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love_n	heart_n	love_v	sin_n	9,337	5	4.8347	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13561	Three treatises The pearle of the gospell, The pilgrims profession: and A glasse for gentlewomen to dress themselues by. To which is added A short introduction to the worthy receiuing of the Lords supper. By Thomas Taylor, Doctor of Diuinity, and late preacher of Aldermanbury Church in London.	Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632.; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Pearle of the gospell. aut; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Pilgrims profession. aut; Gunter, H.; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Glasse for gentlewomen to dresse themselves by. aut; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Short introduction to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper. aut	1633 (1633)	STC 23856; ESTC S113869	74,858	266

want of the thing sought for Common men if they finde health wealth friends pleasures and the like outward things are well contented corne wine and oyle to cheere their hearts But these wise Merchants seeing grace no other thing contenteth them but grace one glimpse of Gods countenance through Iesus Christ is sweet aboue all And as he that seeketh a Iewell doth looke still after it a thousand things come in his way and eye but he passeth slightly ouer them and seeth them not nor seeketh he them euen so doth the Christian Merchant and as the ciuill Merchant attaining Pearles doth rest ioyful in them as in such commodities as will helpe his happinesse in the world So the godly Merchant finding this one Pearle of the Gospell which is the grace of life goeth away reioycing and resteth well appaid for all his labours and sufferings He was before he light vpon this Pearle the most vnhappy man in the world but now he cannot hide his ioy but as the poore widow which called in her neighbors to reioice with her because she had found the lost groat Luk. 15. 9. so can he neither wholly hide nor yet expresse halfe the ioy he conceiueth in his new commodity and purchase But many seeke and that with tears that faile of grace as Esau and many shal striue to enter saith Christ and shall not be able and Ro. 9. 31 32. Israel sought righteousnesse but obtained it not Ans. Many seeke but amisse and therefore faile so Israel sought but not by faith Now the true condition of seeking as the wise Merchant and as the Word directeth standeth in fiue things 1. With an earnest and true loue desire and estimation of the thing sought this wilmake a man seeke diligently and as a thirsty person not coldly carelesly remisly slightly or negligently for such seeking shall neuer find for why did the Church seek Christ so laboriously till she found him but because it was he whom her soule loued ●an 3. 3. The watchmen that went about the City found me to whom I said Haue yee seene him whom my soule loueth And why did Mary seeke Christ hauing lost him three dayes Because shee loued him and reioyced in his person and presence which made her heart so heauy in his absence Luk. 2. 42. Behold thy father and I haue sought thee with heauy hearts The Merchant because he loueth and esteemeth of siluer doth seeke it carefully and earnestly Pro. 2. 4. and the heauenly Merchant shall finde grace vndoubtedly if he seeke it as the other doth siluer Loue is laborious hee that loueth Christ and his grace will neuer cease to seeke him nor faile to finde him See the promise in Jer. 29. 12 13 Then shall you cry vnto mee and you shall goe and pray vnto mee and I will heare you and you shal seeke me and finde mee because you shall seeke mee with all your heart Who soeuer then euer meaneth to finde God and his saving grace must vnfainedly and hartily seeke after him 2. It must be sought in the likely place and meanes of finding the ordinary place where this Pearl is to be found is the assēblies of the Saints there God holdeth forth his scepter and maketh offer of the grace of life Where was the Church to finde Christ with his graces at noone in her thirst but in the steps of the shepherds And these assemblies are the suburbs of heauen called therefore the Kingdome of grace and he that refuseth the good offers of grace in the word sacraments prayer hearing reading conferring and the like shall neuer find it No wise Merchant will slacke any good opportunity of aduancing his estate now the likely meanes in wise seeking are diligently to be vsed as 1 To search the euidence of the Pearle and this euidence is contained in the Scriptures John 5. Search the Scriptures for they witnessee of me Secondly the grant of it is from heauen by prayer Let vs therefore goe boldly to the Throne of grace that we may find mercy and grace to helpe in time of need HEB. 4. 16. Thirdly the couenant is by the application of these meanes singed and deliuered yea and witnessed by the blessed Spirit of God by a blessed change in the beleeuing heart by mortification and subduing the corruption of nature by heauenly motions heauenly mindednesse and gracious conuersation standing not in a shell a forme or shew but in the kernill power and substance of sound godlinesse Thirdly it must be sought first and principally yea onely sought and that for it selfe it must bee sought first in time As Psa. 63. 3. Early in the morning will I seeke thee The Isralites must seeke Manna the first thing they doe in the morning Esau seeketh but too late the foolish Virgins doe knock but the doore is shut 2. It must be sought in the first place Mat. 6. 33. ●eeke ye first the kingdome of heauen the righteousnesse thereof Seek neither other things before it as worldlings nor other things with it as prophane Epicures who would grasp heauen and earth together nor yet seeke it for other things as Hypocrites who professe the Gospell for fauour credit profit or some other in respect of that base things But seek it alone for it selfe and in sincerity for only such seeking findeth it Neuer will Christ be sought for loaues nor can the same eye looke to heauen and earth together Fourthly it must be sought humbly that is first out of thy selfe a man that wanteth water wil goe to the fountaine the waters of grace must flow from the fountaine and wel-head Christ Iesus seek it therfore in him and from him The eye of faith spyeth it in him and the hand of faith doth take it vp from him Secondly it must bee sought with godly sorrow repentance for sin Isa. 1. 16. Wash you make you cleane take away the euill of your works from before mine eies cease to doe euill Thirdly with reformation of heart and life Ps. 14. 4. The workers of iniquity are vnfit and vnworthy seekers of grace Fifthly it must be songht constantly Mary and Joseph neuer gaue ouer seeking Christ vntill they found him nor the Church till she found him neither must we giue ouer seeking hauing sound grace for it is not in this seeking as in other things where hauing found we rest contented and seeke no more but here hauing found the thing we sought we must seeke still for a Christian is euer wanting of grace if not in whole yet in part if not in substance yet in some degree and measure of it and therefore this worke as the husband mans is neuer at an end This must needs condemne many of vs of extreame folly and sinne how few of vs haue sought after grace as after siluer for siluer we will take great paines rise early goe to bed late and eat the bread of carefulnesse but when doe we so for grace

of the young man than he did of his Disciples who said vers 27. we haue left all to follow thee and yet Peter had an house still and John to which he tooke the Virgin Mary And therefore Christ would hau● the young man to part with all which he could not hold with his loue and affection to Christ himselfe and the Gospell Fourthly that which Christ required of this Iusticiary is not any deuised Euangelicall counsell aboue the law but a duty contained in the law the summe of which is Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart and whereas he had boasted that he had kept all the law Christ doth send him backe againe to the law to let him see his want of loue both to God and his neighbour to God if the loue of his friends hinder him from following him whom hee confesseth a teacher from God And want of loue to man if at Christs word hee will not part with his mony especially if not at Christ his especiall commandement So as this is not a counsell to some perfect recluses or orders of wilfull men but a commandement to all Christians that must striue to perfection 1 Cor. 2. 6. And we speake wisdome amongst them that are perfect who must not onely leaue goods and lands and houses for Christ and the Gospell but must hate father mother wife and children brethren sisters and their owne life if they cannot hold them with Christ. So much to answer the Papists Now to the question 1. Who can deny wealth to be the gift of God if it beheld without couetousnesse confidence pride and subordinate to heauen and heauenly things Or who can deny but riches may become helps to heauenly Tabernacles who can deny but good men may both haue them and vse them Abraham was a man of great possessions and Iob and Dauid men of most great wealth and yet godly men and poore of spirit goods therfore in themselues are not to be cast away but first in comparison rather than wee will not attaine and retaine the Pearle of the Gospell we must abandon all we haue Secondly when they proue an impediment to our calling and holy professiō we must renounce them as Moses in this case refused to be the sonne of Pharaohs daughter and to suffer with Gods people a traueller may carry a staffe to helpe him in his iourney but not to ouer-load himselfe and he may beare some mony in his purse for his charges but not burthen himselfe with it Thirdly in affection alwayes we must renounce them and hold them retiredly and weignedly vsing the world as not vsing it Let them be in our hands not in our hearts to lay downe or lay out not to lay vp or lay vp our hearts with them Fourthly actually but not vncalled we must leaue them not of our owne accord but called by God non sponte sed vocati let vs alwayes see wee haue a good ground as if tyrants or persecutors keepe vs from inioying either Christ or our owne estate then in this choyse we must prefer a poore estate in Christ before a rich estate in the world And buyeth it Our Sauiour vseth this word buying not to signifie that we can make any recompence paiment or merit to purchase eternall life for first that is infinite we finite and betweene these is no proportion Secondly it is a free gift of God Rom. 6. 23. Thirdly it is a buying but without money and money worth And the poore are called to buy it who haue no money to layout for it Fourthly this Pearle is such a commodity as neither men nor Angels can giue any due price for Fiftly we can giue God nothing but his owne But Christ here speaketh figuratiuely namely that this wife Merchant dealeth as a buyer first he seeth the want of Gods grace and Christs merits the thirsty are called to buy Esay 55. 1. Secondly as a buyer he periseth valueth and casteth the worth esteemeth Christ at the highest rate and all things else in comparison of him losse and dung Phil. 3. 13. Thirdly as a buyer he maketh an exchange not of money nor money worth but vseth all good indeuour and labour by prayer and diligence and the vse of all good meanes to obtain the grace of the Gospell Which price God doth set vpon grace and on which condition an exchange is made The beleeuer putteth ouer his sinnes to Christ and receiueth righteousnes from Christ. 2 Cor. 5. 21. For he hath made him to be sinne for vs that knew no sinne that we should be made the righteousnes of God in him Fourthly the bargaine made is earnested so the beleeuer able to giue nothing to God taketh from God the earnest of his Spirit in some sauing graces by which the whole bargain of eternall life is assured vnto him From this selling all and buying the Pearle learne That a wise Christian must aud will part with all he hath before hee wi●l part with Christ. Prou. 4. 7. Aboue all thy possessions get wisdom and vnderstanding The godly follow Christ out of Ierusalem and out of the campe Heb. 13. 13. they sold their liues and loued them not to the death for Christ. Pauls possessions and his life was nos deare so he might finish his course with ioy And why 1. Such sound iudgement is restored vnto euery sound Christian as he thinketh nothing so dear to him as Christ and his grace and doth suppose himselfe rich indeed if he attain naked Christ and the dearest things are base in this comparison The Church of Laodicea wil neuer buy gold and white raiment so long as her iudgement is blinded till she annoint her eyes with eye-salue to see and seeing once the worth she is content to be at any paines for it The text implieth that no lesse paines be made for wisdome than that of most industrious Merchants who take long and dangerous iournies and voyages by Sea and land for Pearles and swallow all paines and perils in hope of attaining them Secondly the Christian knoweth that he shall be no loser by the bargaine other Merchants buying great commodities know not whether they shal be gainers or no and many seeke Pearles with infinite losses finde them not But here is a certaine and an vndoubted gaine for whosoeuer forsaketh house wife lands liberty childeren and life for Christs sake and the Gospell shall receiue an hundred-fold with tribulation and in the world to come life euerlasting here is vsury enough not tenne in the hundred but an hundred for tenne haue this Pearle and want nothing want this Pearle and haue nothing Thirdly this putteth a difference betweene soundnesse and hypocrisie the hypocrite can sell much for Gods fauour Mic. 6. 6. they will giue thousands of rams and ten thousands of riuers of oyle and their first borne but wil not part with their sinnes Ananias and Saphira can part with three parts of

their portion but soundnesse esteemeth the Pearle better than the whole were it the whole world Fourthly because it seeth Christ forsaking all liberty life wealth heauen and happinesse for it in the way of thankfulnesse grace in the heart doth hold it selfe bound to forsake all for Christ. This condemneth foolish Merchants who make a base reckoning of the Pearle esteeming the Gospell worth nothing The Gadarens accounted euery pig and base profit better than Christ and his Sermons Prophane Esau despised the blessing in respect of pottage There are other scornfull Merchants who scoffe at such simplicity as to forgoe profits and delights for vaine conceits as to strip ones selfe of the pleasures of life to runne many miles to Sermons where is none at home Others would buy the Pearle if by it they might gaine ease reputation and wealth like the Swallowes that will take their Summer with vs but in Winter take their leaue of vs these measure Religion by their gettings and say with the old Iews What profit is there in seruing God 2. Wee may see it is not so easie a matter to haue part in the Gospell as most men thinke that vtterly deceiue themselues in this commodity and this is the cause why so few respect it 1. Some men thinke they haue it because they haue heard of it but there is as much difference betweene finding and buying as betweene calling and answering 2. Some heare and like and wish and praise it but as in a faire they see many rich commodities but they passe by them and bargaine for none so many approue of Doctrines in generall but lay out nothing nor lay aside any lust they can commend a good Sermon but will be sure it shall doe them no good Thirdly there are others that come neerer cheapen loue and bid somewhat but as hard chapmen nothing neere the matter rich men can cast some of their superfluity sometimes to good vses but not as the widow that had but two mites and cast in all this were too hard a bargaine Fourthly some would exchange some of their sinnes but not all others will doe some duties as come to the Church hear pray sometimes read at home and reproue sinne but come to chargeable or dangerous duties to shew loue to Christ in time of danger or disgrace they are backward and draw in the tender horne for feare they be losers by him Let vs therefore learne to hold Christ and the Gospell as the onely iewell or pearle worth hauing and to thinke our selues rich if we sel our selues out of all to purchase the Pearle let vs thus aduance our religion and shut the mouthes of our aduersaries that say we will leaue nothing for our religion while they giue all they haue to the Church and pious vses How shall I know a man that purchaseth the Pearle 2. He changeth his owne merits for Christs merits apprehended in the Gospell and casteth them away like dung and with Paul who layeth his birth kindred righteousnesse ciuill vertues and good workes and holinesse in the skale but all is too light and found losse weighed with Christ. So bring Wealth liberty friends life it selfe into the sight of a sound beleeuer and if he must leaue these or Christ and his Gospell farewell they he soone maketh his choyce As in the danger of life Act. 27. 18. the Mariners cast out their wares with their owne hands and the tacklings out of the ship so wee must cast away all in comparison of Christ our Lord and our life Where note that the Papist that cannot disclaime his owne merits shall misse of Christs 2. He goeth away reioycing all his affections are on it his chiefe ioy is that his Name is written in heauen no affliction can remoue this ioy 3. He desireth nothing in comparison beyond or besides it Simeon was content with Christ in his armes Iacob had enough that Joseph liued so the beleeuer hath enough that Christ liueth in heauen and in his owne heart 4 He retaineth his confidence to it euery thing else challenging his confidence is but a staffe of reed 5. He will neuer sell his purchase at any rate Prou. 23. 23. Buy the truth but sell it not Great Merchants what they buy for great prizes they will sell for greater but nothing is sufficient to buy the grace of the Gospell out of our hands what wee sell wee value vnder the price but we must redeeme it aboue much fine gold ●sal 119 yea aboue all that in the world is counted precious This is also a comfort to poore men who may here light on a good bargaine and make a good purchase for themselues although they haue no money nothing is set for the price but paines endeuour godly desire and affection Christ and his benefits freely passe to all and are indifferently imparted to poore and rich nay if either haue the aduantage it is the poore man for the poore receiue the Gospell saith our Sauiour whereas Not many rich not many noble not many wise attaine to haue their share in it I haue now according to the measure of the gift giuen me set forth the choycest and chiefest commodity in all the world which no Faire or Mart can match if into one Fayre all the treasures of the earth were brought to sale say not now as the buyer vseth to doe It is naught it is naught I haue set an easie price vpon it a little paines a few good affections an vpright endeuour which is so low a price as your selues can wish You need not disburse siluer or gold but may carry away this commodity in your hearts and your money in your purses too as Iosephs brethren carried from their brother euery man his sacke of corne and his money in his sacke too hee that now seeth on the one hand his owne want and on the other the worth of the Pearle will come and cheapen and buy and purchase it at any rate and will not leaue it behinde him But he that still esteemeth the Pearle but as a common pibble will goe home without it or tread it vnder his feet Of this man saith Salomoa Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a foole and he wanteth heart And to this man I say the day commeth in which thou shalt say thou once refusedst a good bargaine which was offered thee and that was thine vnhappinesse but now attended with a greater that it shall neuer be offered thee any more Be wise in time and couet after the most excellent gifts FINIS THE PILRIMS PROFESSION OR A SERMON PREAched at the Funerall of M rs MARY GVNTER by Mr. Thomas Taylor To which by his consent also is added A short Relation of the life and death of the said Gentlewoman as a perpetuall Monument of her graces and vertues Omnis peregrina regio patria est eorum Et omnis patria eorum est peregrina Iustin Martyr epist. ad

sinnefull men estrange thy selfe from their courses walke as one deliuered from this euill world if not yet in respect of place yet in respect of new qualities thou shalt haue GODS protection and see the sa●uation of the LORD when all the wicked Inhabitants of the earth shal● call for the hils to couer them and the mountaines to fall vpon them to hide them from the wrath of the Lambe for the great day of his wrath is come and who can stand FINIS A PROFITABLE MEMORIALL OF the Conuersion Life and Death of Mistris MARIE GVNTER set vp as a Monument to be looked vpon both by Protestants and Papists I Could not better spend some part of the dais of my mourning for the losse of my deare Wife then in setting downe briefly some Passages of her course and Pilgrimage that the happy memory of her graces and vertuous life might euer liue with me both for incitation and imitation And if my desires were strong to make them more publike for the direction of some others I hope it will rather be charitably ascribed to the working and stirring of my affection towards her Ashes than to any vanitie of minde or ostentation in her Besides I am sure that if a Protestant had beene seduced from vs as shee was called out of Popery and had liued and dyed so zealous in that Religion as shee did in this the aduersaries would haue made their aduantage of it and published the same as one of the miracles of their Church And I see not but it may be as lawfull for me as it may proue profitable for others to set downe the known Truth concerning her that as shee was in her life so also she may happily continue now after her death an happy instrument of Gods glory in earth as I am assured shee is a vessell before him filled with his glory of heauen THis gracious Woman was for birth a Gentlewoman but descended of Popish Parents who dying in her infancy shee was committed vnto the tuition of an old Lady honourable for her place but a strong Papist who nousled and mis-led this Orphan in Popery till shee came about foureteene yeeres of age at which time this Lady died Upon which occasion God hauing a mercifull purpose towards her conuersion by his good Prouidence brought her to the seruice of that Religious and truly honourable Lady the Countesse of Leicester who entertained her with more than ordinary respect both because of her young yeares as also because shee was allied to Sir Christopher Blunt then husband to the honourable Countesse at whose request his Lady had taken her into her care To this Honourable Countesse shee came a most zealous Papist and resolute as soone as possibly shee could apprehend a fit opportunity to conuey her selfe beyond the Seas and become a Nunne for she then thought that that was the surest and likeliest way to get Heauen which as shee had an earnest desire to attaine so would shee take the nearest way which shee thought would bring her thither But shee could not so closely carry her secret deuotions and intentions but that by the carefull eye of her Honourable Lady they were soone discouered and not sooner discouered then wisely preuented for presently her Lady tooke from her all her Popish bookes Beades and Images and all such trumpery and set a narrow watch ouer her that shee might bee kept from her Popish Prayers and not absent her selfe from the daily Prayers of the Family which were religiously obserued further requiring her to reade those Prayers that her honour daily vsed to have in her private chamber with her women Her Ladiship also carefully preuented her from her Popish company and counsel by word or writing for neither might shee write nor receive any letter without the view and consent of her Honour Shee also constrained her to be countable for the Sermons which shee heard in the house which were constantly two euery Sabbath day for the increase of the sound knowledge of God which is the onely Hammer of Popery And hereby shee in short time obtayned great ability to communicate to others the substance of those Sermons which shee heard the rather because it was constantly obserued by all the women in that honourable Family to come together after the last Sermon and make repetition of both And this shee did as yet for feare but still with this reseruation that shee would keepe her heart for Popery and trusted that God would bee merciful vnto her as Naaman in this which shee did onely through feare and constraint But God who in his owne time worketh in his owne meanes beganne to worke in her first a staggering in her old way For when she saw the holy conuersation of that Reverend Preacher Master I. W. who was then Chaplin to the Countesse shee began to perswade her selfe that surely this mans godlinesse must needs bring him to Heaven And then the reverend respect of the man made her begin to give some better eare to his Doctrine to examine his proofes and to reverence his Ministry whereby in short time it pleased God that shee was won to beleeve the Truth and renounce her former superstition and ignorance And as it is the property of a true Convert being converted her selfe she endeuoured the conversion of others and was a great helpe and furtherance to the publique Ministery that way For this was a thing which that honourable Familie tooke speciall knowledge of and there were many that had great cause to blesse God for her in that respect Now presently Satan that Dragon that watcheth to deuoure every man-child which shall be borne unto God begins to rage and reach at her with strong and violent temptations and first hee terrified her in that shee had sinned the sinne against the holy Ghost for shee had played the deepe dissembler and being in heart a Papist yet joyned with the Protestants whom shee held for Heretickes and all this against her knowledge and conscience and so fiercely and incessantly hee followed this temptation as that shee was perswaded it was impossible that euer this sinne should or could be pardoned And this temptation was pointed and sharpened with that dreadfull and foule suggestion of selfe murder as if the remedy of the sin against the holy Ghost were to destroy ones selfe While shee was thus long tossed tumbled in these waues and billowes of Satanicall suggestions wherein she was so low cast and dejected still concealing her griefe as shee almost despaired of recovery It pleased God to direct that Reverend Preacher who was her Father in Christ whom shee ever after embraced with the most entire love of the most naturall Childe to entreat of this sinne and to shew what it was and by whom and in what manner it was committed To which Doctrine shee diligently harkening and by examination of it and her selfe finding that shee had not so sinned after illumination nor

present and to come so her conscience was tender in respect of sinnes past as may appeare by this memorable instance Whilest shee was a childe bred vp in the chamber of that old Lady shee was entised by lewd servants who fed her with figges and other such toyes fit to please children withall to steale money out of the Ladies Cabinet which often stood open in her Chamber and which they knew shee had the fittest opportunity to doe of all other whereunto her childishnesse giving way shee found it not missed and so continued it for seven yeares or thereabouts without any great checke of Conscience But when the light of God came in and made a priuy search in the heart and made her able to take her selfe with the fact now shee was ashamed and confounded in her selfe and her stirred conscience gaue her no rest nor could shee conceiue any hope of quiet because shee saw shee had done that which shee could no way vndoe If shee looked at the summe of mony taken and giuen away she conceiued that by continuing in that course seuen yeares together shee might haue wronged that Lady thirty or forty pound If she thought of restitution she was no way able Thus shee carried the burthen of this sinne a long time easing it as wel as she could with a resolute purpose if ever God pleased to make her able to make restitution to the heires of the deceased Lady And accordingly so she did For when that honourable and bountifull Lady whom shee long serued gave her a large portion when shee bestowed her in marriage she forthwith made choyce of a Reverend Minister whom shee employed therein enjoyning him secrecie and because shee would be sure to make full restitution shee delivered him sixty pounds to tender vnto this Ladies heire as from a concealed servant of the Ladies who had vniustly taken it away from her And when the Gentleman returned tenne pounds of it againe such was the tendernesse of her conscience that she would receive none of it to her owne vse but gave it away to poore and pious persons and vses And this childish errour God turned to her good for in all the two and twenty yeares of her service unto that honourable Lady she never durst make vse of any thing that was vnder her charge were it small or great but set it downe in writing and once every yeare did make it good either in the kinde or in some other thing which she bought for her Ladiships vse Fourthly the sense of her owne weaknesses and wants made her of a pittifull and charitable disposition towards the wants and miseries of others Shee had ever a large heart to the poore especially the godly poore shee neuer did see or heare of any that were in want but her heart did mourne if shee had not to releeve them neither was her hand shut for she did yearely lay aside a portion of money to the vttermost of her ability if not beyond for their releefe Thus she lived holily happily and desiredly Neither could so gracious a life be shut vp but by an answerable that is an happy death and dissolution whereof I will adde but a few words and so leaue her to her happinesse til we meet happily againe True it is that the life of a Christian should be a continuall meditation of death as it is a continuall motion to death and such was the latter part especially of the life of this Christian woman who was of weake and sickly constitution many yeares before her death which made her so much the more prepared for her last combat and sicknesse which lasted ten weekes in all which time she certainely apprehended and expected her dissolution it being the principall and almost onely subject of her discourse sixe moneths before it came But thirty dayes before her departure she finding her paines increasing and growing very sharpe and tedious shee spent an houres talke with me concerning her desire for the things of this life and hauing said what she purposed shee thus concluded her speech Now sweet Heart no more words betweene you and me of any worldly thing onely let me earnestly request and charge you that as you see my weaknesse increase you will not faile to assist me and call on me to follow the Lord with prayer and patience For now I know that Satan will shew all his malice because his time is but short against me and hee will easily espy my weaknesse and make his aduantage of it and therefore now especially help me with your counsell comfort and prayers In all the time of her sickenesse our gracious God who as a fast friend standeth closest to his servants when they haue most need of him shewed his gracious presence with her as in all other comfortable supplies answerable to that depth of distresse so especially in hearing and answering her prayers and desires of her heart There were foure requests which we observed shee especially preferred vnto God in her sicknesse and in none of them was denied The first that she might be armed with strength against Satans assaults which she expected would bee fierce and frequent from whom shee was mercifully freed for onely three dayes before her death she began to be dejected in the sense of her owne dulnesse and thereby began to call in question Gods love towards her and the truth of Gods grace in her for said shee were I the Lords why should not I lift vp my head now seeing the time of my dissolution draweth on so neare But these complaints continued not above six houres but she had much chearefulnesse and comfort againe which she expressed both in earnest and excellent Prayers wherein her gift was more then ordinary for her sexe as also in many chearefull thankes and prayses to God for his great mercy for that he had now so chained Satan at this time of her great weaknesse that having beene formerly molested and daily vexed with his assaults for the space of above six yeares together now he would not suffer him to rest on her with his malice above six houres Her second request was that the Lord would strengthen her with patience to endure all her paines to the end and herein she was as graciously heard as in the former for although she was full of paines and assaulted with many strong fits in which no part was exempt from deadly paynes and every of these fits of many houres continuance yet was she never heard to vtter any word of impatience in her selfe or discontent to any that were about her and much lesse to charge God foolishly in whose hands she was as the clay in the hand of the Potter Her third request to God was that she might in all her sorrowes be still supported with some sense of his love and with the assurance of the pardon of all her sinnes And that God was comfortably found of her in this request was very apparant in her joyfull

as will pride themselues and glory in themselues against the glory of Iesus Christ and the Gospell of Christ which they professe should meet with shame and contempt amongst men of sound iudgement and be sent away with a little contemptuous flattery onely of such wantons as themselues 3. No ornament must be vsed which is not as well expedient as lawfull 1 Cor. 10. 23. All things meaning things indifferent are lawfull for mee but all things are not expedient Euen such things as are lawfull may be inexpedient for a meane estate and condition whether it bee in degree or in ability What an inconuenient excesse is it to weare gold for ornament when they want siluer for necessaries now to weare iewels for pride and then pawne them for need to rufflle it in silkes when they can scarce pay for cloth to make an idle shew and ostentation of abundance when indeed they are in great wants Is it fit for such to follow fashions No but as we must eat according to that with which the Lord hath blessed vs so must we also in our attire and habits The Lord hath called such persons to fr●gality and thriftinesse and to suit their cloathes and ornrments to their present estate Euen a ciuill wise man will fit his minde to his estate if his estate be not fitted to his mind Besides costly ornaments fit not euery degree that are able As it was a disorder for Nabal to keep ● feast like a Kings although he was able so in attires and ornaments for meane persons to suit themselues with great personages breeds a great deformity and lets in a confusion in degrees and a neglect of distinction of persons offices and dignities which the God of order hath set amongst men Adde hereunto that such things as are lawfull may be iuconuenient at some times It was noted riotous in the glutton that hee went in purple and fared deliciously ●uery day There bee wedding garments for times of ioy and feasting but some times are mournfull and call for mouruing garments Iohn 3. and Dan. 9. 3. It is more than inconuenient to be in pompe excesse and delicacie when there should be weeping humility fasting and renting of hearts and garments I trust godly women will be content by looking vpon the afflicted estate of the Church of God euery where at this day to restraine themselues in their excesses in their lawfull liberties and follow the Lord calling them to consider the afflictions of Ioseph FINIS A SHORT INTRODVCTION to the worthy receiuing of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper By THOMAS TAYLOR Doctor in Diuinity and late Preacher in Aldermanbury Church London LONDON Printed by I. B. for Iohn Bartlet at the signe of the gilt Cup in Cheap-side 1633. A short Introduction to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Question WHy are you called a Christian Ans. I am so called of Christ to whom I am knit as a member of his body Q. What is the means of this vnion betweene Christ and the Christian A. The meanes is twofold 1. On Gods part the blessed Spirit of God 2. On mans part the excellent gift of sauing Faith Ioh. 6. 35. Q. How is this Faith wr●ught in vs A. By the ordinary way of preaching the Word Q How is it strengthened A. Both by the same word preached and by the worthy receiuing of the Sacraments Q. What is a Sacrament A. An ordinance of God by which Christ and his sauing graces are by certaine eternall rites signed sealed and exhibited to beleeuers Q. How many Sacraments bee there A. Two Baptisme and the Lords Supper Q. Must none receiue the Sacrament of the Supper but Baptized persons A. No because 1. The same couenant is solemnly renewed and ratifi●d in the Supper which was made in Baptisme 2. None can grow vp into the Church that are not borne into it 3. No vncircumcised person might bee admitted to the Passeouer Q. In the Supper of the Lord what must you specially consider A. Two things 1. The signes or outward Elements 2. The signs by them signified which are Inward Spirituall Q. What are the signes or elements A. Bread and Wine Q. Why did Christ make choyce of both these A. To shew that in himselfe is all sufficiency of grace and spirituall nourishment for bread strengthens the heart and wine makes the countenance glad Q. What are the things signified by them A. The body blood of Christ the true only food of the soule Q. Is the Bread and Wine turned into the very body blood of Christ A. No for then the Signs were abolished so no Sacrament remained Q. But are they the ●ame they were A. They are changed but ●o● in substance but onely in end vse Q. But doe these Elements make a Sacrament A. No vnlesse they be administred and receiued according to Christs institution Q. When are they vsed according to Christs institution A. This vse standeth 1. In the obseruation of the requisite actions about them 2. In application of them according to their proper significations Q. What be the requisite actions about the Elements A. They be either the actions of the Minister or Receiuer Q. Which be the actions of the Minister A. The same which our Lord obserued in the first institution and they be ●oure and all of signification Q. What is the first A. Separation or taking the Bread and Wine Q. What doth this action signifie A An action of God the Father whereby he hath from all eternity seperated taken from the common masse of mankinde Iesus Christ to the high office of mediation Q. What is the second action of the Minister A. Sanctification or blessing of the Elements as Christ when he had taken them gaue thankes or blessed them Q. What is it to blesse the Elements A. To consecrate the Bread Wine for this spirituall banquet Q. How are they sanctified A. Euery creature of God is sanctified by Word and Prayer Q What word is this A. The word of institution declaring the will of God touching those signes as also of commandement so to vse them Q. What is this prayer A. It is both petition for blessing of these signs in this holy vse as also thankesgiuing for Gods vnspeakable loue in ordaining his deare Sonne to bee a sacrifice for our sinne Q. What doth this action signifie A. Another solemne action of God the Father whereby he actually sent in fulnesse of time his beloued Sonne with fulnesse of gifts aboue all measure to worke the great worke of our redemption Q. What is the third action of the Minister A. To breake the Bread and poure out the Wine Q. What doth it signifie A. The breaking of his blessed Body and the shedding of his precious Bloud which is the most bitter passion and death of Christ. Q. What is the fourth action of the Minister A. The distribution and deliuery of both