SARAHS' SEPULTURE, OR A FUNERAL SERmon, preached for the Right Honourable and virtuous Lady, DOROTHY Countess of NORTHUMBERLAND, at Petworth in SUSSEX. BY RICHARD CHAMBERS Doctor of Divinity. The dying of friends is the cutting off a portion of our own flesh. justi & misericordes homines sunt fundamentum seculi. Dictum Hebraeorum veterum. LONDON, Printed by G. Elder, for George Fairbeard, and are to be sold at his shop, at the North entrance of the Royal-exchange. 1620. TO THE READER. CHristian Reader: As it is small comfort to the husbandman, to behold the blasting of his wished wheat, while the cockle and darnel grow up in his field: So it is no great comfort to the Christian world to see the brambles of iniquity overgrow the whole Land, whilst the Cedars of Lebanon are cut down: To see Cain live, Abel die; Esau hunt in the mountains, Isaac offered on the mountain: Saul pursuing, David pursued: and Dives to fare delicately every day, whilst Lazarus must lie at his door full of sores, this hath been some trouble to the Servants of God. If we knew the good the godly bring to the world, we would desire they might long live in it: for they bring a blessing wheresoever they come. Abraham by prayer is profitable to Abimeleck: joseph by providence is beneficial to Pharaoh: David by valour is good to Israel: and Abigail that beautiful and blessed woman, withdraws the ruin of Nabals' family. Among many mirrors of modesty in this world, this elect Lady was a true mirror. Had any cause to boast in the flesh? she more: She was descended of a Princely family, espoused to one of the greatest Peers in the Land, blessed with an hopeful seed, graced with all outward lineaments of beauty, and endowed with all inward ornaments of virtue: yet it pleased the Lord so to exercise her here, that albeit in her Saviour she found peace, yet in this world she had many afflictions. By these was she weaned from the love of this world, and by these she is now entered into the Kingdom of heaven. To the end she might live in some memory hereafter, the Author of this Sermon, her sorrowful servant, did first preach, after pen, and of late sent to me this ensuing discourse, which being allowed by authority to be published to thy view, I cannot but commend it to thy reading: and whatsoever else thou shall learn by reading, I hope it will teach thee to contemn this world. Farewell. Thine and the Church's servant in the Lord, R. H. SARAHS' sepulture. GENESIS 23.1.2. 1 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: These were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba, the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. HEre beginneth the fift Section of the law called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chaije Sarah. Where we may see how holy Abraham in his old age a Paulus ab Eitzen. lib. 1. is tried with a new and a great domestical cross, viz. deprived of the crown of his glory, Pro. 12.4. hath lost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gnezer his help, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Samech his staff, prop and stay of comfort. Now this is written for our instruction and consolation. Rom. 15.4. b Paulus ab Eitzen. lib. 1. . Instruction, to teach us that the children of God must not look to live at ease and quiet in this life. They must not prophesy of peace to themselves, and that there shall be no leading into captivity, and no complaining in their streets. They must not dream that always they shall be carried on eagle's wings, Exod. 19.4. and that all the sheaves in the shock shall fall down at theirs, Gen. 38.7. But their dreams must be of Willow trees by the waters of Babel, Psal. 137. 1. Of sheaves thrashed with an iron flail, Seneca Trag. in a word, of afflictions & crosses. Non est ad astra mollis è terris via, The way to the kingdom of Heaven is not strawed with flowers, 2 Tim. 3.12. A Christian must look to be a daily cross bearer; Stella de contempt. mundi. For ad immortalitatem non nisi per aerumnas patet aditus; A Christian must not think to walk always in plain and easy paths. Orig. Tom. 1. Hom. 5. sup. Exod. 14. fol. 37. Non proclive iter est, quo tenditur ad virtutes, sed ascenditur, & angustè ac difficulter ascenditur. He must climb hard, it is all up hill, the way lieth, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Exod. 14 1. inter Epauleum & inter Magdalum, Orig. ibid. as the Sept. read it, that is, by turretting and towering, turning and winding, as Origen expoundeth it. Crux vitae aeternae prodromus. It is via arcta & angusta, Mat. 7.14. straight and narrow; therefore no way for a Libertine to walk in. Those whom God will have to sail to Heaven must first be wafted a long by the suburbs of hell, Psa. 116.3. And they whom the Lord intendeth shall arrive at the place of bliss, must first creep along by weeping cross, Luke, 9.23. It is not possible without afflictions to enter into Christ's Kingdom, Wirth. de vita Christi lib. 5. Cap. 2, pag. 324. Mar. 10.38. Ad regnum coeleste pervenitur, non nisi mundana infoelicitate, cruse & afflictione: non honore, fed onere. In a word, never went any to Heaven with dry eyes. The first man that ever died went to Heaven, but yet take this by the way, The Thargum jerusalemy affirmeth that the cause why Cain slew Abel was, because holy Abel oppugned Cain's hellish and atheistical opinions, as that there was no world to come, no recompense for good, no punishment for evil, etc. 1 john 3.12. The first that ever went to Heaven died a Martyr, Gen. 4.8. Furthermore, here we may take a good hint for Consolation in the midst of our greatest miseries and highest pitch of our tribulations, namely, That the dearest servants of God have suffered no less * Paulus ab Eitzen lib. 1. in locum. , but have endured as great a storm as we can do. Take blessed Abraham the Father of the faithful for an example, and see how the volume of Scripture setteth forth the prints of his piety and gracious behaviour, as also describeth at large his life, and the many occurrences, alterations, crosses and afflictions, which he suffered in his life; as to instance in some particulars. First, he is constrained to forsake house and home, kindred and friends, Gen. 12.1. Secondly, No sooner is he come into that strange land, but he is enforced away from thence by famine, Gen. 12.10. Thirdly, In Egypt wonderfully is he perplexed, Gen. 12.12. whether he will save his life, or hazard his wife's chastity. But what need I reckon up more? for wheresoever he went, he found neighbours outrageously barbarous, which would not suffer him so much as to drink water out of the Wells that himself had digged with great labour, Gen. 21.25. Wherefore let us have an eye to a better than this present life d Non est requi●vbi quaeritis ea● Quaerite quod quaeritis, sed ibi non est ubi quaeritis. Beatam vitam quaeritis in regione mortis: non est illic. Quomodo enim beata vitae, ubi nec vitae? Aug. Tom. ●. lib. 4. Confess. cap. 12. ? Happiness is not to be found here. But to shut up myself within some lists and limits, this Chapter spreadeth itself into two branches. The one containeth the death of that Noble, Virtuous, and Religious Lady Sarah. The other, the gracious behaviour of Abraham her Lord at her death: namely, Luctus, he mourneth for her: Secondly, a godly care for her funeral rites, and decent interring of her corpses, vers. 3.4. together with that which may seem strange, Emptio agri, The purchasing of a place for burial: for though he had as good a title and right thereto as any man hath to his possession, it being conveyed unto him by indenture, and confirmed by the broad seal of the Covenant Circumcision, yet is this great Lord glad to crouch to the sons of Cheth. Thirdly, there is specified the burial itself, vers. 19 To look back unto the first branch of the Chapter, which in some sort may not unfitly be called Sarahs' Epitaph, is contained these two things: First, the time when she died; secondly, the place where she died. And beside, the time and place whereof we presently will speak, she is honoured with a double honour above all other women. First, that she is the only woman whose whole age is mentioned in the Scripture, 〈◊〉 autem sci●e non fuisse morem. Hebraeis neque divinae Scrip●●●● genealogias ●exere mulierum, Damas', Orth: sid: lib. 4. cap. 15 fol. 163. and whose number of years are recorded of God. In Scripture women are usually excluded not only from Genealogies, but also from Chronologies: That they lived is recorded, but how long they lived, and when they died is not specified. Yet here the Lord by the pen of that man of God Moses, Beda Tom: 5. in Luc: lib. 1 pag. 190: doth set down the length of Sarahs' age: First, because she was to be the mother of all the faithful: 1 Pet. 3.6. as Eve was the mother of all living, Gen. 3. And therefore the great God of Heaven would have some notes of eminency set upon her above other women. Secondly, that womankind may know that though they be the weaker sex, yet their life is no less regarded of God than is the life of man, and that their death is as precious in his sight, as is the death of man, Psal. 116.15. this caution by the way being observed: Si modo permanserint in fide, in dilectione, & sanctificatione cum sobrietate; 1 Tim. 2.15. If they continue in faith, and love, and holiness with modesty. The second privilege is, that she is the first for whose death mourning and weeping is mentioned, an other note of no small honour: Gen. 50.9. And it is a great and fearful judgement, and sign of God's wrath, to have the burial of an Ass, to have none to lament, none to mourn for them, jeremy 22.18.19. To come to the words themselves, because the years of Sarah are distinctly numbered, and the Hebrews read thus: Lyra in ●●cum. And the lives of Sarah was an hundred years, and twenty years, and seven years: the jewish Rabbins collect that here is commended her beauty and her chastity: viz. That she was as fair at an hundred, as at twenty; and as chaste at twenty, as at seven. That Sarah was pulchra, & casta, cannot without impudence be denied. Pulchra, well featured, well favoured, the currant of Scripture is pregnant for it, Gen. 12.11. And the holy Ghost maketh her a figure of the new Testament, and of the heavenly jerusalem, the mother of us all, Gal. 4.24.26. The spouse of Christ is fair, Cant. 4.1. Casta, well nurtured, sweet natured, pure and chaste, is no less evident, 1 Pet. 3.6. in that the Apostle setteth her forth for all women to behold, and as a glass for them to look into, and an example to follow in their lives and conversations: But nevertheless that which the jewish Rabbins would gather is not from the words warrantable, such idle dreams afford little or no edification. But from the words we safely may collect for our comfort and consolation, viz. that the Lord doth number all our years, & whether they be few or many he hath noted them down in his book of remembrances: The Scripture showeth that the Lord doth very carefully take a reckoning of our life; here Sarahs' days are precisely numbered. And job 14.5. mentioneth months and days, how that our days exactè praefiniti sunt, are exactly determined, and the number of the months which man hath to live, are in the Lords own hand. Wherefore no good man need make any question, but that the Lord hath a care of him, and that the thread of his life doth not depend upon the skill of any Aesculapius, but on the good pleasure of our God: a Christianis est haec magna consolatio, ut sciant, mortem non esse in tyrannorum vi, nec ullius creaturae manu positan, neuè anxij sint multum de morte, sed velut pueri moriantur, quandò Domino placuerit. Luth. Tom. 3. fol. 253. Our life is in his hand, Psal. 31.15. He counteth our wanderings, which (God knoweth) are many, he putteth our tears into his bottle, and all our miseries are firmly registered, Psal. 56.8. Concerning the time we may see the quality of it, Chaiiee, lives, there is intimated misery; the quantity of it, for many a year, even for the space of an hundred twenty and seven. The word Chaiiee, and Psal. 16.11. Chaiim, is translated in Greek by the holy Ghost, life: Act. 2.28 Thou hast made known unto me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the ways of life. And it is so named in the form plural, Chaijee, lives, for diverse reasons. First, to note, that in the life of every man are many operations, many changes and chances, many occurrences and alterations, rise and fall, ebbings and flow: Mel & fell, but more of the one then of the other. Man's days are evil days, Genes. 47.9. Day's full of labour, Man cannot utter it, Eccles. 1.8. Because every day hath suam malitiam, Mat. 6.32. his grief; and every night suum terrorem, his terror, Psal. 91.5. in so much that the life of man is rather calamity than life. A good hint to put us in memory of the fall in Paradise, and of the transgression against God's precept, Gen. 3.16. Multiplicabo aerumnas tuas; I will greatly increase thy sorrows. Greg. lib 11 Mor. cape. From this Multiplicabo aerumnas tuas issued our misery. For (as Gregory speaketh) Quid in se habebit fortitudinis, qui natus est in infirmitatem? Quid aliud ex carne, quàm caro provenire potest? Quid ex misera matre aliud, quàm misera creatura? Can good come out of evil, light out of darkness, strength out of weakness? Can there come from a woeful mother ought saving a woeful creature? Secondly, to point back unto the History going before, which well eyed and carefully observed will show that this good Lady led a careful life all the days of her life. First, if she were the daughter of Haran, which is the currant and received opinion of all the jews, than was she an Orphan and fatherless almost as soon as she was borne: Gen. 11.27. No sooner borne but subject to the cross. Secondly, when she came to woman's estate, then is she likewise made subject to affliction, she is barren & childless, a great cross, yea in those days reputed a curse, that she cannot bear Eve's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Ish jehovae, the man, the Lord, Gen. 4.2. jacobs' Shiloh, Gen. 49.10. daniel's Messiah, Dan. 9.24. Paul's second Adam, 1 Cor. 15.45. our Lord jesus Christ. Thirdly, constrained to forsake her house and home, kindred and country; Gen. 12.1. and for the space of 62. years to live a Pilgrim. Fourthly, in this pilgrimage she felt the smart of want and famine, Gen. 12.10. Fiftly, in Egypt Gen. 12.15. as also in Palestina, Gen. 20.4. she was in hazard of her honour, the woman jewel, Chastity. Sixtly, her Lord goeth to a dangerous war against four mighty Monarches: Gen. 14.14. Seaventhly, she was encumbered with domestical dissensions, overtopped by her own servant, no small vexation, Gen. 16.14. Where by the way in a short passage observe, that domestical dissensions are not always a curse though ever a cross. Eightly, she was not free from spiritual temptations, long did faith and frailty wrestle and strive, whether the God of heaven who is faithful and true and cannot lie, were true of his word concerning the promised Seed. So that with Moses she might truly say: Psal. 90.10. Optimum in vita labour & dolour. The best day she saw dawn was full of labour and sorrow. From all which learn this lesson, and ye may write on the truth thereof; Nulla calamitas sola, No misery is alone: but (like the waves of the Sea) one follows in the neck of another: never let us look for rest in this miserable life, till we come to rest with Christ jesus in the world to come. To conclude this point, because that they who in their life see and feel many sorrows, are accustomed to observe the time best, and (as it were) tell the hours thereof; job 7.2.3. Therefore Moses doth not set down her years in gross, but draweth them out at length: q. d. Sarahs' life and days were not so short, that she forgot them, but God did so remarkably mark them forth with one misery or another, that she might easily count them on her finger's ends. That which happened to Sarah is or may be likewise incident to all the godly: 2 Tim. 3.12. In the book of Exodus chapter the 15. verse 25. there is this passage, Ibi posuit deus iustitias & iudicia, Theridamas God made the Israelites an ordinance and a Law. Ibi, ubi amaritudo, ubi sitis, & quod est gravius, Origen Tom. Hom. 7. fol. sitis in abundantia aquarum, ibi posuit Deus iustitias & iudicia. Alius non erat locus dignior, aptior, uberior, quàm iste, in quo amaritudo est. Where is this there, God made them an ordinance & a Law? even there, where was the bitter waters of Marah, there, where the people were like to perish through thirst, though there was water at will, and in great plenty: There God made them a Law, and gave them ordinances, no fit or more convenient place could be found than it, where was the bitter waters of Marah. Hitherto of the quality of Sarahs' days, now of the quantity & continuance of the same namely, 127 Although this noble and virtuous Lady endured many a sharp shower, yet nevertheless the Lord continued the thread of her life for many a fair year: To make manifest to all ages and generations to come, that the Lord preserved her life in the midst of death, Psal. 23.4. If ever any afflictions could have hastened the death of any, than might they have hastened hers, who for the space of little less than 90. years, was continually subject to one calamity or another: In so much that it may seem the world's wonder; how she was able so long to endure. But God in whose right hand are length of days Pro. 3.16. Mortem times, vitam perennem exoptas? in dextra sua longitudinem dierum habet: Qui vivit & credit in me, non morietur in aeternum. joh 11. Immortalis est, mortem superavit: Immortali dextra, immortalitatem porrigit: Baynus lib, 1 in Pro. Salom. did preserve her life in the midst of those miseries. Misery's cannot shorten the days where the fear of the Lord is, but sin may, Pro. 10.27. The fear of the Lord increaseth the days, but the years of the wicked shall be diminished. And Israel's Singer saith, Viri sanguinum & dolosi non dimidiabunt dies suos, Psal. 55.24. Wicked men shall not live out half their days. To conclude, though Sarahs' life was replenished with a world of woes, yet did it not want some singular comforts. For this virtuous Lady lived after the birth of her son Isaac (as appeareth Gen. 17.17) the space of 36. years. The Lord God's good pleasure was, that for some good space she might fol ce herself with that child so greatly wished, so long expected, and so often promised. Thus the good God of heaven suffereth not his servants to departed out of this life without some especial comfort, which sweeteneth and mitigateth all other sorrows. The currant of the Scriptures is plentiful to prove this point, Psal. 42.11. In the multitude of the sorrows that were in my heart (saith David) thy comforts (Lord) have refreshed my soul. Showing that as the world had a multitude of sorrows to assault David, so God had a multitude of comforts to refresh his heart. As our sufferings abound, so consolations abound, 2 Cor. 1.5. Elias for a time mourned and was persecuted, but at the last (besides the comforts 1 Reg. 19.6.7.18.) there came a chariot which freed him from jezabels' rage, 2 Reg. 2.11. Sperandum quod qui in vita mortes & infernos tulerint, in morte mitius h●bituros. Luther Tom. 2. pag. 75. The man according to Gods own heart (David of whom before I spoke) had anguish and sorrow, dangers and perils, many and mighty, Psal. 18.4.5. Funes mortis, the cords or bands of death compassed him about; Dolores inferni, the sorrows of hell compassed him: he was environed with the pangs of hell and death, Psal. 116.3. yea and as it is in the 11 ver. of this Psal. 116. he breaketh forth into words little less than of infidelity, accusing holy Samuel the Lord's Prophet of a lie, & that he deceived him in the promised kingdom of Israel. The God of comfort taketh not this his servant David out of this life, when his mind was not in quiet, when he was oppressed with inward and outward sorrow, Mortem iustorum vocat pacem, quoniam à mundi pugna liberati, coelestem panem cosequuntur. Hector Pintus in Isay 57.2. but gives him a comfortable deliverance, Psal. 116.6. O the infinite goodness of a gracious God Hitherto of the time, now of the place. And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba, the same is Hebron the land of Canaan.] Sarahs' days & years before were numbered, and found to be full of labour and sorrow: And now at Hebron those days of misery have an end: now she is at rest from her manifold troubles, Apoc. 14.13. now peace is come, and she resteth in the bed of peace, Isay 57.2. o praeclarum diem, o blessed and happy hour. Horat. lib. 2. Car. ad Lycinium Ode. 10. Our Latin Pindarus could say, Non si malè nunc & olim sic erit, It is a strange storm that lasteth ever: Nocte pluit tota redeunt spectacula manè, which I english by a better Poet, Psal. 30.5. Weep may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Many are the troubles of the Righteous, Psal. 34.50. These words, Many troubles, are able to amaze many a man; but what followeth? The Lord delivereth out of all, This is able to comfort and raise up any man. In the Gospel of Saint john we have the promise of our Saviour, john 16.20. Verily, verily I say unto you: Christi iuramentum, Christianorum sit fundamentum, saith Augustine, Christ's oath and strong asseveration, may be to christians the stay and staff of consolation. And what is Christ's asseveration? Ye shall weep and lament, and the world shall rejoice, and ye shall sorrow, but your sorrow shall be turned to joy, Gen. 8.4. Long was righteous Noah tossed with a tempest, but at the last, he and his Ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat: from whence the sweet Singer of Israel took the original of the Bible's brief, a sentence full of consolation, Psal. 55.22. Cast thy burden upon the LORD and he shall nourish thee: Non dabit in aeternum fluctuationem iusto, The just shall not always be floating, There is never a Go my people into Egypt, but there is, Come again my people out of Egypt. There is no leading of them into captivity, but there is a bringing back out of captivity. There is not Enter Noah into the Ark, but there is, Come forth again Noah out of the Ark. Non dabit in aeternum fluctuationem iusto. At Hebron the days of misery have an end. And to take a survey of this Hebron. This City had three names: At the first it was called Mamree of the name of the first founder and builder of it, Gen. 13.18. Afterwards it was called Kiriath-arba, of one Arba a great man among the Anakims, who repaired the same, Iosh. 14.14. and 15.14. Lastly it was called Hebron of the nephew of faithful Caleb, 1 Chro. 2.4.2. It is most certain that at this time it was the Metropolitan and Lady City of the whole land, having under it many other Cities, Iosh. 10.37. As it is said of Zion, Psal. 87.3. So it may in some sort be said of Hebron, glorious things are spoken of it. First, Antiquity, Num. 13.23. it was an ancient City, seven years ancienter than Zoan in Egypt. Secondly, it was a Princely City, even a mansion for a King, Io. 10.3. Thirdly, it was for Calebs' worthy service given to him for an inheritance, Iosh. 14.14. Fourthly, it was appointed for one of the Cities of refuge, and given for the Levites to dwell in, Iosh. 20.7. Iosh. 21.11.12. Fiftly, in it David first reigned over God's people, 2 Sam. 2.1.11. Sixtly, to this came the blessed Virgin the mother of our Lord jesus Christ to visit Elizabeth, Luke 1.39. Lastly, it became a place of burial for many worthy persons, 2 Sam. 4.12. Here was buried Abraham and his Sarah, Gen. 23.2. Isaac and his Rebecca, jacob and his Leah, Gen. 49.31. The first letters of the principal of all their names, who were buried in one grave, are contained in that one name of Israel. And in this place some affirm was buried great Adam the first Father of us all. Hierom The observation which I collect is, that sin and sinners stain, pollute and defile all things, Gen. 6.7. Rom. 8.20. yea maketh each place where they come a hell, Fulk. in locum. Apoc. 2.13. Ibi thronus Satanae, ubi pietas profligata, impietas verò summa regnat; There is a hell, where grace and goodness is showed out, and where sin and iniquity beareth the sway. So on the other side, wheresoever grace and goodness is, wheresoever a good man treadeth he giveth a dignity and a kind of sanctity unto it, he imprinteth on it and into it a kind of eminency, and investeth it with firm and constant stability. To go no further than my Text, Kiriath-arba is made excellent by Abraham and Sarah, and from their time is made a sanctuary and refuge, and a seat for a godly king to sit upon. What hath the spirit of God observed concerning the death of this worthy personage? Here is never a word of the disease whereof she died: not a word of the last words which she spoke, which questionless were comfortable, holy, and heavenly. But the holy Ghost windeth up all in three or four words, Mortua est in Hebron, leaving the rest to our further consideration. These words, Mortua est, she died in Hebron wisheth us to meditate upon the precedent history: It is well known to all such as are conversant and exercised in the holy Story, the blessed Bible and book of God; that the mother of the faithful, Sarah bore her son Isaac at Beersheba, thirty seven years before her death, Gen. 17.17. compared with Gen. 21.2. As also that at Beersheba, Abimelech made a league with Abraham, the tenure whereof was: That the one should not hurt the other, Gen. 21.23. Hereupon Abraham supposing he should set up his staff, rest for ever, and lay his bones, did there plant a grove, Gen. 21.33.4. And when the Lord by especial commandment sent him to mount Moriah to offer his son, for trial of his faith and obedience, Gen. 22.2. he returned back to Beersheba, and there dwelled, Gen. 22.19. Yet for all this, Sarah dyeth not there, but dyeth at Hebron, certain miles distant from it. It is very probable that after the death of Abimelech that good and moderate King, the inhabitants broke the league before made, & troubled Abraham, in so much that now in his old age, when more than one foot was in the grave, this godly aged gray-headed man, with his aged wife, are constrained to seek a new seat: Luthar. and in this their removal religious Sarah dyeth. Dyeth, I say, Paulus ab Eitzen lib. 1. pag. 6●1 in absence of her yoke-fellow Abraham, and happily without the presence of her son and other acquaintance: dyeth in a strange place, and among strangers. Chr. Tom. 1. Hom. 66. in Gen. 48. Ne dicat quis miserum in alieno solo vitam finientem, neque cum qui insolitudine ex h c vita decedit. Neque enin ille dignus ut miser dicatur, sed qui in peccatis mortuus est, etiam super lectum, etiam si praesentibus amicis omnibus spiritum exbalet. Et ne mihi frigida illa verba, dicat aliquis, Quod ille cane vilius est mortuus, nullo famil arium praesente, neque sepulturae & funus ei contigerunt, etc. Preciosa mors Sanctorum, Psal. 116.15. mors peccatorum pessima, Psal 34 21. Atque etiam sidmi suae moriatur & muliere & filiis praesentibus. etc. The profitable uses we are to make, are: First, if the like happen to any other, that the Lord vouchsafe them not to die in their own country, or among their own nearest and dearest friends, wanting them to close up their dying eyes, and perform the duties and offices of love, let it not be imputed as any sign of God's heavy and fearful wrath, for though friends be absent, yet the best friends, God and his Christ, to the faithful are ever present: And when all forsake, yet they never forsake, Psal. 27.10. and heaven is no more remote from one place then from another. Again the consideration of that which hath been delivered, may be unto all a continual memorial of sin: It thrust Adam our first parent out of Paradise, and made him a pilgrim, and hath made us all liable unto wavering and wand'ring. That the cause of affliction is sin original and actual, Psal. 51.5.14. occasioned and increased by means of the world, the devil and the flesh, Ephes. 2.2.3. appeareth not only by many places of the Scripture a levit: 26 14.15.16. Deut: 28.58.59. Psal: 32 1.2.39.11: 1 Cor. 11.30. : But by many examples, as of Adam b Gen. 3.14 ad 20. , of joab c 2 Sam 3.28.29. , of David d 2 Sam. 24.15: , of Miriam e Num: 12 10: , of Gehezi f 2 Reg: 5 27: , of Iehoram g 2 Chron: 21, 12: 14: 15. , of Assa h 2 Chron. 16: 12: , of the man sick of the palfie i Math: 9.2. , as also of him that was sick thirty eight years lying at the pool Bethesda, john 5.2.5.14. and many others. Moreover, the consideration of the premises may serve fitly to stir up in us all a longing desire of heaven, where all joy is, even riches of pleasure for evermore, Psal. 36.8.9. seeing here we have no happiness, no rest, no quietness. Here is only the valley of tears and weeping, elsewhere we must look for the happy place of rejoicing, where there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, neither crying, neither shall there be any more pain, Apoc. 21.4. The same is Hebron in the Land of Canaan.] Where is Hebron situated? Not in Egypt, but in Canaan. Now Canaan is a type and shadow of the Kingdom of heaven, which Abraham and his Sarah longed and looked to enjoy, Heb. 11.9.10. Moreover at Salem a City of Canaan, Melchisedek the Priest of the most high God, blessed Abraham, reigned and ruled, Gen. 14.18.19. This Melchisedek was a figure of Christ the true King of peace, Heb. 7.2. Though Sarah died out of the sight of her Abraham, yet she died in the sight, favour and grace of her good God; and in the Land of peace, under the protection of the Lord jesus Christ the Prince of peace; who lived at Salem, preached at Salem, and died at Salem. So therefore this worthy and blessed Lady died there, and was buried there, where she might rest not far from the promised Seed, and might rise again with the promised Seed, Math. 27.53. But left (my beloved) the stream of discourse carry me beyond the compass of the time, and I should tyre out both my weak spirits, sickly diseased body, and your christian patience, I will come briefly to some short application concerning this present doleful occasion, and sigh out, rather than speak out some few words: esteeming myself in some sort happy, the case thus standing, that I have the opportunity to show Officia postremi muneris as Augustine speaketh de Verbis Apost. But as I wish all honour bounded within sobriety, to my honourable Lord and his house, and so likewise to the name and blessed memory of my most honoured Lady and mistress, who was no small glory to that house: So from my heart I wish, that in the performance of this last duty, she might have been honoured with the pains of some grave godly Augustine, some powerful preaching Ambrose, or some golden tongued chrysostom, that as she was honourable and honoured in her life, she might have had an honourable person to have honoured her death. O that it had been the pleasure of the Almighty, that time and place might so have fitted, that the worthy Servant of God, The B. of London. who visited her in her sickness, might also have performed this last office of love for her. The Lord grant unto him and his, mercy at the great & last day: Remember him, O my God, & wipe not out his kindness that he hath showed on the house of God, & to this Honourable Lady the servant of God. As it was said of Othniel a good judge in Israel, judg. 3.11. That he died, because (saith the gloss) Indignus erat populus habere talem principem, Such a sinful and unthankful people were unworthy to have so worthy a prince. So may I truly say, we have lost a worthy peer, Heb. 11.38. Dorothy. the world was unworthy of her: her nature was answerable to her name, given by God as a great gift unto the world; (it is no small blessing to be both honourable and holy, to be great and good) Taken away she is for a great punishment especially of her servants, Isay 57.1. who survive her in this world. Such was her conversation in this slippery and unwoman-like age, wherein many fall and most do slide, that I am of clear opinion, that malice itself must needs acknowledge her to be no less than an earthly angel, and a Phoenix of this world. Thousand thousands better know it then I am able to tell it: They are either blind and cannot see, or too far transported with malice and will not see the many noble virtues of this noble Lady. She was pulchra, prudens, pudica, pia: she was of comely personage, of discreet and wise carriage, she was loyal to her Lord's bed, and loving to his friends: And for her piety, I know most certainly, that she had more holiness inwardly, than she ever shown outwardly: her diet was moderate, her apparel modest and only needful for her estate, comely it was rather then costly: all ye of that sex read Tit. 2.3.4.5. and when ye have read it once, let me entreat you to read it over again, there you shall see what virtues the Apostle requireth at your hands, and if you desire to have an example to illustrate the Apostles doctrine, come hither and behold them here entombed: And in no one thing did she more excel herself then in the religious and virtuous education of her noble children, seasoning them to the great good I hope of this kingdom in the flower of their years, with heavenly Religion. O daughters of Israel weep: Ambros: Tom. 3. pag 17. de obitu fratris Satyri. Itaque licet privatum funus, tamen fletus sit publicus, Though for good cause the funeral & solemnity of her burial was private and upon the night; Lachrimae pietatis indices, non illices sunt doloris Amb. Tom. 3. pag 18 de obitu fratris Satyri. yet let your mourning be public and continue day and night. The Marble weepeth against a storm, a strange storm is now lately fallen: ye have lost the glory of your sex; to speak in a word, a virtuous Lady, whose price was far above pearls, Her honourable Lord following most Christianly the good rule of that golden Trumpeter, Chrys. in joh. 19 did Tob. 14: 10: honestly, seemly and nobly, perform officium humanitatis, charitatis & dilectionis, giving a good precedent to others to show mercy to the dead, as also to the living Chrys Tom. 3. Hom. 84. in joh: 19: pag. 137 a peaceable woman & of a good heart, Eccles. 26.14. one in whose tongue was clemency, meekness and wholesome talk, Eccles. 36.23 This good gracious Lady, one of the daughters of the faithful, was for all the world like Sarah the mother of the faithful: For from the beginning of her life, to the end of her life subject to the cross. I may well and truly say, Ipsius animam pertransivit gladius: Many a sharp sword of sorrow pierced through her heart and soul. Now at her end without the comfortable presence of her honourable Lord, without the comfortable presence of her Isaac, her son of joy and comfort, whom the great God of heaven make heir of all his parents virtues and graces, and (if it be his blessed will) turn from him all their miseries and calamities, and make his name more famous than ever theirs was. But will some say, thus to be crossed is to be cursed: Cursed, a heavy word, and so to affirm were to condemn the generation of the just, Psal. 73.15. Yea and the Lord jesus Christ the Saviour of the Just, Isay 53. For further answer hereunto, and for the rectifying of men's unsettled judgements, I entreat you observe, that there are two things which do not a little trouble very often not only the weak, but even the best in God's school, Psal. 73. verses 2. and 13. The one is, Crucis duritia, the godlies great misery: the other is, Impiorum laetitia, the wickeds seeming excessive felicity. For the first, Crucis duritia. The estate of the godly, is usually harder than other men's. If any look for chaste joseph where shall he find him but in a prison? If for upright and just job, Gen. 39.20. job 2: 8. with a potsherd upon the dunghill? For godly Lazarus, Luke 16.20. at the Rich-man's gate full of sores? For the mother of the faithful, tossed from post to pillar, wand'ring up and down. Yea, in a word, it is the portion of the godly, Rom. 8.36. Aestimati sumus tanquam oves occisionis, We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. For the other, Impiorum laetitia. If misery were equally the portion of every man, than each might say, Et mea cum multis iuncta querela est: My comfort is, though it be but a poor comfort, my hap is no harder than other men's. But the wicked are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men, Psal. 73.5. Baal's priests, and the priests of the grove are full fed: they eat at jezabels' table, 1 Kings 18.19. when as good godly Eliah the Prophet is glad to get his bread by begging, 1 Kin. 17.11. Surgunt procellae stagni huius, saith St Augustine; The storms of this world arise. Vides malos florere, bonos laborare; Thou seest the wicked live in jollity and prosperity, the godly drooping under penury & poverty: Poor innocent Isaac led to the slaughter, while scoffing Ishmael sits at home: Good godly jacob set to tend and keep sheep, whiles my Lord Esau rides on hunting. Tentatio est, fluctus est; A sore trial, a billow able to beat a man's breath out of his body. Aug: in Psal. 25. pag. 39 Et dicit anima tua, O Deus, Deus, haeccine est iustitia tua, ut mali floreant, boni laborent? And doth thy soul with sobs and sighs say; Is this, O good God, thy just and indifferent carriage of business? That bloody Cain and his sinful race should take the Timbrel and the merry Harp, solace and rejoice themselves in the sound of the Organs, Genes. 4.21. when if we look for Daniel, we shall find him in the Lion's den: for jeremiah in the dungeon: for Isaiah tortured upon the rack: for the Apostles of Christ in a common loathsome Goal: Acts 5.17. for the mother of the faithful, living in a strange land, and dying in a strange land? Dicis Deo, Haeccine est iustitia tua? Et Deus tibi respondet, Haeccine est fides tua? Haeccine tibi promisi, aut ad hoc Christianus factus es, ut in seculo floreres? Sayest thou to God, Is this thy justice and righteousness? And God saith again to thee, Is this O man thy faith & confidence? Was there ever any such stipulation or promise, which passed betwixt thee and me at the time when thou tookest that glorious name of Christian upon thee, that all should outwardly go well. Prosper Epigran pag 209. Nunquam bella bonis, nunquam discrimina desunt, Et cum quo certet mens pia semper habet. Quae carnem oblectant, sancto sunt noxia cordi: Contra animi legem praelia corpus habet. Pulsant exterius diversis motibus hosts: Intus ciuile est, & sociale malum. We must not in this world look that our flesh shall have rest, but we must look to be troubled on every side, Fightings without and terrors within, 2 Cor. 7.5. Since the fall of Adam no man passeth to Paradise, but by the burning Seraphins, Gen. 3.24. No man to the land of Canaan, but by the bitter waters of Marah, Exod. 15.23. No man to jerusalem but by mount calvary and the valley of weeping. The tenure whereby we hold heaven is the Cross, Mat. 16.24. and 10.38. That was the Indenture betwixt Christ and his Father, that he should not enter into heaven, but that he must first suffer, Luke 24.26. O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken; Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And it is the indenture betwixt Christ and us, 2 Tim. 3.12. Whosoever will live godly in Christ jesus, must suffer afflictions. The mouth that cannot lie, that faithful and true witness, Apoc. 3.14. saith, If any will follow me, tollat crucem suam, let him take up his cross, ego meam, ille suam, I have taken up mine, and he must take up his, Luc. 9.23. A Christian must be a daily Crosse-bearer: For, Aug: Tom. 6. de Pastoribus. exceptus à passione flagellorum, exceptus à numero filiorum; This is good Catholic doctrine, Heb. 12.6. The Lord scourgeth every son that he receiveth. It is a shrewd sign that he shall never receive the crown, who did not first taste of the cross. Heb. 12.8. In the Book of job there is made this inquision, job. 28.12.13. Sapientia verò ubi invenitur? Et quit est locus intelligentiae? the answer is, Non invenitur in terra suaviter viventium, as the vulgar latin readeth: So may I say concerning Piety, the fear of God, grace and goodness, where are they to be found? Non in terra suaviter viventium, Not in the Land which liveth in pleasure, jam. 5.5. If you find a land of good fellows, if you seek for grace and goodness, you must seek some where else, for you shall not find them there. But to return unto this worthy Lady, though she were afflicta, yet was she not derelicta, Psal. 37.26. She had her many comforts, Olive plants about her table, Psal: 128.3. not one but many dutiful children, children tractable to piety and goodness, children free from the common stain of this sinful age. Moreover she died in good time for herself, though too soon for me and many more: Sibi maturè, aut mihi citò. she came to the grave in a good age: to the grave often before wished, often before desired, Phil. 1.23. Often have I heard her utter the effect of these following verses: Vita diu mihi poena fuit, me nulla voluptas Incitat, ut cupiam longius esse super. Mors melior vita, certa mihi ment videtur, Quae ridimit cunctis pectora fessa malis. But my spirits fail, my passions will not suffer me speak, the fountain is full, therefore well may it overflow: we therefore that do remain have this for our comfort, and it is no small comfort, that she lived and died in a Land, where under a gracious Prince of peace the word of life is published: and in this vale of misery she took up Christ's cross, she passed the burning Seraphins, therefore hath she entered into Paradise * Habent omnes animae cum de seculo exierint diversas receptiones suas, habent gaudium boni, & mali tormenta. Aug. in Ioh: 11. Tract. 49. pag. 442. : she did drink many a deep draught of the bitter waters of Marah, therefore she hath set foot into the Land of promise the true Canaan: she hath climbed up mount Caluarie, and waded many a wet footstep through the valley of weeping, therefore she is ascended mount Zion, and come to the City of the living God, the Celestial Jerusalem, and to the company of innumerable Angels, and to the Assembly and Congregation of the first borne, and to God the judge of all, and to the Spirits of just and perfect men, Heb. 12.22. where with Christ jesus she liveth for evermore a Fideles etiam defuncti, membra Christi sunt: quamvis ergo cum suis corporibus nondum sunt, iam tamen eorum animae regnant cum illo: Aug. . But I must leave thee, Noble Lady: thy body to rest in thy grave of peace until the great Resurrection, when you shall receive full blessedness b Quum verò ab hoc somno evigilabunt, simul omnes quod promissum est, accepturi sunt. Promissa enim est fidelibus resurrectio carnis, mortis consumptio, vita aeterna cum Angelis: Aug. Tom: 9 Tract: 49. in Euang. joh. pag. 442. , and thy Soul to be with the God of peace, and with the blessed Angels, and all the congregation of the first borne, where you sing the song of Moses, a song of victory and thanksgiving, Reu. 15.3. And as for you my Christian auditory, take this by the way, and think upon it, This place and this Country is, Terra suaviter viventium, a Land that liveth too much in pleasure, too much given to the common sin of this age, Hor epist. lib. 1. ad Albium Tibullum. that is, too many are, Epicuri de grege porci: to english it in the Apostles phrase, 1 Cor. 15.32. Beasts of Ephesus given to eating and drinking c To remedy this great evil which hath been the ruin of many of his Majesty's Subjects, the wasting of their goods, and loss of their lives in these parts: I wish the worshipful justices would be pleased to give ear to these my requests: First, That no Alehouse be suffered upon the edge of Commons, and in obscure places, where Rogues, and Thiefs may resort. Secondly, not to licence any in a village, when the Minister thereof and all the whole Parish shall think it unfit. Thirdly, not to licence any, who hath justly stood for misdemeanours excommunicated a year or two. Fourthly, when the abuse shall grow so great, that poor women out of the anguish of their souls shall crave aid, that their husbands may not spend all at the pot, and they statue, that then there be made some redress. Lastly, that painful Preachers or other Officers may be heard, and not checked, when they justly complain at your Benches against such places as suffer drinking, carding and fight upon the Sabbath days in the time of Divine Service. If these requests be just and good, I request you hearken unto them. . Consider that here lieth a Saint, therefore be not so gross sinners: Here God hath erected the standard of his Word to his people, Isay 49.22. His banner is displayed, and whosoever are guided hereby, to them appertain peace and mercy, Galath. 6.16. Here the great Trump is blown, Isay 27.13. O foelicem populum qui agnoscit clangorem, Psalm. 89.15. O blessed is the people that know the joyful sound, giving ear unto this voice, for they, O Lord, shall walk in the light of thy countenance, job. 14.23. And (I pray you) is not this his word or voice, Luke 21.34. Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be oppressed with surfeiting and drunkenness. But at this time I will press this point no more, here I will abruptly end, and that portion of Scripture, which was lately my text for a Sermon, I will make now the conclusion of this my Sermon. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord jesus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen. FINIS.