleasures by Consent The cōfort of weake Christiās with their warning From fearefull back-slides And the debt we ' are in To follow Goodnesse by our owne discerning Our great reward th' aeternall Crown to win I sayd who ' had supp'd so deepe of this sweet Chalice Must CELIA bee the Anagram of
to the lips in water yet they are slaine with thirst as the Poets in times past fabled of TANTALVS But though many and great be the troubles of the Righteous yet the Lord delivereth them out of all For the eyes of the Lord is over the Righteous and his Eare is open to theyr cry but the Face of the Lord is against them that do evill Psalm 3 4 to cut off theyr Remembrance from the Eatth Who would be unwilling then to suffer ignominies and scornings rather then with the wicked to injoy the pleasures of Sin for a season Revel 2â— God himselfe will wipe all teares from theyr eyes hee will give them Ioyes for theyr Sorrowes as hee sayth Blessed are yee that now Weepe for yee shall Rejoyce troubles in this life are badges of Gods Children Whom the Lord loveth Prov. 3. hee chastiseth and correcteth every Sonne that he chuseth with Patience Luke 21. Therefore possesse your Soules Iohn 15. and remember who it is that sayd You are not of the World as I am not of the World the world hateth you because it hated mee first if you were of the world the world would love you Oh blessed Sufferings that makes us like to God himselfe if wee had the Wisedome of SALOMON the Treasure of CRoeSVS and the long life of METHVSALEM and out of the favour and love of God our Wisedome were Foolishnesse for to know him is perfect wisedome our Riches were drosse for riches will not avayle in the day of Wrath and that life so long and wickedly led no better then a man that dreames hee is a King honoured of all and wanting nothing when waking hee findes himselfe hated of all and wanting all things III. Of the Peace of a good Conscience and the Ioyfull end of the Godly SALOMON having set himselfe to behold all things that were under the Sun having taken to himselfe all that could bee delightfull for what can he doe more that commeth after the King at last concludeth Eccles 2. That all the dayes of Man are sorrowes and his travailes griefe therefore sayth he I hated life for all is Vanity and vexation of Spirit and perceiving how apt men were to follow what delights this world could affoord them scoffes at theyr folly and by way of derision sayth Rejoyce O young man in thy Youth Eccles 11 let thy heart cheare thee in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes yet would hee not let them goe on thus but gives them an Jtem saying But know that for all these things God will bring thee to Iudgement for though sayth hee A Sinner doe evill an hundred times and his dayes bee prolonged yet surely I know that it shal be well with them that feare God These Caveats the godly man placeth before his remembrance least hee should fall into errors and making his life of no value to him hee despiseth all things onely ayming at that may make him happy which is a good Conscience for that will bring him peace at the last death being to a godly man the ending of Sorrowes and the beginning of Ioyes he doth then begin to live with God when hee dyes to the World Eccles â— as it is sayd in Ecclesiastes Who so feareth the Lord it shall goe well with him at the last and in the day of his Death hee shall be blessed And St. IOHN was commanded to Write Blessed are the Dead Revel 14. that dye in the Lord even so sayth the Spirit that they may rest from theyr labours their works follow them How can that man bee discouraged that heareth this of the Lord in the houre of his Death when he findeth himselfe hasting thither where hee shall receive that which he hath all his life-time desired And Saint AVGVSTINS speaking of the Death of a Good man sayth He that desireth to bee dissolved be with Christ dyeth not Patiently but liveth Patiently and dyeth delightsomely and it may be sayd That like a Swan he dyeth singing yeilding the glory to God which calleth him With what joy doth that Soule behold his end who hath all his Life-time possessed a good Conscience nothing fearefull can present it selfe before him he sees all his sinnes not of a Crimson die but White as wooll washed by the blood of Christ he beholds him not as his Iudge but his Sauiour and Mediatour his Iudge is his Brother God in Christ is become his Father hee hath no debts to pay Christ Iesus on the Crosse hath Cancelled the hand writing that was against him and hath not onely made him free but also an heyre of the Kingdome of Heaven The presence of Death is not terrible to him for he feareth not Death because hee feared GOD and hee that feareth him need feare none other hee feareth not Death because he feared Life but feare of Death are the effects of an evill Life hee feareth not Death because through all his life hee learned to dye and prepared himselfe to dye but a man prepared and provident need not feare his Enemy he feareth not Death because so long as he lived he sought for those things that might helpe him that is for Vertues and good Workes hee feareth not Death because to a Righteous man Death is not death but a sleepe it is not Death but an end of all labours it is not Death but away unto life and a Ladder unto Paradice for hee knoweth that Death hath lost all the bitternesse of Death after it hath passed through the veynes of Life and that it hath received the sweetnesse of life hee feareth not the presence of Divels because he hath CHRIST his defender and Captaine he feareth not the horror of the grave because he knoweth that his body is sowne a corrup tible body but shall rise againe in incorruptible body often boasting in the strength hee hath gained by Christ saying with cheerefulnesse of spirit O Death where is thy sting 2. Cor. 15. O Grave where is thy victory The strong man death comes not upon him unawares for hee hath layd up in store for himselfe a good foundation against this time 1. Tim. 6. which was to come that hee might lay hold on Eternall life Even the brest-plate of righteousnesse Ephes 5. the shield of Faith the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit having his loynes girt about with verity and his feete shod with the preparation of the Gospell of Peace what hope now hath his enemy of any advantage though helped by the weakenesse of his owne flesh Death was ever expected and therefore provided for he alwayes lived as in the presence of GOD having a strict eye over all his actions and though now Satan bend all his Forces against him because hee hath but a small time before his siege must bee raysed and therefore presents that before him which he dearest loued his Wife