fairer any are the more carefull should they be not to offend by it themselues or others and the more thankfull for it many good things of nature require more seruice to glorifie the author thereof beauty with grace a faire face with an humble holy heart are Iewels of inestimable worth Did faire woemen know how highly outward beauty is set forth by the presence of inward grace Gratior est pulchro c. they would striue for it and seeke each to exceed other Beautie without grace is one of Sathans snares to entrap possessors and passengers both at once Secondly men may hence learne wisedome in two respects First to recall this truth into minde when they are tempted with beautie shall we trust what is knowne to bee deceitfull Secondly that they doe not so much delight in and admire it as to make it the chiefest motiue or ground worke of their loue and liking hee is accounted in the iudgement of wisedome a foolish man that builds on a sandie foundation Math. 7.26 especially considering the following danger For first Stories tell vs that many great ones haue falne hereby Prou. 6.25.7.26 other mens harmes should make vs the more wary principall pillars in Israell Dauid and Salomon father and sonne were foulely shaken what may weake ones feare Secondly besides the discord hath beene raysed betweene Brethren warre proclaimed blood shed onely about this deceitfull beautie the practice of Paris may at any time bring Grecians to the walles of Troy Thirdly and after all suppose it peaceably obtained when outward fauour decaies that loue grounded first thereon will decay also if no further hurt ensue It is reported of Helen or some other of her complexion that on a time after sicknesse viewing her selfe in a glasse and seeing her beautie decayed suddainly fell into a relapse and through the malignitie of a strong conceit dyed Secondly this censures and condemnes the practice of many amongst vs both men and woemen woemen who hauing and seeking nothing else but fauour and beautie bestow all or most part of their time about it curling and cutting the haire painting pinning lacing dressing adorning c. it argues great lightnesse and want of the loue of grace to toyle so about a knowne vanitie how light then many of our English Dames are their practice shewes looking more on the Glasse then on the Bible being more carefull of their faces then their hearts pitty it is faire Creatures should so befoole themselues onely with a meere out-side of good Men that are carried away most with beauty let them learne to see and acknowledge their youthfull error as they desire to be saued are not you one cause of their misery offences may come but woe to them by whom they come I see not how it can be auoyded for did not woemen by experience see men preferring outward endowments to inward graces we should quickly finde a generall change woemen would striue to be good did they see men affect goodnesse it is ordinary policie to vse that baite which the fish most delight to play with in this worst age of ours what is most looked after in woemen but beautie riches or both are they rich beautifull of rich parentage is there any hope of preferment by them in the world Religion the chiefest linke between man and wife grace and a vertuous education is little respected this makes woemen admire the one as their chiefest good neglect the other as little worth Let such men know a day will come when they shall confesse and bewayle this pleasing and selfe-deceiuing error if they bee not arraigned as guiltie in part of Female folly Thirdly here is comfort for such as settle their affection on better ground vpon the image of Christ and the graces of the spirit shining in the partie affected this Foundation is rockie durable the proportion will neuer change nor the beautie decay the gates of hell shall neuer preuaile against it by vse it increases and out-liues the nipping blasts of all-consuming time fauour is deceitfull and beautie is vanitie why should any bee proud that haue it or grieue that want it a wrinckled forehead swarthy complexion a person in bodie or in face any wayes deformed with a vertuous religious mind appeares more beautifull to the eye of iudgement then the fairest Creature in the world Not so since Eue assented to the craftie Serpent none of her posterity appeare beautifull but such as are dipt in the blood of Christ and cloathed with his righteousnesse For the censure of some scornefully foolish in bewraying their owne ignorance passe it ouer it cannot harme you a good soule shall not be denyed entrance into heauen for want of beautie Let me therefore exhort you my dearely beloued in the Lord men and woemen affect not fauour it is deceitfull dote not on beautie it is vanitie To Professors of Christs Gospell I speake fashion not your selues to this world mispend not precious time in pampring foode for wormes the greatest gallant and fairest face shall stoope ere long to lodge in clay beleeue it now or else you will one day find it so when it is too late build not your affection on such a sandie foundation the sturdie windes will ruinate whatsoeuer you erect thereon Salomon spake out of experience deare bought you haue wisedome offered you at a cheape rate and it may be as good as that which is further fetcht contemne nor flight it not Consider what is truth and the Lord blesse it vnto you Secondly in that the feare of the Lord is here opposed to fauour and beautie and by opposition preferd we learne that the feare of the Lord with good workes are woemens chiefest Iewels things of greatest worth I ioyne these two because they cannot well be seperated no filiall feare of God without good workes no good workes without the feare of the Lord these are woâ—mens chiefest Iewels and of greatest worth in regard they last longest and become them best yeelding certaine comfort with a free reward that soule which once feeles the benefit will not part with it for all the world The Scripture is euery where full to this purpose Psal 19 9 Esa 33.6 Prouer. 11.16.15.16 the feare of the Lord is excellent and endures for euer the feare of the Lord is a treasure a gracious woman retaines true honour better is a little with the feare of the Lord then great treasure better is a little beautie with the feare of the Lord nay fairer is the foulest face with inward grace then Helens beautie with a proud wanton luxurious mind Prou. 31.10 who can find a vertuous woeman her price is farre aboue rubies therefore it is the Apostles aduice that woemen should array themselues in comely apparell with shamefastnesse and modesty not with broydered haire gold pearles or costly apparell no better ornament for a woeman then an humble mind no richer pearle then a pure heart but as becommeth woemen that professe the
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
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
feare of God 1. Timo. 2.9.10 with good workes seconded by his partner in labour 1. Pet. 3.4 whose adorning speaking of good woemen let it not be that outward of plaiting the hayre wearing of gold or putting on of apparell but let it be the hiden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible euen the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price Let common woemen gull themselues and others with paynted shewes euery vertuous matron knowes good workes to be a better ornament then cut or plaited haire pearles gold or costly array many simple ones either know not or beleeue not this obserue them strutting with their spangled foreheads as peacocks vse to doe with their tailes haue nothing to glory in but what is borrowed from the Creature wanting the chiefest Iewell all the rest are as filthy rags This truth will further appeare vnto vs if we consider first that which the Scripture speakes of the feare of the Lord in those seuerall places cited Psal 19.9 Prou. 1.7.10 27 14 27. Math. 13. â—5 â—6 1. Tim. 4.8.6.6 Philip. 4.11 wherby we may easily discerne the excellencie of it Secondly that sweet contentation of mind with our portion allotted as with what wee are and haue beautifull or deformed riches or pouertie which followes as an effect of this feare it hath the promise of this life and that to come Godlines with contentment is great gaine heereby was S. Paul taught in what estate soeuer he was to be contented therewith and good reason for as the Prophet tels vs there is no want to them that feare him they want not beautie riches pleasure nor content Christ is all in all vnto them Thirdly The continuance of this Iewell it endures for euer hauing the promise of both Kingdomes this of grace the other of glory when fauour deceiues and beauty failes the feare of the Lord endures without change when all other pleasures leaue a dampe behind the feare of the Lord onely makes rich and hee addes no sorrow with it Fourthly the desire of the best woemen in euery age seeking to attaine it rather then beautie riches foode or rayment whose actions are for your imitation let others pin plait and paint spend you these precious howers in prayer Let Martha bee troubled with many things take you Maries choice it will bring Marthaes gaine without her trouble Like as Salomon asking wisedome obtained also honour riches long life so fals it out with those that feare the Lord it brings with it all other necessaries fauour and beautie may bee without the feare of God the feare of God not without them and as it was a chiefe part of wisedome in Salomon to desire wisedome so is it a speciall part of holy policie in woemen to chuse the feare of the Lord 1. Cor. 15. vlt. as their chiefest ornament God will adde the rest no man euer serued the Lord in vaine In the application of this doctrine wee find matter first to informe woemen what they should most earnestly seeke after if they would be good wiues and bring a lasting portion with them to their husbands The feare of the Lord. Math. 6.33 It is the Command of our Sauiour strengthened by a promise seeke first the Kingdome of Heauen and all other things shall be added vnto you this makes woemen most louely and onely praise-worthy their presence highly esteemed during life and their memory honoured after death this makes woemen shine in the darkest age fruitfull in euery good worke conscionable in their wayes both toward God and man obserue and you shall find how pious such are vnto God dutifull to their husbands carefull of their houshold teaching Children guiding seruants giuing good example to both patternes of humility in speech going attire They are helpefull hopefull euery way beautifull I want Epithetes to expresse their excellency a woman with this Iewell is one of the greatest outward blessings to man on earth prouided it hang not in the tounge nor at the eare onely but in the heart The Question onely here will be how this Iewell may be knowne Answere By these or some of these three things First by antecedents or things going before First knowledge of God his will presence iustice mercie of our selues what we haue wee should not haue what we want that we should haue Secondly sorrow of heart for what we perceiue amisse Thirdly desire of amendment which we must feele before we can attaine it Fourthly enquirie after and diligently vse the meanes hearing and reading of the word of God with prayer and meditation Secondly by some properties which are first to inlighten the vnderstanding in some measure according to the capabilitie of the subiect Secondly to purifie the heart not from the being but from the raigne of sinne Thirdly to heate and enkindle zeale in the affection for Gods glory Fourthly to direct in the right way to heauen like as the Load-stone turnes the singer towards the North soe this feare of God makes women still looke vnto Christ that they may safely saile betweene the dangerous rockes of doubtfull and vnlawfull things Thirdly by some Consequents as first to hate euery sinne and foule fashion of the world so soone as knowne Secondly to delight in the practice of sincere obedience without partialitie hypocrisie formalitie or temporizing neuteralitie to be more in deedes then words to doe more at home then abroade Thirdly to make conscience of both these to eschew euill and doe good in obedience vnto God 2. Question But how may this Iewell bee attained Answere First by meditation vpon the former particulars secondly by practice and that is first remotion of all lets and hinderances with the wise Merchant we must part with all wee haue to buy this pearle Secondly resolution to doe what euer the Lord commands vs in his word both for time and manner without distinction pretence or exception Secondly to teach men what they should most affect and praise in woemen not riches or beautie though both the gifts of God Did you know the worth of a vertuous wife her fidelity sedulitie sobrietie humilitie patience sweet carriage and behauiour you would seeke her more greedily then any hungry Spaniard doth the Indian gold or any amorous wanton his deceitfull minion know this further woemen would not offend so much about their faces did not men offend first in excessiue praises of their fading beauty Thirdly to stirre vp the parents care by their godly endeauour to leaue this portion to euery one of their Daughters you would haue your children doe things praise-worthy then giue them good example teach them the feare of the Lord and they shall bee praised God hath spoken the present sight of a vertuous face is more delightfull then gold or laud the one as vncertaine respects the body only the other as a lasting Iewell regardes both body and soule But alas the greatest care in many parents is to
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