have sent unto you these following Meditations upon a Text given unto mee to preach on at the Funerall of Mistrisse Iulian Black well and I desire that they may have the same worke upon you that was wrought upon Elisha's servant that by them you may be enabled to rid your mindes of those base and unbeleeving feares wherewithall you have beene too long and too much assaulted and perplexed and may direct your soules amid your troublesome cogitations and distractions to your onely resting place namely the strong God in whom all safety and security is to be found which is the onely thing aimed at in the publique Preaching and sought for in the private prayers of him that is your daily remembrancer IO SEDGVVICK THE Eye of faith open to GOD. PSAL. 141. VER 8. But mine eyes are unto thee O God the Lord in thee is my trust leave not my soule destitute GOD was with David in love and David was with God in life and that in every condition of his life the Context doth render David in a very sad calamitous condition and the Text doth report him unto us in an holy and Christian carriage towards his God for his eyes were upon him his confidence in him and his prayer unto him a fit behaviour for all Christians in sorrow and distresse The words containe two parts 1. A beleeving profession laid downe in two choise actions respecting God as their chiefe object and they are 1. The carriage of his eyes from men to God Mine eyes are unto thee O God the Lord. 2. The planting or firme placing of his trust or confidence in God the Lord in thee is my trust 2. An hearty petition the undoubted evidence of his beleeving profession a beleeving heart is a praying heart Leave not my soule destitute From the whole we see Note The godly doe know theselves both in their graces anâ— practises that good men do know their owne tempers in grace and speake their owne practises in godlinesse David did not vaunt himselfe out of pride but humbly expresseth himselfe in that carriage which doth belong unto all Christians in their sad and distressed conditions I see no reason why Christians may not speake of their gratious practises so be they doe it sincerely humbly for instruction of others may not all ages learne from David how to compose their affections and dispose their soules in evill times but come wee more closely to the words Mine eyes are unto thee O God the Lord Whence I conclude Doct. That in calamitous and distressefull conditions Christians have or should have their eyes unto God the Lord. When Iehosaphat and the people were in great distresse and the times were full of feares and dangers insomuch that all humane power and policie failed them for the Text saith They knew not what to doe then they had their eyes unto God they say But our 2 Chron. 10. 12. eyes are upon thee When Stephen Acts 7. 5 56. was stoning hee looked up stedfastly into Heaven and saw the glory of God when David was in danger and the Church in Captivity they did lift up their eyes to the Psa 121. 1 hills from whence came their helpe and had their eyes to God that dwelleth in the Heavens For the opening of 123. 1. the point observe these things First that Gods eyes of mercy and compassion are as surely upon his to behold them for their good as their eyes can be believingly upon him in the expectation of good from him a Christian looketh up to God and God looketh downe on a Christian the Christian saith O Lord mine eyes are unto thee and God saith O Christian mine are upon thee sure I am that eye answereth to eye no man can looke up but God will looke downe upon him hence saith God Surely I have seene the affliction Exod. 3. 7. of my people which are in Egypt they looked up to God in their groanings and cries and God lookes downe upon them in a mercifull regarding and relieving of them Secondly that there are two sorts of eyes by which men doe looke up unto God 1. One are the eyes of the Eyes of tvvo sorts body which wee may call the eyes of sence 2. The other are the eyes of the soule which are called the eyes of Faith The point is true of both though the latter be intended Thirdly that a Christian may have God before his eyes as well as his eyes unto God in times of afflâ—ctions the God before the eyes vvhat former doth note an act of reverentiall and awfull respect begotâ—en in the soule towards Gods Majesty at such times especially for when should men more awe God and reverence before him then when they are in and under trouble the latter doth note the advancings of the soule by the workings of The eyes unto God vvhat Faith to a looking for the promised good from God to a man in and under afflictions and this is the thing I am to speake of which I thus open to you 1. That there are many speciall promises for good unto Christians in all especially their afflicted conditions yea God hath promised to make every condition good according to that of the Apostle All things shall worke Rom. 8. 18. together for good Simile even the crosse going of the wheeles shall further the right going of the clock 2. That the heart of a Christian is much lifted up after the enjoyment of the promised good wee doe naturally feare evill and desire good and though we doe see that a man may doe us hurt yet our eyes are not upon him that he should doe us hurt the Scripture phrase is I looked for Job 30. 26 good and I waited for light 3. That the soule never advanceth it selfe to looke up in a waiting and expecting way untill it is made beleeving unbeleeving men have no God to looke unto nay they are blinde and without eyes towards God it is Faith that is the hand that opens the doore and helpes the eye to looke in and upon God this gives light and sight unto the soule having the command of the body and soule and sences in exercising themselves upon God I say Faith hath her sences it is a grace in the soule that hath feete whereby shee goes to God hands whereby shee doth take hold of God armes wherewith she doth embrace God eares whereby shee doth heare God and eyes whereby shee doth looke up to God in a word it is a soule within the soule and a body within the body not an eye but eyes which is enough for the vision and fruition of God and it 's whole worke is to bring in the soule unto God and to determine it selfe in God it takes much pleasure in God and satisfies it selfe with God at all times the soule by it is cast into this frame of reasoning dependance God hath said that hee will doe mee good in all my conditions
sight of sinfull objects and that could not so easily swallow downe those vanities and courses which others doe not so much as scruple at to her dying day shee did abhorre Popish and Superstitious vanities and was much grieved that any should take upon them to practise or maintaine any thing that was contrary to Gods Word and justly scandalous unto Christians Secondly God had given 2. Lovingnesse to the godly her to become very loving hearted unto the godly if she saw in any but aliquid Christi that is something of Christ with holy Bucer shee dearely loved them the graces of God bestowed on them drew her affections to them making her greatly to delight in their company and conference shee often would say to mee where is the pleasure that sinfull societies can yeeld unto a Christian I am sure I can finde no delight in being amongst them O it is the godly and such as truly feare God that are my delight and that shall be truly welcome unto my house there are many Christians this day alive that can testifie her reall love unto them a good patterne for us all to follow wee should make them the men of our company and delight here that are our companions in grace and shall be our company in Heaven Thirdly shee was large 3 Desires and cravings after goodnes and amendment hearted in her desires after goodnesse and good things a little heart shee had but low which made her very greedy after and desirous of grate such a holy covetousnesse and unsatiable thirst was implanted within her that shee could never give her selfe satisfaction in any present measure of grace or actuall performance of duties but was carried with a vehement desire of bettering or mending her selfe in both out of that desire which she had to profit and benefit her owne foule and to augment and enlarge her selfe in graces and duties Hieronyâ—â—i Epistolae ad Paulam Marcellam aliaâ— with those religious Romane Ladies of whom S. Ierome speakes shee would be full of holy enquiries solid questions and apt cases of conscience God gave unto her that excellent gift of improoving Christian acquaintance and Christian society for hardly could any good Minister or able Christian come to visit her in her health or sicknesse but shee would be pressing and putting of them on to some soule-profiting discourse by which she might both doe her selfe and others good oh it is a blessed thing for Christians to bee acting Maries part and I could heartily wish that in this she might be followed in this City and other parts for I finde this to be a common fault that God puts into our hands many opportunities of doing our selves good by the company of Ministers and Christians and wee have no hearts to improove them wee thinke that when wee have feasted them and for a time courteously entertained them wee have done enough Oh how often hath mine eares heard her wishing that she had more power to beleeve and spirit to pray and to obey This Sister of ours made it her daily worke to be treasuring up a stocke of grace for another world and the neerer she was to glory the more thirstie was she after grace Surely where those longings and thirstings after soule enlargement in graces and duties are wanting there may bee a strong supposition that spirituall life is also wanting For herein doe artificiall bodies differ from naturall bodies that the one are capeable of extension the other are not Fourthly She was fearing 4. Fearfull of her owne standing and state hearted in respect of her spirituall and eternall condition she did much trouble her selfe about that one thing necessary namely the setling of the happinesse of her soule both here and hereafter shee had an heart making Heaven to be Heaven and it was a great businesse with her how shee might bee sure to have Heaven when she left the world she was not in the number of those who onely then thinke of going to Heaven when they see themselves ready to drop into Hell Neither was Heaven unto her an empty Notion or going to Heaven an ordinary matter but a thing of the highest concernement she knew that she had a soule and what it was to have a soule mistaken or miscarry in so great a matter as salvation yea so serious was this Christian Sister of ours in this maine businesse that shee would often suspect her owne care and question her owne evidences for Heaven being ever and anon jealous least that shee should faile of Heaven at the last This was admirable and imitable in her that shee would be putting her selfe to the triall that so shee might see and finde her selfe to be Heaven proofe and judgement proofe and when upon long reasoning and due triall shee could not put of from her selfe the evidences of a gracious condition out of a holy feare shee brake out into these words Sir are you not mistaken in your trialls or in my selfe I pray you to deale plainely and faithfully with my soule doe not make me to beleeve that I am better then I am or that my estate is safer then it is remember that you are Gods Minister and you must give an account to God if that you doe not discharge your duty in discovering to me the truth of things Let me know the worst of mine estate for I desire not neither did I send for you to be slattered and soothed by you O think of this all you that tie up the liberty and authority of Gods Ministers when they come to visit you who cannot endure the setling of your spirituall estates by the searching of your soules Fiftly She was bold hearted 5. Zealous in spirit the fire of holy zeale was kindled within her spirit and shee was so farre from being ashamed of God and his cause that as occasion was offered and as it became her in her place shee would speake for God and plead for the power and purity of His blessed worship and service yea shee kept that liberty to her selfe which many loose namely so to enjoy her best friends that with all she would wisely dislike and Christianly reproove what shee saw or heard to be amisse in them which made such as well knew her the more truely to honour and love her Sixtly She was Heavenly 6. HeaveÌ„ly mindednes hearted and dead to the world whilst shee lived in the world shee so minded her countrey in Heaven that she could willingly part with all the creatures for Heaven nay she had so ordered her affections and affaires that shee had little else to doe but to die when shee was to die well knowing that an heart set into the creatures is loath to make an exchange of earth for Heaven it was neither Husband nor Children nor Mother nor Brothers or Sisters nor Friends that could stand in her way to make her loath or unwilling to die they were all lookt upon with a dead eye long
and I have his word for it which is sure and unchangeable when I shall be answered I know not but that I shall be answered I am confident this one thing will I doe I will still keep to my God and never give off the word of his promise for I know that hee will doe mee good in his time I will set mee downe and rest mee quiet in his word waiting upon him and looking for him beleeving that he will never frustrate my expectation this is or should be the carriage of the eyes unto God 4. That we do not narrow up this carriage of a Christians soule towards God onely to the times of misery and distresse wee must know that the eyes of Christians are upon God in all conditions of their lives in times of prosperity they eye him and observe him as well as in times of adversity but herein is the truth and power of their Faith seene that no darke or dangerous condition can hinder them from looking up unto God suppose that flesh and blood doth interpose by contrary reasonings and that the outward condition seemes to goe contrary unto a promise so that it shall be all night and no day all sorrow and no joy yet a Christian that is in darknesse and hath no light hath by the power and presence of Faith a God to goe to and to looke upon nothing can take off his dependance upon God and expectation of good from God reade Isa 50. 10. and Hab. 3. 17 18. 4. Fiftly that all Christians doe not equally cast their eyes upon God in evill times it is true they have all eyes and all a God to looke unto and upon yet for as much as they have not all an equall measure of light in revelation nor an equall measure of assistance for application their expectations of good from God cannot be equall experience doth teach us that some mens eyes are upon God with victory and conquest over the Arguments of sence and reason and the workings of feares and doubts other Christians have their eyes as truely upon God but it is with much weaknesse and many combates I alas they have much a doe to looke up and it may be they are so farre from an evidentiall looking upon God that their expectation is onely habituall and their whole life is the longing and endevour of their soules to bring their eyes unto God 6. Sixtly that even a David whose faith carries his eyes upwards towards God in his promises and name of mercy may have his eyes at sometime downeward even below his desire I cannot conceive that hee so sixt his eyes on God but that as he was man and did walke on the earth he had his eyes on the earth to direct his going and as hee was a Christian the eyes of his soule were sometimes downewards for Faith would make him to be looking into himselfe so as hee did see into his owne sinfullnesse and unworthinesse and againe if we take him as hee was in trouble and misery I doubt not to affirme that his eyes were too open upon the same and that he did looke downe upon the roaring and raging of the Sea to the qâ—alming of his Spirit and the failing in those degrees of expectation which formerly he found in himselfe I say hee was not onely sensible but over sensible of his troubles and was so up and downe in his expectations that even perishing thoughts take hold of him for he saith One day 1 Sam. 27 1. I shall die by the hands of Saul Neither David nor any Christian can hold up his Faith in looking unto God at all times alike but thus it is with them at sometimes they are higher at sometimes lower sometimes stronger and sometimes weaker in their dependance But whence is it that they have their eyes upon God I conceive it springs from these causes First because God and they stand in relative termes each unto other wee say there is no comfort in an absolute God standing by himselfe distant from the soule but in a relative God made over in covenant unto his so that it is the mutuall relations that are made and established in the Covenant betwixt God and them that makes them to fixe their eyes upon God God is Father and Friend and Lord and Husband and Guide unto his children and no marvaile if their eyes are upon him Secondly because in God is an All-sufficiencie for helpe and comfort in evill times the creatures have an emptinesse in them and cannot become either foundation or comfort to a Christian in and under his miseries but God is full and fit even one that exceeds all maladies able to supply all wants and to satisfie all cravings he being an universall good full Fountaine and high hill or mountaine set up for the Christian to looke unto Thirdly because of the promise of good which is made unto them by God this is truth that Faith is founded on the Promise and the good that it doth expect is a promised good Now because the soule hath the grant of a promise hereupon hath it a ground for expectation for take away the promise and the light is removed and the eyes are so put out that there is no turning of the soule towards God as the doore turnes upon the hinges so doth the soule turne in a beleeving way upon the Promises To apply this point Vse 1 In the first place it discovers unto us the want of Faith that is in wicked men in times of calamity this we say of them that their eyes are upon and unto the creatures both to see what they have done against or can doe for them they looke downe ward to the creatures and have an eye of expectation of helpe from them if they are sick they insist in the hand of the Physiâ—ion if they are in danger they runne to this house and that Tower to this policie and that power looking to be safe and secure in and by these meanes if they are dying they flie to this creature and that Saint so that still their eyes are creature-ward and earth-ward wicked men in no condition can looke upward to God in prosperity they scorne God and his will and cannot looke unto him with an observing eye and in times of adversity they fall off from him and doe not looke upon him with an expecting eye and in this they doe purchase to themselves an increase of misery here and assurance of damnation hereafter no looking unto God no comfort of conscience in any condition Vse 2 Secondly it may teach us to see if that our eyes are upon God in evill times men doe justly cry out of the miseries of ourtimes and I thinke we may say Wee have heard a Jer. 30. 5 voice of trembling there is feare and not peace alas for 7. that day is great so that none is like it it is even the time of Jacobs trouble Our times are trembling times and troublous times
and there is no Christian man or woman but must needs confesse so much and beside the generall calamity we have the time of our particular misery our conditions either are or have beene sad and perplexed tell mee now where are your eyes fixed upon God then it 's well and give mee leave to presse you to this triall upon this one ground because that multitudes of men have no eyes upon God in evill times Surely if our eyes are upon God First we shall make God present with us beholding and regarding us in our miseries the eye doth make the object present to it selfe and faith looking upon God doth make God present to a Christian the truth is that it 's no misery that can divide a Christian and his God for God hath tied his presence and love with his children in the fire and water and prison and dungeon and Esa 43. 2. it is as true that if the eye of faith be once rightly set upon God in times of trouble there is no want of God to such a soule such a one whose eyes are upon God may want the company of neere and deere friends they may be sequeâ—tred and kept from him but â—he company of a God he can â—ever want a Christian is neâ—er without his God so long as hee can keepe up the eye of his Faith upon God Though I walke in the valley of the shadow of death thou art with mee thy rod and thy staffe they comfort mee O sweet comfort and happy condition in times of distresse when the soule can say men are against mee yet God is for mee men are shut out from mee by men but my God they cannot shut out from mee the eye of Faith will bring downe God into a dungeon and see him in a dungeon and maketh a man to see no want of creature-company because he hath divine company Secondly wee shall have some comfortable representation of God unto us it iâ— true in nature that the eye in it selfe hath no colour but all its colour is in the object and I conceive that the glorious discoveries of God are made over unto Faith till the eye of Faith be erected in the soule God is in darknesse to a man let things have a colour Simile and luster in them untill light come to make them cleare they are as if they were not so though there be a glory in God yet to sence and reason God is a God in night and darknesse or such a one as cannot be espied and observed but when Faith comes into the soule now God is a God in the light and the Christian is enabled in some measure to enjoy the blessed reflexe of God to his soule whereby even in his greatest misery he is able to look upon his God with that boldnesse that the very beholding of his God in the way of Faith doth greatly joy and glad his soule making him unspeakeably glorious unto his soule a man that lookes up to God shall see more grounds of comfort seated in God then grounds of sadnesse in his troubles the face of times cannot gather more blacknesse or threaten more misery then Gods face doth promise and assure peace and protection Faith seeth all the worst below and best above in God and with God Thirdly we shall be ravished and greatly affected with the glories and beauties of God vision drawes on affection or things doe affect the soule by sence by looking we come to liking the true cause why a wicked man doth neither joy in God or admire the beauties that are in God is because he wants eyes to look upon God but the man whose eyes are opened open unto God takes notice of such excellency of grace and mercy in God that his soule is taken with God and rapt up into a holy ravishment and admiration Now he cries out who is a God like unto our God O the Majesty and mercy that is in him I see that in him for mee and my necessity that I cannot see in all the creatures put them together the soule doth now begin to feede it selfe and cheere it selfe in and upon God in the midst of all afflictions making this to be its greatest comfort that it hath such a God who is so great a good to enjoy Faith cannot looke up to its God without encreasing of its confidence and comforts Fourthly we shall be set into a longing after God and his comforts the seeing of things stirres up desires in us after them so the looking up to God doth fill the soule with a fervent longing after the Lord the Christian that lookes up hopes the soule in this case is much after the manner of a tender wife who looking for her Husband by such a day or such an hower shee is faint and full of griefe untill that day come and when the day is come shee runnes to the doore and window to see if he be not comming being much troubled that hee is not yet come surely all the sight of God which we have by Faith doth cast us into hope of enjoying God according to his promise and now our soules Psal 119. 81. Rom. 8. 23 Psal 119. 82. doe faint for him and his salvation we sigh in our selves waiting and our eyes doe faile for his Word saying when wilt thou come to us and comfort us O when shall I have my helpe and deliverance from the Lord the eye of Faith doth either actually bring downe God into the soule and is as the setting of the eye of a skilfull fowler upon a bird who if he hold the bird in his eye he will not have him long out of his hand or actually carrie up the soule unto God in strength of desire so that the soule cannot be in any quiet untill God be gotten and gained Fiftly we shall not be overwhelmed by the sight of any calamities troubles beheld without a God doe exceedingly damp and daunt the spirits of men till Elishaes servant had his eyes opened to see the strength of Heaven his heart was much dismayed by the hoste of the Syrians but to have an eye to God in times of trouble will prove the great upholdment of the soule it is no miserable estate that can distresse that man whose eyes are the eyes of Faith say that troopes of troubles come and that we are to encounter with contrarieties and crosses even the ruffling rage of wicked meÌ„ whose power in some degree might equall their malice yet such a soule stands and his heart is staied within him for he sees more with him then against him O the wisedome and power which Faith doth see in God for the preservation of those that are his I reade of a Generall who Antigonus finding his souldiers dismaied by the smalenesse of their company and the multitudes of their enemies asked them but how many do you reckon mee at who am your Commander and Leader this Generall is Faith in the soule which takes
Or they shall fall away 3. Forsake the Lord for their confidence Jer. 2. 11. from the Lord slighting and rejecting his helpe in evill times Saul went to the witch and the Prince would attend no longer upon the Lord and wicked men forsake the fountaine of living water surely such as fall from God doe not depend on God unlesse you will say that hee doth lay himselfe upon the fountaine or rock that casts himselfe from the rocke into the Sea but to leave them to the miserie of miseries and to inherit their folly Vse 2 Secondly this may teach us to sound our owne tempers Examination whether that wee are trusting Christians in evill and dangerous times can we say with David In thee is my trust then these 6. things 6. Signes of men that trust in God in evill times 1. Care to please God will be more or lesse found upon us 1. Our care will bee to please God in all things him upon whom we depend wee will studie to content a child feares to displease his Father and a Tennant feares to displease his Landlord because of their dependance on them and surely if wee doe trust in God we will covet to walke in all well pleasing unto God shunning whatsoever way or course is contrary or grieving to him None but a mad-man would offend his defence shall God defend us and shall we offend Him That soule doth looke for very little good from God that is carelesse of his praise and pleasing 2. We shall make up our 2. Making God a portion to us selves in God in all conditions the heart doth chuse that thing for its portion which it maketh to be its confidence The Lord is my Lam. ◠24 portion therefore will I hope in him saith the Church hereupon is it that the Psalmist saith Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Psal 73. 25 26. Earth that I desire besides thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever Surely God is heritage and portion enough to that soule that trusteth in him the soule that relies upon him shall finde him to be a full and sutable good unto it selfe and can see that it hath no reason to looke out of God for supplies and sufficiencies 3. We shall use the meanes for safety but leave the issue to God such as trust in God will not tempt God but apply themselves to the wise and carefull use of all those meanes which serve God in his care and providence over them Iacob trusted God for deliverance and so did David and Paul and yet they did not neglect or flie over the meanes for their succour and safety in evill times the one sends presents and marshalls Gen. 32. his family the second abides in strong holds in the wildernesse 1 Sam. 23. and the last staies in the ship and keepes the Marriners Acts 27. with him hee that trusts a Physitions skill will be carefull to observe what is prescribed to him and as meanes are to be used so when meanes are used wee shall trust God with the issue and unto God for the successe it is presumption not trust to sever the meanes from the end it is feare not Faith to use meanes and yet to vexe our soules about the successe such as trust God doe chiefly commit the issue of all the meanes they doe use unto God knowing that it is mans worke to use the meanes and Gods to bring about the successe 4. Living by Faith in the promises whē outward meanes faile 4. Wee shall live by Faith in the promises when outward meanes for comfort and deliverance are wanting a politician will trust as farre as reason can carry him and a naturall man will trust as farre as his sences lead him if either can see reasons for or waies and meanes of deliverance and safety before them they can and will trust in God els they fall downe or fall off whereas such as truly trust in God will and can in some measure rest on the bare word and naked promise of God even then when they can see no meanes before them but that the present face and state of things doe seeme altogether contrary unto them Though the Lord kill Job 15. 13 mee yet will I trust in him Esa 50. 10 saith Iob and the command is when that wee are in darkenesse and can see no light even in such an estate to trust in God a child in the darke takes hold of his Father and a Christian without meanes will trust in his God knowing that God is all meanes in himselfe and that hee can do things for his Churches good and comfort when all outward meanes doth threaten the contrary 5. Wee shall trust God 5. Trusting of God withall they that doe trust in God will also trust God as knowing that the safety and security of all is in God tell mee now doe you trust God with your names estates callings posterities bodies and soules doe you trust your temporall and eternall estate in Gods hand so that you can say I have nothing in mine owne keeping I dare not so much as to trust my selfe with my selfe or any thing I have with any other creature but all is committed by mee to the Lord whom I know to be faithfull this is an argument that the soule doth trust in the Lord I know whom I have beleeved I am 2 Tim. 1. 12. perswaded that hee is able to keepe that which I have committed unto him against that day Lastly wee shall have a 6. Quiet and rest of soule ground for rest and quiet unto our soules Trust in God doth 1. Bottome the soule strongly so that there shall be a staying of murmurings and grudgings arising within the Soule 2. Supply the soule with a greater ground of quiet and comfort then there can be causes of feare and troubling God is a Center for rest and a quiet Foundation so that the soule can never be at rest untill that it come to rest upon him It is the worke of trust to cast the soule into a fixing and setling condition I doe not say that the trusting soule is totally freed from stirrings and shakings even in evill times I A trusting soule is a quiet soule and hovv know that our flesh which we carry about us is full of objections and daily troubles us in our quiet but yet know that though feares may materially rise in a trusting heart yet they doe not victoriously worke in that soule that is truly trusting the promise is Thou wilt keepe him in perfect Esa 26. 3. peace whose minde is staied on thee because hee trusteth in thee and againe They that Psal 125. 1 trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be moved and againe He shall 112. 7. not be afraid of evill tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord.
before shee died it is a glorious conquest to get victory over the world and the creatures before a man dies Seventhly Shee was publique 7. Publikenes of spirit hearted having her spirit set upon the times both in the sins and sorrowes thereof being so sensible of both that she could bewaile both and would be often in stirring up others to pray for Sions peace and glory Oh how did shee rejoyce when she saw any hopes of good towards the Church of God revived and shee would be much cast downe under the feares of nationall calamities fearing that her sinnes were the procurers of the same Eightly She was bearing 8. Patience hearted God put her pietie to proofe laying his hand heavily upon her in much weakenesse which kept her long under the Phisitians hands yet under all gods dealings she was a patterne of patience quietly resigning her selfe so to the good will and wisedome of God that shee did not checke or dislike God in the course of his providence but did acquit the Lord as righteous and just in his way and did let him alone in his workes being troubled at the rising of impatiency within her desiring chieflly that God would be pleased to make her able to beare his hand and to give her a sanctified use of his hand which she knew would be for good unto her Ninethly Shee was stout 9. Stoutnesse hearted which appeared in this that she did not feare the king of feare death it selfe I know that shee was very sensible that the time of her departure was at hand for shee apprehended more in her selfe then the many skillfull Physitions could in her body she would tell mee that they were all mistaken in her disease for she should not escape this sicknesse which was now upon her and though she did thinke much and talke often of it yet it was not death it selfe that could daunt or dampe her spirits she did no feare to die having the knowledge of this that it was only death which could bring her unto her desired home Tenthly and lastly Shee 10. Confidence in death was confident hearted her experience of God and faith in God had raised up her soule to such a trust in Gods mercy that finding death approaching shee left of disputings with Satan and fixing her eyes with much stedfastnesse on Heaven about the beginning of the Sabboth which was the day of her delight whilst she lived and I make no doubt a token unto her of an eternall rest in Heaven she concluded her life with this saying Death Death O Lord in thee is my trust which wordes of hers gave occasion to her loving Husband to give unto mee that Text of Scripture to preach on at her funerall And now leaving her Application to the Auditory whose soule is made perfect in Heaven and free from all sinne and sorrow give me your patience from the whole Narration to lesson you in these things that so you may 4. Duties depart hence with profit First see the joyntnes of women with men in the common salvation of Christians God hath given unto them soules as well as men and he is pleased to make them as eminent in graces and gracious practises as he doth men and therefore their sex should not be despised nor their holy courses scorned whilst they doe but endeavour to save their poore soules Secondly know That the more gracious men and women are in their lives the more comfortable shall they be in their deathes and the more honourable after their deathes such seeke for comfort and credit in a wrong way that doe not seeke it in a gracious way Thirdly Learne that wee must improove all the holy examples of Gods Saints by following their courses and Exempla maxime movent Cic de Orat lib. 3. actions the Heathen man telles us that good examples are of great force and sure I am that among Christians this is a truth that good examples are of speciall use and profit and such as we must be accountable for to God as well as for precepts we cannot doe greater honour to our religious Ancestors deceased then to endeavour to resemble them in goodnesse and godlinesse Oh that you would all resolve to go home being such as shee was and doing that which shee did of whom we have spoken Lastly Draw your owne deaths out of this occasion let it put you into dying thoughts remember that you must all follow her that is gone before you and how soone you know not and that every step of your life degrees you into the Chamber of death you being here sayling down times streame into that gulph of death which enters you into Heavens or hels eternity My beloved upon this short and shortning time of yours which is uncertaine and irrevocable depends eternity and if ever you will be wise for your soules bee wise in this to make your life the only providing time for Heavens eternity And so much for the Text and the occasion * ⎠* FINIS Imprimatur THO WYKES Iuly 30. 1640.