Saint Stephens Last Will and Testament, Eulogy
IT remaineth, as is uſuall, and not unuſefull, if it be not abuſed, in theſe caſes, and upon theſe occaſions, to ſpeake ſomething concerning our right deare & deſervedly beloved Chriſtian Siſter, M•is I…ice Featly, whoſe remaines we now performe this laſt office unto, to the praiſe and commendation of Gods worke and grace in her, and the incitement of others to the imitation of her. And I could wiſh, that ſome other, better able then my ſelfe, were to performe this office; or that mine owne abilities were better, for the performance of it according to her due deſert. But it was her deſire, which I might not ſay nay to; and I might peradventure, in ſome reſpects, be deemed fitter for it then many others, though of better abilities then my ſelfe. What I ſhall ſpeake of her, I ſhall ſpeake the more freely and boldly, becauſe I ſhall ſpeake moſt out of mine owne obſervation; having knowne her a long time in ſeverall eſtates, a Wife, and a Widow, againe and againe, in the prime of her yeeres, in her decaying dayes, and in her laſt concluding times; and having had ſpeciall occaſion to take notice of her and her carriage in each.
It had pleaſed God to adorne her with outward endowments, ſuch as are uſually of aIob. 42. 15. Eſther 2. 3. Pſal. 144. 12. Ita que Aristoteles qu…renti, quâ de cauſa pulchrarum conſortio▪ delectentur homines, reſpondit, foreign, Laert. l. 5.no ſmall eſteeme in the world, in that Sex eſpecially; I meane, with comelineſſe of perſon, and amiableneſse of countenance, above and beyond many, if not the moſt, of her Sex.
And, howſoever the Heathen man hath well obſerved, and by experience over-common too oft it appeareth, that bRara eſt concordia form… Atque pudicitiae.—Iuvenal. Sat. 10. L…s eſt cum formâ magna pudicitiae. Naſo ep. 15.—foreign. Eurip. apud Galen. pro…rept. Quas majora …ranent diſcrimina, Iuven. ib.Beautie is a ſhrewd bait, and hath beene the cHelena apud Euripidem, foreign.bane of not a few; yet was it farre otherwiſe with this our Siſter: ſhe paſſed the flower of her youth, dSine culp…, ſine …abul…, Apul. apol.without fault or fable, as he ſpeaketh, free from any the leaſt aſperſion or eQuae …aſta eſt? de quâ mentiri faina veretur, Bias apud Auſon Lud. Sap.imputation in that kind.
It is true indeed that Solomons Mother ſaith, that fProv. 31. 30.Beautie alone is but vaine, and favour is oft gforeign, Menander. foreign, Galen. protrept. c. 4. foreign. Theocrit. Idyl. 23.—Summ… nequicquam pelle decorus, Perſ. Sat. 4. Introrſum turpis, ſpecioſus pelle decor…, Flacc. l. 1. epiſt. 16.full of deceit. Yea, it is true that another ſaith, that hforeign, Euſtath. in Iliad. foreign.Beautie without Vertue is no grace, but a diſgrace to thoſe that ſo have it; a meanes, as iInde Homero, foreign. Euſtath. in Il. ….to draw more eyes after them, ſo kforeign. Plato Menexen. Proverb. 11. 22.to expoſe them to the more diſgrace & reproach, while their defects, by occaſion thereof, are more eyed. But it is no leſſe true on the other ſide, that the Poet hath, and is generally acknowledged; that, lGratior est pulchro veniens è corpore virtus. Maro Aeneid. lib. 5. licet reclamante Seneca epiſt. 66.where Vertue and Beautie doe concurre, they give much luſter mutually either to other. And ſo was it with her; her inſide was ſutable to her outſide, or ſuperiour rather unto it: God had dealt largely and liberally with her, in regard of either, and in that part eſpecially, that is the more to be regarded. He had endowed her with a greater meaſure then ordinarie, in that Sex eſpecially, of wiſdome, of diſcretion, of understanding, of knowledge how to behave her ſelfe ſo, as her behaviour ſhould be, not inoffenſive onelyonly, but very gratefull and acceptable to thoſe, that had either intereſt in her, or occaſion to converſe with her.
And what God in this kind had beſtowed on her, ſhe was carefull accordingly to imploy and improve. For, for her cariage and courſes, ſhe was ſuch an one as Solomons Mother deſcribeth mProv. 31. 10. 29.in the last of the Proverbs, as the Apoſtle Paul requireth nTit. 2. 5.in the ſecond to Titus; a conſtant oforeign, unde foreign, mukeris conjugatae ſymbolum, foreign, …lu…. conjug. praecept.keeper at home; nor idle in the houſe, but a diligent and induſtrious, a prudent and provident, directer and diſpoſer of domeſtick affaires; houſewifely, without harſhneſse or hastineſse; quiet and peaceable, without ſluggiſhneſſe or ſheepiſhneſse; grave, without auſteritie; cheerefull, without levitie; modest, without ſtatelineſſe; kind and courteous, without either incivilitie on the one ſide or looſe daliance on the other. In generall, ſuch was her ſweet, diſcreet, and well-tempered demeanure, as gave abundance of ſatisfaction and contentment, not to them alone, that it pleaſed God ſucceſſively to joyne her unto, but to their friends, and thoſe that had intereſt in them; yea, to all, familiars or ſtrangers, of what ſtate and degree ſoever, that had occaſion to repaire to them, and to be entertained with them. Iſſue indeed ſhe had none: it ſeemed good to God, to denie her that bleſſing. But to the children of ſome of them, that God had joyned her unto, ſhe was no ſtep-mother, but as carefull of procuring their good, and as forward to performe any good office for them, as if ſhe had beene a naturall Mother unto them: That, which ſome of them, were they ſurviving, I know, would freely teſtifie; and thoſe of them that doe ſurvive, if they be not extremely unthankfull, cannot but right willingly acknowledge. And ſome of her first Husbands kindred, beſide others not a few, ſhe brought up as carefully, as if they had beene her owne children. In a word, ſhe was ſuch an one, as pEccleſ. 7. 28.Solomon could hardly ſind one of a thouſand; a compleat Woman, a compleat wife; defective in nothing, that might be required in either.
But to riſe a ſtep higher. Morall vertue indeed, without grace, is, as Ierome, after Irenaeus and Tertullian, telleth us, but qVitreum Marga…tum. Irenaeus …raſal. adv. haereſ. 1. Tertull. ad Martyr. c. 4. & ex cod Hicron. ad Demetr. & ad Laet.a glaſſie Bugle, but a counterfeit Pearle; and all the acts thereof, unleſſe they be ſanctified, are but rSplendida …eccata, Aug. adv. I…ian. l. 4. c. 3. & de nupt. & conclip. c. 3.glittering ſlips, as Auguſtine ſpeaketh. And yet let me tell you by the way, that even theſe helpe much to ſTit. 2. 10.adorne grace, where it is; and that for want of theſe, to the no ſmall tPlus in he… valere vires ingeni Quam gratiam, inſirmat valorem grati….diſgrace of grace, even ſuch married perſons as profeſſe and pretend much grace, yet live many times leſſe quietly, contentedly, and comfortably together, then many other meere naturall ones doe. But theſe things, in this our Sister were ſeaſoned with grace. She was a woman, as of a vertuous, ſo of a gracious diſpoſition: and this her gracious diſpoſition was manifeſted in two things eſpecially, her Pietie, and her Charitie.
To begin with the latter. For her Charitie, aCharit…s incipit, ut a ſe, ſic … ſuis.it began indeed at home; (both b1 Tim. 5. 4, 8.reaſon and religion require it ſhould ſo doe) at her kindred and allies, I meane; of whom, not a few (as I touched in part before) were relieved and ſupported by her; there ſeldome or never wanting ſome or other of them, that were either educated with her, or maintained neere to her. But neither did her charitie ſtay and ſtint it ſelfe there, with them that were with her, as at the Well-head; but the ſtreames of it iſſued out & diſperſed themſelves abroad to poore neighbours of all ſorts, on every ſide of her. Divers penſioners ſhe had, that in a conſtant courſe received the fruits of her bountie; but no other were excluded from taſting thereof, and that liberally and largely, when occaſion ſo required. For ſhe was (which I take to be c1 Cor. 13. 4.two principall properties of Charitie) as very dHebr. 13. 1. 3.pitiefull and prone to commiſerate the wants and neceſſities of others; ſo no leſſe e1 Tim. 6. 18. foreign.bountifull and forward to communicate thereunto, as well by perſonall aides, as by free and liberall ſupplyes. And whereas ſhe had pretie skill in matter of Phyſick and Chirurgerie, (as indeed what was ſhe not skilfull in?) in this kind ſhe was exceeding helpfull, by Waters and Medicines, as well as advice, to ſuch poore ſoules as were not able to entertaine Phyſician, or to goe to the coſt of procuring Phyſick; being not onelyonly as Phyſician, but as Apothecarie alſo to them. In regard of which her charitable both diſpoſition and practiſe, as I doubt not, but that ſhe both had the prayers of the poore, that f2 Cor. 9. 12.bleſsed God for her, while ſhe lived, and hath now the gMatth. 10. 42.reward of it from him and with him in Heaven; ſo I aſſure my ſelfe, that thoſe poore ſoules in thoſe parts doe find no ſmall want of her, now ſhe is gone, and will …eele it dayly more and more.
For her Pietie, it appeared in her Devotions, publike and private: Publike, in her conſtant repaire to Gods Houſe, and the publike worſhip and ſolemne Service there celebrated, when and while health & ſtrength permitted. Private, (and howſoever there is a hMatth. 18. 19, 20promiſe of a more ample bleſſing upon the publike meanes; yet peoples private devotions, iMatth. 6. 6.wherein feweſt eyes are upon them, and which none are conſcious unto but God and their owne ſoules, are a kPſal. 63. 6. Eſa… 26. 9. Ca…. 3. 1.ſurer ſeale and evidence of their, inceritie: lVere dolet is, qui ſine teſte dolet. Martial. l. 1. epigr. 34. Tal…s quiſque eſt, qua'is apud ſe eſt; qualis eſt r…mo…s a…bitris.ſuch are perſons indeed, as in private they are) as by her conſtant ſtanding times of prayer, foure ſeverall times each weeke-day, and ſix on the Lords day: a courſe, which (as I am informed) ſhe had conſtantly for many yeeres continued: ſo by her diligent reading, in the firſt place, of Gods Oracles, having within ſome terme of yeeres next before her deceaſe, read the whole New Teſtament twelve times over; and that, not ſlightly and ſuper…icially, but ſo, as mQuod Lucitio Seneca, epiſt. 2. Cum multa pe… curreris, …num altquod excerpe, quod illo die concoquas.to obſerve ſomewhat that might be uſefull unto her, either out of or upon every Chapter ſhe read; that which by a multitude of Notes left behind her in writing, may evidently appeare: as alſo by her frequent peruſall, in the next place, of the pious workes of religious Writers, that might further and forward her in the good wayes of God. Among which, ſhe profeſſed her ſelfe to be much affected with ſome, becauſe they ſeemed to her to write, as ſhe ſaid, not to ſhew their learning, but out of their owne ſenſe and feeling; of that, no doubt, that ſhe felt alſo together with them, and which cauſed her therefore the rather ſo much to affect them.
Yea, one good proofe of her pietie may be this: That for her better advancement and improvement therein, in her laſt choice, among many Matches moved to her, (as one of her parts & meanes could not want motions) yea, and ſome of them not lightly to have beene diſregarded; yet paſſing by all other, ſhe pitched upon one, of whom, in regard of his preſence, I will not ſay what I might; onelyonly this I will ſay, one that ſhe juſtly deemed might be a prime instrument of procuring and promoting her ſpirituall progreſſe in the work & courſe of grace. And that this was her maine end and aime in that her choice, ſhe manifeſted by a ſpeech (which I may not let paſſe) uttered by her to him at the time of her enter-marriage with him, (at what time ſhe ſtated him for his life in the houſe ſhe lived in; that which his paſtorall charge there afforded him not) and remembred againe by her in the time of her late ſickneſſe; I ſettle thee here for the Earth, that thou mayeſt ſettle me for Heaven. And as this was her maine end therein, ſo her deſire and endevour was to make uſe of it accordingly, (for ſhe was not one of Solomons fooles) that oProv. 17. 16.have a price in their hands to get wiſedome with, but have no heart or minde, wit or will, to make that uſe of it.) To which purpoſe, I remember, that repairing ſometime to viſit them, (that which mine engagements to either of them required, and had beene more frequent, but that diſtance of place, neceſſary employments, & craſineſſe of body reſtrained it) when he and my ſelfe were in her preſence talking together, of the occurrents of the time, and ſome points of Schoole-learning, ſomewhat out of her element, and above her ſpheare, ſhe ſtrooke in with us, and requeſted us to diſcourſe rather of ſomewhat, that ſhe might alſo receive ſome benefit by, that might be uſefull as well to her as to us.
But I forget my ſelfe: The time ſpendeth, and my ſtrength and ſpeech with it; and I muſt therefore of neceſſitie omit many things, that might elſe have well beene mentioned.
I draw toward an end, together with her end. And the pTermi… ad quem dat appellatien…m.end indeed is that, that is all in all. Yea, the maine end of a mans whole life, ſhould be to make a good end of his life. ( qTot… vitâ diſcendum eſt …ori. Senec. de brevvit. c. 7. Egregia res eſt, mortem condiſcere, Idem ep. 26. Magn… i…s eſt, & diu diſcenda, cum advene…it hora illa inevitabilis, aequo animo abire, Idem epiſt. 30We ſhould be all our life long a learning to dye, …aith Seneca.) rPerſeverantia ſola virtutum co…onator, Bern. epiſt. 32. & 109.It is perſeverance alone, ſaith Bernard, that carr…eth away the Crowne. And, ſCedunt prima poſtremis, Tacit. annal. l. 13. Vita poſterier priori praejudicat, Hier. ad Furia….The latter part of a mans life carryeth it away from the former, ſaith another, if the latter be not anſwerable to the former. But it was not ſo with her. The cloſe of her life was ſutable to its fore-paſſed tenor, in renewed acts of pietie and charitie enter-woven together the one with the other. For, beſide other Legacies, to the value of three hundred and fortie pounds, and upwards, by the free conſent of her worthy Conſort, diſpoſed to pious and charitable uſes; ſhe hath given to this Pariſh, wherein ſhe drew her firſt breath, the ſumme of foure pounds per annum for ever; partly, for a Sermon, a worke of pietie; and partly, for the reliefe of the poore, an office of charitie. And to the Church of Lambeth, in which Pariſh ſhe ſpent the greateſt part of her life, and gave up her laſt breath, ſhe hath bequeathed a faire Communion Cup, to be rayſed from the ſale of ſome of her principall Iewels; that ſo thoſe ornaments (I give it you in her owne words) that had adorned her, while ſhe lived, might adorne the Church of God, when ſhe was dead.
In her laſt and fatall ſickneſse, her cariage was ſuch, that her …ietie and her patience might have ſeemed to contend for the ſuperioritie, but that they were ſo ſweetly combined together, that the one was expreſſed and appeared in the other. Nor is it to be marvelled, if it were ſo with her; for ſhe freely profeſſed to ſome of thoſe that reſorted to her, That ſhe had alwayes beene carefull to lay up in ſtore for the great day of her diſſolution. Patience ſhe ſtill prayed for, frequently uſing that ſweet and pious ſaying of S. Auguſtine; tDa quod jubes, & jube quod v…, Auguſt. de dono …erſever. c. 20.Lord, give what thou commandeſt, and command what thou pleaſeſl. And patience ſhe practiſed. For it is credibly reported by thoſe that were moſt and neereſt about her, that albeit her paines and torments were very great and grievous, yet no one idle word, or ſpeech ſavouring of impatience, was ever heard to fall from her. And, when thoſe that attended her, offred ſometime to have removed her for her eaſe, (and paine, we know, maketh perſons uſually deſirous of oft removall) ſhe refuſed it, ſaying, That ſhe ſhould ſhortly be removed; to a better place and ſtate, ſhe meant.
The Evening before her departure, ſhe requeſted Prayer (of which alwayes ſhe was much deſirous) to be continued by her, untill two of the clock; about which time, (which was not before underſtood what ſhe meant) as if it had beene ſome way revealed unto her, her ſenſes ſo failed, as ſhe could not longer be apprehenſive of ought done about her.
Her laſt words were, not much unlike that of S. Stevens here; Sweet Ieſus, helpe me: And, with the Spouſe in the Apocalypſe; uApoc. 22. 20.Come, Lord Ieſus, even now. With which words her ſpeech failing, yet ceaſed ſhe not, ſo long as any uſe of ſenſe continued, to lift up inceſſantly both hands, while abilitie ſo to doe laſted; and the one of them ſtill, when the other of them failed; thereby giving notice of her heart inwardly lift up unto him, who by his gracious hand at length tooke her hence, and received her to himſelfe.
With whom leaving her at peace and reſt, in joy and bliſſe, let us likewiſe lift up our hearts and hands to him; humbly beſeeching him, that he will be pleaſed to make the things now ſpoken uſefull unto us, and to prepare and ſit us for the like end. Amen, and Amen.
FINIS.
Decemb. 10. 1637.
PErlegi concionem hanc funebrem cui Titulus eſt [S. STEVENS laſt Will] eámque typis mandari permitto.
SA. BAKER.
End of the text · Thomas Gataker, Saint Stephens Last Will and Testament (1638)