she was once or twice troubled with vaine speeches as of her child the killing of her husbands cattell that she thought shee saw a fire by her c. But euery one saw that these things proceeded of weakenes emptines of her head and want of sleepe which her disease would not afâ—oord her These fits though they were for the time griouous to her selfe and discomfortable to her friends yet were they neither long nor continuall but in the very middest of theÌ„ would she oftentimes giue testimonie of her faith striuing and fighting against her temptations Many times when the standers by iudged her afflictions at the sharpest would she call vpon God lifting vp her eyes and hands to heauen and desire him to giue her strength against her temptations Many times with a cheerefull countenance she would desire those that were by not to faint or giue her ouer but constantly to pray and helpe her against the tempter Once in the middest of her temptation being demaunded by Master William Fox whether she did beleeue the promises of God nor no and whether she could pray she answered O that I could I would willingly but he will not let me Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeliefe which shee pronounced with a still low voyce And when he replied that if she had a desire to pray and beleeue shee did pray and beleeue and that so effectually that hell gates should not ouercome her according to that of the Apostle God accepteth it according to that a man hath not according to that a man hath not shee was much comforted thereby Once after a great conflict with Satan she said Satan reason not with me I am but a weake woman if thou haue any thing to say say it to my Christ he is my aduocate my streâ—gth and my redeemer and he shall pleade for mee Sometimes when she was aâ—â—ucted with the accusation of her sinnes and want of feeling Gods mercie she would with many a pitifull â—ob and much weeping pray to the Lord Iesus Christ to helpe and comfort her a poore wofull distressed woman and request others to pray for her And when shee was moued to make confession of her â—ath she would doe it oftentimes saying the Apostles Creede and concluding the same with words of application to her selfe I beleeue the remission of my sinnes the resurrectioÌ„ of my bodie and eternall life to mee Amen And hauing done she would pray God to confirme her in that saith euer concluding with the Lords prayer as deuoutly and reuerently as any that were present A Christian friend who by his daily attendance on her discharged the dutie of a faithfull Christian standing by told her that no temptation had befallen her but that which appertained to the child of God and that God is faithfull and true and had promised to giue an issue with the temptation whereat she expressed great comfort Maister Edward aspinwall a faithfull professor of the truth and a true Israelite was much with her in the time of her sicknes and ministred much heauenly instruction vnto her and comforted her at all times with apt places of scripture meeting with her temptations and so put the sword of the spirit into her hand He propounded to her the most plentiful comforts of God vnto his Church in the 40. 41. 42. and 43. Chapters of Isaiah vttered in such speeches phrases as might most fitly answere her discomforts Also he directed her to consider the Passion and Prayer of our Sauiour Christ for all his Iohn 17. Math 26. Luke 22. 23. But specially did he often inculcate that sweet inuitation of our Sauiour Come vnto me all you that trauell be heauie laden I will ease you But the difficulty shee had somtimes to apply these generals vnto her owne soule in particular made the case more full of anguish to her selfe and fearefull and lamentable to the standers by Albeit she acknowledged Gods maiesty mercy faithfulnes and truth yet still complayned she of her owne weakenes and vnworthines and could hardly appropriate each thing to her selfe To helpe her somewhat herein for properly otherwise it is the peculiar worke of the holy spirit of God to perswade the heart and soule of her particular interest in these generall promises shee was told that the Almighty who was merciful as she had proued and faithfull as she confessed intended all these mercies to as many as he did call and make promise to And that hee called her she must needs confesse both because that then she not onely her selfe read but heard others reade those blessed words of God vnto her and also for that in former times she had been touched with the loue of God and that his truth and had well profited in the detestation of sinne and imitation of her Sauiour in a holy life And for yâ— proofe thereof she was wished to remember in former times her Baptisme her frequenting of Sermons and often receiuing the most comfortable repast of the holy Communion her daily and almost continuall exercise of reading meditating and praying c. Also he assured her that neither the present agony she was in nor the speeches then in that distresse tending to the signification of despaire extorted from her were any iust causes why either she or any that heard her should iudge fearefully of her because all might see the fault was not in her will as appeared by her prayers confessions plaints sighs teares and grones to God for mercie and full assurance in the bloud of Christ but in her iudgement not able at that time to discerne the wayes of the Almightie And therein he told her she was made comformable not only to many the holy Saints of God Iob Ieremy Dauid and others more but also to her head our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus of whom we reade that some haue cursed the day of their birth and called for their end and darknes to couer them They haue been as men without hope and swallowed vp in despaire They haue cryed how the wrath of God hath torne them and the terrors of the almightie haue fought against them They haue had no peace in their soules nor comfort in their consciences their prayers haue beene shut from God their sinnes haue been terrible vnto them crying that their iniquities had gone ouer their heads and were a burden too heaâ—â—e for them to heare And they haue thought themselues â—â—â—â—â—â—les of shame and reproch and â—s monsterr v 〈…〉 They were grieuâ—d for the sinnâ—s of their 〈…〉 nd complained that they â—ere 〈…〉 and most miserable and wretched â—n the world yet for all this were they still the d 〈…〉 ildren of God as you â—â—â— this day Nay saith he I pray you coâ—sider what â—orments God inflicted vpon his deare Sonne on the Crosse did he not cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me He complained that his soule was heaâ—y vnto death
or seruant saint or sinner if he beleeue hee shall haue life if hee walke before him Peace shall come Nescit Religio nostra personas nec conditiones hominum respicit Our religioÌ„ taketh no knowledge of persons nor respecteth the coÌ„ditions of men Old Simeon in the temple yong Iohn in the wombe poore Bartimeus begging rich Zacheus climing the hard hearted Centurion standing by the tree the theefe hanging vpon the crosse confessing the trueth and walking in the sunneshine of their Christ all indifferentlie receiue his die gaine peace and finde rest This Peter sawe in vision from heauen and this he preached powerfully on earth when vpon the sight he opened his mouth and said of a truth I perceiue now that God is no respecter of persons but in euery nation he that seareth him and worketh righteousnes is accepted with him Againe I gather out of the text that as God is generall in his gifts so must we be particular in our receite Euery one shall be saued but by his owne faith Euery one shall haue peace and finde rest but by his owne walking Anothers faith though neuer so pretious is not sufficient anothers walking though neuer so righteous is not auaileable to my rest The iust man shall liue by his owne faith so saith Habacucke 2. 4. Euery one shall heare his owne burden and euery one shal haue his owne honour And as we sow so shall we reape not anothers mouth to kisse not anothers teares to wash not anothers haires to wipe the feete of thy Christ but thine owne mouth thine own teares thine own haires must kisse wash and wipe with Marie the feete of thy Sauiour All that thine hand shall finde to doe doc it with all thy power thine hand not anothers hand â—â—y prayers not anothers prayers thine hearing not anothers hearing thy feete not anothers feete shodde to the preparation of the Gospell of peace yea and thy communicating of Christ with all the benefits of his passion not anothers shall benefit thee to thine euerlasting saluation Quid tibi de alterius dono si tu non dederis why art thou proude of another mans gift and thou giue nothing Anothers clothes will not warme me anothers meate will not feede me anothers golde will not enrich me anothers heart will not cheere me no more say I can anothers faith saue me Onely my faith in my Christ whom I haue put on my walking mine obedience must warme me must feede me must cheere me must enrich me and therefore I say with Thomas vpon mine owne tuch My God my Lord. Not God in generall but my God in particular mine by promise mine by stipulation mine by oth mine by free gift mine by purchase mine by participation of giftes and graces my Shilo mine Emmanuel my Iesus Of this particular faith and application spake Isaiah the Prophet when he said Razili Razili Secretum meum mihi Secretum meum mihi My secret to my selfe my secret to my selfe And this is the spirit of application by which the children of God both can and doe applie the medicine to the maladie for what is the sweetest balme if it be not broken The best receite if it be not taken Or the soueraigndst plaister that can be deuised by arte or cunning if it bee not applied to the wound or sore From this spirit of application spake Dauid when he said O God thou art my God as Mary also in the garden when she said Rabboni my master yea and Iohn too whose head lay neere his masters heart euen the Disciple whom the Lord loued when hee sayd We know that wee are of God though all the world lie in wickednes But the sonnes of Beliall and the reprobate from God if you mark them well you shall find that they are seared with a brand and so as neither they caÌ„ nor do apply the mercies of God vnto themselues Caine could make no vse of it when he said My sinne is greater then can be pardoned Nay saith Augustine not so Mentiris Caine mentiris maior est dei misericordia quà m omnium peccatorum miseria Thou lyest Caine thou liest the mercies of God are aboue all mans miseries Pharoah was â—bdurate and could make no vse of God either in maiesty or mercie when he said Who is the Lord that I should heare his voyce let Israel goe I know not the Lord. Iudas that sonne of perdition when he cast in the â—0 pence a goodly price whereat he was valued though he mourned much yet had he no helpe for that he was hopelesse when he could not applie mercie vnto his miserie but said I haue sinned in betraying the innocent bloud The innocent bloud not mine as if he had no portion in his Christ. And for the Diuels they are so farre from challenging any good by Christ that they disclaime his mercies person all whilest they say Ah what haue wee to doe with thee thou Iesus of Nazareth art thou come to destroy vs Such disclaime be farre from you my brethren and from all the Saints of God both in life and death nay rather clamate prore vestra claime your due and say with blessed Paul Christ is become vnto vs wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption Yea and be bold to say yet more his bodie is in heauen there shall I finde it mine his diuinitie is on earth there do I feele it mine his word is in mine eares to beget him mine his sacrament is in mine eyes to confirme him mine his spirit is in my heart to assure him mine Angels mine to camp for me Prince mine to rule for me Church mine to pray for me Pastor mine to preach for me All mine whether it be Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death whether they be things present or things to come euen all are mine I am Christs and Christ is Gods Of all this I inferre and conclude with my text that euery one must walke if he wil haue peace and who wil be cured must care to apply his sweete Sauior vnto his sinfull soule Thine owne gaine must buy balme to bury thy Christ nor must thou send it but bring it with the deuout Maryes to the sepulcher The Queene of Saba though a Queene yet she sent not but came her selfe to heare the wisedome of Salomon And the wisemen of the East herein shewed their wit that after they had seene his starre they turned not but hasted to the place of the babes abode with this inquiry Where is he which is borne King of the Iewes vidimus stellam eius in oriente we haue seene his star in the East and are come to worship him venimus personaliter we come our selues we acknowledge our misery venimus adorare humiliter we adore him our selues we acknowledge his maiestie and we worship eum singulariter him alone
our crosses but they feele not our comforts so said the Saints of olde and therefore to such as thinke it a straunge thing that the Saints of God should haue their fiâ—ie trial in this world by bickerings buffetings and winnowings of Satan They are fooles and slowe of heart to beleeue like the two disciples who went to Emmaus thinking still of their Christ crowned but neuer crossed till the Lord had rectified their thoughts and laide a necessitie of triall vpon all flesh beginning with himselfe thus Ought not Christ to haue suffered these things and to haue entred into his glorie Whereby I gather no peace without warre no rest without toyle no crowne without a crosse no entrance without suffering no glorie without shame and shaking in this wofull world But happely you will say some be neuer broken in heart nor yet haue any conflict with Satan sinne or death they are feared with no temptations nor doe they grieue because of him whom they pearced They haue made a couenant with the graue and a league with hell of such I say their case is desperate and their condition is no better then the beasts fatâ—ed vp in the best pastures reserued for the slaughter of whom Iob speaketh when hee saith The houses of the wicked are peaceable without feare and the rod of God is not vpon them they spend their daies in wealth and suddenly they droppe down to hell As also Dauid there are no bands in their death they haue no knots as it is in the originall they are nâ—t troubled like other men There be many in the world which would faine haue a Church of sugar or of veluet as one saith they would feede vpon manchet and tread vpon Roses I meane in seruing God they would be freed from afflictions they loue Canaan but they lothe the wildernesse they like the crowne but they loue not the crosse Shilo runneth sweetely but Iordan is to too turbulent all like Zebedeus his sonnes Iames and Iohn who sought to sit in the seate of honour but not to drinke of the cup of afflictions But the truth is you may beleeue it the way to heauen is not strowed with flowers but set with thornes and happily you shall finde it in your experience true that Whosoeuer will liue godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecutioÌ„ Quater luctatus est Iacob in vtero cum Esau in via cum eodem in Mesopotamia cum Laban in Bethel cum Angelo Iacob wrestled foure times in the wombe with Esau in his iourney with Esau in Mesopotamia with Laban and at Bethel with the Angell To teach vs that if we wil be the Israel of God we must arme our selues for all trials at all times in all places and with all persons retaining no longer the name of Iacob as supplanting our troubles but the name of Israel as preuailing with God and neuer leauing him without a blessing Excellent things are spoken of thee thou Church of God A woman clothed with the Sunne crowned with the Starres and treading vpon the Moone yet trauailing in birth pursued with the dragon and readie to be deuoured both her selfe and her sillie babe But heauen sung her triumph against the accuser of the brethren and he was cast downe which accused them before God day and night To be accused before men is much but to be accused before our God is more Now and then to be accused is much but night and day is more And such are the persecutions of Gods children in this world they neuer haue an end nor euer shall till the world be without hatred the diuell without enuie and our nature without corruption Thinke it not straunge my deere brethren concerning the firie triall which did befall this Gentlewoman to prooue her at her end as though some strange thing had come vnto her but reioyce rather in as much as she hath been partaker of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall appeare she may be glad and reioyce Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed he fall not There hath no temptation taken her but such as appertaineth to man And God was faithfull who would not suffer her to be tempted aboue that she was able and euen gaue the issue with the temptation that she might be able to beare it When the beholders thought the Whale had swallowed vp Ionah to kill him hee swallowed him vp to saue him The Lord hid his face from her she was troubled But ye are witnesses who were present at her death that his wrath indured but the twinckling of an eye and though heauines continued for a night yet ioy came in the morning when you saw her fined like gold renewed like an Eagle soring high into the bosome of Christ with this powerfull speech and godly ouation at her end Heare O Lord haue mercie vpon me Lord be thou my helper Thou hast turned my mourning into ioy thou hast loosed my sacke and girded me with gladnesse therefore shall my tongue praise thee and not cease O Lord my God I will giue thankes vnto thee for euer-more Well she is gone and now behold her seate is emptie and her graue is full and me thinkes for the present wee feele her want on earth whom God hath found in Heauen Our prayers lesse powerfull our preaching lesse precious and our Psalmes lesse melodious on her behalfe For you all know that there she sate and there she sung there she read and there she prayed there she heard the word there she receiued the Sacraments there lately she liued and there now she is dead therefore may I say with the Prophet All flesh is grasse and all the grace thereof as the flower of the field But comfort your selues in hope of a ioyfull resurrection as also in respect of her holy life blessed end and most happie state in glorie and sith she is gone let it be remembred as a sacrament of her rest that she went vpon a day of rest one of the chiefest of Sabbaoths and high feast of Pentecost euen then that she should ascend when the holy Ghost did descend by which spirit she was sealed vp to the day of redemption Worshipfully was she descended but most honorably may I now say is she ascended yet behold the husband mourneth for that hee hath lost a wife the mother mourneth for that she hath lost a daughter the brother mourneth for that he hath lost a sister which is me thinks not much vnlike the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo And yet this is not all for wee Preachers may mourne most for that wee haue lost an auditor who heard with reuerence felt with passion and followed with perseuerance But beloued what we haue lost heauen hath found and the holy Angels reioyce at the gaine in the meane time the Lord of Heauen supplie the want vpon earth and increase the number of faithfull
me then the Garden of Eden Oh the ioy the ioy the delight some ioy that I feele Oh how wonderfull how wonderfull how wonderfull is this ioy O praise the Lord for his mercies and for this ioy which my soule feeleth sulwel praise his name for euermore And these praises of God she sounded forth like Dauids harmonie being indued with Dauids spirit to the praise of the eternall and mercifull God continuing all night in such like prayers and praises to God except some small time that she was silent and quiet Master Harrison praied twice with her that euening as also in the morning being Whit sunday After hee had prayed once with her going then toward his publike charge she sent for him to pray once more with her before he went which he did to the ioy and gladnes of heart both of her and all that were present and so he tooke leaue of her and departed Another faithfull man or two came presently in that morning and diuers other well affected who were with her at the time of her death and often prayed with her that forenoone she still abounding in spirituall comforts and consolations sometimes as one awaking out of sleepe shee would say the Lord was her keeper and deliuerer Againe one saying vnto her the Lord blesse you Yea said she and the Lord Iesus blesse vs all And so seeming to sleepe a little while and awaking againe she said Lord I trust in thee haue mercie vpon me giue me strength to praise thee defend and preserue me in the houre of temptation and lay no more vpon me then thou wilt enable me to beare Afterwards being asked if she would haue them ioyne in prayer together againe with her O yes said she for Christs sake I desire it saying thus to her selfe Heare O Lord and haue mercie vpon me Lord be thou my helper thou hast loosed my sacke and garded me with gladnes therefore will I praise thee O Lord my God I will giue thankes to thee for euermore With that all that were present did ioyne in prayer with her and in conclusion vsing the Lords Prayer which she said with them to thine is thy kingdome her strength then being gone her tongue failed her and so she lay silent for a while euery one iudging her then to be neere death her strength and speech failing her yet after a while lifting vp her eyes with a sweet countenance and still voyce said My warrefare is accomplished and my iniquities are pardoned Lord whoÌ„ haue I in heauen but thee and I haue none in earth but thee my flesh faileth and my heart also but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer He that preserueth Iacob and defendeth his Israel he is my God and will guide me vnto death guide me O Lord my God and suffer me not to faint but keepe my soule in safetie And with that she presently fell a sleepe in the Lord passing away in peace without any motion of body at all and so yeelded vp the Ghost a sweete Sabboaths sacrifice about foure of the clocke in the afternoone of Whit sunday being the last of May 1601. This was the death of that vertuous Gentlewoman happily dying in the Lord and reaping the benefit of a holie profession wherein we cannot but acknowledge and reuerence the mercie of God who in our greatest infirmitie makes his grace to shine most cleerely A sure testimonie of the truth of our profession seruing to incourage vs therein and to moue vs to a godly life It must needes be a diuine Religion and a truth comming from God that thus can fill the heart and mouth of a weake woman at the time of death with such admirable comfort And a wretched conceite and meere antichristian is that religion which so hateth and persecuteth this faith which is thus able to leade the true-hearted professors thereof with such vnspeakeable peace vnto their graues Her funerall was accomplished at Childwal Church on Wednesday following being the third of Iune 1601. And now for conclusion seeing this blessed Gentlewoman is taken from among vs and receiued into the holy habitations of the heauenly Ierusalem there to remaine in ioye glorie and blessednes for euermore let vs lament for our losse but reioyce for her gaine and let vs pray that in heart wee could as willingly wish to bee with her as she is now vnwilling to be with vs. Salomon saith The memoriall of the iust shall be blessed but the name of the wicked shall rot Prou. 10. 7. FINIS a Rernard epist. 314. b Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 3 cap. 39. c Habes nâ—scio quid latentis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viua vox in aures discipuli de authoriâ— ore transfusa fortius sonat Hier. Paulinâ— d Quid si ipsam audissetis bestiam sua verba resonantem Hier. ibid. Philip. 3. 1. e Bellarm. de not Eccles. 4 17. ex Cochleo Lindan c. f Bellarm. dâ— not Eccles. 4. 8. g Lindan de sug Idol cap. 11. h â—ox Act. mon. p. 520. ex Alan Cope dial i Alan Cope â—iaâ—og More dial Act. mon. sag 743. k More praefat contra Tindal l Harding reioynd against Iuel fol. 184. See Act. mon. p. 1766. Iude 9. 1 Isal. 646. Psal. 143. 2. 1. Cor. 4. 4. Phil. 3. 9. Rom. 5. 19. Sicut ille ex semesips nascentibus licès non man â—â—cauerint de ligno factus est causa mortis ita Christus qui ex ipso sunt tametsi nihil iusâ—e egerunt factus est proâ—isor iustitiae quâ— per crtiâ—em nobis omnibus condâ—naâ—is August cont â—ulian Pelag. lib. 1. cap. 2. ex Ioh. episcâ—p Delicta nostra sua delicta â—ecit vt iustitiam suam nostram iustitiam facâ—res August in Psal. 21. Bernard in Cant. ser. 71. lla est iustitâ—â— per quaÌ„ impâ—uâ—erigitur vt cadat in poenam â—ulgent de incar grat Chri. cap. 27. Rom. 10. 3. Quod lex operum minaâ—do inperat lex fidei credendo impeirat De spirit lit cap. 13. Rhem. Test. 2. Cor. 8. sect 3. 2 1. Ioh. 3. 7. Iam. 2. 21. Vers. 24. Th. Aquin. in hunc locum Ro. 3. 20 28. 2 Pro. 30. 1â— 1 Luk. 1. 6. Iam. 2. 10. 2. King 5. 18 Mar. 6. 20. Greg. mag moral 11. 19. cap 17. Eccles. 10. 1. 2 Matt. 5. 16. 1. Cor. 10. 31 Matth. 6. 3 Rom. 11. 29. Ezek. 18. 24 Hes. 6. 4. Phil. 3. 13. 4 Psal. 16. 3. Psal. 51. 13. Luk. 22. 32. 2 1. Tim. 1. 13 Rom. 9 23. Prou. 28. 13 Rom. 4. 6. Vers. 7. Prou. 11. 17. Matth. 5. 7. Math. 18. 33 Iam. 2. 13. Math. 9 36 37. Math. 15. 32 Tho. Aquin. secunda secunda qu. 32 arâ— 2. â— Heb. 9. 27. Iosh 23. 14. 1. King 2. 2. Eccles 7. 4. Eccles. 2. 15. Eccles. 3. 19. Question Answere Morâ— minimè quidem adhuc abesse cogitur sed cogitur non obesse Bernard in trans
is here first in nature and order for such as God hath receiued vnto mercy as he did Paul because he sinned ignorantly through vnbeliefe In this respect they are called vessels of mercy prepared vnto glory And of this number are only they which repent and amend For as Salomon saith He that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall haue mercie If we take this title in this seuse we may see good reason wherefore it was annexed vnto the former First to shew who are truely righteous before God namely such as he hath receiued vnto mercy in forgiuing their sinnes Which plainely appeareth by Paules proofe out of Dauid who saith that Dauid declareth the blessednes of the man vnto whom God imputeth righteousnes without works And how prooues he the imputatiō of righteousnes without works but by the remission of sin Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne Againe this title so taken might be added to the former to confute the sinister censure which carnall man gaue of those which were taken away in the flowre of their age iudging them to be punished for their sinnes and reiected of God it was not so they were receiued vnto mercy and those which suruiued them were reserued for punishment Actiuely it may be taken for such as shew mercy vnto others And in this sense it is opposed to a cruel man He that is mercifull rewardeth his owne soule but he that troubleth his owne flesh is cruell These two properties are alwaies found together in the same persons and therefore Christ saith Blessed are the mercifull for ther shall obteine mercie And the King in the parable which had forgiuen his seruant ten thousand talents said vnto him when he had cast his fellow seruant into prison for an hundred pence oughtest thou not to haue had pittie on thy fellow euen as I had pitty on thee and then deliuered him to the iaylers till he should pay all the debt and so will the Lord deale with men and therefore Iames saith there shal be iudgement mercilesse to him that sheweth no mercie And contrariwise he which receiueth mercie of the Lord will shew mercy vnto men For as the sunne beames lighten vpon the earth do not only heate the earth it selfe but also by their reflexion do heate the next region of the ayre so the beames of the Lords mercie lighting on the hart of any christian do not only heate him with inward comfort but also reflect backward and cause him to yeeld some comfort vnto his brethren Yet here we must vnderstand such as shew mercie vnto others as they were mercifull to their brethren so God was mercifull to them would not punish them with the wicked but tooke them away that he might free them from future calamities There be two kinds of mercifulnes the one shewed toward the soule the other toward the body an example of both we may behold in Christ when he saw the multitude scattered abroad as sheepe hauing no shepheard he had compassion on them and bad his disciples pray vnto the Lord of the haruest that he would thrust forth labourers into his haruest and presently after sent his disciples abroad to preach the Gospell among them There was mercie shewed to their soules Againe when a great multitude had bin with him three dayes in the wildernes he had compassion on them and would not send them away fasting least they should faint in the way And therefore wrought a miracle in feeding foure thousand mē besides women and children with seuen loaues and a few little fishes There was mercie shewed to their bodies There be sixe works of mercy appertaining to the soule set forth in this verse Consule castiga solare remitte fer ora Instruct them which be ignorant correct them which sinne comfort them which be heauie-hearted forgiue them that offend thee beare with the weake and pray for all men There be seuen workes of mercy appertaining to the body comprehended in this verse Visito poto cibo redimo tego colligo condo To visit them which be sicke to giue drinke to them which be thirstie to feede them which be hungry to redeeme the captiues to cloath the naked to lodge the harbourlesse and to bury the dead Many doe separate these works of mercy some will be merciful to the bodies of them which are in distresse they keepe great hospitality relieue the bodies of them which want but do nothing for their soules these are mercifull but in part they omit the chiefest works of mercy yea they are no more mercifull to men redeemed by Christs blood then they are to bruite beasts If their Oxe or Horse want meate they will feede him if diseased they will seeke help for him if he be fallen into a pit or ditch they will draw him out and wil they do no more for man hauing an immortall soule redeemed by Christ As the miseries of the soule are more dangerous so should they be more carefully regarded and pitied Others seeme to pitie mens soules but not their bodies they will instruct others admonish them forgiue them and pray for them but will not giue them one penny to help them withall being like vnto a popish prelate who being asked a penny by a poore man refused to giue it but offered to blesse him which the poore man refused because he thought that if it had been worth a penny he would not haue giuen it to him As man consisteth both of body and soule and is subiect to miseries in them both so must we be mercifull to him in relieuing of both The second circumstance obserued in the text sheweth the manner of their death They perish and are taken away There were many vnrighteous and vnmercifull men in those dayes and in that countrey yet they remained aliue when the righteous and mercifull were taken away by death It is appoynted for all men once to dye at one time or other and now the righteous did leade the way Death is the way of all the world as Ioshua calleth it and the way of all the earth as Dauid tearmeth it and the end of all men as Salomon nameth it therefore the righteous must walke this way as well as others Their flesh is grasse that withereth and their glorie is a floure that fadeth death spareth them no more then others The wise dyeth as well as the foole Yea in this respect the condition of the children of men and the condition of beasts are alike as the one dieth so dieth the other all was of the dust and shall returne to the dust No maruaile then if the condition of all men be alike As well died Abel whose sacrifice God accepted as Caine whose sacrifice God reiected as well Abraham the father of the faithfull as any children of vnbeliefe as
Princes say Pesants say all corruption thou art my father rottennes thou art my mother wormes and vermine yee are my sisters yee are my brethren say graue thou art my bed sheet thou art my shrine earth thou art my couer greene grasle thou art my carpet death demaund thy due and thou gathering host Dan come last sweepe all away And now my brethren that all is gone where is the remaine of our religious hope spes in olla nay spes in vrna There is hope in the graue â—o saith Isaiah the sonne of Amos in this place of all the Prophets most Euangelical and of al the Euangelists most Propheticall In which Scripture for the better carrying away of the whole you may obserue these special points First gladsome tydings from heauen and what it is peace to the soule and rest to the bodie Secondly gladsome tidings from heauen and to whom it is to all such as walke before him Euerie word if you weigh well truely Euangelicall I meane good newes from a farre countrie gladsome tidings of heauenly things What more acceptable then the welles of sweete water to a thirstie soule what more pleasing then to heare of peace in the time of warre what so to be desired in this moyling world as after toyle to heare of rest And what so comfortable to check all miserie as to heare of mercie And fully to be assured that in the middest of death we are in life and that peace shall come This impression of immortalitie and assured hope of deliuerance from daunger death and miserie hath euer possessed the hearts of Gods Saints and beene as it were a naile of the sanctuarie to keepe them in life and fasten them to a further hope of future perfection Thus peace shall come Iob in the plea of all his miseries as hee thought endles easeles and remediles to the weake and sillie eye of flesh and blood yet vpon a better suruey with the single eye of faith helde by this verie hope and none other Peace shall come For when hee had grieuouslie complained that the Lord had hedged vp his waies that hee could not passe and set darkensse in his paths when hee had spoiled him of his honour and taken the Diadem from his head when he had destroyed him on euerie side and remooued his hope like a tree when his armies of afflictions came together made their way vpon him and camped about his tabernacle when his brethren were remoued farre from him and his acquaintance were strangers vnto him when his neighbours had forsaken him and his familiars had forgotten him when his houshold seruants both men maides tooke him for a straunger and would not answere him though hee prayed them with his mouth when his breath was straunge vnto his wife though he besought her too for the childrens sake of his owne bodie when the wicked despised him his secret friends abhorred him and those whom he loued were turned against him finallie when beside these great losses and most cruel vnkindnesses he was tucht in his own person so as his bone claue to his flesh and he onlie escaped with the skin of his teeth yet in all these dolours thus he demurred Peace shall come though in different words yet in equall sense hee made it the issue of all his maladies Scio quod redemptor meus viuit I know that my redeemer liueth and hee shall stand last on the earth and though after my skin wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I see God in my flesh peace shall â—ome Oh that these wordes were now written Oh that they were written euen in a booke grauen with an iâ—on pen in lead or in â—â—one for euer to the â—â—lace of al distressed Saints I know that my Redeemer liueth that peace shall come Dauid euen distressed Dauid anchored vpon this hold when tossed vpon the â—eas of worldlie woes he felt the froth and furie of Saules rage and Doegs despite the rebellion and incest of his owne children besides the horror of his proper sinnes which night by night caused him to water his couch with teares all these surges had sunke his soule had not his eyes been fixed vpon this prâ—montorie bonae spei Peace shall come which vndoubtedly he felt in his heart when he spake with his mouth and said to the solace of his shrinking soule I should vtterly haue fainted but that I beleeued verely to see the goodnes of the Lord in the land of the liuing O tarrie then the Lords leasure be strong and he shall comfort thy heart Paul is powerfull in this kinde of pleading and if you marke it well in the course of all his Epistles you shall finde that euer as afflictions were multiplied his ioyes were increased Death was to him an aduantage dissolution was his desire and to be with Christ was best of all Peace shall come was his plea against all the issues of death and doome When in labours more abundant in stripes aboue measure in prison more plentiously in death often when of the Iewes fiue times he had receiued fortie stripes saue one when thrise beaten with roddes once stoned thrise hee had suffered shipwracke and beene in the deepe sea both night and day when in iourneyings often in perils of water in perils of robbers in perils of his owne nation in perils among the gentiles in perils in the citie in perils in the wildernes in perils in the sea in perils among false brethren in wearines and painefulnes in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fasting often in cold and nakednes and to conclude when beside the things that were outward hee was combred day lie and had the care of all the Churches yet here was his hold and to this hope was hee fastned I account that the afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs. Therefore we faint not saith the blessed Apostle vpon the like plea but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed daylie for our light afflictions which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent and eternall waight of glorie while wee looke not on the things which are seene but on the things which are not scene for the things which are seene are temporall but the things which are not seene are eternall Peace shall come â—â—ul Paul this issue of life and soule-solace his heauenlie hold and spirituall rauishment hath made thee to forget all that is behind and to hold hard vnto that marke which is before euen Iesus Christ the authour and finisher of thy faith Here in grace thy life was hid in Christ and for that now in glorie it doth appeare in Christ happie place happie Paul happie shrine happie Saint so to bee blessed both in life and death woe vnto vs vpon whom the ends of this world are come if being compassed with
the righteousness of God is reuealed from faith to faith He tels the Ephesians that they must grow vnto perfect men euen vnto the age of the fulnes of Christ As also that they must know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge and so be filled with all fulnes of God He tels the Philippians how he longeth after them from the very heart roote in Iesus Christ and in longing falles a praying and what is the matter of his prayer but that their loue might abound yet more more in all knowledge and in all feeling With whom I will conclude and close with my text As you haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him rooted and built in him and established in the faith as ye haue beene taught abounding therein with thanksgiuing Where obserue my brethren that not rooting building establishing teaching nor abiding in the faith is sufficient without abounding for frustra nititur qui non innititur And he that continueth not to the end shall not be saued Take heed then my brethren and be not high minded but feare you that are come out of Sodome Remember Lots wife go not back nay looke not back you are of Iudah tribe and haue taken a profession vpoÌ„ you and be not like the children of Ephraim which being harnessed and carying bowes turned themselues backe in the day of battell Iames said well Ye aske and haue not because ye aske amisse So may I say many walke obtaine not for that they walke amisse Some in such idolatrous and superstitious heresies some in such clyming and presuming ambition some in such greedie and vnsatiable couetousnes some in such biting gnawing vsurie some in such swearing and forswearing of themselues some in such extrauagant and vagabond lusts of the flesh some in such rebellions conspiracies of harts and hands as of whom I may say as I haue told you often and now tell you weeping they are enemies to the crosse of Christ their end is damnation their bellie is their god their glorie is their shame and they but mind earthly things As for such as creepe with the Crab and slow it with the Snayle I say they walke amisse for creeping Christians are no Christians And cursed â— be that doth the worke of the Lord negligently An Aldermans paâ—e is too solemne for a Saint of God O that Iehu his walking might be a mirrour to all Magistrates Ministers and people how to walke of whom it was said vpon the sight The marching is like the marching of Iehu the sonne of Nimshi for he marcheth valiantly or that Caesars faculty of performance were in the most of vs of whom Lucian thus writeth Caesar in omnia praeceps nil actum credens cum quid superesset agendum Instat atrox Which I may english thus Caesar is forward to all good and thinketh nothing well done whilest any thing is left vndone And so for the conclusion of all Now way the fruit this tree benreth and consider the crop this haruest yeeldeth I meane the blessing they gaine who are faithfull to their Christ and walke before him Is it â—mperiall rule in this world Is it wealth riches or aboundance of earthlie happinesse Is it health strength or beauty These haue their times but they perish with the possessor nor to this end came Christ into this woful world that he might giue to the faithfull walkers fading and vanishing delights but an abiding solace euen life and life in abundance with peace to the soule and rest to the bodie I meane eternall blessednesse to both wherein is the auoydance of all euill the fruition of all good the societie of all Saints the fulfilling of al desires with vnspeakable glory which neuer shall cease whither God bring vs for his Christs sake to whom bee honour and praise both now and euer Amen Amen And now brethren beloued and longed for I say now that I haue finished my course ended the text and closed vp the booke giue me leaue a little to turne me to the dead and to say vnto you on her behalfe this Scripture is fulfilled in your eyes and eares this day Peace shall come nay Peace is come For she entertained in her heart the father of Heauen which is the God of Peace and she loued Christ the King of Peace and in braced in her soule the Comforter which brought that Peace to her that passeth all vnderstanding And for that I may say no more I can say no lâ—sse she kept the condition of my text on earth and therefore her estate is vndefeasable in heauen She did walke before him in life therefore she hath Peace nor did she forsake him in death and therefore now hath she found rest to her wearie soule To walke in the word is to walke with him and to goe by the light thereof is to walke before him Let her painfulnesse in reading and practise in following euen from a child speake to her commendation in that behalfe You heard in the former Sermon how eight chapters a day was her taske each daies reading a full weeke of Sabboths to sanctifie a Saint So sanctifie vs good Lord with thy truth thy word is the truth And to make good the practise I haue crediblie heard that not eight but many eights a day haue been her sighes sobbes and gronings for the breaches of the lawe she read both by her selfe and others euer opening the booke with these words A good God a bad people much mercie offered little receiued for euery one seekes his owne and fewe the things that are of Iesus Christ And still clasping the booke thus The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret but the Kings honour is to search it out And what are wee but a kingly people and a royall priesthood Besides her priuate reading I might heere speake of her priuate prayer and much meditation with Isaac in the field with Dauid in the night I might tell of her weekely repayre to heare the word in the great congregation of her monthly communicating with his Saints there with her feete euer shodde to the preparation of the Gospell of peace and neuer well but when she was â—o walking before him But I leaue her life and come to her death whereunto as I am tolde she walked as Christ did to Caluary with much care and many agonies compelled with Simon of Cyrene to beare his crosse thereby to helpe out the sufferings of her sweete Sauiour and to beare in her bodie and soule the markes of Christ Iesus like spangles of golde to grace her in her triall whereby in the end she became more glorious both to God and man It is said of the kings daughter that she is all glorious within and that her rayment was of needle worke peace within but prickings without Multi vident punctiones sed non vident vnctiones Many see
portion of mine inheritaâ—â—â— The place where I now am is sweet and pleasant oh how pleasant is the sweete perfume of the place where I lye It is sweeter then Aarons composed perfume of principall spices how comfortable is the sweetnes I feele It is like that odour that proceedes from the golden censor that delights my soule The taste is precious do you not feele it Oh so sweete it is yea sweeter then mirrh the hony or the hony combe Let me therefore sing againe and againe vnto my Lord and my God Then she did sing the 19. Psalme beginning at the 7. verse how perfect is the law of God c. and so on to the end of the same And after yâ— spirituall reioysing in singing of Psalmes she then prayed vnto God faithfully and praised the Lord againe ioyfully And being still full of these and such like heauenly consolations she did sing againe most hartily vnto the praise of God the 136. Psalm Praise ye the Lord for he is good for his mercy indureth for euer c. In which Psalme for his mercie indureth for euer is 26. times repeated A christian friend comming in at the same time which was about sixe of the clock in the euening marueiling to see her exceeding ioyes and heauenly harmonie wherein she continued with such words and phrases that were so spirituall prayed for the continuance of the same vnto the end whereupon she then burst out relating further of her ioyes saying Oh the ioyes the ioyes the ioyes that I feele in my soule oh they be wonderfull they be wonderfull they be wonderfull And after that she prayed for increase of faith and that God would strengtheÌ„ her against temptations with continuall crauing of remission of sinnes euer meditating of heauenly matters as by her sudden and often breaking out into heauenly speeches and praises did appeare for the same euening she lying still and silent for a while one prayed her to remember the Lord Iesus and that she would in her heart pray for constancie in her ioyfull course whereunto she answered with a delightsome cheerefull countenance and comfortable voyce Oh said she so I doe for the Lord is my light and my saluation whom then shall I feare Though an host pitch against me yet my heart shall not be afraid for the Lord hath said I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee Indeede I should verily haue fainted but that I beleeued to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the liuing And now my heart is readit my heart is readie and prepared yea it panteth after thee O God as the Hart brayeth after the riuers of water so panteth my soule after thee O God my soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God When Lord when shall I come and appeare before thy presence c. Saying then further Lord sith it hath pleased thee to prepare my heart whether to life or death thy will be done dispose of me to thine owne glory I am thine Lord worke thy blessed pleasure and good will vpon me And after this she fell into a short slumber awaking said as the spouse said vnto Christ in the Canticles Oh come kisse me with the kisses of thy mouth for thy loue is better then â—ine Oh how sweet the kisses of my Sauiour be Then one said vnto her alluding to that place of S. Iohn Reuel 3. 8. and praying that the Lord would annoint her with the eye-salue of his grace that she might see and behold his glorie To whom she answered Mine eyes are opened mine eyes are opened though for a while they were closed vp and shut yet now I thank my God mine eyes are opened and I do feele and see the euerliuing mercies of my Christ saying then further as it is in the 27. Psalme Thou saidst seeke my face my heart answered to thee O Lord I will seeke thy face O hide not therefore thy face from me nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure thou hast been my succour leaue me not nor forsake me O God of my saluation And being willed to commit her soule into the hands of Christ she said O Lord Iesus thou hast redeemed me pleade thou my cause for into thy hands alone doe I commit my spirit O thou God of truth And then feeling more ioy to abound one praising God with her for his great mercies shewed toward her she further said I giue thee thankes O father Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of vnderstanding and hast opened them vnto me thy poore handmaid which am but dust and ashes O how mercifull and marueilous gracious arâ— thou vnto me yea Lord I feele thy mercie and I am assured of thy loue and so certaine am I thereof as thou art that God of truth euen so sure doe I know my selfe to be thine O Lord my God and this my soule knoweth right well and this my soule knoweth right well which speech of her assuraÌ„ce she ofteÌ„ repeated Presently after this sitting vp in her chaire she sung the fourth Psalme and then being laide downe againe in her bed she confidently spake these words I am sure that my redeemer liueth and that I shall see him at the last day whom I shall see and mine eyes shall behold and though after my skin wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I see God in my flesh with these eyes and none other Then came in to see her toward euening Master William Harrison the Preacher praising God for her continuance in that her ioyfull and most happy course and perswading her to an holie perseuerance in the same she thanked him and desired him to reioyce in Christ with her and to praise God for his mercies to her and said Oh Master Harrison my soule hath been compassed about with terrors of death feare within and feare without the sorrowes of hell were vpon me knots and knorres were vpon my soule which twice or thrice she repeated and a roring wildernesse of woe was within me but blessed blessed blessed be the Lord my God who hath not left me cofortles but like a good shepheard hath he brought me into a place of rest euen to the sweete running waters of life that flowe out of the sanctuarie of God and he hath lead me into the greene pastures where I am fed and exceedingly comforted yea he hath restored my soule and lead me into the plaine and easie paths of righteousnes The way that now I goe in is a sweete and easie way strowed with flowers and as a fine sandie way yea it is more easie and soft then the sand for I goe and tread vpon wheate euen vpon the finest flower of wheate Oh blessed be the Lord O blessed be the Lord that hath thus coforted me hath brought me now to a place more sweeter vnto