THE WOMANS Looking-Glaſs.
I Muſt crave leave (for method ſake) to rank Women into three ſorts, and to diſcourſe of them in order, one after another.
1. Good and vertuous Women, thoſe I admire and adore, confeſſing their price is above Solomons Rubies; as being loving and obedient to their Husbands, and being as fruitful Vines on the Walls of their Houſes; and their Children as Olive Plants round about their Tables; and ſuch who do their Husbands good and not evil, all the days of their lives.
2. Marthaes, who cumber themſelves about many things, and forget2 that (unum neceſſarium) that one thing which is neceſſary, and are onely for the things of this World; and by Worldlings deemed and accounted the beſt Wives.
3. Leud and vitious Women, who are neither good for this World, nor for the World to come.
To theſe of the firſt and beſt rank, I have little to ſay more, then to commend their Vertues, and to pray for their Perſeverance, that God will be pleaſed to perfect that good work which he hath begun in them.
Yet for their comfort, encouragement and imitation, I will mention ſome good Women whom we finde recorded in holy Scripture, and will begin with Sarah,Sarah. the Wife of faithful Abraham (who is ſtiled the Friend of God, and of her great love and obedience to her Husband, in calling him Lord: And what was3 her reward? God opened her womb when ſhe was old, and ſhe conceived, and brought forth a Son, in whom all the Families of the earth were bleſſed.
Next in order comes Rebecca thus;Rebecca. when Abraham had ſent his ſervant to ſeek out a Wife for his Son Iſaac, charging him to take one of his kindred, and of his Fathers houſe, by ſpecial providence, Rebecca came accidently to water her Fathers Cattle, and ſhe was ſo kinde, that ſhe drew water, to make Abrahams ſervant drink, and his Camels alſo; ſo ſhe brought him home to her Fathers houſe, where he was moſt kindly entertained, (her Father being brother to his Maſter Abraham) to whom he revealed his meſſage, ſaying unto them; If ye will deale mercifully and kindly with my Maſter, tell me, and if not, tell me, that I may turne me to the right hand or to the left; To which they made this4 divine anſwer, ſaying; This thing is proceeded of the Lord, we cannot therefore ſay unto thee, neither evil or good; but thus conclude; Behold, Rebecca is before thee, take her and goe, that ſhe may be thy Maſters ſons Wife, even as the Lord hath ſaid; Then the Servant took forth Iewels of ſilver and Iewels of gold, and rayment, and gave to Rebecca, alſo unto her brother, and to her Mother he gave gifts, and they did both eate and drink, and he tarried there all night, and when he roſe in the morning, he ſaid let me depart unto my Maſter but her mother, and her brother anſwered, let the maid abide with us at leaſt ten days, and then ſhall ſhe go, which was referred unto Rebecca her ſelf, who made choice to go preſently, whereby ſhe became a notable pattern, and worthy example to all Women, to prefer their Husbands, before Mother or Brother, or any friends or near relations whatever.
5Now when ſhe came near to Abrahams houſe, ſhe ſhewed abundance of humility, for ſeeing Iſaac coming forth to meet her, ſhe took a vail, and covered her, and ſo they became man and wife, and Iſaac loved her, and thus he was comforted after his mothers death.
Next you may take notice of her ſingular wiſdom, for ſhe loving Jacob her ſon, better then his brother Eſau, and ſo did Almighty God, who ſaid, Jacob have I loved, and Eſau have I hated, and when her husband Iſack was old, and his ſight dim (for he could not ſee) ſhe heard him call for his Son Eſau to him, telling him that he was old and knew not the day of his death, and ſo deſired him to take his Bowe, and go into the field and take him ſome Veniſon, and to make him ſavory meat thereof, and bring it to him, that he might eat, and that his ſoul might bleſs him before he died,6 wherewith Rebecca acquainted Jacob and charged him to go to the flocks, and bring her thence two good Kids of the Goats, that ſhe might make pleaſant meat of them for his Father, ſuch as he loved; telling him, that then he ſhould bring it to his Father, whereof he ſhould eat, to the intent that he might bleſs him before his death, which he did accordingly. Then Rebecca took ſome clothes of her eldeſt ſon Eſau, and put them upon Jacob, and ſhe covered his hands, and the ſmooth of his neck with the skins of the Kids, afterward ſhe put the pleaſant meat which ſhe had prepared, into the hands of her Son Jacob, who brought the ſame unto his Father, and told him that he was Eſau his firſt born, and had done as he had bid him, deſiring him to eat, that his Soul might bleſs him. But Jſaac being ſomewhat jealous and ſuſpitious, bid him come near him, that he might7 feel him, and ther by know whether he was his ſon Eſau or not; and when he had felt him, he ſaid, the voice is Jacobs voice, but the hands are the hands of Eſau. Afterwards he bid him again come near him, and kiſs him, and he did ſo, then he ſmelled the ſavour of his garment and bleſſed him; therefore Eſau hated Jacob, and thought in his mind, The days of mourning for my Father will come ſhortly, then will I ſtay my brother Jacob, which words were told to Rebecca, and there, with ſhe acquainted her Son Jacob, adviſing him to flee to Haran, to her brother Laban, and to tarry with him a while, untill his Brothers fierceneſs were ſwaged, and till his wrath were turned away from him, and he had forgot thoſe things which Jacob had done unto him, promiſing, that ſhe would ſend and fetch him from thence, ſo ſoon as it was covenient.
Next I come to Hannah the MotherHannah.8 of Samuel, who had the like ſucceſs and reward as Sarah, and brought forth her Son, and gave him ſuck, and after he was weaned (according to a vow which ſhe had made) when ſhe prayed earneſtly for him with many tears, yet her voice was not heard, only her lips moved, ſhe brought him and offered him to the Lord, in whoſe ſervice he continued all the days of his life.
Widow of SareptathThen we come to the good Widdow of Sareptath, who though ſhe had only but a handful of meale, and a little oyle, and ſhe was gathering, a few ſticks to dreſs it for her, and her Son that they might eat it, and die, for the famine was ſore, and all their victuals ſpent. And yet when Elias the Prophet came unto her (being very hungry) and deſired her firſt of all to make him a little cake, which ſhe did accordingly; and what was her reward, the meale in the barrels waſted not, neither9 was the oyle in the cruſe diminiſhed, but both laſted and continued, and thereby they lived and ſubſiſted even miraculouſly, untill God ſent plenty upon the earth.
Alſo her only Son being dead, was by the Prophet reſtored unto life.
Next followeth the good Shunamite,Shunamite. who was one of the Wives of the Sons of the Prophets, and came to Eliſha, ſaying, Thy Servant mine Husband is dead, and thou knoweſt that thy Servant did fear the Lord, and the Creditors are come to take my two Sons, and to make them Bond-men, and what did the Propher for her; thus, ſhe having in her houſe a pitcher of Oyle, he bid her get empty Veſſels and borrow ſome, which ſhe did, and ſhut the doors upon her and her two ſons, and poured the oyle from Veſſel to Veſſel, till all were full, and called to her Sons for another Veſſel, they anſwered, there was none10 left, and then and not before the oyle ceaſed running: Then ſhe came, and told the man of God, and he ſaid, Go and ſell the oyle, and pay them that thou art in debt unto, and live thou, and thy children of the reft. Alſo in the ſame Chapter, ye may read of a Woman (whoſe name we find not) but ſhe is deſcribed to be of great eſtimation, who was ſo kind to the Prophet Eliſha, that when he paſſed by that way ſhe conſtrained him to come in, and eat bread; and ſhe ſaid unto her husband; Behold, I know now that this is a holy man of God, let us make him a little chamber with walls, and let us ſet him there a Bed, and a Table, and a Stool, and a Candle-ſtick, that he may turn in thither, when he cometh to us; which the Prophet took ſo kindly, that he ſaid unto her, Behold, thou haſt had all this care for us, what ſhall we do for thee, is there any thing to be ſpoken for thee to the King, or to the Captain of the11 Hoſte, To which ſhe anſwered, I dwell amongſt my own people. Then Gehazi, the Prophets Servant, told his Maſter, That ſhe had no ſon, and that her Husband was old. So the Prophet called her, and told her, ſaying, At the time appointed, and according to the courſe of life thou ſhalt embrace a ſon: And ſhe conceived and bear a ſon at that ſame ſeaſon, according to the time of life that Eliſha had told her.
And in proceſs of time, when the Childe was grown up, he went out to his Father, and to the Reapers; and he complained to his Father, ſaying, Mine head, mine head; who commanded one of his ſervants to carry him to his Mother, and ſhe ſate him on her knees till noon, and then he died.
Now follows a moſt remarkable ſtory, and all both precedent and ſubſequent ſprings from the good12 diſpoſition of a vertuous, godly, and moſt faithful Woman.
And what did ſhe, ſhe went up, and laid her dead Childe upon the Bed of the Man of God, and ſhut the door upon him, and deſired her Husband (not telling him the Childe was dead) to ſend one of his yong men with an Aſs with her, telling him, She would haſte to the Man of God; and her Husband anſwered, Wherefore wilt thou go to him this day, it is neither new Moon, nor Sabbath day: Yet ſhe went preſently, and came to him to Mount Carmel; and when ſhe was near him, for joy ſhe had met him, and in token of humility, ſhe caught him by the feet, and his ſervant Gehazi went to thruſt her away; but the Man of God ſaid, Let her alone, for her Soul is vexed within her, and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told it me. Then perceiving by her that her Childe was dead, he13 ſaid to Gehazi, Gird thy loyns, and take my ſtaff in thy hand, and go thy way: If thou meet any, ſalute him not; and if any ſalute thee, anſwer him not, and lay my ſtaff upon the face of the childe: To which his Mother thus replied, ſaying, As the Lord liveth, and as thy ſoul liveth, I will not leave thee; therefore he aroſe, and followed her, but Gehazi was gone before, and had laid his ſtaff upon the face of the Childe, but it neither ſpake nor heard; whereupon he went back to meet them, telling them, That the Childe was not waked. Then came Eliſha into the Chamber, and behold the Childe was dead; then he ſhut the door, and prayed unto the Lord: And after went up, and lay upon the Childe, putting his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands, and ſtretched himſelf upon him, and the fleſh of the Childe waxed warm. Then the Childe ſneezed ſeven times, and14 opened his eyes; then the Mother being called, came in, and fell at his feet, and bowed her ſelf to the ground and took up her ſon.
Next I come to the ſtory of Abigail,Abigail unequally yoked to Churliſh Nabal, yet a man exceeding mighty, for he had Three thouſand Sheep, and a Thouſand Goats: But Abigail was a Woman of ſingular wiſdom, and beautiful, whereby ye may by the way obſerve by the ſequel of the buſineſs, That it is better to be wiſe, then to be rich: For David hearing that Nabal did that day ſhear his Sheep, he ſent ten of his yong men unto him to viſit him; and for ſalutation, to ask, Whether he and his houſe, and all that he had, were in Peace, Wealth, and Proſperity; and to put him in minde, That when his Shepherds were with David, they did them no hurt, neither did they miſs any thing; and ſo deſired ſome of his15 good cheer. But Churliſh Nabal anſwered and ſaid, Who is David? and who is the ſon of Jeſſe? there be many ſervants now adays that run away from their Maſters: Shall I then take my Bread, and my Water, and my Fleſh that I have killed for my Shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? Which anſwer Davids Servants told him, whereupon David grew angry, and commanded them to gird their Swords about them, and he himſelf alſo girded on his Sword, and about Four hundred men went up with him to be revenged upon Nabal: But now behold a miracle, the wit of a Woman; for Abigail being told of all paſſages, by one of her ſervants, ſhe made haſte and took with her Two hundred Cakes, and two Bottles of Wine; five Sheep ready dreſſed, and five meaſures of Parched Corn, a hundred Frails of Raiſins, and two hundred of Figs,16 (all unknown to her Husband) and went with it to meet David; and meeting with him, ſhe lighted off her Aſs, and fell before him on her face, and bowed her ſelf to the ground, and fell at his feet; and thus ſaid, Let not my Lord, I pray thee, regard this wicked man Nabal; for as his name is, ſo is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: But I thine Hand-maid ſaw not the yong men of my Lord, whom thou ſenteſt. Then David ſaid to Abigail, Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael; and bleſſed be thy Counſel; and bleſſed be thou, which haſt kept me this day from coming to ſhed blood: For as the Lord of Iſrael liveth, except thou hadſt haſted, and met me, furely, here had not been leſt unto Nabal, by the dawning of the day, any that piſſeth againſt the Wall. And then David received her preſents, and bad her go in peace to her houſe. So Abigail came to Nabal, and behold he made in his houſe17 a feaſt, like the feaſt of a King, and his heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: Wherefore ſhe told him nothing, neither leſs nor more, until the morning aroſe; and then when the Wine was gone out of Nabal, his wife told him all paſſages, and his heart died within him, and he was like a ſtone; and about ten days after the Lord ſmote Nabal, that he died. Now when David heard that Nabal was dead, and that the Lord had recompenced his wickedneſs upon his own head. Then David ſent to commune with Abigail touching being his wife; and when Davids ſervants came, and acquainted her with it, ſhe aroſe, and bowed her ſelf on her face to the earth, ſaying, Behold, let thine hand-maid be a ſervant to waſh the feet of the ſervants of my Lord; and ſhe went with her five Maids, and ſhortly after became his Wife.
18Next I think fit to ſpeak of Michal the Daughter of King Saul,Michal. and Davids wife; who though ſhe were a Woman bad enough of all conſcience; for ſhe mocked David, being both her King and Husband, for dancing before the Ark of the Lord, &c. Yet it is pity to omit any good done by a Woman. And thus much I finde recorded of her, That Saul intending to kill David, thruſt at him with his Spear, but he turning aſide, it miſſed him, and fell into the Wall: Then Saul ſent. Meſſengers to Davids houſe to watch him, and to ſtay him in the morning; whereof Michal gave him notice, and ſo ſhe let him down through a Window, whereby he eſcaped and fled: And ſhe took an Image and laid it in his Bed, and put a Pillow ſtufft with Goats hair under the head of it, and covered it with a cloth, and then told Sauls Meſſengers (who failed not to19 come) That her Husband was ſick; who returned with this anſwer: But Saul (full of malice) ſent them again, charging them to bring him in the Bed, that he might ſlay him. So God made this wicked Woman the inſtrument to preſerve Davids life, who otherwiſe had undoubtedly periſhed.
And now I come to the Noble Queen of Sheba,Queen of Sheba. who came from far, hearing the fame of Solomon, concerning the name of the Lord, and to prove him with hard queſtions, and brought with her abundance of very rich preſents; as Gold, pretious Stones, ſweet Oders, &c. Then when ſhe ſaw Solomons Wiſdom, and the Houſe which he had builded, and the Meat of his Table, and the ſitting of his Servants, ſhe told the King, That it was a true Record which ſhe heard in her own Lands; howbeit, ſhe believed not the report, until ſhe20 came and ſaw it; and then ſhe confeſſed, That the one half was not told her, proclaiming, That happy were his men, and happy were his ſervants, who ſtood before him to hear his wiſdom: And bleſſed God who had ſet him on the Throne of Iſrael to do Equity and Righteouſneſs. And Solomon gave her very great gifts, and ſhe departed.
Next,Ruth. moſt memorable is the kindneſs of Ruth towards Naomi, being onely her Mother-in-Law, yet ſhe would not leave her, but travel with her into a far Countrey, ſaying thus unto her, Whither thou goeſt, I will go; and where thou dweleſt, there will I dwell: Thy people ſhall be my people; and thy God, my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: The Lord do ſo to me, and more alſo, if ought but death do part thee, and me.
And upon this reſolution, they travel together, and Ruth came in21 the Harveſt time, to gleane Corn in the field of Boaz, who took notice of her, and uſed her kindly) and ſhortly after married her (ſhe being then a Widow) and her Mother-in-law Naomi became Nurſe unto it, of whom according to the fleſh came Chriſt, for the Text ſaith that Boaz begat Obed of Ruth, and Obed begat Jeſſe, and Jeſſe begat David.
Then follows the ſtory of the thrice noble Queen Eſther,Eſther. who was ſo happy that ſhe found favor in the ſight of all that looked upon her; and King Ahaſhuerus loved Eſther above all the Women, and ſhe found grace and favor in his ſight more then all the Virgins, and when all the people of the Jews, were in apparent danger of utter deſtruction, ſhe commanded all the Jews to faſt three nights and three days, promiſing that ſhe and her maids would alſo faſt, which they did, and ſhe put on this heroick22 diſpoſition and reſolution; ſaying, I will go into the King, though it be contrary to the Law, and if I periſh I periſh, and ſo ſhe preſerved all the Nation (being her own people) and cauſed Haman their enemy, and the Plotter of all miſchief, to be hanged upon the ſame gallows, which he had prepared for Mordecai her Uncle.
Now Gentlewomen of the firſt and beſt rank, give me leave, before we depart, and before I bid you farewell, to take you by the hand, and lead you to the 31. Chapter of the Proverbs, for I would have you (and ſo would God) to be as well good Huſ-wives, as good Wives, and there ye are taught your duty thus, taking notice of the preamble before it, which runs thus; What my ſon, and what the Son of my womb, and what O ſon of my deſires; Give not thy ſtrength unto Women, &c. Then ſhe comes to a vertuous Woman, confeſſing her price is far above the23 Pearles, and that the heart of her husband truſteth in her, and that ſhe will do him good and not evil all the days of her life, and that ſhe will ſeek for Wool and Flax, and labor cheerfully with her hands; and how ſhe, like the ſhips of Merchants bringeth her food from afar, and how ſhe riſeth when it is yet night, and giveth the portion to her Houſhold, and the ordinary to her maids; and how with the fruit of her hands, ſhe planteth a Vineard, and how her Candle is not put out by night, and how ſhe putteth her hands to the Wheele, and her ſingers to the ſpindle; and how ſhe feareth not the ſnow to her Family, for they are clothed in Scarlet; and how ſhe maketh ber ſelf Carpets, and fine Linnen and Purple, alſo Sheets and Girdles, and how ſhe overſeeth the walls of her Houſhold, and eateth not the bread of idleneſs; and how her Children riſe up, and call her24 bleſſed; and her Husband doth daily praiſe her, ſaying, Many Daughters have done vertuouſly, but thou ſurmounteſt them all: Concluding, that Favor is deceitful, and Beauty is vanity; but a Woman that feareth the Lord, ſhe ſhall be praiſed. And that the fruit of her hands ſhall be given her, and her own works praiſe her in the Gates; for ſhe ſo adorneth her Husband, that ſhe maketh him to be known in the Gates, and when he ſitteth with the Elders of the Land.
Neither dare I leave out of my Catalogue〈…〉Elizabeth,Elizabeth. the Wife of Zacharias, and both eſteemed juſt before God: And ſhe was the Mother of John the Baptiſt, who was great in the ſight of the Lord, and ſo highly honored, as to Baptiſe our Saviour in his own perſon in the River of Jordan, when he was Thirty years of age. A man that neither drank Wine, nor ſtrong25 drink; his Rayment being made of Camels Hair, and his diet being Locuſts and wilde Honey. And I ſhall deſire of you (by way of parentheſis) to obſerve with me, what a wicked and perverſe people the Jews were, and no way to be pleaſed: For our Saviour came Eating and drinking, and they ſaid of him, Behold, a Wine bibber, a friend of Publicans and Sinners: And this John came neither eating nor drinking, and they ſaid, Behold he hath a Devil.
Now to proceed in the ſtory,Anna. At the Dedication of our Saviour, there was in the Temple a Propheteſs one Anna, who was of a great age, and had lived ſeven years with an Husband from her Virginity; and ſhe was a Widow of about Eighty four years, and went not out of the Temple, but ſerved God with Faſtings and Prayers night and day; who confeſſed likewiſe the Lord, and26 ſpake of him to all that looked for redemption in Jeruſalem.
And preſently follows, That as he came to a City called Naim, Behold, there was a dead man carried out, the onely ſon of his Mother, and Jeſus had compaſsion on her, and ſaid unto her, Weep not; and he onely touched the Beer, and ſaid unto the yong man, Ariſe, and he roſe up and began to ſpeak, and he delivered him to his Mother.
Alſo our Saviour ſo tendered the poor Widow, That he over ruled the wicked heart of the unrighteous judge, who neither feared God, nor reverenced Man, to do her right to avoid her importunity.
Chriſt beheld the rich men which caſt their gifts into the Treaſury, and withall took notice of a poor Widdow, who caſt in there two Mites, and he ſaid thus of her: Of a truth this poor Widdow hath caſt in more then they all; for they out of their ſuperfluity27 cast into the offerings of God, but ſhe of her penury hath caſt in all the living that ſhe had.
As our Saviour was going to be crucified, there followed him a great multitude of Women, who bewailed and lamented him, and he took notice of them, and ſaid unto them, Daughter of Jeruſalem, weep not for me, but weep for your ſelves and your Children, for the days will come, when men ſhall ſay, Bleſſed are the Barren, and the Wombs that never bare, and the Paps that never gave ſuck.
Now I come to the good Woman of Canaan,Good Woman of Cannan. who had a very great meaſure of Faith; for, her Daughter being miſerably vexed with a Devil, ſhe came unto Jeſus and cried, ſaying unto him: Have mercy on me O Lord, thou Son of David, but he anſwered her not a word: Then came his Diſciples to him, and beſought him ſaying, ſend her away for ſhe crieth after us, (whereby it is apparent28 that her faith wrought this importunity) to which our Saviour anſwered, that he was not ſent, but unto the loſt Sheep of the Houſe of Iſrael; yet ſhe came and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord help me; and he anſwered and ſaid, It is not good to take the Childrens bread and caſt it to dogs, to which ſhe (being fu•l of Faith) replied thus; Truth Lord, yet indeed the dogs eate of the crums, which fall from their Maſters table; Then Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto her. O Woman great is thy Faith, be it unto thee as thou beleevest, and her daughter, was made whole at that hour.
But for examples of good Women,Mary Magdalen. I will conclude with Mary Magdalen, out of whom Chriſt had caſt ſeven Devils, for in her youth, ſhe was a moſt lewd and vitious woman, but afterwards proved an exemplary Convert, who a little before our Saviours Paſſion, having a Box of29 very coſtly oyntment powred it on his head as he ſate at the Table; at which his Diſciples took exceptions, Why (being ſo coſtly) it was not ſold and given to the poor. To which our Saviour made this anſwer, ſaying, Why trouble ye the Woman, for ſhe hath wrought a good work upon me; for ye have the poor always with you, but me ſhall ye not have always. Verily I ſay unto you, Whereſoever this Goſpel ſhall be preached throughout all the World, there ſhall alſo this that ſhe hath done, be ſpoken of for a remembrance of her.
How then durſt I leave it out. Alſo ye know how ſhe waſhed his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.
Laſtly and chiefly, conſider her zeal and devotion, how upon the firſt day of the week early, while it was yet dark (for ſhe came to ſeek when there was no light to finde) yet ſhe came unto the Sepulchre;30 and ſeeing the ſtone taken away from the Tom be what haſte ſhe made; for ſhe ran to call Peter and John, and albeit both theſe Diſciples (after a ſearch by them made) and not finding, returned to their own home, yet ſhe ſtood without at the Sepulchre weeping, whereupon a great Divine noted and collected four obſervations worthy of Memory. Thus,
- 1. Mary, that is her Appellation or Nomination.
- 2. Stood, that is her ſtation.
- 3. Without at the Sepulchre, that is her deſolation.
- 4. Weeping, that is her lamentation.
And ſhee ſees Gods love unto her being thus alone, for two Angels appeared to her in white, the one ſitting at the head, the other at the feet, where the body of Jeſus was laid, to whom ſhe ſpake thus, ſaying, They have taken away the body of my31 Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And immediately Jeſus himſelf appeared to her, but ſhe thought he had been the Gardner; and ſo communed with her: But then Jeſus ſpake unto her, ſaying, Mary. Then ſhe knew his voice, and turned her ſelf, and ſaid unto him, Rabboni, which is to ſay, Master. Jeſus ſaith unto her, Touch me not, for I am not yet aſcended to my Father, but go to my Brethren and acquaint them. So ſhe went and told the Diſciples, that ſhe had ſeen the Lord, and that he had ſpoken theſe things unto her.
The laſt Cordial I have to give unto vertuous Women, is a good one, and very comfortable, and that is to ſhew you, That the Lord hath made choice of your weak Sex, to be inſtrumental in theſe particular eminent and remarkable things following.
- 1. As when he was pleaſed to ſee32 forth the excellent grace of Love, he compares it far ſurpaſſing the love, not of Men but of Women, who are moſt apt and prone to abound therein.
- 2. Likewiſe, when he would expreſs matter of Sorrow and Lamentation, he alſo compares that to Women, thus, As a Woman mourning for the Husband of her youth; as if there were no greater mourning.
- 3. But laſtly and chiefly to your Immortal Glory and Everlaſting Honor, Take notice that Women were made the Witneſſes, and the firſt and onely Witneſſes of our Saviours Reſurrection, and therein preferred before Peter and John, who was that beloved Diſciple.
Thus much touching good and andvertuous Women, for their Direction, Encouragement, Imitation, and Conſolation.
Now concerning the Marthaes33 of the world, or the worldly Marthaes, I could wiſh them with Mary, to chuſe the better part, and not cumber themſelves about many things, and neglect that unum neceſſariums, That one thing which is neceſſary. And that they would be wiſe to think of their latter end, and to provide for eternity, knowing, that they dwell here in Houſes made of Clay, whoſe foundation is the Duſt. And ſo labor to attain the peace of a good Conſcience, to be unto them a continual feaſt, and to believe that god lineſs is great gain; for it hath the promiſe, both of this life, and of the life to come: And to be able to diſtinguiſh between things terrene, momentary, and tranſitory, and things durable, eternal, and celeſtial; and to conſider, that the body is but a baſe Countrey Churl, but the Soul is a very great Lord; and if they had two ſuch gueſts to entertain in their Houſes, they would34 bluſh and be aſhamed to provide for the Churl all fitting accommodations, and to neglect the great Lord, making little or ſlow proviſion for him.
Alſo to conſider, That the World it ſelf muſt Wax old, as doth a Garment, and a time will come, and that ſhortly, when the Sun ſhall be darkned, and the Moon ſhall not give her light; when the ſtars ſhal fall from Heaven, and the powers of Heaven ſhall be ſhaken; and when ye ſhall hear the ſound of the Trumpet in your ears, ſaying, Ariſe ye dead, and some to judgment; and then the Graves ſhall be opened, and the dead ſhall ariſe; the Sea alſo ſhall yield up her dead, and all fleſh ſhall appear naked before Gods triou••ſeat, then and there to receive a recompence and reward (not for, but) according to the works which they have done, be they good〈◊〉.
35And theſe things being ſo, as moſt certainly they are, what manner of perſons ought ye to be in holy Converſations, and in Godlineſs. How ought ye to give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure; that ye be in the number of Chriſts little flock, for whom he hath prepared a Kingdom before the foundation of the world was laid, that ſo whenſoever it ſhall pleaſe him to ſummon you to appear before him, whether in the morning, or in the eveving, the Cock crowing, or the dawning of the day, ye may with the wiſe Virgins, have your Oyl burning in your Lamps (even the fruit of a pure Converſation) and ſo may enter into your Maſters joy: And having been found faithful in little, ye may be made ruler, and over much, and then ye muſt be content to make your Bed in the darkneſs, and to ſay to Corruption, Thou art my Mother;36 and to the Worms, Ye are our ſiſters, and our brethren.
Therefore it is high time for you to give over reading the 31 Chapter of the Proverbs, which teacheth onely matter of good Houſwivery, and be more careful to read and ſtudy other places of the Scripture, which do put you in minde of the Immortality of the Soul, that ſo ye may make timely proviſion for it, and cry out with the Goaler in the Acts, ſaying, Men and Brethren, what ſhall we do to be ſaved.
By this time, I doubt not, but ye have a deſire to go to Heaven; and for your furtherance in ſo happy a journey, I will be bold to acquaint you with three ways leading thereunto.
Firſt, there be ſome that ſteale into Heaven, by works of Mercy, and deeds of Charity, when they feed the hungary, and clothe the naked, and ſuffer none to periſh for want of37 clothing, nor no poor to be without covering, but rather that their Loines may bleſs them, being warned with the Fleece of their ſheep; and yet all this to be ſo performed, that the right hand ſhall not know what the left hand doth.
Secondly, there be ſome who are driven and beaten as 'twere into Heaven; as by trouble, affliction, perſecution, poverty, ſickneſs or the like, for then you know what is ſpoken in the Pſalmiſt; In their affiction they will ſeek me diligently.
Thirdly, there are others who take or ſeize the Kingdom of Heaven, by force and violence, as it is ſpoken in the Scripture, the Kindom of Heaven ſuffereth violence; as when it is gotten by earneſt importunity; as the poor importunate Widdow, who overcame the unrighteous Judge, and even forced him to grant her requeſt; or as Jacob contending all night with Chriſt himſelf, telling38 him, that unleſs he bleſſed him, he would not let him go.
So if it pleaſe God to make you ſo happy as to find out either of theſe three ways, ye will then attaine the end of your hopes, which is the ſalvation of your Souls; which is of far greater price and value then all the things in the World, nay, then ten thouſand Worlds; for then ye ſhall come to live and raigne with the Eternal God, Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt, and with his glorious Quire of Heavenly Angels, and of the Spirits of juſt and holy men, who have departed this life in the fear of his bleſſed name; and there ſhall ye enjoy fulneſs of joy, and that for evermore.
Now I come to my laſt and worſt ſort of Women, namely, lewd and vitious women, who as I told you in the beginning, are neither good for this World, nor for the World to come; and therefore I take the leaſt39 care of them, and will beſtow the leaſt pains upon them, and the book of God makes mention of too many of them.
For there we reade of the monſtrous impiety and horrid luſt of Potiphars Wife, ſo often aſſaulted the chaſtity of vertuous Joſeph, and that with impudency after deniall.
Yee read alſo of the intollerable pride of Queen Vaſthi, in not obeying the command of the King her husband, and what became of her.
And of painted Jezabel, whoſe blood the very Dogs licked up.
Alſo of Jobs Wife, who gave her husband no better councel, then to curſe God and die; and afterwards in his greateſt miſery, how her breath was ſtrange unto him, though he intreated her for the fruit of her body.
And here I may not omit what40 experience almoſt every Aſſizes bringeth forth, both in our days and the days of our Fore-fathers, that ſeldome any notable Robberies or cruel Murthers have been committed, but a woman or more had a hand in it, and were the chief Contrivers and Actors thereof, deſtroying the Mother with her ſucking Babe, and that without any pitty, compaſſion or remorſe; and ſeldom any Aſſizes paſs, but ſome of them are indicted, convicted, and juſtly condemned and executed for killing and moſt unnaturally deſtroying the fruit of their own bodies.
But I call to remembrance a Book heretofore written by one Greene, to teach men to beware of Cutpurſes, and diſcovering all their cunning ſecrets, and underhand practiſes, where, by in the judgment of wiſe men, he did much more harm then good, and taught divers to becom Cutpurſes, who before had no thought to41 bend their ſtudies that way: Therefore I will forbear divers particular moſt wicked and barbarious actions (which I could mention) done and committed by Women, which notwithſtanding condemns not the generality of that Sex (God forbid) but ſhews that Paſſion and Affection in them, either in love or hatred, is much more extream and violent then in Men, according to the verſe of the Poet.
Aut te vehementer amat vel te capitaliter odit.
Either they will love intirely, or hate deadly.
Laſtly, Taking notice that almoſt in every particular County of the Nation, where there are Husbands and Wives who live a ſunder, and do not cohabite yet not for the act of Adultery, which is the (and42 the onely) cauſe of Separation; but for other ſiniſter reſpects, whereby it is evident, that they live in ſin, and provoke God to wrath and indignation againſt them, and their poſterity.
Therefore I much pitying their caſes, and having therein in ſome meaſure, my ſelf, been a ſuffer, I ſhall endeavor by the aſſiſtance of Almighty God to open their eyes, and convince their judgments of the unlawfulneſs thereof, and manifold inconveniencies ariſing thereby; for it had been better they had never one ſeen another. But I come to my proofs, and that out of the Word of God, which are both ſatisfactory and unanſwerable.
Firſt, We are to call to minde the ſolemn promiſes and engagements they made to their Husbands at the time of their marriage, for then the Miniſter asked them thus.
43Wilt thou have this man to thy weded Husband, to live together in the holy eſtate of Matrimony. Wilt thou obey him, and ſerve him, love, honor, and keep him in ſickneſs and in health, and forſaking all other, keeping thee only unto him ſo long as ye both ſhall live.
To which the Woman anſwered, I will.
Here is an abſolute, not a conditional promiſe, and that for term of life to live together, elſe there is no obedience, nor love, &c.
Next they took their Husbands by the right hand, ſaying after the Miniſter theſe words.
A ſacred Obligation and a Knot inviolable, during life, though ſickneſs or poverty ſhould intervene, or any other diſaſter.
Moreover, the Miniſter did joyn their right hands together, uſing theſe words. Thoſe whom God hath joyned together, let no man put aſunder.
If no man can do it, then they themſelves cannot, much leſs one of them.
Alſo the Miniſter gave them this Bleſſing.
No benediction nor grace, unleſs they live together, not aſunder.
Then obſerve the Prayer afterwards, one running thus.
The Scripture declareth, That curſed is he or ſhe, who maketh a Vow, and performeth it not.
Another Prayer is thus.
Here is likewiſe a living together, and not putting aſunder, and obedience prayed for on the Wives behalf, as likelieſt to Rebecca.
More out of the Holy Scripture.
Geneſis, Chap. 3. It was part of the puniſhment which God impoſed upon you for the tranſgreſsion of your Grand-Mother Eve,〈◊〉re••ing you, that your deſire ſhall be ſubject to your Husband, and they ſhall reigne over you.
If God hath ſo appointed, and that juſtly, who dare diſobey.
Gen. 24. Chap. verſe 55. Rebeccaes Mother and Brother deſired that ſhe might ſtay with them at leaſt ten days, before ſhe went to Iſaac, and47 the matter being referred unto her, ſhe made choice to go preſently.
Whereby, it is apparent that the company of a Husband, is to be preferred before Mother or Brother, or any Friends or Relations whatſoever.
Numb. 13.8. The husband hath power to diſallow the vow of the Wife, and make it of none effect.
Whereby it is manifeſt that his power is very great, and much more to intreate or command her Company.
Deut. 28.56. The delicate Woman who could not ſet the ſole of her foot to the ground for tenderneſs, the Text ſaith, her eye ſhall be evil toward the husband of her Boſome.
So that an evil eye towards the Husband is peculiar to a proud wife.
Job 19.17. Holy Job complained, that his breath was ſtrange to his VVife though he intreated, &c.
Job would not have complained48 for nothing, therefore it was a great Judgment.
Prov. 31.10, 12. Who can find a vertuous Woman, for her price is above Rubies; the heart of her husband doth ſafely truſt in her; ſhe will do him good, and not evil all the days of her life.
This cannot be done if they live aſunder, for then there is doing neither of good nor evil in relation each to other.
Jer. 3.20. A woman treacherouſly departeth from her husband; ſo have ye deabt treacherouſly with me, O houſe of Iſrael, ſaith the Lord.
So that no departing can be without being guilty of Treachery.
New Teſtament.
Mat. 19.6. Our Saviour ſpeaking of Man and Wife, ſaith, They are no more twaine, but one fleſh; what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put aſunder.
49A fearful thing to untie Gods knot, and them impoſſible for one to have, and the other to want.
Rom. 7.2. The Woman which hath a Husband, is bound by the Law to her Husband ſo long as he lives.
So that it is as lawful for an Apprentice to run away from his Maſter, as for a Wife to depart from her Husband without his conſent.
1 Cor. 7.4. The Wife hath not power of her own body, but the Husband.
How then can the Wife diſpoſe of any thing which is not her own.
Verſe 16. What knoweſt thou O Wife, whether thou ſhalt ſave thy Husband.
A ſtrange Salvation likely to be wrought when they live many miles aſunder.
Verſe 34. The married Woman careth for the things of the World, how ſhe may pleaſe her Husband.
Which is done in nothing more,50 then to live with him if he deſire it.
Verſe 10. The Apoſtle ſaith, I command, and yet not I, but the Lord: Let not the Wife depart from her Husband.
If the high God command, who dare diſobey.
Verſe 13. The Woman which hath an Husband that believeth not, if he be pleaſed to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
If unbelief be not a cauſe of ſeparation, what then can be (except Fornication) I am ſure neither poverty, ſickneſs, &c.
1 Cor. 9.5. St. Paul ſaith, Have we not power to lead about a Wife, as well as other Apoſtles.
It ſeems in thoſe days, that good Wives ſhould follow their Husbands where ever they went.
1 Cor. 11.3. The Head of the Woman is the Man.
A ſtrange thing to have the Head51 and the Body many miles aſunder.
Verſe 8, 9. The Man is not of the Woman, but the Woman of the Man; neither was the Man created for the Man.
A fearful thing for the Wife to ſeparate, not regarding the end of her Creation, for whom ſhe was made.
Verſe 12. The Woman is of the Man, but the Man is by the Woman.
If of the Man, how can they part ſtakes and withdraw?
Col. 3.18. The Apoſtle commands Wives to ſubmit to their own husbands.
Then certainly muſt dwell with them, if they deſire it, elſe it is not ſubmiſſion but rebellion, the Wife not having power of her own body.
Eph. 5.23. The Husband is the Head of the Wife, even as Chriſt is the Head of the Church: Therefore as the Church is ſubject unto Chriſt, ſo let Wives be unto their Husbands in every thing.
52Oh that the great God of Heaven and Earth, ſhould compare the tye between Husband and Wife, to the Myſtical Union between Chriſt and his Church!
1 Pet. 3.1. Wives, be in ſubjection to your own Husbands; that if any obey not the Word, they may without the Word be wone by the converſation of the Wives.
Converſation and Cohabitation, are inſeparable companions: For how can they converſe, unleſs they cohabite.