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Title: The Praise of a Godly Woman
Author: Hannibal Gamon
Release Date: November 16, 2008 [EBook #27280]
Language: English
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THE PRAISE OF A
GODLY WOMAN.
A Sermon preached at the Solemne Funerall
of the Right Honourable Ladie, the Ladie
FRANCES ROBERTS, at _Lanhide-rock-Church_
in _Cornwall_ the tenth of
August, 1626.
By
HANNIBALL GAMON, Minister of the word
of God, at S^t. _Maugan_ in the same Countie.
_1 Cor. 4. 5._
Therefore iudge nothing before the time, vntill the Lord come, who
will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse, and will manifest
the counsells of the hearts, and then shall euery man haue praise of
God.
_Galath. 3. 28._
{ Neither Iew nor Greek,
There is { Neither Bond nor Free,
{ Neither Male nor Female, for yee are all one in Christ Iesus.
S^t. Hierom. Eustoch.
_----In seruitute Christi nequaquam Differentia sexuum valet,
sed mentium._
Idem ad Principiam.
_Non facie vllam inter Sanctas Feminas Differentiam, quod Nonnulli
inter Sanctos Viros & Ecclesiarum Principes, stulte facere
consueverunt._
LONDON,
Printed by _I.H._ for _Iohn Grismond_, and are to be sold at his shop in
_Ivie-Lane_ at the signe of the Gunne. 1627.
TO THE TRVLY
NOBLE IOHN ROBERTS,
Son and Heire to the Right
Honourable RICHARD _Lord_ ROBERTS
of _Truro_: the Vnualuable Riches of
sincere Grace here, and of Eternall
Glory hereafter.
HONOVRABLE SIR,
Although it bee true (which a |
worthy Diuine[a] obserueth) that | [Note a: M^r. _Bolter_ Disc. of
formall Hypocrites are heartned and | true Happinesse, p. 61.]
hardned in their lewd courses & |
false conceits of happinesse, when |
they heare more infamous Sinners |
than themselues, gloriously and |
flatteringly commended at their |
Deaths; yet we need not feare any |
such bad effect by the |
Funerall-commendation of Gods true |
Saints; because the publike |
Testimonie of their iust Praises |
doth not onely make the wicked more |
inexcusable, and the Glory of Gods |
Graces shine farre brighter to |
Posteritie; but also enkindleth in |
the hearts of the godly a greater |
fire of Zeale for imitation. These | [Note b: _Psalm. 37. 37. Deut.
are some of the Ends, why it hath | 34. 7, 10, 11, 12. Hebr._ 3. 2. &
euer been and is still an | 11. cap._]
vnreproueable Custome in Gods |
Church, that the Godly should be | [Note c: _2 Chron. 32. 33._]
_Marked_[b] and _Honoured_[c] at |
their Deaths, as _Hezekiah_ was by |
all _Iudah_ & _Ierusalem_: |
_Valentinean_, _Satyrus_ and |
_Theodosius_ by Saint _Ambrose_[A]: | [Note A: _S. Ambr. tom. 3._]
_Basil_, _Gregory_ and _Gorgonia_ |
by _Nazianzen_[B]: _Nepotian_, | [Note B: _Greg. Nazian._
_Paula_ and _Marcella_ by _S. | { 30.
Ierom_[C]. Had not their Holy Liues | _Orat._ { 28.
and Happie Deaths beene published | { 25.]
by such vnpartiall Pens, wee should |
haue bin ignorant now of many | [Note C: _S. Ierom._
excellent Courses of sanctified Men | { _Heliod._
and Women, of many comfortable | { _Eustoch._
workings of the Holy Ghost in them, | _Ad_ { _Princip._
and should haue wanted many | { _Ocean._]
inflaming Motiues to follow their |
religious steps. Vpon this | [Note d: _Testor Iesum cui illa
consideration I was bold to commend | seruiuit & ego seruire cupio, me
vnto Gods people the more than | utramq, in part[=e] nihil fingere;
Ordinary passages of your | sed quasi Christian[=u] de
Honourable Mothers Holy Life and | Christianâ quæ sunt vera proferre,
Death: wherein I haue as a | id est, Historiam scribere non
Christian spoken the truth of a | Panegyricum. S. Ierom, Epitaph.
Christian, that is, (as Saint | Paulæ._]
_Ierom_[d] protesteth in a like |
case) made a true Narration; not a |
Vain-glorious Panegyrick. Let Poets |
and Oratours praise those women, |
which _Poppæa_-like[e], are graced | [Note e: _Poppæa cuncta alia fuêre
with all other things sauing a | præter Honestum animum. Tacit.
Gracious Heart: Let them commend | Annal. l. 13._]
their Wit, Wealth, Beautie, |
Nobilitie, and other Gifts of |
Fortune (as they call them) in |
stead of Vertues[f]. Wee the | [Note f: _Laudauit ipse Nero apud
Ministers of Christ, and Stewards | rostra formam eius & quòd diuinæ
of the Mysteries of God, must | formæ parens fuisset, aliaque
adorne none with the Honourable | fortunæ munera pro Virtutibus. Id.
Attributes of Heauenly Praise; but | Annal. l. 16._]
such as are truly beautified, |
enriched, and ennobled with the |
Purity and Power of Gods Feare in | [Note A: _Esai. 61. 3._]
their Humble Soules[A]. This praise |
the Lord will Prosper[g], which is | [Note g: _Eccles. 15. 10._]
vttered in that _Wisdome_[h], |
whereof the _Feare of the Lord is | [Note h: _Prou. 9. 10._]
the beginning_. But for the Saints |
themselues: I dare say with Saint | [Note i: _Epist. 125._ where S.
_Augustine_[i], that they desire | _Augustine_ refuseth to commend
more the Imitation, than the | vnto a wicked Husb[=a]d his godly
Commendation of their vertues: and | wife that was dead, not onely
therefore to tell you the truth (as | because she desired not his praise,
the same Father doth his friend) | saying: _Laudem ab hominibus iam
you should neuer haue heard mee | illa non quærit, imitationem verò
commend this deceased Lady, but in | tu[=a] tantum quærit etiam
hope, that Gods Graces in Her might | defuncta, quantum te dilexit etiam
by this meanes, suruiue in your | dissimilem viua_; but also because
religious Imitation, and not only | her Husband loued Her not, which he
in you and all them that are of Her | proueth thus: _Nam utiq si amares,
bloud; but also in all them that | cum illa esse post mortem
haue heard or shall reade this | desiderares, quod profectò non
Sermon. This is all the gaine I | eris, si quàlis es, talis eris._]
looke and pray for, that Gods[k] |
word, which I haue faithfully | [Note k: _Ier. 23. 22, 28. 1 Pet.
alledged (not without some | 4. 11. Tit. 2. 8. 2 Tim. 2.
Illustrations (I confesse) borrowed | 15. 1 Tim. 4. 13. & 6. 3._]
from the holy Fathers[l], whereof I |
need not to be ashamed) may be | [Note l: _--Ingenuo pudore qui
constantly practised by vs all. For | ornabat ætatem, quid cuius esset,
when all is done and said, assure | confiteri ... Illud (aiebat)
your selfe (Deare Sir) it is only | Tertulliani, istud Cypriani, hoc
the Life of Grace, the Grace of the | Lactantij, illud Hilarij est. Sic
_Feare of the Lord_ can truly | Minutius Foelix, ita Victorinus, in
Honour you, or any vpon earth, | hunc modum est locutus Arnobius. S.
sweetly comfort you at your Death, | Ierom. ad Heliodor de Nepotian._]
and eternally Glorifie your Soule |
and Bodie in Heauen. Abandon then I |
beseech you in the name of |
Christ[m], all iniquitie, and all | [Note m: _2 Thess. 3. 6. 2 Tim.
workers of iniquitie, yea abominate | 2. 19. Prou. 4. 14. 1 Cor. 5.
the sweetest sin, to which your | 11. Ephes. 5. 11. Psalm. 26.
youthfull affections are most | 4, 5. & 119. 32, 36, 128. 2
endeared, else you will neuer be | Chron. 19. 2. & 20. 37._]
able to encline and enlarge them |
to the pursuit and practise of so |
excellent and Glorious a Grace as |
the _Feare of the Lord_; because |
this godly Feare and the impenitent |
Allowance of any lust, is as |
incompatible as Heauen and Hell: so |
that if you should hate to be |
diuorced from your Bosome-sin |
whatsoeuer it be (which God forbid) |
you could haue no true right and |
interest to the precious promises |
of this and of that other life[n]. | [Note n: _1 Tim. 4. 8._]
Thinke on this continually, and |
hold it your greatest Honour, the |
Noblest imployment of your Soule, |
as it is indeed, to keep your selfe |
(as a King[o] did before you.) from | [Note o: _Psal. 18. 23._]
your iniquitie. _Quod si tu (quod |
procul absit) nolueris, ego liber |
ero. Epistola, immo concio me hæc |
mea, cum lecta fuerit, |
absoluet._[p] And so I rest, being | [Note p: _S. Ierom. ad Castorin.
mindfull of your Vertues, | Materteram._]
|
|
_Saint Mauganthe
19. August 1626._
_Yours in all Christian Deuotion,
and heartiest prayer to God for
you,_
HANNIBAL GAMON.
THE PRAISE OF A
Godly Woman.
PROV. 31. 30.
_--But a woman that feareth the Lord, shee
shall be praised._
Praise is a Debt (saith _Gregory |
Nazianzen_[a]) and it must be paid, | [Note a: _Orat. 25. fol. 439. Rom.
not to men alone, but to women | 13. 7, 8._]
also; yet not to euery woman, be |
shee neuer so noble, wittie, | [Note: The Diuision.]
wealthy or faire[b], vnlesse she be |
godly withall: For _fauour is | [Note b: _Non possumus reprehendere
deceitfull, and beautie is vaine; | diuini artificis opus; sed quem
but a woman that feareth the Lord, | delectat corporis pulchritudo,
shee shall be praised_. | multo magis illa delectet venustas,
| quæ ad imaginem, Dei est intus, non
A promise this is and affirmatiue, | foris comptior. S. Ambr. Instit.
and an affirmatiue promise hath two | Virg. c. 4. Prou. 11. 22. Eccle.
parts in it. The first is the | 11. 2. ... Homo igitur mihi non tam
Partie to whom it is made, and shee | vultu quam affectu admirand^s
is _Muliertimens Dominum_. _A woman | emineat atque excellat: vt in his
that feareth the Lord_, which is | laudatur, in quibus etiam Deus
also the reason why she shall be | prophetico iudicio laudatur de quo
praised: euen because she is _a | scriptum est Psal. 66. 5.
woman fearing the Lord_. The second | Terribilis in consiliis super
is the thing promised, and that is | filios hominum; cuius opera coram
_Laudabitur, she shall be praised_. | Deo luceant, qui bona iugibus
| operibus facta contexat. Id. ib.
| cap. 3._]
In the former, it is not enough |
that she is a woman, because | [Note I.]
euery woman is not _Timens_, one |
that _Feareth_, nor sufficient that | [Note c: _Naturale vocabul[=u] est
she _Feareth_; because euery woman | Foemina. naturalis vocabuli
that feareth is not _Timens | generale, Mulier.--Tert. de Virg.
Dominum_, one _that feareth the | Veland. cap 4._]
Lord_; but _she_ that _shall be |
praised_, is all three. 1. A woman | [Note d: _Aliud est Timere
by nature[c], where the weaker her | simpliciter, aliud Timere
sex is, the more shee shall be | Deum----quippe timere & amare
commended. 2. By Grace[d], _a woman | simpliciter prolata, affectione:
that feareth_, where the continuall | cu^m additamento aute virtutes
act of this Fearing is required. 3. | signific[=a]t. Simplices nempe
_That feareth the Lord_, where the | affectiones insunt naturaliter
right Obiect of her continuall | nobis tanquam ex nobis, Additamenta
feare is limited. | ex Gratiâ. S. Bern. de Grat. & lib.
| Arb._]
And in the latter we are to |
consider; First, to what matters, | [Note II.]
_Laudabitur_, her praise will |
reach, and in what respect to |
_Ipsa_ Her person. Then secondly, |
When _she shall be praised_; not |
for the present, perhaps, no more |
than she hath beene heretofore; yet |
_Laudabitur_, the time will come |
when _she shall be praised_, and |
then too her praise shall so be, |
that it shall be still. Thirdly, of |
whom shee shall haue praise, for |
_Laudabitur_ is an action, and must |
bee done of some agent, therefore |
we must finde who shal praise her, |
and they will fall out to be her |
Husband and her Children (if she |
haue them[e]) and if they faile in | [Note e: _Mulier enim no naturâ
this dutie, then the godly shall | nomen est vxoris, sed vxor
praise her; and if they cease to | coditione nomen est mulieris. Tert.
doe it, then her own workes shall | ib. c. 5. Gen. 2. 23. Hæc vocabitur
praise her, yea rather than faile, | mulier, quoniam de viro suo sumpta
God himselfe shall praise her, | est: Quia sumpta est (inquit) de
which is best of all. So sure she | viro suo, non quia virum experta
is to be praised, not for the | ... Non enim corruptelæ, sed sexus
present onely, but for euer. And so | vocabulum est. Gal. 4. 4. Luke 1.
this Text besides that it is a | 28. S. Ambr. ibid. c. 5._]
_Promise_, it is also a _Motiue_ to |
stirre vs vp to feare God, that so | [Note: A Promise, and Motiue.]
we also may haue true and eternall |
praise of God. It is both, and | [Note: _I. The partie that shall be
both waies wee to haue vse of it, | praised._]
as of a _Promise_, and as of a |
_Motiue_: both these waies at once; |
_A woman that feareth the Lord she |
shall be praised._ |
|
A weake sex[f] to beginne with, and | [Note f: _1 Pet. 3. 7. Ier. 50.
yet being strengthned by Grace[g], | 37. Nah. 3. 13. Gal. 3. 27, 28._]
no impediment; but that a woman as |
wel as a man may feare the Lord, | [Note g: _--Ex parte natura (nisi
and haue praise of him, and so | sit fortitude maioris gratiæ)
become the partie who shall, and | faciliùs incarnatur ad malum sexus
one Reason too, why _shee shall be | formineus. Bonau. L. 2. d. 21. q.
praised_. | 3. p. 18._]
|
For a woman must be more good than |
nature, art, policie, preferment |
can make her, else shee is not good |
enough for Gods Spirit to praise |
her. He commends neither men nor |
women considered in their pure |
Naturalls only, in that estate of |
corruption, they all heare alike to | [Note h: _Rom. 3. 9._]
their disgrace, that they are _All |
vnder sinne[h]_, _All come[i] short | [Note i: _Rom. 3. 23._]
of the glory of God_, and are _All |
the children of[k] wrath_, because | [Note k: _Ephes. 2. 3._]
they _Are without all feare of |
God_[l] | [Note l: _Rom. 3. 18._]
|
By nature then both sexes are alike |
faultie, alike disc[=o]mendable in |
Gods sight, and so they should be |
in ours. We should not dispraise |
women more than men, for the sex |
sake only (as some doe[m]) because | [Note m: _Eurip. Plutarc. de
they haue as noble soules as men, | Tranquilit Mulier quantibuis proba,
for[n] soules haue no sexes, (as | Mulier tamen est._]
Saint _Ambrose_ saith) nor praise |
women for the endowments of the | [Note n: _Anima enim sexum non
flesh onely (as othersome doe[o]) | habet.--De Virg. som. 1. lib: 3.
vnlesse they be adorned also with | fol. 99._]
the sauing Graces of the Spirit, |
whereof a chiefe one is not noble | [Note o: _Cornel. Agrip. de
birth, great wealth, excellent wit, | Nobilit. foeminei sexus. Bocacius
or rare beautie: but _the feare of | de claris mulieribus._]
the Lord_, his treasure.[A] This |
godly feare is that, that makes a | [Note A: _Es. 33. 6._]
Woman in relation[p] to God, |
praise-worthy. And good reason it | [Note p: _Caiet. in. loc._]
should do so, if we regard the |
weaknesse of a woman, in whom so |
excellent a Grace as _the feare of |
the Lord_, is found, and the |
Noblenesse of fearing the Lord, |
being so found. |
|
First, a womans weaknesse is |
naturally[q] greater than the mans, | [Note q: _Naturaliter etiam maior
and therefore by how much her flesh | lucti est inter carnem et
is weaker, and her spirit lesse | spirit[=u] mulieris quam viri:
willing, by so much the combate she | quantò enim caro eius infirmior, &
hath, is more difficult, and the | spiritus minus promptus, tãtò pugna
victory she gets, more commendable. | dissicilior--& victoria
I know a man (_Blesensis_ by name) | comm[=e]dabilior. Pet. Bles. ser.
that thought two things should | 33. p. 420. Timeo autem ne fortè
excuse him at the dreadfull day of | viri à virginibus iudicentur:
iudgement, the Frailty of his | Comparatione tam[=e] non
flesh, and the Ignorance of his | Auctoritate: quia per duo tantum
minde; but then he feared lest God | scilicet: per Fragilitat[=e] carnis
would iudge men by wom[=e], whose | & Ignorantiam mentis putobã, &c.
sex being more fraile, more | ser. 35. p. 428._]
ignorant than that of mens, were |
for all that oftentimes more holy, |
more deuout than many men. |
|
Secondly, the _Feare of the Lord_ |
is the truest Nobilitie (as |
_Gerson_[r] proues) the noblest | [Note r: _Tractat. de Nobilitate,
grace that can ennoble and extoll a | part. 2. p. 52. lit. E. Et Greg.
man or a woman. Other naturall, | Naz. Orat. 13. tom. I. fol. 352._]
ciuill, and meerely morall |
excellencies, perfections, and |
endowments a woman may haue, nay |
(which is neerest the point) other |
kindes of Feare she may haue, and | [Note B: _2 Kings 9. 34. Act. 14.
yet be base, seruile, cursed as | 25. 1 Ioh. 4. 18._]
_Iezebel_[B], not praise-worthy, as |
namely, if she feare men[C], or | [Note C: _Matth. 10. 28. Es. 51.
what else besides more than God, or | 12._]
not for God (as Saint _Bernard_[s] |
limits) or if shee feare God as a | [Note s: _Convertatur ad ipsum
Iudge, in respect of his | etiam Timor tuus, quia peruersus
punishments only[t], & not as a | est timor omnis, quo metuis aliquid
Father for loue of his goodnesse, | præter eum aut non propter eum. S.
and from an hatred of wickednesse, | Ber. in cap. Ieiun. ser. 2._]
or if she haue cast off the feare |
of the Lord, which shee hath seemed | [Note t: _Quid magn[=u] est,
to haue, or if shee puts off his | poen[=a] timere? Quis enim n[=o]
_Feare_ from time to time, and | timet? quis Latro, quis sceleratus,
continues not in it. | quis nefarius? &c. S. August. de
| Verb. Apost. ser. 15. fol. 332.
Looke we then first to the Obiect | tom. 10._]
of the _Laudable womans feare_, |
that he whom she feareth be the | [Note: I. _The Obiect of her
Lord, in respect of his Mercy and | feare._]
Iustice both; then to the |
continuall employment of her |
_Feare_, not one that hath feared |
him, or will feare him; but one |
that doth feare him for the |
present, and continueth therein, |
else shee is not a woman _Timens |
Dominum_, _Fearing the Lord_, and |
so not worthy to be _praised_. |
|
First then (that the Obiect may be |
right) the [u]_Lord is her feare_, | [Note u: _Deut. 10. 12. 2 King.
who shal be praised. For if He be | 17. 36. Luk. 12. 5. Es. 8. 13.
not, all exquisitenesses besides | Mal. 1. 6._]
are nothing in comparison; and if |
He be, all sufficiencies | [Note x: _Loquacitas in
(remarkable in that sex) are | ædificatione nulla turpis, si
improued, and all Duties | quando turpis. Itaque si de aliquo
(obserueable in the feare of the | bono sermo est, res postulat
Lord) are practised. To see this | contrarium quoque boni recensere.
the better, let vs follow | Quid enim sectandum sit, magis
_Tertullians_[x] rule, and oppose | illummabis, si quod vitand[=u] sit,
one against another, a vessell of | proinde digesseris. Tertul. de
dishonour against a vessell of | Patien. c. 5. tom. 2._]
honour, a woman not Fearing, |
against a woman Fearing the Lord. | [Note: _A wom[=a] fearlesse of
| God._]
She that fears not the Lord, sets |
light by Gods anger and her | [Note y: _Esth. 1. 12, 17, 20, 22.
Husbands[y], not caring whether | Eccl. 26. 26. Es. 36. 9. & 3.
they bee pleased or displeased. | 16. Prou. 30. 33. Eccles. 25.
Shee neglects to plant the feare of | 13. & alibi passim. Vbi verò timor
the Lord in her childrens hearts, | Dei non est, ibi dissolutio vitæ
chusing rather to be an example of | est. S. Aug. de Temp. ser. 213.
wickednesse vnto them, and to | tom. 10._]
misplace them in mariage for |
sinister respects. She brings want |
of things necessary to her family |
by her wastefulnesse, brauery, and |
idlenesse. She contemnes her |
naturall and legall kindred, lifts |
vp her selfe aboue her equalls, |
disdaines her inferiours, |
dishonours her place by an |
ouer-loftie or an ouer-base and |
contemptible behauiour in the same. |
She alienates the hearts of Gods |
people from her, by neglecting the |
offices of courtesies and |
helpfulnesse. She declines and |
vnderualewes the most searching |
meanes of Saluation, the Word, |
Prayer, Conference, Repentance, |
Meditation, Sacraments; in a word |
(according to Saint _Ambroses_[z] | [Note z: _Aliud est timere quia
Distinction) she feares hell | peccaueris, aliud timere ne pecces.
torments, because shee hath sinned, | Et ibi est formido de supplicio,
but shee feares not Gods | hic solicitudo de præmio. Epist.
displeasure, lest she should sinne, | 84. tum. 3. Est quem timor Dei
and therefore shee liues and dies | ligat, qui non expauescit ad vultus
in worldlinesse, wantonnesse, | homin[=u], sed ad memoriam
pride, hatred, variance, | gehennalium tormentorum. Et hic
emulations, wrath, strife, reuenge, | quidem peccare non metuit, sed
impatiencie, gluttonie, or some | ardere. S. Bern. de Tripl.
such darling sinne: and tell me | Coberent: Vincul. &c. Es. 33. 14._]
(Beloued) if such a woman not |
beautified and adorned with |
religion and the feare of the Lord, | [Note a: _Tertul. de Habit. Mulieb.
be worthy to bee praised of the | & de Cultu Foem. tom. 2. S. Cyprian
Lord? I am sure the ancient Fathers | de Discipl. & Hab. Virg. to. 2.
[a]declaime bitterly against her | Greg. Naz. aduers. mulier:
filthy heart, false haire, | Ambitiosè se ornantes. to. 2. S.
adulterate paintings, naked | Ephræm aduers. improbas mulieres
breasts, new-fangled fashions of | tom. 1._ if his workes. _Riuet. l.
superfluous, monstrous attire: & | 3. c. 21._]
the holy Scriptures[b] vilifie her |
to her face, threatning her | [Note b: _2 King. 9. 20, 30, 34.
(notwithstanding all her other | Es. 3. 16, &c. & 32 9, 10, 11. 1
ornaments and excellencies of | Pet. 3. 3, 4. Matth. 5. 36. & 6.
nature, art, policie, preferment,) | 27. Eccles. 25. 13, 19._]
that without this _Feare of the |
Lord, it shall not be well with |
her, Eccles. 8. 13. The Lord will |
come neare to her to iudgement, he | [Note c: _Eccles. 23. 26. Prou.
will be a swift witnesse against | 10. 7._]
her, Mal. 3. 5. She shall leaue her |
memorie to be cursed[c], and her | [Note d: _Eccles. 26. 25._]
reproach shall not be blotted out, |
she shall be counted vngodly of | [Note e: _Eccles. 7. 26_]
all[d], more bitter than death[e]. |
As rottennesse in her husbands | [Note f: _Prou. 12. 4._]
bones[f], As spittle[g],_ yea _As a |
Dogge[h],_ and at last she shall be | [Note g: _Eccles. 26. 21._]
cast into hell fire, _Saluâ Veniâ_, |
without pardon from God, because | [Note h: _Eccles. 26. 25._]
(saith _Tertullian_[i]) she hath |
sinned _Saluo metû_, without any | [Note i: _Sic ergò & ipsi, saluâ
feare of God. | veniâ in gehennam detrudentur, dum
| saluô metû peccant. De pænit. c. 5.
But on the other side what | Reuel. 21. 8. & 22. 15._]
personall sufficiency, what |
singular duty is there requisite in |
a Woman, either in respect of God, | [Note: _A wom[=a] fearing the
or of her husband, children, | Lord._]
kindred, seruants, place, and of |
Gods people, which the life of | [Note k: _Gen. 3. 16. Eph. 5.
Grace, the Grace of the Feare of | 23.33. 1 Cor. 7. 34._]
the Lord doth not animate, aduance, | [Note l: _1 Tim. 5. 10. 2 Tim. 1.
and accomplish? This godly Feare | 5. & 3. 15. Tit. 2. 4. Deut. 6.
ennobleth Nobilitie, beautifieth | 7._]
Beautie, enricheth wealth, teacheth |
wit, wisdome. She that hath this | [Note m: _Prou. 31. 15, 21._
_Feare_, dare not for her heart, | _Matth. 8. 6._]
but be loath to offend her husband, |
and deny her inferiority[k], but be | [Note n: _1 Tim. 5. 4. Esth. 2.
an example of godlinesse to her | 7, 10. & 4. 4. Ruth 4. 15.
children[l], prouide things | Exod. 18. 7._]
necessary for her seruants[m] both |
in health and in sicknesse; loue | [Note o: _Phil. 2. 3. Rom. 12.
her naturall and legall[n] kindred, | 10, 16._]
esteeme her equals aboue her |
selfe[o], countenance and relieue | [Note p: _Iam. 2. 1. 1 Tim. 6.
her inferiours[p], maintaine the | 18._]
dignitie of her place by all such |
vertues as may discharge the[q] | [Note q: _Titus 2. 3._]
same; winne the affections of Gods |
people, to her more and more, by | [Note r: _Luk. 1. 45, 56. Prou.
the offices[r] of courtesies, | 1. 20 & 5. 20 Gal. 6. 10 1 Tim
salutations, gifts, visitations, | 5. 10 Iob 6. 14_]
inuitations and of helpfulnesse; |
yea she that feares God, dare not | [Note s: _Gal. 6. 9. Iam. 1.
for her heart but _Honour them that | 19. 1 Tim. 4. 13. 1 Thess 5.
feare God, Psal. 15. 4._ but keepe | 17. Luk. 2. 37. Ephes. 4. 26.
her set taskes[s] of hearing, | Phil. 4. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 4. Luk.
reading, fasting, praying, | 9. 23. & 14. 26._]
meditating, moderating passionate |
distempers, and of all other | [Note t: _Psal. 18. 23. & 77. 10.
gracious exercises, of | Gen. 39. 9. Prou. 16. 6. & 8.
Selfe-deniall[t]; so that there is | 13._]
not any knowne[u] sinne which she |
nourisheth, alloweth, or goeth on | [Note u: _Gen. 17. 1. Psal. 6. 8.
in, but quaketh and trembleth at | & 116. 9. Act. 10. 33. 2 Cor.
the very first thoughts, yea | 6. 17. Iob 34. 21. Prou. 15. 3.
motions and inclinations thereunto, | & 5. 22. 2 Chron. 16. 9 1 King.
as being in the sight[x] of an | 17. 1. Magna est cautela peccati,
inuisible God, vnder the perpetuall | Dei semper presentiam timere. S.
presence of his All-seeing glorious | Aug. de Temp. tom. 212. tom. 10._]
pure eye, which shee will not |
prouoke to anger by any sinne, for | [Note x: _Multum enim refrænat
all the gold that euer the Sunne | homines c[=o]scientia, si credamus
made, or shall make while it stands | nos in c[=o]spectu Dei uiuere, si
in Heauen[y]. | non, tantum quæ gerimus uideri
| desuper, sed etiam quæ cogitamus,
| aut loquimur, audiri a Deo putamus
| &c. Lact. de Irâ Dei. c.8._]
|
| [Note y: _Es. 3. 8. 1 Cor. 3.
| 22. Psalm. 119. 14.72. 127.162._]
|
This glorious description of a | [Note a: _2 Tim. 1. 7 & 3. 2._]
woman fearing the Lord, is not mine |
(Blessed Brethren) but the | [Note b: _Rom. 8. 15._]
Scriptures, wherein I finde; 1. The |
cause of her Feare to be not | [Note c: _Es. 29. 13._]
Selfe-Loue[a], but the Loue of God; |
not the spirit of Bondage[b]; but | [Note d: _Deut. 4. 10. Es. 66.
the Spirit of Adoption: 2. The | 2. Eccl. 12. 13. Prou. 13. 13._
Obiect of her feare to be not the | _Psal. 119. 161._]
precepts of men[c], but the |
Commandements of God[d]: not his | [Note e: _Psal. 119. 120. & 52.
Threats only[e], but his Promises | 6._]
also[f]: not his Anger only against |
sin[g], but his Mercy also in | [Note f: _2 Cor. 7. 1. Heb. 4.
Christ[h]: not his Presence only, | 1. Psal. 130. 4._]
as a Reuenging Iudge[i], but his |
Forbearance also as a louing | [Note g: _Deut. 5. 9_]
Father[k]. 3. The workings of her |
Feare to be in the heat of | [Note h: _Hos. 3. 5. Psal. 33. 18
temptations and afflictions, not | & 130. 4._]
Despairing[l]; but Beleeuing the |
forgiuenesse of her sinnes, not | [Note i: _Ier. 5. 22. Act. 10. 2,
Limiting God to the present danger; | 33._]
but [m]waiting for his mercy, not |
Distrusting his Prouidence; but | [Note k: _Mal. 1. 6. Os. 3. 5.
hoping for Good[n]: not Murmuring | Hebr. 12. 9._]
against him; but praising Him, and |
praying vnto Him[o], yea (which is | [Note: II. _The continuance of her
the proper Act of her Feare) not | Feare._]
Louing any sin, but hating and |
eschewing all sin[p], not out of a | [Note l: _Ier. 17. 17. Eccles. 2.
slauish terrour of punishment; but | 8._]
chiefly because it is Sinne, an |
Infinite euill; and because an | [Note m: _Psal. 33. 18. 20.
Infinite Good God, whom she loueth | Eccles. 2. 7._]
(saith Saint _Augustine_) is |
offended by it, though she should | [Note n: _Psal. 115. 11. & 56. 3.
neuer goe to Hell-fire to be | Eccles. 2. 9._]
punished for it[A]. |
| [Note o: _1 Cor. 10. 10. Psalm.
| 22. 23. Act. 10. 2._]
|
| [Note p: _Exod. 20. 20. Eccles.
| 15. 13. Prou. 8. 13. & 16. 6. 2
| Tim. 1. 7. 1 Ioh. 4. 18. Hos.
| 3. 5. Psal. 97. 10. Ier. 4. 18.
| & 2. 19._]
|
| [Note A:
| _Verò-Christianus--profici[=e]do
Lastly, in the Scriptures I finde | perveniet ad talem anim[=u], vt
Perseuerance or Constancie[q] to be | plus amet Dominum quàm timeat
euer an inseperable Attendant vpon | Geh[=e]nam: vt etiamsi dicat illi
her Feare! For she is not one that | Deus, vtere delicise carnalibus
hath not yet tasted of this sauing | sempiternis & quantum potes; pecca,
Grace, or else not continued in the | nec morieris, nec in Geh[=e]nam
same; but she is a woman for the | mitteris, sed mecum tantummodo non
present, _Timens Dominum, Fearing | eris; exhorrescat et omninò non
the Lord_. You shall neuer finde | peccet, non iam vt in illud quod
Her otherwise, than (as God would | timebat non incidat, sed ne illum
haue her) _In the feare of the Lord | quem sic amat, offendat. De
all the day long, Prou. 23. Fearing | Catechiz. Rudib. cap. 27. tom. 4.
and keeping his Commandements | fol. 912._]
alwaies, Deut. 4. Doing her Husband |
Good and not euill all the daies of | [Note q: _Ierem. 32. 39, 40.
her life_, verse the 12. of this | Deut. 4. 10. Prou. 23. 17. & 14.
Chapter. | 2. 1 Tim. 2. 15._]
|
It is true indeed, as Feare is | [Note r: _Matth. 28. 20 Es. 43.
opposed to Diffidence, _Luke 1._ So | 1, 2._]
she serves God without a |
Distrustfull Feare all the daies of | [Note s: _Ier. 14. 9. Lam. 3.
her life; because of Gods | 22, 23._]
continuall presence with Her[r], |
continuall mercy towards Her[s], | [Note t: _2 Cor. 12. 9. Es. 26.
continuall power[t] ouer Her, in | 4. & 45. 24. Psal. 121. & 35.
Strengthening, Helping, and | 24. Rom. 8. 26._]
Vpholding Her, _Esai. 41. 10._ But |
yet as Feare is opposed to | [Note u: _Matth. 10. 28. Deut.
Negligence, so she still feares | 28. 58._]
God, lest she should be secure by |
reason of his Power which is | [Note x: _Esai. 29. 15, 16. Psal.
inuincible[u]; of his Wisdome, | 50. 21._]
which is infallible[x]; of his |
Mercy, which is compassionate[y]; | [Note y: _Esai. 43. 25. & 63. 9. &
and of his Iustice, which is | 49. 13, 15._]
inflexible[z]. |
| [Note z: _Esai. 42. 14._]
|
It is as true also (which _Gerson_ | [Note a: _De diuersis tentat.
and others haue obserued[a]) that | Diaboli, part 3. M^r. Greenham 5._
many times a Deuout Soule is so | part, among his Rules for an
disquieted with a slauish Feare of | Afflicted minde.]
the Aduersary; that she feares lest |
she hath not any true Feare of Gods | [Note b: _Esai. 54. 8, 9, 10. c.
Maiestie; but yet (_B. B._) say the | 49. 15. Ier. 31. 3. 36. c. 33. 20,
_Pelagian_ what hee can to the | 21. Ioh. 13. 1. Rom. 8. 38,
contrary, such is the | 39. Mat. 12. 20. Esai. 42. 3._]
Euerlastingnesse of Gods Loue[b], |
Mercie[c], and Couenant[d], the | [Note c: _Psalm. 103. 17. 2 Sam.
Vnconquerablenesse of his Power[e], | 7. 15._]
the Immortality of his Word[f], the |
Certaintie of his Promises[g], the | [Note d: _Psal. 89. 28, 34. Esai.
Efficacie of Christs Spirit[h]; | 55. 3. c. 59. 21. Ier. 32. 40._]
Prayer[i], Merits[k], and of Faith |
in them[l]; yea such is the durable | [Note e: _Ioh. 10. 29. Iude vers.
vigour of this sauing Grace of _the | 24. 1 Pet. 1. 5. Esai. 26. 4.
Feare of the Lord_[m], that being | Psal. 80. 17. Manus Dei est
once rooted by God, (as Saint | ista, non nostra vt non discedamus
_Augustine_ vrgeth) it cannot be | à Deo, manus inqu[=a] eius est
remoued; but through it we may | ista, qui dixit, Timorem meum dabo
perseueringly adhere vnto God | in cor eor[=u] &c. S. Aug. de Bono
according to his promise: _I will | perseuer. c. 7. to. 7. Ier. 32.
put my Feare in their hearts, that | 27._]
they shall not depart from me, Ier. |
32. 40._ with _Psal. 80. 17._ She | [Note f: _1 Pet. 1. 23. 1 Ioh. 3.
then that truely hath this _Feare_, | 9._]
doth so feare the Lord in Loue, and |
loue him in feare[n], that as in | [Note g: _Ephes. 1. 13. Numb. 13.
the midst of Gods not Consuming, | 19. Ios. 21. 45. 1 Ioh. 5. 10.
but Consummating Anger (for so | Hebr. 7. 27. c. 11. 11. Rom. 4.
Saint _Augustine_[o] calls Gods | 21. 1 Cor. 1. 9._]
Anger towards the Godly) shee can |
see the yerning and relenting | [Note h: _Esai. 59. 21. Ephes. 1.
Bowels of a Compassionate Father, | 13, 14. c. 4. 30. Ioh. 14. 16,
so in the height of Satans | 17. 1 Ioh. 2. 27._]
Terrifying iniections, she can |
shunne and abhorre Gods | [Note i: _Luke 22. 32. Ioh. 17.
Displeasure[p], more than all other | 15, 20. Rom. 8. 34. Hebr. 7.
miseries of Punishments, and | 25._]
therefore in what state soeuer she |
be of Consolation or Desertion, | [Note k: _1 Pet. 1. 2, 3, 4, 5. 1
shee is still the same Woman, | Ioh. 5. 4, 18._]
_Timens Dominum, Fearing the Lord_. |
| [Note l: _1 Pet. 5. 9. Ephes. 6.
| 6. Matth. 16. 18._]
|
| [Note m: _Ierem. 31. 40._
| _Perseuerantiam enim promisit Deus,
| dicens: Timorem meum dabo in cor
| eorum vt à me non recedant. Quod
| quid est aliud quàm talis ac tantus
| erit Timor meus, quem dabo in cor
| eorum, vt mihi perseuerantèr
| adhæreant? Idem de Bono Perseuer.
| c. 2. tom. 7. Rom. 11. 29._]
|
| [Note n: _Absit enim vt timore
| pereat amor, si castus est timor._
| _S. Aug. in Psal. 119. tom. 8._]
|
| [Note o: _Est ira consummationis, &
| est ira c[=o]sumptionis, (nam omnis
| Vindicta Dei, Ira dicitur) sed
| aliquando ad hoc vindicat Deus, vt
| perficiat: aliquando ad hoc
| vindicat, vt damnet. Idem in
| Psal. 58 to. 8. s. 599._]
|
| [Note p: _----Qui glutine Deo
Thus wee haue seene who she is, who | conglutinatur, id est charitate ...
_shall be praised_, lest we should | terribilius & horribilius ipsâ
praise Her vnawares, whom we should | Gehenna iudicat, in re leuissima
not praise. And now it were good we | vult[=u] omnipotentis scientèr
did thinke a little better on the | offendere. S. Bern. de Tripl.
Reason, why _she shall be praised_, | Coharen. Vincul._]
euen because she is such _a woman |
fearing the Lord_. | [Note: _The Reason._]
|
For if any thing, so rare and | [Note q: _1 Pet, 3. 7. Vir itaq,
excellent a Grace as the _Feare of | nominatus est, quòd maior in eo Vis
the Lord_ is, should moue vs to | est quàm in foemina, & hinc Virtus
affect it, and labour for it, | nomen accepit. Item Mulier à
especially being found in so weake | mollicie est dicta ... velut
a Vessell as a Woman is[q]. For I | Mollier. Lact. de Ops. Dei. cap.
could tell you, there are more | 12._]
_Michals_[r] than _Abigails_[s], |
more _Iezebels_[t] than | [Note r: _1 Sam. 18. 21. & 25.
_Sarah's_[u], more proud | 41._]
_Vasthy's_[x], than humble |
_Esthers_[y], more Fearefull women, | [Note s: _2 Sam. 6. 16, 20._]
than Women _Fearing the Lord_; and |
therefore the rarer such Phoenixes | [Note t: _1 King. 21. 7. 2 King. 9.
are (as S. _Ierom_ calls them[a]) | 22, 30._]
not _One_ to be found by wisest |
_Salomon_[A], among a _Thousand_, | [Note u: _1 Pet. 3. 6._]
greater is her praise _that feareth |
the Lord_[b]. | [Note x: _Esth. 1. 12._]
|
| [Note y: _Esth. 8. 5._]
|
| [Note a: _Optima foemina rarior est
| Phoenice. Malarum foeminar[=u] tam
| copiosa sunt examina &c. S. Ier.
| epist._]
|
| [Note A: _Eccles. 7. 28. Prou. 3.
| 10._]
|
| [Note b: _Laus tantò maior deferri
| solet, quantò est bonum rarius quod
| exigit Laudem. S. Aug. lib. 1. de
| Ciuit. Dei. cap. 28. tom. 5._]
|
Then I must tell you, that euery | [Note c: _Esai. 8. 12 Col. 2.
Feare is not commendable. Not that | 20._]
Feare which is Hypocriticall, for |
this is Superstition, when men | [Note d: _2 Tim. 3. 2. Mat. 10.
feare the Feare of Idolaters[c]. | 28. Quis animæ Dominator, nisi
Not that feare which is Worldly, | Deus solus? Quis iste, nisi ignium
for this is wicked selfe-Loue, when | comminator? ... Illi potius metum
men feare Men[d], Losse of Goods, | consecand[=u] &c. Tertul. aduers._
Fire and faggot, more than God the | _Gnost. c. 9. tom. 3._]
Onely Soueraigne Commander of the |
Soule, the Only Dreadfull Threatner | [Note e: _Timor Seruilis n[=o] est
of euerlasting Burnings. Nor that | Virtus, quialicet mala declinari
feare which is Seruile[e] or | saciat: non tamen hoc sacit benè,
adulterate[f], for this is no | id est saudibilitèr; immo ilitèr et
Vertue (proues _Paris._) when men | brutalitèr, videlicet solo metæ
feare the _Euill of Punishment_ | feræ, ita enim occupat animum &
only; not the _Euill of Sinne_, as | intentionam timentis, oraculos
an Adulteresse feares the Comming | cordis ad solam poenæ euasionem
home of her Husband; but feares | habeat &c. Paris. de Virtutibus,
not the Committing of Adultery. | fol. 81. lit. H._ & _Paludan. l. 3.
Nor is that feare commendable, | d. 34. q. 3._]
which is Distrustfull or Immoderate |
like _Ruben_ (as _Gerson_[g] | [Note f: _--Coniun quæ adulterinum
alludes) growen great, and lying | anim[=u] gerit, etiam si timòre
with _Bilhah_, for this is | viri non adulterium perpetrat:
Infidelitie when men tie Gods Grace | tamen quod deest aperi, inest
to present deliuerance out of | voluntati, Casta verò alitèr timet:
danger, without a Beleeuing and | nam & ipsa times virum; sed castè.
waiting Spirit for his Mercie, | Deniq, timet illa, no vir insestus
_Esai. 28. 16._ | adueniat, ista ne offensus
| abscedat. S. Aug. epist. 120. c.
| 21. to. 2._]
|
| [Note g: _Ruben violat Balamdum
| nimium grandis effectus est, quia
| timor si simius est, dum se
| custodire nititur, format inutiles
| imaginationes, quibus se connoluens
| à salutaribus impeditur. Tract.
| 10. super, Magnificat. part 3._]
|
But the _Feare_ for which a _Woman | [Note h: _Lege Esaiam: vide quantia
shall be praised_, is informed by | subiecerit timorem vt faceret
Wisdome, instructed by | irreprehensibilam & bonum Timorem.
Vnderstanding, directed by | Spiritus inquit Sapientia &c. Talle
Counsell, strengthned by Might, | Timori Domini ista & est
gouerned by Knowledge, adorned with | irrationabilis & insipiens Timor,
Pietie, as Saint _Ambrose_ collects | vnus ex illis: Foris pugnæ, intus
out of the eleuenth of _Esay_[h]. | Timores. In Psal. 118. Ser. 5.
It is a Faithfull feare trusting in | tom. 4._]
God[i], and making Him her _Feare_, |
_Esai. 8. 13._ and her Hope too in | [Note i: _Psal. 115. 11. & 147.
the Day of Euill, not without this | 11. Esai. 50. 10._]
feruent Prayer vnto Him then: _Be |
not thou a Terrour vnto me, Ier. | [Note k: _Psal. 19. 9_]
17. 17._ A chast and _Cleane |
Feare[k], Cleansing from all | [Note l: _2 Cor. 7. 1._]
filthinesse of the flesh and |
Spirit_.[l] A Reuerent and Godly | [Note m: _Hebr. 12. 28._]
Fear[m], Preparing the heart, |
Humbling the Soule in Gods | [Note n: _Eccles. 2. 17. & 21. 6._]
sight[n], Trembling at his Word[o], |
not Disobeying it, Eschewing[p] | [Note o: _Esai. 66. 2. Eccle. 2.
euill, Working righteousnesse and | 15._]
Giuing much almes[q]. A Blessed |
Feare it is[r], Blessing them that | [Note p: _Iob 1. 1._]
haue it, Blessing the Lord that |
giues it, Praising Him and saying: | [Note q: _Act. 10. 35, 2, 31.
_That his Mercy endureth for | Eccles. 25. 1._]
euer_[s]. |
| [Note r: _Psal. 112. 1. & 128. 1._]
|
| [Note s: _Psal. 135. 13. & 118. 4 &
| 22. 23._]
|
Lastly, it is an Euerlasting Feare, | [Note t: _1 King. 18. 3. 12. Tob.
euer encreasing[t], and _Enduring | 14. 4._]
for euer_[u], though not in respect |
of the Act of Declination or | [Note u: _Psal. 19. 9. Reuel. 7.
eschewing of sinne[x], because in | 10, 11 & 19. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6._]
Heauen there is no feare of |
sinning[y]; yet in respect of the | [Note x: _Bonau. lib. 3. d. 34. q.
Act of Celebration or Reuerencing | 3. p. 89. Tho. Aquin. II q. 79.
God, because there the Saints doe | a. II_]
nothing else; but still Giue Glory |
to Him, and Worship Him with humble | [Note y: _In coelo, vbi non est
Acknowledgement of their owne | peccatum Gloria est & perpetua laus
Vnworthinesse, _Psal. 19. 9._ with | & indefessæ præconia. S. Ierom. ad
_Reuel. 4. 10. 11._ | Therdoram. Epitaph. Lucinij.
| {Offensa
| { &
Now (Honourable and Beloued) though | Timorem {Poenæ. Gloria
I haue set nothing at all besides | {Patriæ
this Heauenly Manna before your | propter coram imperfectionem n[=o]
eyes; yet your full Soules must not | paritur. In tuto enim erimus et
Loath it. For if that only is to be | [(a] poenæ et ab offensa. Paris.
praised which is excellent[z], then | de Virtutibus, lit. A. F._]
(by your leaue) I must stand |
somewhat longer vpon the | [Note z: _Laudare plus est quàm
Excellencie of this _Feare_, before | probare & prædicare. Nam Laudamus
_a Woman_ can be _praised_ that | id quod excellit &c. _Auso. Popma
hath it. | de Differen. Virt. l. 3._]
|
I demand then what doe you count | [Note: The Excellencie of Godly
Excellent? Riches, Honour, Life. | Feare.]
Why, these are neuer well gotten, |
nor well kept; but by _the Feare of | [Note b: _Prou. 22. 4. & 19. 23._
the Lord_. So saith _Salomon_, _By | _Eccles. 1. 11, 12. & 23. 27. & 40.
the feare of the Lord are Riches | 26, 27. & 10. 20, 22._]
and Honour, and Life_[b]. Say what |
you will, it must needs be an | [Note c: _Inter Laudes meas & illa
Excellent thing wherwith Christ | est eximia: quod ipsum Christum
Iesus Himselfe was Filled, and that | Domin[=u] Apothecam, immo fontem
was with _The Spirit of this Feare, | Gratiarum omnium & Virtutum replere
Esai. 11. 2._[c]. An excellent | dictus sum &c. Paris. de Moribus,
thing which God Himselfe so | fol. 99. Lit. P._]
earnestly desires to be still in |
vs, and that is this Feare. _O_ | [Note d: _Deut. 5. 29._]
(saith He) _that there were such an |
Heart in them, that they would | [Note e: _Eccles. 12. 13. Deum
feare me, and keepe my | time--Ergo si hoc est omnis Homo,
Commandements alwaies_[d], which is | absq, hoc Nihil omnis Homo. Serm.
indeed the _whole Dutie of Man_[e]; | 20. in Cant._]
without which (Saint _Bernard_ |
concludes) _Euery man is Nothing_. | [Note f: _Vsus enim humani animi
He is not a Man (reasons a | pendet à Timore conspictus Diuini
Schoole-man[f]) but the Shadow of a | tanquam à primi regula. Caiet. in
Man; because He imployes not his | Eccles. c. 8 13. v._]
Soule to that noble End for which |
he had it, namely, to be squared | [Note g: _Prou. 9. 10. Iob 28.
and ruled _by the feare of the | 28._]
Lord_: without which no man can so |
much as Begin to be wise, because | [Note h: _Eccles. 25. 12._]
this _Feare is the Beginning_[g] |
_of wisdome_, nor so much as _Begin | [Note i: _Leuit. 2. 13. Pet.
to Loue God_, because this _Feare | Bles. ser. 36. p. 430._]
is the Beginning of the Loue of |
God_[h]. It is the _Salt_ (alludes | [Note k: _Psal. 2. 11._]
_Blesensis_) that must be in euery |
_Sacrifice_[i], in euery _Worke we | [Note l: _2 Cor. 7. 11. Eccl. 21.
doe_, so that there is no _Seruing | 6._]
God_, no _Reioycing_ in Him[k], no |
heartie _Repenting_[l], no _Chast | [Note m: _1 Pet. 3. 2._]
Conuersing_[m], no _Perfecting |
Holinesse_[n], no _Working out our | [Note n: _2 Cor. 7. 1._]
Saluation_, but with _Feare and |
Trembling_[o]; nay there is no | [Note o: _Philip. 2. 12._]
_Saluation_, no _Blessednesse_ |
without _Continuing in this | [Note p: _Eccles. 2. 10. 1 Tim.
Feare_[p], _Prou. 28. 14._ Againe, | 2. 15._]
is not that Excellent, that will |
make vs more Excellent than our | [Note q: _Prou. 12. 26. Eccles.
Neighbours[q], that will Exalt vs | 15. 5._]
aboue them, that will keepe our |
hearts from Hardning[r], our Houses | [Note r: _Prou. 28. 14._]
from Ouerthrowing[s]? but nothing |
can doe this; but this _Feare of | [Note s: _Eccles. 27. 3._]
the Lord_. This feare (saith |
_Paris._[t]) can cause a spiritual | [Note t: _Ego sum Tempestas ad
Earth-quake in a mans Heart, able | liberationem & salutem, Terræmotum
to ouerthrow all the Deuils | spiritualem in corde humano
strongest holds, any[u] | faciens, et omnia Diabolica
Bosome-sinne, be it neuer so | ædificia in co subuertens et
pleasing and profitable, by reason | discutiens ab codem. Paris. de
of that Contrarietie and | Moribus fol. 99. lit. F._]
Opposition[x] that is betweene |
Lying in any Sweet Sinne, and | [Note u: _Prou. 8. 13. & 16. 6.
Liuing in Gods Feare and Fauour, as | Psal. 119. 6, 36. 117. 128. v.
you may see, _Leuit. 25. 36._ | Iam. 2. 10. Psal. 86. 11._]
|
| [Note x: _Sed aiunt quid[=a]: Satis
| Deum habere si corde & animo
| suspiciatur, licet actu minus fiat.
| Itaq se saluo metu et fide
| peccare; hoc est Saluâ castitate,
| matrimonia violare, Saluâ pietate,
| par[=e]ti venenum temperare._
| Tertul. de _Poenit. c. 5. tom. 2._]
|
Lastly, this is an Excellent Feare, | [Note y: _Prou. 14. 27._]
because it is _A fountaine of |
Life_[y]: wherefore? _To driue away | [Note a: _Eccles. 1. 21._]
Sinnes_[a], Sinnes which haue beene |
committed by Repentance (saith S. | [Note b: _Timor Domini expellit
_Bernard_) and Sinnes whereto we | peccatum, sine quod iam admissum
are Tempted, by Resistance[b]; and | est, sine quod tentat intrare.
yet this is not all the Excellencie | Expellit sanè illud quidem
of this Feare: For it is _A | poenitende, hoc Resistendo. Serm.
fountaine of life_ also: _To Cause | de Diuers. Affect._]
vs to finde fauour at our |
Deaths_[c]; and which is more, Such | [Note c: _Eccles. 1. 13._]
an Excellent Feare as will make vs |
_Not feare, nor be afraid_[d]. | [Note d: _Eccles. 34. 14. Exod.
Whereupon Saint _Augustine_[e] | 20. 20. Prou. 1. 33. & 19. 23.
concludes for my purpose: _Discat | Psal. 27. 1, 2, 3. & 34. 4
timere, qui non vult timere: Discat | --Auferendi sunt metus, sed ita,
ad tempus esse Solicitus, qui | vt hic solus relinquatur, qui
semper vult esse securus_. Let him | quoniam legitimus ac verus est,
learn to feare, that would not | solus efficit, ut possint cætera
feare: Let him be wary and | omnia non timeri, Lact. de Vero
cautelous for a time, that would be | Cultu. l. 6. c. 17. Qui enim Deum
happie and secure for euer. | veracitèr timet, nihil terrenum &
_Tertullian_ giues the reason[f], | caducum timet, immo ex ipso Timore
because if _We feare to Offend_, by | Dei, ipsis Timoribus
Fearing we will take heed, lest we | supereffertur. Bonau. lib. 3. d.
Offend, and by Taking heed, we | 34. q. 1. p. 62._]
shall be in safetie; otherwise if |
wee presume and be not alwaies | [Note e: _De Temp. Serm. 214. tom.
watchfull ouer our hearts lest they | 10._]
offend, we cannot be _Saued_[g], |
_Ier. 4. 14. Qui solicitus est, | [Note f: _Nam qui præsumit, minus
is verè poterit esse securus_: He | veretur, minus præcauet, plus
that is not ouer-bold on his owne | periclitatur &c. De Cultu Fæm.
strength[h]; but confident in | cap. 2. & de Pænit. cap. 6.--Volo
Christ[i], and liues not securely | te timere & non timere, præsumere &
in the minion-delight of any knowne | non præsumere, timere vt pæniteas,
sinne; but stands in such | non timere vt præsumas. Porro
continuall awe of Gods _Presence_, | præsumere ne diffidas, non
_Precepts_, _Promises_, _Threats_, | præsumere ne torpescas. Ber. cp.
that he dare not so much as once | 87. ad Oger._]
make any offer of incurring his |
Displeasure by the impenitent | [Note g: _Prou. 4. 23. Ier. 4.
Allowance of any sinne in his | 14, 18. & 16. 10, 11, 12. Es. 55.
heart[k], and studies to do euery | 7. Mat. 15. 19. Nec sufficit
Good worke as carefully, as if it | non egisse aliquid impium, si
were the Last he should doe in this | m[=e]te cogitatur impietas. S.
World, and as exactly, as if his | Hilar. in Psal. 65. fol. 424._]
whole Saluation depended vpon it, |
such a Man (in Ancient | [Note h: _Prou 28. 26. Rom. 7.
_Tertullians_ iudgement[l]) may be | 18. & 11. 20._]
truely secure of Perseuering in |
Grace here; and of being Glorified | [Note i: _Phil. 4. 13. 2 Tim. 2.
hereafter[m], _1 Thess. 5. 15, 24._ | 1. & 4. 18. Eph. 6. 10. 2
Once more I haue done. Is not that | Chron. 16. 8, 9. et. 20. 12.
an excellent thing that is for the | Deut. 6. 3, 4. Quicquid est
Good of them that haue it, & of | circa te vel in te unde possis
their children after them? Riches, | præsumere, abjice à te, & tota
Honour, Beautie, Policie, these and | præsumptio tua Deus sit, illius
the like are not oftentimes so, as | indigens esto, vt implearis &c._
we see by woefull experience in | _S. Aug. in Psal. 85._]
_Nabal_, _Haman_, _Absalom_, |
_Achitophel_; but _the feare of the | [Note k: _Psal. 66. 18. 1 Pet. 3.
Lord_ is euer so, _for the Good of | 15. Ez. 33. 31. Psal. 24. 4
them that haue it, and for their | Iam. 4. 8. Heb. 10. 22. Redi
children after them_, as the | ad te, intus tibi esto iudex. Ecce
Prophet saith, _Ier. 32. 39._ and | in cubiculo tuo abscondito, in ipsa
God himselfe before him, _Deut. 5. | vena intima cordis tui vbi tu solus
29._ | es, & ille qui videt; illic tibi
| displiceat iniquitas, vt placeas
| Deo.... Parum est in vultù, parum
| est in lingua, in corde noli
| respicere, id est, noli diligere,
| noli acceptare. Idem in Psal. 65.
| to 8._]
|
| [Note l: _De cultu Fæm. cap. 2. to.
| 2._]
There is no want to them that haue |
this _Feare_ of any Good thing that | [Note m: _2 Thess. 3. 3. 2 Tim.
is Good for them[n]. For first, | 2. 19. Ioh. 15. 16. Luke 10.
_Psal. 25. 14. The secret_, that | 20. Ioh. 16. 22. & 10. 28, 29.
is, _the feare of the Lord, is with | v. Psal. 35. 5. & 125. 1. Prou.
them that feare Him_; and is not | 10. 30._]
that enough, though I should say no |
more with the Psalmist, because | [Note n: _Psal. 34. 9, 10.
_Godly Feare is Gods Treasure, | Eccles. 40. 26, 27. & 1. 16._]
Esai. 33. 6._ and _Better little |
with it_ (saith _Salomon_) _than | [Note o: _Prou. 15. 16._]
Great Treasure_[o]? But there is |
more behind to moue you further to | [Note p: _Psal. 25. 14._]
affect this Excellent Grace. For if |
you will _Feare the Lord_, He will | [Note q: _Mal. 2. 5._]
shew you his _Couenant_[p] _of life |
and peace_[q], _Teach you the way | [Note r: _Psal. 25. 12._]
that you shall chuse_[r], _Haue a |
Booke of remembrance written before | [Note s: _Mal. 3. 16._]
Him for you_[s]: _Hee will Arise |
vnto you the Sunne of | [Note t: _Mal. 4. 2._]
Righteousnesse with healing in his |
wings_[t]: _He wil hide you in his | [Note u: _Psal. 31. 20, 21._]
presence from the pride of men_[u], |
_Keepe you secretly in a Pauilion | [Note x: _Eccles. 33. 1._]
from the strife of tongues, Deliuer |
you in Temptation euen againe_[x]; | [Note y: _Psal. 147. 11._]
yea _He will take pleasure in |
you_[y], _Pitie you as a Father | [Note a: _Psalm. 103. 13. Mal. 3.
doth his children_[a], _Fulfill | 17._]
your Desire_, _Heare your crie and |
saue you_[b]. And what is all this, | [Note b: _Psal. 145. 19._]
but in a word (the word of my Text) |
_Hee will praise you_, which is the |
Thing Promised to _a woman fearing |
the Lord_. |
|
_Ipsa Laudabitur: She shall be | [Note: II.
praised._ | _The thing promised._
| _In what respect to_ Ipsa.]
She shall be so; but may not that |
labour be spared? For a man would | [Note c: _Prou. 28. 4 & 24. 24. &
thinke, she hath been praised all | 17. 15. Eccl. 10. 23, 29. Tho.
this while; because Godly Feare, | Aquin. 22. q. 115. a. 2. Corp._]
the Grace of God in Her, and the |
onely cause of her Praise, hath | [Note d: _Ego carnis bona quæ
beene alreadie so much commended | semper & ipse contempsit, in animæ
vnto you? No (Beloued) my Text (you | laudibus n[=o] requiram----ad
see) applies and appropriates this | Heliodor. Epitah. Nepot._]
praise to _Ipsa_, Her own Person, |
by vertue indeed of _the Feare of | [Note e: _Prou. 27. 14. Vox autem
the Lord_. For were it not for | grandis, laus excedens mensur[=a]
that, it were better Contemning | Meritorum hîs intelligetur--Paris.
Her, yea Contending[c] with Her, | de Moribus. fol. 123. lit. M._]
than Commending Her, because that |
is a constant marke of the Godly to | [Note f: _Es. 26. 12. 1 Cor. 15.
Contemne the vngodly, _Psal. 15. | 10. & 12. 6. Phil. 2. 13. Ier.
4._ This, of the wicked to Praise | 32. 40._]
the wicked, to Blesse the Couetous, |
whom _the Lord abhorreth_, _Psal. | [Note A: _Laudari in bonis operibus
10. 3._ It is not her Friendship, | debes; sed in eo quod operaris,
no nor _Carnis bona_ (as Saint | homin[=u] laudes expectare non
_Ierom_[d] calls them) _the Good | debes--Deus Laudetur in operibus
endowments of the flesh_, can | tuis. De statu Vidu. ad Gallam
priuiledge him from a _Curse_, if | epist. 2. Si qua sane in Sanctis
so be, he praise her without or | digna laude vel admiratione
aboue[e] her Deserts, _Prou. 27. | intueor, clará luce veritatis
14._ Onely _the feare of the Lord_, | discutiens, profectò reperio
with the excellent fruits thereof, | Laudabilem siue Mirabilem alium
is Gods Gift[f], for which (saith | apparere atque alium esse, & Laudo
_Fulgentius_[A]) she ought, and he | Deum in Sanctis eius. S. Bern.
may safely commend her, because | Ser. 13. in Cant._]
then, not shee; but _Gods Grace_ in |
her is _Praised_, _Ephes. 1. 6._ | [Note g: _1 Pet. 3. 4. Enimverò
Yea then, _not she_, but _God | quis non animæ dabit summam omnem,
himselfe is Glorified_ in Her, | cuius nomine totius Hominis mentio
_Gal. 1. 24._ | titulata est. Tertul. de Anima.
| cap. 13._]
But what? is not _She Praised_, |
when Her Husband, Her Children, Her | [Note h: ... _Nihil in illâ
Kindred, Her Friends, Her | laudabo, nisi quod propr[=u] est._
Attendants, Her Wit, Her Wealth, | _S. Ierom ad Princip._ And so of
Her Beautie, Her Nobilitie, or all | _Paula_ he saith. _Nihil laudabimus
these and the like of Hers are | nisi quod proprium est & de
commended? Yes, all these come very | purissimo sanctæ mentis fonte
neere Her, and mutually receiue | profertur. Id. ep. ad Eustoch. Nam
lustre and eminencie from this | cum omnia opera sua laudauerit
Godly Feare; but they are not | Deus, coelum, terram &c. vbi ad
_Ipsa_, Her selfe, that is,[g] | Homin[=e] v[=e]tum est, solus non
principally Her Soule truely | videtur esse laudatus propter quem
Generous, and ennobled with the | omnia generata s[=u]t. Quæ igitur
_Feare of the Lord_. Vntill such an | causa est, nisi fortè ea, quia alia
Humble Soule be found in Her, She | in specie sunt, Homo in occulto?
is not She, that _shall be adorned | quia aliorum Gratia foris, huius
with the Garment of praise_, _Esai. | intus est. Aliorum in Natiuitate,
61. 3._ Therefore Saint _Ierom_[h] | huius in Corde.--Ideo ergò homo non
would not commend in Noble | antè laudatur, quia non in forensi
_Marcella_ any thing saue Her owne | pelle, sed in interiore Homine antè
Godly selfe. _Ipsa Laudabitur_: She | probandus, sic prædicandus est._
is She that shall be Praised. | _S. Ambros. Instit. Virg. cap. 3.
| tom. 1._]
And so we see how far forth Praise |
is to be extended to Her. Now to |
speak of the Extent of Her Praise: |
Let the word haue his full |
latitude. _Laudabitur_ is generall, | [Note i: _2 Ioh. 1. 1. Hebr. 13.
no kinde is limited. 1. Therefore | 1. Ephes. 5. 25._]
for the Extent, to be praised euery |
manner of way. 2. For the Time when | [Note k: _1 Thess. 5. 13._]
it shall be best for her. 3. For |
the Praiser, by him who can best | [Note l: _Mark. 14. 9. Psal. 112.
doe it. Of all these briefly. | 6._]
|
First, what praise she shall haue. | [Note: I. _What Praise she shall
1. Euen that (which being true) is | haue. The Extent of Laudabitur._]
euer accompanied with Dearest Loue |
to her person[i]. 2. Highest | [Note m: _Gen. 23. 2. Ioh. 11.
estimation of Gods abundant graces | 33, 35. 1 King. 14. 13. 1 Thes.
in Her[k]. 3. Frequent | 4. 13. Eccles. 22. 11, 12 & 38.
Commemoration of them[l]. 4. | 16, 17._]
Moderate Lamentation at her |
Death[m]. 5. Solemne Funerals | [Note n: _Act. 8. 2. 2 Chron. 32.
according to the Dignitie of her | 33._]
place[n]. 6. And aboue all, with |
precise imitation of her excellent | [Note o: _Iam. 5. 10. Hebr. 12.
Vertues[o]. All this Honour God | 1. & 13. 7. 1 Cor. 11. 1._]
allowes Her, that honours Him with |
His Feare[p]. But because all | [Note p: _1 Sam. 2. 30. Deut. 26.
Praise is properly in Words (as the | 19. Ioh. 12. 26. Esai. 8. 13.
Schoole-man teacheth[q]) and better | Timor Hominis, Dei Honor est.
words shee cannot haue to praise | Tert. de Poenit. c. 7_]
Her, than God himselfe speakes[r], |
therefore she shall be Commended in | [Note q: _Tho. Aquin. 22. q. 103.
no other, neither in regard of God, | a. 1. ad 3._]
nor of her Husband, Children, |
Kindred, Seruants, and Gods People. | [Note r: _Psal. 12. 6._]
|
First in respect of God, she shall | [Note s: _Psal. 16. 3._]
be praised for One of his |
Excellent[s], Hidden Ones[t]: for | [Note t: _Psal. 83. 3._]
one of his Iewels, which hee will |
make vp[u]: for His Daughter[x], | [Note u: _Mal. 3. 17._]
His Sister[y], His Mother[z], His |
Spouse[a], His Loue[b], His | [Note x: _2 Cor. 6. 18,_]
Doue[c], His Faire[d] one, as Faire |
as the Moone, as Pure as the | [Note y: _Cant. 4. 9._]
Sun[e]: as the Moone by inherent, |
and as the Sun, by imputed | [Note z: _Matth. 12. 50._]
Righteousnesse. To her Husband she |
shall bee commended, as the Louing | [Note a: _Hos. 2. 19._]
Hinde and pleasant Roe[f], the |
Desire of his eyes[g]; An Helpe | [Note b: _Cant. 2. 10._]
like vnto Himselfe[h]; His |
Companion[i]; for A Pillar of | [Note c: _Cant. 2. 14._]
rest[k], so that He shall haue no |
need of spoile[l]; for a Good | [Note d: _Cant. 2. 13._]
Portion[m], a speciall Fauour[n] |
and Gift of the Lord[o]; a Double | [Note e: _Cant. 6. 10._]
Grace[p], Doubling the number of |
his Daies[q], Fatting his bones[r], | [Note f: _Prou. 5. 19._]
and making him knowne in the Gates, |
when he sitteth among the Elders of | [Note g: _Ezek. 24. 16. Eccles.
the Land[s]: for a Tower against | 36. 22._]
Death vnto him[t]: A greater |
Blessing vnto him than either House | [Note h: _Gen. 2. 18. Eccles. 36.
or Inheritance[u], Aboue children | 24._]
and the Building of a Citie to |
continue his Name[x], yea for a | [Note i: _Mal. 2. 14._]
Crowne vnto her Husband[y], not a |
Gold-ring on his finger; nor a | [Note k: _Eccles. 36. 24._]
chaine of Gold about his necke, nor |
a Brouch in his hat; but for a | [Note l: _Prou. 31. 11._]
Crowne vpon his head (an Ornament |
more conspicuous and eminent than | [Note m: _Eccles. 26. 3, 23._]
the former, the Principall Ensigne |
of Princes[z]) gracing him that | [Note n: _Prou. 18. 22._]
hath her, as much as a Crown doth |
Him that weareth it: so that there | [Note o: _Eccles. 26. 14._]
is none aboue her, that feareth the |
Lord[a], None greater than she, not | [Note p: _Eccles. 26. 15._]
Great Men, nor Iudges, nor |
Potentates[b]: Her Grace is aboue | [Note q: _Eccles. 26. 1._]
Gold[c]. Her Price is farre aboue |
Rubies[d]. Her Continent minde | [Note r: _Eccles. 26. 13._]
cannot be valewed[e], and by reason |
of Her, her Husband is a Blessed | [Note s: _Prou. 31. 23._]
Man[f], Not like other men[g]. |
| [Note t: _Eccles. 26. 22._]
|
| [Note u: _Prou. 19. 14._]
|
| [Note x: _Eccles. 40. 19._]
|
| [Note y: _Prou. 12. 4. Non annulus,
| non torques aureus, non monile, sed
| Corona. Cartw. in Prou._]
|
| [Note z: _Psal. 21. 3. Esth. 2.
| 17_]
|
| [Note a: _Eccles. 25. 10._]
|
| [Note b: _Eccles. 10. 24._]
|
| [Note c: _Eccles. 7. 19._]
|
| [Note d: _Prou. 31. 10._]
|
| [Note e: _Eccles. 26. 14. 15._]
|
| [Note f: _Eccles. 26. 1._]
|
| [Note g: _Eccles. 36. 23. Sine
| Muliere igitur Homo non habet
| Laudem, in Muliere prædicatur, &c.
| S. Ambros. Instit. Virg. cap. 3.
| tom. 1._]
To Her Children shee shall be |
Commended; because by her they haue | [Note h: _Prou. 14. 26. & 11. 22._]
a place of Refuge[h]; by Her they |
haue good meanes to bring and | [Note i: _Deut. 5. 29. Psal. 112.
continue true Honour vpon them[i], | 2._]
and if They (the Fruit) be a great |
Blessing[k] (as it is to haue Issue | [Note k: _Psal. 127. 3._]
by such a One) what is the Root |
that beareth it[l]? | [Note l: _Psal. 128. 3._]
|
But I must hasten: How shall she be | [Note m: _Gen. 29. 9._]
Praised in respect of her Parents? |
euen as _Rachel_[m] for doing | [Note n: _Eccles. 3. 7._]
seruice to them as to her Masters |
(the true propertie of one that | [Note o: _Ruth. 4. 15._]
_feareth the Lord_[n].) In respect |
of her kindred by mariage, as | [Note p: _Ruth. 1. 8._]
_Ruth_, louing them[o], Dealing |
kindly with them[p], and Cleauing | [Note q: _Ruth. 1. 14. & c. 2. 11_]
vnto them[q]. And in respect of her |
kindred by bloud, as _Esther_, who | [Note r: _Esth. 2. 20._]
did the Commandement of _Mordecay_ |
when she was a Queene, like as when | [Note s: _Esth. 4. 4._]
she was brought vp with Him[r], who |
was exceedingly grieued at his | [Note t: _Esth. 4. 16._]
Griefe[s], and procured the |
Enlargement and Deliuerance of her | [Note u: _Esth. 8. 3._]
kindred with her _Feasts_[t], her |
_Teares_[u], and the Hazard of her | [Note x: _Esth. 4. 11, 16._]
_Life_[x]. |
| [Note y: _Prou. 14. 1._]
In regard of her Seruants also, she |
shall be commended because she | [Note z: _Prou. 31. 14._]
Buildeth her House[y]: _Shee is |
like the Merchants ship, She | [Note a: _Prou. 31. 15._]
fetcheth her food from farre_[z], |
_She giueth meat to her | [Note b: _Prou. 31. 21._]
Houshold_[a], _She cloatheth them |
all with Scarlet_[b], _and Shee | [Note c: _Prou. 31. 27._]
looketh so well to their waies_[c], |
that _As the Sunne when it ariseth | [Note d: _Eccles. 26. 16._]
in the high Heauen; So is her |
beautie in the Ordering of her | [Note e: _Reuel. 12. 1._]
House_[d]. |
| [Note f: _Gal. 3. 28._ Ephes. 4.
Lastly, because all the Essentiall | 15.16. Cant. 2. 10.--Cum ipsos
Glory and Fairenesse, which is to | cogitatis amantes, non virum &
bee found in the whole Church, _The | Foeminam, sed verbum &c. Animam
Woman cloathed with the Sunne_[e], | sentiatis, oportet. Et si Christum
as that of Iustification & | & Ecclesiam dixero, idem est, nisi
Sanctification &c. belongs to euery | quod Ecclesiæ nomine non vna Anima,
Member of the Church[f], and | sed multarum vnitas, vel potius
c[=o]sequently to euery _Woman | vnanimitas designatur._ S. Bern.
fearing the Lord_, therefore to | serm. 61. in Cant._]
Gods people she shall be commended, |
as one of the Hands of the Church | [Note g: _Cant. 5. 5._]
_dropping with sweet smelling |
Mirrhe_[g]: as the _Curtaines of | [Note h: _Cant. 1. 5._]
Salomon_[h]; _As a Lilly among |
thornes_[i]; _A Garden inclosed_: | [Note i: _Cant. 2. 2._]
_A Spring shut vp_. _A Fountain |
sealed_[k]. | [Note k: _Cant. 4. 12._]
|
But when shall shee haue all this | [Note: II. _When she shall be
Praise and of whom? Not by and by, | Praised._]
nor of Euery one[l], for Praise is |
not comely in the mouth of euery | [Note l: _Luk. 6. 26. Eccles. 15.
one, of euery scoffing _Ishmael_. | 9._]
|
But first of the Time. | [Note m: _Esay 28. 16. 30. 18. 40.
| 31. 64. 4. Heb. 10. 36, 37, 38.
Many when they heare a Promise (and | Hab. 2. 3, 4._]
a Promise I told you at first, this |
is) thinke to haue it by and by; | [Note n: _1 Cor. 4. 5._]
but they marke not, that a Promise |
and the Fruition of it is not all | [Note o: _1 Pet. 1. 7. Et nos
at once. It must be waited for[m], | ergò n[=o] a nobis laudem exigamus,
especially this Promise of Praise: | nec præripiamus iudicium Dei &
_Vntill the Lord come_ (as the | præueniamus sententiam iudicis, sed
Apostles limit the Time) _and | suo Tempori, suo Iudici
then_, at his Appearing, _she shall | reservemus. S. Ambros. in Luc. l.
haue praise of God_[n]. _Then at | 8. c. 17. tom. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 5.
his Appearing_[o], _Her Faith shall | Eccles. 11. 27.28._]
be found vnto Praise and Honour, |
and Glory_. Therefore in the mean | [Note p: _Nam si laudari antè
while, best for her to _Feare the | Gubernator non potest quam in
Lord_, and so be praise-worthy, | portum nauem deduxerit: quomodò
than to be praised for the present. | laudabis Homin[=e] prius quàm in
| stationem mortis successerit? S.
1. Not only because it is safest | Ambr. de Bono Mort. c. 8. tom. 4.
praising Her as a Master of a ship | Meritò ergò differtur, vt sequatur
is (saith S. _Ambrose_[p]) when she | foenerata eius Laudatio, cuius
is safely arriued in the Hauen, | dilatio non dispendium; sed
past all danger of shipwracke: or | incrementum est ... Et ideo
growing more proud by her praise | laudatio eius non in exordio; sed
(which many Liuing doe) as _Herod_ | in fine est. Nemo enim nisi
for one[q], and that Philosopher | legitimè certauerit, coronabitur.
for another, whose soule being | Ideoq, sapiens tibi dicit: Antè
before no bigger than a mans | mortem non laudes hominem quemquam.
finger, became so puft vp and | Ratio. Quia in fine hominis
swolne with others commending him, | nudantur opera eius. Id. Instit.
that (as _Arrianus_ reports) it | Virg. c. 3. tom. 1._]
grew greater than two Cubits[r]. |
| [Note q: _Act. 12. 21._]
2. Nor only because actuall praise |
is in the lips of the praiser, and | [Note r: _Arrian. Epict. l. 3. c.
so a wicked woman may be praised, | 2._]
and yet not be worthy of it, and a |
godly woman may be praise-worthy, |
and yet not haue it, whereas |
praise-worthinesse is euer in the |
partie to be praised, and fewest |
(you know) haue this worth; but |
many haue praise without it, |
therefore praise-worthinesse is the |
Nobler Grace of the two, and |
consequently best for a Woman to be |
worthy of praise, though she be not |
praised for the present. |
|
3. But one of the chiefest Reasons |
is this; because indeed all our |
earthly praise is _Laudatur_, that |
is, for the present; but continueth |
not. Is, but shall not be. |
Sometimes a godly woman is |
commended, and sometimes she is |
not. As S. _Paul_ praised the |
_Corinthians_[s], _Now I praise you | [Note s: _1 Cor. 11. 1, 22_]
Brethren_, and by and by he saith: |
_Shall I praise you in this? I |
praise you not_: whereas This |
praise here promised so Is, that it |
_shall be_ still, and that cannot |
be in this Transitory world; but in |
Heauen, where Her praise that |
feareth the Lord for euer, endureth |
for euer: _Laudabitur, She shall be |
praised_. |
|
The best Time then for commending | [Note: III.
Her is yet to come, and that from | _Of whom shee shal be praised._]
Him who can best doe it; But I must |
tell you first, this Time should | [Note t: _2 Kings 9. 11. Act. 24.
neuer come, could the scoffing | 5. & 26. 24. Neh. 6. 13._]
_Ishmaels_ of our daies be heard |
railing vpon, iesting at, belying | [Note u: _Tert. Apolog. c. 7. &c.
and slandering Her and Him _that | Arnob. aduers. Gent. M. Fælix in
feareth the Lord_. It was euer | Octau._]
their Deuillish propertie[t] with |
many disgracefull censures to dimme | [Note x: _Gratias ago Deo meo, quod
the glory of the children of Light, | dignus sum, quem mundus oderit._
spitefully to aggrauate their | _S. Ierom. Asellæ._]
tender frailties, rather than to |
commend their vnreproueable Graces. | [Note y: _Ephes. 5. 15. Phil. 4.
So of old they scourged the | 8, 9. 2 Cor. 8. 20. 1 Pet. 2.
Primitiue Christians with their | 12. Heb. 11. 39. Eccl. 41.12.
viperous, virulent tongues[u]; but | --Nec ex nobis scintilla
as Saint _Ierome_ thanks God that | procedat, per quam aduersus nos
He was counted worthy to be hated | sinistræ famæ flamma confletur--Nos
of the world[x]; so should euery | id agamus, vt malè de nobis nemo
good man and woman, not much | loqui, absque Mendacio possit._
trouble themselues for the vniust | _Paulin. epist. ad Celant._]
censures and disconceits of |
witlesse and worthlesse |
prophanenesse; but rather (as |
_Paulinus_[y] exhorts) haue more |
regard to their good name, lest any |
sparkle or appearance of euill |
truly proceed from them, whereby |
any flame of euill report may be |
kindled, and so to liue, that none |
may speake euill of them without |
lying. For maugre the malice of all |
Sensualists, the Time will come, |
when euery man and woman that |
feareth God, shall haue praise of | [Note z: _1 Cor. 4. 5._]
God[z], 1 Cor. 4. which is the best |
praise, when all is done[a], 2 Cor. | [Note a: _2 Cor. 10. 18. Iob. 12.
10. Yea (Beloued) that you may not | 43._]
count _the Lord slacke_ concerning |
his promise[b], Saint _Iames_ tells | [Note b: _2 Pet. 3. 9._]
you, This _comming of the Lord |
draweth neere_[c]: _Behold the | [Note c: _Iam. 5. 8, 9._]
Iudge standeth at the doore, He is |
readie to iudge the Quicke and the |
Dead_ (saith Saint _Peter_[d]) | [Note d: _1 Pet. 4. 5._]
readie to commend them, whom the |
world hath condemned; and to |
condemne them, whom worldlings haue |
commended: readie to reueale vnto |
the whole world the good workes of |
the godly, _Honorifico pietatis |
testimonio_, with an honourable |
approbation of their blessed |
godlinesse; & also to reueale vnto |
the whole world the wicked Deeds of |
the vngodly, _Manifesto impietatis |
vituperio_, with a publike, and |
open, vncontrouleable |
Discommendation of their cursed |
wickednesse[e]: yea the Iudge is | [Note e: _Mat. 25. 34, 41._]
ready to turne _Laudabitur_ into |
_Laudatur_, her praise worthinesse |
that feareth Him for euer, into |
euerlasting Praise; so that should |
her Husband and Children faile to |
praise Her, which yet they do not, |
for they commend Her in the 29. |
verse of this Chapter, saying: |
_Many daughters haue done |
vertuously; but thou excellest them |
all_[f]: or should the Godly cease | [Note f: _Prou. 31. 28, 29._]
to praise Her, which they will |
neuer do either here or in | [Note g: _Cant. 6. 9._]
Heauen[g]. Here Her remembrance is |
so sweet in all their mouthes, that | [Note h: _Eccles. 39. 10. Eccles.
they say:[h] Let her Memory be | 44. 15. Eccles. 49. 1._]
blessed: _Let her bones flourish |
out of her place_; and _Let the | [Note i: _Eccles. 46. 11, 12._]
name of Her that was honoured be |
continued vpon her Children_[i]: or | [Note k: _Reuel. 4. 13._]
should Her owne workes giue ouer |
praising Her in the Gates, which | [Note l: _Gen. 4. 4. Act. 10.
they are forbidden to doe, vers. | 35. 1 Pet. 2. 5._]
31. of this Chapter; yet God |
himselfe will haue _Her workes | [Note m: _Hebr. 13. 15._]
follow her to Heauen_[k], and |
_Accepting of her_[l], and _Them, | [Note n: _Esai. 8. 13._]
by Christ Iesus_[m], _Hee himselfe |
will praise Her, that hath made Him | [Note o: _Deut. 10. 21._]
Her Feare_[n], _Her praise_[o], |
saying: _Well done thou good and | [Note p: _Matth. 25. 21._]
faithfull seruant, thou hast beene |
faithfull ouer a few things, I will | [Note q: _Perfecta Die laudatio
make thee ruler ouer many things, | magis anim[=a] perficit, quàm Dei
Enter thou into the ioy of thy | fruitio, quia magis lætatur in
Lord_[p]. Where it is best to leaue | Gloriâ & plus gaudebit de Dei
Her, euen with her Lord, taking | gloriâ & honore, quàm de suâ
more ioy (as a Schoole-man teacheth | Glorificatione, & plus iocundabitur
truly) in praising Him, than in | in laudando Domin[=u], quàm in
contemplating her owne praise, in | consider[=a]do proprium bon[=u].
Glorifying God, than in her owne | Bonau. l. 3. d. 1. q. 1, p. 66._
Glorification[q]. | A selm. Prosolog. c. 15. & 16._]
|
But though we haue brought a Godly |
Woman where she would be, to |
Heauenly Praise, and Honour, and |
Glory, and found them by Gods free |
fauour in Christ giuen vnto Her; |
yet who is such a Woman? We haue |
not found Her yet; and why not yet? |
Because among other reasons, as |
Saint _Ierom_ was afraid to entreat |
of the Death of that Venerable |
Matron _Paula_[r]; so am I to | [Note r: _Quid agimus anima? cur ad
speake of the Decease of this | mortem eius venire formidas?--S.
Honourable Lady. Therefore giue me | Ier. Epitaph. Paulæ. Epist. ad
leaue (beloued) to deferre the | Principiam. Gal. 3. 28._]
vncomfortable Passions of her |
Death, vntill I be a little better |
heartened by relating some of the |
laudable actions of her Life. |
|
For the subiect then of my Text, I | [Note: _Application. The Lady
dare say, in regard of the | deceased. Mulier Tim[=e]s
Description thereof, your owne | Dominum._]
consciences haue made the |
Application, and doe witnesse for |
Her, that She was _A Woman fearing |
the Lord_. A Woman indeed, & so the |
_Weaker Vessell_[s], yet | [Note s: _1 Pet. 3. 7._]
neuerthelesse Honour to be giuen |
Her in that respect; but rather the |
more (as Saint _Peters_ inference |
will allow) because though shee had |
_This Treasure of the Feare of the |
Lord in an Earthen and in a Weaker |
Vessell_[t], yet Gods strength was | [Note t: _Esai. 33. 6. 2 Cor. 4.
made perfect in her Weaknesse. And | 7._]
it is S. _Ieroms_ rule[u], you |
should iudge of Vertues, _Non | [Note u: _--Non considerantes
Sexa, sed Animo_: Not by the Sex, | Holdam & Annam ac Debboram, viris
but by the Minde and constant | tac[=e]tibus prophetasse, & in
purpose of a Regenerate Heart: This | seruitute Christi nequaquam
makes the Difference of force in | differentiam Sexuum valere; sed
the seruice of Christ, not either | Mentium. S. Ierom. Eustoch._]
Male or Female. |
|
Suruey then (if you please) as | [Note: _The workings of Godly feare
briefly as you wil, the seuerall | in regard of Her: Husb[=a]d:
workings of Her Godly Feare. | Children._]
|
First to Her Head, her Subiection |
and Helpfulnesse like that of Saint |
_Augustines_ Mother to his | [Note x: _S. Aug. Confess. lib. 9.
Father[x]. | cap. 9._]
|
To Her Children, her tenderest |
Affection and Sollicitousnesse to |
plant _the feare of the Lord_ in |
their hearts, to fit them with |
worthy Matches out of Religious |
Families, to adorne her onely Sonne |
with the richest endowments of |
Grace and Learning: Witnesse her |
Letters to that Learned |
Professour[A] in our famous | [Note A: Doct. _Prideaux_ Rector of
Vniuersitie, worthy to be kept as a | Exceter College in _Oxford._]
Monument of her truly Noble spirit |
and Godly Desire (like that of | [Note y: _Greg. Nazian. in Laudem
_Gregory Nazianzen's_ Sister) to | Gorgon. Orat. 25._]
haue the fruit of her Body become |
the fruit of the Spirit[y]. | [Note a: _S. Ier. ad Princip.
| Nusquam sine Matre &c.--_]
To Her Parents, shee was another |
_Rachel_, another _Marcella_[a]. | [Note: _Parents._]
|
To Her Kindred by mariage another | [Note: _Kindred._]
_Ruth_, and to them by bloud |
another _Hester_. |
|
To Her Seruants, shee was | [Note: _Seruants._]
bountifull in their Health; |
compassionate (as _Fabiola_[b]) in | [Note b: _Id. Epitaph. Fabiola._]
their Sicknesse, either of Minde or |
of Body, prouiding for them (like |
the Centurion) both spirituall and |
corporall Physicke. |
|
To All, Her whole Deportment was so | [Note: _Religious Deportm[=e]t to
Louely, so sweet, what _by the law | all._]
of kindnesse in her tongue_[c], |
Salutations, Gifts, Almes-Deeds, | [Note c: _Prou. 31. 26._]
Visitations, Inuitations, and by |
other offices of courtesies and |
Hospitalities, that Her Amiable |
Behauiour was a powerfull Meanes, |
an attractiue Load-stone to draw |
vnto Her the hearts and loues of as |
many as knew Her, yea as but heard |
of Her. |
|
But vnto Gods children she euer | [Note: _Especially vn-vnto Gods
only afforded the dearest pangs, | people._]
the highest Degree of her kindest |
Affection[d]: Their company she | [Note d: _Psal. 16. 3. Psal. 119.
most loued, and they Hers. Not so | 63, 79. Gal. 6. 10. 1 Pet. 2.
much in regard of Her fauour | 17. Coloss. 1. 4._]
towards them, which was great; but |
chiefly by reason of that spiritual |
Helpe and refreshment, which they |
might get by conuersing with Her in |
the choicest passages of |
Sanctification. For shee had the |
Art to vphold holy conferences |
about perplexities of conscience, |
Relapses into sin, and Remedies |
against the same: Shee had the |
skill to beget many ioyfull |
Meditations of mortifying Grace and |
euerlasting Glory: She had the |
Zeale to nourish Heauenly |
mindednesse, boldnesse in the |
waies, and cheerefulnesse in the |
exercises of Religion and Deuotion. |
|
Touching Her submission to the | [Note: _Constant vse of the Meanes
Meanes of Saluation: O what delight | of Saluation._]
shee tooke here and in _London_, to |
heare conscionable and searching |
Sermons! It was Her onely Pleasure |
in that Citie (as she professed) to |
frequent them there; yea what |
Griefe was it vnto Her (as it was |
vnto Saint _Ambrose_) to heare of |
the Death of any of Gods zealous | [Note e: _Paulin. in Vitâ D.
Ministers[e]? | Ambros._]
|
And should I be silent, yet Her |
Oratory in her house hereby, this |
Church too (a part whereof her |
Zeale, together with her Honourable |
Husbands Loue to Gods House newly |
erected) that Closset also of Hers |
in _Truro_, yea euery place almost |
would speake aloud of her constant |
reading, hearing, meditating on the |
Word, solemne Humiliations, |
solitary conferences with her God, |
feruent prayers and eiaculations, |
which (as the sweetest incense) |
shee euer and anon sent vp to the |
Throne of Grace for the pardon of |
her sinnes, the fauour of God, the |
spirituall Good of her Dearest |
Husband, Children, and Gods Church. |
|
But adde vnto all these, another | [Note: _Vnfained Resolution to
more speciall, essentiall, and | mortifie her most preuailing
superiour working of Her Godly | Sinne._]
Feare, and that was Her continuall |
Combating against all sinne, euen |
Her most commanding sin whatsoeuer |
that was[f]. For there was a time | [Note f: _Psal. 18. 23. Rom. 7.
to my knowledge, when after the | 21, 22, 23, 24._]
preaching vnto Her of the power and |
efficacie of Gods promises, and of |
Christs Death and Resurrection, for |
the mortifying and mastering of any |
bosome and beloued sinne, you might |
easily see in Her, how willingly | [Note g: _Psal. 119. 6, 8. Act.
she yeelded vnto the Sanctifying | 11. 23._]
worke of the Holy Ghost for the |
Ouer-comming of her strongest | [Note h: _Mic. 7. 18. 1 Ioh. 1.
corruptions, how heauily shee was | 9. Rom. 6. 14. Ez. 36. 25. 2
displeased with relapses into | Cor. 12. 7, 9._]
smaller offences of daily incursion |
against the generall and constant | [Note i: _Rom. 6. 4, 5, &c. Vis,
purpose[g] of her heart not to | inquam, illa Christi mortis nobis
sinne in anything; how faithfully | communicatur, vt per h[=a]c
she rested vpon those sweetest[h] | Christivim moriamur peccato, sicut
promises of God (which she | Christus peccato semel mortitus
confessed she had not erst so well | est, id est, non vt peccatum nobis
weighed) for the mortifying of | non imputitur, (id enim ad
speciall infirmities, and how | Iustisicationem pertinct) sed vt
vnfainedly shee resolued to set her | peccati vis iam non sit in nobis
Faith on worke, to draw not onely | efficax, immo verò contrà freti vi
assurance of pardon from the Merit | illâ Christi, cui per Spiritum
of Christs Death and Resurrection; | Sanctum coniuncti sumus, peccatum
but also that Power and efficacie | occidamus.--pistiemò quia non satis
which is in them, to _Die to Sinne, | est n[=o] peccare; sed etiam benè
and Liue to Righteousnesse_.[i] | agere oportet, eadem vis illa
| Christi, quâ victor peccati et
This was the Life of this Elect | mortis in carne nostrâ viuere
Lady fearing the Lord, and | coepit Deo--nobiscum communicata
therefore she hath right and | coepit Deo--nobiscum communicata
interest to all those Honourable | facit vt &c. Beza epist. Theolog.
Attributes of Praise, which you | 45. p. 211._]
heard euen now God himselfe giue |
her in His owne words. | [Note k: _Eccles. 8. 8._]
|
But O my Soule what dost thou? Why | [Note l: _S. Ierom. Eustoch.
art thou yet afraid to come to her | Epitaph. Paul._]
Death? as if while I held my peace |
and were busied in Her Praises, Her | [Note m: _Neq, par[=u] distat inter
Death could be deferred? Alâs it | has lachrymas Deuotionis & ætatis
could not by all the Meanes that | vtiq, iam virilis, atque eas quas
were vsed. For _No man_ (saith the | primæus ætas inter infantiæ vagit'
Preacher) _hath power ouer the | emisit, lachrymas vtiq, poenitentiæ
spirit to retaine the spirit_[k]. | & confessionis. Veruntamen longè
Then speake of her Death I must, | amplius vtrisque procèdunt aliæ
and yet (to make vse of S. | quæd[=a] lachrymæ, quibus in
_Ierom's_ words in a like case) | funditur sapor vini. Illas enim
_Quis possit siccis oculis Paulam | lachrymas verè in vin[=u] mutari
narrare morientem[l]?_ Who can | dixerim, quæ Fraternæ Compassionis
relate the Death of the Lady | affectu in feruore prode[=u]t
_Frances Roberts_ without shedding | charitatis, pro qua eti[=a] ad
some Teares of Compassion, of | horam tui ipsius immemor esse,
Deuotion, yea and of Compunction | sobria quad[=a] ebrietate videris._
too[m]? Shee deserues some Teares | _S. Bern. in Epiph. Dom. Serm. 3._]
from vs (Beloued) as well as from |
the Poore, weeping now and shewing | [Note: _Bountie to the Poore._]
the Coats and garments which this |
_Dorcas_ made for them, while she | [Note n: _Act. 9. 36._]
was with them[n]. |
|
But to stop the current of them a |
little longer. Begin we with Gods |
mercifull preseruation of Her in |
_London_ from the noysome | [Note: _Thãkfulnesse for
Pestilence; because she | Deliuerance from the Plague._]
acknowledged it (as was meet) with |
humble Thankfulnesse[o]. And then | [Note o: _Psal. 91. 7. Psal. 50.
remember, that vpon Her returne | 15. Psal. 33. 1._]
home, being summoned by Sicknesse, |
by and by she set her _House in |
order_, like _Hezekiah_; She spake |
to the Hearts of Her Children, |
Friends, and Seruants, that were |
then about Her (like _Iacob_) by |
putting them in remembrance of Her |
Departure and their Duties: She |
hungered and thirsted after the |
Body and Bloud of Her Dearest | [Note: _Worthy receiving the
Sauiour, which shee receiued with | Sacrament._]
Due Examination[p] of Her |
Knowledge; Faith; Loue and | [Note p: _1 Cor. 1. 28._]
Repentance, with reuerent Gesture, |
heartie Thankfulnesse, deuout |
Attention, and very Fruitfully to |
the greater strengthning and |
refreshing of Her Soule then |
trauelling for the other Life. |
|
And now (Beloued) that she lieth on |
the bed of Languishing, we must not |
be austere in reprehending euery |
Infirmity; but Pitifull in |
considering the tender frailtie of |
it. |
|
For what though shee were (as Sicke | [Note: _Passionatnesse by reason of
folke are commonly[A]) more | Spiritual and Bodily Dist[)e]per._]
Passionate than others, yea than |
Her selfe in Her health, yet if God | [Note A: [Greek: Dusareston hoi
iudgeth not according to the | nosountes aporias hupo] _Eurip.
strange Effects and Symptoms of Her | Orest._]
sicknesse, not according to the |
short moment and violent passions |
of Her Death; but according to the |
holy Actions of Her Health, the |
former Affections of Her Heart, and |
the Generall Course of Her Life[q]; | [Note q: M^r. _Greenham_. 1. Treat.
then it is our Dutie, not seuerely | for Afflict. Consc. fol. III. part
to censure her passionatenesse, who | 2.]
by reason of the parching Feauer of |
the Spirit, as well as of the Body, |
was disquieted in her Imagination |
(as the Physitian of the body could |
discerne) though not in her Memory. |
Consider therefore O Man (as that |
excellent Physitian of the Soule |
aduiseth thee[r]) if thou canst | [Note r: _Id. Of Death, fol. 9.
beare with a fraile Body, that thou | part 2._]
must much more beare with a fraile |
Minde and Body too. Consider also O |
Man, that this her Pettishnesse did |
more wound her to the heart, than |
any iniury thou couldst presse her |
with. Neither doe I speake this to |
nourish passion in any, or to proue |
her Anger to be Sinlesse[s]; but to | [Note s: _Vitemus ergò aut
be a lesse Sinne, because her | temperemus irac[=u]diam: ne sit
Spirituall and Bodily Distemper was | eius aut in Laudibus exceptio, aut
so great, or rather because her | Off. lib. 1. cap. 21._]
Faith quenched the flame of this |
fiery passion in Christs Bloud, |
resolued and melted her heart into |
many penitent Teares afterwards. | [Note: _Repentance for the same._]
Oh, said she to me, (pressing her |
with _Dauids_ example, _Psal. |
131._) In my Health I could digest |
any iniury, and deemed it base and |
vngodly, not to be able to doe so; |
but now (I know not how) me thinkes |
I am ouer-tender in bearing them. I |
am impatient indeed, and then I |
weepe for my impatiencie. For I |
know (as she her selfe vrged) _The |
wrath of Man doth not accomplish | [Note t: _Iam. 1. 20. Psalm. 4.
the Righteousnesse of God_[t]. | 4._]
|
Thus shee was Angrie with her selfe | [Note u: _Ephes. 4. 26. Vel certè
for being Angrie with others, and | sic: Si irascimini, vobis
then (according to Saint _Ambroses_ | irascimini, quia commoti estis, &
rule) it ceased towards them before | non peccabitis. Qui enim sibi
the Sunne went down[u]; and was not | irascitur, quia citò c[=o]motus
this Holy Reuenge on her selfe a | est, desinit irasci alteri. Id.
true fruit of Euangelicall | ibid._]
Repentance? _2 Cor. 7. 11._ |
|
But aye me! me thinkes I now heare | [Note: _Her Agonie._]
her groaning vunder the dolefull |
pangs of Death, vnder those pangs |
of which shee had foretold saying: |
I shall suffer much more ere I goe |
hence. And can any haue the heart |
to heare her groaning pangs, |
without renting his owne heart from |
his darling pleasure? without |
lamenting his owne sinnes, which |
vnlesse he forsake betimes, will |
bring him to euerlasting | [Note x: _Ezek. 18. 13, 30._]
Burnings[x]? or without learning to |
compassionate euery weake one, to | [Note y: _--Si quem viderimus
assist any one yeelding vp the | pauper[=e] moriturum, sumptu
Ghost, because (as Saint _Ambrose_ | iuvemus, & dicat vnusquisq,
giues the reason[y]) the holy | nostrûm: Benedictio morituri in me
Peophet _Iob_ desired the Blessing | veniat: Si qu[=e] viderimus
of one, that lyes a Dying: | debilem, non deseramus, si quem in
_Benedictio morituri, in me veniat: | extremis positum, non relinquam^s._
Let the blessing of him that is | _S. Ambros. de Bono Mort. cap. 8.
readie to die, come vpon me!_ | tom. 4._]
|
Let vs then, not yet, leaue this | [Note: _Deuotion at Her Death._]
Departing Saint. For in the midst |
of this her Agonie, after shee had |
layen groaning many houres without |
any articulate or distinct speech, |
yet vpon triall made of Her sense |
and memory by demanding of Her, |
whether she would haue prayers made |
for Her, she answered plainly: With |
all my heart, pray, pray. And then |
as _Gregory Nazianzen_[a] reports | [Note a: _Orat. 28. de Funere
of his Father, that though He was | Patris. Tom. 2._]
daily, yea hourely, in great paine |
before his Death, yet He was euer |
still and quiet from paine, onely |
while Diuine Seruice was saying; so |
this Deuout Lady forgetting (as it |
were) Her former Groanings, did |
listen attentiuely to the prayers |
that were made for Her, without |
fetching so much as one sob during |
that time. And afterwards |
rehearsing distinctly part of the |
Lords Prayer, you might heare Her, |
when S. _Stephens_ Vision and last |
words[b] were read vnto Her, repeat | [Note b: _Act. 7. 53, 56, 59._]
very often these last words of Her |
Sauiour[c]: _O Heauenly Father into | [Note c: _Luke 23. 46._]
thy hands I commend my spirit_. |
Thus on a sudden I haue told you | [Note A: _Reuel. 14. 13._]
how she _Dyed in the Lord_[A], and |
is _with Christ_[B]. | [Note B _Phil. 1. 23._]
|
And though we saw her afterwards |
mouing her lips; but heard not her |
Voice, no more than they that were |
at Saint _Ambroses_ Death did heare | [Note d: _Paulin. in D. Ambros
his Voice; but only saw his lips | Vita._]
moue[d]; yet we must not thinke |
_The Spirit of strength_[e], of | [Note e: _Esai. 11. 2._]
_Prayer_ and _Grace_[f], is then |
onely strong, when we heare a Dying | [Note f: _Zach. 12. 10._]
Saint pray, because Christs Spirit |
cries in Gods Children, _Abba, |
Father_[g], with Vnutterable | [Note g: _Gal. 4. 6._]
Groanings[h] which we cannot heare, |
and therefore I doubt not, but this | [Note h: _Rom. 8. 26._]
Elect Lady cried loudest in Gods |
eares, when we heard not her words; |
and why may we not thinke now, our |
sinnes hindered vs from hearing |
them? I am sure, heretofore she |
hath spoken againe and againe many |
Heart-piercing speeches to deterre |
from Sinne, and to allure to |
Holinesse of Life. If she be not |
hearkened to now, henceforth wee |
shall heare Her speake no more. _I |
charge you therefore before God and |
the Lord Iesus Christ, and the |
Elect Angells_:[A] you (I say) I | [Note A: _1 Tim. 5. 21._]
charge whomsoeuer shee hath iustly |
reproued for any Sin, that you |
forsake those Sins; and whomsoeuer |
she hath zealously exhorted to holy |
Duties, that you performe those |
holy Duties, for henceforth you |
shall heare Her speake no more. |
|
But why should I detaine thee | [Note: _Conclusion. Sed quid ego te
(Honourable Lady) any longer? Or | morer Frater? quid expectem? vt
what doe you (Beloued) expect more? | nostra tecum c[=o]moriatur et quasi
That our speech also should Die | consepeliatur oratio? S. Ambr. de
together with Hers, and (as it | Obitu fratris. Tom. 3._]
were) be Buried together with Her. |
O my Blessed Brethren, suffer |
neither this Godly Lady, nor Gods |
word to depart so dishonourably |
from you. |
|
Suffer not Her so to depart from | [Note: I.
you; but let her euer liue in your | _Imitation of Her Vertues._]
breasts by Esteeming Her very |
highly in loue for Her workes sake, | [Note i: _Ideò laude oris ad
by Commemorating Gods Graces in | Hominem vtimur, vt alios apud quos
Her; but aboue all by Imitating her | laudatur, in bonam opinionem, &
Faith and Vertues[i]. Then you | Reuerentiam, & Imitationem ipsius
shall not need to grieue very much | inducamus. Thom. Aquin. 22. q.
for Her Absence from you; because | 91._]
she is _with Christ, which is best |
of all_[k]; because she is _Taken | [Note k: _Phil. 1. 23.--Et Christum
away_, not from you; but _from the | lædimus cùm euocatos quosque ab
euill to come, Esai. 57. 1._ From | illo quasi miserandos non
you shee is not Taken, but from | æquanimitèr accipimus. Cupio,
seeing the plagues and miseries of | inquit Apostolus, recipi iam ...
this wretched world, yea from | Ergo votum si alios consequutos
seeing the future Deaths of you, | impatientèr dolemus, ipsi consequi
Her Dearest friends[l], for whom | nolumus. Tertul. de Patient. cap.
she would haue wept full bitterly; | 9. Temperet sanè Dilecti Gaudi[=u],
but you haue greater Cause, if you | moestitiam desolatorum, &
will heare S. _Ambrose_ and S. | tolerabilius fiat nobis, quod
_Ierome_ comforting themselues in a | Nobiscum non est, quia cum Deo
like case, to Reioyce[m] and to | est. Ber. in Cant. ser. 27._]
giue God thankes[n], that you Haue |
had Her, nay that you Haue Her, if | [Note l: _Non enim nobis ereptus
so be you follow Her good example, | es, sed periculis.--raptus est ne
and represent her to the life by | totius orbis excidia, mundi finem,
your Godly Life. | propinquor[=u] funera, &c. S.
| Ambros. de Obitu Fratru. fol. 17._]
To conclude: I beseech you all |
(Blessed Brethren) Suffer not the | [Note: II.
Word of God, which you haue heard | _Practise of Gods word._]
this day, for want of the Feare of |
God, which is _The firmest | [Note m: _Lætandum est enim magis,
foundation of Gods word_[o], to | quòd talem fratrem habuerim, quàm
vanish into aire, into nothing, to | dolendum, quòd fratrem amiserim.
rebound from your flintie hearts | Illud enim munus, hoc debitum est._
(as a shaft shot against a wall of | _Idem ibid. fol. 13._]
Adamant[p];) but in Gods Name, Let |
the Sword of Gods Spirit sunder | [Note n: _Non mæremus quod talem
euery one of our minion sinnes from | amisimus, sed gratias agimus, quòd
our bosomes: Let Gods pretious | habuimus, immo habemus. S. Ierom.
promise here of praising a _Woman | Epitaph. Paulæ._]
that feareth the Lord_, feare vs |
from our strongest corruptions. | [Note o: _Basis quædam Verbi est
_Atq vtinam præconia foeminarum, | Timor sanctus. Sicut enim
imitarentur viri_. And I may well | simulachrum aliquod in Basi
wish with Saint _Ierome_, that Men | statuitur----ita verbum Dei in
would emulate and imitate Women in | Timore Sancto melius statuitur,
their deserued attributions of | fortiùs radicatur, hoc est, in
Praise[q]. Lastly, if you desire to | pectore timentis Dominum--S.
know, besides this motiue of | Ambros. in Psal. 118. Serm. 5._]
obtaining Heauenly praise, what |
other Meanes you should vse to get, | [Note: III. _Means to Godly
keepe and increase such a godly | Feare._]
Feare in you, then consider the |
examples of Gods dreadfull | [Note p: _Iam. 1. 22. Zach. 7.
iudgements[r] on them, that Feare | 12._]
Him not, yea on Christ Iesus |
Himselfe pursued for our sins[s] to | [Note q: _S. Ierom. epist. ad
the fulnesse of Bitternesse by the | Furiam._]
iustice of God, consider that |
first. Then remember your owne | [Note r: _1 Cor. 10. 11. Reuel.
Deaths to haue them before you[t], | 14. 7._]
remember your strict Accounts to be |
made[u], remember the restlesse | [Note s: _Esai. 57. 11. & 53. 5.
Terrour of Conscience[x], which | Mat. 27. 46._]
followes the impenitent, and then |
or neuer you will _Feare the Lord | [Note t: _Eccles. 3. 14. Iob 7.
Greatly_, as _Obadiah_ and this | 1. Psal. 39. 4. & 90. 12._]
Blessed Lady did. Be not deceiued |
(my Brethren) after all this | [Note u: _2 Cor. 5. 10. Matth.
Hearing, it is not a Little Feare | 12. 36._]
will serue the turne. For to Feare |
God but a little (as _Fulgentius_ | [Note x: _Rom. 2. 15. Reu. 6.
saith) is to contemne Him very | 16. Psal. 18. 23. Prou. 8.
much[y]. It must bee at least so | 13._]
Great a Feare, as must feare you |
from your Greatest, your Sweetest | [Note: IV. _So Great a Feare as
Sinne whatsoeuer that be, else if | must feare vs from our Bosome
you Die in it[a] without Repentance | Sinne._]
(which God forbid) your _Worme |
shall not die, neither shall your | [Note y: _--Hunc si quis parum
fire be quenched, and you shall | metuit, valde contemmi--B. Fulg. de
be_, not a praise, but _an | Myst. Mediat. ad Trasim. l.2. pag.
Abhorring to all flesh_, the last | 215._]
verse of the Prophet _Esay_ with |
_Iames 2. 10._[b], and _Ezekiel. | [Note a: _Si in solo vno peccato
18. 10, 11, 13._ | decesserit Homo, irreuocabilitèr
| mittitur in ignem æternum--Gerson.
| 2. p. de Mendicit. Spirit. lit. D &
| H. part. 3._]
|
| [Note b: _Ex parte enim Auersionis
| dicit Iacobus qui offendit in vno
| factus est omnium reus, quia
| scilicet vno peccato peccando
| incurrit poenæ reatum, ex hoc, quod
| contemnit Deum, ex cuius contemptu
| prouenit omnium peccator[=u]
| reatus. Aquin. 12. q. 73. a.1 ad
| fin. Peccatum enim remitti non
| potest, quam disi Voluntas peccato
| adheret. Idem. p. 3. q. 87. a. 1.
_Knowing therefore_ (as Saint _Paul_| c. & q. 86. a. 2. c. Vnde non
concludes[c]) _the terrour of the | potest esse vere poenitens, qui de
Lord, we perswade you_ (Blessed | vno peccato poenitet, & non de
Brethren) _to feare God_ Greatly, | alio. Si enim displiceret ei illud
and to _Giue Glory vnto Him_[d]; | peccatum, quia est contra Deum
then you _shall haue praise of | super omnia dilectum--Sequeretur,
Him_, then hee _will glorifie_ you; | quod de omnibus peccatis
and to say no more than this (with | poeniteret. Id. q. 86. a. 3.
the Prophet _Ieremie_[e],) which | c._]
will make the Fearlesse Sinner |
inexcusable: _Who would not feare | [Note: V.
thee O Lord, thou King of Nations, | _Reasons to feare the Lord._]
thou King of Saints?_ 1. _For thou |
onely art Holy:_ 2. _For all | [Note c: _2 Cor. 5. 10, 11._]
Nations shall come vnto thee, and |
worship thee_: 3. _For thy | [Note d: _Reuel. 14. 7._]
iudgements are made manifest_[f]: |
4. _For there is none like vnto | [Note e: _Ier. 10. 7._]
thee, that pardoneth Iniquitie, and |
passeth by the Transgression of the | [Sidenote: VI.
remnant of thy Heritage[g]?_ Who | _Prayer for Godly Feare._]
would not Feare Thee such an |
_Almightie, All-seeing, Iust, | [Note f: _Reuel. 15. 4._]
Mercifull Lord God? Put thy feare |
therefore in our Hearts_ (as thou | [Note g: _Mic. 7. 18._]
hast promised[h]) _that wee may |
neuer depart from thee_; but | [Note h: _Ier. 32. 39._]
clinging inseparably by a liuely |
faith, vnto the bleeding wounds of | [Note i: _Si enim amamus Christum,
our Blessed Redeemer, may without | vtiq aduentum eius desiderare
all slauish Feare[i] of Death and | debemus. Peruersum enim est, &
Iudgement, Louingly[k] appeare | nescio vtrum ver[=u], quem diligis,
before thy Iudgement-seat, and | timere ne veniat, orare, Veniat
without desperate _Crying to the | regn[=u] tu[=u], & timere, ne
mountains and rocks Fall on vs_[l], | exaudiaris. Vnde autem timor? ...
may ioyfully heare Thee say vnto | Quisquis ergò futur[=u] iudic[=e]
vs: _Come ye Blessed of my Father, | times, præsent[=e] c[=o]scienti[=a]
Inherit the Kingdome prepared for | tu[=a] corrige. S. Aug. in Psal.
you from the foundation of the | 147. tom 3._]
world_[m]. |
| [Note k: _2 Tim. 4. 8._]
Which God grants vnto vs all, for |
the All-sufficient Merits of his | [Note l: _Reuel. 6. 16._]
Dearest Sonne, the Sweet Lord |
Iesus: To whom with Himselfe and | [Note m: _Matth. 25. 34._]
the Holy Spirit be ascribed _All |
Praise, Honour, Glory, Power, |
Dominion and Maiestie, now and |
euer. Amen. Amen._ |
FINIS.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Praise of a Godly Woman, by Hannibal Gamon
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