Three Treatises, Part 2 – Part 2
A PROFITABLE MEMORIALL OF the Conuersion, Life, and Death of Mistris MARIE GVNTER, set vp as a Monument to be looked vponupon both by Protestants and Papists.
I Could not better spend some part of the dais of my mourning for the losse of my deare Wife, then in setting downe briefly some Passages of her course and Pilgrimage, that the happy memory of her graces and vertuous life might euer liue with me, both for incitation and imitation. And if my desires were strong to make them more publike for the direction of some others, I hope it will rather be charitably ascribed to the working and stirring of my affection towards her Ashes, than to any vanitie of minde, or ostentation in her. Besides, I am sure, that if a Protestant had beene seduced from vsus (as shee was called out of Popery) and had liued and dyed so zealous in that Religion, as shee did in this, the aduersaries would hauehave made their aduantage of it, and published the same as one of the miracles of their Church. And I see not but it may be as lawfull for me, as it may proue profitable for others, to set downe the known Truth concerning her; that as shee was in her life, so also she may happily continue now after her death, an happy instrument of Gods glory in earth, as I am assured shee is a vessell before him filled with his glory of heauen.
THis gracious Woman was for birth a Gentlewoman,Her birth. but descended of Popish Parents, who dying in her infancy, shee was committed vntounto the tuition of an old Lady,Popish education. honourable for her place, but a strong Papist, who nousled and mis-led this Orphan in Popery, till shee came about foureteene yeeres of age; at which time this Lady died. Upon which occasion, God (hauing a mercifull purpose towards her conuersion) by his good Prouidence, brought her to the seruice of that Religious and truly honourable Lady, the Countesse of Leicester, who entertained her with more than ordinary respect, both because of her young yeares, as also because shee was allied to Sir Christopher Blunt, then husband to the honourable Countesse; at whose request his Lady had taken her into her care.
To this Honourable Countesse shee came a most zealous Papist, and resolute, as soone as possibly shee could apprehend a fit opportunity, to conuey her selfe beyond the Seas, and become a Nunne; for she then thought that that was the surest and likeliest way to get Heauen:This religious care of the honourable Countesse as she did all her life thankfully acknowledge it, so it is very obseruable both for the high commendation of her honor and for the imitation of others of her honourable ranke. which as shee had an earnest desire to attaine, so would shee take the nearest way which shee thought would bring her thither. But shee could not so closely carry her secret deuotions and intentions, but that by the carefull eye of her Honourable Lady, they were soone discouered, and not sooner discouered then wisely preuented; for presently her Lady tooke from her all her Popish bookes, Beades and Images, and all such trumpery, and set a narrow watch ouer her, that shee might bee kept from her Popish Prayers, and not absent her selfe from the daily Prayers of the Family, which were religiously obserued: further, requiring her to reade those Prayers that her honour daily vsed to have in her private chamber with her women.
Her Ladiship also carefully preuented her from her Popish company and counsel by word or writing, for neither might shee write nor receive any letter without the view and consent of her Honour.
Shee also constrained her to be countable for the Sermons which shee heard in the house, which were constantly two eueryevery Sabbath day, (for the increase of the sound knowledge of God, which is the onelyonly Hammer of Popery.) And hereby shee in short time obtayned great ability to communicate to others the substance of those Sermons which shee heard, the rather because it was constantly obserued by all the women in that honourable Family, to come together after the last Sermon, and make repetition of both.
And this shee did as yet for feare, but still with this reseruation, that shee would keepe her heart for Popery; and trusted that God would bee merciful vntounto her (as Naaman) in this which shee did onelyonly through feare and constraint. But God (who in his owne time worketh in his owne meanes) beganne to worke in her first a staggering in her old way; For, when she saw the holy conuersation of that Reverend Preacher, Master I. W. who was then Chaplin to the Countesse, shee began to perswade her selfe, that surely this mans godlinesse must needs bring him to Heaven. And then the reverend respect of the man made her begin to give some better eare to his Doctrine, to examine his proofes, and to reverence his Ministry; whereby in short time, it pleased God that shee was won to beleeve the Truth,Her new birth. and renounce her former superstition and ignorance. And as it is the property of a true Convert, being converted her selfe,Io…. 1. 45. she endeuoured the conversion of others, and was a great helpe and furtherance to the publique Ministery that way: For this was a thing which that honourable Familie tooke speciall knowledge of; and there were many that had great cause to blesse God for her in that respect.
Now presently Satan (that Dragon that watcheth to deuoure every man-child which shall be borne unto God) begins to rage,Reu. 1…. and reach at her with strong and violent temptations:Her long & strong temptations. and first hee terrified her in that shee had sinned the sinne against the holy Ghost, for shee had played the deepe dissembler; and being in heart a Papist, yet joyned with the Protestants whom shee held for Heretickes, and all this against her knowledge▪ and conscience, and so fiercely and incessantly hee followed this temptation, as that shee was perswaded it was impossible that euer this sinne should or could be pardoned. And this temptation was pointed and sharpened with that dreadfull and foule suggestion of selfe murder, as if the remedy of the sin against the holy Ghost, were to destroy ones selfe. While shee was thus long tossed & tumbled in these waues and billowes of Satanicall suggestions, wherein she was so low cast and dejected (still concealing her griefe) as shee almost despaired of recovery; It pleased God to direct that Reverend Preacher (who was her Father in Christ, & whom shee ever after embraced with the most entire love of the most naturall Childe) to entreat of this sinne, and to shew what it was, and by whom and in what manner it was committed. To which Doctrine shee diligently harkening, and by examination of it, and her selfe, finding that shee had not so sinned after illumination, nor with obstinate malice against God or his Truth, (which when shee was most superstitiously devoted, shee desired to finde out) it pleased God to quiet her mind for that; and so led her ouer that temptation.
But Satan that departed from our head, Jesus Christ, onelyonly for a seaon, was not long away from the molestation of this his member, but returned and brought seuen worse spirits (were it possible) than before, and now his name may be Legion; for now hee would confound and oppresse her with multitudes of blasphemous thoughts, and doubts. Now must shee beleeve there is no God: That the Scriptures are not his Word, but a Pollicie: or if it were his Word, who must interpret it? or how could shee a silly woman get the vnderstanding of such deepe mysteries as are contained in the same? Besides, as shee was of mind that she was gottē out of one error, so she knew nothing but that shee was mis-led into another; for, how could shee be sure that this was the truth which she now professed, seeing there are as many, or more learned men of the one opinion as of the other, and all of them maintaine their opinions by the Scriptures. Thus was shee vexed and exercised with Armies of roving and unsetled conceits for five or six yeares together, till God, (whom shee often sollicited for direction and assistance in the combat) brought her to this resolution, that she would hold these conclusions, whatsoever disputes Satan might weary her withall: That there was not onelyonly a God in himselfe, but a God that was her God: and whatsoever opinions there were in the world, that there was but one Truth, and that was to bee learned out of the Scriptures; and though there were much in the Bible which shee did not understand, yet shee was perswaded, that if shee would diligently read and search the Scriptures, with earnest prayer to God for a good understanding in them, shee should attaine thence a measure of knowledge, s…fficient to bring her to heaven; and holding strongly these grounds, shee found the temptations waste away by degrees, and her selfe daily more strongly setled upon the foundation.
Neither was shee onelyonly by the grace of God a Conquerour in these temptations, but I may say with the Apostle, in a manner more than a Conquerour by them; for, God (who bringeth light out of darkenesse) made these temptations a sweet seasoning of her whole life. By occasion of which, shee tyed her selfe to a strict course of godlinesse, and a constant practice of Christian Duties, which shee religiously observed even till her dying day.
For first,Her religious life. that shee might be stablished in the Truth, and confirmed against those former waverings and weakenesses, shee vowed, that God assisting her, shee would every yeare read over the whole Bible in an ordinary course,Extraordinary diligence in the Scriptures which course shee constantly observed for the space of fifteene yeares together, beginning her taske upon her birthday, and reading every day so many Chapters as to bring it about iust with the yeare. By which exercise shee gained a great increase of knowledge, and no lesse strengthening of her faith; for she did not read carelesly or negligently, but alwayes kept a note of what places she did not vnderstand, and would still bee inquiring the meaning of them, as shee met either with Ministers, or such as she thought were able to informe her in the same. And her custome was euer before shee opened her Bible, to send vp a short prayer vntounto God, for the opening of her blinde eyes, to the vnderstanding of those sacred mysteries, that so they might bee as a Lanthorne to guide her feet in the wayes of holinesse, vntill shee had attained her desired happinesse.
And not herewith contented, as a good Mary, she pondered the Word of God in her heart; for by her great industry in the Scriptures, shee had gotten by heart many select Chapters, and speciall Psalmes; and of eueryevery Booke of the Scripture one choyce verse: all which shee weekly repeated in an order which shee propounded to her selfe: and being asked why shee was so laborious in getting and retaining those Scriptures in memory? Her answer was, that shee knew not what daies of triall or persecution might come, wherein shee might be depriued of her Bible, and other good bookes and helpes; but so much of the Scriptures as she could get into her heart shee knew no Tyrants or Enemies could bereaue or rob her of. (God make thee that readest, and me that writeth this, so Christianly prouident, as in these dayes of plenty to lay vp somewhat for the dayes of straitnesse and famine.) Secondly,Her instance in her priuat Prayers. from that time of her trouble shee resolued vponupon Daniels practice, wherein shee was also constant; namely, besides the family duties, which were twice a day performed by the Chaplin in that Religious house in which shee liued till within one yeere of her death; And besides the priuate Prayers that shee daily read in her Ladies Bed-chamber, shee was thrice every day on her knees before God in secret, like a true worshipper, whose delight was to bee in Gods presence. By meanes of which daily exercise, besides all other comfortable fruits, shee attained a singular sweet gift in prayer, whereby she could both strongly wrastle, and happily prevaile with God, whose grace suffereth himselfe to be ouercome with the prayers of his weake servants.
And because she knew that Religious fasting is the whet-stone of Prayer, shee tyed her selfe to set apart six dayes in every yeare, wherein shee was extraordinarily humbled in fasting and prayer, for her owne sinnes, and the sinnes of the times. At all which times shee was in speciall manner earnest with the Lord, that he would bee pleased further to reveale vntounto her his whole Truth, needfull for her salvation, and keepe her constant in the obedience thereof vntounto the end.
And because shee knew that the right and worthy Receiuing of the Sacraments affordeth a Christian speciall strength, and much stabilitie in the course of godlinesse: as shee diligently apprehended that comfort when shee could conueniently receiue that Sacrament; so for many yeares shee had laid a band vponupon her selfe, neuer to receiue it, but the day before to fit, and examine her selfe seriously, deeply humbling her selfe before the Lord in fasting and prayer all the day long.
Thirdly,The tendernesse of her conscience. the trouble of her conscience, made her ever of a tender conscience: fearefull shee was of offending God and her owne conscience; and watched her selfe narrowly; and to keepe her selfe in awe; for the space of fiue yeares before her death, shee kept a Catalogue of her daily slips, and set downe euen the naughty thoughts which shee obserued in her selfe, that one day in eueryevery weeke shee might extraordinarily humble her selfe for all the failings of that weeke, and this with such moderate abstinence as might best fit her weake body to humble and feruent prayer. And all these priuate Religious duties, she performed so secretly, that none but her bosome friend knew of their performance. As shee was thus fearefull of sinnes present, and to come, so her conscience was tender in respect of sinnes past, as may appeare by this memorable instance; Whilest shee was a childe bred vp in the chamber of that old Lady, shee was entised by lewd servants who fed her with figges, and other such toyes, fit to please children withall, to steale money out of the Ladies Cabinet which often stood open in her Chamber, and which they knew shee had the fittest opportunity to doe of all other: whereunto her childishnesse giving way, shee found it not missed, and so continued it for seven yeares or thereabouts, without any great checke of Conscience. But when the light of God came in, and made a priuy search in the heart; and made her able to take her selfe with the fact; now shee was ashamed and confounded in her selfe, and her stirred conscience gaue her no rest, nor could shee conceiue any hope of quiet, because shee saw shee had done that which shee could no way vndoe. If shee looked at the summe of mony taken and giuen away, she conceiued that by continuing in that course seuen yeares together, shee might hauehave wronged that Lady thirty or forty pound. If she thought of restitution, she was no way able. Thus shee carried the burthen of this sinne a long time, easing it as wel as she could with a resolute purpose, if ever God pleased to make her able, to make restitution to the heires of the deceased Lady. And accordingly so she did. For when that honourable, and bountifull Lady, whom shee long serued, gave her a large portion when shee bestowed her in marriage, she forthwith made choyce of a Reverend Minister, whom shee employed therein (enjoyning him secrecie) and because shee would be sure to make full restitution, shee delivered him sixty pounds, to tender vntounto this Ladies heire, as from a concealed servant of the Ladies, who had vniustly taken it away from her. And when the Gentleman returned tenne pounds of it againe, such was the tendernesse of her conscience, that she would receive none of it to her owne vse; but gave it away to poore and pious persons and vses. And this childish errour, God turned to her good; for in all the two and twenty yeares of her service unto that honourable Lady, she never durst make vse of any thing that was vnderunder her charge, were it small or great, but set it downe in writing, and once every yeare did make it good, either in the kinde, or in some other thing which she bought for her Ladiships vse.
Fourthly,Her hari…able d…sposi…ion the sense of her owne weaknesses and wants made her of a pittifull and charitable disposition towards the wants and miseries of others. Shee had ever a large heart to the poore, especially the godly poore; shee neuer did see or heare of any that were in want, but her heart did mourne if shee had not to releeve them, neither was her hand shut, for she did yearely lay aside a portion of money to the vttermost of her ability (if not beyond) for their releefe. Thus she lived holily, happily, and desiredly: Neither could so gracious a life be shut vp but by an answerable, that is, an happy death and dissolution, whereof I will adde but a few words, and so leaue her to her happinesse til we meet happily againe.
True it is, that the life of a Christian should be a continuall meditation of death,Her lingring sicknesse. as it is a continuall motion to death: and such was the latter part especially of the life of this Christian woman, who was of weake and sickly constitution many yeares before her death, which made her so much the more prepared for her last combat and sicknesse, which lasted ten weekes; in all which time she certainely apprehended and expected her dissolution, it being the principall, and almost onelyonly subject of her discourse, sixe moneths before it came. But thirty dayes before her departure, she finding her paines increasing, and growing very sharpe and tedious, shee spent an houres talke with me concerning her desire for the things of this life; and hauing said what she purposed, shee thus concluded her speech: Now, sweet Heart, no more words betweene you and me of any worldly thing, onelyonly let me earnestly request, and charge you, that as you see my weaknesse increase, you will not faile to assist me, and call on me to follow the Lord with prayer and patience; For, now I know, that Satan will shew all his malice, because his time is but short against me, and hee will easily espy my weaknesse, and make his aduantage of it, and therefore now especially help me with your counsell, comfort, and prayers.
In all the time of her sickenesse, our gracious God who as a fast friend standeth closest to his servants, when they hauehave most need of him, shewed his gracious presence with her, as in all other comfortable supplies answerable to that depth of distresse, so especially in hearing and answering her prayers, and desires of her heart.
There were foure requests which we observed shee especially preferred vntounto God in her sicknesse,Foure requests especially she made to God in her sicknesse, and heard … them all. and in none of them was denied.
The first, that she might be armed with strength against Satans assaults, which she expected would bee fierce and frequent; from whom shee was mercifully freed; for onelyonly three dayes before her death, she began to be dejected in the sense of her owne dulnesse, and thereby began to call in question Gods love towards her, and the truth of Gods grace in her; for said shee, were I the Lords, why should not I lift vp my head now, seeing the time of my dissolution draweth on so neare? But these complaints continued not above six houres, but she had much chearefulnesse and comfort againe, which she expressed, both in earnest and excellent Prayers, (wherein her gift was more then ordinary for her sexe) as also in many chearefull thankes and prayses to God for his great mercy, for that he had now so chained Satan at this time of her great weaknesse, that having beene formerly molested, and daily vexed with his assaults, for the space of above six yeares together, now he would not suffer him to rest on her with his malice above six houres.
Her second request was, that the Lord would strengthen her with patience to endure all her paines to the end; and herein she was as graciously heard as in the former, for although she was full of paines, and assaulted with many strong fits, in which no part was exempt from deadly paynes, and every of these fits of many houres continuance, yet was she never heard to vtter any word of impatience in her selfe, or discontent to any that were about her, and much lesse to charge God foolishly, in whose hands she was as the clay in the hand of the Potter.
Her third request to God, was, that she might in all her sorrowes be still supported with some sense of his love; and with the assurance of the pardon of all her sinnes. And that God was comfortably found of her in this request, was very apparant in her joyfull expectation of death; the time whereof she truly foretold five dayes before it came; and as this time approached, her joy increased; so as she was able to comfort her mournfull husband and friends, saying; Mourne not for me, but for your selues, for I shall very shortly be more happy than the wishes of your hearts can make me, and therefore cease your mourning, and helpe me thither by your prayers as fast as you can.
Her fourth request was, that she might have her memory continued unto the last▪ that so by no idle, or light speech, she might dishonour God, or bring scandall o… her profession; for she said, If I through paine or want of sleepe (which she much wanted) should hauehave any foolish or idletalke, I know what the speech of the world vseth to be; This is the end of all your precise folke, they die mad, or not themselues, &c.
And as she prayed, God gaue her her memory to the last gaspe,Her happy departure that she dyed praying; for a little before her departure, she called vsus that were about her, and hasted to Prayer, for now (said she) I shall be gone presently: (which words we then beleeued not) but Prayer being ended, she said with more strength than she had spoken any thing foure houres before, Amen, amen. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Lord Jesus hauehave mercy on me, and receiue my soule. And thus with her last breath and words, her soule was carried into Abrahams bosome in the Heavens, to which her eyes and hands were lifted. This was the life and death of this sweet Saint, as it was observed and now faithfully witnessed by her mournfull husband, who wisheth both his life and latter end like vntounto hers.
FINIS.
A GLASSE for Gentlewomen to dresse themselues by.
By THOMAS TAYLOR, Doctor in Diuinity, and late Preacher of Aldermanberry in London.
LONDON: Printed by I. B. for Iohn Bartlet, at the signe of the gilt Cup in Cheap-side. 1633.
A GLASSE for Gentlewomen to dresse themselues by.
BEcause I know that sundry women fearing God faile in the matter of their attire and ornament, because they want direction▪ which might lead their consciences in stead of the common errour of riotous times: And because it is requisite that all that professe the Name of God, should bee more carefull of adorning their profession, than their persons: I hauehave here set downe a few briefe directions in generall for their helpe that are willing to be ruled by God and his Word; and are more desirous to approue themselues vntounto him, than to please themselues, or others, with his high displeasure.
I.
First then, such must know, that the practice of godlinesse depriueth no person of the good creatures of God, neither for the necessary, nor delightfull fruition of them, (for, it onelyonly giueth right, and liberty in them) but it ordereth the vse of them, and the vsers of them; and setteth them in the due place of their goodnesse, wherein onelyonly they are beautifull and lawful. Rebecca, Gen. 24. 30 and 41. 42▪a woman fearing God, wore ornaments. So Ioseph and Mordecay, Ester 8. 2. and Daniel 5. 29.
II.
Know, that we are not at our owne hand in the vse of outward ornaments, but vnderunder rule and appointment. God prescribes women how to dresse their heads, 1 Pet. 3. 3. and taketh order for the habit of the body, and findeth fault with the dressings of the daughters of Sion, Isay 3. And threatning the Princes and Kings children cloathed with strange apparell, Zeph. 1. 8. speaketh to our Gallants that build towers vponupon their heads, or erect them as with large hornes, or any way take vp an vnlimited liberty in their dresses, with some speciall vanity, and offence, For such dressing of the haire, the Lord threatneth the dainty women with baldnesse and shame, Isa. 3.