sowe in their Children the seedes of pride and idlenes by keeping them in the fashion for their haire face attire gesture complement c. neglecting the old fashion after which God made them to set them vp on high the churlish thistles daughter must marry with the Cedars sonne only for his height plodding to leaue them rich though gracelesse a greater fault there is in some other parents whose indeauour is to dishearten and hinder their forward children in good courses like the Scribes and Pharisees will neither enter heauen nor suffer those that would I aduise children to honour their parents because of our precept but God more because of many parents are deare Christ dearer their loue precious his inestimable the parents care may adorne the body this feare of the Lord is the soules ornament Secondly this serues to vnuaile the deformed pouertie of such women as want this Iewell though faire yet faithlesse and may be compared to an Irish bogge or quagmire which appeares greene and solid till it be tried then opens her mouth to deuoure the passenger such are faire rich women without grace to looke vnto they are like a bed of downe to touch like a bundle of the sharpest thornes whosoeuer deales with them had better grapple with a nest of snakes their ornaments are all outward and such as are indeede the disgrace of Christianitie borrowing poudering frizeling and cutting of their haire naked breasts ear-rings nose-iewels with strange fantasticke fashions yet what a gay show doe such make esteeming themselues no meane persons no more they are not for they are alwaies in extreames how haughtie are they walking with stretched-forth neckes wanton eyes tripping nicely as they goe how are they admired by simple ones that know them not when as there is nothing in them praise-worthy it must needs bee folly flâ—ttery or both to commend them if wee giue them the fruit of their hands and let their owne workes speake for them what a haruest must they reape will they not blush to heare and see pride idlenesse lust drunkennesse laid before them as their owne Oh consider this yee back-sliding proud wanton wine-bibbing loud-speaking daughters the fruit of your hand shall be giuen you when nothing can be spoken of you but will dispraise you here and after death your name and memory shall rott away it is not a bare out-side will praise you nor painting that can preserue you your muffes ruffes laces lawnes perfumes rings bracelets with the rest of that deceitfull burthen a compleatly fashionable woman in our age beares a little packe about her laid aside what is left but a barren carcasse that neuer did nor is like to receiue any good without speedy repentance and reformation Let no vertuous Matrons be discouraged hereby nothing is spoken against yea I haue comfort for them in store Feare not yee I know you feare and seeke the Lord Iesus and what can daunt you should pouertie Christ is your riches sicknesse Christ is your health contempt in this world honoured you are and shall be in heauen want of a good complexion alas it is nothing and it may be it is in mercy those that haue it sinne more about it and encrease sinners amongst men or of due proportion amongst the partes of the body mee thinkes a little grace doth abundantly supply all defects in nature a woeman that feares God appeares alwaies most amiable and louely though in bodie neuer so deformed let this Iewell of the soule comfort you against all other crosses though you had nothing else in this world glorie in this that you know and feare the Lord. I may stay no longer here let me exhort you that haue heard or by any other meanes shall heare what I haue deliuered this day to affect true prayse bee wiues indeed and truth like helpfull parts in a liuing body not in name and shew onely like artificiall eyes which supplying the roome performe no part of the office of an eye wiues neglecting their dutie when they should be helpfull become hurtfull are but the shadowes of wiues and were they shadowes onely it were well with those that haue them if you would haue the reward doe the worke of good wiues seeke the chiefest Iewell weare the best ornament then know though fauour be deceitfull and beautie vanitie yet a woeman that feares the Lord shall be praised We all stand bound to acknowledge this grace in those woemen on whom God hath bestowed it husbands children neighbours yea the whole Church must giue them the fruit of their hands whence arises for our instruction this third and last conclusion That it is a necessary no arbitrary action to giue vertuous women their due commendation beautie is vanitie and fauour deceitfull not worthy naming but a woman that feares the Lord shee shall bee praised that is acknowledged for such and commended besides this precept we find the spirit of God hath practised it else-where it is storied of Ruth Ruth 3.11 that all the people of the Citie did know her for a vertuous woeman that is acknowledge commend and praise her of Abigail 1. Sam. 25.3 that she was a woman of a good vnderstanding in the booke of Kings 2. Kings 4.9 we find the good Shunamite commended and our blessed Sauiour himselfe enioynes it to bee done of one woman Math. 26.13 for a good worke performed by her wheresoeuer this Gospell shall be preached in the whole world there also shall this that this woman hath done be told for a memoriall of her So of Tabitha the spirit records Acts 9.36 that she was full of good workes and almes-deeds which she did Neither is it without Gods guiding prouidence but by speciall direction that humane histories haue beene such faithfull records of the acts of vertuous woemen I confesse some haue impiously dipt their pens ouer-deepe in the waters of Marah going to describe the female sexe so painfully publishing their owne disgrace Suetonius makes mention of Claudia who seeing her father riding through the streets of Rome to be pluckt from his triumphant Chariot by the Tribunes with a masculine boldnesse freed him from their hands placed him againe in his seate and neuer left till shee saw him receiued withall magnificent pompe into the Capitoll Solinus mentions another Romane Lady who when her mother was committed to straight prison by the Triumuiri there to be starued to death shee nourisht her with the milke of her owne brest Plinie tels vs of another who did the like vnto her owne condemned Father Wee read of Alceste that died to saue the life of her husband Admetus drawing from her owne chaste breast such and so many solid drops of blood as erected for her selfe a liuing monument of honour to out-last time the like instance I find in Iulia the wife of Pompey mentioned by Plutarch in Portia the wife of Brutus commended to vs by Valerius Maximinus and in Pompeia Paulina the wife of Seneca with
without this all the rest are little worth chuse no wife praise none chosen without some signes of grace some manifestation of the power of Religion Thirdly it is required she be obedient humble chaste sober discreete in her carriage and outward behauiour obserue a woman in her house table and furniture for order and dsposition of things left to her trust in her cloathing going laughing and talking and you may quickly discerne her what she is in these as in a glasse the minde is represented formall hypocrites faile manifestly in some of these when an honest heart keepes a decorum in all Secondly you may iudge of a woman by what you heare of her not from euery tongue some inuent to publish what may please their owne or the itching fancie of an il-willing neighbour some passe sentence rashly without Iudgement or experience vpon heare-say from others as bad as them selues so fame becomes a liar but from the best and most iudicious who are so obseruant of good things that a gracious woman cannot misse a good report where ere she liues Feare not omit not to giue such a one the fruit of her hands and let her owne workes praise her in the gates A sort of men there haue beene and are a viperous broode of degenerating Adamites who doe so basely deiect woeman-kinde as to thinke and say nothing they can doe is praise-worthy so their actions though painfull and pious neuer come in remembrance to be spoken of or in a cold slight and scornefull manner onely how highly these offend and dishonour God Almightie in denying them the worke of their owne handes and disesteeming that exact part of his workemanship I would they knew enuying the good they might see in them or fretting at their praise Notwithstanding this vnnaturall spight and wicked behauiour of some men in denying women due praise and giuing them the heauy fruit of their vnmanly hands beating in stead of praising who haue their reward what comfort and encouragement should the consideration of this Scripture yeeld to godly vertuous and religious woemen though men should not yet God you see doth respect you hee hath done it and will continually raise vp others to giue you the fruit of your hands onely remember to doe worthily in Ephrata Ruth 4.11 and you shall be famous in Bethelem You cannot lose the reward of wel-doing 1. Cor. 15. vlt. your labour is not in vaine in the Lord sowe nothing you will be ashamed to receiue Gal. 6.7.8 9 10. in due season you shall reape if you faint not your owne good workes of pietie and charitie done during life though all things else should conspire in a sinfull silence shall speake and praise you in the gates Of the Text hitherto And now for conclusion it may bee expected and is as it hath beene a commendable custome in this and other Churches in the purest season I should adde something in particular concerning the occasion of our meeting which is to interre the Corps ere-while containing a vertuous soule of Mistris Marie Crosse And were not my purpose such I should be iniurious to her name vniust to her desert and first of all giue ill example in thwarting my owne Doctrine which I hope through Gods grace enabling I willingly neuer shall It is no arbitrary but a necessary dutie to giue this good woeman some part of her due commendation for the comfort of the shruiming friends and the encouragement of many vertuous Matrons left behinde To name the Text onely were sufficient Fauour is deceitfull and beautie vanitie but a woman that feares the Lord shall be praysed You are all perswaded I doubt not she was a woman that feared the Lord heartily and therefore must be praised deale iustly with her giue her the fruit of her hands and let vs permit her owne good workes to speake for her and praise her in the gates For my owne part as Peter and Iohn answered the Scribes and Rulers Acts 4.20 I cannot but speake of her the good things I haue heard and seene willing and resoluing as Ierome concerning Marcella to praise nothing in her but what was truely made her owne by the gift of God What Boaz said of Ruth in her is fitly verified You haue all long knowne her to bee a vertuous Matron euery way commendable whether wee consider her as a Woeman as a Wife or as a Christian As a Woman with her Birth and Parentage I was neuer acquainted this I know what the Scripture speakes of Abigail applies it selfe vnto her she was a Woman of a good vnderstanding wise iust sober chaste louing discreete in all her actions temperate in wordes in pleasure diet apparell from faults I exempt her not sinnes shee had inward corruptions whereof she would often complaine with teares else we nor shee had beene here to day As a Wife you haue beene eye-witnesses of her dutifull obedience submissiue and reuerend behauiour indued she was with a great measure of patience carefull to content her Husband gouerne her house and to bring vp her children in the feare of the Lord reading to them examining of them in the grounds and principles of Religion the practice of euery good woman according to abilitie so spending spare houres when others were at the Gossips play neither was it labour in vaine Gods blessing in her Children was one of her chiefest comforts to her dying day As a Christian she hath beene an ancient Disciple a professour of Religion in the power thereof and a practitioner of pietie in truth and sinceritie this was her onely ioy comfort else being wondrous sickly shee had but little in this world ornaments with other feminine toyes shee esteemed none in comparison of this Iewell much good I haue obserued in her my selfe but haue heard much more admiring the truth and power of God that some should praise her for her pious deuotion and religious behauiour who yet were neuer guiltie of any good Three things especially are reported of her by faithfull witnesses First that she spent constantly some part of euery day in reading and meditating on the word of God and that shee read ouer the Bible this last halfe yeare before her death as if her commission had run thus read my will once more and then come home a shame to such who haue liued in health many whole yeares and hitherto haue neuer read it ouer many vse their booke a little on the Lords day turne to places cited as if they would note them for future meditation but returning home the booke is laid vp in a spare roome nere troubled more till some seruant come to shake off the dust that it be fit for publike vse in the eye of the Church with such formalities God is not pleased if she be blessed for delighting in the law of God day and night as she did what are they Secondly that she would not sleepe on the Lords day no not in the greatest extremitie of her
cast downe many wounded strong men haue beene slaine by her her house is the way to Hell going downe to the Chambers of death Prou. 7.26.27 When the Foxe saw many going none returning from the Lions denne he refused to goe for feare of like danger Let vs hence learne to be wise Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum least wee complaine too late How haue wee hated instruction and despised reproofe how haue we disobeyed the voice of our teachers and refused to incline our eare to them that instructed vs Secondly wee haue in this Chapter an exact description and Commendation of a vertuous woeman beginning at the tenth verse which I would commend to all that are or desire to be good wiues that you would peruse it once a weeke not omitting set Tymes for reading other parts of holy writ my Text is the conclusion of it wherein you may obserue with me 1. The fading Condition of outward endowments comprised in Fauour is deceitfull and Beautie vanitie 2. The lasting worth and dignity of inward grace contained in But a Woman that feareth the Lord shee shall bee praised 3. The dutie of all men towards vertuous women Exprest in the last words Giue her the fruite of her hands c. Wherein I shall briefly touch these particulars 1. Who they are must be praised Woemen 2. For what The feare of the Lord. 3. How they must be praised By the fruit of their hands and their owne worthes 4. By whom By their Children Husbands Neighbours all are enioined to giue good woemen their due praise Of all which in their order and first by way of Explication The censure of Nature and naturall endowments Fauour is deceitfull Fauour may be taken 2. wayes first for inward affection which is a motion of the mind stirred vp by the apprehension of some excellencie in the partie fauoured as when wee say this or that great man fauours vs smiles vpon vs loues vs entirely then this fauour what more deceitfull who can tell when hee hath it or discouer a false heart vnder a flattering forehead did not Cain commune with his brother whom he meant to kill was not Ioabs speech peaceable when his purpose was to smite Abner how sweet were his words to innocent Amasa Art thou in health my Brother when a sword was in his hand to free him from all diseases Absalon inuites his brother Ammon to feast with him but the guest must be slaughtered by him Iudas cries haile Master when he came to betray the sonne of man with a kisse What apish Complements bowing becking scraping the foolish froth of feigned loue doe we behold amongst men while there is no correspondencie betweene the heart and the hand what promises haue wee had what protestations haue wee heard which haue proued abortiues liuing and dying in the same moment who relyes thereon in these daies builds on sandy ground Beleeue them that speake out of experience trust not fauour it is deceitfull so true is that of the Psalmist mens words may be smoother then oyle when there is no truth in the inward parts Or suppose one to haue it who can tell how long he shall enioy it health and sicknesse life and death sun-shine and stormes day and night change not so often as this deceitfull fauour to day wee may heare Iacobs voice to morrow feele Esaus hands the least error rumor or conceit of one crushes this affection rich words with an ayery issue proclaimes the Parents folly This fauour of wicked men and women is nothing worth like smoake to the eyes or the reede of Egypt to the hand what extremity of folly driues worldly Polititians then or boone companions and good fellowes as they are tearmed to preferre it before the fauour of God to seeke more greedily for it then reconciliation with God in the blood of Christ The fauour of great men may be sought preserued good vse made of it yet one dram of Gods fauour in Christ is more worth then the fauour of all the Princes in the World Let mee be Gods fauorite I care not whether the World smile or frowne let others pursue this deceitfull fauour but Lord doe thou lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs. Secondly fauour may be taken for outward proportion in bodie and face ioyned with a iustly tempered complexion when all the humours manifest an equall power without any selfe-ruining desire of dominion this is the fauour here meant and is deceitfull two wayes First actiuely when it deceiues others and that either in regard of iudgement when men thinke woemen to be such as they seeme to be perfect for parts beautifull healthie sober chaste temperate there being indeede and truth not any one but the shadow of these qualities in them or in regard of loue and liking when men suffer themselues to bee ensnared with the very outward fauour making Sense the guide vnto reason and beautie the ground of their affection Gen. 6.2.34.2 so were the sonnes of God deceiued in the old world Sechem the sonne of Hamor Sampson with Dalilah Iudg. 16. 2. Sam. 11.2 Dauid with Bathsheba and many more in euery age few eyes that haue not thus beene foyled looking through these deceitfull spectacles haue beene mistaken in their obiect Experience hath taught vs to tell you this fauour is deceitfull and least it should not be enough deceitfull of it selfe there are certaine appurtenances which make it more deceitfull as painting perewigs false eyes arteficiall teeth cawles of net-worke to catch wantons round tyers chaines bracelets mufflers rings earrings with the rest of that wardrobe set open by the Prophet Esay 3.19.20.21.22.23 gaze not on this fauour faire and louely it appeares but defiles the heart leaues a staine vpon the Soule and is it not deceitfull Secondly passiuely deceiuing it selfe promising constancie when nothing is more fraile see if it euer could indure the shining of the Sun blowing of the wind falling of the raine the least inward griefe two or three fits of an Ague the small pocks bearing of Children consume and leaue it no place this day it lookes as if it would bee alwayes soe to morrow as if it had neuer beene so and is it not deceitfull a meanes it is to coozen many of the foode of life They cannot goe to Church in Summer for heate nor in winter for cold it will spoile their complexion and is it not deceitfull what meane the multitude of vailes and maskes the closer you keepe it the lesser while it will last and is it not deceitfull Beautie is vanitie here wee haue a more liuely expression of the former I know no great difference betweene fauour and beauty in our ordinary speech they are often put one for another except this fauour is refer'd to proportion beautie to complexion though in strictnesse of speech beautie being something arising from both Beautie is twofold 1. Inward of the heart and mind mentioned Psal 29.2
many others whose names deserue to bee engrauen in pillars of Marble and all to teach vs the necessity of this duty Which will further appeare if wee consider these enforcements First there are many that haue had and doe deserue this praise you haue read or heard I presume of Rachel and the pillar Iacob erected in memory of her of Deborah Hannah Ester Iudeth Marie Martha Lydia Sarah c. whose names and condions are registred by a neuer-erring Historian to tell vs God is as wel pleased with the gracious actions of good woemen as with the best of any of the sonnes of men and that we as he ought to giue them their due commendation who can passe ouer in silence the renowned names of our two famous English Elizabeths without admiring the one for valiant doing the other for patient suffering many calamities the Lord in mercy put an end vnto them in his time and praysing both for their vertues many others I could name where I liue and haue liued who deserue it but desire it not let their owne workes praise them in the gates Secondly this makes much for Gods glory whose power is most seene in weakenesse what is praise worthy is the speciall worke of God their weakenesse magnifies his power when they are praised for good workes hee is glorified Thirdly it is a meanes to augment that which is commended in them vertue increases by praise if it be in an humble minde or else indeed it is not vertue Fourthly it is a necessary part of distributiue Iustice to giue to euery one their owne praise to whom praise belongs Fiftly it is beneficiall to all others as to excite and stirre them vp earnestly to seeke after that Iewell yea to sell all they haue to buy it which is so highly and generally commended so also it will serue as a patterne to shew them how they must liue if they would be praysed and although none would be praised yet all must doe things worthy praise Sixtly it is comfortable to suruiuing friends by this meanes though death haue depriued you of the presence of many good and vertuous woemen yet of the presence of their vertue and good workes it cannot a good name is left still yea a fresh memory which will speake in their praise when they are turned to clay grace our-liues death it stoopes not to the graue but waâ—tes on the soule to the throne of glory beauty and fauour moulder into dust the feare of the Lord indures for euer It cannot be but a great comfort to heare wise men and religious woemen speake truly in prayse of our departed friends to see the pens of strangers employed as Gods instruments to publish their due praise a reward to them an example to others In the application of this Lesson we find matter of direction teaching vs as to practise what is here inioyned for the time to come so to be sorry for former neglects we may not we must not be silent in the praise of good woemen their number is small the fault may be ours when goodnesse is slighted or disesteemed by most weake woemen seeke it not at all let others be condemned for not seeking it when they should rather then any of vs for not praysing it where it is But stay are wee not too forward in this point doe not most bedaube the dead with vndeserued praises too many no doubt but then the rule set downe here is not obserued they praise them but doe not giue them the workes of their owne hands they rob one to enrich another take Iewels from the Israelites and giue them to the Egiptians as in Rome common strumpets haue beene highly extold so amongst vs those are often praysed after death both in funerall Orations and ordinary talke who neuer yeelded any fruit praise-worthy during life by this fauning stile God is highly dishonoured good men and woemen discouraged and the vildest wretches countenanced in euill I speake not this as condemning al those which haue or do cast a few flowers vpon the coffin of the dead it may be they saw more in them then all others did but could wish men in this kind where sin raignes euidently aboue the feare of God to be wisely sparing for feare of future danger If any demand here how a good woeman may be knowne that so they may praise her and giue her the worke of her hands without offence to any I answere for this end you must make vse both of your eye and eare a good woeman may be knowne partly by what you see in her partly by what you heare of her First by what you see in her that she be as farre forch as is possible for man to discerne first vertuous inricht with competencie of knowledge and a good vnderstanding agreeable to her Sexe able to discerne betweene good and euill morally and accordingly to make choyce both for speculation and practice with wisedome which consists in seeking for finding out following and maintaining the truth according to abilitie place and calling with iustice ready to giue vnto euery one their owne pietie to God fidelitie to her husband charitie to the needie and diligent industriâ— to her charge in familie with temperance a vertue fetching backe all extreames to a mediocritie and is employed in euery vertuous woman about these particulars especially First her wordes that they be not rash hastie loud nor many especially in the presence of her husband Secondly her pleasure that she seeke not so much as is desired by the vnregenerate part nor any at all as the flesh desires it let that which is reported of Semiramis Pasiphae Faustina Messalina with many other filthy woemen amongst the Gentiles both Grecians and Romanes Rom. 1.26 keepe backe all from submission of their reasonable part to the slauish regiment of sense and carnall appetite thinke not with delight of variety lest you desire it desire it not lest Sathan offer you meanes to act it act it not least after in stead of expected satisfaction it lay you open to further inuasion Thirdly her dyet that she be neither carelesse curious or excessiue in meate or drinke for quantitie nor ouer-much the guise of drunken Gossips for qualitie ouer-daintie a sinfull sauce wherewith proud Cleopatra entertained her familiar guest Marke Anthonie Fourthly about her apparell that she be neither garish nor sluttish that she passe not the bounds of her Husbands calling and abilitie either in the matter or manner ground or fashion of her attire Secondly it is required she be religious in affection profession and conuersation that she delight in the hearing of Gods word obserue due howers of prayer publique with the Church especially on the Lords day not slighting it at other appointed times priuate by her selfe and after with her familie so ordering her houshold businesse that this dutie may not be omitted or interrupted through her default that shee loue Gods seruants countenancing with her best indeauour the best things
last sicknesse notwithstanding that her weake body was chiefly sustained by sleepe and her friends and Children would often perswade to it vrging Gods gracious acceptance of the will for the deed where abilitie was wanting to actuate good desires howsoeuer in the iudgement of the strictest Diuines it is very lawfull and tolerable yet in the exuberance of her zeale her answere still was thus or to this effect no she would not yeeld that day to sleepe it was the Lords day the Soules market-day if I lose this day what shall the Soule feede on all the weeke after How should I answere it if my Lord should come and call to take mee hence finding mee this day sleeping I will not doe it can I not watch one houre the health of body I both respect and desire preferring still the welfare of the soule and though I cannot spend it as I would being Gods prisoner yet my endeauour shall not be wanting in heart and minde to ioyne with the publike assembly and such indeed her manner was to spend the whole day when she could not goe to Church her lingring disease did stay her long and often in prayer reading and meditation a shame to such among vs that prophanely mis-spend the Lords day sleeping all the morning securely till the Bell cals them as if putting on of our best cloathes and running away were all nothing else required when some preparation is as necessary as the seruice he shall bring home but little good that goes to market without money in his purse greater shame to such as come to sleepe in the Church her zeale would not permit her to sleepe in great weakenesse on her bed alone where none could be offended Gods awfull presence cannot keepe you from sleeping in health in Gods house amongst a multitude where many are offended thereby if her vigilancie bee to be admired take heede least Iudgement finde you napping Thirdly that she obserued constant houres euery day for priuate prayer on her knees euen when for very weakenesse shee could not rise againe till some came in to helpe her vp Oh happy Soldier thy warre is ended victory wonne and the crowne obtained sing deare Saint the songs of Zion thy teares are washt away enioy thy rest I could delightfully stay here to admire this free prisoner in her heauenly conuersation till the houre of her desired dissolution To behold in a weake leane dying body true beautie and to obserue the picture of pietie in this spirituall anatomie how welcome is weakenesse when accompanied with such strength of grace but me thinkes I see already your eyes full and the glasse emptie I may not stay One thing I would request of her Husband and Children before I leaue and that is they would make knowne vnto the world their loue dutie and respect vnto her by imitation of her in pietie humilitie sobrietie frugalitie and loue towards Gods Children follow her in grace you shall follow her to glory and let this be ingrauen on her Tombe As she liued in the feare of the Lord. So shee dyed in the feare of the Lord. Lastly to conclude in a word to you all my right dearely beloued if you like this that you haue heard to day and desire so much might be spoken of you after death goe home and do likewise sell all you haue for this Iewell shake off your dearest sinne liue in the feare of the Lord you shall dye in his fauour the fruit of your hands shall bee giuen you and your owne workes shall praise you in the gates Soli Deo Gloria FINIS