The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons
His Monument was plain, and decent, a black Marble Stone, upon which he ordered to be engraven this Inscription.
Hic Inhumatur Corpus Matthei Hale, Militis: Roberti Hale, & Joannae, Uxoris ejus, Filli Unici.
Nati in hac Parochia de Alderly, Primo Die Novembris, Anno Domini, 1609. Denati vero Ibidem Vicessimo Quinto Die Decembris, Anno Domini, 1676. Aetatis suae. 67:
His Motto was, Festina Lente, which he ordered to be engraven upon the head of his Walking-staff, and often heard to say, that he found many Witty men to run into great Errors, because they did not give themselves time to think: But the heat of imagination making some Notions to appear in good colors to them, they without staying till that cooled, were violently led by the impulses it made upon them; whereas calm and slow men, who pass for Dullards in the common estimation, could search after Truth and find it out, as with more deliberation, so with greater certainty.
He laid aside the tenth Penny of all he got, for the Poor, and took great care to be well informed of proper Objects for his Charity. And when he was made a Judge, many of the Perquisites which belonged to his Place, as his Divident of the Rules, and Box money, he sent to the Jail to discharge poor Prisoners, who never knew from whence their relief came.
It's a custom for the Marshal of the Kings Bench to present the Judges of that Court with a piece of Plate for a New years-gift, that for the chief Justice being larger than the rest: This he intended to have refused; But the other Judges told him, that it belonged to his Office, and that his refusing of it would be prejudicial to his Successors: So he resolved to take it; but sent word to the Marshal, that instead of the Plate he should bring him the value of it in money, which so soon as he received, he sent it to the Prisons for the relief and discharge of the poor there.
He usually invited his poor Neighbors to Dine with him, and made them to sit at his own Table: And if any of them were sick that they could not come, he would send them warm meat from his own Table. And did not only relieve the poor of his own Parish, but sent supplies to the neighbouring Parishes, as there was occasion for it: And he treated them all with the tenderness, and familiarity that became one, who considered that they were of the same Nature with himself, and were reduced to no other necessities, but such as himself might be brought unto.
For common Beggars, if any such came unto him as he was in his Walks, when he was in the Country, he would ask such of them as were capable of working, why they went about so idly? If they answered, because they could get no work, he would send them to some Field to gather Stones, and lay them on heaps, and then would pay them liberally for their pains, and would afterwards send his Carts to carry them into such places in the Highways which most needed mending.
When he was in the City he liberally extended his Charity, even unto street Beggars, and when some told him, that thereby he encouraged Idleness, and that most of them were notorious Cheats, his Answer was: That he believed most of them to be such; But among there were some that were great Objects of Charity, and pressed with grievous necessities; and that he had rather to give his Alms to twenty that might haply be Rogues, than one of the other sort should perish for want of the small relief he gave them.
He was a merciful Landlord to all his Tenants, and was ever ready, upon just complaints, to abate their Rents: and a poor Widow that lived in London, and had a small Estate, near his Land in the Country, from which her Rent was ill paid, and with some charge returned to her, she bemoneing her Case to him, he ordered his Bailiff to receive it, and to return it for her without any such charge. And when there was a general falling of Rents, and of hers among others, he would have this abatement to lie upon him, and so she had her full Rent as formerly.
His Justice did notably appear in this, that when any ill money was put into his hands, he would never suffer it to be put off, judging that would be no excuse to him to put off false money to others, because some had so deluded him. He had gathered much of this together: For many had so abused his goodness, as to mix corrupt money in the Fees which they gave him. Probably he had intended to destroy it: But some that had seen that great heap, brake into his Chamber, and stole it, which he used to speak of with some pleasure, conceiting how the Couzeners were cozened themselves.
When he was made a Judge, he would ever pay more for his purchases, and other commodities than they were prized at: and being told that he made ill Bargains, he answered, that it became Judges to pay more for what they bought than the true value, that so those with whom they dealt, might not think that they had any right to their favor, by having sold them such good Penny worths.
How little minded to raise to himself a great Estate, may appear by this: whereas, at the first he had a hundred pound per annum, he never advanced it to nine hundred per annum: which, considering the great practice he had whilst a Counselor, and his constant frugal, and retired way of living, was but a small Fortune: and of this a very considerable part came in by his share in Mr. Seldens Estate, who had made him one of his Executors.
He valued Books, and Manuscripts above all things in the world: and himself had made a great, and rare Collection of Manuscripts, belonging to the Laws of England. He was Forty years in gathering them, and they cost him about fifteen hundred pounds. These all he left to Lincolns-Inn, where had most of his Education.
Having thus Mastered things without him, his next care was to overcome his own corrupt inclination. He was (as he said) naturally passionate; yet this appeared not to any about him, save only at sometimes his Colour would rise a little: But he so governed himself, that those that lived long with him, never saw him disordered with anger, though he met with some great Trials of his patience, which the nature of man is as little able to bear as any whatsoever.
One that had done him a very great injury, some time after came to him for advice about settling his Estate: And he gave it him very freely, and would take no Fec of him for the same; and thereby shown, both that he could forgive as a Christian, and that he had the Soul of a Gentleman in him, not to take money of one that had wronged him so heinously: and being asked, how he could use a man so kindly, that had wronged him so much? His Answer was, he thanked God that had taught him to forget injuries.
In his Family he was a very gentle Master. He was tender of all his Servants; he never turned any away except they were so faulty, that there was no hope of reclaiming them. When any of them had been long out of the way, or had neglected any part of their duty, he would not see them at their first coming home, or till the next day, lest when his displeasure was quick, he should chide them undecently. And when he did reprove them, he did it with that sweetness and gravity, that it appeared that he was more concerned that they had done evil, than for the offense given by it to himself: But if any were immoral, or unruly, he then turned them away, saying, that he, who by his Place ought to punish disorders in others, must by no means suffer them in his own Family. He advanced his Servants, according to the time they had been about him, and never gave occasion of envy among them, by raising the younger Clerks above those that had been longer with him. He treated them all with great affection, rather as a Friend than a Master, frequently giving them good instructions. Such of them as had more profitable places under him, he caused to give some of their profit to such as had no more than their Wages. In his Will he left Legacies to every of them; and one of them, in whom he put much Confidence, he made him one of his Executors.
He was of a most tender, and compassionate nature, which evidently appeared in his Trials, and passing Sentence upon Criminals, in which he was very careful, that not a circumstance should be neglected, which might any way clear the fact. He behaved himself with that regard to the Prisoners, as became, both the gravity of a Judge, and the Pity which was due to men, whose lives lay at the stake, and no jeering or extreme severity fell from him. He took care that Witnesses should be put under no confusion that might disorder their memories. When he came to give Sentence, he did it with that composedness and decency, and his Speeches to the Prisoners to prepare them for Death, were so weighty, so free from all Affectation, and so seriously devout, that many were much edified by his Speeches, and behavior therein.
The passing of this Sentence of Death, was the most against the grain of all his Employments, yet therein could he never be mollified to any tenderness which might hinder Justice. His Mercifulness extended even to his Beasts. When his Horses which had done him much service were grown old, he would not suffer them to be sold, or put to any hard labor; and he used his old Dogs with the same care.
He was a great encourager of young Persons that diligently applied themselves to their Books, and would give them directions about the method of their studies, with much humanity and sweetness, and with smiling and pleasant ways he would admonish them, if he saw anything amiss in them. As if they were too fine in their Cloths. He disliked to see young students to wear long Perukes, or for Atturnies to wear Swords.
He was very free, and communicative in his discourse, which mostly fixed upon some good and useful subject, and loved for an hour or two at Night to be visited by his friends, and herein he used a simplicity that was both natural to himself and very easy to others. He never studied Modes of Courtship, yet he knew not what it was to be rude, or harsh with any, unless he were impertinently addressed to in matters of Justice. For then he would raise his voice a little, and so shake off those importunities.
In his Furniture, and Service at his table, he liked the old plainness so well, that as he would introduce no new fashions, so he rather affected a coursness in the use of the Old, which was more the effect of his Philosophy, than that of his disposition. For at first he loved finery too much. He was always of an equal temper, rather cheerful than merry. Many wondered to see the evenness of his Deportment in some sad passages of this Life.
Having lost one of his Sons, the manner of whose death had some grievous circumstances attending it, a Friend coming to see him, and to condole his loss, He said to him, those were the effects of living long: For such must look to see many sad, and unacceptable things; and having said that, he went to other discourses with his ordinary freedom of mind. For he gave no occasion by idleness to melancholy, to corrupt his Spirit; but by the perpetual bent of his thoughts, he knew well how to divert them from being oppressed with the excess of Sorrow.
He had a generous and noble Idea of God in his mind, and this he did find, above all other considerations to preserve his quiet. And indeed that was so well established in him, that no accidents, how sudden soever, were observed to discompose him.
He would never Discourse of public matters in his private Conversation. But in Questions of Law, when any young Lawyer put a Case to him, he was very Communicative, especially whilst he was at the Bar: But when he was promoted to the Bench, he grew more reserved, and would never suffer his opinion in any Case to be known, till he was obliged to declare it judicially. And he concealed his opinion in great Cases so carefully, that the rest of the Judges in the same Court could never perceive it. His reason was, because every Judge ought to give Sentence according to his own persuasion and Conscience, and not to be swayed by any respect of another man's opinion. And by this means it hath fallen out, that when all the Barons of the Exchequer, have delivered their Opinions, and agreed in their Reasons and Arguments, yet he coming to speak last, and differing in Judgment from them, hath expressed himself with so much weight and solidity, that the Barons have immediately retracted their Votes, and concur'd with him.
He hath sat as a Judge in all the Courts of Law, and in two of them as Chief; but still, wherever he sat, all businesses of consequence followed him, and no man was content to sit down by the Judgment of any other Court, till the Case were brought before him to see whether he were of the same mind. And his Opinion being once known, all did readily acquiesce in it: And it was rarely seen that any attempted to bring it about again; and if any did it, he was looked upon as a very contentious person.
Nor was his Opinion and Judgment Reverenced in Courts of Law only: But his Authority was Great in Courts of Equity also, and the same respect and submission was paid to him there too: And this appeared not only in his own Court of Equity, in the Exchequer Chamber, but in the Chancery too, for thither he was often called to advise and assist the Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper for the time being; and if the Cause were of difficult Examination, or intricated, and entangled with variety of Settlements, no man shown a more clear and discerning Judgment. If it were of a great value, and Great Persons interressed in it, no man ever shown greater Courage and Integrity, in laying aside all respect of persons.
When he came to deliver his Opinion, he always put his Discourse into such a method, that one part of it gave light to another; and where the proceedings in Chancery might prove inconvenient to the Subject, he never spared to observe, and reprove them. And from his Observations, and Discourses, the Chancery hath taken occasion to establish those Rules, by which it governs itself at this day.
He did look upon Equity as a part of the Common Law, and one of the Grounds of it: and therefore as near as he could, he did always reduce it to certain Rules and Principles that men might study it as a Science, and not think that the Administration of it, had anything Arbitrary in it. Thus Eminent was this worthy man in every Station; and into what Court soever he was called, he quickly made it appear, that he deserved the chief Seat there.
As Great a Lawyer as he was, he would never suffer the strictness of the Law to prevail against Conscience: As Great a Chancellor as he was, he would make use of all the niceties and subtleties in Law, when it tended to support Right, and Equity. But nothing was more admirable in him than his patience. He did not affect the Reputation of quickness and dispatch, by an hasty, and captious hearing of the Counsel. He would bear with the meanest, and gave every man his full scope, thinking it much better to lose time than patience. In summing up of an Evidence to a Jury, he would always require the Bar to interrupt him if he did mistake, and to put him in mind of it, if he did forget the least Circumstance. Some Judges have been disturbed at this as a rudeness, which he always looked upon as a service, and respect done unto him.
His whole Life was nothing else but a continued course of Labor and Industry: And when he could borrow any time from the public Service, it was wholly employed, either in Philosophical or Divine Meditations; and even that was public Service too as it hath proved, For they have occasioned his Writing of such Treatises as are become the choicest entertaiment of wise and good men.
He that considers the Active part of his Life, and with what unwearied diligence and application of mind he dispatched all men's business which came under his Care, may justly wonder how he coul find any time for Contemplation. Again, he that considers the various studies he past through, and the many Collections and Observations he hath made, may as justly wonder how he could find any time for Action. But no man can wonder at the Exemplary Piety and Innocence of such a Life, so spent as his was; wherein as he was careful to avoid every idle word, so it appears that he never spent an idle day. But men who despair of attaining such perfection, are not willing to believe that any man else did ever arrive at such an height.
He was the Greatest Lawyer of the Age wherein he lived, and might have had what Practice he pleased: But though he did most Conscientiously affect the Labor of his Profession, yet at the same time he despised the gain of it. He took more pains to avoid the Honors, and preferments of the Gown, than others do to obtain them. His modesty was beyond all Example: He was the most obliging man that ever practiced. If a young Gentleman happ'ned to be retained to Argue a Point in Law, where he was on the contrary side, he would often mind the Objections, when he came to repeat them, and would always commend the Gentleman if there were room for it; and one good word of his Mouth was of more advantage to a young man, than all the favor of the Court could be.
He was twice Married. His first Wife was Ann, Daughter of Sir Henry Moor of Faly in Berk-shire; by her he had ten Children, whereof the four first died young, the rest lived to be all Married, yet he outlived them all, except his Eldest Daughter, and his youngest Son. His second Wife was Ann, the Daughter of Mr. Joseph Bishop of Faly in Berk-shire, by whom he had no Children. In his Will he gave her a great Character, as a most dutiful, faithful and Loving Wife, to whose care he committed the breeding of his Grand-Children, and left her one of his Executors.
THE LIVES Of Several Excellent LADIES AND GENTLEWOMEN IN THIS LATER AGE.
The Life and Death of Mrs. Mary Gunter, who died about the year, 1633.
MRS. Mary Gunter was by Birth a Gentlewoman, but descended of Popish Parents, who dying in her infancy, she was committed to the Tuition of an old Lady, honorable for her place, but a strong Papist, who nursed this Orphan in Popery till she came to be about fourteen years of Age: At which time this Lady dying, it pleased God (who had a merciful purpose towards her Conversion) by his good Providence, that she was brought into the Family, and service of that Religious, and truly Honou-Lady, Leitice, Countess of Leicester, who entertained her with more than ordinary respect, both because of her young and tender years, as also because she was allied unto Sir Christopher Blunt, then Husband to this honorable Countess, at whose request, this Lady had taken her into her care.
To this honorable Countess she came a most zealous Papist (according to princiciples of her Education) and was resolved, so soon as possibly she could meet with a fit opp •• tunity, to convey herself beyond the Seas, to become a Nun. For she then thought that that was the surest, and most likely way to get to Heaven; which, as she had an earnest desire to attain, so she would take the nearest way, which she thought would bring her thither.
But she could not so closely carry on her secret devotions or intentions, but that by the vigilant, and careful eye of that Honorable Lady, they were soon discovered, and not sooner discovered than wisely prevented. For presently her Lady took from her all her Popish Books, Beads, and Images, and all such Trumpery, and set a narrow Watch over her, that she might be kept from her Popish Prayers, and not absent herself from the daily Prayers used in the Family, which were constantly and Religiously observed therein. Farther also she required her to read those Prayers which her Honor daily used to have in her private Chamber with her Women.
Her Ladyship also carefully prevented her meeting with any of her Popish Companiens, or intercourse with them by Letters, not suffering her either to Write or Receive any Letter without the view or consent of her Honor.
She also caused her to give an account of the Sermons, which were Preached in the Family, which were constantly two every Lord's day, that thereby she might attain to sound knowledge, which is the great Hammer to beat down, and enervate Popery. And it pleased God so to bless these means in a short time, that she became helpful unto others, by Communicating to them the substance of those Sermons which she heard; and she had the greater opportunity to do this, because it was constantly observed by all the Women in that honorable Family, to come together after the Evening Sermon, and to improve their time by repeating both Sermons.
But all this she as yet did out of fear, keeping still this reserve that she would devote her heart to Popery, and (as Naaman) trusted that God would be merciful, because she did all through fear, and constraint. But God (who in his own due time, and by his own means) bringeth about his own purposes, began to work in her a staggering first, about her former old way. For when she saw, and observed the grave and holy Conversation of that Reverend man of God, who then was Chaplain to the Countess [Mr. J. W.] she began to apprehend and persuade herself, that surely this man's godliness must needs bring him to Heaven: And hereupon, the Reverend respect which she did now bear to the man, made her to lend a better ear, and give more heed to his Doctrine, to examine his proofs, and to reverence his Ministry, whereby (in a short time) she came to embrace the Truth in the Love of it, and to renounce her former superstitions, and to bewail her ignorance.
And, as it is the property of a true Convert, being Converted herself, she much endeavored the Conversion of others, and was a great help, and furtherance to the public Ministry, in her place and station. And this was a thing which that honorable Family took special notice of, and there were many that had great cause to bless God for her, for the benefit which they received by her.
But presently after Satan (that subtle Serpent that watcheth to devour every manchild that is born unto God) began to rage, and roar upon her, by strong, and Hellish temptations: First, terrifying her with an apprehension that she had committed the sin against the Holy Ghost, having been a deep dissembler; For that, having been in heart a Papist, yet had she joined in worship with the Protestants whom she held to be Heretics, and did all this against her knowledge and conscience: And so incessantly, and violently did he pursue her with this Temptation, that she was brought to believe that it was impossible that this sin should, or could be pardoned. And this Temptation was edged and sharpened with that foul and unnatural suggestion of making away herself by murder; as if the remedy of the sin against the Holy Ghost, were to destroy ones self.
While she was tossed and molested long with this Satanical suggestion, she (by concealing her grief) was brought so low, by bodily distempers, that she almost despaired of recovery. But in the nick of time, it pleased God to direct that Reverend Minister (who was her Father in Christ, and whom she ever after embraced with the most entire Love of the most natural Child) to discourse, and treat of this sin, and to show what it was, and by whom, and in what manner it was committed. To this Doctrine she attended with great diligence, and by examining it, and comparing herself and her own condition with what she had heard of it, and finding that she had not so sinned after illumination, nor with obstinate malice against God and his Truth (for that was it, when she was most superstitiously devoted, she desired to find out) it pleased God to calm and quiet her mind for that, and so freed her from that Temptation.
But Satan (who departed from our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, only for a season) was not long absent before he again set upon her with new suggestions, and upon his return brought with him seven other spirits (if it were possible) worse than himself, and now his name might fitly by called Legion. For now he cast other fiery Darts at her, to confound and destroy her: And this he endeavored by injecting multitudes of blasphemous thoughts into her head. For now she must believe that there is no God: That the sacred Scriptures are not the Word of God, but a human policy to keep men in order: Or if it were God's Word, who must interpret it? Or how could she, a silly woman, get the understanding of such deep Mysteries as were contained in the same? Besides, as she was of mind that she was gotten out of one Error, so she knew nothing but that she was misled into another? For how could she be assured that this was the Truth which she now embraced, and professed, seeing there are as many, or more Learned men of the one Opinion as of the other; and all of them defend, and maintain their Opinions by the Scriptures?
Thus was she vexed and molested with Armies of roving, and unsettled conceits for the space of five, or six years together, till God (whom she often implored and importuned by fervent prayer, for direction and assistance in the Combat brought her to this resolution, that she would hold these Conclusions whatsoever Disputes Satan might vex and weary her withal.
1. That there was, not only a God in himself, but a God that was her God: 2ly. That whatsoever Opinions there were in the World, that yet there was but one Truth, and that was to be Learned out of the Scriptures: And that, though there was much in the Bible which she did not understand, yet she was persuaded, that if she would diligently read, and search the Scriptures, with earnest prayer unto God for a good understanding in them, she should attain thereby, such a measure of knowledge, as would be sufficient to bring her to Heaven. And holding strongly to these grounds, she found her Temptations to vanish and wear away by degrees, and was herself daily more confirmed, and settled upon the foundation.
Neither was she only (through God's Grace,) a Conqueror over these Temptations; but (as the Apostle Paul speaketh) Rom. 8. more than a Conqueror by them. For God (who bringeth Light out of darkness) made these Temptations a sweet seasoning of her; by occasion whereof, she tied herself to an exact▪ and strict course of godliness, and to the constant practice of Christian duties, which she religiously observed and practiced even till her dying day.
For first, That she might be established in the Truth, and confirmed against her former waverings, and weaknesses, she resolved that (God assisting her) she would every year read overy the whole Bible in an orderly course, which course she constantly observed for the space of fifteen years together, beginning her task upon her Birth day, and reading every day so many Chapters as to bring it about just with the year: By which exercise she gained a great increase and measure of knowledge, and no less strengthening of her Faith. For she did not read carelessly and negligently, but always kept a Note of such Places as she did not understand; and would be still enquiring after the meaning of them, as she met, either with Ministers, or with other understanding Christians, who as she thought, were able to help her therein. And her custom was, ever before she opened her Bible, to direct, and send up a short Prayer unto God for the opening of her blind eyes to the understanding of those sacred Mysteries, that they might be as a Lamp to guide her feet in the ways of holiness, until she should attain the end of her Hope, and Faith, even the salvation of her Soul.
And yet not herewith content, as a good Mary, she pondered the good Word of God in her heart. For by her great industry in the Scriptures, she had gotten by heart many Select Chapters, and more of the Psalms: and in every Book of the Scripture one choice Verse; all which she repeated every week in a method and order which she had propounded to herself. And being asked, why she took so much pains in getting and retaining those Scriptures in memory? Her Answer was, that she knew not what days and times of Trial, and Persecutions might come, wherein she might be deprived of her Bible, and other good Books and helps; But so much of the Scriptures as she could get into her heart, she knew that no Tyrant, or Enemy could bereave, or rob her of them.
Secondly. For that time of her trouble, she resolved upon Daniel's Practice, wherein she was constant also; namely, that besides Family duties, which were performed twice every day, by the Chaplain in the Religious house in which she lived, till within one year of her death: And besides the private Prayers which she daily read in her Ladies Bed-Chamber, she was thrice on her Knees every day before God in secret, like a true worshipper, whose delight was frequently to present herself before the Lord: And by means of this days exercise (besides all other comfortable fruits) she attained to a singular sweet gift in prayer, whereby she could both strongly wrestle, and happily prevail with God, whose gracious disposition inclines him to be prevailed with, yea, to be overcome by the Prayers of his weak Servants.
She also knowing that religious fasting, is the Whetstone of Prayer, she tied herself to set apart six days in every year, wherein she did in an extraordinary manner humble herself before God by fasting and prayer for her own sins, and for the sins of the times wherein she lived. At all which times she was in a special manner earnest with the Lord, that he would be pleased farther to reveal his whole Truth, needful for her Salvation, and keep her constant in the Obedience thereof unto the end.
And because she knew that the right and worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, did afford to a Christian some special strength, and much stability in the course of Godliness; as she diligently laid hold on every opportunity, wherein she might partake thereof; so for many years she laid a bond upon herself never to receive it, but the day before, to sit, and examine herself seriously, and deeply to humble herself before the Lord in fasting and prayer all the day long.
Thirdly. The troubles of her Conscience made her ever of a tender Conscience, so that she was ever fearful of offending God and her own Conscience, for which end she always kept a strict and narrow watch over her heart. And to keep herself in the greater awe, for the space of about five years before her death, she kept a Catalogue or Register of her daily slips, yea, she set down the naughty thoughts which she observed in herself, that one day in every Week she might extraordinarily humble herself for all the failings of that Week; and at such times her abstinence was more than ordinary, using only so much food as might best fit her weak body to humble and fervent prayer. All these private duties of Religion were carried on with so much fervency, that none in the family, besides her bosom friend, knew of their performance.
And as she was fearful of sins present and to come, so was her Conscience as tender in respect of sins past, as will appear by this memorable instance. Whilst she was a Child, bred up in the Family of that afore-mentioned old Lady, she was enticed by some lewd Servants, who fed her with Figs, and such other Toys, fit to please Children withal, to steal for them money out of her Ladies Cabinet, which often stood open in her Chamber, and which they knew, she of all others had the fittest opportunities to do: And her childishness giving way to these enticements, she found that it was not missed, and therefore was encouraged to continue it, for about the space of seven years, without any great check of Conscience: But when the Light of God's Word shone into her soul, and made a privy discovery of the secrets of her heart, and thereby made her able to take herself with the Fact; Now she was ashamed and confounded in herself, and her awakened Conscience gave her no rest; neither could she concieve any hope of quiet, because she saw that she had done that which she could no way undo.
When she looked at the Sums of money taken by her, and given to those wicked Enticers, she conceived that by continuing in that course, for so many years together, she might have wronged that Lady of Thirty, or Forty pounds. If she thought of making Restitution, she was no way able to do it. And thus she groaned under the burden of this sin for a long time, easing it as well as she could, by taking up a firm resolution, that if God pleased ever to make her able, she would make full Restitution to the Heirs of the deceased Lady, which afterwards she did accordingly.
For when that honorable Lady, whom she had long served, at the time of her Marriage, gave her a large and bountiful Portion, she soon after made choice of a Reverend Minister, to whom she enjoined secrecy; and because she would be sure to make full Restitution, she delivered to him Threescore pounds to make tender of it to the Ladies heir, as from a concealed Servant of the Ladies, who had unjustly taken it away from her. And when the Gentleman returned Ten pounds of it again, such was the tenderness of her Conscience, that she would receive none of it to her own use, but gave it away to the poor, and pious uses. And this childish miscarriage God turned to her good. For in all the two and twenty years service to that honorable Lady, she never made use of anything which was under her charge, whether small or great, but she set it down in Writing, and once every day did make it good, either in the very kind, or in some other thing which she bought for her Ladyship's use.
Fourthly. The sense of her own weaknesses and wants made her of a pitiful and charitable disposition towards the wants and miseries of others. She had ever a very large heart to the poor, especially to the godly poor. She did never see or hear of any that were in want, but her heart did mourn if she had not wherewithal to relieve them▪ Neither yet was her hand shut; for she did yearly lay aside a portion of money, to the uttermost of her ability (if not beyond it) for their relief. Thus she lived, and therefore happily, and desiredly. Neither could so gracious a Life be concluded, but by an answerable, that is, a happy death and dissolution, which accordingly, through God's mercy, she attained.
True it is that the Life of a Christian should be a continual meditation of death, as it is a continual motion towards Death. And such was the latter part especially of the Life of this gracious woman, who was of a weak and sickly constitution for many years before her death, which made her the more and better prepared for her last combat and sickness, which continued for the space of ten Weeks; in all which time she certainly apprehended, and expected her approaching dissolution, it being the principal, and almost only subject of her discourses, for six Months before it came to pass. But Thirty days before her departure, she finding her pains increasing and growing very sharp and tedious, she spent an hours discourse with her Husband, concerning her desire about the things of this Life. And having imparted to him what she purposed, she thus concluded her Speech. And now sweet-heart, no more words between you and me about any worldly thing, only let me earnestly request you, and charge you, that as you see my weaknesses to increase, you will not fail to assist me, and to call upon me to follow the Lord with prayer and patience. For now, I know, that Satan will show all his malice, because his time is but short against me, and he will easily espy my weakness, and make his advantage of it; and therefore now especially help me with your counsel, comfort, and prayers.
In all the time of her sickness, her gracious God, who, as a fast friend, standeth close to his Servants, when they have need of him, shown his merciful presence with her, as in all other comfortable supplies, answerable to the depth of her distress, so especially in hearing, and answering her prayers, and desires of her heart. For
There were four things, which in her prayers, she especially begged of God, in the time of her sickness, and in none of them was she denied.
First: That she might be armed with strength against Satan's assaults, and temptations which she expected would be very fierce and frequent: From whom (according to her request) she was mercifully freed. Only about three days before her death, she began to be dejected in the sight and sense of her present dullness, and hereupon began to call in question, the love of God towards her, and the truth of God's Grace in her. For (said she) were I the Lord's, why should not I now lift up my head with Joy, seeing the time of my dissolution draweth on so near?
But, through God's mercy, these complaints continued not above six hours, before she had much comfort and cheerfulness again, which she expressed in earnest and excellent prayers (wherein her Gift was more than ordinary for her Sex) as also in many hearty and cheerful Praises, and Thanksgivings unto God for his great mercy, in that he had so chained up Satan, at this time of her great weakness; whereas she had been formerly molested, and daily vexed with his Buffetings, and fiery Darts, for above the space of six years together; yet now, God would not suffer him to spit out his malice against her for above the space of six hours.
Her second request was, that the Lord would support and strengthen her, patiently to endure, and cheerfully to undergo all the pains he should lay upon her, even to the end. And herein also was she graciously heard, as well as in the former. For though she was full of great pains, and endured many strong fits, in which no part of her body was exempted from racking, and deadly torments, and every of these fits continued for many hours, yet was she never heard to utter any impatient word concerning herself, or of discontent to any that were employed about her: Much less did she charge God foolishly, in whose hands she judged herself to be, as the Clay in the hands of the Potter.
Her third request to God was, that she might in all her sorrows be supported with some sense and evidence of his Love, and with the assurance of the pardon of all her sins. And that God was comfortably found of her in this request, also was very apparent in her joyful expectation of death, the time whereof she truly foretold five days before it came to pass: And as this time approached, her Joy increased, so as she was able to comfort her mournful Husband and Friends, saying: Mourn not for me, but for yourselves: For I shall very shortly be more happy than the wishes of your hearts can make me; and therefore cease your mourning, and help me thither by you prayers as fast as you can.
Her fourth and last request was, that she might have her memory continued to her until the last period of her life, that so by no idle or light speech, she might dishonor God, or bring a scandal upon her profession. For she said, If I through pain, or want of Sleep (which indeed she much wanted) should have any foolish, or idle talk, I know what the Speech of the world useth to be. This is the end of all your precise Folks, they die mad, or not themselves, &c.
And as the prayed, God gave her her memory to the last gasp, so that she died praying. For a little before her departure, she called her Husband, and her Friends that were about her, and hasted them to prayer: For now (said she) I shall be gone presently (which words they then believed not) but prayer being ended, she said with more strength than she had spoken anything for four hours before, Amen, Amen, Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit, Lord Jesus have mercy on me, and receive my Soul. And thus with her breath and words, she breathed out her soul, which by the Angels was carried into Abraham's bosom in the highest Heavens, to which her eyes and hands were lifted up. About the year of our Lord, 1633.
The Life and Death of the Lady Alice Lucy, who Died, Anno Christi 1648.
HEr Birth was none of hers, and therefore cannot be either her virtue or her praise. High descent, and glorious Names, far fetched, are but Names; and the Names of others too —Vix ea nostra voco. Scarcely can we call ours what ourselves are not the Authors of. And, not many Generations, and a multitude of mouldy statues, but Virtue only gives the Character of true Nobility, as some of the Heathen hath said: How far then should Christians be from committing of Idolatry with Stocks, and worshipping of Images! Ascribing so much to Families, and esteeming themselves or others truly Noble, if their Progenitors have been so. Nobility is not Hereditary, but Inherent; not Relative and transmitted, but Moral, and Personal; or at least, not so much: Though we are very apt to give much honor to the very shadow of Nobility. But when to the shadow there is added the substance; Nobility Inherent to Nobility Hereditary, there truly we owe a debt of double honor. And such a debt was due to this noble Lady, so conspicuous in both.
Her entrance was early into the Conjugal State and Condition (such Fruit so rare, so soon ripe, could not continue long ungathered) yet not sooner than she was fit for it. She knew that her taking of a second self, was a self-denying work; and therefore she resigned both her reason, and her will unto her Head, and Husband; to whom she was, as Monica, the Mother of Saint Austin, was to her Husband Patricius, Reverently amiable, and admirable: And from whom, for all the Virtues which an Husband can wish for in his Wife, she received as much honor as she could expect, or desire.
After they had drawn together in one yoke for about the space of Thirty years, with much mutual dearness, and delight, it pleased God to dissolve the Knot; by taking away her support and honor, far dearer to her than her very Life. But then it pleased God also, to show himself abundantly gracious unto her. For when he had made her a Widow, he made himself her Husband; supporting her, comforting her, and enabling her prudently to manage her great Estate, and to order her numerous Family, with so much Wisdom as was admirable; especially if we consider that her bodily infirmities did most commonly confine her to her Chamber, and seldom permitted her to stir abroad. Its no wonder that the Turkish Bassa's, and Privy Counselors carry themselves so regularly and exactly towards him, though he never come amongst them: For he hath his dangerous Window (as 'tis called) where he can hear their Words, and see and observe all their behavior, though none of them can see him: And wonderful it was that all in so great a Family as this Ladies, should be so regular, so diligent in their places, so faithful to her, who, as she scarce ever came among them, so had no Window through which she might overlook them. God's Wisdom is everywhere visible, though himself be not: So her Influence extended to all her affairs, though herself were so retired.
She continually carried about her the burden of a weak body; but she did hear it with singular Patience, and improved it to her spiritual advantage. Its a blessed weakness which causeth us to make God our strength: A blessed Consinement, which sets the soul at liberty, and set it a longing after more Communion with God. Her great affliction it was that she could not visit the house of God and attend upon the Public Ordinances, where God hath promised his presence, and where we may expect his blessing What many in those giddy days departed from, she most earnestly desired to repair to, and enjoy: But because she could not go from her house to God's house, she made a Church of her house, where for sundry years, she every Lord's day in the Evening (unless she were hindered by extroardinary weakness) heard the Preaching of the Word; strictly requiring the presence of all her Family, and showing herself an example of great reverence, and singular attention.
It was observed that she never removed out of one Room into another, but she used some short Ejaculations, with lifting up her Eyes and hands to God.
Her first employment every day, was her humble Addresses to Almighty God in secret: Her next was to read some part of God's Word, and of other good and profitable Books: And indeed she had a great Library, well stored with most of our choice English Authors. No sooner could she hear of any pious Book made public, but she endeavored to make it hers, and herself the better for and by it.
Much she was in reading, and able to give as good an account of what she read as most are: She had an excellent understanding, as in secular so in spiritual things. And finding the benefit of this course, and practice to herself, she commended it to her Children, whom she caused, every day to read some Portions, both of the Old and New Testament in her own presence and hearing. In the Afternoon she spent some time in the same manner as she had done in the Morning.
About an hour before Supper, she appointed someone of her Children to read some godly and useful Sermon in the presence of herself and of her other Children: Frequently taking occasion of instilling into them some sweet and profitable Instructions, and of exhorting them to a constant religious walking with God. In the Evening a little before she betook herself to repose, she commanded them all to come into her Lodgings, where they joined in singing of a Psalm (as the Servants did also constantly after Supper, before they rose from the Table; the men-servants in the Hall, and the Maid Servants in a more private Room) And whence, after many pious Exhortations, and her Motherly Benediction, she dismissed them: And then closed the day, with secret duties, as she began it; begging God's blessing upon herself: And thus she did constantly every day.
By what hath been said, we may observe that she was of a precious, and gracious spirit herself, and as careful to leave such holy and gracious impressions upon her Children after her. A very Fruitful Vine she was, and many were her Olive Plants about her Table. Some of them tasted of death before their dear Mother, yet she left Ten living after her; the same number of either Sex, who were all present at her Funeral. Whilst she lived, they daily tell down and craved her blessing: They also rose up, and (with the Children of Solomon's Virtuous woman, Prov. 31. 28.) called her blessed.
Next to her golden Chain of Graces, mentioned by Saint Peter (1 Pet. 1. 5, 6, 7.) wherewith she was eminently Beautified) and the Ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, (1 Pet. 3. 4.) she accounted (with Cornelia, that noble Roman Matron) her Children to be her chiefest Ornaments; and therefore her desire, and earnest endeavors were to beautify and adorn them with all virtuous Habits, and to make them the true Children of God. She knew, and would have them know too, that if they would be happy, to their Great Birth there must be added the New Birth: To great Kindred and Allies, there must be Relation to the Family of Heaven: To a great Estate, the State of Grace, or else it would come to pass that they would one day wish, that they had never been born. She often inculcated into them, That true Grace is true Greatness▪ And that the more any of them feared and served God, the greater portion of Love they might expect from her.
The last Link in Saint Peters Chain is Charity. And this Elect Lady (2 John 1.) was much in those gracious practices, whereby she might make her Calling and Election sure. Much she was in the duties of Piety: Much in the duties of Charity: Many Coats and Garments did this Dorcas make whilst she was alive: She had not a hard heart, nor a withered Hand. She was none of those, who having this worlds goods, and seeing their Brother have need, do yet shut up their bowels of Compassion from him. She may be a Pattern to all that come after: God gave her the blessing of a great Estate: Yea, he gave her a greater blessing than that, an heart to make a right use of it.
Every day she stretched out her hand to the poor; yea, she reached out her hands to the needy. A great number she relieved at her Gates, and gave her charge to her Porter, that when there came any that were very Aged, or that complained of great losses in those dismal Times of our Civil Wars, especially if they seemed honest, that he should come and certify her of it, that she might enlarge her Charity to such; which if he had neglected at any time to do, and she had known of it, probably she would have been as much displeased with him, as once she was with another of her Servants, for neglecting a Command which she had given him in reference to the refreshment of some poor.
In those Times of scarcity, every Week she sent many Loaves of Bread to many Neighbor Towns: She caused her Corn to be sold in the Markets (as it were) by Retail, in such small quantities as might not exceed the Poors abilities to purchase. She allowed certain Meals in her House to sundry poor Neighbors, whose empty Bellies were discernible in their pale Faces; and when hereby they had recovered their former Complexion, and received (as it were) a new Life by her means, she with Joy professed, that the sight of such an alteration in them, did her as much good, as anything which she herself had eaten.
She continually employed many poor old men and women in such works as were fit and suitable to their skill and strength.
When the Physician came at any time to her house, she used to make inquiry whether any were sick in the Town; That if any were, they might partake of the same benefit with herself: But at all times when any wanted health, she presently had intelligence of it, and most cheerfully Communicated whatsoever she conceived conducible to their recovery; having, not only great store of Cordials and Restoratives always by her, but great Skill and Judgment in the Application of them.
And as our Savior Christ said unto the Woman of Canaan (Matth. 15. 28.) great is thy Faith, so may we say of this Virtuous, and Religious Lady, Great was her Charity. For she knew right well, and considered;
That Faith is but a fancy without the Labor of Love. For true Faith cannot be idle, its never out of work, 1 Thes. 1. 3. And it worketh by Love, Gal. 5. 6.
That the greater any are, the better they should be: The more Goods they have, the more Good they should do: And as they have opportunity they should do good to all, Gal. 6. 10.
That such as are rich in this world, have a great charge. For they are charged, not to be high minded, and close handed (which they are too apt to be) But to do good, to be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to Communicate; So laying up in store for themselves, a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life, 1 Tim. 6 17, 18, 19.
That the Wisdom that is from above, as 'tis pure, and peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated: So 'tis full of mercy, and good fruits; without partiality, and without Hypocrisy, Gal. 3. 17.
That pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: To visit the Fatherless and Widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world, Jam. 1. 27.
Thus unspotted she ever kept herself. As the Apostle S. Paul saith; Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's Elect? It is God that justifieth, &c. Rom. 8. 33. So may we say, who can lay anything to the charge of this Elect Lady? God had sanctified her: Yet not so as to free her from the Inherency of sin (for so he sanctifies none in this Life), but so, as to free her from the Regency of it, and from all such acts as would have proved a spot, and blemish to her, which all that knew her must needs acknowledge. And this also, that she, like unto a choice and dainty Garden, was free not only from eminent Weeds, but richly furnished with all manner of fragrant Flowers and delicate Fruits. Or like the glorious Sun, not only free from spots, but full of Light.
All the Country knew her; as Boaz said of Ruth, all the City knew her to be a Virtuous woman.
At her entrance into her last sickness (which was about a fortnights length) she conceived her Life to be but of a very short continuance, and therefore prepared and composed herself for her dissolution. Yet durst she not but make use of her Physicians, whose singular ability and fidelity she had frequently experienced, having been raised up by them, when she was fallen almost as low as the very Grave. And now, had she been recoverable, they (by God's blessing) would have recovered her. But as he faith;
Ovid. de Pont.
The most able and learned Physicians cannot keep Life when God calls for it. There is no Antidote against death: No doses will free us from paying our last debt. Go we must when our Life-Lord bids us come. The last words of this virtuous Lady were; My God I come flying unto thee. Presently after which, her Soul took its flight from hence, and she quietly slept in the Lord in August, Anno Christi 1648.
Such was her humility and modesty, that although in that Magnificent Monument which she made for her Husband, Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlcot in Warwick-shire, she caused herself to be laid by him in her full proportion; yet would she not suffer her Epitaph to bear any proportion with his: She conceived the most that could be said of him was too little, and the least that could be said of herself was too much. Unwilling she was to have anything at all said of herself: But when that might not be, she would by no means allow of anymore than this; Her observance of her dearest Husband while she enjoyed him; her remembrance of him by that Monument, when she had lost him. Only one thing more was added, but full sore against her will; Namely, that her other exquisite Virtues were forbidden by her excessive modesty, to make their appearance in that Marble.
[illustration]
THE HONORABLE Y
e
: LADY MARY VERE
[portrait of Mary Vere]
The Life and Death of the Right Honorable, the Lady
Mary Vere,
who Died, Anno Domini
1671.
THE HONORABLE Y e : LADY MARY VERE [portrait of Mary Vere]
THis Noble Lady was born of high and Ancient Families on both sides. For by her Mothers side she springed from the best Family of the Throgmortons, and by the Fathers side, she was extracted from the Ancient family of the Tracies, at Todington in Glocestershire.
She was the youngest of fiften Children, and was born May the eighteenth, Anno Christi 1581. being the three and twentieth year of Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory. Her Mother died three days after she was born: And her Father when she was but eight years old.
Thus she was soon left an Orphan: But indeed, they only are Orphans, who have not an heavenly Father. So when her Father, and Mother thus forsook her, the Lord took her up. And the experiences which she had all her life-long, of God's most tender care over her, ministered occasion to her to choose this for her Motto (which was found written by her in the Front of most of her Books in her Closet) God will provide.
She took much delight in speaking of one of her Ancestors, as one of the greatest honors, to her Family, [William Tracy of Toddington, Esquire] mentioned by Mr. Fox in his Martyrology [See the Story of it in my English Martyrology. p. 395.] who in the Reign of King Henry the eighth, for the sound profession of his Faith, set down by him in his Last Will and Testament, was, two years after his Decease, condemned to have his body taken up, and burnt, which Sentence was Executed accordingly.
This virtuous Lady was twice married: First, to Mr. William Hobby, her first Husband, when she was nineteen years old, and by him she had two Sons, who were by her relgiously educated, and the happy, and comfortable fruit of this her care she reaped at their pious deaths (they going both of them, young to heaven, having lived long in a short time) the younger died in the fourteeath year of his Age, and the Elder in his three and twentieth, who in his Life was much admired for his parts, and as much beloved for his piety.
Her second Husband was Sir Horace Vere, afterwards Baron of Tilbury, a Person not to be named without some Honorable Character, a Man whose Coat Armor made more Renowned than his Coat of Arms, and whose Personal Atchievements in the field (especially at the battle at New-port) ennobled more, than the high blood derived from his Ancestors. But his unstained piety gave him the highest Character of all. By the other indeed, he purchased a Great Name, like unto the Great Men that are in the Earth [2 Sam. 2. 19.] But by this, he procured a Good Name. And even Tacitus himself, (the Roman Historian) prefers the praise gotten by Goodness, before that which is obtained by Greatness. And therefore speaking of a noble Roman, he saith, that he was, inter claros potius, quam inter bonos censendus: Rather to be numbered amongst the Famous, than among the good men.
This noble Lord was one, that could as well wrestle with God, as fight with men, and may be thought to have gotten his Victories upon his knees in his Closet, before he drew his Sword in the Field. And when he had overcome his Enemies, he could overcome himself also, being one of the humblest souls, in whom so much true worth lodged, that we have heard of.
His good Lady used to say, that she honored him for his valor, but most, for the grace of God which shined in him. And hence it was, that she did Coruscare radiis Mariti, shine by the Rays of her Husbands excellencies: But yet not only with these; for she had rare, and radiant beams of her own, by which she cast the like honor upon him. So happily was this noble couple suited, as in the high extraction of both their Births, so also in the rest of their accomplishments, that they mutually illustrated each the others honor.
But passing by all her Civil, and Secular Prerogatives, we will now present her in some of her spiritual excellencies. These indeed are those that give an intrinsic value to a person. For he that would take the true height of a man, must not measure him with the advantage ground he stands upon. We may say of this gracious Lady, what Nehemiah said of a noble person in his time: She was a faithful woman, and feared God above many, [Nehemiah 7. 2.] Some there are so prodigiously wicked, and profligate, that they seem to have wedded the Vices of many others: But this good, and virtuous Lady may be said to have collected, and espoused the excellencies of many Christians. For in her might be seen these various Graces, which grow to an eminency, but severally in others, met in her altogether in one knot or Nosegay. To instance in some few of them.
First, The Fear of the Great God was very great in her: Wonderful tender she was of offending him by any known sin. She hath often been heard to say, and that very solemnly. Oh! I would not sin against my God. She professed that she dreaded Hell most, as a place wherein God was blasphemed. O precious Saint! To dread Hells Sin, more than Hells Fire.
Secondly, Her Zeal to the worship of God, was very eminent. First to the Public: This was evidenced many ways.
First. By her great care and Zeal to get able, and faithful Ministers for those Livings whereof she had the disposal, and by her improving her utmost interest to procure the like for the Parish wherein she lived, in its several vacancies. And herein the noble Patron, did most kindly gratify her by giving her the nomination, thereby deeply obliging, not only her Honor, but the whole Parish also: So that they which lived in that place, enjoyed a Goshen of Gospel Light for a long season together, and are able also to tell, how comfortably she spake to them who preached the good Word of God among them, which countenance, and real encouragement she gave them in carrying on the Lord's work, without sparing her Purse to do it.
Secondly. By her constant attendance on the public worship, so long as the Lord vouchsafed her health to do it: yea, she did not only attend on it herself, but took care that her Family should do the like also: And they that would not serve God with her, were no Servants for her.
Thirdly, She was not less devout, than constant at the public worship. She durst not trifle with holy things, nor in holy duties, which gave occasion to one to say of her: That the Lady Vere by her solemn, and reverend deportment in Divine Worship, would make one believe that there is a God indeed. And as for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, which is so woefully neglected by too many, her desires were eager, and ardent to partake of it frequently: Saying, that she durst not neglect, no not any one opportunity that was offered for the enjoying of this Sacred Ordinance. And Oh! How serious, and intent was she in her preparation for it? The whole preceding week, was taken up by her for that work; in which week also she would always have a private Fast kept for her Family, or a secret one in her Closet. Hereby she declared, that she meant to storm Heaven, and to take it by violence.
Secondly, For her private Worship of God, let us follow her from the Church to her own House, and we shall find that she brought her Religion and Devotion home with her, and did not leave them in her Pue behind her, till she returned thither again the next Lord's Day, as too many do. For some there are that can Complement Almighty God, before their Neighbors on the Sabbaths, but care not to acquaint themselves with God at home all the week after. But if ever any private dwelling, might be called a Chapel, or little Sanctuary, Hers much more. There you might find her, and her Family twice every day upon their knees, solemnly worshiping the Great God: There you might see them humbly sitting, at his feet, to hear God's most Holy word read unto them: Concluding constantly their Evening Service with one of David's Psalms; what strangers soever were there present, there was no putting by, or adjorning the Service of God to a more convenient time.
On the Lord's day, you might hear the Sermons Preached in public, repeated to the Family: The Servants called to give an account before her, of what each of them remembered: And the high praises of God sounded forth by the whole Family jointly, and together. Also after Supper, you might hear the Servants in their Room, exercising themselves in the like Heavenly duty of singing Psalms: And no sooner did this good Lady hear them begin their Melody, but away she would go to join with them in that duty.
If you followed her up the Stairs, there you should be sure to find her, twice every day, shut up for some hours, in her Closet, (which was excellently furnished with pious books of Practical Divinity.) Here she redeemed much precious time, in reading the sacred Scriptures, and other good books, that might give her further light into them, and edifiy her in her most holy Faith. Here she poured out her devout Soul, with such fervor of Spirit in Prayer, as could not be hid (at least sometimes) from those of her attendants, and Maidens, whose occasions, drew them at any time, near unto her Closet door. And yet are we not at an end of this choice, and pious Ladies Devotions. For every night she used herself to pray with her Maidens before she went to Bed. And now, is it any wonder, that she grew so rich in Grace, who drove so great, and constant a Trade in the use of the means of Grace, and that had so many ways to bring her in Spiritual gains?
Thirdly, Her Love to God, (beside what hath been already said) did many ways make itself evident to be in a high degree in h • r.
First, By her mournful complaint which she frequently made, because she could Love God no better. The reason indeed of which was, because she loved him so much: Therefore she thought she loved him so little, because she knew that she could r • ver love him enough. The truth is, she had such raised apprehensions of God's glorious Excellency, as caused her to think her highest affections unworthy of him. For none indeed that have such high apprehensions of the Divine greatness, and goodness, can love him little, or think their Love, when highest, to be great.
Secondly, By her vehement desires and longings that she had to be gone hence, that she might be with Christ, which she accounted best of all. She was one of those very few Christians, which stood in need of old Mr. John Dods Use of Exhortation, which he would make to the Saints in his Preaching; That they would be content, and patient, though they were not taken up to Heaven so soon as they desired. This Good Man (who was one of the most Heavenly Souls that this Age brought forth) having lived to a great Age, and finding that to do this was something difficult in himself, thought that it was ordinary with others to do the like: Whereas (God knows) that most Christians, are of a lower form in Christ's School: Prone rather to linger too much here, than to be too hasty of going hence; So that they rather need a Spur than a Bridle, and Ministers have more reason to take hold of them, with the strongest Arguments they can invent, and find out, to draw them from the Love of Life, and the world (As the Angels drew Lot out of Sodom) than to persuade them to be willing to continue here.
But this gracious Lady knew, and enjoyed so much of Heaven, as made her stay here below, tedious unto her. The earnest option of her Soul was, Come Lord Jesus; Come quickly. For she found to her great grief, that her imperfect State on Earth, made it impossible for her, to serve God here as she would, and heartily desired; and therefore did oft wonderfully complain, that she was unprofitable, and unserviceable; and her deep sense of her unserviceableness (even whilst others admired her fruitfulness, and usefulness) did still increase her desires to be, where all these infirmities and imperfections would be perfectly cured, and where she knew her abilities should perfectly correspond with the largest of her desires which she had to serve and glorify God.
Thirdly. By her love to the Saints, who were born of God, and had his lively Image stamped upon them. And this in Scripture is made one of the fairest evidences of our Love to God. For everyone that loveth the Father that begat, loveth him that is begotten, [1 Joh. 5. 1.] A man may love the Child, and yet not love his Father: But he cannot love him because he is his Child, and because he is like his Father, but he must needs love his Father. Yea, love him first and most, because his love to the Child springs from his love to the Father.
This good, and gracious Lady then, was doubtless a great Lover of God himself, because she had so dear an affection for his Children.
She did not praise the dead Saints, and Persecute the living. She did not pretend love to those that lived far from her; but shown kindness to those that lived near her. She did not factiously love some of one Party, and reproach those of another. In a word, she did not love the Saints in an equality with others, from a natural tenderness, which disposes some to be kind unto all, good and bad: But her love was a Cordial, spiritual, special, and uniform Love to them; where ever she saw anything of God, her Love was drawn out towards them, and she had the most Love for those, that discovered most of God in them. She loved them so as to delight in Converse, and Communion with them; yea, and the chiefest of her Charity was extended to them.
As for the faithful Ministers of Christ, whose Office and Function lifts them up above private Christians, few ever exceeded her, in loving and honoring of them: yea, she loved first the Ministry, and then the Ministers; professing seriously, the great love, and high esteem she had for them, was for their dear Masters sake, whose Ambassadors they were: So that what was said, concerning her worthy Son-in-Law, in Norfolk [Sir Roger Towsend], that for his love to the Ministry, he obtained the Title of being called Deliciae Cleri, The Ministers delight; May be truly given unto her.
Fourthly. By her works of Charity, which were remarkable upon many accounts.
First, By the largness of her Charity: so great indeed it was, that it may well be admired, how this Tree should not long ago have killed itself with overbearing. The Trees in our Orchards yield us Fruit but once a year: And take so long a time to recover heart before they can bear again: But her Charity was as Fruit dropping all the year long. Many ways it diffused itself. She had money for the empty Purse, meat for the empty Belly: Medicaments for the Sick: Salves for the Wounded, or that had Sores. Abundance of good she did this way in Town and Country. She was not only liberal, but devised liberal things. If her Servants knew of any that were in great need, and did not acquaint her with it; when afterwards, by other ways she came to hear of it, she would be very angry with them for it. It fell out that an honest poor Neighbor died, before she knew of his sickness; for which being troubled, she asked her Servant that attended her, whether he had wanted in his sickness? Adding, I tell you I had rather part with my Gown from my back than that the poor should want.
Secondly. In the Prime objects of her Charity: She did indeed cast her Seed upon all sorts of Ground, but especially upon God's enclosure. The Household of Faithful had her fullest Handf • ls. To such she never thought that she gave enough.
Thirdly. She was wonderful secret in what she gave. For when she could do it, she did not give her Charity as some throw there money into a Basin at a Collection, so as that it might Ring again: but it fell like Oil into a Vessel, without any noise.
Fourthly. We may take notice of her self-denying spirit in all this. She (good Lady) was no Merit-monger. She never thought to purchase Land in Heaven, with 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 the money which she gave on Earth. She was no Merchant to sell her Charity, but a faithful Steward, acknowledging that what she gave, was not her own, but her Lord's Money. She was notwithstanding all her Charity, carried out to a naked Christ, desiring to be sound alone in him, and his righteousness, as earnestly as if she had not done any one good work in all her Life.
Fifthly. By her Sincerity. This indeed was as her under Garment, which she wore nearest to her, and which gave an excellency to all her other Graces. And truly, many notable Testimonies there were to demonstrate the singleness and soundness of her heart.
As First, The uniformity of her holy walking: Her Religion was not like the drift snow, which lies thick in one place, and leaves the ground bare in another. The hypocrite hath always some naked plot in his Conversation, that gives others some just cause to suspect him. You may (with Herod) persuade him to do many things: But can never, make him (with S. Paul) willing in all things to live honestly. But this Pious Ladies Conversation, one part did admirably correspond, and agree with another. An happy Symetry appeared in her whole course, both towards God and man, both abroad, and at home; among her Domestic Relations, those that lived constantly with her, who saw her (as we usually say) hot, and cold; In her Night-cloths, as when dressed to go abroad. Surely few have had an higher Testimony for Piety, from those that have lived near, and long with them, than she hath from all that lived under her Roof.
Secondly, The great freedom which she gave to her Friends in speaking to her of what they saw amiss in her. She used much to applaud that privilege, and advantage of having a faithful Friend; saying, that others might see more by us than we could by ourselves: She also used to say, That it was a great mercy to be convinced of any sin.
Thirdly, Her Faith, which used then to be strongest when death seemed to be nearest. Like that great Soldier we read of, who would tremble every joint of him, whilst his Armor was puting on in his Tent, but was dauntless when he came to fight in the Field. And to a Captain in Ireland, who using to wear his Sword, if any, though but a Child handled it, he would fall a trembling, yet in a Battle, he would fight like a Lion. Somewhat more than a twelve month before her death, she fell into a long swound, which continued about half an hour, without any sensible hopes of recovery: But as soon as she came again to herself; she said, I know that my Redeemer liveth, &c. And being conveyed to her Chamber, there again she said: I know whom I have trusted: whereas an Hypocrites hope is compared to the giving up of the Ghost, [Job 11. 20.] And in this particular, is not unlike it. For as in a dying man his breath grows shorter and shorter, till at last its quite puffed out; so commonly the Hypocrites hope lesseneth, as death groweth nearer, and usually expireth before the man himself dies. Impius dum spirat sperat: Justus cum expirat sperat.
Sixthly. Her Humility was rare, and signal. This we may call her upper Garment, with which she strove to cover her other excellencies, though their beauty was rendered the more conspicuous and amiable, by casting this Veil over them. Grace indeed is like a precious ointment, which the closer its held in a man's hand, the more strongly it sends forth its sweet Savour. O! How meanly did she think of herself? She saw not how brightly her own Face did shine, whilst others beheld, and admired it. Her frequent complaint was, that she was useless, and unprofitable, and that she did no good. She did never speak of her perfections; but frequently of her imperfections, wants, weakness, and unworthiness. Yea, she would often say, I abhor myself: Indeed I do. How easy of access, even for the meanest to come into her presence? How affable, courteous, and lowly was her deportment to the poorest? many times when her very Servants had done a business well, which she had set them about, she would thank them for it. The Law of kindness was in her Tongue to whomsoever she spake.
But we are now come to her gracious behavior in her last sickness, wherein her pains were very strong, but her patience were stronger. Never was she heard to mutter, or to utter any one repining word: But still she justified God in all his Dispensations towards her, and dealings with her. Yea, more, she was much in admiring, and blessing God for his mercies, in her accutest pains, and greatest Agonies. How doth this blessed Soul now Carol forth the Praises of God in Heaven? who could Sing them so sweetly whilst these sharp Thorns were at her breast? Or that could keep her heart in tune for this high Note, in her greatest bodily pains and dolors?
She was not wholly fee from assaults of Satan. It would indeed have been strange if he had not considered this precious Servant of Jesus Christ, and offered her some disturbance at this time, whom he had found so great, and old an Enemy to him, and his Kingdom of darkness. But he came only to be beaten back with shame, and to add more Trophies to all her former Victories over him. The last Words which were observed to be spoken by her, before that fatal Lethargy, seized upon her poor, weak, and out worn body (which in two days carried her off the Stage of this world unto a better) were: How shall I do to be thankful? How shall I do to praise my God? Thus she ended her life here in the exercise of that duty, which was to be her constant, and endless work in that Life, which she was then entering into. She thus blessedly died December 25th. Anno Christi. 1671. In the nintieth year of her age.
In Obitum Nobilissimae, Lectissimaeque Heroinae, Mariae, Illustrissimi, fortissimique Ducis Horatij Vere, Baronis de Tilbury, Viduae: Carmen Epitaphium.
Simon Ford. S. T. D.
Dr. Sibs Dedicated his Book which he calls The Bruised Reed, to the Right Honorable, Sir Horatio Vere, Knight, Lord Vere of Tilbury, and to his Pious Consort, the Lady Mary Vere, whose Virtuous Life, and Blessed Death, you heard described; And in his Epistle Dedicatory, he thus writes.
They that follow the Wars are generally taken to be men not most Religious,
The more respect therefore (saith he) do those of that profession deserve that have learned upon what terms to Live and Die; that are sure of a better Life, before they leave this, that have laid up their Lives in Christ: Among whom (Right Honorable) the world hath long taken notice of you, in whom both Religion and Military employment, meekness of Spirit, with height of Courage, Humility with Honor, by a rare and happy Combination have met together. Whereby you have much vindicated your profession from the common imputation, and shown that piety can enter into Tents, and follow after Camps, and that God hath his Joshua's and Cornelia 's in all Ages.
And (Elect Lady) I would not divide you from your Honorable Lord and Husband, both being one, as in other bands, so in that above nature, in hearty love to the best things: Both exemplary in all Religious courses: Both, in your places, having been employed in great services for the common good: So that, not only this, but foreign States, are bound to bless God for you both. Go on in these ways, and you will find God making good his promise of honoring them that honor him.
An Epitaph upon the Right Honorable, and Religious, the Lady Vere; Wife to the most Noble, and Valiant Lord Horatio Vere, Baron of Tilbury, who Dyed, December the 25th. Anno Christi. 1671. In the nintieth year of her Age.
Charles Derby.
Upon the Death of the Right Honorable Lady Mary Vere.
Edward Thomas.
On the Death of the Right Honorable, and truly Religious, the Lady Vere.
Anag.
- Marie Vere
- Ever I arm.
- Maria Vere
- Jam re Vera
Anthony Withers.
An Epitaph.
Richard Howlett.
Besides what is said before of this Honorable Lady, some of her near Relations have informed me that every Friday night she caused her Family to be Catechised, and that on Saturday in the Evenings, she had solemn Preparatory Duties for the Sabbath ensuing: And that she was in the ninety first year of her age when she died.
The L. Veres Motto was, Vero nil Verius.
[illustration]
M.
is
KATHERINE CLARKE
[portrait of Katherine Clarke]
The Life and Death of Mrs.
Katherine Clark
who Died, Anno Domini
1675.
M. is KATHERINE CLARKE [portrait of Katherine Clarke]
KAtherine Overton (for so was her Virgin Name) was born at Bedworth in the County of Warwick, four miles from Coventry, February the Twenty fifth, Anno Christi, 1602. of Godly, and Religious Parents. Her Father was Mr. Valentine Overton, Rector of Bedworth, where he lived a constant, and painful Preacher of God's Holy Word, till he was almost Eighty two years old. Her Mother was Mrs. Isa. Overton, a gracious Woman, and an excellent Huswife, who took off the whole burden of Family affairs, both within, and without Doors from her Husband, that he might with the more freedom attend his Holy Calling.
Our Katherine was, by these her Parents brought up Religiously, and it pleased God betimes to plant the Seeds of Grace in her Heart, which first discovered themselves, when she was about fifteen years Old: At which time God was pleased to discover unto her the corruption of her nature, and some common miscarriages which are incident unto youth: And these made such a deep impression upon her tenders years, that whereas she was naturally of a cheerful Sanguine Constitution, she now became serious, and somewhat Melancholy. Hereupon Satan, that Old Serpent, and Enemy to our Souls, assaulted her with many, and various Temptations, whereby he sought to quench these Heavenly Sparks, to stifle this New Creature in its first Conception. But by frequent reading the sacred Scriptures, diligent attending to the Word Preached, and secret Prayer, it pleased the All-wise God to support, and strengthen her against him, and all his Devices. Yet did these conflicts continue the longer, because she had none to whom she durst unbosom herself, and make her Case known.
When she was about seventeen years old, she was by her Parents sent to Siwel in Northampton-shire to wait upon a young Lady, that was somewhat Related to her.
Yet this kind of life was so tedious and irksome to her, that at the end of Six Months she prevailed with her Parents to send for her home again. Hear the Narrative of it in her own Words as they were found Written in her Cabinet after her Decease.
Some years after her return, she (for the most part) continued in her Fathers Family, where by a diligent and conscientious use of the means, both public and private, she did thrive and grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as she increased and grew in Days and Years; and therewith also learned and exercised all parts of Huswifry, which might fit her for the Government of a Family, when God should call her thereunto.
February 2, Anno Christi, 1625. Which was the same Day on which King Charles the first was Crowned, she was, with the consent of Parents on both sides, married to Mr Sa. Clark, who at that time was Minister at Shotwick, four miles beyond West-Chester, who looked upon this Match as the greatest outward temporal Blessing that ever God bestowed upon him; whereby he could experimentally say, That a Prudent Wife is the Gift of God: And that in the enjoyment of her, he enjoyed more Mercies than he could well enumerate. But to descend to particulars, and to take notice of some of those Virtues and Graces wherewith God had beautified, and adorned her Soul.
First her Piety was signal and exemplary from her first Conversion to the Hour of her Death: Her life was not stained with any scandalous Sin, which might be a blemish, either to her Person, Profession, or Relations. She was a constant, and diligent attender upon the public Ministry of God's Holy Word; And when she lived where she had the opportunity of hearing Lectures in the week day, she made choice to attend upon those who were most plain, practical, and powerful Preachers, from whose Sermons, and God's blessing upon them, she always sucked some spiritual nourishment and came home refreshed from them. And when days of Humiliation, or Thanksgiving came, she never failed to make one among God's People in the Celebration of them.
The Lord's Days she carefully Sanctified, both in public and in private; rising earlier upon them than upon other's, especially when she had many young Children about her, that so she might have opportunity, as well for secret, as for Family duties, before she was called away to the public. She was like unto David's Door-keeper, One of the first in, and last out of God's House. Her constant Gesture at Prayer was Kneeling, thinking that she could not be too humble before God. Her usual manner was to write Sermons to prevent drowsiness and distractions, and to help Memory, whereof she hath left many Volumes, and her practice was to make good use of them, by frequent reading and Meditating upon them; And if at any time she was cast into such Places, and Company as were a hindrance unto her in the strict Sanctification of this Holy Day, it was a grief and burden to her.
There was no Day that passed over her head (except Sickness, or some other unavoidable necessity hindered) wherein she did not read some portions of the Sacred Scriptures, both in the Old, and New Testament, and of the Psalms; and in Reading she took special notice of such passages as most concerned herself. She was frequent, and constant in Secret Prayer, and Meditation. She also read much in other good Books, especially, in the works of those Eminent, and excellent Divines, Mr. Ambrose, and Mr. Reyner: And in reading of them she used to transcribe such passages as most warmed her heart.
She never neglected any opportunity of receiving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and before her coming to it, was very strict, and serious in the Duty of Self-Examination, and for her furtherance therein, at those times she read some of those Books that treated upon that subject. And the Fruits of her holiness manifested themselves in the exercise of those Graces which God required of her. She was not a Wordy, but a Real Christian: A true Israelite, in whom was no guile. Her endeavor was to yield universal, constant, cheerful, and sincere Obedience to all God's Commandments, and wherein she failed, and came short, it was her grief, and Burden. Her Meditations upon what she heard and read were frequent: And her heart having indicted a good matter, her tongue was as the Pen of a ready Writer, taking opportunities to speak to the Edification of those with whom she conversed.
She filled every Relation with the Exercise of such Graces, and Duties as were suitable thereunto, knowing that where Relative duties are neglected, and not made Conscience of, there also our pretended Religion is in Vain.
First, As a Wife: She was singular, and very Exemplary in that reverence and obedience which she yielded to her Husband, both in Words, and Deeds. She never rose from the Table, even when they were alone, but she made courtesy. She never drank to him without bowing. His word was a Law unto her: She often denied herself to gratify him: And when in her sickness, and weakness he mentioned her Case in particular unto God in his Prayers, the Duty being ended, she would make him courtesy, and thank him. In case of his absence she would pray with her Family Morning, and Evening: The like she would do in his presence, in case of his Sickness, and inability to perform the Duty himself. Her Modesty, and Chastity were rare, and remarkable: But fitter to be conceived by those which know what belongs to them, than to be expressed in words. For there is a conjugal, as well as a Virginal, and Vidual Chastity.
In Case of her Husbands Sickness, she was a tender, diligent, and painful Nurse about him; Skilful, and careful in making him Broths, and what else was needful for him. If at any time she saw him in passion, with sweet and gentle words she would mollify and moderate it. She was often a Spur, but never a Bridle to him in those things which were good.
She was always well pleased with such Habitations, as (in their many removes) he provided for her; And with such Apparel, and Diet as his means (which was sometimes short) would allow. She never grutched, nor grumbled at any of those Dispensations which God's All-wise Providence carved out unto them.
Secondly, As a Mother to her Children (whereof God gave her nine, four Sons, and five Daughters) she nourished them all with her own breasts; was very handy and handsome about them in their minority; Kept them sweet and cleanly; In neat and modest Habits; Knew how to order them both in Health and Sickness. She loved them dearly without fondness; Was careful to give them Nurture as well as Nourishment, not sparing the Rod when there was just occasion. And as soon as they were capable, she was vigilant and diligent to season their tender years with Grace and Virtue, by instilling into them the first grounds, and Principles of Religion; And as they grew up, she did more freely discover her tender Affections to them, by Instruction, advice, and good Counsel as there was occasion; And when they were disposed of abroad, by her gracious letters, and hearty Instructions at their meetings, she labored to build them up in grace and godliness: And God was pleased to let her see (to her great Joy and Comfort) the fruit of her Prayers, and pains in keeping them from scandalous Courses in these corrupt times, and in working Grace in most of their Hearts. When they were married, and had Children, she was frequently making one thing or other for them.
Thirdly, As a Mistress to her Maids: She was careful (so far as she could) to bring such as were Religious, at least, seemingly, into her Family; And having occasion to be much in their Company, she would take all occasions, and opportunities to manifest her love and care of their Souls, by frequent dropping in good Counsel and wholesome Instructions; By Chatechising; Enquiring what they remembered of the Sermons they heard; Reading her Notes to them; Encouraging them in what was good, and with the Spirit of meekness blaming them for what was evil. And for Huswifery, and Household Affairs, she instructed their Ignorance, commended and encouraged what they did well, and herself (being of an active, and stirring disposition, and having her hand in most businesses) set them a Pattern, and gave them an Example how to order the same. She was careful (so far as possibly she could) to prevent all spoil, and to see that they did not eat the Bread of Idleness.
Towards her friends, and her own, and her Husbands Relations she was courteous and amiable in her deportment, free and hearty in their entertainment. She would have plenty without want, and competency without superfluity; And all so neatly and well ordered, that none which came to her Table (whereof some were Persons of Honor and Quality) but Commended her Cookery, and were well pleased with their entertainment.
In her Household Furniture she loved not to want, nor desired more than was needful. It was, though not costly, yet cleanly, and she was frequent in repairing and mending decays, and what was amiss, both in Linnens, and Woollens.
For her Apparel, she was never willing to have that which was costly for the matter, or garish for the manner: Rather under than above her Rank. For the Fashion of it, was grave and Exemplary, without Newfangledness and Levity. She followed, Peters directions which he gave to Christian Women in his time [1 Pet. 3. 3 &c.] whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting their Hair, and of wearing of Gold, or of putting on of Apparel. But let it be the hidden man of the Heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit, which it in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in old time, the holy Women who trusted in God adorned themselves being in subjection unto their own Husbands.
And whatsoever Apparel she had, she was careful to keep it from stains, and rends, and so soon as anything was amiss, presently to amend it, insomuch as she made it last long, and yet it was always whole and neat. All her own, and Husbands linnens, she made herself, and much of her other Apparel: And at leisure times she employed herself in knitting Stockings for herself and Grand▪Children; and was as careful, and handy in mending her Husbands Cloaths, as her own.
She was very Charitable to the Poor where ever she lived, according to that Estate wherewith God had entrusted her. She was ready to relieve such as were Objcts of Charity, with Meat, or Drink, and to lend them Money, and to minister some Phisical things (whereof her Closet was never empty) according as their necessities required.
She had a very melting Heart, and truly Sympathized with the Church and People of God, whether at home or abroad, in all their sufferings, and rejoiced in their Prosperity. She was much affected with, and afflicted for that great loss which the Church of Christ had, when so many able, Godly, faithful, and painful Ministers were ejected; not thrust forth into, but thrust out from laboring in God's Harvest; wherein her Husband, and two Sons were co-sufferers, to the loss of their livelihoods; yet the loss of their Liberty lay nearer to her Heart, and was a far greater Grief to her than the outward wants they were exposed to.
Her Humility was not inferior to her other Graces. She had always a very low esteem of herself, and was ready to prefer others before herself, and would not take it ill when her inferiors were set above her; She well remembered the Apostle Peters charge, All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with Humility. For God resisteth the Proud, and giveth Grace to the Humble. And that of S. Paul, Rom. 12. 10. In honor prefer one another.
Her Love to God, to his Ordinances, and to his Children was hearty, and without Dissimulation. She abhorred that which was evil, and clave to that which was good. She was of sweet and meek a disposition that she never used to speak evil of any, but was ever prone to forgive and forget wrongs.
She was very prudent in managing her Household affairs to the best advantage. She would have divers Dishes of Meat with little cost; yet so dressed and ordered as made them geateful and pleasing unto all: When they were alone, she had such variety of Dishes and Dresses as prevented nauseousness. She was careful to see that nothing was lost or spoiled. By her wise and frugal managing her Household, though her Husband had never much coming in, yet at the years end he could always save something: So that her price to him was far above Rubies: His Heart trusted in her. For she did him good, and not evil all the Days of her Life, Prov 31. 10, 11, 12.
In her Younger Days she was healthful; Of a cheerful and active Spirit, and abhorring Idleness; She would have her Hand in every business. In her Old Age, though she was crazy, yet whilst she could stand, she would be about one kind of work or other. She bore her weakness and Afflictions with much Patience and holy submission to the will and good pleasure of God; she was so uniform in the frame of her Spirit, and so maintained her Peace with God through her Holy and humble walking, that when Death, many times in her sickness, threatened to seize upon her, She feared it not, as knowing that it would be gain and advantage to her: Concerning which hear what she herself left in writing which was found after her Decease.
In her converse with her Friends She opened her Mouth with Wisdom, and in her Tongue was the Law of Kindness (Prov. 31. 26.) which made her Company grateful unto all, and burdensome, or undervalued by none.
Divers years before her Death, upon catching Cold, she had many fits of sickness, and weakness, and some of them were so violent, as brought her near unto Death; Yet the Lord had mercy upon her Husband and Family in raising her up again almost beyond hopes, and expectation: And she was always a Gainer by her Afflictions, God making good that Promise to her, Rom. 8. 28. All things shall work together for good to them that love God, To them who are Called according to the purpose. For after those fits she walked more humbly, holily, fruitfully, and faithfully, both in her General, and particular Calling, as one that waited daily for the appearing of her Lord, and Master. The Winter before her Death, she enjoyed better Health than she had done for some Winters before.
May the 25th. Anno Christi, 1675. Some Friends came from London to dine with her, and that morning (according to her usual custom in such Cases) She was careful, and busy in providing for their kind entertainment: But it pleased God whilst they were at Dinner to strike her with a kind of Shivering, which made her look paler than ordinary, and after Dinner her Distemper continued, so that she was soon confined to her Chamber, and not long after, for the most part to her Bed. But herein God shown her great mercy, and had respect to her weakness, in that, during all the time of her languishing she was free from Sickness, and pain, only sometimes she was troubled with some Stiches, which yet were tolerable, not violent: She was also troubled with some Vapours which made her Breath very short; Yet had she a pretty good Stomach, and she relished her Food well till about two Days before her Death; But then, though she did eat, yet she found little taste in her Meat. Her sleep was pretty good, and always very quiet. She was never ill either after Food or Sleep. Only two Days before her Departure she slept little, by reason of the continual rattling of Flegm in her Throat, when she wanted strength to expectorate it.
As for the State of her Soul during all the time of her sickness, she enjoyed constant Peace and Screnity, and had (through God's Mercy) much Joy, and Peace, by believing; Satan (that Roaring Lion) who uses to be most strong when we are most weak being so chained up by God, that he had no power to molest her. She often cried out Hold out faith and patience; She told her nearest Relation, when she saw him mourning over her, that she was going to be joined to a Better Husband.
Her youngest Son, taking his leave of her the Day before her Death, she gave him much Heavenly Counsel for the good of his Soul, and Blessed him, and all his, as she did the rest of her Children and Grand-Children. She earnestly desired to be Dissolved, and breathed after a fuller enjoyment of Jesus Christ, which she accounted best of all: She would sometimes say, that it was a hard thing to die: And this is a hard work. Her Understanding, Memory, and Speech continued till within two Minutes of Death; And a little before, her Daughter speaking to her of Jesus Christ, She replied, My God and my Lord: And so June the 21, about five a Clock in the morning, She fell asleep, exchanging this Life for a Better, without any alteration in her Countenance, but only that her color was gone. She closed up her Eyes herself, as who should say, It is but winking, and I shall be in Heaven. She changed her place, but not her Company. She sickned May the 25th. Anno Christi, 1675. She concluded her Days June the Twenty First, being Monday, about five a Clock in the Morning; when having ended her last Sabbath upon Earth, she began to Celebrate an Everlasting Sabbath in Heaven. She was Aged Seventy three years and about four Months, and had been married almost Fifty years.
Thus did this Holy Woman wear out, not rust out: Burn out, was not blown out: Yea, she flamed, not smothered out, she served God in her Generation, and then retired into that Place where is Health without Sickness: Day without Night: Plenty without Famine: Riches without Poverty: Mirth without Mourning: Singing without sighing: Life without Death: And these, with infinite more to all Eternity. There is unspotted Chastity: Unstained Honor: Unparalleld Beauty. There is the Tree of Life in the midst of this Paradise. There is the River that waters the Garden: There is the Vine flourishing, and the Pomegranate budding: There is the Banqueting House where are all those Delicacies, and Rarities wherewith God himself is delighted. There shall the Saints be adorned, as a Bride, with rare Pearls, and sparkling Diamonds of Glory. A Glory fitter to be Believed, than possible to be Discoursed. An Exceeding, Excessive, Eternal weight of Glory (2 Cor. 4. 17.) Even such a weight, as if the Body were not upheld by the Power of God, it were impossible but that it should faint under it: as an eminent Divine speaketh.
After Mrs. Clerks Decease, there was found in her Cabinet a Paper, which by frequent using, was almost worn out. It contained a Collection of these several Texts of Scripture which he had recourse unto in times of Temptation, or Desertion.
Who is among you that feareth the Lord: That obeyeth the Voice of his Servant: That walketh in darkness and hath no Light: Let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God, Isa 50. 10.
For the Name of the Lord is a strong Tower; The Righteous run unto it, and are safe, Prov. 18. 10.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose Mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth on thee, Isa. 26. 3.
Blessed is the Man that maketh the Lord his trust, Psa. 40. 4.
Blessed is the Man to whom the Lord imputeth not Sin, Psa. 32. 2.
Though our hearts may fail us, and our flesh fail us, yet God will never fail us, Psa. 73. 26.
For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, Heb. 13. 5.
And again: I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters, saith the Lord Almighty, 2 Cor. 6. 18.
I, even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions for mind own sake, and will not remember thy Sins, Isa. 44. 25.
My Grace is sufficient for thee: For my strength is made perfect in weakness, 2 Cor. 12. 9.
By Grace you are saved through Faith, and that not of you selves, Eph. 2. 8.
I give unto them Eternal Life, and they shall not perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my Hand, Job 10. 28.
Who are kept by the Power of God, through Faith unto Salvation, 1 Pet. 1. 5.
The foundation of God standeth sure, having this Seal; The Lord knoweth who are his, 2 Tim. 2. 19.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the Felsh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 8. 1.
Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to everyone that believeth, Rom. 4. 10.
It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? Rom. 8. 33, 34.
The promise is to you, and to your Children, and to all that are afar off; Even as many as the Lord our God shall call, Act. 2. 39.
The Gifts, and Calling of God are without Repentance, Rom. 11. 29.
These Texts of Scripture having been as so many Cordials unto her in Times of Temptation, it is hoped that they may prove so to others, and therefore for their sakes they are here set down. And hereby it appears that she was not without some shakings, but through God's Mercy, they were such as made her root the faster: And by her prudent, and seasonable holding forth the Shield of Faith, and the Sword of the Spirit, she became more than a Conqueror, through him that had loved her.
In another little Book, which was found after her Death, she gives this account of herself and of God's gracious dealing with her.
From the beginning (writes she) of God's showing me Mercy in my Conversion.
I here set down God's gracious dealings with me, not for mine own Praise, but for the Glory of God, and to stir up my Heart unto true Thankfulness for such invaluable Mercies. And then she set down the time, manner, and means of her Conversion: And afterwards proceeds thus.
What have been my Experiences of God's gracious dealings with me at several times under Afflictions: As
By all these I have gained this Experience.
Again in regard of Bodily weakness and sickness, my Experiences have been these.
In regard of Public Dangers I have had a great deal of Experience of God's goodness towards me and mine several ways, and at several times. For
In regard of Satan's Temptations; Especially concerning my coming to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, my Experiences have been these.
In the year 1669. There came to us the sad news of the Death of my second Son Mr. John Clarke, a godly, faithful, and painful Minister, sometimes before ejected out of the Rectory of Cotgrave in Nottingham-shire, who died the 18th. of September.
Thus as the Waves of the Sea follow one another, so God is pleased to exercise his Children with one Affliction after another. He sees that whilst we carry about with us this Body of sin, we have need of manifold Trials, and Temptations, as saith the AApostle. 1 Pet. 1. 6. —now for a season ye are in heaviness (if need he) through manifold Temptations; to keep us under, and to make us the better to remember ourselves.
Indeed it hath been the Lord's course and dealing with me ever since he stopped me in the way as I was posting to Hell, to raise up one Affliction or other, either inward or outward, either from Satan, the World, or from mine own corrupt Heart, and nature, not having Grace and Wisdom to behave and carry myself as I ought under his various Dispensations and Providences, as appeared at this time by his laying so great and grievous an Affliction upon me in taking away so dear a Son, from whom I had much Soul-comfort, and ardent Affections, which he manifested by his fervent Prayers for me, and by his spiritual Letters, and Writings to me, wherein he applied himself suitably to my Comfort in those inward troubles of Heart and Spirit which lay upon me. This caused my Grief and Sorrows to take the greater hold on me, upon the loss of one who was so useful to me: Yet hereby I do not derogate from my Elder Son, from whom I have the like help, and Comfort.
Upon this sad occasion my Grief grew so great that I took no pleasure of anything in the World: But was so overwhelmed with Melancholy, and my natural strength was so abated, that little Food served my turn, and I judged that I could not live long in such a condition.
Hereupon I began to examine my Heart why it should be so with me, and whether carnal and immoderate Affections were not the great Cause of my trouble, which I much feared; And having used many Arguments and laid down many reasons to myself to quiet and moderate my Passions, and yet nothing prevailed to quiet and calm my Heart, and to bow me to the Obedience of his revealed Will: And withal, considering that it was God only that could quiet the Heart, and set our unruly, and carnal Affections into an holy frame and order, and, That he was a present Help in times of trouble, I often and earnestly sought unto the Lord with many Prayers, and Tears, beseeching him to quiet my Heart, and to over-power and tame my unruly Affections, so as to be willing to submit unto him, and to bear his Afflicting Hand patiently and fruitfully, and to be ready and willing to submit (either in doing or suffering) to whatsoever he pleased to impose upon me: And to be ready to part with the best outward Comfort I enjoyed whensoever he should please to call for the same.
And it pleased God seasonably to hear my Prayer, to regard my Tears, and to grant my Requests, by calming, and quieting my heart, and spirit, and by giving me much more contentedness to submit to his Holy Will, and good Pleasure, who is a God of judgment, and knows the fittest times and seasons to come in with refreshing comforts, and who waits to be gracious unto those that trust in him. Yet surely I was not without many Temptations in this hour of Darkness from that subtle Adversary who always stands at watch to insinuate and frame his Temptations answerable to our Conditions, and like a Roaring Lyon walks about continually, seeking to devour poor, yet precious Souls. Then I called upon the Lord in my distress, and he answered me and delivered me.
Bless the Lord O my Soul; and all that is within me Praise his Holy Name. For he hath remembered me in my low and troubled estate, because his Mercy endureth forever.
Having thus had new experience of God's readiness to hear and help when I called upon him; And having found that it is not in vain to seek to, and to depend upon God in all our Straits, I could not but record these things, that so Everyone that is Godly may seek unto him in a time wherein he may be found, who is a present help in times of trouble, and who doth for us abundantly above what we can ask or think.
The Lord knows that I write these things for no other end, but that God may have the Glory, and that others, especially my Relations, may be encouraged to seek God in their Straits, and to trust in him at all times. Amen.
After her Decease there was also found in her Cabinet a Paper with this Superscription.
My Will and Desire is (with the leave of my Husband) to bestow upon my Children these things as tokens of my Motherly Affections, and that I may be remembered by them. She began with her Husband, and what she gave to him and all the rest, were all wrapped up in several Papers, and each Name endorsed on the outside to whom it did belong. And then concludes all thus.
But above all, my Prayers unto God are, that he would especially bestow upon you, all needful Saving Graces, whereby you may be enabled to glorify his Great Name, in those several places and callings wherein he hath set you. Amen, Amen.
She left also Legacies to some poor Neighbors: As also ten shillings to Mr. W. the Minister of the place, to buy him a mourning Ring: Concluding thus,
If God shall please to bring me to my Grave in Peace, let this be the Text at my Funeral, Ephes. 2. 8. For by Grace ye are saved, through Faith, This Scripture I was oft put upon to have recourse to in times of Temptations, and Desertion.
In another little Book she had collected sundry Texts of Scripture, which might minister grounds of great Comfort against Satan's Temptations, whereby he labors, by setting before us a black Bill of our Sins, and daily Infirmities, and our great inabilities to every Good Duty, to blot out our Evidences, to stagger our Faith, and to make us go heavily, and drooping in our way to Heaven.
Isa. 1. 17, 18. Cease to do Evil, Learn to do well:—And then, Though your Sins be as Scarlet, they shall be as white as Snow: Though they be red as Crimson, they shall be as Wool.
Isa. 43. 25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy Sins.
Ezek. 16. 6. When I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thy Blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy Blood, Live: Yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy Blood, Live. V. 8. When I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold! Thy time was the Time of Love: And I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy Nakedness. Ye, I sware unto thee, and entered into a Covenant with thee (saith the Lord God) and thou becamest mine. V. 9. Then washed I thee with Water: Yea, I thoroughly washed away thy Blood from thee, and anointed thee with Oil.
Ezek 36. 26, 27. A New Heart will I give you, and a New Spirit will I put within you: And I will take away the Stony Heart out of your Flesh, and I will give you an Heart of Flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my Statutes, and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them.
Lam. 3. 31. The Lord will not cast off forever.
Joel 3. 16. The Lord will be the Hope of his People.
1 Job 1. 9. If we confess our Sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanse us from all Unrighteousness. He that believes shall be saved.
Rom. 8. 33, 34. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's Elect? It is God that Justifies: Who is he that Condemneth?
2 Tim. 2. 13. If we believe not (that is, If sometimes we are not able to act Faith) yet God is faithful: He cannot deny himself.
Eph. 1. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World. V. 5. Having Predestinated us to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his Will. V. 6. To the Praise of the Glory of his Grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. V. 7. In whom we have Redemption through his Blood, the forgiveness of Sins, through the riches of his Grace.
2 Thes. 5. 9. For God hath not appointed us unto Wrath: But to obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Joh. 10. 28, 29, 30. I give unto them Eternal Life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any Man pluck them out of my Hand. My Father which gave them me is greater then all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers Hand: I and my Father are one.
Isa. 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his Servant; That walketh in darkness, and hath no Light: Let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.
Psa. 32. 1, 2. Blessed is the Man whose iniquity is forgiven; Whose Sin is covered. Blessed is the Man to whom the Lord imputeth not Sin.
Ephes. 2. 8. For by Grace you are saved through Faith, and that not of yourselves: It is the Gift of God,
Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall not have dominion over you: For you are not under the Law, but under Grace.
Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit.
Psa. 73. 26. Though our Hearts may fail us, and our Flesh may fail us, yet the Lord will never fail us.
Jer. 31. 3. For he hath loved us with an everlasting Love.
Isa. 26. 3, 4. Thou wilt keep him in perfect Peace, whose mind is staid on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Trust in the Lord forever. For in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.
Promises of Protection, Assistance, Comfort, and deliverance, whereby our Hearts may be upheld in the evil Day.
Ezek 9. 4. Go through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the Foreheads of them that Sigh and Cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.
Psal. 34. 6. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard, and saved him out of all his troubles. v. 19. Many are the Afflictions, of the Righteous: But the Lord delivereth them out of them all.
Psal. 46. 1. God is our refuge and strength: A very present help in trouble. v. 2. Therefore will not we fear, &c.
Psal. 42. 11. My Soul, why art thou cast down, and disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet Praise him, who is the health of my Countenance, and my God.
Isa. 3. 10. Say ye unto the Righteous, it shall be well with him.
Prov. 3. 25, 26. Be not afraid of sudden Fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy Confidence, and shall keep thy Foot from being taken.
Psal. 3. 8. Salvation belongeth to the Lord: Thy Blessing is upon thy People.
Psal. 4. 3. Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: The Lord will hear when I call unto him. v. 8. I will both lay me down in Peace, and Sleep For thou Lord only makest me dwell in safety.
Nabum. 1. 7. The Lord is good: A strong hold in the Day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him
2 Tim. 1. 12. I know whom I have believed; And I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that Day. For, Gen. 17. 2. He is God All-sufficient.
Promises made to God's People in the most dangerous Times. What confidence we should have in God.
Psal. 27. 1, 2, 3. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my Life, of whom shall I be afraid. When the Wicked even mine Enemies, and my Foes came upon me to eat up my Flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an Host should encamp against me, my Heart shall not fear. Though War should rise against me, in this will I be confident. v. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: That I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my Life. v. 5. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Pavilion: In the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me: He shall set me up upon a Rock. Therefore. v. 9. Hide not thy Face from me. Put not away thy Servant in Anger: Thou hast been my Help; Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my Salvation, v. 13. I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living. v. 14. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy Heart. Wait I say on the Lord.
Psal. 40. 4. Blessed is the Man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the Proud, nor such as turn aside to Lies.
Psal. 32. 1. In thee O Lord, do I put my trust: Let me never be ashamed. v. 3. For thou art my Rock, and my Fortress; therefore for thy Name sake lead me and guide me. v. 23. O love the Lord, all ye Saints: For the Lord preserveth the Faithful. v. 24. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your Heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Psal. 94. 14. I will say of the Lord: He is my Refuge: and my Fortress. My God, in him will I trust.
Psal 91. 2. For the Lord will not cast off his People, neither will he forsake his Inheritance. v. 19. In the multitude of my Thoughts within me, thy Comforts delighted my Soul.
Psal. 102. 2. Hide not thy Face from me in the Day when I am in trouble, incline thine Ear unto me. In the Day when I call, answer me speedily.
Psal. 115. 11. Ye that fear the Lord trust in the Lord. He is their Help, and their Shield.
Psal. 112. 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings. His Hearts is fixed trusting in the Lord.
Psal 118. 5. I called upon the Lord in distress: The Lord answered me, and set me in a large place, v. 6. The Lord is on my side, I will not fear, what can man do unto me?
1 Pet. 4. 17. The time is come that Judgment must begin at the House of God: And if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? v. 19. Wher • fore let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
2 Thes. 1. 6, 7. It is a Righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from Heaven, &c.
2 Thes. 3. 3. The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
These I have thought sit to transcribe, hoping that by God's blessing they may prove Useful and Comfortable to many others as they were to her. But besides she had collected many others, whereof (to prevent tediousness) I shall only give you the Heads.
Promises to strengthen our Faith.
For Deliverance from all evil.
For assistance in times of trouble.
For the Resurrection of our Bodies.
For Eternal Glory with Christ.
That God will preserve his Children from Afflictions so far as it is good for them.
That God will qualify, and moderate their Afflictions when they do come; and proportion them to their Strength.
That Afflictions are Sovereign Medicines to kill Lusts, and to cure spiritual Diseases.
Promises made to such as suffer in a Good Cause for the Truth.
Promises of Deliverances from the Evil World.
Of Comfort to such as fall through Infirmity.
Promises made to such as are Ignorant.
Comforts against doubts and fears of losing the Love of God.
Comforts against forgetfulness of Good things.
Comforts against fears of falling from God.
Comforts against dismayedness under many and strong Corruptions.
Comforts against troubles arising from the want of the means of Grace, either in the whole, or in the Power of them.
Comforts to God's Children in case of spiritual Disertion.
Promises of the Continuance and Unchangeableness, of God's Love.
Promises of God's special and gracious presence with his Children.
Promises of God's Protection and Providence over his.
Promises of bestowing Christ, and of many Blessings with him. As, of Redemption: Effectual Calling, Justification: Reconciliation: Adoption: Of bestowing the Spirit, for their Sanctification; And all Spiritual Grace, as Faith; Confidence in God; Hope; Joy; Love to God, To Christ, To our Brethren, To Enemies: Of Obedience: Of Repentance: Of Knowledge: Of Audience of their Prayers: Of Mortifieation of Sin, &c.
Promises of assistance in Holy Duties.
Promises of God's acceptance of our spiritual Sacrifices.
Promises of a blessing upon Holy Ordinances.
Promises made to the conscientious performance of sundry Duties. As to, Prayer:
To a careful seeking of God: To watchfulness: To conscientious Sanctification of the Lord's days: For the preservation of his Church, &c.
In • reading of practical Authors she had collected and set down many things which she found useful, and Comfortable to her Soul: As
Certain grounds of Comfort to build our Faith upon in times of Temptations.
Signs whereby we may know whether we be in Covenant with God or no.
Reasons why God made this Covenant with fain Man.
What are the Gifts and privileges of this Covenant.
She hath also set down many Helps to provoke, and enable us to wait God's leisure for the accomplishment of his rich, and free Promises, though his Providences seem to run cross to them.
It was the goodness of my God to remember me in my Youth, that so I might not forget him, neither in my Youth, nor in my Old Age.
By all this it may appear what were the Gifts and Graces wherewith the Lord had adorned her, and what her inward Beauty was: And as the Jewel was rare, so was the Cabinet wherein it was lodged, comely. And the Poet tell us
Gratior est pulchro veniens e Corpore Virtus.
And such truly was hers in her younger Days, and some Characters, and Lineaments of it continued in her Old Age, even to the last, as sundry Persons observed.
Hallelujah.
What was long since said of Mrs. Katherine Bretterg may be fitly applied unto her
-
Katherina
- Pura: Christo quam purgata,
- Vita, Christo preparata,
- Morte, Christo dedicata,
- Coelus, Christo conjugata.
Prov. 31. 30. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a Woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised.
On the Death of my Dear and much Honoured Grandmother, and to my Honoured Grandfather Mr. Samuel Clark, on her Life written by him.
J. CLARK, Aetat. suae 18/19.
The Life and Death of that Excellent Lady Mary, Countess Dowager of Warwick, who died Anno Christi. 1678.
THis Eminent Laday was the seventh Daughter of the Right Honorable Richard, the first Earl of Cork, in Ireland, who being born a private Gentleman, and the younger Brother of a younger Brother, yea, to no other Inheritance then is expressed in the Motto, which his humble gratitude inscribed upon all the Palaces which he built,
By which Providence, and God's blessing upon his own Prudent industry, he raised himself to such an honor and Estate, and left such a Family as never any subject in these three Kingdoms did, and (which is more) with so unspotted a Reputation of integrity, that the narrowest scrutiny could find nothing to except against, in all the Methods of his rising, though they were searched into most severely.
This Noble Lord was blessed with an ample Progeny, having five Sons, whereof he lived to see four of them Lord's, and Peers of the Kingdom of Ireland, and the fifth, though not equal in Titles, yet as truly famous and honorable for his piety, parts, and learning.
He had also eight Daughters, whereof the Eldest, the Lady Alice, was Married to the Lord Baramore. The second, the Lady Sarah, was Married to the Lord Digby of Ireland. The third, the Lady Laetitia, to the Eldest Son of the Lord Goring, who died Earl of Norwich. The fourth, the Lady Joan, to the Earl of Kildare, Primier Earl of Ireland, and of the ancientest House in Christendom, of that degree, the present Earl being the sixth, or seven and twentieth of Lineal descent from the same.
A great Antiquary hath observed, that the three Antientest Families in Europe for Nobility, are the Veres in England, Earls of Oxford, and the Fitz-Geralds in Ireland, Earls of Kildare, and the Momorancies in France.
The fifth, the Lady Katherine, was Married to the Lord Viscount Ranelaugh. The sixth, was the Lady Dorothy Lofius. The eighth, the Lady Margaret unmarried. But the seventh, our Lady Mary, which shut up, and Crowned this Noble Train, was Married to Charles, Earl of Warwick, of whom it may be truly said; Many Dughters, all his Daughters did virtuously, but she surmounted them all.
She was great by her Marriage into the Noble Family of the Earls of Warwick, which yet received accession to its Grandeur by the luster of her Name and virtues: For she was great in all natural endowments and accomplishments of Soul and body, in Wisdom, beauty, favor and virtue.
Great by her Tongue; for few Women ever used one better: For she spake so gracefully, promptly, discreetly, pertinently, and holily, that many admired the gracious words which proceeded out of her Mouth.
Great by being the great Mistress and Promotress of the Art of obliging; in which she attained that Sovereign perfection, that she reigned over all their hearts with whom she did converse.
Great in her Nobleness of Living, and in her free, and splendid Hospitality.
Great in the almost unparallelled sincerity, constant, faithful, and condescending Friendship: And for that Law of kindness which dwelt in her lips and heart.
Great in the management of her worldly Affairs, and in her great dexterity therein.
Great in her quickness to apprehend the difficulties of those her affairs, and to find where the pinch and stress lay; yea, to untie the knot, and to free them.
Great in the Conquest of herself, and mastery over her passions; and this did in a special manner appear in her deportment at the death of her deer and only Son, wherein her behavior was so submiss, serene, and quiet, that (with holy David) she could say: I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, because thou Lord didst it.
Great in a Thousand other things which the world admires; yet did she despise them all, and counted them but loss and dung in comparison of the excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.
This Excellent Lady had good Education, and had been principled in the grounds of Catechism in her Childhood, and yet (as she confessed) she understood nothing of the Life and Power of Godliness till some years after her Marriage. She came with prejudice, and strong apprehensions, as to matters of Religion, when she was engrafted into that Family, wherein afterwards she lived and died in so much Honor. For she was almost frighted, and discouraged with the disadvantageous report which was made of it. But when God's Providence had brought her into it, and she came to behold the regular performances of Divine Worship therein; and had heard the most useful, and powerful Sermons upon the most useful, and practical points of Divinity; And withal, had observed, the good order, and Government of that Family, and received encouragement from her Right Honorable Father-in-Law, Robert, Earl of Warwick, (who had always an extraordinary respect for her, and affection to her) her prejudice, by degrees, wore off, and an approbation followed thereupon.
God was pleased to make use of two more remote means of her Conversion, namely, Afflictions, and Retirement: The kind of the first, and the occasion of the second need not here to be named. Only the divine Wisdom, and grace is very much to be admired and adored, for adapting and fitting suitable means to bring his purposes to pass; as these also were in her circumstances. For she did afterwards acknowledge, that her great Remora and difficulty was her love to the pleasures, and vanities of the world, which she neither knew how to reconcile to the strictness of Religion, nor yet could she be content to part with for that whose sweets and better pleasures, she was not then acquainted with; God therefore gradually weaned her, by rendering those things more insipid and distrustful, which before had been too much pleasing to her, and by giving leisure, and freedom from distractions, and to acquaint herself more thoroughly with the things of God: And hereby she was enabled to set her Seal to that Testimony which God gives to Spiritual wisdom, That all her ways are pleasantness, and all her paths are Peace. And to her friends she would freely, and frequently assure them, that she had no cause to repent the change which she found of the solid and satisfying Pleasures she met with in Religion, for those empty and dissatisfying ones she had left in the ways of vanity: Thereby encouraging them to try, not doubting but that upon experience, they would become of the same mind.
Two more immediate helps which God blessed to promote the work of grace in her heart, were; The Ministry of the word (which God hath ordained to be the Power of God to Salvation to everyone that believeth, Rom. 1. 8. 1 Cor. 1. 21.) and Christian Conference.
Before her Conversion, her Conversation was sweet, and inoffensive, yet would she confess that her mind was vain: But afterwards she walked with God most closely, circumspectly, and accurately: And (with Mary) having chosen the better part, few have walked with God more resolutely, and devoted themselves more unreservedly to God's Love and fear, and service, learning to be Good in good earnest, and to increase and grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
And to promote this great and excellent work, like the wise man in the Gospel [Mat. 7. 24.] she digged deep to lay her Foundation on a Rock. And she made a strict scrutiny into her Soul, and weighed the reasons and motives of this her choice in the balance of the Sanctuary, and (with the other builder in the Gospel) she sat down and considered what it might cost her to carry on and finish her Spiritual Edifice, and whether she were furnished to defray the charges thereof. As also whether the grounds of her hope were firm, and such as would not abuse her, and shame her, and her evidences for heaven, such as would bear the test, and that the sacred Scriptures would approve and own: And this she drew up at large with her own hand many years before her Death, judiciously, soberly, modestly, and with humility.
Having thus put her hand to the plough, she looked not back, but minded Religion as her business indeed; and never gave any so much as suspicion of her trifling in so serious a work. And for her practice of it, it was her great design to walk worthy of the Gospel in all well pleasing, and to adorn her Professed subjection to the Gospel, by a Conversation becoming it; And to show forth his Virtues and praises, who had called her out of darkness into his marvelous Light, and had translated her into the Kingdom of his dear Son.
First therefore she was circumspectly careful to abstain even from all appearance of evil; and in all doubtful cases, her rule was, to take the surest side, saying, I am sure it will do me no hurt to let such things alone. And though none were further from censuring others or passing Judgment upon others liberties, yet for her own practice, she would never allow herself the help of artificial beauty (for she used neither patch nor paint) and was pleased with the saying of one of her Spiritual friends, upon the reading of a book which Apologizes for it (O Lord I thank thee that thou gavest me not wit enough to write such a Book, unless withal thou hadst given me Grace enough not to write) Neither would she play at any Games, because besides many other inconveniences, she judged them great wasters of precious time, of which she was always very thrifty. And though she was known to be a Lady of good understanding, yet, she would say that there were three things which were too hard for her: and would confess that she could not comprehend them.
First, how those who professed to believe an Eternal estate, and its dependencies upon a short inch of time, could complain of time, lying as a dead commodity upon their hands, which they were troubled how to pass away.
Secondly, how Christians, who would seem devout at Church, could laugh at others for being serious out of it, and slight the very Bible, and turn Religion into a mocking-stock,
Thirdly, how knowing men could take care of Souls, and yet seldom come among rhem, never to look after them.
And though, in the aforenamed particulars she was content only to give an Example of forbearance; yet from the Play-Houses, since the Stage hath taken so great liberty, she would openly dehort her Friends, and that with the greatest earnestness.
She, long before her decease, began to keep a Diary, and took Counsel with two, whom she used to call her Souls Friends (and ever esteemed such to her best Friends) concerning the best manner how to manage it. At the first, what she set down in it she used to perform in the Evenings; But finding that time inconvenient, by reason of her Lord's long ilness (which gave her many inevitable diversions at that season) she changed it into the quiet, and silent morning, and for that end, she used to rise early. And therein, among other things, she used to record the daily frame of her heart towards God: His signal providences to herself, and sometimes also, towards others: His gracious manifestations to her soul: Returns of Prayer: Temptations prevailing, or resisted, or whatsoever might be useful for her caution, or encouragement: That might afford her matter for Thankfulness, or Humiliation, &c. And by this, and such like means she had arrived to, and attained such a measure of experience, that she could conclude, or at least, make strong conjectures of the issue, and events of such things as she spread before God in prayer, and that by the frame of heart in the performance of that Duty: as might be instanced in many particulars, if it were convenient.
She used to call prayer Hearts-ease, because she often found it so: And though her Modesty was such, and she was so far from a vain affected ostentation of her Gifts therein, yet this may be affirmed, that she was mighty and fervent in Prayer, yea, constant, and abundant in it. For she sometime used her voice in prayer, and thereby hath been overheard, and her own Lord (knowing her hours of prayers) once conveyed a Grave and Godly Minister into a secret place, within hearing, who (being a man very able to judge) much admired her humble fervency: for in praying she prayed, and when she did not use an audible voice, her sighs, and groans, might be heard at a good distance from her Closet. And the very day before she died, she was shut up for above an hour, which time she spent in fervent private prayer, notwithstanding her bodily indisposition, and weakness. And indeed prayer was the Element wherein she lived, and actually died, and it was as the vital breath of her soul, and the Wing that wafted it immediately to Heaven.
But if she excelled herself in anything, as much as she excelled others in most things, it was in the Divine Art of holy Meditation. This was her Master-piece. For she usually walked two hours daily in the Morning to Meditate alone, in which rare Art she was an accomplished Mistress, both in that which was set, as also Occasional. For the first, choosing some select subject, which she would press upon her heart with most intense thoughts, till she had drawn out all its juice, and nourishment: And for the second, like a spiritual Be, she would suck Honey from all Occurrences; whole Volumes of such she hath left behind her.
After this Consecrating of the day with reading the Scriptures, Meditation and Prayer, and using but a short dressing, and ordering her Domestic affairs, she spent the rest of the Morning in reading some good Book, till she was called to Family Prayers in the Chapel, from which she was never absent, and at which she behaved herself with much reverence and Devotion, thereby giving an excellent example to the rest of the Family.
She was a strict observer of the Lord's days, which is truly, and fitly called, the Hedg and Fence of Religion: And though some please themselves in calling it Judaizing, to excuse the liberties which they indulge themselves in breaking it, yet our Church hath enjoined all to cry to God for mercy for the breach of it, and for Grace to incline our hearts to keep the fourth Commandment, as well as any of the other nine: And it's not hard to observe, that the streams of Religion are deeper or shallower, according as these Banks are kept up or neglected.
She used great Devotion when she came to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and seldom omitted to prepare her soul by solemn Fasting and Prayer, and renewing her Covenant with God at that time.
And to encourage others to such a serious preparation to that sacred Ordinance, to that Dreadful Table (as S. Chrysostom calls it) which she herself used before it, it will be worth the while to transcribe, and to take notice of the sweet advantages which she reaped hereby, as she herself hath left it upon Record under her own hand in her Diary, concerning one of the last Sacrament Days she ever enjoyed in this World; which is as followeth.
November 25th. Sacrament Day.
As soon as I awaked, I blessed God. When I had read in the Word, the Chapters of the sufferings of my blessed Savior, I spent much time in meditating of his dying Love: By which thoughts I found my heart much drawn out to love him, and to be melted by his love. Then with great awful apprehensions of God upon my heart I went to pray. In which Duty, my heart was lifted up in the high praises of God, for both Spiritual and Temporal mercies: And my Affections were much drawn out in the Duty, in which my heart did follow exceeding hard after God for a nearer Communion with him in the Sacrament than ever yet I had; I then renewed my Covenant with God and made promises, that, by his Grace enabling me, I would walk more closely with him for the time to come. That which in a special manner I begged of God at this Sacrament was, more love to him, more holiness, more contempt of the world, and the glories of it: that I might be more useful to the souls and bodies of my fellow Christians than formerly I had been.
Those mercies that I was in a special manner grateful for, were the Creation, and Redemption of the World; and for the Gospel, and the Covenant of Grace, and for Justification, and for some measure of Sanctification: And for so much patience exercised towards me, before my Conversion. And in order to it, imbittering Creature Comforts, that I might seek for Comforts above. And for a Sanctified Affliction, and for some degree of patience to bear it; and for supports under it by the warm, and lively Comforts of the Holy Ghost. And for returns of Prayer. And for so many opportunities to seek unto God. And for the sweet reviving hours I had enjoyed with God in solitude by Heavenly Meditations. And for the Word and Sacraments, and the sanctifying motions of God's spirit. I was in a more than ordinary measure melted in the Duty, and shed a very great plenty of Tears in it; which when I came from, I found a longing desire to partake of the Lord's Supper, and a great Joy that I was going to partake of it. Then I went to Hear.—The Text was. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh to the Father but by me,
I was attentive at that good Sermon: and by what I heard of the excellency of Christ, had my heart much warmed with Love to him.
Afterwards at the Confession before the Sacrament, I found my heart in a more than usual manner broken for my sins, which I bewailed with great plenty of Tears, and from my heart judged and loathed myself for them.
After I had received, I found my heart in an extraordinary manner warmed with love to God, and my soul did follow very hard after him to be made more holy, and for Grace to serve him better than ever yet I had done. I had very lively Affections in the Duty, in which I received much Joy, and had sweet Communion with God in it.
After at the Table of the Lord I had given to the poor, I came from the Sacrament with my heart in a sweet, grateful, and heavenly frame, and then in private I blessed God for that blessed Feast, and begged strength to keep my promises I had made to God of new Obedience.
In the afternoon I heard again the same person, upon the same Text: I was in a serious, attentive frame at that good Sermon. The Subject of which was to show, that Christ was the only way for poor penitent Sinners to come unto the Father.
I meditated upon the Sermons, and prayed them over. And had also Meditations upon the Joys of Heaven, with the thoughts of being ever freed from sin, and of being ever with the Lord: where I should enjoy him in his fullest Love.
I found my heart much revived, and my soul did then make strong Sallies, and Egresses after that blessed Rest.
After Family Duties were over, at which I prayed with fervency, I did before going to Bed commit myself to God.
She was a very serious, and attentive hearer of the Word, and constantly, after Sermons, recollected what she heard, sometimes by Writing, always thinking, and calling it to mind that she might make it her own, and turn it into practice; not content to be a forgetful, fruitless Hearer only, but a doer, that she might be blessed in her deed.
And such she was for the external performances of Religion.
And though this was beautiful and lovely, yet her chief Glory was within, in the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, in that dress of Graces which adorned her soul: This string was all of Orient Pearls, and evenly matched; not one of an ill water, or of an unequal size. There was not one withered limb; not one member wanting or defective in the New Creature: She was complete in Christ; all of a piece.
Her head for knowledge was comprehensive and clear, The Eye of her Faith was piercing and steady. The Ear of her Obedience was open, and swift of Hearing, and bored at the Door Posts of Wisdoms House. Her Pallat was quick and relishing, to which God's Word was sweeter than the Honey, and the Honey-comb, and preferred by her to her necessary Food. The Cheeks of modesty were fair and ruddy. The Arms of her desire were stretched out after God, and were flexible to embrace him. The hands of her Justice and Charity were strong and open. The Breasts of her Bounty were well fashioned, and full of Milk: And the Bowels of Compassion were tender and fruitful. Her Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness was even greedy and insatiable. The heart of her sincerity was sound and lively, and the Pulse of her Conscience smooth and equal. The feet of her affections were swifter than the Roes on the Mountains of Bether. The natural heat of her Zeal more fervent than the Coals of Juniper; And the Radical moisture of her Repentance more fluid than the Springs of Pisgah. She was seen with dry Eyes under Tear-moving circumstances, which very nearly concerned herself; and being asked how she could refrain? She replied: I desire to weep for nothing but my sins. Her Name was as an ointment poured forth, which made her the desire and delight of all that were good; yea, she may fitly be called a She-Jedidiah, a female Lemuel, the Lord's delight: She with whom God was.
Now the soul of this excellent Body which animated all its goodly Parts within, was the Love of God: And the gorgeous robe which clothed it without, was her deep humility. These were as the Sun and Moon in this great Firmament, all whose Stars were of the first magnitude, and the least of which would have been a great Luminary in another Orb. Such was this Beauteous Spouse of Christ; so like her heavenly Bridegroom, that for that resemblance sake, we may say of her, she was exceeding lovely.
Nor was she less solicitous to make others good than to be so herself. She well remembered our Savior's charge to S. Peter, when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren. She set her heart to promote the building of God's Spiritual Temple, and therefore she applied herself to it with all her might. She had holy Transports for the Glory of God, and she was a great lover of souls, and these two engaged her to promote Religion with her utmost industry and zeal, which that she might carry on with the greater advantage.
First, She made it her great design to represent Religion as amiable and taking, and free from Vulgar prejudice as possibly she might, and not as might affright and scare men from it; but rather, that it might allure them, and insinuate itself into their love and liking. And for this end she was affable, familiar, pleasant, of a free and obliging Conversation, unaffected; not sour, reserved, morese, sad, dejected, melancholy deportment, which presents Religion most disadvantagiously. She was, even naturally of a most sweet temper, and Grace inoculated into such a Stock, thrives to admiration; whereas some crabbed, peevish, sullen natures starve the best Cien they are grafted with. And she made grace and nature subservient to the good of others.
Secondly, She kept herself free and disinteressed from all Parties and Factions, that none might suspect a design of making Proselytes to any but to God.
She was neither of Paul, or of Apollos, or of Cephas, but only of Christ. Her Name was Christian, and her Sirname Catholic: She had a large and unconfined Sou • not hem'd in, or pounded up within the Circle of any man's Name: But whosoever feared God and wrought Righteousness was accepted of her.
She, very inossensively, regularly, and devoutly observed the Orders of the Church of England in its Liturgy and Public Service, which she failed not to attend twice a day with exemplary Reverence; yet was she far from placing Religion in Ritual Observances.
She used to perfume her Company with good savoury discourse to prevent idle or worse Communication, yet not abruptly, upbraidingly, or importunely, which is very nauseous and fulsome: But she was like a spiritual stove: you might fell the heat, but not see the fire. She would drop a wise Sentence, or Moral, Holy Apothegm (with which she was excellently furnished, some of her own making, others of her Collection) that which suited with, or at least was not far remote from what was spoken, and talked of, and commending, or improving that, she would wind about the whole discourse without offense; yea, with much satisfaction and pleasure.
She kept a book of such wise, pithy Sayings, much valuing words which contained much use and worth in a little compass.
Where she had particular kindness, or personal interest, she would improve the authority of her Friendship to gentle, but free reproof, and would argue, and persuade so strenuously, that her Bow (like sonathans) seldom returned empty; and would plead the Cause of God, and of their own souls; and to whom she spake, she would do it, with such winning, and insinuating sweetness, that it was hard to resist the Spirit she spake by; and her Zeal for their good, would cause her to argue with her friends, that she might by a holy Violence attract and allure them to be good and happy.
She was of an extensive Charity, and would make people good by believing them to be so, and by this engagement make them ashamed to deceive her hopes, and disappoint her expectation.
She had a tender, conscientious care to provide good Ministers in places where she had anything to do, and to encourage them, would augment their maintenance where it was small, Leez, Braintree, Foulness, &c. may be her Witness in this.
She had had a great care of the souls of her Servants; And her Ambition was, to be the Mistress of a Religious Family, which appeared in these particulars.
First, In requiring their Attendance upon God's Public Worship, and their reverent Behaviour there. Her Eye surveyed her Chapel, and none could be absent but she would miss them.
Secondly, In personal Instruction, and familiar persuading them. There were none that served her but can Witness that she took occasions to do them good.
Thirdly, In preparing them for, and persuading to the frequent participation of the Lord's Supper.
Fourthly, In laying good Books in all the common Rooms, and places of attendance, that those who waited might not lose their time, and have a Bait laid of some useful, practical Books, and fitted to their capacity, which migh catch, and employ them.
Fifthly, In making it the footstep to preferment. For she made the 101 Psalm the Rule of her Occonomicks: And though she treated all her Servants friendly, yet they were her Favorites which more signally feared God.
She was not a First Table Christian only: She did not halt, but walked in the ways of God with both her feet. She had learned Saint Johns Lesson: That he who Loves God must love his Brother also.
She was exactly Righteous.
Eminently Charitable.
Severely Just, both in Word and Deed. Her Word was as Sacred as an Oath, and as good security as any Bond. No inconvenience to herself would make her recall or flinch from the Obligation she had brought upon herself by her own mouth. Yea, she had such an abhorrence of a dishonorable recess from express, or but intimated promises, that it would render her esteem of such persons exceeding low and mean, who by little Arts and Shists would loose and free themselves from their engagements, and that would disappoint the expectations they had raised in others to save charges, accounting their money spared, a very poor shift, and base Redemption of their Reputation.
She abhorred a Lie, and used modestly to give this Testimony of herself: You know I dare not: I will not Lie. And her Lord knew this so well, that though he was positive enough, yet would he never persist, if there happened any contest against whatsoever she affirmed peremptorily.
And a Lye was the foulest blemish any could stain themselves with, in conversing with her, and the most unpardonable fault a Servant could contract, to whom she used to say: Tell me the truth, and I can forgive you anything.
About a Month before she died, she was (though then in perfect health) determined to alter her Will. And whereas she had before given many large Legacies in Money to persons of great quality, she said, she would alter them all, and that for this reason: They are (said she) rich, and do not need money, but she would give it in some other thing that they might keep, as memorials of her Love to them: And when she had set down all their Names in a Paper, she bethought herself what probably might be most acceptable to each of them. For (said she) that renders a Gift most pleasing, when it suits with the fancy of the Party to whom it is given. And then surveying her own store, she resolved what to give to most of them: But not finding herself fully provided of what she might bequeath to all, she resolved to insert all in a Codicil, to be annexed to her Will: And added, I am now (God willing) going to London, when I have finished my Will, and then I will by Discourse, find out, undiscerned, what will be most pleasing to everyone of them, and will provide accordingly.
Yet when the draught of her Will was made, she would put into the Will itself: For the Right Honorable, the Countess of Scarsdale, I bequeath a Set of Silver Sconses, which are in mine own Chamber. And being asked, why she would not leave the Gift to be put into the Codicil among the rest? She returned this Answer: Because (said she) She is the only person living, to whom I ever intimated that I had put her into my Will, and I would not die and have it found otherwise, and so be under the suspicion of having told a Lie, or Dying with a Lie in my mouth.
She had perfectly learned S. Paul's Lesson: To speak evil of no man: And where she could not speak well, the worst injury she would do would do was to be silent, and say nothing, unless it were to some single friend, of whose prudence and taciturnity she was secured by her own experience.
Nor would she invidiously diminish the just praises of any who deserved them. Nay, she would rather study to extenuate their other failings, by presenting the light side to hide the dark one. And would commend them for one good quality or action, to cover many bad ones: And would say, when others spake against them; yet I must do them this right, they are so, &c. Or for all this.
She was no less exactly just in deeds than in words. She not only gave goodly words but good performances.
And because the faithful discharge of Relative Duties is one of the most signal evidences of Righteousness, and the greatest Ornament of our holy profession, let us hear briefly how she used to acquit herself in that regard: And that first as a Wife to her Husband Living, and as an Executrix to his Will, and a Trustee to the Estate, after his Decease. As a Mother: As a Daughter: As a Sister: As a Friend: As a Mistress: As a Landlady: And as a Neighbor: In all which she was, as a singular blessing to all her Relations, so an eminent Example unto others.
First, As a Wife: The heart of her Husband did trust in her: And she did him good, and not evil, all the days of his Life. She was truly a Crown, and an Ornament to him. She always lived, with the sense of the Covenant of God which was betwixt them, upon her heart. She was an equal mixture of affectionate obedience, and obediential affection in her deportment towards him.
Her care and endeavor was to hide, and conceal his infirmities: She deeply Sympathized in his long, and tedious indispositions: She attended, and to her uttermost relieved him under them, with great tenderness. She loved his soul, and would both Counsel him with prudent Zeal, and pray for him with great ardor and fervency; Neither was he ever wanting in praising her. He hath with vehement protestations said: That he had rather have her with Five Thousand pounds (though she brought him much more) than any Woman living, with Twenty. Yea, when the very Torrent of his sorrows was at the highest for the Death of his only Son, he made That the most aggravating circumstance of his grief, That it would kill his Wife: Who (said he) is more to me than an hundred Sons. And to seal up his Love, he gave to her his whole Estate, as an honorary Testimony of his grateful esteem of her merits towards him, and left her sole Executrix: A high Testimony of his confidence in her integrity.
This Trust, though it cost her very much labor, and she encountered with great difficulties in the management of it, yet did she discharge it with such indefatigable pains, such scrupulous exactness, and admirable Prudence, that she failed not to perform his Will to the least tittle: So that she neither gave, nor left any occasion to any of Complaint, though they were interressed persons; but they rather applauded, and admired her prudent, and honorable conduct of that great Affair; which she owned, with great thankfulness unto God, as no small blessing, and mercy to her.
And for that Noble Estate which was to Descend unto others after her Decease, she would not imbezel, or wrong it in the least, to have gained the disposal of the whole. And therefore was at vast Expences in Repairs upon the Mansion-House, and of Farms belonging to it, though herself was but a Tenant for Life. And it was her usual saying, That whatsoever she lost herself, she would never give occasion unto them that came after her, to say, that she had damnified the Estate, or wronged her Trust, or them.
Her Noble and Splendid way of living, proceeded not from Pride and Ambition, but at least principally out of Conscience: For she would not contract her Family, or make an abatement, because she would not deceive her Lord's Trust, who, the rather gave her the Estate to keep up the Honor of his Name, and Family, in a place where it had long flourished, and had been famous in that kind for many years.
She was an incomparable Mother, which she made to appear in the Education of her only Son, and of three Daughters committed to her Trust. For she never had but two Children of her own: one Son, the gallant, hopeful, young L. Rich, and one Daughter, who died young.
Those three Excellent Ladies to whom she performed the Office, and Duties of an own Mother, though she were but an Aunt in Law to them, who by their Cousins death are become such vast Fortunes to their Husbands, being left with less plentiful Portions, even whilst her own Son lived, she would never leave pressing her Lord to make Noble Provisions for them, and to settle on them Portions answerable to their Birth, and Quality.
She was a Dutiful Child to her Parents, and upon all occasions would make honorable mention of them. She was a more endearing Sister than in a few words can be expressed. A friend so faithful, so kind, so condescending, so free, unreserved, and unsuspicious, as the like is hard to be found.
She was a rare and excellent Mistress, in a double care both of the Spiritual, and Bodily welfare of her Servants, whom she as much loved to please, as other persons Servants can be to please their Mistress, it being her delight to render their Lives about her, easy, and pleasant, and free from discontent, that so they might serve the Lord with the greater cheerfulness. And when she was to leave them, she left not off her kindness to them, or care for them, but provided to the uttermost of her power, for their comfortable subsistence, according to their rank, and time of Service with her: Giving them Noble and Liberal Legacies, to some four hundred, to others three, two, and one hundred pounds a piece: And to others eighty, seventy to buy them Annuities for their Lives. To others, Fifty, Forty, Twenty, and a full years Wages to everyone not specified by Name; and three Months entertainment, with Lodging, Diet, and all other accommodations, as in her Life time, to seek out, and to provide Services for themselves, before they should be removed.
She was a Noble, and compassionate Land-lady, and would usually say of her Tenants: Alas poor Creatures! they take a great deal of pains, and I love to see them thrive, and live comfortably, and I cannot endure to see them brought into straits, and therefore I would have all things made convenient for them, and if they have sustained any great losses, I would have it considered. And for her Copy-hold Tenants, she would urge earnestly the timely finishing of the Court Rolls, and delivery of their Copies to them, professing that she could not in Conscience suffer it to be neglected, because it was all they had to show for their Estates.
Lastly, as a Neighbor: She was so kind and courteous to them, that it advanced the Rent of the adjacent houses out of a desire to be near unto her. Her House and Table, Her countenance and very heart was open to all persons of quality within a considerable distance; and for the meaner sort, if they were Sick, or Tempted, or in any Distress either in Body or Mind, whither they should go but to this Countess, whose Closet was always furnished with things necessary, either for Physic or Chyrurgery. And herself would visit the meanest of them, and would send Ministers unto them for their Spiritual Edification and comfort:
But as her Love to God was the soul of her Religion, so her extraordiaary Charity towards those who needed it, was the conspicuous Crown which beautified all her sweetness and goodness towards Men: For in this she was forward to her power; yea, and beyond her power. For she would, upon occasion anticipate her Revenues and Incomes, rather than want wherewith to be liberal, insomuch that it was said of her: She was the Lady who would borrow money to give away. She would not live poor in Good Works that she might die Rich: Yea, though she had chosen Executors in whom her heart could trust, yet she would make her own hands her Executors, and they were very faithful to her enlarged heart.
But to instance in some particulars. When in her Lord, and Husbands Life time, she had an allowance, settled by Articles before Marriage, she inquired of an able Neighbor Minister, in whom she much confided about the quota pars, what proportion one is obliged to Consecrate unto God out of his Estate? He answered: That it was hard, if not impossible, to determine, or six a Rule, which might hold universally; but the circumstances must be considered in which persons stood; their Qualities, their Incomes, their Dependances, &c. But this, not satisfying her, she urged a more particular Answer as to her own case, what would be fit, and becoming her to do? He answered: That he supposed, a seventh part: But she replied, that she would never give less than the third part. And she made good her resolution with advantage, ever laying by her a third part for Charitable Uses, and would sometimes borrow of that which remained, to add to it, but never defalk from that to serve her own occasions, though sometimes they were pressing enough.
When she came to the possession of so great an Estate as her Lord left her for her Life, she in a good measure made true what a Great Person said: That the Earl of Warwick had left all his Estate to pious uses. Meaning, that he had given it to this bountiful Lady, who would so employ it. And she hath professed, that all the satisfaction which she took in it, was, the opportunity it afforded her of doing good: And she hath seriously affirmed; That she would not accept of, nor be encumbered with the greatest Estate in England, if it were offered her, upon condition, not to do good to others with it.
Her liberal heart devised liberal things. There are Objects of real Charity, which are not so to Vulgar Eyes or Purses, on whom she would confer, and whom she would surprise with Noble and suitable assistances: Such struck deep, and drew a whole Bag at once, but made no noise.
Foreigners who were forced to exile themselves to preserve their Religion, or to embrace what they were convinced of to be the Truth, she was always open-handed to such.
A great many young Scholars of hopeful promising Parts, she wholly, or in a good measure maintained in the Universities, allowing to some Thirty, to some Twenty, to some ten, to some eight, and to many five pounds per Annum, and to some who had more helps otherways, less.
Abundance of young Children she put out to School in the Neighbouring Towns, even all that were poor, and willing to learn. Yea, her Charity in this kind reached as far as unto Wales, contributing Nobly unto that pious design, set on foot, and prosecuted with indefatigable pains and earnestness by that Reverend, Charitable, and Pious Divine Mr. Thomas Gouge. And for those poor Children about her, she did not only pay for their Schooling, but gave them Books, ofttimes Clothing.
Many godly Ministers, both Non-Conformists, who wanted means of subsistence, and Conformists, whose Livings were so small that they could not live on them, she bountifully relieved.
She turned not away her Eyes, or her Ears from occasional Objects of Charity, whereof there was no want. And though she was sometimes imposed upon, and deceived by those that neither needed, nor deserved what she gave, yet did not this discourage her from giving again. For (said she) I had rather relieve ten that only appear meet Objects, and are not, than let one go unrelieved who is so indeed. She thought it better to seed two Drones, than to starve one Be. For though they deceived her in giving, she knew that God would not deceive her in accepting what was sincerely done for his Name sake.
The poor which she fed at her Gates were very many, not only with broken meat, but with liberal provision, purposely made for them. She was full of compassion, yea, a great lover of the poor, and she built a convenient Receptacle for them at her London House (as they had one at Leez) to shelter them from the injury of Weather till they received their Dole. And during her abode at London, having no Family at Leez, yet even then were the Poor provided for there. For twice a Week there was plentiful provision of Bread and Bief for the Poor of four adjacent Parishes: And in her Will she took order that the same should be continued for three Months after her Decease. And by her said Will she gave an hundred pounds to be distributed among the poor of Braintree, Felsted, Little Leez, and French Waltham, either at, or shortly after her Funeral.
It is not doubted that every year after she came to enjoy that great Estate, she gave as much in works of Charity as would have purchased Lands sufficient to have endowed a Free-School, or an Alms-house. And that Pious and Liberal Foundation of Rochford Alms-house, which, though Founded Legally by a Patent granted under the Broad Seal for its Confirmation, by the Ancestors of this Noble Family, of which she bore the Title, being by the Death of the Founder not endowed: Yet (as all her Predecessors had done) she always gave to the Alms-people their full designed allowance, and ordered, by her last Will, that it should be so continued for a full year after her Decease.
This is farther very remarkable in this rare Lady, that she was not notoriously defective in any Virtue, or Grace, but as eminent in all, as most have been in any one of them. She did abound in every Grace.
She was never stained with any scandalous deformity, or sin, which was a rare mercy: For though sometimes she might slip, or stumble, she fell not; much less lay, or wallowed to defile her Garments, concerning which, hear what herself hath written.
Her very defects, and failings, were such as some others would have been proud of: Her Weeds would have been accounted Flowers; her Thistles, Roses in another Garden. For her two great faults, for which she was blamed, by the most curious Observers of her, were
- First, Excess of Charity.
- Secondly, Defect of Anger. But even these admit of an Apology more easily than they need it. For
First, What was accounted excess of Charity in her, was her easiness to believe most People to be Good, or at least better than they were. She did indeed somewhat bend to this Right-hand Error: But if it were a bad effect, it proceeded from a good Cause. They that have clear, innocent, and sincere hearts themselves, are ready to judge the like of others. Charity thinketh no evil. Yet she used this her good opinion of others, as a means, and motive to make them, what she was so willing to signify she thought them to be. And though she would never despair of any man, while she found them under the a we of God's Authority and Word (for even those may receive some nourishment who Eat against stomach; and the Sieve under the Pump may be cleansed, though it hold no Water) yet if she discerned any to scorn, or deride, and mock at the Scriptures, to despise God's Ordinances, and to turn that which is Sacred into a laughing stock, she used (as her Phrase was) to set her mark upon that Man. Neither yet was she so often, nor so much mistaken in her Judgment of persons, as some supposed, who more misinterpreted her Civility, than she did the others sanctity.
As for her defect of anger, which implies (if the charge be true) a want of Zeal against Sin and Sinners, and then it is unjustly charged upon her: For though she could not, she durst not rage and storm, and vent her Anger, as some do, whose Anger is a short madness (For indeed, her calm, serene, and sedate mind, and amiable disposition, was not capable of such furious storms, so contrary to her nature) yet would she with less noise, make deeper impressions of her displeasure for great faults, than those who appear most furious: As we see, that a still, soaking Rain wets more, than a furious, driving storm. And therefore it was observed, that if any Servant had offended, and been faulty, they had rather have run the Gantlet thrice, of their Lord's most furious expressions, than to have been once sent for to their Ladies Closet, who treated them with soft words, but hard Arguments against their misdemeanors. Her words were like that silent Lightning, which, without the noise of Thunder, melts the Blade, but singes not the Scabbard.
What Presages she had of her approaching Death, she discovered not to any; but her preparations for it had been of a long time habitual. It was one of the most constant Subjects of her retired musings, and she used to call walks to Meditate upon it, her going to take a turn or two with Death. And surely that could never surprise, or find her unprepared, who made it her great work to be fitting herself for it.
There are some passages worthy our most serious remarks concerning the watchful Eye of God's Providence over his own Hephzibahs, alarming them to trim their Lamps (as the wise Virgins did) against the coming of the Bridegroom, and allowing them fit opportunities to do it; as in much mercy, he did unto her, as will appear by this Transcript taken out of her Lord's Diary, containing an account how she spent the last Lord's day, before she fell into her sickness, which proved mortal, and was Written but the very day before she was taken ill; by which, it will be evident how God, in a most remarkable manner, made some impresses upon her Soul of her approaching dissolution, though as then, there were no visible Symptoms of it upon her body.
March 24th. Sunday.
As soon as I was up, I blessed God. Then I Meditated, and endeavored by thinking of some of the great mercies of my Life, to stir up my heart to return glory to God. And those thoughts had this effect upon me, to melt my heart much by God's Love, and to warm it with love to him.
Then I prayed, and I was enabled in that duty to pour out my soul to God, and my heart was in it, carried out to praise God, and I was large in recounting of many of God's special mercies to me. And whilst I was doing so, I found God mighty upon my Spirit, and upon my heart, in a much more than ordinary manner, carried out to admire God for his goodness, and to love him: and I found his love to make great impressions upon my breast; and melting me into an unusual plenty of Tears.
Those mercies, which in a special manner I was grateful for, were the Creation, and Redemption of the World; and for the Gospel, and for the Sacraments; and for Free-Grace, and the Covenant of Grace; and for the excellent means of it which I had enjoyed; and for the great Patience God had exercised towards me before, and since my Conversion; and for Checks of Conscience when I had sinned; and for repentance when I had done so; and for a sanctified Affliction, and supports under it; and for so large a portion of worldly blessings.
After I had begged a blessing upon the public Ordinances, I went to hear Mr. Woodroof. His Text was, Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. And after a summary account of the Sermon, it follows in her Book.
In the Afternoon, I heard again the same Person upon the same Text. And then follows a concise, and methodical recapitulation of that Sermon also. And after that she adds. I was in a serious and affected frame at both the Sermons, and was by them convinced of the excellency of fearing God, and of spending the remainder of the term of my life in his service. And did resolve to endeavor to spend the remaining part of my time better.
At both his Prayers I prayed with fervency. Afterwards I retired and meditated upon the Sermons, and prayed them over.
And I had also this Evening large Meditations of Death, and of Eternity; which thoughts had this effect upon me, to make me in an extraordinary awaked frame, in which things of another Life were much realized to me, and did make very deep impressions upon me; and my soul did follow hard after God for Grace to serve him better than ever yet I had done. Then she concluded with this Prayer.
This was Written the very last day of her health, being Monday Morning. In which we may see how God realized to her, and gave her extraordinary impressions of Death, Eternity, and the Life to come, when he was about to bring her to it. For the very next day she began to be ill of that sickness whereof she died.
This Phoenix: This excellent Lady was far from their humors whose Conscience are so bad, and unquiet Company, that they hate solitude, and dare not be alone. For she loved, and even hugged her Retirements as her most pleasing hours which gave her the greatest satisfaction. And though when she was called to it, she would deny herself, and her particular inclination to comply with a duty of a larger spread; yet she cheerfully sustained that hurry of businesses which was inevitable to the acquitting herself of the trust reposed in her, by her Lord and Husbands last Will and Testament.
But never did Bird take Wing, when disentangled from a Net, with greater cheerfulness, nor chirp out the pleasures of its unconfined freedom, more merrily than she did solace herself, when she had escaped the noise and Croud of Worldly Affairs, which ruffled and turmoiled her quiet repose, and suspended the enjoyment of herself, and when as, in the beginning of her last winter, her dearest Sister was about to leave her, the last farewell that she took of her was in these words. Now I have done my drudgery (meaning her worldly business) I will set to the renewing my preparations for Eternity. And accordingly, she made it the reiterated business of that Winter.
In the beginning of March, Anno Christi. 1677. She set to the making of her Will anew, and signed, and sealed it on the twelfth day of the same month: And on Tuesday before Easter [March 26th. 1678.] she was take with some indisposition of body, loss of Appetite, and an Aguish distemper, whereof she had four or five fits, which yet, in that season of the year were judged both by Physicians, and her friends, like to prove more advantageous to her future health, than dangerous to her life.
And in this state of body she continued, freed from her fits, both in her own apprehension, and in her friends hopes that were about her, until Friday, the twelfth of April following, on which day she rose with good strength; and after she had sat up some time; being laid upon her Bed, she discoursed cheerfully and piously: And one of the last sentences she spoke, was this, (turning back the Curtain with her hand),
At this time a neighbouring Lady, having given her a kind visit, at her departure, she arose from her Bed to her Chair, and said, that she would go into her Bed; but she first desired that one of the Ministers that was in the House, would go to Prayer with her; and asking the Company which of them they would have? She presently resolved herself to have him who was going away, because the other would stay, and pray with her daily; and immediately he being called, and come, her Ladyship sitting in her Chair by reason of her weakness (for otherwise she always kneeled) holding an Orange in her Hand to which she smelt, almost in the beginning of the Prayer, she was heard to fetch a sigh, or groan, which was esteemed Devotional, as she used to do at oother times: But a Lady, who kneeled by her, looking upon her, saw that she had lost her color, and looked pale, and her hand hung down: Hereupon, being affrighted, she started up, and all applied themselves to Minister help unto her, but all in vain. For as though she had fallen into a sweet sleep, her Soul left its earthly Mansion, and by the Holy Angels was transplanted into Abraham's bosom.
Thus lived, and thus died this Right Honorable Lady: This Noble Woman: This blessed Saint: This incomparable pattern of flaming zeal for the Glory of God, and of burning Charity for the Good of Men; and that in the actual exercise of Prayer, in which duty she so often anticipated Heaven by pregustation, and which now wafted her longing Soul into the Holy of Holies, within the Vail; At the kiss of God's Mouth (as the Hebrew Doctors say, that Moses died) and though not full of years, yet full of mature, and ripe fruits and graces (for she had lived long in a short time) when all men judged her worthy of more days. But God, the only unerring Judge, had made, and now found her fully ripened for a better life, and therefore translated her from this vale of Tears into his everlasting Kingdom.
Thus she faithfully served and honored God in her place, and Generation, and God likewise honored her, according to that promise by the Prophet Samuel: Him that honors me I will honor. And that of our Blessed Savior: He that serveth me, him will my Father honor. For God gave her Riches and Honor in abundance, as he did to Jehoshaphat [2 Chro. 17. 5, 6.] and yet her heart was not puffed up by them; but lifted up under them in the ways of the Lord.
He gave her a Heaven upon Earth (after some trembling scruples and shiverings) even the blessed calm of a purified, pacified, serene, and well assured Conscience.
He gave her the fragrant perfume of an odoriferous Name, and of a bright, and resplendent Reputation.
He gave her many dear and Cordial Friends; faithful to her as her own Soul, to assist, Counsel, comfort, to help, and carry her through her greatest difficulties, and most entangled affairs; concerning one of whom she used often to say with much thankfulness, that he was a Friend of God Almighty's giving, even beyond her own expectation.
He gave her many great merciful deliverances: One, very like to that which Gregory Nazianzen insists so largely upon, in his Funeral Oration for his Sister Gorgonia, the Mules in whose Chariot running away, not only bruized, but brake her bones, and yet God miraculously restored her again. So that when the Horses in our Ladies Coach, throwing the Coach man out of his seat, ran furiously away with her, God, almost miraculously, hung the Coach against a Post in the way, whereby he stopped their fury, rescued her Life from most eminent hazard, and healed the bruises which she received, with safety. This happened, July 23d. 1661.
He gave her a hearty Love, and affectionate esteem of all her Neighbors, so that (with Titus) she might have been fitly styled, Deliciae humani Generis: The Delight, and Darling of her Country. And with so cheerful willingness did they delight to serve her, that you might have seen fifty brave, lusty, and gallant Teams, day after day bringing in her provisions, and that without any other invitation, than the bare knowledge of the time (which also themselves would diligently inquire out) and nothing would grieve them more, than to be prevented of paying this Tribute of Honorary respect to her.
He gave her such an high esteem for her prudent integrity, and discreet, and impartial Justice, that she began to be (though it was an employment not usual to her sex) the Arbitress, and Umpiress of all the Controversies among her Neighbors: Many of which she happily, and successfully reconciled, and decided their quarrels, both with wisdom and equity.
He gave her the universal approbation, Love, and admiration of all that knew her, whereby that Proverb was confuted, Who hath no Enemies hath no friends. For either she had none of the former: Or her ways so pleased the Lord, that he made her Enemies to be at peace with her; For Noble and mean, Rich and Poor; Persons of all degree, and which is more, of all persuasions, paid her most kind respect, honored, and loved her.
Finally, God prevented her withe blessing of goodness, and Crowned her with loving kindness, and tender mercy. He made her glad with the light of his Countenance, and satisfied her as with Marrow and fatness. He granted the requests of her lips; and shut not out her Prayer from him.
He gave her time and ability to discharge her trust, and to settle her worldly affairs with honor and satisfaction: And he gave her opportunity, space, and a heart to recollect herself, and to redeem that time, which an hurry of business had deprived her of, and wherein to renew her evidences for heaven.
He took out the sting of Death before she came to die, and the pains of death when she died, and sweetly drew up her Soul to Heaven, to be immersed in that fullness of Joy, and bathed in those Rivers of Pleasure which are at his right hand for evermore.
The Life and Death of Mrs. Margaret Baxter, the Wife of Mr. Richard Baxter, who died June 14th. Anno Christi. 1681.
MRS. Margaret Baxter was born in the County of Salop; Her Father was Frances Charleton, Esq; who was accounted one of the best Justices of the Peace in all that County. He was a grave, sober, and worthy Man: But not Marrying till he was aged, died when his Children were very young.
His Children were three, a Son and two Daughters. He had one surviving Brother, Robert, who after the Death of Francis, maintained a long, and costly suit for the Guardianship of his Heir: But his Wife and Good Mother [Mary] durst not trust her only Son in the hands of one that was his next heir. She thought also that nature gave her a greater interest in him than any Uncle could have.
This falling out in that heat of our late Civil Wars, Robert being for the Parliament, had the advantage of strength, which occasioned her to seek relief at Oxford from the King, and afterwards to Marry one Mr. Hanmer, who was also for the King, to improve her interest thereby.
Her House (which was a kind of a small Castle) was made a Garrison by the Kings party: But Robert procured it to be besieged by some Parliament Soldiers, who took it by storm, where the Mother and her Children were, and saw some part of their Housing burnt, and some that were slain, lying dead before their eyes: And thus Robert got possession of the Children. But, after some time, she by her prudence and watchfulness, surprised them, and conveyed them away secretly to one Mr.