and love of a spouse Math. 28.8 She gave to God both totum cor and totum cordis her whole heart and that in the sincerity of it she was watchfull as well in duties as against sins and as well against one sin as another though she could not keep totum logis yet she observed totam legem Iames 2.10 Psal 119.5 6. She lived though not sine vitio without sin yet sine crimine without blame as Elizabeth and Zachary did Luke 1.6 She well knew that though God did not ordain good works that we should live by them yet that we should live in them Eph. 2.10 she desired as well a Christ in her Gal. 2.20 Col. 1.27 as a Christ for her as well as to pertake of Christs redemption by power to rescue her from corruption by his spirit as of his redemption by price to rescue her from condemnation by his merit she was much troubled to see men seek so much after new light and so little after new life to hear men talke so much of Christs temporall raign in the world and yet observe so little of his raign in their hearts and lives She speaks to you more to vallew grace and love godlinesse wherever you see it to prize goodnesse above greatnesse magnitudinem virtutis supra magnitudinem molis she was of Moses's minde Heb. 11.25 26. prized real Saints above all the world as the most (a) Scripture calls Good Magistrates the onely men of that place Jer. 5.1 and elect men as if they were all the men in the world Joh. 12.32 because they are the top and chief of men As men for that cause are called every Creature Mark 16.16 excellent Psal 16.3 Piscelinus being a great Scholler was made by the Emperour a Noble man and afterwards he rejected the society of Schollers and clave wholly to the Company of the Nobility which made the Emperour Sigismund to scoffe him saying I can give Nobility but not parts and learning But as the Scripture calls grace glory 2 Cor. 3.18 so she did valew it as her glory here and way to glory hereafter and her heart was much after those above all worldly pomp in whom she judged that grace bare sway I think she was somewhat of the minde of some of the Ancients that said that Herod might have kept his oath Mark 6.23 and yet have spared John Baptists head because Johns life was worth more then all Herods kingdome She speakes to you to be more weaned from this world and to have yours affections and conversations more in heaven I will not say of her what Luther said of himself that though Satan shot his fiery darts (b) Hortibilia de deo terribilia de fide c. of remptation against him yet he never tempted him to covetousnesse nay I am bold with Learned Mr. Capell to think that Luther spake herein as he verily thought but not really as it was though if he spake as it was I wish that herein we were all Lutherans yet I can truly say that by faith she had in a great measure weanednesse from and victory over this world 1 Ioh. 5.4 She speakes to you to get up your evidences and assurance that Christ is yours and you are Christs and not to know onely that there is a God a Christ a Heaven but that this God this Christ c. are yours Psal 48.14 144 15. Cant. 2.16 Quid est Deus si non sit meus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Chrysostome Faith appropriates God to a mans self Gal. 2.20 If it was not for this possessive Mine saith Learned Mr. Trap the devil might say the Creed to as good purpose as we See that you can say with Thomas truly My Lord and my God David in one verse viz. Psal 18.2 names eight titles and in the whole verse nothing but those eight expressions concerning God and appropriates them all to himself my rock my fortresse my deliverer my God c. Shee speakes to you to bear afflictions patiently cheerfully When she observed her legs to swell and it was told her that that was a dangerous signe oh how cheerfully and joyfully did she speak which makes me think of good Grasserus when he observed his legs to swell with a dropsie he joyfully said Euge Deo sit laus gloria quod jam mea instet liberatio horula gratissima Blessed be God my freedome now drawes so near Though grace be not that lapis philosophicus yet it s farr better it s that lapis theologicus that precious stone that can turn all afflictions yea death its self into gold and gain (a) Marble sweates against rain yet never the softer so the wicked relent under afflictions yet after with Pharoâ—h repent of their former repenting but to the elect afflictions lead them to the truth and the holy Ghost leades them into the truth to a believer Phil. 1.21 as Christs obedience for us takes not away the necessity of our obedience so neither do his sufferings for us take away the necessity of our suffering afflictions and death but yet they take away the sting and curse and sweeten them to a believer she that with Paul Gal. 1.18 2 1 counted her life not from her first but her new birth or as old godly Similes said that he had been in the world 60 years but had lived but seven she needed not fear that sting of death She speaks to you to search your own hearts diligently Psal 4.4 77 6. and not to be Athenians all for newes abroad and strangers to your own hearts Seneca saith that its the nature of men magis uti perspecillis quam speculis rather to use spectacles or optickglasses to see abroad among others then looking-glasses to reflect upon our selves it was never well with the Prodigall till he came to himself Luke 15. She speaks to you to pitty those even your very enemies that lye in their blood she could do those two things that no wicked man can righly do 1. love her bodily enemies 2. hate her spirituall enemies she was far from Poyery yet did she often pray for the dead and commend others for preaching to the dead such as were dead while they be alive not dead Physically and orporally but morally and spiritually She speaks to you still to look well to your spiritual marriage with Jesus Christ here by faith that is your great promotion and honour that bond will not break in the saddest hour †Armundus Visabunda One tells us of five sisters of the same birth pedigree and race whereof one was married to a King another to an Earle a third to a Gentleman a fourth to a mean man a fifth to a filthy beggar though they all were alike by birth descent yet their difference lyes in their marriage Truly we are all alike by creation by the fall by nature by the first birth but the hearts and affections of some are joyned to the
cannot separate them from God Rom. 8.38 but perfect them Luk. 13.32 it brings them to a better house 2 Cor. 5.12 to a Mansion-house Joh. 14.12 for indeed here are no Mansion-houses Heb. 13 14. though some are so called to a better Countrey Heb. 11.15 16. In this low-Countrey we are strangers the world knowes us not 1 John 3.1.2 David was so in his own house and kingdom and therefore must not wonder at strange usage here Psal 39.12 David saith not that he was a stranger to God but a stranger with God that is as some expound it God and he were both strangers here but death will bring them to their own the high Countrey for a godly man to die is but as Bernard calls it repatriâsse †Ubi pater ibi patria to go home again to his own Countrey where or from whence he was born as he is godly viz. new-born death brings him to a better Inheritance of which Peter mentions 5. excellent properties 1 Pet. 1.4 it s kept for him and he for it v. 4.5 death brings them to their resting-place Heb. 4.9 Rev. 14.13 where is their Father Husband Brethren Friends c. to their reaping-place Gal. 6.9 yea to their Crown justly gotten a Crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 and everlasting a Crown of life Jam. 1.12 Rev. 2.10 and full of honour a Crown of glory 1 Pet. 5.4 These earthly Crowns have two great wants want satisfaction and perpetuity they are both unsatisfying at present and uncertain for the future here all is not only vanity but vexation every Crown of gold ilned with a Crown of thorns which made a great man once say of his Crown O Crown (c) Lam. 4 5. more noble then happy and here we read of many heads that have been weary of Crowns and Crowns weary of Heads In this Nation how hath the Crown walked even since Christs birth from Britains to Saxons Danes Normans Plantagenets Tudors Stuarts c. William the Conqueror was crowned three times every year in three several places namely Glocester Winchester and Westminster yet soon did his Crown fade and he as great Alexander before him when dead could scarce get a grave for some time we read in Scripture of a City for strength called infinite namely No or Alexandria in Egypt Nahum 3.9 and of an (d) Constantius so Rome was called aeterna yet is falling and Roma mira perenis erit c. Emperor in story that would needs be styled his eternity ordinary Titles would not content him yet the first was soon ruined vers 10. and the last but short-lived only 40. years but death brings us to a satisfactory Crown where no want Rev. 7.16 17 21.4 nor any more death but shall be as the Angels Luk. 20.36 and everlasting Hujusmodi comparandae sunt opes quae cum naufragio simul enatent said good Lewes of Bavyer Look well to such Crowns as will last to eternity House and Lands are moveables as well as Goods if not from the Center yet from the owner godly may live poorly but they die rich but however a wicked man lives rich yet he dies poor to him death is properly the King of terrors †As Aristotle called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Job 18.14 Which made a great man in this Nation when he was assured by his Physitians that he must die to cry out I would said he I might live though but the life of a Toad for better that then Hell And it made Cardinal Wolsey when he died at Leicester to say If I had served my God as I have served my King God would not now have left me but now I am forsaken both of God and man Drexellius tells us of a young man of very bad life who was very fearful of being in the dark who after falling sick and could not sleep cryed out Oh if this darkness be so terrible what is eternal darkness Such are men without hope as Homer saith of Achilles that he wished rather to be a servant to any poor Countrey Clown then to be a King to all the souls departed because he had no hopes of a better life It s a sad case when at once the body stinks the soul burns and the name rots Prov. 10.7 yet to the godly death is no losse they part with nothing but sin and vanity but great gain others may gain while living but these gain by dying it brings them to perfection of grace and glory to see Christ and therefore to be like him 1 Joh. 3.12 not through a Glasse but clearly 1 Cor. 13.12 face to face to enjoy him whom our soul loveth to be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4.17 Only our duty is while we live to be making our Title sure that which is sure in it self should be made sure to us 2 Pet. 1.10 this ornamental grace is so necessary to our well-being that without it we can neither live nor die comfortably therefore a good man when he was asked why he constantly prayed six times a day and lived so strictly he only answered I must die I must die King Henry the 7th of England pretended a sixfold Title to the Crown by Conquest Military Election of Souldiers in the Fields near Bosworth by Parliament by Birth Donation and Marriage but sure I am a Child of God hath a farre better Title to the Kingdom of Heaven by Christs purchase by new birth by Marriage with Christ the Son and Heir by Gods free promise c. yea here they have eternal life already Joh. 3.36 5.24 Ephes 2.6 in our Head in the promise the earnest seal bud c. They are in Christ now therefore though they may have a crosse yet no curse correction yet no condemnation a Fathers rod yet not an enemies wroth how sweetly may such as these go to the grave which the Jewes call Beth Chajim the House of the living Job 30.23 and not only use Chaucers Motto mors mihi aerumnarum requies or as he whom some call St. Francis who when Physitians assured him that death drew nigh said benĕ veniat soror mea mors welcom Sister Death but as old Alderman Jordan used to say that Death would be the best friend that he had in the world he would willingly go forth to meet it or rather say with holy Paul Oh Death where is thy sting c. triumphing over it 1 Cor. 15.55 For as Austin said of Elect men that by Christs death they are non solum instaurati sed meliorati so by their own death they are brought to a sarre better condition then here they had but quorsum haec All this is but to usher in and give you an example and instance hereof in the boly life and happy death of that pretious servant of the Lord still Gods Servant Josh 1.2 still Christs friend Joh. 11.11 though she sleep Mrs. Dorothy Shaw late the dearly beloved Wife of Mr. John Shaw Preacher of the
so is he gone for us from Earth to Heaven to intercede for us in life and to entertain us at death we shall not be strangers there Iohn 14.2 3. 3. Our debt is fully paid we are not in danger of any arrest or prison our sins are fully paid for to the utmost farthing our sins though many are but the sins of men but the satisfaction is by the payment of God-Man who gave not his Heaven and Earth but his very Self to pay to the full 4. Consider that we are not to stand and appear in our own rags but in such a robe wherein God himself can find no spot and therefore may rejoyce in the thought of that appearing before God Rev. 19.7 8. Let us be glad and rejoyce c. and why to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white which is the righteousnesse of the Saints 5. we shall not dye for our times are not in mens but in Gods hands Psal 31.15 till Gods work be wrought in us and till his work be wrought by us till his work be wrought in us and so we fit to dye As Christ took not away the being but the raigning of sin so neither took he away the being but the hurt of death sin in the godly is like those beasts Dan. 7.12 whose dominion was taken away but their being is prolonged for a time like ripe fruit fit for the barn Iob 5.26 and till we have finished our work Iohn 17.4 The work of payment and purchase is by Christ fully wrought for us and that work of duty and obedience that God hath sent us into the world to do in our generation shall be wrought by us we shall finish our testimony ere we depart Rev. 11.7 6. Death when it comes will be our very good Friend as old Mr. Iordan used to say it will not kill a Saint but kill his sin non mors hominis sed peccati sin brought in death into the world and death carryes sin out of the world Christ doth that for us by death which he did not do by grace for us at our first conversion for then he took away the raigning but never till the wall fall down by death the in-being of sin death is to such the out-let to sin and sorrow and the in-let to perfect glory mors est sepulcrum peccati And death will do that for us which all Friends and Physitians could not do to the body cure us of all pains diseases c. as Hugh Laverock and Iohn Aprice two Martyrs in Queen Maries dayes burnt at Stratford-Bow whereof one was blind the other lame one said to the other Be of Comfort Brother My Lord of London is our good Physitian he will help you to legs and me to eyes for ever 7. Fear not the paines of death see the joy of the Martyrs in their death Remember how patiently comfortably cheerfully this servant of the Lord dyed you are frequent in reading the book of Martyrs see how old Latimer when ready to suffer urged that promise 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able c. 18. Search we our hearts Lam. 3.39 40. and beg we of God to know why the Lord contends with us what Ionah what cursed thing there is amongst us provohing the Lord Iob 10.2 Learn we the voice of the rod for we may say of sin what Martha said to Jesus John 11.21 if sin had not bin here our dear Relation had not dyed 19. Seeing we are under the Lords rod let us more avoid and watch against our sins learn we the sweet lesson of Elihu Iob 34.31 32. Surely its meet to say unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more c. And that of Christ John 5.14 The Lord puts us in this boyling pot to take away our scum Ezek. 24.6 puts us in the furnace to take away our drosse Isa 1.25 into the water to whiten us Dan. 11.35 20. God whips us to sharpen us in the wayes of God we have gone too slow a pace let us now be zealous and amend Rev. 3.19 per vineula cresco is the Saints motto they grow better by afflictions And now as Ioseph sometimes put off his prison Garments when he went in to King Pharaoh and put on his robes so this Friend of Christ hath put off the rags of mortality and put on the robes of immortality And if we had such an officer in use amongst us as once was amongst the Greeks which did measure the monuments of persons when they were dead according to their vertues and good conversation in their life then might she have had a chief Sepulcre 2 Chron. 32.33 Sic mihi contingat vivere sicque mori So let me live so let me dye That I may live eternally Discupio solvi tecumque O Christe manere Portio fac regni sim quotacunque tui Beza Horribilis mors est fateor sed proxima vita est Ad quam te Christi gratia certa vocat Praesto est de Satanâ peccâto morte triumphans Christus ad hunc igitur laeta alacrisque migra Musculus I may now say what a Pious and Learned man said before me and so conclude Quae mihi vita fuit dulci cum conjuge fugit Proh dolor infelix ut felicissimus idem Quòd sic uxori monumentum fio sepultae Mr. Dugard FINIS Courteous Reader These Books following are Printed for Nath. Brooks and are to be sold at his Shop at the Angel in Cornhill Excellent Tracts in Divinity Controversie Sermons Devotions 1. THe Catholique History collected and gathered out of Scripture Councels and Ancients Fathers in answer to Dr. Vanes Lost Sheep returned home by Edward Chesensale Esq Octavo 2. Bishop Morton on the Sacrament in Folio 3. The Grand Sacriledge of the Church of Rome in taking away the sacred Cup from the Laity at the Lords Table by Dr. Featly D. D. Quarto 4. The Quakers Cause at second hearing being a full answer to their Tenets 5. Re-assertion of Grace Vindiciae Evangelii or the Vindication of the Gospel or a Reply to Mr. Anthony Burgess Vindiciae Legis and to Mr. Rutherford by Robert Town 6. Anabaptists anatomized and silenced or a dispute with Master Tombs by Mr. J. Crag where all may receive clear satisfaction in that controversie the best extant Octavo 7. The Zealous Magistrate a Sermon by T. Threscot Quarto 8. Britannia Rediviva a Sermon before the Judges August 1648. by J. Shaw Minister of Hull 9. The Princess Royal in a Sermon before the Judges March 24. by J. Shaw 10. Judgement set and books opened Religion tried whether it be of God or men in severall Sermons by J. Webster Quarto 11. Israels Redemption or the Prophetical History of our Saviours Kingdom on Earth by K. Matton 12. The Cause and Cure of Ignorance Error and Prophanesse or a more hopefull way
world some to their lusts and sins and some to Christ and there is their true honour in life and death and after death But my sad thoughts detain you too long only let us all learn by her example so to live as that we need not to fear death which will shortly ceaze upon us We read of King Lewis the eleventh of France and some other Grandees in the world that they charged their servants and all about them that when they saw them sick they should not dare ever to name that terrible word death in their hearing But she of whom I now write took Hezekiahs medicine in her life to prevent the terror of death Isai 38.3 and Paul's 2 Tim. 4.7 8. so as she could look either backward (b) Hoc est Vivere bis vitâ posse priore frui or forward with joy Whom you loved living now follow her steps to her death then shall you not need to fear death so as if dying and damning would (c) Non metuo mori sed damnari said a dying man go together but as Sir Fulke Grevill defired to have this Epitaph on his Tomb here lyes a Friend of Sir Philip Sidney so may you have that comfort and honour when you are laid to sleep which this servant of Christ now enjoyes here lyes a Friend of Jesus Christ Iohn 11.11 A Courtier and favorite of King Cyrus being poor and one telling him of it he said he had enough because King Cyrus was his Friend the like Polybius said being in Caesars Court because the Roman Emperour was his Friend but these Friends soon dyed but in life death and ever hapyy they who have God reconciled for their (d) Exod. 33.11 2 Chron. 20.7 Isa 41.8 Joh. 11.11 15.14 15. James 2.23 Friend These hasty Observations following dropping from a sad pen which might justly have had Antoninus his title Notes for my self I have communicated to you and others for your and my own consolation and direction pray pray pray and when you have sweetest Communion with God forget not him who begs an interest in the intercession of Christ ' and supplications of his hidden ones and who is Christs and his Churches and yours or not his own John Shaw Four things there be that in my heart I fixed have The thoughts of Heaven of Hell of Doomsday and my Grave Birk TO The Christian and Candid Reader Reader STay but a few words before thou passe to the ensuing Narrative and then much good may it do thee 1. Know that what followes was not any Sermon or Sermons Preached and therefore wonder not that there are so many Histories and humane quotations otherwise I readily yeild what Lipsius saith to be a truth ut drachmam auri sine imagine Principis sic verba praedicantis sine authoritate Dei contemnent homines In Sermons its Scripture authority only that comes cum privilegio 2. know that the Authour hereof when this was penned had but half a heart left and his head full of thoughts and both head and heart much very much disturbed and gathered up such thoughts as suddenly offered themselves Wonder not then if there be not that exact Method and curiosity which perhaps thou mayest expect 3. There is no worth and excellency in these thoughts more then in many Sermons Preached by the Authour I think it s no vain-glory to say that there is lesse for I am sure those Sermons have been far more desired to have seen the light which yet lye buried as many will confesse into whose hand this will come how much they have importuned him to publish those Sermons vindicating of and directing to a right use of Gods Ordinances as the right call to the Ministery qualification necessity and work of the Ministers of the Gospel the great enemies of all Antichristianism with satisfaction to Cavills and Scruples from those texts 1 Cor. 4.7 2 Cor. 6.1 the necessity and use of a Christian Magistrate under the Gospell with the extent of his power circa sacra about matters of Religion from Isa 1.16 Rom. 13.4 and the case of peoples subjection in these dayes the lawfulnesse benefit and right manner of singing Psalmes from Col. 3.16 in the dayes of the New Testament The warrant for benefit by and right improvement of Child-baptism together with the error and danger of Antipaedobaptism from Col. 2.12 The nature ends and use of the Lords supper and who ought to come and how qualified and if men offer to come by whom and upon what account men ought to be admitted or rejected from severall sorts the morality of the Sabbath in the new Testament and the right manner of observing the Lords day c. And therefore if thou get any good by these ensuing thoughts thou art in part beholding to the Authors passion and affection I only now commend 5 things to thee and beg other 5 for thee and then farewell 1. Take speciall care to love thy self no◠thy lusts thy carcase c. but thy soul is thy self Compare Mark 8.36 lose his own soul with Luke 9.25 lose himself the soul is the man 1 Pet. 3.20 2. Hate thy enemy and be revenged on him not thy neighbour whom thou shouldst love as thy self and who at worst can but kill the body but thy sins which are God's and thy soul's worst enemies and which can kill the soul be revenged on them 2 Cor. 7.11 here kill or be killed Zenacherib after his Army was destroyed by an Angel Isa 37. and he returned home again with a hook in his nose Isa 37.29 he enquired of one about him what he thought the reason might be why God so favoured the Jewes he answered That there was one Abraham their Father that was willing to sacrifice his Son to death at the command of God and that ever since then God favoured that people Well said Zenacherib if that be it I have two Sons and I will sacrifice them both to death if that will procure their God to favour me which when his two Sons heard they as the story goeth slew their Father Isa 37.38 as rather willing to kill then be killed so deal thou with thy sins 3. Strive to get riches and be as covetous after them as thou canst but not these riches which are full of poverty and vanity but true riches Luke 16.11 James 2.5 unsearchable riches Eph. 3.8 Covet the best things 1 Cor. 12.31 get all get Christ who is all in all Col. 3.11 beg the spirit which is all good things compare Math. 7.11 with Luke 11.13 4. Labour alwayes to have thy own will but this onely in Luther's sense by alwayes resigning and submitting thy will to Gods will fiat voluntas mea quia tua Domine let Gods will be thy will and so thou mayest alwayes have thy own will without sin 5. Be sure to take the stronger side not in that sense as those meant whom Epiphanius calls Cainits or Cainists who he reckons among
number of 1657 but sure I am this world then ended as to her Decemb. 10. †Being just that very same day whereon 25. years before we were married 1657. and my self and 6 poor Pupils may say that much of our worldly comfort or portion Eccles 9.9 then ended here and may sadly remember that which God bad the Prophet Ezekiel so perfectly remember viz. the tenth month and the tenth day of that month Ezek. 24.1 it s thrice in the 2d verse that day this same day this same day But for 1. the Authour of this Narrative he cannot so clear himself for know that these thoughts suddenly dropt from him in a sad hour and were immediately sent to the presse as they stood in their Sheetes the Authour not having any Copy of them left with him but upon second and better thoughts the Authour sent for these back again to review correct or enlarge them but not obtaining that he by Letters prevailed with some reverend and godly and learned bretheren to view and judge of these notes and according to their judgment they then be to prest or supprest but their modesty overmastered their great abilities as you may see after that he sent up half a sheet more to be added but for want of a Coppy at home to direct him he could neither righly informe the Printer where it should be inserted nor himself whether any of those new additions were formerly in the Narrative and this is the true reason of some Tautologies repetitions of some things and of the displacing of others though l a l he done it more exactly he could not have expected to have satisfied all for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. quis satia verit omnes theog 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neque enim posset Jupiter And 2. for the Printer know that the Authour lives above 130 miles off from the presse and therefore many faults are and many I fear uncorrected and I am much of Carthagena's mind who to those three things which the Antients held impossible saith that to find a Book Printed without Errata's should undoubtedly have been added as a fourth Impossible if the art of printing had been then invented though the Author had Briarius's hand and the Printer Argus's eyes I can only say with the Poet liber optimus ille qui minimis urgetur at est sine crimine nullus I onely beg thy care good Reader 1. to amend thy own faults 2. to pray for the Author that he may amend his 3. to do thy understanding that right as to correct these following being some of greater mistakes of the Presse thus Expect but fear not death Death cannot kill Till God that first must seal her patent will Wouldst thou live long keep time in high esteem Which gone if thou canst not recall redeem Quarl Hierogl Vade liber quanquam fis parvus mole sed ampium Lectori fructum Det deus Omnipotens Jo. Sh. M. A. sometimes of C. C. C. P. at Kingston upon Hull THE Testimony of the worshipfull Doctor Robert Wittye of the City of York Concerning the deceased servant of the Lord Mrs. Dorothy Shaw in a Letter to her Husband soon after her death Dear Sir I Cannot but Sympathize with you in your loss and so do all here who have lost a dear loving Friend she was in all my observation most loving to her Friends faithfull in her Relations eminently pious towards God owning both the form and power of godlinesse and as I can well witnesse one that was never daunted or discouraged when you was involved in the greatest troubles that I have known you in from truth's most potent and bitter enemies she was pittifull to the poor and helpful to such as stood in need she was Nathanaels Sister an Israelite in whom was no guile Iacobs daughter who was a plain man her inside was alwayes outward her life was to all her sex a patterne of piety and her death of patience she now reaps the fruit of her labours and the end of her faith and is in the armes of her Saviour which is better then yours and bears her part with that heavenly quire whose song is Halleluiah As to the world and its emnity wherein she had some share with you she is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am certain her gain is greater then your losse which may much lessen your and our sorrow Me thinks I hear her say with our sweet Saviour †Luke 23.28 Weep not for me but for your selves c. Fixe your eye on her gain rather then lay your finger on your own sore she was very fit to dye and had nothing else to do Which that we may so be is the prayer of Sir Your Sympathizing Friend R. Witty York Decemb 23. 1657. THE Testimony of Mr. Heathcote Pastor of Rowley in the East-riding of the County of York concerning the precicus servant of the Lord Mrs. D. Shaw whom he had been acquainted withall from her youth in his Letter to Mr. Shaw dated Jan. 8. 1657. To my Reverend Friend and beloved Brother Mr. John Shaw Preacher of Gods word at Kingstone upon Hull Dear Sir I Am very sensible of and deeply affected with your great loss in that sad breach which the Lord hath been pleased to make in your Family I know you have parted with as sweet a Yoke-fellow and as meet an help in my opinion as ever I knew I cannot therefore much blame you for your much sorrowing yet when I consider her incomparable gain I rejoyce much more on her behalf then I can possibly sorrow on yours and I beseech you moderate your passion and divert your sorrow from her and mourn for your self and the sins of the times she hath left behind her in the hearts of all the godly that knew her a most pretious name and for my part I doubt not in the least but she hath sound by happy experience that her deaths-day was far more joyfull to her then her marriage day her buriall day then her birth day Eccles 7.1 she hath onely changed her habitation and her company and is arrived where she desired and obtained what she had earnestly laboured and much longed for Phil. 1.23 I have known her about these thirty and four years and I can with much delight and do to my great comfort call to mind her great paines and constant labouring in her young dayes after the meanes of grace for the obtaining of that grace which did abundantry shine forth in her in her latter dayes I remember her constant coming every Lords day from Cutthorp-Hall to Chesterfield which was two good miles to partake of worthy Mr. Wain-wrights Ministery and was neither detained by the scorching heat in Summer nor yet deterred by the coldnesse of the Winter she had resolved to take Gods Kingdome by force and violence Math. 11.12 and I am most consident she is now an inheritrix thereof and hath reaped the sweet of all her labonr and sweat
est timere mortem qui ad Christum nolit ire said Cyprian let them fear death who are loath go to God 10. Though she shall not return to us yet we shall go to her 2 Sam. 12.23 8. Let us lay hold on eternall life make sure of salvation 1 Tim. 6.12 We cannot make sure our houses our Estates our Friends our lives but we may make our election and salvation sure which is far more sweet and needfull 2 Pet. 1.10 consider how short our time is here The last week we enjoyed her now her seat here is empty as sometimes Davids was at the feast 1 Sam. 20.18 but she is placed for eternity let our thoughts much run upon eternity It 's said that Mr. Wood after some holy discourse being at dinner fell a musing and cryed out for near half a quarter of an hour together for ever for ever A great †Sir T.M. man of this Nation being in prison for that which he called his Conscience his Lady coming to him did chide him that he would not do as others did and so live at his own gallant house with his wife and children Wife said he if I should do so how long think you I might live I think said she you may live these 20 years well said he it is but 20 years and yet it s not likely that I should live so long yet they would end but I must be after that for ever and ever Mind we eternity if that as once one said be well looked to all is well looked to 9. Let us lay up some Cordialls against our own death which may comfort us in such an hour First Cordiall Consider that though death which is unavoidable will break many near bonds as 1. the union twixt near kinted and acquaintance nay twixt Mother and Children which are one blood 2. yea nearer the union twixt Husband and Wife which are one flesh nay 3. yet nearer union twixt body and soul which are one person yet there are 3 better unions or bonds which death cannot break as 1. the bond of the Covenant twixt God and his people the Covenant is everlasting though we be mortall and dye Ier. 32.40 Many hundreds of years after Abraham Isaac and Iacob were dead yet God saith that he was still their God I am and Math. 22.31 32. namely their God in Covenant and they then alive to him God is as well their God when they are rotting in their graves as when flourishing in their houses God promised Iacob Gen. 46.4 that he would go down with him into Egypt and he would surely bring him up again yet Iacob was dead ere he was brought out of Egpyt but Gods promise still was of force 2. the bond of union twixt the believing soul and Jesus this marriage-knot death cannot break When Christ dyed death seperated twixt his body in Iosephs tomb and his soul in paradise yet the union with the godhead was as firme as ever so here though the naturall union twixt soul and body may be dissolved by death yet not the Mysticall union twixt the soul and Christ 3. the bond twixt the soul and eternall life is not dissolved by death the believer hath not onely right to it by purchase promise c. but hath possession the beginning of eternall life already earnest of heaven here John 3 36. and though temporal life may fail yet this other here begun will never end Some tell us of a temporall Kingdome of Christ that must onely last certain years is yet to begin and must have an end but the Scripture saith that it s begun not after but in the dayes of those Kings Dan. 2.44 and shall last for ever even for ever and ever Dan. 7.18 so shall the beleevers eternall life here begun never end 2d Cordiall that though the grave be our long home yet it is not our lasting home it s our long home Eccles. 12.5 but not our last home A godly man doth as Myconius writ to Luther mori vitaliter non lethaliter dyes to live he dyes as corn dyes to spring again and that more gloriously as a grain of wheate cast into the ground riseth again with more beauty blade and eare 1 Cor. 15. 20 21. 3d. Cordiall Consider that to godly men death is not an eeven bargain but great gain Phil. 1.21 The sting of death is gone but the honey is still to be reaped all ill is gone by death it cures them of all sin sorrow possibility of sinning or suffering from man or devil Christ our Sampson hath slain this Lyon death and brought us honey out of the carcase of it we not onely may but we must needs dye 2 Sam. 14.14 must is for this King We use to say that necessity hath no law but for death there is both necessity and law necessity by reason of our constitution and corruption our bodyes are like tents patcht up of a few bony sticks covered over with skin and flesh our food and cloathing shew our death we feed on dead beasts and often wear their hides and fleece death was born with us into the world rockt with us in the cradle bred in the bone will nor out of the flesh we travell work lodge lye down with it daily we cannot out run it but especially sin hath so fretted all the threads of our garment that it easily falls in peices we do not dye because we are sick but because we have sinned yea though Christ hath not taken away the course of death yet hath he taken away the curse of death and made it to be every way for our advantage We do not think it any losse to part with an ague the stone c. cold water out of our shooes no more losse hath a godly man by dying it s our perfection Luke 13.32 not our destruction a way to rest Rev. 4.13 not ruine it brings us home 2 Cor. 5 to our kingdomg Fourth Cordiall Consider that to a godly man death is a most happy change Iob 14.14 thereby is neither body quite lost nor soul lost we lose not our friends nor any goods that we have need of or use of Prests wife of Exeter for as that Exeter-Martyr said In Heaven money bears no worth is not currant we shall then and not till then be above ordinances 1. We shall need no repentance c. shall have better houses friends c. Here are nothing but changes sorrow and joy health and sicknesse changes in body soul and estate but death ends all changes there shall be no more 5. Cordiall Though here we part and lye down in severall beds at night and at several hours yet we shall comfortably meet again in the morning 1 Thess 4.17 Psal 49.14 My dear and tender (a) Who dyed in December 1634. father and my onely (b) January 1636. son lye interred at Bradfield where I was born in the Westriding of Yorkshire My dear and loving (c) January 1652. mother