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truth_n	according_a	holy_a	word_n	2,175	5	3.9389	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01632	The ornament of women. Or, A description of the true excellency of women Delivered in a sermon at the funerall of M. Elizabeth Machell, on Easter Munday being the 15. of April 1639. By Stephen Geree, minister of Gods Word at Wonnersh, neare Guildford in Surrey.	Geree, Stephen, 1594-1656?	1639 (1639)	STC 11763; ESTC S118756	25,207	138

instructions and example in frequenting the house of God c. were a maine motive no doubt to make her in love with that good Word of GOD which wrought so effectually and in a manner miraculously in her therfore you have much more cause of joy and gladnesse than of griefe and heavinesse If all Parents would but give such example as you have done both at home and in Gods house ô what holy and happy houses and congregations should we have what thronging and crowding would there bee in most Churches which now are almost empty oftentimes But when most Parents provide rather for their Childrens bodies than soules making much of the Carkas neglecting the Conscience no mervaile that there is so little hope in most of their Posteritie Goe on therfore with good successe as you have begun and still doe more and more worthily in Israel GOD hath given you an heart not only to be a Favourer which is easie but a Follower yea and a Furtherer of those that hee hath sent into his Vineyard the same Lord multiply his mercy grace and spirit upon you and yours that you may still prove Noble patternes unto others And now good Madam to returne to your Ladiship I know you bare no small share of sorrow with your beloved Sister in this businesse because you have a long time loved your deceased Kinswoman as if shee had beene your owne daughter witnesse those affectionate words of salutation which you usually inserted into the Letters your Ladyship sent to her Mother which ever had a speciall accent and emphasis when you came to her Insomuch as I dare boldly say you desire nothing more to your dearest daughters than such a dowry of grace and goodnesse as her heavenly Father had bestowed on her For you knew her farre different from the disposition of other Gentlewomen who make their soules slaves to their bodyes and both soule and body drudges to the world and the Devill Because whereas other women trouble themselves with many things like Martha shee set her soule upon that one thing necessary chusing with Mary that better part which could not be taken from her Luk. 10. last ver Shee was never more diligent than when shee was to deale with GOD in his holy Ordinances and in nothing so negligent as in the world and things of the world and yet shee complained on her death bed that she had beene too worldly Alas what cause then have wee to complaine of others who dote so much upon the drosse and dung of the world and make it no better than an Idoll That precious time which other Gentlevvomen vvickedly wast in tricking and trimming the body she specially spent in decking and adorning the soule for vvhatsoever was to bee done the soule should not be forgotten And vvhereas others are taken up with faire buildings and stately houses c. shee mainely minded to beautifie her house not only vvith the Forme of godlinesse vvhich many families have 2 Tim. 3.4 but most of all with the Power of godlinesse vvhich few regard And hence vvas it that she so much desired to have the speciall care of Families commended unto others at her Funerall For she set up her resolution with worthy Ioshuah Let others doe what they would Iosh 24.15 follow the world or serve their lusts and the times She and her house would serve the Lord. Neither was shee afraid to owne Christ as many are who think it more generous to set up sports and pastimes and follow pleasures c. than set up Christ and his ordinances in their houses Moreover her charity did notably second her Piety for not only the loynes of the poore but their bellyes Iob 31.20 Shee was willing to heale their sores and helpe their souls giving them good instructions as well as plasters and backes did blesse her as Job speakes yea their legges and hands their eyes and cares did pronounce her blessed So that we have great cause to give God thanks for her work of faith and labour of love as the Apostle speaks 1 Thes 1.3 There be some that have Piety but want Charity such are but as sounding brasse and tinckling Cymbals 1 Cor. 13.1 And some againe have a kinde of Charity but care not for Pietie they give much Almes but doe not give themselves to God nor give over their sinnes Such Saint Ambrose saith Multi sunt qui faciunt eleemosynā tamen peccare non cessant tisti quasi sua● offerunt Deo seipsos Diabolo Amb. Ser. 12. give their goods to God and themselves to the devill But your worthy Kinswoman was none such for first she gave her selfe to God as the Macedonians did and then to Gods Messengers and to the Saints 2 Cor. 8.1 2 3 4 5. What then though shee dyed a distastfull death by reason of her disease Yet she left a most sweet smell and savour behinde her even the precious oyntment of a good Name so that the day of her death was much better than the day of her birth as Solomon saith in the same place Eccles 7.1 Whereas many others that die of faire discases leave a noysome and unsavoury sent behinde them going out like the snuffe of a Candle This was that which made her so ready to resigne her will to Gods in greatest extremities and towards her latter end so much to long to goe home as her words were for shee made no more of death than a departing home so that we saw her something troubled when those that were about her laboured to preserve her life saying Why will you not let me goe as if they did hinder her happines Thus with my singular respect to you both and those that bee most neare unto you commending you and all yours to the grace of our God Ephes 3.20 who is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all wee can aske or thinke I rest Your Honours much obliged Stephen Geree THE ORNAMENT of Women PRO. 31.29 30. Many daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all VER 30. Favour is deceitfull and beauty is vaine but a Woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised THis last Chapter of the Proverbs containes certaine singular lessons which Lemuel or Solomon learn't of his loving and religious mother Bathsheba as is gathered from the first and second verses Whereby we may justly confute the folly or rather blasphemy of those Papists and Atheists that cannot endure Women should meddle with the Scriptures or Word of God For if the words of a Woman were thought fit to bee made the word of God not only by wise Solomon but also by the Holy Ghost then surely Women may very well meddle with Gods holy word that following this holy and royall example of Solomons Mother they may instruct at least their child in the old good way according to GODS Word Ier. 6.16 The truth is many women doe shame a great many men that are ignorant idle or prophane

over-ranne all her fellowes For her time of standing it was about 7. yeares Her time of standing she served an Apprentiship and was therein so true to her heavenly maker that he thought her fully fit to be made free not only in the kingdom of grace but of glory She was so good a scholar in CHRISTS Schoole that she was called to take her highest degree to wit in heaven long before the usuall time as some doe in the Vniversity propter excellentiam for their excellencie above their fellowes For in seaven yeares shee learned more than many and those true Christians too in 7. times 7. yeares And for her rancke and parentage Her rancke and parentage She was descended of no meane family shee came of some very honourable ancestours yet so humble and lowly was she and denyed her selfe so much for her Saviours sake that she would be familiar with the meanest that made conscience of their wayes and had the feare of God before their eyes preferring such as were rich in faith Jam. 2.5 far before any other though never so gay and glorious in the world Yea in all these three respects she was one of a thousand nay one of ten thousand and therfore the fitter to be fully matched with him that is chiefest of ten thousand Cant. 5.10 So that I may very well apply all those former excellencies unto her wherein women truely fearing God farre exceed all other women And first for Birth hers was of the best Her birth of the best shee was most nobly borne most royally descended being partaker of the new birth borne from above and begotten of God who of his owne will begat her by the word of truth Iam. 1.18 which she most evidently expressed by that great respect and reverence which she ever after bare to that blessed instrument of her heavenly birth Gods holy word making it her delight and counsellour as the Prophet did Psal 119.24 Secondly As shee had the best birth Her beauty so she obtained the most excellent beauty even the beauty of holines the blessed image of God which made her most amiable in the eyes of all those that were well acquainted with her and could discerne the things that be excellent and even dazled the eyes of others So beautifull was shee in this best kinde that shee did much grace and adorn the Gospell and beautified her profession whereas some are a blot and blemish unto it And therefore in the third place she must needs be well favoured Her favour for her parts were well proportioned She was a true Elizabeth walking in all the Commandements and Ordinances of the Lord blamelesse like that Elizabeth Luk. 1.6 And was not like those women that have many good parts but withall some such foule infirmities that they staine and spoyle all that is good in them so that they cause the name of God and his word to be blasphemed Fourthly For her understanding Her understanding she was able to discerne those mysteries which are hid from the wise and prudent for she perceived an excellency in things above which made her so ready to runne the wayes of Gods Commandements when others scarce goe in them Shee was able by an heavenly instinct to distinguish the voyce of Christ from the voyce of a stranger Ioh. 10.4 5. which made her esteeme all other things dung in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus Philip. 3.8 Fifthly For her Love Her Love it was truly excellent and of the best stamp for it was set upon the right object upon God and the things of God in the first place so that shee could say with the Psalmist whom have I in heaven but thee and I desire none in earth besides thee Psal 73.25 And with the Martyrs None but Christ St. Peter and Iohn Lambert Mart. Nothing but Christ Her charity also was towards all even her utter enemies for she could doe good against evill but her speciall love was to the Saints in whom was her delight She well understood and made much use of that Article of the Creed which few conceive The Communion of Saints being very open-hearted and open-handed to such as she thought true members of that blessed society And if she seemed sparing at any time it was to spend the more liberally upon the lively members of Christ in which regard shee did match the Macedonians whose grace Saint Paul much commended because to their power he bare record yea and beyond their power they were willing of themselves Herein where most Christians come short she exceeded Their love is less than their meanes hers above her abilities And so was she as many can beare record and this because she had first given her selfe to the Lord and then to others by the will of God as they did 2 Cor. 8.1 2 3 4 5. In a word her love to her deare and familiar friends was like the love of Ionathan unto David wonderfull passing the love of women 2 Sam. 1.26 She was indeed a true Ionathan being Iah-nathan a speciall gift of God Sixthly Her spirit Ruach jattira Dan. 6. and 3. for Her spirit she might well bee called the Daughter of Daniel because Ruach Iattira as the Chaldee hath it an excellent spirit was in her Though the weaker vessell yet had she a masculine heroicke and invincible spirit to resist Satan and his instruments whensoever shee was set upon to be hindred from Gods service O how couragiously would she break through all impediments that might any way hinder her from holy duties even as Samson snapt asunder the cords and withes Iudg. 16. With what an holy indignation did shee skorne the wealth and pleasures of this present world as drosse and scum in comparison of the true treasure And how undaunted in defending the truth and those that stood for the same She was not ashamed of Christian any company as many cowardly Christians are Thus much for those things that were applyed to the person of woman in the proofe of the point Next for her Actions first in generall Now come wee to her actions which were like her selfe sanctified and singular For Religion was her master-piece 1 King 18.12 as this worthy womans in the text shee was one that feared God from her youth and therefore her actions proceeded from a right roote and clear spring ●he was no hipocrite I dare boldly say for shee was not so much in shew as in substance not more in words than in deeds but as God had given he● 2. hands to one tongue so her deeds doubled her words and though thus double handed in all her doings contrary to the course of the world yet most single hearted In particular for her prayers In particular for her prayers Hos 12.3 4. they were not cold lazie and lukewarm but such as pierced the skies like those of Cornelius Act. 10.4 O how would shee wrastle with

and hence they seeke to fright them from the Word of God that they might be as bad as them or that themselves might not seeme so bad as they be In the body of this Chap. we find two maine things considerable the 1. Concerning Man the 2. Concerning Woman The first declares how a Prince or great man may and ought to bee a good man from the beginning of the third unto the 10th verse The second shewes the praises and properties of a great and good woman especially Her praises are set downe first and last her properties are in the middest Wherein wee may see her behaviour First As she is a Wife ver 11.12 Secondly The properties of a good woman As a Mother and Mistresse of a Family verse 13.14 c. to 28. In all which wee may take notice of her singular faithfulnesse and helpefulnesse her painefulnesse and providence her prudence and watchfulnesse and that which seasons all her Pietie and Charity Rare vertues in a man much more in a woman who is the weaker vessell 1 Pet. 3. Her praises As for her praise to come more punctually to that because the Text is a part of it we may consider First Her rarenesse hard to be found intimated in the interrogation Who can finde a vertuous woman That is they are rare birds and even almost blacke Swannes not every where nor easie to bee found Secondly Her incomparablenesse her price is farre above Rubyes or the most precious Stones Ibid not only above but farre above Rubies So much for her praise in the first place In the second you shall finde First Of whom shee is praised namely those that best knew her to wit her husband and child Her children arise up and call her blessed her husband also and he praiseth her ver 28. Secondly The quality of her praise Ver. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is set downe first to be superlative farre surmounting all other in the first verse of the Text. Many daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest or goest beyond and above them all as the Hebrew hath it Secondly Ver. 30. Comparative in the latter verse Favour is deceitfull and beauty is vaine or vanity it selfe but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Thirdly take notice of that for which this good woman is chiefly praised Ibid. v. 30 to wit for her feare of God that is for her grace true Religion and piety towards God Lastly The place where she should be praised Ver. 31 even in the Gate that is in the most publike place of concourse and meeting for in the Gates were there publike meetings and assemblies for rewards or punishments And here it is to bee observed Continet encomiū mulieris alphabetico ordine exaratum Iun. Ibid. that all this is set downe in an extraordinary order even Alphabetically in the Originall both according to the order and number of the Hebrew Letters there being just so many verses as letters to wit twenty two concerning this great and good woman Which is seldome used in the Scripture and alwayes upon speciall occasion to signifie the choicenesse of the matter in hand and to perswade them the rather to read and learne those select lessons In the Text then wee have the praise of a Wife or Woman in print as I may say a woman farre more worth than her waight in gold whence the first and maine point that I will observe shall be this Grace and godlinesse are the most excellent Ornaments of Women Or thus Obser 1 The feare of God and true Religion make most excellent women and wives There is as much difference betweene a gracious Woman and one that wants grace and true Religion Yee were sometime darkenesse but now light in the Lord. Eph. 5.8 Vide. 1 Thes 5.5 as betweene the light of the Sunne and the light of the Moone and lesser Starres While the Sunne is out of sight the Moone makes a faire show and the lesser stars doe shine also till the Sun begin to show himselfe in the Horizon then the Moone doth as it were lose all her light looking wan and pale and the lesse starres vanish and appeare not at all Rotten wood will shine in the night in the darke So a woman that wants grace may make great show in the night amongst the lesser starres and seeme glorious shee may exceed others and shine much in wealth and beauty and comlines yea and in morall vertues as discretion and diligence c. which make a faire show in the world 1 Ioh. 5.19 that lies in wickednesse and so in darkenesse but when a true religious woman comes in place that is adorned with the feare of God and the graces of Gods Spirit then the other is quite obscured and darkened in the eyes of those that can discerne of things that differ And that which is here spoken of women you may likewise all along apply unto men For grace and GODS feare make as great a difference among men as amongst women Hence David cals the Saints the excellent of the earth in whom was all his delight Psalm 16.3 And wise Solomon his sonne saith The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour Prov. 12.26 for he found by experience who tried more than any man that all was vanity yea vanity of vanities that is superlatively vaine without the feare of God The main thing that makes a man and keeping his Commandements which he said was Col haadam the whole man or the whole duty of man Eccles 12.13 This will easily appeare to a spirituall eye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Omnis homo Arias Mont. Totū Homints Jun. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sep. that grace and the feare of God makes the most excellent women and wives because such as bee truely gracious excell all others in all those things that are most commended in a woman As first to begin with their Birth It is greatly esteemed in man or woman to bee nobly borne The gracious Woman doth excell in Birth and honourably descended and many make a great shew and carry themselves high because of their great birth and it breeds estimation in others But now every gracious woman exceeds in her birth Ioh. 3.3 1. and 13. because borne from above even borne anew of God and therefore most nobly borne yea most royally descended It is a great matter to be mans first borne and therefore the first borne was called the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power See Exod. 4.22 Jsrael is my sonne even my first borne Gen 49.3 Now all those that feare God aright and have true grace are Gods first borne both men and women Heb. 12.23 And therefore are the excellency of Gods dignity and the excellency of his power who is omnipotent even El-shaddai all-sufficient Gen. 17.1 Next to birth that which commends a woman is Beauty 2. Beauty wherewith men are much taken