a resurrection when the time of refreshing shall come It is an improper speech to say hee resteth who neuer riseth It may be some go to bed who neuer rise strooken with a deadly sleepe or lâ—thargie but none to the graue but out he must at the generall sommons of all the world for the trumpet shal sound and the dead shall rise If a man dye shall he liue againe Then all the dayes of mine appointed time will I watch till my changing do come Againe for the second If after our death we rest in our beds and as it is in another place such blessednes accompanteth saints who dâ—e in the Lord that ther rest from their labours then after death no place of paine no punishment no Purgatory Is there light in darkenes is there truth in error Is there life in death Is there fire in water Is there ease in paine rest in labour good in euill sweete in sowre Is there a purging fire in hell must fyne vs for heauen Sweete Christ where then is thy bloud which alone say we nothing else and none other purgeth our sinne pleadeth our cause and purchaseth our place We neede no other sacrifice we neede no other aduocate wee neede no other key to open to vs the pâ—rt of the paradise of God And if the bloud of Iesus pleade better things then the bloud of Abel for the bloud of Abel cryed reuenge but the bloud of Christ cryed pardon pardon then stay your bulles and drops of your leaden diuinity downe with your Dagon and Babel of all confusion by shrift shrine merit or medall all too light to ballance with the bloud of the Lambe for what is chaffe to corne It pities my heart to see the desolations of Christendome of this my deare Country in many places where millions of souls are â—illily lead by bad and blinde guides factious Iesuits and seditious seedsmen lead I say from the bloud of Christ to the bloud of Hales and Becket from the fire vpon the Mount to the painted fire of Purgatory Poets sayes and heathenish helps Romish institutions decretals apostaticall lying oracles illusions and flattering diuinations This they doe and this they dare doe without care of conscience feare of God of faithfulnes to his cause which wittingly and willingly I verely thinke they do betray to make good their hellish Hierarchie and Babel of all confusion For what grosnes is this besides the impiety to thinke a people euer so foolish as should take out this lesson to carry to their graues from the liuing to the dead yea and that in plea of saluation to from the liuing God to dead idols from the liuing word to dead traditions from the liuing bread in heauen to a dead â—alfe or cake at Dan and Bethel from the bloud of Christ that giueth life to the fire of Purgatory that bringeth death When Christ bleeding vpon the tree had vttered this voyce consâ—mmatum est it is finished he gaue â—â— the ghost Thâ—n he said and 〈…〉 hee â—ustered not for himselfe is a priuate person but for vs his members a publicke good Shall he say it is finished and shal we say it is not finished The Lyon hath rored who will not be afrayd The Lord hath spoken who can but tremble O tremble for feare ye faithles generation who dare yet say it is not finished Pray saints in heauen help fire in hell Purgatory play thy part purge to the full and thou Pope president of this Limbo lake rule at thy pleasure help in help out and if vpon displeasure thou thrust Myriades of soules into hell yet let none be so bold as to aske Why doest thou so It is enough ò it is inough to make good with this all your doctrine Sic volo sic iubeo stet pro ratione voluntas Aske no questions search no scriptures seeke no reasons I haue sayd is inough my pleasure is a precept counsell a commaund and my will is a reason And now mee thinks whilest I heare them say without worde of God or warranty of reason Heare heauen help purgatory pardon pope that is to say pray saints purge fire speake indulgence for the rest and ease of soules departed a check to the bloud of my Christ to the truth of my text quiet of the saints that gone arâ— I cannot but say as Iob sayd of his friends Miserable comforters are ye all Suffer me a little to speake and when I haue spoken mocke on 1 I say the saints in heauen vpon whom you call to whom you pray and before whose images you so prostrate your selues I say they heare you not and for that they help you not they rest from their labours and their works follow them and not yours I say no such works of wickednes as your prayer to them is whereby you rob God to cloth a Saint To the proofe wherof for that you say our doctrine is new and of yesterdayes birth The dayes shall speake and the multitude of yeares shall teach wisedome Saints in heauen heare not Saints in heauen help not Saints in heauen haue no sense of our miseries it is no new doctrine it is ancient it is heauenly and hee that hath eares to heare let him heare Augustine in his booke de cura habenda pro mortuis teacheth Animas Sanctorum in coelis esse nec interesse nostris his terrents negotijs That the soules of the blessed are in heauen nor doe they respect our affaires here on earth as and if he should say cease your praying for no more doth their affection reach yours then your prayer doth reach them And this doth hee proue by these reasons sound and good vnanswerable if truth might preuaile when it pleadeath on earth as wheÌ„ it iudgeth in heaueÌ„ And first he beginneth with his mother Monicha dead and gone whose affection towards him in life was euer such as hee thought could not but reach him from heauen if Saints had feeling of our miseries here on earth Vt volet accipiat quisque quod dicam sayth the Father Let men iudge of my words as they please for that I may say nothing of others yet dare I say of her Si rebus viuentium interessent animae mortuoruÌ„ me ipsum pâ—a mater nulla nocte desereret quem terra marique sâ—cuta est vt mecum vineret If the soules of the dead did respect the affaires of the liuing then my deere mother would neuer faile me night or day who by sea and by land followed me in this life to liue with me Absit enim vt facta sit vita foeliciore crudelis c. Be it farre away that a blessed life should make her more vnkind or cruel so as in all yâ— anguish of my soule I neuer felt her solace who whilest shee liued could neuer abide to see me sad But without al doubt quod sacer
the righteousness of God is reuealed from faith to faith He tels the Ephesians that they must grow vnto perfect men euen vnto the age of the fulnes of Christ As also that they must know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge and so be filled with all fulnes of God He tels the Philippians how he longeth after them from the very heart roote in Iesus Christ and in longing falles a praying and what is the matter of his prayer but that their loue might abound yet more more in all knowledge and in all feeling With whom I will conclude and close with my text As you haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him rooted and built in him and established in the faith as ye haue beene taught abounding therein with thanksgiuing Where obserue my brethren that not rooting building establishing teaching nor abiding in the faith is sufficient without abounding for frustra nititur qui non innititur And he that continueth not to the end shall not be saued Take heed then my brethren and be not high minded but feare you that are come out of Sodome Remember Lots wife go not back nay looke not back you are of Iudah tribe and haue taken a profession vpoÌ„ you and be not like the children of Ephraim which being harnessed and carying bowes turned themselues backe in the day of battell Iames said well Ye aske and haue not because ye aske amisse So may I say many walke obtaine not for that they walke amisse Some in such idolatrous and superstitious heresies some in such clyming and presuming ambition some in such greedie and vnsatiable couetousnes some in such biting gnawing vsurie some in such swearing and forswearing of themselues some in such extrauagant and vagabond lusts of the flesh some in such rebellions conspiracies of harts and hands as of whom I may say as I haue told you often and now tell you weeping they are enemies to the crosse of Christ their end is damnation their bellie is their god their glorie is their shame and they but mind earthly things As for such as creepe with the Crab and slow it with the Snayle I say they walke amisse for creeping Christians are no Christians And cursed â— be that doth the worke of the Lord negligently An Aldermans paâ—e is too solemne for a Saint of God O that Iehu his walking might be a mirrour to all Magistrates Ministers and people how to walke of whom it was said vpon the sight The marching is like the marching of Iehu the sonne of Nimshi for he marcheth valiantly or that Caesars faculty of performance were in the most of vs of whom Lucian thus writeth Caesar in omnia praeceps nil actum credens cum quid superesset agendum Instat atrox Which I may english thus Caesar is forward to all good and thinketh nothing well done whilest any thing is left vndone And so for the conclusion of all Now way the fruit this tree benreth and consider the crop this haruest yeeldeth I meane the blessing they gaine who are faithfull to their Christ and walke before him Is it â—mperiall rule in this world Is it wealth riches or aboundance of earthlie happinesse Is it health strength or beauty These haue their times but they perish with the possessor nor to this end came Christ into this woful world that he might giue to the faithfull walkers fading and vanishing delights but an abiding solace euen life and life in abundance with peace to the soule and rest to the bodie I meane eternall blessednesse to both wherein is the auoydance of all euill the fruition of all good the societie of all Saints the fulfilling of al desires with vnspeakable glory which neuer shall cease whither God bring vs for his Christs sake to whom bee honour and praise both now and euer Amen Amen And now brethren beloued and longed for I say now that I haue finished my course ended the text and closed vp the booke giue me leaue a little to turne me to the dead and to say vnto you on her behalfe this Scripture is fulfilled in your eyes and eares this day Peace shall come nay Peace is come For she entertained in her heart the father of Heauen which is the God of Peace and she loued Christ the King of Peace and in braced in her soule the Comforter which brought that Peace to her that passeth all vnderstanding And for that I may say no more I can say no lâ—sse she kept the condition of my text on earth and therefore her estate is vndefeasable in heauen She did walke before him in life therefore she hath Peace nor did she forsake him in death and therefore now hath she found rest to her wearie soule To walke in the word is to walke with him and to goe by the light thereof is to walke before him Let her painfulnesse in reading and practise in following euen from a child speake to her commendation in that behalfe You heard in the former Sermon how eight chapters a day was her taske each daies reading a full weeke of Sabboths to sanctifie a Saint So sanctifie vs good Lord with thy truth thy word is the truth And to make good the practise I haue crediblie heard that not eight but many eights a day haue been her sighes sobbes and gronings for the breaches of the lawe she read both by her selfe and others euer opening the booke with these words A good God a bad people much mercie offered little receiued for euery one seekes his owne and fewe the things that are of Iesus Christ And still clasping the booke thus The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret but the Kings honour is to search it out And what are wee but a kingly people and a royall priesthood Besides her priuate reading I might heere speake of her priuate prayer and much meditation with Isaac in the field with Dauid in the night I might tell of her weekely repayre to heare the word in the great congregation of her monthly communicating with his Saints there with her feete euer shodde to the preparation of the Gospell of peace and neuer well but when she was â—o walking before him But I leaue her life and come to her death whereunto as I am tolde she walked as Christ did to Caluary with much care and many agonies compelled with Simon of Cyrene to beare his crosse thereby to helpe out the sufferings of her sweete Sauiour and to beare in her bodie and soule the markes of Christ Iesus like spangles of golde to grace her in her triall whereby in the end she became more glorious both to God and man It is said of the kings daughter that she is all glorious within and that her rayment was of needle worke peace within but prickings without Multi vident punctiones sed non vident vnctiones Many see
consecrate it glorious to the Lord. And as it is said of Iosiah his heart melted when he heard the law so may it be said of her her heart was so tender and full of compassion that oftentimes she was seene to heare Sermons reade pray and meditate with teares She made conscience of all sinne yea of the least sinne such as worldlings count no sinne she neuer vsed to sweare o th great nor small nor yet to abuse her tongue with vaine or vnseemely speeches no not so much as a iest-lye or immodest word neither durst she name the name of God or take his titles in her mouth without great reuerence In priuate speech where shee might speake with profit she did it so well that her speeches might haue been deliuered by a stronger vessell then her selfe her words being so well seasoned and proceeding from such a sanctified heart did alwaies minister grace to the hearers To reade to pray to sing to meditate was her daily exercise and her chiefest delight was in the holie societie of the Saints vpon earth which I say not for any cause but only to shew the fountaine froÌ„ whence her godly end flowed and that the world may see some there be which chuse rather to be ioyned with the people of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season and these I doubt not haue chosen the better part Finally the precepts of the Lord were precious vnto her for from her childhood she feared God and walked before him both knowledge and sanctification did ioyne in her the fruits effects whereof did appeare in her life and was seene at her death to the glorie of God and comfort of all beholders She was not like the simple Popish women of our daies which are euer learning and neuer able to come to the knowledge of the truth but rather like the noble men and women of Berâ—a which receiued the word of God with readines and were able to discerne of Paul and Silas preaching But why doe I speake of Popish women whose vnderstandings are darker then the darkenes of Aegypt Let vs come and examine many other which seeme to detest Poperie and aske them a reason of their faith they can tell you a tale of their ruffes and their pride and their vanitie but for Religion it is the least thing they regard or seeke to know which I speake not so much to solace my selfe in the sinnes and simplicitie of others as earnestly desiring all Gentlewomen that either knew this holy saint of God or hereafter shall heare of her insteed of your glasses at home wherein you prick and prune and pin your selues to looke into this glasse before your eyes that so her life and death may be an example for you to follow When she was about twentie yeeres old by the consent of her selfe her friends shee was married to a young Lancashire Gentleman Master William Brettergh of Bretterghoult neere Liuerpoole one that likewise embraced Religion sincerely and for the same indured many grieuances at the hands of Papists Two yeeres and more she liued after she was married and had issue only one daughter during which time this couple liued together in such mutuall ioy and comfort as well beseemed the children of God which make profession of his trueth And although this Gentlewoman came from the habitations of Abraham to dwell in Sodome amidst the tents of Kedar that is to say among inhumane bands of brutish Papists induring many temporal grieuancos from them yet her knowledge patieâ—nâ—â— mild inclination and constancie for the trueth was such as that her husband was farther builded vp in Religion by her meanes and his face daily more and more hardened against the diuell and all his plaguâ—â— agents the Popish Recusants Church Pâ—pists prophane Atheists and carnall Protestants which swarmed together like Hornets in those parts It is not vnknowne to Lancashire what horses and cattell of her husbands were killed vpon his grounds in the night most barbarously at two seuerall times by Seminarie Priests no question and Recusants that lurked thereabouts And what a losse and hinderance it was vnto him being all the stocke hee had on his grounds to any purpose This fell out not long after shee was married to him yet this was so farre from disâ—laying her or working such passion in her as are common to her sex that she rather reioyced then sorrowed turning it into matter of praising God and submitting her selfe to his good prouidence Oft she would haue 〈…〉 It is good that such things be but wâ—â— be to them that doe them It is good in God there by to chasten his children and preuent some sinne which he sawe vs like to fall into It is good in respect of Gods Church that the weake may be confirmed in the trueth and that Papistrie may be disgraced when the world shall see such wickednesse flow from it It is good in God that so the wicked may bee without excuse at the day of iudgement when their consciâ—ncâ— shall tell them that howsoeuer God suffers them to doe such villaniâ— for some iust cause knowne to himselfe yet they commit it onely of malice and reuenge Oftentimes also in these vexations she would haue said the mercies of God are infinite who doth not only by his word but also by his iustice make vs fit for his kingdome Little doe our enemies know what good by these things they doe vnto vs and what wrack they bring to their owne kingdome while they set foorth the wickednesse thereof Many times she would pray that God would forgiue them which had done them this hurt and send them repentance and she would call vpon her husband that he would doe the like and blesse them that cursed him And for feare least her husband should faile in that poynt through infirmitie and weakenes as it is said of Iob who offered sacrifice for his sonnes least peraduenture they should sinne and blaspheme God in their hearts so she neuer failed but daily prayed vnto the Lord to sanctific her husbands thoughts and direct his heart aright only to seeke Gods glorie without either desire of reuenge or satisfying his owne affections So humble was her spirit so carefull to auoyde and preuent sinne both in her selfe and others and so mild of nature that as Iacob with his mildnes softened the malicious heart of Esau his brother and Dauid by his kindnes in the caue chaunged the furie of Saul into weeping and confessing that Dauid was more righteous then heâ—so she by her meeknesse humilitie and vnspotted carriage in the world forced some of the aduersaries to Religion to speake well of her For her life she was well reported of all that knew her Pitifull and bountifull was she to the poore and slacked no opportunitie to doe good wherein she could but constantly held her course and kept her times of praying reading and meditating wherein she
C. BRETTERG DEATHS ADVANTAGE LITTLE REGARDED AND THE soules solace against sorrow Preached in two funerall Sermons at Childwal in Lancashire at the buriall of Mistris Katherin Brettergh the third of Iune 1601. The one by William Harrison one of the Preachers appointed by her Maiestie for the Countie Palatine of Lancaster the other by William Leygh Bachelor of Diuinitie and Pastor of Standish Whereunto is annexed the Christian life and godly death of the said Gentlevvoman The second Edition corrected and amended PHIL. 1. 21. Christ is to me both in life and in death aduantage REVEL 12. 17. Then the dragon vvas vvroth vvith the VVoman and vvent and made vvarre vvith the remnant of her seede vvhich keepe the commaundements of God and haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ. AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston 1602. TO THE CHRISTIAN Reader grace and peace in Christ be multiplied IF any doe wonder why I would presume to publish this rude Sermon in these bright Sun-shine daies of the Gospell wherein so many learned bookes profitable treatises be alreadie set forth by others and yet are little regarded by the people I wish them to vnderstand that I was drawne hereunto by the importunitie of some who hearing it preached earnestly desired to haue it printed their request being importunate and yet reasonable I could not well deny it And yet I hope it wil not be hurtful to any but profitable to sorâ—e I know that speaking hath alwaies been accounted more powerfull than writing and therfore Papias a companion of Polycarpus thought he did not profit so much by the writings and bookes of the Apostles followers as by the authoritie of the persons and the liuely voyce of the speakers And Hierome said that the liuely voyce had a secret force and being powred from the mouth of the speaker into the eares of the hearer hath a stronger and more powerful sound Whereupon Aeschines when he had read the oration which Demosthenes had made against him and perceiued that the people did greatly wonder at the force and excellencie of it answered them What would you haue thought if you had heard him pronounce it with his owne mouth Yet writing hath his vse and profit both for the instruction of those which did not heare the doctrine deliuered by liuelie voyce and also for the helpe of their memories which before heard it Our Sermons are like an vntimely fruite which dieth so soone as it is borne they are forgotten so soone as they are heard And therefore as Paul was not grieued to write the same things to the Philippians but thought it a sure thing for them so wee neede not to be ashamed to write those things which before we preached that the people may the better vnderstand and remember the same Moreouer I was willing to giue a publike testimonie of that godly Gentlewomans death at whose buriall it was preached to cleere her from the slanderous reports of her popish neighbors who will not suffer her to rest in her graue but seeke to disgrace her after her death It is not vnknowne to them which either reade the histories of these later times or are acquainted with popish practises that the religioÌ„ of Papists was first set vp and is still maintained by crueltie and lyes By crueltie in murthering the Martyrs in persecuting the Protestants and now of late in these parts in beating and wounding the bodies in killing spoyling the cattell of those which withstand them by publike authoritie By lyes in teaching forged miracles to confirme their owne doctrine and in spreading abroad false reports against our best professors to hinder our doctrine as they haue bitterly reuiled them for the course of their liues so haue they most shamefully slaundered them for the manner of their death It would make a mans eares to tingle to heare what malitious slaunders and manifest vntruths some of the Romish faction haue published concerning the death of Luther of Caluine and Bucer worthie instrumeÌ„ts of Gods glorie and faithfull teachers of his truth As also concerning the death of the Lord Cobham of Richard Hunne of Thomas Bilney and of Perotine Massie holie Martyrs which sealed the truth of Christ with their owne blood Yea haue not some of that sect scattered abroad slaunderous Libels of Master Beza his reuolting at his death when he was liuing and able to answere them with his own hand-writing No marueile therefore though their followers treading in their steps do now vniustly reproch them which professe the same doctrine and being dead indeede cannot answere for themselues It were better for them with Balaam to desire to die the death of the righteous then thus to slander them after their death I will not blame them with cursed speaking seeing Michael the Archangell would not so deale with the diuell but I shall pray vnto the Lord to forgiue them and to open their eyes that they may see his truth And God grant that we which now professe his truth may so liue and die as that we may giue them no occasion to speake euill of it Amen Thine in the Lord WILLIAM HARRISON Analysis of Deaths aduantage little regarded Concerning the death of the godly meÌ„tioned Isai 57. vers 1. these 4. points may be obserued 1. The persons which dyed who are described by two titles 1. The righteous where wee may consider 1. The causes by which they are made righteous namely by 1. Faith applying Christs merits to make them righteous before God 2. Sanctification and the fruites thereof to make them righteous before men 2. The markes whereby they may bee knowne to bee righteous which be foure 1. The generalitie of their obedience if it extend it selfe to the whole course of their life 2. The end of it if it be directed to Gods glory 3. Their perseuerance if they continue therein vnto the end 4. Their affection to righteousnesse in others which is shewed in Labouring to make them righteous which yet be not Louing them which be alreadie righteous 2. Mercifull men so called Passiuely because God hath receiued them to mercie Actiuely because they shew mercie vnto others both to their Bodes and Soules 2. The manner of their death expressed by two phrases 1. Doe perish which must be vnderstood Not in regard of their soules for they are immortall and incomptible But in regard of their bodies for they perish yet only for a time and during that time remaine members of Christs mysticall bodie by vertue whereof they shallrâ—e againe 2. Are taken away and that is in respect of their Soules anâ— so their death differeth much from the death of he wicked Bodies anâ— so there is no difference betwixt them and the vicked 3. The careles regarde in others which is declared by two seuerall sentences 1. No man coÌ„sidereth it in heart 2. No man vnderstaÌ„deth it Concerning which consideratioÌ„ 3. points are obserued 1. The reasons why all
and vncharitable tongues of the Papists abiding in our countrey who since her death haue not ceased to giue it out that she died despairing and by her comfortles end shewed that she professed a coÌ„fortles Religion Wherein they bewray their malice madnes and shew themselues of what generatioÌ„ they are euen a people as the Prophet Ieremy saith which bend their tongues like bowes for lyes and as Dauid saith make readie their arrowes to shoote at them which are vpright in heart And lastly when I remembred the censure giuen by our Sauiour Christ of the woman that poured costly ointment on his head a little before his Passion though some of his Disciples vniustly blamed her for the same saying What needed this wast yet he himselfe did not only excuse her for that fact saying she did it to bury him but also commaunded that wheresoeuer the Gospell should bee preached throughout the worlde there also that which she had done should be spoken of for a memoriall of her Euen so seeing this vertuous Gentlewoman hath bin vniustly accused by some popish persons I thought it sit that she should not onely be iustly excused and cleered from their false and slaunderous reports but also that a true historie of her holie life and christian death should be annexed to those learned Sermons which were preached at her Funerall by two godly Preachers and are now published in print that where soeuer they going before as the Gospell preached there also this briefe historie may follow after to be seene and read for a memoriall of her These reasons moued me both to collect and publish this treatise the doing whereof I trust as it will be acceptable to many so can it bee hurtfull to none vnlesse possible it be to the kingdome of darknes If there be any vnsatisfied and yet desire any other reasons I tell them further it is to burie her and the last balme that euer I can powre vpon her head it is my farewell and the last duty which I can performe vnto her and therefore I hope both excusable in me and also profitable to others because many things here spoken of her deserue imitation And this I assure the Reader that howsoeuer I may sometimes misse the for me of words which possibly the Gentlewoman vsed in her speech yet haue I faithfully set downe the substance of the matter and for the most part also faithfully related the words themselues and reported nothing but that which is most true and testified by persons of good and honest report as they are named in the margent out of whose fresh memories the substance of that which I publish was presentlie set downe This I humbly desire thee good Christian Reader to accept I had no other odours wherewith to imbalme her I am but the pen-man the thing it selfe was her owne wrought in her by Gods spirit and therefore not costly to me though more comfortable to me and all that heard it then I can now expresse and I doubt not but it shall yeeld thee also the same comfort and giue thee occasion both to praise God and imitate her wel-doing which the Lord graunt Amen A Post-script to Papists PEace and truth to as many of you as pertaine to God I am moued in conscience to deale with you by this manner of writing because of the false and slanderous reports which I heare some of your faction haue blazed and diuulged abroade concerning the death of Mistresse Katherin Brettergh a Christian Gentlewoman whose life indeed was holy and death most comfortable It is no noueltie or new thing to heare a lye from a Papist but rather a principle of your religion Therefore if you pleade antiquitie as a marke infallible to know your Church by for that point tak 't you you haue it from the Diuell your father by tradition diabolicall holding the same still in these succeeding ages so succinctly that for ought I know you will not leaue it till you be shut foorth of the heauenly Ierusalem and cast into Tophet which is prepared of old for liers and inchanters Yet it pities me to thinke of some of your poore sillie seduced soules how simple they be in Gods causes and yet malicious for the most of my popish neighbors what others be I know not flye but a very low pitch being people altogether void of learning wit and ciuilitie The furthest drift of their religion is to say the Pope is a good man to say it is safest to doe in religion as most doe to thump hard their breasts when they pray to crosse them when they meete a Protestant and to spit out when they name the Diuell to gallop ouer a Pater noster or Ladies Psalter vpon their beades and to say it was a good world when Masse was vp for then all things were cheape finallie some of them will say I beleeue as my father beleeued God baue mercie on his sweete soule and I hope to go to him when I die This is the very length broadth and depth of most part of Popery where I dwell euery one can reach this marke and few can goe beyond it Another opinion of these sottish people is to say If a man dye like a lambe and passe out of the world like a bird in a shell he is certainely saued although neither holines were in his life nor God in his mouth grace in heart nor yet repentaÌ„ce faith or feeling at his death Such blockish ends a reuerend man doth count fearefull saying such men excepting their fetherbeds and pillowes dye liker beasts then Christians Againe if the violence of any disease stirre vp impatience in a muÌ„ at his death straight say our country-Papists there is a iudgement of God seruing either to discouer an hypocrite or plague a wicked man especially if they proteste the truth of Iesus Christ as this Gentlewoman did then they cry and shout see the effect of this religion see the end of these men where as indeede the truth is farre otherwise as a learned writer doth notably determine It seemeth you Papists or who els so euer doe iudge thus are little acquainted with Scripturos nor yet were euer of Salomons minde who speaking of outward things happening to man doth say The same condition is to the iust and to the wicked both one to the pure and polluted Dauid saw the wicked without bands in their death noitâ—er were they troubled like other men and yet were they ropnobates and the children of Satan But if you Bapists had Dauids spirit which the Diuell would not that you had for Dauids kingdome you would iudge more charitably of Christians deaths especiallie such whose liues were holy notwithstanding any outward accident that might happen at the least you ought rather to mourne and conceale it then to laugh and deride the same for when Saul was dead in mount Gilboa who was a notorious wicked man and his death fearefull indeede
for he killed himselfe what did Dauid reioyce or lament Though Saul in his life time was alwaies his deadly enemie yet mourned hee and wept for Saul and Ionathan saying Tell it not in Gath nor publish it in the streetes of Askelon least the daughters of the Philistims reioyce and the vncircumcised triumph This did Dauid which was a man after Gods owne heart though you as it should seeme rather delight to solace your selues with the falles and infirmities of Gods children then once to be touched as feeling members of one bodie with an inward sighing and sorrow for the same But now touching the death of this Gentlewoman whereat some of your Romish faction haue bragged as though an oracle had come from heauen to proue you Catholicks and vs Hereticks Blessed be God and our Lord Iesus Christ the Diuell and you are all deceiued and God euen our mightie Iehouah hath you in derision and shall laugh you to skorne who hath not only frustrate your fond expectations but made your follie manifest to all men This Gentlewomans life being more holie and her death more comfortable then possiblie any of yours can be so long as you continue Papists The trueth whereof I haue compendiously set foorth in this present treatise following as will be testified by persons of honester note and condition then any of your generation And thus for this time I end praying God to forgiue you your sins because you know not what you doe and to open your eyes that you may see your errors and come out of Babylon Amen That by some taste of the truth of that which befell the vndoubted child of God Mistris Katherin Brettergh in the time of her sicknes neere before and at the instant of her death the mouth of the sclanderer which was soone opened might be some deale stopped the expectation of the godly in part satisfied and preiudice in all happilie suspended one both an eye and eare-witnesse thereof caused these few lines as an Epitaph to be fixed nigh her Hearse Id est Katherina quia Christi sanguine mundata igneaque teâ—tationum exploratione purgata Mundis eodemqus modo purgandis omnibus tum quae passa est tum etiam eorundem exitum testatissim cupit TRue it is I strone But 't was against mine enemie Strongly I struggled It was my strongest aduersarie Strongly not in my selfe but in my euer-helper strong Strongly alas weake woman weakely strong Strongly though faintly which was fleshes infirmitie Strongly and doubtfully through my soes lying subtiltie Strangely I grant till streÌ„gth it selfe in weakenes was sâ—eâ—â— strong And Sauiour mine did in the battailes throng Plainely display his banner-booke in open field VVhich seene mine aduersaries all gan shrinke fall yeeld So Christ the victor searching the spoiâ—e taking his pray Me found for him tooke to him So I past from you away VVitnes hereof my often'pplied faith's confessions VVitnes my prayers plainâ—s tearefull eyes hart yearning meditatioÌ„s VVitnes my sweate strong trembling thirst my biâ—ning â—caâ—e Peace ioy passage all harts that present then with mine did beate But be all silent One for me the truth will tell My witnes now in heauen with whom I crowned dwell And learne by me with God and 's word your childhood to acquaint Then aged finally though hap's at times you shall not saint Si non testantis side Monentis charitate Moueamini Anâ—iphonicâ—s eidem IT 's not vnlike Christ's deaâ—e such conflict you endur'de The members must be like the head vve are assur'de 'T vvas not amisse you did so fiâ—rce hot sirie triall bide To haue pure gold some seauen times is tride It were vnmeete the seruants better then their Lord should finde The Captaine passe the pikes the souldiers stay behinde 'T is meete for vvhom Christ dranke off all that bitter cup They of the same vvith him a little dram should sup And though your life your birth your vertuous education Your holy course in Reading Prayer Meditation Meekenes patience pitie and religious chastitie Both in your maried state and free virginitie Did vvorthilie import you vvere the same You did professe and as did sound your name Yet that your death prou'd cleerer seuen fold You t'he Christ's member seruent souldier and gold Noutheticon LEarne all by this and others more iust Abrahams breede Borne in the Church nurst of her brests begotteÌ„ of immortal seâ—d Learne you that stand haue peace feele ioy see light Partake God's spirit tasting his grace and heauenly gift The time may come that you may fall war rise peace seeme straÌ„ge You ioy vvith anguish light for deaths shadovv may exchange Satan may buffer Gods spirit driue you to the vvildernes The booke mouth sweetning be to your bellies bitternes Learne ye that in these heauie changingâ— be God changeth neuer neuer doe his graces die Graces fountaine runneth euer it floweth aboundantly We doe not alwaies thirst seeld called come oft drinke we sparingly Learne you that in these blessed feelings haue no pâ—â—t Nor of the bitter changings feele the smart Your wretched state who liuing are as dead withouten sence Who dead shall euer liue tormented going hence Learne all iudge not before the time happie and bless'd is he VVho of the sillie humbled poore doth iudge aduisedly Edw. Aspinwall Katherina Pura Christo quâ—â—â— purgata Vita Christo praparata Morte Christo dedicata Coelis Christo coniâ—gata W. F. The holie life and Christian death of Mistris Katherin Brettergh THis Gentlewoman was borne in Cheshyre the daughter of Iohn Bruen of Bruenstapleford Esquire well descended and of an auncient house Her education before her marriage was such as became the profession of the Gospell in godlinesse and puritie of life and Religion and well beseemed the house where she was brought vp The Scriptures she knew from a childe and by reading thereof gained such knowledge that she was able readilie to applie them when occasion was offered as wee may see at the time of her death and that so fitly and effectually that she seemed to haue made them her daily meditation For the things of this world she was moderate and sober and by her Christian life and death she might teach many Gentlewomen how vaine the pleasures and fashions of this world are and how farre vnable to bring that peace to a distressed heart that the embracing of true Religion can She vsed not to gad abroad with wandring Dinah to dancing greenes markets or publike assemblies but rather with Hannah did chuse to tread vpon the dust of the sanctuarie and walke in the waies of Sion yea with Dauid rather to be a doore keeper in the house of God then to haue societie with the wicked or to dwell in the tents and Tabernacles of the vngodlie The Sabbaoth day was alwaies deere and welcome to her what time she would not be without the word preached though many times she went farre for it Her delight was still to
she was once or twice troubled with vaine speeches as of her child the killing of her husbands cattell that she thought shee saw a fire by her c. But euery one saw that these things proceeded of weakenes emptines of her head and want of sleepe which her disease would not afâ—oord her These fits though they were for the time griouous to her selfe and discomfortable to her friends yet were they neither long nor continuall but in the very middest of theÌ„ would she oftentimes giue testimonie of her faith striuing and fighting against her temptations Many times when the standers by iudged her afflictions at the sharpest would she call vpon God lifting vp her eyes and hands to heauen and desire him to giue her strength against her temptations Many times with a cheerefull countenance she would desire those that were by not to faint or giue her ouer but constantly to pray and helpe her against the tempter Once in the middest of her temptation being demaunded by Master William Fox whether she did beleeue the promises of God nor no and whether she could pray she answered O that I could I would willingly but he will not let me Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeliefe which shee pronounced with a still low voyce And when he replied that if she had a desire to pray and beleeue shee did pray and beleeue and that so effectually that hell gates should not ouercome her according to that of the Apostle God accepteth it according to that a man hath not according to that a man hath not shee was much comforted thereby Once after a great conflict with Satan she said Satan reason not with me I am but a weake woman if thou haue any thing to say say it to my Christ he is my aduocate my streâ—gth and my redeemer and he shall pleade for mee Sometimes when she was aâ—â—ucted with the accusation of her sinnes and want of feeling Gods mercie she would with many a pitifull â—ob and much weeping pray to the Lord Iesus Christ to helpe and comfort her a poore wofull distressed woman and request others to pray for her And when shee was moued to make confession of her â—ath she would doe it oftentimes saying the Apostles Creede and concluding the same with words of application to her selfe I beleeue the remission of my sinnes the resurrectioÌ„ of my bodie and eternall life to mee Amen And hauing done she would pray God to confirme her in that saith euer concluding with the Lords prayer as deuoutly and reuerently as any that were present A Christian friend who by his daily attendance on her discharged the dutie of a faithfull Christian standing by told her that no temptation had befallen her but that which appertained to the child of God and that God is faithfull and true and had promised to giue an issue with the temptation whereat she expressed great comfort Maister Edward aspinwall a faithfull professor of the truth and a true Israelite was much with her in the time of her sicknes and ministred much heauenly instruction vnto her and comforted her at all times with apt places of scripture meeting with her temptations and so put the sword of the spirit into her hand He propounded to her the most plentiful comforts of God vnto his Church in the 40. 41. 42. and 43. Chapters of Isaiah vttered in such speeches phrases as might most fitly answere her discomforts Also he directed her to consider the Passion and Prayer of our Sauiour Christ for all his Iohn 17. Math 26. Luke 22. 23. But specially did he often inculcate that sweet inuitation of our Sauiour Come vnto me all you that trauell be heauie laden I will ease you But the difficulty shee had somtimes to apply these generals vnto her owne soule in particular made the case more full of anguish to her selfe and fearefull and lamentable to the standers by Albeit she acknowledged Gods maiesty mercy faithfulnes and truth yet still complayned she of her owne weakenes and vnworthines and could hardly appropriate each thing to her selfe To helpe her somewhat herein for properly otherwise it is the peculiar worke of the holy spirit of God to perswade the heart and soule of her particular interest in these generall promises shee was told that the Almighty who was merciful as she had proued and faithfull as she confessed intended all these mercies to as many as he did call and make promise to And that hee called her she must needs confesse both because that then she not onely her selfe read but heard others reade those blessed words of God vnto her and also for that in former times she had been touched with the loue of God and that his truth and had well profited in the detestation of sinne and imitation of her Sauiour in a holy life And for yâ— proofe thereof she was wished to remember in former times her Baptisme her frequenting of Sermons and often receiuing the most comfortable repast of the holy Communion her daily and almost continuall exercise of reading meditating and praying c. Also he assured her that neither the present agony she was in nor the speeches then in that distresse tending to the signification of despaire extorted from her were any iust causes why either she or any that heard her should iudge fearefully of her because all might see the fault was not in her will as appeared by her prayers confessions plaints sighs teares and grones to God for mercie and full assurance in the bloud of Christ but in her iudgement not able at that time to discerne the wayes of the Almightie And therein he told her she was made comformable not only to many the holy Saints of God Iob Ieremy Dauid and others more but also to her head our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus of whom we reade that some haue cursed the day of their birth and called for their end and darknes to couer them They haue been as men without hope and swallowed vp in despaire They haue cryed how the wrath of God hath torne them and the terrors of the almightie haue fought against them They haue had no peace in their soules nor comfort in their consciences their prayers haue beene shut from God their sinnes haue been terrible vnto them crying that their iniquities had gone ouer their heads and were a burden too heaâ—â—e for them to heare And they haue thought themselues â—â—â—â—â—â—les of shame and reproch and â—s monsterr v 〈…〉 They were grieuâ—d for the sinnâ—s of their 〈…〉 nd complained that they â—ere 〈…〉 and most miserable and wretched â—n the world yet for all this were they still the d 〈…〉 ildren of God as you â—â—â— this day Nay saith he I pray you coâ—sider what â—orments God inflicted vpon his deare Sonne on the Crosse did he not cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me He complained that his soule was heaâ—y vnto death