BRACTEOLA AVRE● OR, FILINGS OF GOLD DRAWN From the Life and Death of that LOVELY CHILD, MRIS. JOANNA REYNELL Who died the 26. of January, 1662. Worthy of Observation and Imitation. By E. R. Esquire. MAT. 19.13. And Jesus said, suffer little Children to come unto me: for of su●● is the Kingdom of Heaven. Just. Mart. Epist. ad Zenam. Women aught to take care of their Children, for of such is the Kingdom of God. LONDON, Printed by Tho. Ratcliff for Abel Roper at the Sun over against St. Dunstons-Church in Fleetstreet. 1663. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER THough these few Leaves seem not to invite Epistle; yet [in the midst of the variety Tempers, they are like to meet with] i● not unlikely, but that some [who flatter their or Opinion, and extort the utmost of their belief their own sense, and who adventure to read and intepret their own meaning with censorious and prejudice conjectures] may cast an icterical eye upon 〈◊〉 meanness of this Subject: I thought fit to acquaint thee (courteous Reader) that, as the vessels appointed for the use of the Temple, were not all of one ●i●ness, [though none unuseful] so God, who despise● not the day of small things] judgeth those things Greatest, which are most Gracious, and is ofte● pleased [as to lodge Pearls in Cockles, so] to bestow the Treasures of heavenly knowledge on the meanest persons. And [as Stars that have lest Circuit * A●tas est pe●fecta, u●i vi●tus est 〈◊〉. are nearest the Pole] so, out of the mouth of ●bes and Sucklings doth God often show forth his ●ise. Besides, how great do we found the tender care and re●rd of our blessed Saviour towards the children of his ●●gdom! Mark 10.14. & 9.36, 37. How displeased ●s he with those that withheld them from him? he took ●m up in his arms, he put his hand upon them; and bles●● them, and said, that whosoever received such in his ●●me, received him, Mar. 10.15. Nay, [in return of that ●●ld demand of the Disciples] that, without they became 〈◊〉 such, they should not enter therein. It was the saying 〈◊〉 one, that, he had rather have the Feeling that simple soul hath with God, than all the learning 〈◊〉 the Philosophers: and hence is it, that another ●lleth one, that hath arrived to this degree of hapness, a little Deity conversing in amortal Flesh. ●lem. Alex. Scaliger reporteth of himself, that he never read of ●e death of Socrates, but he wept; and truly, those ●ho well knew this hopeful Child, will hardly forbear 〈◊〉 do the like. Neither [though long clouded in silence without the lest intent of making it Public] can I choose ●●t throw this drooping Flower after her hearse; such ●●eing her unheard-of forwardness, [especially in heavenly things, wherein I have rather gleaned, than ga●●ered a full harvest] and such the importunity of ●ose who desire to preserve her Memory, with my own ●esire of manifesting God's Power in so much weakness: 〈◊〉 whose Glory I wholly devote it. We have more need of Patterns than Precepts: and 〈◊〉 is observable in Children, [as in other things] to imitate their like: and being first taken with an outside, may [understanding after, that it relates 〈◊〉 one like themselves] have the greater desire of reading and being familiar with it: and [at last] make tha● which seems a Recreation, to be of greater use an● benefit. And though it pleased God (here) to blast her innocent joys; and the still-fading Flowers of the merrie● portion of her life, seem to have been sullied [through● pain and sickness] with tears and sadness, yet her son [having left the enclosure of her body] hath now exchanged her Militancy below, for a Mansion mor● glorious in heaven: Neither can I conclude with a better Caution, than in that of our Saviour's words, Tak● heed how you despise any of these little ones. Bracteola Aurea, OR FILINGS of GOLD. TO writ the lines of our departed Friend (especially if more than ordinarily eminent in the Church of God) is a custom not less Ancient than approved, where●● the Ties of Affection are retaliated, and the Bom● of Love discharged; it being God's course to lead 〈◊〉 in the short passage of our earthly Pilgrimage her● sometimes by the ways of Discipline and Mortification, sometimes by the ways of Mourning a●● Lamentation; and also by the Examples of good a●● bad Precedents, whereby to incite to virtue, a●● dissuade from vice; we having more need of Examples, than precepts, to prevent us from the Careers of Sin, and to lead us aright under the shadow of this world's vanity. Grace doth not cut of the affections of Nature but rather Ripen them; and Relations make goo● men more passionate, and to speak feelingly of th● Death of their Friends, whose perfections shoul● press some Tears from our eyes, and to say with th● prophet, Is Jonathan gone? he shall still breathe in ●y soul: Neither doth God loose his Relations 〈◊〉 the Death of his Saints, Josua 1.2. John ●. 11. And surely it is much of Religion, to take notice 〈◊〉 Gods choicest vessels, and such as are most dear ●nto him, by the * Egregia virtutis ●empla veluti lu●min edito ponenda ●●t, ut omnibus ●eluceant, etc. Example of an holy, and Religious life; the which (through an impulsive power) not only gives lustre and reputation, but carries with it a most lively Feature of Divine Resemblance, and the Characters of Divinity; yea the Patterns of the virtuous, we found (by some) to be cal●●d the seeds of Eternity. Neither (omitting what we found in other Histories) do we want a plentiful store-house of Scripture Presidents, the spirit of God being very large in ●●eir praise. The Jews could not forget their good ●enturion, Luke 7.5. and the Widows (having ●●●st washed their Dorcas, and laid her forth with ●●eir Tears) shown the Coats and Garments she ●●d made them, Act. 9.29. Yea, so vigorous do we ●●de the Examples of great Personages, as that ●●ey are sometimes called Angels of God, and Lights 〈◊〉 the people, 2 Sam. 14.17. and 21.17. How much than doth it import to enter into ●●ose Lists, in which Gracious souls have run their ●●urse? whose lives instruct, whose Deaths teach, ●●d whose works follow them! there being not better cordial to comfort the Friends of the departed, or 〈◊〉 revive their drooping Souls, than by this way 〈◊〉 making them alive. The Egyptians spent much time, and cost i● Embalming their Friends, and building their Tombs as sondly conceiving that they were to remain longer in them than in their houses; and yet all thi● while they did but lay them with their Faces downwards; the Imitation of their virtues being the bes● way to preserve, and maintain a Familiarity wit● them in their Graves: The righteous (saith David) shall be had in everlasting Remembrance: Yea the Evangelical Prophet thinks it a thing very worthy to be laid to heart, that the * Esa. 57.1. Righteous perish, and n● man considers it. If a good life than be the best Monument, and those Memories stand fastest, which are founded o● the Rock of virtue and Religion [all others decaying which are laid in the foundered Bottom of worldly vanity] how sad is it to observe, that strange kind of under-valuing the memory of the Dead [so highly recorded by the spirit of God] which float● in the Fancies of some who are downright Satirists against their deserved Praise! yea, how soon (alas!) do they leave of chafing the Temples of their Friends no way considering, how good it is to begin, and end, all our Actions with the Meditation of our Dust, whereby Nature [at first] gave us beginning, and Death [at last] will put an end to all our eathly travel and misery! And so fare are many from desiring here (with Philip of Macedon) to be minded of their Mortality, and departure hence, as that rather (with that * Lewes' 11. ● French Prince) they command their servants not so much as to mention Death; as 〈◊〉 no care were to be taken before our earthly lodgingss grow rotten, the foundation sinks, the Fur●ture becomes moth-eaten, and the whole structure gins to fall about our Ears. Yea, how often ●alas!] do we defer the welfare and happiness of ●ur Soul, until Years approach, Physicians grow impotent, the Evening star of our life gins to appear, our Sinews shrink, our blood congeals, the Bells tod, the winders are in our sight, Death strikes ●t our heart, and a aying hana is only left us to bequeath away all we have; this being but a bad ●●me, to provide for the grea● Birth day of Eternity. The greatest work we have to finish in this world, 〈◊〉 to die well, and to make a happy departure out of ●t, whereby we leave the world before it leaves us, ●nd give Death our hand as a welcome Messenger, not as an affrightful Sergeant; it is good [early] to ●e familiar with it, and to take notice of all its approaches, by the dissolution of others; there being something of benefit to be reaped by our Neigh●orus departure. Not a Passing Bell, but (like * Gen. 49.1. Jacob calling to his sons) serves to mind us, our turn may be next; nor is there a Corpse carried to be buried, and ●aid in its last resting place, but being dead yet speaketh, yea preacheth our Funeral Sermon. Besides, though we have lost the sight of our friends, yet not our Affections, (saith St. * Quamquam separati sumus aspectu, non tamen Affectibus; S. Ambrose. Ambrose) we aught not to part with them so soon as natur●● parts with them; or to throw away all our acquaintance with the Grave-shovell; but still to maintain that intimacy of Affection which we found warrantable from the word of Truth; our Saviour, being pleased to call Lazarus his Friend, though he were in his Grave, John 11.11. And Moses wa● still the servant of God [though dead] Joshu● 1.1. Neither can I believe, that those whose pulse o● Affections so soon leaves beating [under what colour or pretence so ever] as not to bestow one sigh o● Tear, to besprinkle the urn of their departe● Friends, have found the right way of committing them to the earth; though not foolishly to discharge the surplusage of our Passions on our selve● [which would prove rather Heathenish, than Christianlike] or by an over amorous Devotion to preserve the Relics of our departed Friends, whereby tha● which [at first] was but the Picture of a Friend (in time) grows to a false God. That tears are a Tribute due to the * Gen. 37. 3● Dead, w● we found in the Father of the Faithful; and weeping Jacob would not be comforted, but said, Surely, I will go down into the grave unto my Son mourning. Neither shall we be unfurnished of occasions for grief, from the Cradle to the Grave, while we are here in this valley of Tears. We are here encompassed with several sorts o● Tears; we have our Repenting Tears, we have our * Lacrym● poenitentiae● fellow-feling Tears, but (above all) our * Lacryma com●ssionis, Lacry●ae Doloris. Grief Tears are those which seem most to affect: these are they which (like low grounds) still make us moist, and watery: These are they which make the Prologue of our life ●eeping, the Act of our life weeping, and whose Epilogue still ends in weeping. We hear one (with the widow's son) crying ●●y head, my head! Another (with the Children of ●e Prophets) moaning my belly, my belly! yonder ●ands one (with David) lamenting my Son, my ●ou! here another (with Elisha) crying out my ●ather, my Father! one groaning (with Hezekiah) ●nder the burden of his sickness; another (with ●achel) bewailing her Children and will not be comforted. Yea, we find the height of grief expressed in Scripture, by one that mourneth for his on●y Son: and the spirit of God making it as it were a ●●ing impossible for a Mother to forget her Child. Esa. ●9. 15. We read of St. Ambrose, that he lamented the Death of Valentinian and Gratian, as if he had ●ost both his Eyes; and again (speaking of his dear Brother * Velut ocu●s m●hi de●●ssos do lco, ●t. Amb. de ●bi. satire. Satyrus) he saith, Can I ever forget thee with whom I have spent out my life? any we find the Prophet setting it forth, as a Curse to die unlamented, Jer. 22.18, 19 and that passage ●n the Prophet Zachary [that that dieth, let it die] Zach. 11.9. is held by him as a Malediction; being as much as to say, let it do no good in dying, which seems also to agreed with that of the Apostle who tells us that Trees without Fruit are called twice dead; an● truly, it's a kind of second death, if none living b● the better for us. And do we not find the Prophet as it were calling back Elias out of the Clouds; so unwilling wa● he to let him go but still to have him in his sight 〈◊〉 not like those who so soon part with their friend (laying them with their Faces downward) as i● [being dead] they live not longer to them; the Affection of the one expiring with the breath of th● other, and both breathing out their last together. But what need we more? when [certainly] we have the best of Patterns for our Tears, Joh. 11.35. so as we grieve not like those without hope, 1 Thess 4.13. who was known to groan and weep, but never to laugh. He inquired of all those that passed by, whether any sorrow were like his sorrow? Lam. 1● Nay we found his soul exceeding sorrowful, even to th● Death, Mat. 26.30. He bids us [indeed] sometimes to rejoice, but in what? except out reproaches. St. Paul had his Joy, but it was in his Afflictions; and the Martyrs had their Joy, but dull flesh was not the object; it was in their sufferings; this kind of joy, must be sown in Tears, and we must wait for it, till the Harvest come; until Heaven be our dwelling, incorruption our change, the Angels our Partners, and Immortality our Garment. Those (indeed) which do here make Earth their Heaven, & are not acquainted with the Music which is in the groans of the Afflicted, nor what Beauty is in the Tears of the Mourners, would wonder [or at lest wise think him Frantic, if not mistaken in his way] who should knock at a Grave-stone for a Companion; or should go down into a Vault or Char●ell house to make Merry; And yet even hence may we draw instruction of Piety, and by the Meditation of the Death of our friends [whereby God [for our correction and instruction] is pleased often to chastise us in our nearest Relations, and to open a Vein in the Arm for the curing of the head] produce a better life to ourselves. And certainly, it's a Bad Flower, out of which we cannot suck some honey, tending to the benefit and advantage of our soul; and an unskilful Gardner, which will not [this way] allow some Thorns and Thistles to hedge in the Garden of his Soul, from the wasting Creatures of sin and wickedness; yea surely it's a weak Stomach which cannot patiently look on a Death's Head in the midst of a Feast; and a worse Appetite which cannot sometimes be content to feed on a Commons of Dry-Bones, with the Meditation of Mortality. Mistake me not; I do not say we should so hung down our Heads, as that, because Earth aught not to be our Resting place, we should therefore make ●it our Hell; Neither do I invite any [more than out of Religious observation] to seek for the living among the Dead; or to go down [with me] into the vault of this departed Child (which would be no other than as the mourning we read of the feigned woman, 2 Sam. 14.2.) but only to preserve their Graces, and recount the Passages of their life; that so, though we cannot still behold them, we may stand Remembrancers of their worth. But not to let my Pen too fare digress, neither make too great a stay in the Porch or entrance, before we approach the house, by showing you how Jsaac mourned three years over his Mother; Jacob, 22. years over his Son; nor (as some Rabbins would tell us) that Adam mourned 100 years for his Son Ab●●; Neither that the Jews were want to hire men for to lament their Dead (who cut, and pricked themselves that they mi●●● weep in earnest) let it be enough that there is a Time of weeping appointed by God. Eccles. 3.4. That there is a Bochim and Valley or Tears, where we aught sometimes to life up our voices, and weep: yea, a Marah, which occasions bitterness of Soul, and (as at present) fills our hearts, and eyes full of weeping, and lamenting: To which, after have we once given their full scope, they will grow the more easy and lighter; And happy are we, if we can so refresh our heaviness by our Tears, as to cleanse that fountain of Sin, which is ever and anon offering us the sad occasions of our Grief and sorrow. But now, to writ the life and Death of a Child, in an Age which affords so many Precedents of worth and larger Endowments, may (to some) seem as strange as unusual; to whom I answer that, at as est perfecta, ubi●virtus est perfecta; Age is perfect where virtue is perfect; and that God (who despiseth not the day of small things but whosoever worketh Righteousness is accepted with him) always judgeth those things greatest, which are most gracious; the less we seem to our selves, the greater we are with him, and the safest * Discendend a c●oe lum ascenditur: Cassiodorus. ascent to Heaven is by the acknowledgement of our own nothingness, Our blessed Saviour (who was the Oracle of Truth itself, and who came not to break the bruised reed, nor to quench the smoking flax, Mat. 19.13.) was pleased to receive, and bless those Children which were brought unto him; yea, to tell his Disciples [plainly] who were (or should have been) the wisest of men (in regard of the many wonders and Miracles they saw, and the constant familiarity they had with their Lord and Master) that, unless they became as ●ittle Children, they should not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Mark 10.14, 15. and were feign to to have the Pattern of a little child held forth unto them to abate height of their thoughts, and to teach them humility, and lowliness. Whereby we see, that, should we look for perfection in the best of God's Servants [nothing being here absolutely so [we should found the failings of good men, ready to produce a restraint of their their Graces; no Gold being without its dross, nor Corn without its Tares. And how happy were it for many [poor souls!] who stand so much upon the uprightness of their hearts and lives [being rather objects of grief and pity, their Bodies being so near their graves, and their souls no way provided for Heaven] if they had but the acquaintance with Death, which this poor Child had! Nor let the shortness of her Age, any way deter from the Imitation of her virtues, she being so richly endowed with the Innocency of Childhood and beginning so soon to live to God, to learn th● Scriptures of a Child, 2 Tim. 3.15. and to remember her Creator in the days of her Youth, Eccle● 12.1. yea, in the dawn and morning of her few days did she begin to suck in the milk of God's wor● (as it were) with the milk of her Nurse; and [b● her early Fruits] seemed [there] so to settle her Virgin Love, as that (had it pleased God to have afforded her longer life) she gave grea● hopes of proving herself very instrumental in his Church. And that she had a love to God's house, appeared by her often enquiry in the week days, when she should go to the Church; and her earnestness to go thither, as if God (who hath milk for Children as well as stronger meat for those that are of a full Age, Heb. 5.13, 14.) had informed her Soul, how pleasing a thing it was to him, to come early into his vineyard; and (however she endured not the heat of the Day) hath now [no doubt] given her, her Reward; the vessels appointed for the service of his Temple, being not all of one Bigness, yet none unuseful. Her fear of taking God's name in vain, was also very observable; she was not only very cautious herself, but hath been often heard to reprove others; acquainting them with the danger thereof, which was a true sign of that heavenly wisdom, whereof the fear of the Lord is the beginning. Her desire also of Schooling arboad, of reading praying, and being Chatechized at home, was well ●own to those which were about her; wherein 〈◊〉 would often entreat others to help and instruct ●●er; which greatly took her of from mispending ●●at time (whereof she had little to employ) which otherwise] might have been spent in the vanities of Childhood. Her dutifulness to her Parents, was likewise to ●e noted; how careful was she to please them? how ●earful to offend them? how ready to obey them 〈◊〉 ●he which [as we found it an honour to the (2 Joh. 4. ● Elect Lady, that all her Children walked in the Truth] must needs be a comfort to them, to hav●●uch an Olive-Branch about their Table. Very watchful and fearful she was to do evil 〈◊〉 ●nd which she would not only seem to check in herself (when through weakness or tenderness of nature, she was at any time made sensible of such frail ●ies as are incident to the oversights of Childhood) ●ut even stand wondering at others; and (as much a may be) in her words, and Gestures] reprove tha● in them, which she seemed so much to dislike i● ●her self. Neither [had God pleased to lengthen her life was her peaceable disposition likely to have proved th● lest Jewel in the Diadem of her virtues; making 〈◊〉 (as it were) her study in her health [but especial her sickness,) as appeared by her many expressions 〈◊〉 those about her, to be quiet, which (wit● much earnestness) she often repeated, thereby seeming to invite us to that Gospel-rule of living pea●ably with all men, 1 Thes. 4.11. being a duty necessary, as wanting in the general course of o● lives. When she saw any Poor, it should go hard but she would found something to supply and 〈◊〉 fresh them. And when she heard of any that we sick in the Family [whether Servants or other how tender, and tending would she be (eve● with seariousnesse of advice, and with su● sweet specches of comfort, as outwent many wh● had spent more years in the world; saying it w● God's will, we should be sick, it was for our good, a● that God could sand sickness or death to her also, if 〈◊〉 pleased so to do! What shall I say? she was a Child [or rather a w● man] in whom did appear so much of perfection, an● a Divine Soul, as hath been seldom known at h●● Age; yea, she was as a little world, wherein w● contained a lively Map of heavenly Graces. Nature [or rather the God of Nature] having endowed he (as with the Innocency of Childhood, so) wit● the apparent signs of grace in her old-age, she being of a composed spirit, and heavenly temper; 〈◊〉 a quick wit, and active Body; modest in her ca●● riage, solid in her behaviour; of a sweet, winning and affable demeanour and disposition; fa● miliar, and loving to all; by whom she was a● gain as generally beloved, and at her Death as much Lamented. Her sickness was long and tedious [near twenty ●eeks] her pain, and lingering fits were many, and ●t sighs, and groans (at times) not a few. Yet o! ●ith what abundanc of patience did she overcome ●●em? Ah! with what mildness and cheerfulness, ●●d she undergo, and pour our, her short and deep ●tch't breath, which still threatened the approaching ●f that last Enemy which Nature so much struggles ●ith; though (to her) seeming no way Dreadful, 〈◊〉 the many, long and tedious assaults that Death ●ade upon her! Or if [through continued weariness, and pain] 〈◊〉 might in the midst of some violent distemper ●●em to be troubled in her Imagination, sure it ●as no way, in her memory; the which [without ●●e lest disturbance in her Soul) lasted even to the ●●st hour, and wherein the goodness of God was expressed, since diseases (like merciless Thiefs) rob ●any of their senses on their Deaths-beds, when they ●●ve most need of them, and often fall into ●eat outrageousness and blaspheming even of God ●●mself! Neither is long sickness to be looked on as a sign ●f God's anger (the delays of whose favours are not always a Refusal] who often differs his cure, whereby to raise from Death; and suffers his Children ●oftentimes) to fall into linger sicknesses, for ●eir better Repentance, and to teach them that ●●eir Bodies are not free from Infirmities, and to ●●e end that those who are Exemplary in their lives, [the Saints of God (as we found in Scripture● being best at their Ends, and the living speecues 〈◊〉 dying Christians usually best remembered, and mo●● regarded] should (through his strength, and thei● own patience) show something Remarkable in thei● sickness, and Death. And though she was long going to her journey's end● yet seemed she no way tired, with the length thereof [the true Temper of a Christian in dying] but was well contented to wait his leisure, whose appointed time [questionless] was the best for her, and whose submission to his will made her Bed seem so easy in her sickness. It was a rare thing to observe in a Child such an heavenly comportment in sickness, and even contempt of her ensueing Death! to see her, how she lay in the time of her sickness! with what undauntedness of spirit, yet humble meekness! How she held her peace (I mean in any way of murmuring or impatient repining against him, whose doing it was! no distracted gesture being seen in her countenance, nor to be read in her complaining; not so much as letting an eye [as it were] to roll amiss, though (perchance) she had many hard encounters, and did oftentimes wrestle with many strong and violent Conflicts, so that as Death (which embitters all the comforts of this life to the wicked (God secretly standing by her, and making her to overcome at last) was to her not only sweet but welcome; ●d of whole future happiness (though lying many ●eeks sick, like a Princess in a ruinous house she que●onlesse) saw a glimpse, through the chinks of a ●●cknesse-broken Body. Neither could she choose but smile upon Death ●aving (as it were) from her very Infancy, by a continual exercise in virtue triumphed over Sin, ●hich only makes Death to be formidable. And ●hough she saw Death making towards her, and of●en heard those that came to see her, to question her Recovery, by the incureablenesse of her disease; yet was she not seen to make the lest change in ●er countenance, or ever to express the lest diffidence in God's help towards her Recovery; but ●ather, a holy readiness by Death [yet very careful in observing all means tending to preserve a longer life] whereby to enjoy the presence of him she so often called on in her sickness 〈◊〉 even her good God] and which (with much earnestness of spirit) she often repeated, and expected health from; as well knowing she was in the Arms of life, and should [at last] finish her ●ourse with joy. But before the Candle of her life was put out, the Minister coming to see her, she took him by the hand, and desired him to pray for her; which was twice powerfully done the next Sabbath Day, not without the pouring out of many sighs, and the shedding of many Tears, by those that were than present. And however God was not pleased [whose ways are passed finding out, and often useth to exercise our, patience] to give an answerable Return in regard of her Recovery (intending her for himself yet was she afterwards endowed with unspeakabl● comfort and patience, even to her last Breath. I being impossible [as St. Ambrose told St. Austin● Mother] that a Child of so many Prayers should miscarry. Neither could it be any thing else which made he● to show so meek and quiet a deportment in tha● work of Dying, but her being satisfied with the heavenly Manna of her Saviour's presence, and that sight of heaven, which in a more than ordinary way strengthened her towards her long Journey; and where she plainly foresaw, all Tears an● sighs should be wiped away from her eyes, and every fit of sickness should have its peculiar Crown. When her spirits began to fail, and to loose ground of their usual quickness, and her speech began to fail, her inward strength [no doubt] increased, while her outward decayed. Nor may we conclude other, but that [so long as Nature was pleased to fan a little breath into her Nostrils] grea● was the comfort between God and her Soul, who is the best Interpreter of the heart; and who at last gently drew out her Breath, and (as it were) led her by the hand into that Mansion he had prepared for her; like a Tree loaden with abundance of Fruit, and having a Spirit too full of splendour to be longer obscured in a cloud of Flesh. And after her Soul was gone a Sacrifice to Hea●●n, with how cheerful and smiling a countenance, did she look; as if [even then] at her de●●rture hence, she had had some sweet conference ●ith her Saviour and his blessed Angels [who are ●id to take care of little Children, Mat. 18.10.] she ●●emed no other [after her panting and long-fetched reath] than as one that was refreshed with the ●eep of death, yea all those that beheld her, said ●●at she never looked fairer than in her mourning Dress and attire, Ah! how pleasingly did she ●●ok, when she lay disrobed of all her sin, and ●●rrows it brought with it? there being than neither ●●gh nor groan, neither grief nor pain to perplex her ●uiet Soul, which was than newly fled to heaven ●ith the white wings of her Dovelike Innocency. Nor need those that came to deck her, bring any ●lowers [which in her life time she so much delighted, and took pleasure in] or to spend any time in adorning that pretty piece, in the sweetness of ●hose smiling looks there appeared such a pleasant ●●ring of Roses, and lilies, which had overspread ●●er lips and Cheeks; neither wanted a Garland to ●race her at her Death, having in her life time been beautified with the Flowers of a more lasting condi●ion. Insomuch, as that when she had put of the ●f her Mortality, how did all think (or at lest ●●tive to keep) her alive in their Reports (while others thought Death too cruel) out of that affection, which still made them to kindle new hopes of her life, at every spark of probability! But as the fairesh, and sweetest * The Text at her Funeral, Job. 14.1, 2. Flower is of a fading condition, and subject to be cast down; so how soon (alas!) had this new born light attained its full aged Noon? Ah! behold, how soon the shadow-flying-days of her life consumed? how quickly the blace of her short Pilgrimage expired? she budded, she Blossomed, and was in her Prime (being like a Rose newly blown and gathered) between the saeventh and eighth year of her Age. But this Diamond must be set in clay, and the rarest Jewels (like earthen Vessels) at last dissolve and turn to dust. The best gold must have its trial, and the purest corn must first die before it spring. That so good a Child should die, hath matter of grief in it; but that she died so good hath some recompense of comfort with it: That she was cut of in the Bud, and First Age of her harmless Innocence, may some way seem to carry sorrow with it; but that she so much gains by her change, is only taken hence to be freed from further Miseries, hath comfort and solace in it, fare above our sorrow; and though in the one our loss seems to call for Tears, yet in the other her gain alloweth us the breathing of Joy; being (by Death) only taken from the shadows and falsehoods of a wretched world, to enjoy the real Glories of Heaven; and to be enroled in the golden Catalogue of the Children of her Saviour's Kingdom. In the mean time, her Grave is but a Bed of Roses where her Rest will be sweet, and her Night-Cloaths, at last taken of. Though God please to turn us to ashes, he will not turn us to nothing, our ashes being only more sacred, and God (who is the keeper of our Dust, out of which he first made us) will out of them again restore us: Yea he who takes care of every hair of our head (being living,) doth the same of every grain of our ashes [being dead] we shall again meet with our old Bodies, which are but for a time placed in Gods withdrawing- Room, or laid to sleep in Lazarus Bed. She died about the approaching of the Spring, when the Birds and Flowers (which she so much affected) seemed to deck her Hearse, and to sing her Elegy, breathing out her pure and divine soul in that peaceable, calm, and comfortable manner, as that she taught the standers by, not less virtuously how to die, than she had formerly how to live; leaving (as it were) a maked, and disconsolate House behind her (in respect of her affable carriage, and loving disposition) to all that came afterwards, and found her wanting. But though the Night of Death have overtaken her, let us not suffer her so to departed from us; but to let her always live in our Memory; she was once (indeed) more properly ours, but is now a Jewel set in Christ's Diadem (who hath but taken his own) yet have we her still by commemorating, imitating, and very highly (in love esteeming) what we saw remarkable in her life. God is pleased to honour them that honour him, and to continued a good Report to a good life; God looking on her (than) with the eye of his Favour, may she still so remain in our sight; and as she was the Object of our wishes in her life, so let her now be the subject of our practice in her Death, wherein she still speaks, and is a voice to her friends and Relations, the Memory of our departed friends being like a Legative Ring, which nothing but Death should pluck of from our Fingers. And seeing, that when we drop into our Graves, a Funeral drowns all our delights [which like Vermin run away, when the house is falling] may these (than) serve as a Ha●d-k●rcheif to wipe of the Tears, and as a Bracelet to wear about the Arms of all those that knew, and related to this Child; to whom she is still speaking, though the night of Death hath turned her Midday into Darkness. Neither let any wonder [my soul being more than usually veiled with the Blacks of sorrow] if I strew one Flower more than ordinary on her Hearse, or if I besprinkle her urn with some Tears, and once again descend the vault, to touch the shrine of this so greatly beloved, and lamented Child, whom God (whose Almighty power is still guided by a most wise providence, and tempered with a Fatherly love) was pleased so shortly to call after her departed Brother. Her Brother did I say? Ah! stay gentle Reader! and once more here let fall thy Tears; Ah! let me forbear a little, lest my griefs bleed afresh, and I too dearly prise that name, by calling to remembrance that black night which ushered in so sad a day. And should I again begin, I should but repeat what I have written, and renew a fresh that Sorrow which may be (in part) forgotten, he being also the joy of his Parents, the Delight of his Friends, the hopes of his Country, the life of his name, and (in those afore mentioned virtues of love, meekness, and sweetness of disposition and heavenly Inclination; and who (with his own) did even carry out souls away) her nearest Parallel. There being no Division which could make them two, in virtue or Amity; being both alike, as well in Person, as carriage: Dying both about the same Age, of the same sickness; ●ying sick the same space of time, and near the same season of the year, having both their * The Text at his Funeral, Pro. 14.32. hope in Death. And may I not say (as it was once) in the words of David, 2 Sam. 1.23. They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their Death they were not divided, now shining (no doubt) like Nature's Gemeini, in the clea● Horizon of Heaven and happiness. And whose Tear-dewed Hearses [being sent hence, with abundance of sighs, having passed the various storms of this world, and left their earthly Receptacles] lie buried both together in the vault at East-Ogwel ●n Devon! whence (their Souls being already transmitted to those heavenly comforts they own enjoy) their Bodies expect the reuniting of those Ashes, which (in the mean time) are carefully preserved by that Omnipotent hand, which first brought them together, and will a● last give them a blessed and happy meeting to all Eternity. FINIS.