Imprimatur.  
Guil. Pearson, R more. in Christo Patri ac D no. D no. Johanni Archiepisc. Ebor. à Sacris. Dom.  
Martij, 11 mo. 166●.   

A SERMON Preached upon the occasion OF THE Queen's Death, On the 4th. Sunday in Lent; Being the 3d. of March, 1694/5.  
By W. PERSEUS, M. A. Minister of Malton, and Chaplain to the Right Honourable Lewis Earl of Feversham.  Dulce est Mori cum Plorant Sui. Sen: Trag: 
YORK, Printed by J. White, for Robert Clarke, at the Sign of the Crown at the Minster-Gate, 1695.   

To the Honourable the Lady Palms.  
Madam,  
WHEN I was once persuaded to make the ensuing Discourse Public; I did not in the Least doubt with myself to whom I ought to present it. The Place where it was delivered, (as being part of your ancient Paternal Inheritance for which you have done so much and for which you are still doing more good) the many great Favours I have received from your Ladyship, Since my Lot fell in this Soil; And the Subject matter of it, Seem naturally to direct me at what Shrine to Offer it.  
The great Esteem you ever had for that miracle of Virtue and Goodness, our late most Gracious Princess Queen Mary, (now of happy, and glorious Memory,) the tender concern you expressed for her, during her dangerous, and too fat all Sickness, (according to the account you were pleased to give us here in the Country) make me hope that the Offering though but Small, yet as being well intended, will in some measure atone for my Presumption in placing your Honour's Name before it.  
Besides: your great, and Singular Goodness, and Piety; Your extensive Charity, eminently Shown, not only towards those of your own Town and Neighbour hood, for whom you and your truly worthy Husband have set up a Linen Manufacture at your great Charge to employ the many Poor among us, and to afford them a Competent Subsistence; But also your Signal Bounty, and Liberality towards those distressed Protestants who left their Country, Relations, and all that they had for Christ's and his Gospels' sake (in both which Remarkable Instances, you did follow the noble, and truly Christian Example of our late Gracious, and never Sufficiently to be Lamented Princess) Challenge this Dedication as your sole Right from me who am so much indebted to your goodness, and Kindness, ever Since I had the Honour to be known unto you; which I shall ever gratefully acknowledge, and take this Opportunity, (as being the only Public one I may ever have) to testify the same to the World, But shall ever in Private Pray for the Happiness, Welfare, and Prosperity of your Ladyship, and most worthy, and truly honourable Family both in this world, and that which is to come; as is the Duty of.  
Madam Your most Humble, and Obedient Servant, William Perseus.   

A SERMON Preached on the 3d. of March, and the 4th. Sunday in Lent; With Relation to the Queen's Death.  St. Matthew 26th. C. 13, V. 
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole World, there shall also this, that this Woman hath done, be told for a Memorial of her.  
I Have made choice of this remarkable passage of Scripture at this time, upon a twofold Occasion, to both which it seems to be most fitly, and properly suited: So that if the time be a circumstance, which like an Embroidered Border, sets off the richness of a Garment; and if a Word spoken in season, and duly applied, be as the Wiseman tells us it is, as comely and Ornamental as Apples of Gold enclosed in Pictures of Silver, than these few words of our Blessed Saviour, who spoke as never Man spoke, will receive all the advantage that a due timeing and a Seasonable opportunity can give them.  
The happy action to which our Saviour refers; and of which he gives so large, and so lasting a Commendation; had an immediate relation to his own Death and Burial, which were shortly after to ensue: As he himself explains it in the Verse foregoing my Text; For in that she hath poured this Ointment upon my head, she did it for my Burial. We are now well entered into the days of Mourning, and humiliation for our Sins, Our treacherous Sins, that occasioned our Blessed Lords approaching Passion; which caused those Bitter pains, and dreadful excruciations both of Body, and mind which he underwent for them: And therefore ought at this time more than ordinarily to be lamented, and sorrowed for by us; as being those Traitors which delivered him over to the merciless Executioners; and which nay led him to the Cross: And which will without a true Repentance and hearty sorrow for them, deprive us of all the benefits of those exquisite, and all meritorious Sufferings that he underwent for us Men, and our Salvation: And what can be more agreeable and seasonable to prepare our hearts for the better, and more exact celebration of those devoute Exercises of Religion, which the approaching Solemnity, of our great Passeover requires of us; then in the insisting on some of the particulars of mary's most worthy and significant Action which our Saviour here so honourably commemorates, and which he hath applied to this very purpose; telling us withal that the sound of it should go forth into all Lands where his Name should be known, and his Gospel published through the whole World.  
This is the First, and greatest Reason of my pitching on this Subject; but I cannot say as our Saviour does in answer to the Lawyer's question; Which is the great Commandment? That the Second is like unto it: Though there is great reason for that also: For the wise man hath told us that the Memory of the just shall be blessed: And his Royal Father David hath assured us, that the actions of the Righteous shall be had in everlasting Remembrance. Therefore when I shall have shown you how proper a preparation that Action of mary was for our blessed Saviour's Burial, and exhorted all those who design to solemnize his Death and Passion in that holy Sacrament, which he Instituted as a perpetual memorial of it, to imitate this blessed Saint and Convert in that signal Act of Love, Charity, and Gratitude which she performed to her Saviour in poureing that precious Ointment upon his Head. I shall then crave your Patience, to present a small freewill Offering of the sweetest Oil I can pour out of my shallow and narrow Cruse, mixed with a few grains of Frankincense for a memorial of another Mary, our late most gracious Queen, now of Glorious, and happy memory; whose Works shall ever praise her in the Gates, and whose remembrance shall be like the Perfume made by the Art of the Apothecary; and as sweet, and Fragrant to all that wish well to the Reformed Religion in general, and to the Church of England, the most refined part of it, and to the happiness, and Prosperity of these Kingdoms; as that precious Ointment, which this Blessed Woman in my Text so liberally poured on our Saviour, to anoint him aforehand (as I do now his Glorious servant this day) to his Burial.  
But First, I am to present you with this remarkable Action, of which our Saviour takes so much notice; which though full of Time, and which hath seen the end and Flight of many Ages, doth itself never grow Old: This action so long since performed, might with many others, which perhaps appeared more glorious and conspicuous in the Eyes of Men have been by this time darkly Buried in the Tomb of Oblivion; but that he in whose hand Time and Eternity is grasped, hath promised that it shall ever Grow, and Flourish,— Occulto velut Arbor aevo, spreading its branches far and wide over the Face of the whole Earth; defying all the furious blasts and Tempests that the envy and malice of the Prince of the Air can raise to overthrow it: For he in whose power, and at whose command all Created Being's are, hath Circumscribed the memorial of it, with no other Limits than the Compass, and Duration of the whole World: Pliny justy esteems them happy who writ things worthy to be read; but prefers them in the degree of felicity who acted things worthy to Be written: In what blessed Estate then must they be who have done such things which the holy Spirit hath thought fit to commend to Posterity, and to register in the never perishing Volumes of God's word, and which shall be read, preached, and published through all the Nations, Quarters and Corners of the Earth: of which Sort our Saviour assures us this is one: Verily I say unto you Wheresoever this Gospel, shall be preached, there shall also this that this Woman hath done be told for a Memorial of her.  
Which words contain our Saviour's defence, and commendation of an Action which to some of the Disciples seemed worthy of a sharp and reproachful Censure. Wherein we may observe these 3 parts.  
1. The Glory and Excellency of the Action: It was thought so worthy, and deserving by our Saviour as not fit to be smothered and buried in Oblivion, but to be told and spread abroad.  
2. The end of the Publication; for a Memorial of her: to encourage others to follow her good example, Praise: Credit, and Reputation are great incitements, and Invitations to the promoteing of virtuous Actions in the World.  
3. The Extent of this glorious Publication. Where ever the Gospel should be Preached in the whole World. No good Action whatsoever, shall go unregarded or unrewarded: But such Eminent acts of Piety, Love, and Gratitude, such as this was, shall have an especial Mark, and Star of honour affixed to them: They are Cedro linends; they are to be anointed with the Oil of Cedar, to preserve them from corruption; Things worthy of Immortality; to be had in everlasting Remembrance,  
What this Excellent Action was of which our Saviour gives this great Elegy, we find Verse the 7th. of this Chapter. There came unto him a Woman having an Alabaster Box of precious Ointment, and poured it upon his head as he sat at meat  
In which we are to consider,  
1 The Quantity which this good woman presented, and bestowed upon Christ. It was an Alabaster Box; which when filled with that Ingredent denoted a stated Measure.  
2 The Quality of the Ointment which she dedicated to Christ's Service, it was precious Ointment; Ointment of Spikenard, pure, and unmixed, a confection of the purest nard; and of the choicest part of it: the Spike, or Top of it: both for the making true, and for the value costly: as we may gather from Herodotus, who tells us that Cambyses King of Persia sent an Alabaster box of Ointment (the very same quantity) as a present to the King of Ethiopia.  
3. We are to consider the two Several ends at which this Action aimed  
1. The end to which Mary designed it; which was to give a noble testimony of her Love, and gratitude to her Lord, and Master, by that honour which she Showed him in pouring that quantity of Precious Ointment upon him at that great Feast.  
2. The ultimate End to which the Divine Providence had ordered it: that is, to be a preparative to our Saviour's Death, and Burial.  
1. For the Quantity: her Present was large, as we may gather from the vessel wherein it was Contained; an Alabaster Box; which denotes a vessel of Such an exact Size, and figure wherein those precious Ointments were preserved: and relates not so much to the matter, as to the form, and, capacity of it: For Theocritus makes Mention 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: And Epiphanius in his book of measures tells us, that this Alabaster Box of Ointment was a pellucid Vessellof a glassy Substance, (else it could not so easily break) containeing a pound: Which exactly agrees with what St. John mentions, John: 12 c: 3d v. And Mary took a pound of Ointment: A very large proportion, considering the searceness, and the richness of the presume. where the Heart is well affected, there the hand will soon Sympathise: where the heart strings are dilated, the fibres of the hand will not be contracted. Love sooner and more infallibly than Night shade, makes all Locks and Barrs fly open before it: when once that charming Power hath insinuated itself into the Breast; it dissolves the before stony and unrelenting heart, and in largesse the before narrow thoughts and dispositions of the Soul; it thaws the joy, and cold Temper that was predominant; and makes the waters which were sluggish, bound, and without motion to overflow those shallow banks wherein they were formerly confined: If we love Christ as this blessed Convert did, we shall be ready to imitate her generous Example; and be liberal in the expressions of our kindness to him, and his poor Members: she had received largely at the hand of God, and she returns according to her ability, plentifully: as Christ had shown the greatness of his Love to her in forgiving: so she endeavoured to express the largeness of hers in giving: and as she had much forgiven, so she showed by her Present, that she loved much: She gave not by drops, but showered it down in streams: And as she had received the unction of the holy one, mentioned in the 1. Epistle of John 2. c. 20. v. in a plentiful Measure from him who had it without Measure, so she returned of the Ointment which she had at her great cost procured, very liberally; and having received freely of spirituals; she was no niggard of her temporals. 'Tis to no purpose to give sparingly, when we may afford through God's blessing to scatter and pour forth largely: for the Charitable Man gains by what he parts with; whilst the Covetous wretch whom God abhorreth loses even what he seems to keep.  
2. As what this devout Mary presented unto Christ was large for the quantity, so was it most excellent, and precious for the Quality. She would not as David told Araunah, Offer unto God of that which cost her nought; it was Precious Ointment. The same Quantity as I told you was a present for a King. And To was he to whom this grateful acknowledgement was made: No less than the King of the whole Earth: And though he stand in need of none of our Services, seeing the earth is his and the fullness thereof, yet he kindly receives, and graciously accepts what we offer with a willing and cheerful heart, even for our sakes; that he may be provoked to scatter his blessings more profusely and abundantly upon us: And therefore looks upon his Divine Majesty to be affronted when we show the smallness of our respect by the meanness of our Oblation; either pinching him in the Measure; or which is worse, giving him of that which is vile and of no estimation, for the Nature and Quality of it.  
Indeed a Mite is accepted; but it is where the will is large and the ability small: And this good Woman received our Saviour's Praise and commendation for this Act, because he expresses it in the 4th. of Mark 8th. v. she did what she could: As she was very rich, and wealthy for her substance, so she showed the Munificence of her spirit by the Price and value of her donation. From whence we may observe: that God accepts us according to what we have, and not according to what we have not: If we have but a Mite, he does not look for a farthing: And if we have ten thousand Rivers of Oil, he does not expect to be put off with a cup of cold Water. Tho he is pleased rather to abate then to exact the whole of us, takeing short of what he might justly require of us: Otherwise were he exact to mark either what we omit, or wherein we have done amiss, who might be able to stand before him; but still our Obedience must bear some Proportion to our knowledge, our Power, and our opportunities of yielding it; when we do what we can, than we do in God's sight what we ought; when we do what he by his Grace inables us to perform; we need not question but those Testimonies of our Obedience shall be graciously received, as this happy Action of Mary magdalen's was, when she poured a Pound of precious Ointment on our Saviour's Head: for as she was not niggardly as to the quantity, so was she not negligent as to the quality: She would serve God of the best. Abel's Offering was accepted, because he took of the choicest of his Flock, and of the sat of it; and cain's rejected, because he brought of the fruits of the ground which first came to hand, without picking or culling: And it is to be observed, that in all the Commands that God gave concerning Sacrifices or Oblations, he always ordered the best, and the choicest to be presented for his Service; nothing that was common, or defective was to appear in his presence; nothing that had any spot or blemish was to fall before his Altar: God in some Cases abated of the Measure and quantity; if the Offender were not able to bring a Lamb for a sin Offering, God would accept of two young Turtles, or two young Pigeons; but we never read that he dispensed with the quality of any Sacrifice: that he either received the halt or the blind.  
But alas! How little do we follow these Precepts and Commands of God? How little do we follow this good Woman's Example, in giving the best of our store to his use and Service? No, rather on the contrary, we are apt not only to pinch him in the Measure, which few scruple at; but to show our disrespect to him likewise by setting apart that which is most vile and contemptible for the sacred Portion: But above all how careless and remiss are we in offering up the calves of our lips; in the dedication of the Sacrifice of our Prayer unto God, there be but too many who in this sense offer unto God, of that which costs them nothing; no, not the least thought, or consideration: They pour forth it may be whole torrents and streams of words, but without a drop of sense or meaning; of Zeal or Devotion. But surely we cannot be of their minds who think that the bare performance of the Duty, without ever minding of the manner after which it is performed will serve the turn; who think they have sufficiently answered the end, when they have mumbled over so many Pater Nosters and have Maries, and gone over such a set of Prayers, or traveled so many miles bore footed to visit the Shrine of a Saint, or to kiss some holy Relic: But we have not learned so to serve God; this is to worship him by Rote, without either will, affection or understanding: No! As those Sacrifices were best accepted which were wholly consumed by fire from Heaven of which we have some Instances in Scripture; so we may assure ourselves, that no Sacrifice of Prayer, or thanksgiving will find any acceptance at the hand of God which is not first kindled by a Heavenly Zeal, and then ascends by virtue of that holy Flame to him who presents it in the golden Censer of his own Merits to his Almighty Father. Let us be careful in all our addresses unto God, In all our Divine Services to be intent upon what we are about; to be elevated, and raised in our Spirits; and how short soever our Prayers be, let us endeavour they may be fervent and sincere; if we offer up but two young Turcks let them not want their wings. Marry we see was careful in what she presented unto Christ; the scent of it perfumed the whole Room, the Whole house: as St. John tells us, was filled with the Odour of the Ointment: And if the Acts of our Love, and Charity to Christ, and his Members be as unadulterate, and diffusive, as hers was, we shall not fail of the same gracious acceptance that she met with, whilst she went to pay the acknowledgement of her thankful heart to her beloved Lord and Master. Which leads me to the first end for which this Action was designed; that which Mary aimed at in anointing our Saviour at this time with her costly Ointment. viz.  
1. To give an ample Testimony of her Love, and Gratitude, her kindness and respect to her Saviour who had done so great things for her; that was all she aimed at: She dreamed not then either of his Death, or Burial. The greatest honour that could be shown to Guests of the best Rank, and Fashion by the Master of the Feast, was to perfume them with precious Ointment; and that this was customary among the Jews, and Romans, and the Greeks also, I might show you, were it either a matter in question, or worth the dispute: the only thing extraordinary in this, was the Quantity; and the anointing of our Saviour's feet, a thing unusual, even where ease, and Luxury did most abound: And Pliny tells us that Otho did first teach Nero to besmear his feet with precious Ointments: But this, as I shall snow you had a Mysterious signification, which neither she nor any of the company were ware of. O blessed Mary! Sweet was thy Ointment But Sweeter was thy Love: Graceful was thy Action, but more graceful was thy affection: The Scent of the rich Perfume, was quickly gone; but the Sweet Odour, and the fragrant Smell of thy pure, and Sincere Love shall be preserved in the Sacred Records of the Gospel, as long as the world endures; and the memory of that precious Ointment wherewith thou didst anoint thy Saviour's head and feet, shall be more lasting, and incorruptible than the oil of Cedar, the great Preservative against the moth of time;  
2. Though mary's design was only true, and unfeigned Love in this Action, yet as our Saviour intimates the divine Providence had a further reach, and prospect: Viz: That this anointeing which was common both to festivals, and Burials should emblematically presignifye our Lords approaching Death, and Passion: Thus our purposes often times unawares to ourselves, serve God's end and look farther than we direct them. This Custom of anointing the Body for the sunerall, and of strawing it over with rich gums and Spices among the Jews is made plain from the last Offices that were performed by Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea, to the Body of our Saviour after it was taken down from the Cross, and before it was laid in the Sepulchre. At feasts the head was generally anointed, but when the Body was dresst, and prepared for a funeral all parts Shared in the anointeing: And if we look into the nature, and kind of this particular Ointment which this good woman poured upon the Head, and wherewith she anointed the feet of our Saviour we shall find that as it was a very fit present by reason of the richness of the scent and the greatness of the Value, to express her Love, and gratitude, so that likewise it was very proper and correspondent to the end to which Gods providence had allotted it: Viz: To foreshow his Death and Burial.  
The pure confection of Nard was no dry Ointment, but moist, and fluid: Whence Nonnus calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; a dew, or watery Substance, and is reckoned among those precious Ointments, which distil out of Canes or Stalks either of their own accord, or when cut, and bruised by others: hence this was called Spikenard, from the Tops of the Plant from which that Odoriferous Liquor issued, either natural; or which it yielded after it was bruised, and wounded; and in both these respects was proper to represent Christ's death, and Burial. Thus it foreshowd that natural Balm, his precious blood, which was Shortly after to flow in streams from all the hollow Vessels of his body: And as the stalks were sometimes bruised before they yielded that Sovereign Balsam, and as Mary broke the Albaster Vessel before she poured forth the Ointment, so his Body more white, and pure than any Alabaster, was bruised for our Sins; and broken for our transgressions, and from thence did issue forth that noble juice, that precious liquor, which not only by the fragrancy of the Smell, (as being a Sacrifice of a Sweet smelling Savour) makes us acceptable unto God, but also by its healeing balsamic quality cures all our inward wounds, and heals all our sinful distempers.  
Well didst thou O Mary to diffuse thy Ointment over the blessed body of thy Lord and Saviour, the holy jesus, to mollify it against the then approaching time of his bitter, and dismal Agony in the garden; wherein he was to sweat blood out of every poor for thy sake: well didst thou to anoint that Sacred Head, the head of the universe, which was shortly to be crowned with thorns: well didst thou to anoint those feet the extremest parts which came nearest to the Earth to which he descended for thy good: those feet which had taken so many Sharp, and painful journeys for the benefit of mankind; well didst thou to anoint, and Supple those feet which were to Support his Body in carrying up the heavy Load of his Cross, made heavier by our sins, up that steep, and craggy hill, Mount Calvary: and which were to drop forth a more generous and Sovereign Juice to heal all our Spiritual Infirmities.  
Alas; O Lord thou didst not need any of these, to the unnecessary Ceremonies, either living, or dead: Thou like the Rose of Sharon and like the Lily of the Valley, (to both which thou art compared) hadst, as being free from all the pollutions and corruptions, of our decayed Nature, an innate sweetness in thee, far surpassing all aromatic perfumes: and as there went a healing virtue out of thy Body, so likewise we may well imagine that an Odoriferous scent must needs Transpire out of that exactly tempered Complexion, and constitution: Neither didst thou need either Spices or Ointment, to preserve thy body when dead, and laid in the Grave; for that, as the Prophet David hath assured us could suffer no Corruption, could admit of no Putrefaction: And yet O blessed Jesus thou wast pleased to permit these usual Offices to be performed to thyself, and kindly to accept of them: To show us that thou dost allow of neatness, and cheerfulness, of the Oil of gladness, and of the Wine of rejoicing; and that we may be thy Disciples without wholly abjureing the use of those Creatures, which thou of thy Almighty wisdom, and Infinite bounty hast provided for the comfort and refreshment of mankind; and to show us likewise that we may, and aught, to take a decent care of our Bodies after their better part their Immortal Companions have left and forsaken them, seeing that which shall credit long be crumbled to dust, shall by thy allquickning spirit return to itsold form, and those two old Friends be reunited never to suffer a second separation. Thus O Lord, both thy Life and thy Death, both thy Burial, and resurrection, and every circumstance thereunto appertaining, teach us some or other good Lesson, and whilst our Meditations are concerning thee, we cannot fail, of wholesome Instructions.  
2. The second General part of the Text is the end of the Publication of mary's good work: it was done for a Memorial of her; where ever virtue and goodness break forth eminently, and exemplarily like the Sun in its noontide strength, there always remains the indelible Character of a happy Remembrance: The commendation of this Woman in my Text is chief excellent in these two respects.  
1. It is such a praise as shall never be in any danger to be lost, it points to futurity; it shall be told in Ages to come: Praise not any saith the wise man before his death; because such commendations are neither safe on his part that commendeth; in that it begetteth a shrewd suspicion of Flattery; nor on his part that is commended; because if he conceive the praise that is spread abroad of him to be true, it is much to be feared that it may puff him up with Pride, and vain Glory, so that the most opportune time to give Virtue her deserved commendations, is when a man can neither be hurt with Flattery, nor infected with Ostentation.  
2. The Praise that is given of her, is a true, and real Praise, settled upon a solid foundation; she is not much extolled for the Ornaments and good qualities belonging to the Body, as Beauty, comeliness, and the like, which she had in great Perfection; all which are common to the bad as well as to the good; but she is magnifyed for the Graces of her Mind, for her virtuous and charitable Works, and is the only Praise that Solomon admitteth in a Woman: Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her Works praise her in the gates; with which he concludes his Proverbs, and I the second General, and proceed to the last, which I can barely mention.  
3. We have here the extent of this manifestation of mary's Praise: It shall reach as far, as the sound of the Gospel shall be heard; and that is from one end of the Earth to the other. And this had I leisure to prosecute it, would yield much matter worthy our consideration; I will give you in a little to understand how much might be said of it.  
1. It teaches us that the praise of the Just is of a certain duration and continuance, in respect of him from whom it proceedeth; for it is not founded upon the Judgement of Man, who often judgeth things to be Praise worthy according to the outward appearance, which oftentimes have no real and intrinsic worth, and value in them. But this is grounded upon the Judgement of God, who neither is, nor can be capable either of Ignorance, or Error I say unto you.  
Judge not saith the Apostle, 1 Ep: to the Cor: 4. c. at the 5th v. before the time; until he come that shall bring to light the things that are done in darkness, and manifest the Counsels of the heart, and then every one shall have Praise of God: 'Tis Christ who gave this Testimony of this Woman, whose word is more firm, and assured then the Poles and Basis of Heaven, and Earth, for Heaven and Earth shall pass away but his word shall not pass away.  
It shows that the Extent is universal: for the Gospel is a Message of glad Tidings that is to be communicated to all People: It is not sent into the World to be concealed, or kept close; not to be muttered in an unknown Tongue: No Man lighteth a Candle to put it under a Bushel; the light of the word is not to be shut up in a dark Lantern; nor is the Gospel given unto Men, that with that unfaithful Servant they should hid it in the Earth; nor is it to be kept in the heart only; Mistake me not; God grant that it may take deep root there, and that the fruits of it may appear in our Lives, and Conversations; my meaning is this: All those to whom God hath been pleased to reveal the Mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, are bound when lawfully called, and Authorised thereunto, to Preach and divulge it unto others, yea a woe is denounced against all such as do it not: Though it may be thought foolishness in some who would be thought to be carnally wise; yet it hath pleased God by such foolishness to make them that believe, truly wise unto Salvation: Let men therefore Reverence the Lord's dispensation, and be glad to accept of Salvation, upon such terms, and by such means as he hath appointed.  
Thus have I at length finished my observations upon the main design of the Text, so far forth as the time allotted for this Exercise would give me leave, and in some measure answered one End in pitching upon it.  
Suffer me now therefore in the second place, which both my Duty and inclination lead me to; to pour a little sweet Oil, and to present a few drops, (not of what is Precious, for such have I none,) but of the best that I have, of that which is true, and sincere; as preparatory to the Solemn Exequys of our most incomparable, and most Virtuous Princess suddenly to be celebrated and performed. Another Marry, our late gracious Queen, whose Memory shall be preserved fresh, and sweet in the lasting Records of Fame, so long as Virtue, Piety, Charity, Meekness, Humility, Wisdom and all that chain of Graces that added lustre to her Royal Quality shall find any respect or Countenance in the World: And truly if ever a larger Tribute of tears then ordinary were due; if ever a more than usual Portion of sorrow were allowable; it is certainly at this time for the great, and never enough to be lamented Loss of that most excellent Priucess, who as she was the Glory of this Age, so shall she be the wonder and Admiration of the next. To say nothing of the infinite, and irreparable Loss sustained by her right Valiant, and truly kind Lord, the sole partner of her Affection, as well as Power; whose mutual endearments were as much above the ordinary level as their Sacred Persons were. To say nothing of the inestimable Damage that the Nation in general feels for want of such a main and strengthening Pillar for the support both of Church and State, we cannot but passionately mourn, and lament the sudden and untimely end of her still blowing, ever growing Virtues; which even in their early Spring yielded such a Sweet, & Fragrant Scent, (like the precious Ointment in my Text that perfumed the whole Room) as comforted, and refreshed all that had the happiness to be near her.  
My intention is not, as an Herald to proclaim her great Quality, the royal stem from which she was descended, nor to set forth the worthiness of that ancient, and Illustrious family of Nassau, the Support of the Protestant Religion, in the Low Countries for the Last Ages; into which she was so happily married: But give me leave, ut Proeco Evangelicus, as an Herald of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to blazon Some few of those many virtuous, and most excellent qualities for which she was, and ever shall be eminent; and which shall always be told for a memorial of her. These are the most fragrant flowers that can be strewne upon her hearse, the richest Spices, the sweetest Gums, the most precious Ointments wherewith her honourable Name can be embalmed.  
Her Exemplary Piety, and Devotion justly challenge the first place; for as that was always paid first by her unto her God, so ought it first to be remembered by us: How frequent, yea how constant was she in her private Addresses to the Throne of Grace: Her Closet, that little Oratory was always filled with the sweet Incense of fervent, and well directed Prayer: There was no ceaseing of that holy Sacrifice from her Altar: She preferred that with-draweing Room before her own Presence Chamber; as that beloved place where she could enjoy a more ravishing delight, and Satisfaction then in all the pompous Ceremonies of her own Splendid, and magnificent Court: where at highest she could converse but with Princes, who though they are called Gods, must, (which alas she herself hath too Soon for us, experimented) die Like men; But in her own retired apartment she could pay her homage to the King of Kings, to her Saviour, to her Redeemer: Here it was that she so often mourned like a disconsolate Turtle the Absence of her dear Consort whilst he was exposeing himself to all the hazards of war, to all perils both at sea and Land for our sakes; Here she put up her constant, and ardent prayers, here she Sent up her most fervent Wishes, for his safety, his success, and his happy Return; And questionless if the Prayers of the faithful are available as to be sure they are; we are not a little beholden to her devout Orisons, which we may be sure were offered up with a Fervent, Zealous Spirit, filled with pure and unfeigned Love, for those many wonderful deliverances of our most Gracious Prince, whose Person, and affairs she so earnestly, and so constantly recommended to the Divine Protection: Neither is it a small loss that the King and the Nation sustain, in the now missing the benefies of those winged Messengers, which she so often sent up to Heaven to implore its assistance for his, and our security and Preservation: But sure if there be any knowledge in Blessed Spirits departed hence, of what is done and transacted here below; (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) if there be any sense remaining of humane Affairs, she does not fail to put up her most fervent wishes for her dear Lords Prosperity, and success in all his hazardous undertake: she does not fail to cast a kind, and Pitying look upon these poor Nations, now deprived of her cheerful presence, whose Interest she did so Zealously espouse: Neither was she less constant at the Public Service of the Church, in her Chapel Royal which she as often as convenient Opportunity would give her leave, graced with her Presence: Never was the true Reformed Religion, and the pious and Learned Ministers of it more countenanced, and encouraged, since our most renowned Queen Elizabeth's time (of whom in many things she was a lively Pattern) then in her days: So that the Church as well as State have lost in her, their great Patroness and protectress.  
Thus did Our Gracious Queen Mary like the Mary in my Text anoint the Head of Christ with her precious Ointment; the Church whereof Christ is Head; neither was she wanting in the other part of that Virtuous Woman's Action; for she like her, anointed our Saviour's feet also: The Poor, the lowest, and extremest of his Members, and which therefore were most subject to cold as being fart distant from the chief Seat of life, felt the warm Inffuence of her diffusive Charity in a Princely manner, and an abundant Measure descending upon them for their nourishment and refreshment: The Poor which she had always with her. The Poor which were her continual care and Charge, tasted liberally of her Royal Bounty: Her Munificent hand, to those who stood in need of her assistance, was like Mary to our Saviour, (and what is done to them he looks upon as done unto himself;) no less than a whole Pound of Precious Ointment: her Charity, and liberality to them was of the largest Size, and dimensions; contained (if it had any bounds) in the biggest Measures, heaped up, pressed down and running over: These are the Innocent Causers of our great, and unspeakable Loss by her so speedy Removal hence: These were the Importunate Beadsmen who have solicited Heaven so earnestly for her; who have prayed her up out of a troublesome World, to Heaven, too soon for us, though not for herself.  
Neither must her unparallelled Clemency, that truly Royal Virtue, for which she was so Eminent, and which so many who so little deserved it experimented, be forgotten; how unconcernedly did this Noble hearted, and undaunted Princess, at a time when her dear Lord was absent, and when all things did not answer our hopes, and expectations (as the Events of War are various) bear the rude Behaviour, and as bad Language of some Insolent, and disaffected Persons, which she passed by with a generous disdain; punishing them most nobly, and Christianly, and withal severely by taking no Notice of them. This is that Heavenly Virtue that shined so bright in this adorable Princess; and was one of the Beauties of her large, and well complexioned Soul; which could forgive almost as much, and as easily as others could offend: This was that Princely Quality which made her not an Angel, but as one of the best of those Gods who have the subordinate Government of the World under their Supreme and Universal Head Nam cum vincamur in omni Munere, Sola Deos aequat Clementia nobis.  
'Tis this Noble Virtue that transforms our Nature, and makes it in some degree like unto him who is tender hearted, compassionate, of great kindness repenting him of the evil.  
I shall not meddle with her Political capacity, as being beyond my Sphere; though upon the observation of those who took notice of the posture of Public affairs, during the time of her Administration; when upon unavoidable Necessities; the Husband, and Wife, likeas of Old, the two Brothers Castor, and Pollux, ruled by turns when one rose, the other set; have agreed, that in the mostdifficult Occurrences, She managed all things with that Prudence, Conduct, and Courage; as if the Brave, undaunted, Heroic Soul, of the only Partner of her Throne, and Bed had acted in her, or rather that they were both one.  
Her affability, Candour, Humility, and unsullied Innocence, her sweet, and inoffensive deportment, and that Noble train of graces already mentioned, that constantly attended her, as they gained her the esteem and veneration of all that knew her, so they fitted and qualified her for that blessed Company, with whom she now converses, so that she scarce needed any Change, for her Admission into that Heavenly Society. Her stayed, and solid Temper of spirit must, (not without praise) be remembered; a temper not to be altered by all the several divertisements, and avocations, which the high and public Orb she moved in must necessarily expose her to: She used this World, though living in the greatest Splendour, and Glory of it, as if she used it not; as knowing that the fashion of it must, as she herself hath now done, pass away; receiving the innocent satisfactions without the Vanities, and Impertinencies of it: Like the Famous River Arethusa that runs through a large Sea without mixing her pure Waters with that salt, and troubled Element, she conversed with her Court, the best of which cannot but be tainted with some blemishes, without partakeing of the Corruptions of it.  
Thus by well ordering and disposeing of her time, she lived much though she Lived not Long: Like a Chemical Spirit whose quantity is Small, but its Virtue and operation great, she had crowded a great heap of life into a narrow compass: not like the many of the world, who can give no other Testimony that they Live, but that they breath, and that Scarce wholosomely too; the greatest Sign of whose Life is their motion, and that generally a very irregular one too. But she, a true Mary, whilst others cumbered themselves about the gay and unnecessary Vanities of the world, minded the one thing necessary which shall never be taken from her: for her good works like the Ointment which that blessed Convert poured on our Saviour's head shall perfume her glorious memory, and make it Smell Sweet in every place where her Sacred Name is mentioned as Long as the world endures: These good works, and virtuous qualities are the Orators, Eloquent without fiattery, which give her a lasting and never dying Encomium; the loud tongued Speakers that have commended her even without a figure, to the very Heavens?  
And now perhaps you may think that by my long insisting upon a few of those many particulars I might have named, that I have been endeavouring to raise your Passions to an unallowable height, and to Leave Such firm impressions of our unutterable loss upon your memories, as will not easily be worn out: And truly the parting with so much virtue, and Goodness as she was Owner of, especially when it is a Treasure in this degenerate Age not commonly to be found, cannot enough be lamented: But my design is more Christian; 'tis to raise in you, after her Example an undervalueing of those little gay Vanities wherewith the generality of mankind are so much infatuated, and to beget in you a generous imitation of those many most excellent Qualities for which this blessed Saint, and most renowned Princess is, and ever shall be deservedly famous.  I have but one thing more to add. 
I told you the Poor, the many poor whom she fed, and whose necessities she relieved, were by their continual Prayers to Heaven for her, the Innocent Causers of her so speedy, and sudden removal out of a wicked, and deceitful World into the Regions of Everlasting Peace and Happiness; Let me put you in mind now what have been the guilty Instruments which have pulled down this fatal calamity on our heads, and deprived us of that great and inestimable Blessing which we so lately enjoyed; that so we may seriously mourn, and lament for those unhappy Causes that have occasioned all this trouble and Mischief unto us; for God does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the Children of Men.  
They are our Sins our Crying and heinous Sins of all sorts, and amongst the rest our horrible Ingratitude for the many deliverances which God hath sent us by the miraculous hand of his over ruling Providence, that have caused God to take away the desire of our Eyes, and the Joy of our hearts With a stroke. 'Tis Sin, which like a Mell-dew, (properly so called being seemingly sweet, but really pernicious) hath smitten our early hopes, and blasted our most forward Expectations in a moment. It was Sin that wrought the first disorders in Nature, and brought the whole Creature into Bondage, from which it longs, and groans to be delivered. Endless it would be to show how this hellish Enchantment hath removed the mighty Kingdoms, and Empires of the Earth; tossing them like a Ball when they came to her hand, to be under her Dominion, from one to another; from the Assyrian to the Persian, from the Persian to the Grecian, from the Grecian to the Roman; with whom by reason of Temperance, frugality, Justice and Natural Honesty which then reigned amongst them, the Seat of Majesty continued for a long Period of Time; till Foreign Conquests introduceing exotic Vices, and Orontes pouring forth its wanton and Lascivious streams into the before cold and chaste Tiber, she by degrees received the fatal Infection, and died at last of a Luxurious Surfeit. What turns and alterations of Government; what dire effusion of Christian Blood, what Ruin, and havoc, this too successful Instrument of Hell hath made in all Places wherever she came; is too dismal a Story, (but might befit this sad occasion) to remember: No wonder then that we who have drunk so largely of the enchanted Cup, should feel the miserable effects of it, and that we who have been intoxicated with the Bewitching Potion, should partake of the shameful Spueing: Let us therefore whilst the stroke of God's hand is fresh upon us truly bewail our manifold Sins that have put our hopes so far backward, and that have already cost us so dear, and amend our lives lest a worse thing befall us. God miraculously delivered the Children of Israel from their Egyptian bondage but when they murmured against their Deliverer and were disobedient, and continually repining, they provoked him to swear in his wrath, that none of them should enter into the Land of Promise: He could have led them to Canaan by a sar nearer way; but for their ungrateful carriage toward him, for their hard heartedness and unbelief, he harassed them out in the Wilderness, till all but Joshua and Caleb, of that vast number that came out of Egypt were consumed. Let us take heed lest for our ingratitude, and rebellious dissatisfied Temper we provoke God to put a stop to that happy deliverance he hath so graciously begun among us; and reserve the consummation of it for another Generation that will be mote thankful than we have been, and will bring forth better fruit; then we have done; Lest for our unworthy behaviour towards him, and his Laws, he let us only have a Pisgah sight of this Palestine and never let us enter into an actual possession of that happy state of Rest and Peace of which we have had so fair a Prospect. Into which State of everlasting Rest, and Bliss, of which Canaan was only a Type, the Lord of his Mercy bring us all, under the Conduct of our most holy Jesus, the Captain of our Salvation who hath purchased it for us with the Price of his own most precious blood: To whom with the Father and holy Spirit be all honour and Glory. Amen.  
FINIS.