EZEKIEL'S PROPHECY PARALLELED: OR, The Desire of the Eyes taken away. DELIVERED IN A SERMON, Preached at the FUNERALS Of the most Virtuous Mrs ELIZABETH COLE, Wife to ROBERT COLE Esquire, At Wye in Kent, Nou. 26. MDCLI. By SAMUEL BERNARD, Doctor in Divinity. — A woman that feareth the Lord, SHE shall be praised. Pro. 31. 30. London, Printed for Andrew Crook. 1652. engraving of monument commemorating Elizabeth Cole Gen: Cap. 35— Rachel Sic mortua est Elizabetha Cole No. XIV. M.DC L● Cuius est haec 〈◊〉 diu Domine. Gen. Cap. XXXV. — Rachel, Sic mortua est ELIZABETHA COLE, Novemb. XIV. MDCLI. Cujus est haec COLUMNA. Quam diu, Domine! O mea ELIZABETHA! O Maritella mea ELIZABETHULA! O Desiderium Oculorum meorum! Heu, quàm gravi me afflixit manu Te, Te mihi eripiens, Deus! Te, Quam nemo non amavit, qui noverit. Quàm amabilem Te fecerunt Pietas! Charitas! Quàm conjugalis Amor! illibata Vita! Quàm Gratiarum Cohors! quàm Formae decor! Virtutes certè omnes Tum Corporis, Tum Animi, Concertârunt Te reddere omnibus Plusquam Commendatissimam: Sanè, qui Te ademptam non deplorat, Nec Suavitatem, nec Virtutem ipsam Extinctam deplorabit. Vale itaque, mea ELIZABETHULA, Moestissimus ingemit Maritus Vale, Vale, Vsque ad Resurrectionem Valeto. Moerens, Posuit, & Composuit Maritus Ipse, HIc dormit ELIZABETHA, U … Rob ti Cole Arm ri: Timon thei Thornhill 〈◊〉 Filia unica: Quae animam puerpera Creatori suo religiosè reddidit, 14. Novemb. An. Dom.. 1651. Aetatis 3● Conjugii 10. Reliquit Filiam Janam (Annorum oct Filium Richardum, Qui mox Ab ubere raptus, in sinu Matris Conquiescit. Cujus dulci Memoriae, Sed nec minùs acerbae, (Eo magis acerbae, quia maximè dulci▪ Tristissimus Maritus Sociale marmoravit Mnemosynum. To my most Honoured Friend, ROBERT COLE (of Addington in Surrey) ESQUIRE. Noble Sir, I Am very sensible, how deep a Wound the taking away of Her, who was the Desire of your eyes, made in your breast; and therefore I have been very unwilling to present you with this Picture, lest the Colours, with which it is drawn, should renew the wound, and make it bleed afresh: This was the only reason, that hitherto, I was so hardly brought to represent it to your view. But now, I begin to call to mind, that though the Original was an incomparable piece, yet he that drew the Copy: did it with an unskilful hand: I am content therefore, upon your Importunity, to let you cast your eye upon it, in stead of a Foil: But I am very Confident withal, upon my Importunity, you will more easily suppress it, and suffer it only to lie within your private walls, among your other Papers. It will be satisfaction enough for you, and for Her friends, to Know, How much She deserved, how much you desired, and how much the Workman endeavoured, but was not able to perform. For my part, I am easily persuaded both to pardon, and please myself with that of the Poet, In magnis voluisse sat est,— In things that are hard and difficult, The Will is to be accepted for the Deed: And if I can but purchase so much favour at your hands, you shall Challenge, what proportion you please, both in the sincerest Affections, and most Earnest Devotions of Waddon Dec. 2. 1652. (Sir) Your most endeared Servant, SAM. BERNARD. A SERMON Preached at the FUNERAL Of the Virtuous Mrs ELIZABETH COLE. EZEK. 24. 16. Son of Man, behold, I take away from Thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke. MY Sermon is like this Evening, very gloomy and stormy: And indeed, I must be your Petitioner (at this time) as well as your Preacher, That it may be lawful for me so far to be a , as to fit my Text unto the time. The occasion of this meeting is sad and sorrowful, and therefore I have chosen a sad, and a sorrowful Text to meet it, And in the same kind. 'Tis a prophecy, or a prediction of a great loss, the loss of a precious Pearl, which the prophet had in his Keeping: And though it be dark and obscure, as all Prophecies are at the first sight; yet the Explication of two words, The desire of thine Eyes, and the Stroke, here mentioned, will acquaint you with the sense of the Prophecy, and the reason of the Parallel. For the first. The Prophet shall be his own Expositor: The Desire of his Eyes was his Wife; and the Stroke, by which she was taken away, was Death: Look but into the 18th verse, and he tells you, He spoke unto the People in the Morning, and at Even his wife died; and so the Prophecy was fulfilled: Ezekiel is in a sad condition. His Prediction is proved a great Affliction; The loss of his dearest Wife. For the second, The Parallel, we find even at our own doors: we have too just an Occasion, to pick out this Text. But we must submit to the Stroke, because it stands so with His good pleasure who works all things after the Counsel of his own will, Eph. 1. 11. I opened not my mouth, saith Holy David, because thou Eph. 1. 11. didst it. Psal. 39 9 So it was in the Text: so it is here, Behold I take away from thee. Psal. 39 9 My Text is a very Winding Sheet, Or a Coffin, Containing in it, some dead Corpse, and ready for the Burial; Let us look into it, and survey those sad Remaines, and we shall find many things very Considerable. 1 The Author, God; I. 2 The Act, Taking away; I take away. 3 The Patient, from whom; from Thee. 4 The Object, what; The desire of thine eyes. 5 The Instrument with which, Death; That was the stroke. Every one of these, would furnish us with a several Observation: but I consider the time of the night, and must Remember at this time, the mortality of your hearing, and mine own speaking; and therefore I will rather make bold to set limits to my own Meditations, then presume to tyre out your Patience. Give me leave only to Choose out two Doctrines, agreeable both to the Text, and the Time, and with some brief Application, to encourage us to the imitation of those virtues, which we shall learn from this Excellent Pattern, that lies here enclosed in her Coffin; and the rest, I will leave to your meditation: The first shall be this. Doct. 1 A Man's wife is and aught to be esteemed, the nearest and dearest delight to him, in the world. The warrant hereof, is in my Text, Where God himself calls her, the Desire of her husband's eyes. There was never any thing dearer to our Saviour then his Church. He Purchased it with his blood. Acts. 20. 28. What expressions of love, and dearness Acts, 20. 28. doth he use to her, Cant. 7. 6? And this is the Cant 7. 6 Pattern he commends to the Husband; To love his wife, as Christ loved the Church. Eph. 5. 25. Eph. ●. 25. When God would express his love and Regard to the Prophet Daniel, The Angel calls him Dan. 10 11. Ish Chamudoth; A man of Desires; Beloved, and dear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to God. So here the expression of her dearness, is by the Desire of the eye, from Chamod in the Original, which implies an earnest, and an ardent affection; Ubi amor ibi oculus, Where love is, it fastens the eye; He must desire, He must look upon nothing else under God, with equal delight, with equal Dearness. And dearest she is, in regard of a threefold Obligation; 1. In regard of her Original frame, and Composition. 2. In regard of God's Institution of marriage, and the Covenant between them. 3. In regard of a gracious Disposition working in her. 1. For the first, In the beginning she was taken out of man, Gen. 2. 22. And for so curious a Gen. 2. 22. frame, to make them male, and female, the whole Trinity enters into a consultation about the composure: Gen. 1. 26. 27. And when all is done, Gen. 1. 26. 27. that Curious piece, is Nothing else but a Piece of his own flesh: Gen. 2. 23. And therefore in Loving Gen: 2. 23. his wife, he loves himself; Eph. 5. 28. Dear then in respect of her frame. Secondly, Dearest she must needs be, in regard of God's Institution of Marriage; and that mutual Covenant that he made between them. He brought her unto the man; There's the Conjugal Knot, Tied by Gen. 22 2. Almighty God himself, Gen. 22. 2. God is the Author of Marriage. And when he made the Match, He ordained it, by a perpetual Decree, a nearer Tie, A dearer Relation, even then that of Parents; Therefore, shall a man leave Father, and Mother, and shall Cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh, Gen. 2. 24. Nay, they Two shall Gen. 2. 24. be one flesh, saith our Saviour; Matth. 19 5. Math. 19 5. Though Two in person, yet one in flesh, In nearness, and affection; Dear in respect of the Marriage bond, or Covenant. Thirdly, Dearest she must be in regard of Gracious Dispositions; For where grace moulds, and rules the heart, reforms the will, and sanctifies the affections, This Causes Love indeed; Goodness, and Grace, is the object of love; where-ere we find it, we desire it, we admire it; most of all in a Wife. Favour is deceitful, and Beauty vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be Prov. 31. 30▪ Praised, Prov. 31. 30. A Face will fail; But Grace is eternal. Age, or a Disease, will wrinkle the smoothest forehead, and make furrows in the Cheeks; But the Endowments of Grace, go beyond the Grave, and are neither subject to rottenness nor to Corruption; Such a woman while alive, the heart of her husband safely trusts in her, Prov. 31. 11. Prov. 31. 11. And even when the body is dead, their souls are still glued together. Goodness is of an attractive Virtue; Et figuram animi magis, quàm corporis, amplectimur, Tacit. in vita Agr. saith the wise Historian; There are embraces, for the Picture of the mind, as well as of the Body. The Apostle proposes a Catalogue of Holy men, and Gracious women; Heb. 11. 35. Honoured in their lives, to be imitated, remembered, admired after their Deaths. A Gracious Disposition, is a piece, it deserves love; And then tell me, Is it not pity to part with such a Body, in which dwells such a soul? It is indeed; But there is a time, when the Creator may take in pieces this goodly Frame, of his own making; When he that made the Match, may break the Match; and lose the bond, and Command a Divorce; When the Author of all grace, may Challenge, and call for his own again, and no wrong to any. So it pleased God here in the Text; Behold I take away from thee the desire. So that a second Observation may be this, which shall take in all the Parts. Doctr. 2 2 God is pleased often times, to deprive his Dearest Children of that, which they love most, which is dearest unto them, and that by some heavy affliction, even Death itself. 1 God is he that doth it; The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, I; that is, God. 2 Here is Depriving: I will take away. 3 His dearest Children; The Prophet was one; yet from Thee. 4 That which is dearest unto them: The desire of thine eyes; That must needs be dear. 5 By some heavy affliction, A Stroke; and that Stroke was Death. The Text is full, and fit; ye shall see it confirmed by Scripture-Proofes. Abraham loved his Sarah dearly; and she deserved it; She had been a dutiful and a loving Wife; So St Peter Commends her, 1. Pet. 3. 6. and she had brought 1 Pet. 3 6. him forth a blessed Son, the heir of the Promise; yet, Death must deprive him of his dearest Sarah. Gen. 23. 2. Gen. 23. 2. Jacob loved Rachel so tenderly, that his seven years' service for her, seemed but a few days to him, for the love that he had to her, saith the Text, Gen. 29. 20. Yet he must not carry her into Egypt Gen. 29. 20. with him; but she must die in travail; And as soon as she is delivered of her Benoni, The son of her sorrow, his father's Benjamin, Jacob must lose his dearest Rachel, Gen. 35. 18. Gen. 35. 18. To instance in other Relations; David a man according to Gods own heart, had a Son whom he Passionately loved, for whom he would have died himself; so dear he was to him; yet he must lose this Dearest son Absolom, 2 Sam. 18. 2. Sam. 18. 33. ver. 33. Look upon Josiah, the good Josiah, the best of Kings; Never any like him before, nor after, 2 Kings 23. 25. The Scriptures style him the 2 Kings. 23. 25. Breath of our Nostrils; yet the Prophet complains there, So good a King was taken in their Pits; Lam. Lam. 4. 20. 4. 20. And that best of Kings, that was so dear to his people, whom that holy Prophet and the people so lamented, 2 Chron. 35. 25. was deprived 2. Chron. 35. 25. of his life, and that by a violent death; 2 Chron. 35. 23. 2 Chron. 35. 23. It seems by these Stories, the best of men, the best of Kings, have a share in the greatest afflictions, have lost their Dearest Wives, their Dearest Lives. The Scripture doth set forth holy Job to the Job 1. 14. 15. life, a chief example, a very Map of misery, Rob of his Cattles, Bereft of his goods, Deprived of his servants, Spoilt of his Children, One in the neck of another, and all in a day. Himself exposed to scorn, and Contempt, to Pain, and shame, and none to comfort him, Job 1. 14, 15 I could here tell you of the Martyrs, the Prophets, Heb. 11. 37. Their righteous blood; So the Saviour of the world calls it, Matth. 23. 35. and tells us, it was Matth. 23. 35 shed upon the earth. The Apostles, I think near and dear to God, Designed to the shambles. For thy sake are we Killed all the day long, and are counted as sheep for the slaughter: Rom. 8. 36. Nay Christ himself, the Rom. 8. 36. blessed son of the eternal God, The Captain of our salvation, He was made perfect through sufferings: Heb. 2. 10. Heb. 2. 10. 'Tis a Maxim in the Scripture, Judgement must begin at the House of God, 1 Pet. 4. 17. I 1 Pet. 4. 17. have forsaken my house, saith God himself: I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies, Jer. 12. 7. 'Tis a rule that never fails, Jer. 12. 7. Whom I love, I Correct, Rev. 3. 19 The truth of the Rev. 3. 19 Doctrine stands good, and warrantable, God is pleased oftentimes to deprive his Children of that which is dearest unto them, by some heavy affliction, even Death itself. And there is a very good reason for God's dealing thus with his Children, for depriving them of their delights. Affliction in any kind, is very good Physic in both the Parts, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; 'Tis Restoring Physic and Preventing Physic. First it restores, and sets us right, cures our diseases; Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word: Psal. 119. 67. God is Psal. 119. 67. wont to punish his dearest Children, to bring them home, when they wander out of the way, and forget their duties; In their affliction they will seek me Early: Hosea 5. 15. The best of God's Saints Hos. 5. 15. have their dross, It must be purged out; and Tribulation is as the Fire to the Gold, 1 Pet. 1. 7. He shall Purify the sons of Levi, and Purify them as 1 Pet. 1. 7. Gold, that they may offer an offering in Righteousness, Mal. 3. 3. No man is so good, but he hath some sin: God will Purge him, and punish him here, Mal. 3 3. that he may pardon him hereafter. When we are Judged, we are Chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world, 1 Cor. 11. 32. Secondly, 'tis preventing Physic: It preserves 1 Cor. 11. 32. us from sins to come; 'tis good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes, Psal. 119. 71. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, saith the Greek Proverb: Every Psal. 119. 71 affliction is our instruction, saith Divine Bernard. 'tis like Myrrh, that preserves from Putrefaction; and like Salt, that prevents Corruption. Bern. So Affliction keeps men exercised, and sweet, afraid to entertain any sin. Thirdly, God will thus demonstrate his Impartiality. Those that are nearest to him shall smart, and taste of the rod, shall have their losses, that they may not presume of Impunity: You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities. Amos 3. 2. I will now make some Application. Amos 3. 2. Use 1 The first shall be; for Conviction of the wicked. They must needs be convinced, and Confess, That if God deal thus with his Friends, then surely he will not spare his Enemies. If Judgement begin at the house of God, what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God 'tis the Apostles inference: and it is a strong one, 1. Pet. 4. 17. If he be so sharp to those in his favour, how much sorer will he be to those in his displeasure? 1 Pet. 4. 17. You shall see them threatened to the purpose, Jer. 46. 23. and indeed, it is an argument of an heavier Jer. 46. 23. doom: I will go no farther than my Text for a Confirmation; This of Ezekiel, is a sign to the house of Israel of a farther meaning; And they demand it of him, v. 19 and at the 21 verse ye may see his Application, Thus saith the Lord, Behold I will Profane my Sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities, and your sons, and yours daughters, whom ye have left, shall perish by the sword. Now it is not only, the poor Prophet that shall be punished; but the Judgement is more general and more grievous; They had mocked the messengers of God, despised his word, and misused his Prophets; 2 Chron. 36. 16. When he had sent his 2 Chro. 36. 16 Messengers, rising up betimes, and sending, 2 Chron. 36, 15. When they had more means of salvation than all other nations: A Glorious Temple, Righteous Judgements, and Statutes, Deut. 4. 8. which Deuter. 4. 8. if a man do, he should live in them, Ezek. 20, 11. Ezek. 20. 11. Yet all those they neglected, and rejected, though they boasted of them: And therefore their Religion, their Chiefest glory, shall be taken away, their Temple Profaned, their Churches dishonoured, their Sacraments disgraced, and all in a Confusion. Use 2 Secondly, If God spare not his dearest servants, if he punish them with the loss of what is Dearest unto them: this may serve for Caution, and Counsel; Not to pass our censure presently, and condemn all for Reprobates, upon whom God lays his hand; Jobs friends were too forward in that kind, and therefore justly blamed; Job 42, 7. Right good men, as you have heard, Job. 42 7. have had their losses; their heads full of sorrow; their hands full of hurts; Many a good woman made a woeful widow, and lost her dearest husband; Many a good man, lost his dearest wife; Ezekiel a Prophet for one: Parents robbed of their Children, Holy men spoilt of their Goods; Heb. 10, 34▪ God doth Heb. 10. 34. not distinguish the Righteous from the Reprobates, neither by prosperity, nor adversity in this life: Eccles. 9, 2. Ezekiel hath his share, a Eccl●s. 9 2. Righteous Prophet, in a grievous affliction, a great loss. Use 3 Thirdly, Doth God deal thus with his Children, subject them to losses? then this may serve for direction in all Changes, and Chances, in all our Crosses, and Losses, to look unto him from whence the stroke cometh: to submit all to the good pleasure of our good God. He sends us what ever we enjoy, Parents, Children, Husbands, Wives, Health, and Wealth, Lands, and Life; David refers us to the fountain; All of his bounty, 1 Chron. 29. 12, 16. And he 1 Chr. 29. 12. 16. may call for any, or all again, when he pleaseth; whatever we do, let us do this, Resign all without repining; so did Job: We return but his own, The Lord giveth, and The Lord taketh away, Blessed be the name of the Lord; When he had lost all, nothing out of his mouth, but Submission and Benediction, Job 1. 21. Job 1. 21 So did old Eli; when he was threatened with the destruction of his house, and Posterity, he submits with patience, and kisses the rod with an humble return, It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good, 1 Sam 3. 18. 1 Sam. 3. 18. So did Holy David, when he was in danger to lose a kingdom, and was driven from the Desire of his eyes, the Ark of God, and his Chiefest City: He commits himself, and his cause to God's disposal: If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation; But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; Behold here I am, let him do unto me as it seemeth good unto him, 2 Sam. 15. 25. 28. m. 15. 25. So did David's Lord, our blessed Saviour, when he was to take down that bitter cup, to undergo the Pain, and shame of the Cross; though it was bitter to swallow, and heavy to bear; he complies with his Father's decree, Not my will, but thine be done, Luke 22. 42. Perdidit vitam, ne perderet Luke 22. 42. obedientiam, saith St August. He was content to lose Augustine. his life, rather than lose his Loyalty, and bis obedience to his Father; And when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously; 1 Pet. 1 Pet. 2 23. 2. 23. I confess the parting of a man from his Wife, is like the parting of the soul from the body; And there is a time when a man must leave Father and Mother for his wife; But here is a nearer tye between Christ and thy Soul, then between a Man and his Wife; why? he must leave his wife, and all for him; Mark 10. 29. and shall never repent it, Mark 10. 30. Mar. 10. 29, 30 Use 4 For Comfort therefore in the last place, to the Children of God amidst all their losses: ye have heard, His dearest ones, his favourites he doth excercise under the Cross, and uses to the rod; Why so much the better: It is an argument he hath the more care of you, as his Children: No son he doth receive, but he chastens, Hebr. Heb, 12. 6, 8. 12. 6. Nay, we are no Children but Bastards, without it, Heb. 12. 8. Nay it brings us nearer to God: All things work together for their good that love God, Rom. 8 28. Rom. 8. 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, saith St chrysostom; our Chrys. in Rom. 8. very Greviances, and afflictions: though Tribulation, and Poverty, and fetters, and famine, and death, or whatsoever else, saith the Golden-mouthed Doctor, He makes no exception. Never think they are tokens of his displeasure, of separation: They are Pignora amoris, Pawns of his love; I report me to St Paul for a witness; 'Tis the Challenge of that great Doctor of the Gentiles; Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Rom. 8. 35. shall Tribulation, or Distress, or Persecution, Rom. 8. 35. or Famine, or Nakedness, or Peril, or the Sword? Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us; And therefore in this Comfort and Confidence he triumphs; I am persuaded that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor any other Creature shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, Rom. 8. 39 Rom. 8. 39 Well then; Hath he taken away thy goods? why he can restore them double, as he did to Job, Job 42. 10. Hath he taken away thy Children? why, God can give thee more, or preserve them to thy Comfort with himself, so that thou shalt say, they are not lost; And indeed, I remember St Gregory Gregor. Moral. 35. cap. 11. gives the reason, why God Almighty, when he doubled Jobs substance in his sheep, and his camels, and his oxen, yet he gave him but just so many Children as he had taken from him; because his dead Children were not lost, but in Gods Keeping, in a better life. Hath he taken away thy Parents? why, when my Father and my mother forsake me, the Lord takes me up, Psal. 27. 10. Hath he taken away thy Husband? Psal. 27. 10. He is the Father of the Fatherless, and the Judge of the widows, Psal. 68 5. Hath he taken away thy Psal. 68 5. Wife, thy Comforter, and thy Companion? Why, God is all in all; Thy Wife, Thy Husband, Thy Father, Thy Comforter, and thy Companion; Our best refuge, Our greatest strength, a very present help in time of trouble, Psal. 46. 1. Let that comfort thee. And now I have done with my Text, and the general application, give me leave to apply more particularly, and as I told you in the beginning, to find it at our own doors; What ye have heard with your ears, you see here presented to your eyes; Fix them upon that Coffin, upon those Blacks and Eschutcheons, and they will lead you from the Thesis to the Hypothesis, from the Prophecy to the Parallel. That Death, which you heard of in the Text, you see in her proper Colours: Behold the Stroke she gave, The wounds she made, yet bleeding fresh, and I fear nothing so much, as that while I seek to close them, the Commemoration of those Virtues, which did shine in this Dear deceased, should make them Wider. You heard, a Wife was the nearest, the dearest delight to her husband in the world; The desire of his eyes: So it was here; And that will be your joy. Again you heard, it pleaseth God oftentimes to deprive his dearest Children of that their dearest delight, by the Stroke of Death; as he uses to do, so he hath done here; And that will be your sorrow. For the first, I must tell you, I shall present you with a shadow, with a Picture of a most heavenly Soul; which though it dwelled in an earthly body, was right dear indeed, unto her Husband; and that body though now a liveless Corpse, I may boldly say, The desire of his eyes, in all three respects. First in respect of the Original frame and Composure. God had made her of the same mould, so that he looked upon her as a piece of his own flesh▪ And the great workman of heaven and earth, had done his part so well, that there needed no Art to perfect Nature, or supply any defect; But her own Beauty, and lovely Proportion, had power both to procure, and Continue her Husband's Affection. To make her the more , she was of no base metal, but Extract, and derived from a Noble and an ancient family, the memory of some whereof was precious in this Place. But I remember withal what the wise Roman hath upon record, — Genus et proavos, et quae non fecimus ipsi, Ovid. Met. Lib. 13. Vix ea nostra voco.— Our pedigrees, and Noble blood, we are beholden to our forefathers for, rather than ourselves. I pass them over, and come to the next. Secondly therefore, she was dear unto him, The desire of her husband's eyes, In respect of the marriage Knot, the mutual Covenant between them, Gods own Institution, under which condition, as they had chosen one another out of mutual Affection, so they did look upon one another no longer as two, made of the same mould, as all mankind are in general; but they two one flesh: Their wil●s one, their desires the same; Their souls linked together: That's true love indeed: To choose, and refuse the same things: Idem nolle et velle ea demum Sallust. Conjur. Cat. perfecta est Amicitia. This is the true nearness, The only dearness, saith the Historian. And indeed I have often heard the Husband say, which I cannot but mention, That there was never any contention or Controversy between them, but only one; But it was a very heavenly one, a most blessed and happy one; And that was this, Which of the Two should love one another most. 'Tis worthy your imitation, And that which makes the state of marriage a Comfortable life. 3. But to come to that which is the Crown of all the rest: She was the desire of her husband's eyes, and of his heart too: very dear unto him, in regard of her Gracious disposition. And here I shall take the boldness to tell you, that I shall deliver nothing upon the Information of others, or uncertain reports, but what I have observed upon mine own knowledge, and long acquaintance; And I well remember the Place where I stand, and the Person that I sustain; And though I am a Stranger, yet I beseech ye, believe my Profession. I never loved to Prostitute either my tongue or the Pulpit to flatter the living, or praise the dead, that were unworthy in their lives. But truly, Beloved, when God's graces are eminent, and exemplary in his Children; they are not to be concealed, that Posterity may be encouraged in the imitation of such virtues, and God, the Author, glorified in such Saints. Thus St Ambrose honoured Theodosius; Thus Gregory Nazianzen remembered Athanasius, Cyprian, and St Basil; Thus St Jerome commended Marcelia, Blesilla, and other holy and Religious Ladies at their Funerals. And we do it not without good warrant; A woman that fears the Lord, she shall be Praised, Prov. 31. 30. 'Tis Scripture; Blessed are the Dead, which Prov. 31. 30. die in the Lord: and we may believe the witness; Even so saith the Spirit; for they rest from their labours, and their works follow them: they follow her indeed, Rev. 14. 13. and praise her in the gates, Prov. 31. 32. Prov. 31. 32. First, as there had been great care in her Education, so God had endowed her with a great measure of Grace, both to approve and apply all outward accessories, to the attaining of the great and Principal End, The Knowledge of God, and Salvation of her soul. It is a great argument of a most heavenly mind, and I observe it to her honour. I never came to see her, either in the City or Country, but as St Hierom writes of that noble Lady Blesilla, Semper Hier. T. 1. de. abit. Bless. aut prophetam, aut Evangelium in manibus; I found her with a Bible, or some good book in her hands, of which she was able readily to give you a good account of her reading. Secondly, Where the fear of the Lord is seated in the heart, there can be no Virtue, no Grace wanting; And truly, Religion had so furnished her with all kind of goodness, that she made her life desired, and her death honoured; She was not contented with a narrow scantling of grace, or a single Virtue, but I must tell you, There was a sweet conjunction, and a Cohabitation of all, moral Virtues, and Divine Graces in her breast. Religion that I named before, the root of all, had taken Possession of her Heart; Charity of her Hands; Those fruits of the spirit, Joy, and Peace, and long-suffering, Gal. 5 22. heavenly Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, had fitted her for the Company of the Lamb; Modesty, the Grace of women, and the honour of the sex. was one of her natural endowments. Ye might easily know her to be one of the daughters of Sarah, by her very dress, her inward adorning herself, as St Peter calls it. Her conversation coupled with fear, 1. Pet. 3. 2. The Ornament of a meek and a 1 Pet. 3. 2. quiet Spirit. The Ornament of those Holy women, that trusted in God; as the Apostle again, 1. Pet. 3. 4, 5. The Ornament of obdience, of 4, 5. subjection, the wife's Ornament, 1. Pet. 3. 5. 6. That 5, 6. if there were nothing else, she must for this be the desire of her Husband's eyes, The Joy of his Heart. The time will not suffer me to tell you of her sweet and winning behaviour, her kind and Courteous Carriage; No Rancour in her heart, no Revenge in her hands; The Language of her tongue was Blessing, and the fruit of her lips, were Prayers and Devotion. And as she was a Saint herself, so it was her study to make more; Especially, her dear and only daughter, whom she did so season with the same liquor in those tender years, that I believe she will savour the better of it ever after; Prove another Saint. I shall not acquaint you (though she was but little) of her sweet taking Carriage; Habituated (as it were) in her by her Parent's Pattern, and Prudent regards of her; for that was the observation (with great applause) of every eye; and spoke her a woman, while yet a Child. But I must go higher, and tell you, such was her mother's Religious care, in her Education, that before she was eight years old, she had made her read so perfectly, that she exceeded both her equals, and very many of far greater age; yea (I am confident) even most of her own sex. But above all, her chiefest endeavour was to make her skilful in the Book of Books, Gods own Book; which (though so young, and tender, as she was) she had read through more than once or twice, besides several other Books, which to name, were too great a Labour, and a wasting of the time. So that we may say of her as Saint Paul of Timothy, 2 Tim. 3. 15. That from a Child 2 Tim. 3 15. she hath known the Scriptures. And that she might understand them the better, This Pious Mother had laid a good foundation, instructed her in the Principles of Religion, and made her expert in both the Catechisms. And now though she be taken away from her daughter, yet she hath left her a perpetual Remembrance. Her own Precepts, and Pattern; To take God for her guide, and make Religion her Glory. 'Tis her honour indeed to be born of such a Mother, whose Life was an Example, and whose Example deserved to be Remembered, and may justly both encourage and Command her Imitation. These are the Chief Colours in her Arms, though she wants not others to Grace her Funerals (as ye see). Those Blacks and Eschutcheons that are before your eyes, she needs not, to adorn her Hearse. Would ye have any Flowers (as the Custom is)? Why, she hath provided some herself, as ye hear; I have but tied them together, to throw them upon her grave. Would ye have any Ointments, or sweet Odours? Why, she herself hath prepared them against her Burial, to perfume her Corpse, as Mary did our Saviour's. A good report is better than a Precious Matth. 26. 12 Ointment, Eccles. 7. 1. I do but pour it out, and Eccl. 7. 1. sprinkle it among you; I hope we shall all smell the better for it. But is it not pity we should part thus? Give me leave to look back again, and to propose the question anew: Is it not pity that such a Frame should be taken in pieces? that such a Knot should be untied? Is it not pity such a Gracious Disposition should be subject to Dissolution? It is indeed, if we look no higher than our own Designs. But if we look into the Text, 'Tis the Lord's doing; He it is that may Challenge his own; As I told you in the beginning, He made this goodly frame, and may unmake it; He made this Match, and may Break this Match; He gave those Graces, and may call for a return of those Graces; His dearest Children must suffer the loss of all, without repining; Behold I take away from thee the desire. And is she taken away? Hath Death seized upon her by a Stroke? was she snatched away, and surprised as it were, before we thought upon it? 'Tis true, Beloved, We might be surprised, but so could not She. Ye heard of her Life; She could not be unprovided for Death; She that lead such a blessed life, must needs be Blessed in her death. You must therefore know, That she died in Childbed, and while she brings another Saint to life, within few days after, she resigns her own. The Throws of a woman in travail, are dangerous, and threaten death, in the best condition, and will make those that are most secure, look about them: But a Religious woman, ever expects Death in it, and is never unprepared for it. Sure I am, this worthy Gentlewoman, as through the whole Course of her life, you could never hear any vain, or idle discourse proceed from her blessed mouth: So now more especially, it was ever filled with heavenly language, and breathed out nothing but Devotion. For that purpose, she desired myself, not long before the time of her travail, to make her partaker of the Pawns and Pledges of her salvation, in the blessed Sacrament, that whatsoever befell her, in that great conflict, she might have her Viaticum, her heavenly provision, as the Fathers call it, the food of her soul, to witness her faith, and her hope, and to give us assurance of her preparation: And certainly, she that prepared herself for the Sacrament, so near the time of her danger, did also by the Sacrament, prepare herself for Death. And indeed, the Lord had prepared her, for Himself; and though death were able to divide her from her dearest Husband, and her nearest friends, yet it could not divide her from her God: Even in the hour, and Pangs of death when strength and senses seemed to fail, when she knew no body, her heart was fixed upon her Creator, his name only was in her mouth, and her last words, that were heard fall from her, sweetly warbled forth this heavenly Note, Lord, where am I? I am here, Lord. As if she were seeking her Saviour, to resign her soul into his hands, where she might find rest from her Labour. Thus she lived, and thus she died, carrying with Her those Graces and goodness, that were the Ornaments of her life; But leaving us, the grief for so great a loss, and those sad Remaines that we are about to carry, and lay up in her Grave. Now if my words and testimony may add honour to her Funeral, give me leave to express the hopes that I have of Her happiness, in an heavenly desire, Cum mihi supremos Lachesis perneverit annos. Non aliter cineres mando jaceremeos. Mart. Epig. lib. 1. Ep. 89. Thus would I live, and when I die, I wish my soul may be a companion with Hers. And now I would call for your tears, but that I see them trickling down your cheeks already: Mourning is seasonable, and is an argument of of love, and affection: Flebat et Jesus Lazarum, Hierom. super obitum Blesi … saith St Jerome: Our Saviour wept himself for Lazarus, for he loved him; He wept at his John 11. 35. Grave. But now I remember, Weep not for Her so much, as for yourselves, and your friends. Weep ye women, for ye have lost the Glory of your sex. Weep ye Husbands, for ye have lost the Pattern for your Wives. Weep ye of the Kindred, for ye have lost the honour of your Blood. Weep ye that were her Friends, and Acquaintance, ye have lost a Companion, and a Comforter. Weep ye that were poor, and in want, ye have lost a nurse and a Reliever. And if I had any tears left, not yet poured out from those eyes that were witnesses of her worth, I would even now empty them into her Grave, and bemoan my own loss also. Death comes too near us, when it comes to take away a Portion of ourselves, of our eyes, of our hearts: The desire of both. It is coming to us too: it, let us prepare for, and let it come when it will. But now to wipe away those tears, which fall from your eyes, This heavenly soul, whose dead body, we are about to carry to her resting Place, to lay her by her Mother's side (that noble and worthy Lady, sometimes the Honour of this Place) Though her body, be to be buried there, and Covered with earth, yet she is not lost: H●r name lives for ever; There is amends made, for all the spoils, that death can make. And I may truly say of Her, as that great Historian did sometime of the Noble Roman Agricola. Tacit in vita Agricola. Quicquid ex Agricola amavimus, quicquid mirati sumus, manet; mansurumque est in animis hominum, in aeternitate Temporum, fama rerum. What ever we did love in her deceased, That which we admired, and honoured▪ in Her remains; and so will remain in the minds of men in continual succession of times, in fame and renown. As she was like Rachel, in her Death, and Gen. 35. 18. while she gave life to another, in a few days after she lost her own; so shall she have Rachel's Pillar: The Monument of her virtues, more lasting than Rachel's, The goodness and graces of her mind, that never die, that are never subject to rottenness or Corruption, to mouldering or consuming. I will go a little farther, and join altogether. Those three Relations, or obligations, That made her the delight of her Husband's eyes. First, Her original frame: That shall be restored; This corruptible must put on incorruption; and this mortal must put on immortality, 1 Cor. 15. 53. Secondly, Her marriage 1 Cor. 15. 53. Covenant, That shall be renewed; The marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hathmade herself ready, Rev. 19 7. The soul is the Lamb's Rev. 19 7 wife. Christ and his Church are married together, Eph. 5. 32. Thirdly, Her gracious disposition, Eph. 5. 32. that never dies: Virtus clara aeternaque habetur; Riches and Beauty fade and perish, Virtue is eternal, saith the wise Heathen man; Their Sallust. Consur. Cat. works follow them, Saith the Spirit of God, Rev. 14. 13. The graces and goodness of Her mind Rev. 14. 13. continue for ever; And as the Apostle speaks of Abel, so may I of her; By them, she being dead, yet speaks, Heb. 11. 4. Heb. 11. 4. For conclusion of all; That which remains for us to do, is, to Remember Her Graces, To imitate Her goodness; when we are taken from the earth, they will accompany us to heaven; when our Saviour sees us clothed with the robe of his righteousness. He will welcome his own Graces into his Father's Glory, with a Venite Beati, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Matth. 25. 34. Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world; She is gone before; Now that we may follow after, and find the same entrance, let us first pray, that we may follow Her Practice, And at last, find Her Reward. FINIS. The Elegy Englished. As Jacob's Rachel, Cole's ELIZABETH, Diswombing their Benoni's, each found death. Jacob on's Rachel did a Pillar rear, So Cole on his ELIZABETH,— 'Tis there. O My ELIZABETH, my dearest she! My eyes Delight, and all that Good might be! How heavy Lord, hath thy afflicting Hand On me been laid! * vid. p. 26 She answering thy Command. She whom All loved, that did Her once but know. What Piety, what Charity did flow From Her Religious soul? Her spotless Life, Her love so truly Conjugal! A Wife, Whose Train of Graces! Whose beauteous shape Did Her, both Lovely, and Beloved, make! Her Mind and Body highly did contest, To render Her to all, most Sweet, most Blessed. She, She is gone. Who Her doth not bemoan, For Virtue lost, or sweetness will not groan. The mournful Husband sighs, Farewell, my Sweet, Till at the Resurrection we shall meet.