The Whole Duty of Mourning and Preparing Ourselves for Death, Frontispiece – Publishers advertisement
the Memory of the Just is Blessed …
MARIA REGINA II. Obit. Decemb. 28.94 Aetatis suae. 32:
I hauehave fought a good fight I hauehave finished
My course I hauehave kept the faith Hence forth
There is laid vp for me a crown of righteousness.
F. H. van. Hove. sculp:
The Whole Duty of Mourning, And the GREAT CONCERN Of Preparing Our Selves for DEATH, Practically Considered. Written some Years since by the Author of The Whole Duty of Man. And now Published upon the Sad Occasion of the DEATH Of Our Most Gracious Sovereign Lady MARY the II. Queen of England, &c. of Blessed Memory. Necessary to be given at all Funerals.
LICENSED, January 16th. 1694/5.
Printed for I. Back, at the Black-Boy on the middle of London-Bridge.
THE PREFACE TO ALL Mourners, Upon the SAD and MOURNFUL OCCASION Of the much-to-be-lamented DEATH Of Our Most Gracious Queen.
THis Tract, whereof Death is the Subject, has been Concealed some Years; and upon this Sad and Mournful Occasion of the Death … our Gracious Queen, which loudly calls the Nation to Weeping and Mourning; it appears now in the Habit of a true Mourner.
UPON so irreparable a Loss as the Kingdom has Sustain'd; Death is the properest Theme which befits the Season; for when mournful Countenances, heavy Hearts, and watry Eyes appears every where, this Whole Duty of Mourning, in the Closet may prove a good Companion.
EVERY day, you see, Nay, every Hour, says Seneca, shews us what a nothing we are, and by some fresh Argument or other puts us in mind of our forgot Mortality: but so Doleful and Mournful a Scene England did not expect would have appear'd; especially at such a season, when our Eulogies and Praises should have Ascended to Heaven, from whence flowed the Redemption of the World; even by the great Mystery of our Saviours Incarnation; but this high Festival is now by the decree of Providence turn'd into Mourning, and our Song into Lamentation.
THE Wise Man tells us, Eccles. 7.2. That when the living are in the House of Mourning, they will lay it to Heart; and if we ought to lay to Heart the Death of any; much more of Righteous Persons; how ought we then to bewail this Sad and Mournful Calamity, wherein God has deprived us of one of our Royal Defenders? O, then let us speedily wish with the Prophet, That our Heads were Water, and our Eyes Fountains of Tears, that we might Weep, Day and Night, for the Loss of so Vertuous a Princess, and so Gracious a Soveraign Queen.
TO give a direct Copy of so Blessed an Original, my Pen can never arrive to that Dexterity, but am Conscious to my self it must be very defective; and the only Apology I can make in this time of Dolour, and Anxity is; that broken Language is the best Rhetorick upon a Mournful Occasion; but the Veneration of those matchless Excellencies which appeared in our Royal Soveraign Animates my Pen to joyn with all Condolers in the Contemplation of those excellent Vertues, that Adorned so Illustrious a Princess,
IT was Heavens Decree, to take from us the Light of our Eyes, and the Breath of our Nostrils, a Gracious, and most Excellent Princess; one, under the shadow of whose Wings we sat with great delight, and enjoyed a more then an ordinary portion of Happiness and Prosperity; for the Radient Beams of her Royal Bounty and Charity extended so far, that to preserve a sinking Kingdom, she Ascended the Throne; not out of any Ambition she had to grasp a Crown, but out of a tender Compassion to save a distressed Nation. She was truly Magnanimous, by Nature, Birth, and Education, and adorned with all the Ornaments befitting so Excellent and Matchless a Princess; in her Power and Dignity, she was Soveraign Queen over a mighty and renowned People: and invested with the highest Authority, that a Crown could render her; thus being inthroniz'd, she was the Glory of her Sex, and an Ornament to the Diadem which she Wore.
HER mind was Noble, Large, and Capacious, and not inferiour to her Power and Dignity; her apprehension was quick and lively, and her Iudgment was Peircing and Solid: Religion, and Piety, shined with that lusture in all her Divine Conversation, and the whole Series of her Life, that indeed she was a Pillar of Christianity; for the Influences of her Princely Piety was of that Impression and Extent, as might well lay Claim to those Second Causes the Almighty Ordains to his Governing Administration here below.
SHE not only understood her Religion well, but loved it, and with great Sincerity practised it; for she always with a Stedfast, Regular, and Unaffected Devotion, approached with that Awful Sanctity to the Altars of God, that she seemed to Instruct when she Prayed, and Convert when she Kneeled; so that at so high a degree of Piety, the greatest Atheist, must needs be convinced and believe a Deity, and the loosest Libertine, could not but be Reformed; for his Admiration must needs create a Devotion upon a prospect of her Sacred Example.
HER Delight was in the Law of the Lord, and in that Law did she Meditate both Day and Night; for in the midst of all the most Important Affairs of State, she forgot not her Creator; for so Zealous was she for her Sacred Devotions, that she would rather spare time from her Sleep, than from her Prayers.
SHE always had a great Zeal for the Good of the Church, and she was the very Joy and Delight of the Hearts of the Clergy; for she encouraged their Studies, and continually Supported them under all the Reproaches of Malicious and Wicked Persons; even such, was her Royal goodness to the Pastoral Authority.
THE best practical Books she often made her Study in her Royal Retirement, and at other times caused them to be Read, as part of her Entertainmen, when she was Pleas'd to sit at Work with her Maids of Honour; and this she did as a prudent design whereby to furnish their thoughts with profitable Knowledge, and heavenly Meditation: for her Heart was wholly fixed upon God and Goodness.
EVERY Month, she constantly Communicated in her Royal Chappel; and always prepared her self with such a Strictness and Devotional Frame of Soul, that she Received the Blessed Sacrament in a most Humble and Awful manner, as being deeply affected with a due Sense of the Divine Majesty.
HER Temper was Naturally Sweet, her Disposition was Free and Generous; her Carriage Gracious; and her Intentions most Sincere: her Conversation was Lovely, and she was endued with a large mixture of Christian Charity and Compassion: all Eyes that beheld her at a distance, might discern Mildness, and Goodness, in her Majestick Countenance; which all her Attendants found its real Effects.
SHE delighted to do good; and had a singular Dexterity in the doing of it: for she prudently knew what was proper to be done, both as to the manner and Season: and she seldom vouchsafed a Royal Favour to any, but her Princely Way of doing it trebled the Obligation; and very easie was she in dispatch of what ever Affairs came before her: her Divine Soul indeed was truly Noble, and fitted to her Soveraign Place, and Royal Character; and she had a Serene Capacity as far beyond any of her Subjects, as she was in Power and Dignity above 'em: and had the Almighty been graciously pleas'd to have continued her Life, we had, had great hopes, and expectations of more then ordinary Blessings under her Government.
TO set forth all her Princely Virtues and Sublime Perfections, is too difficult for a Mortal's Pen to Delineate, or a Mournful Subjects Tongue to Express; neither can any expect so many Angelical Vertues can be Writ in so narrow a Compass, her whole Life indeed Corresponded with Heaven, and she was a Burning and a Shining Light amongst all her Subjects.
But now the Mourning Scene begins to appear; for on Thursday December the 20th. her Majesty felt her self indispos'd, but did not think it required the Attendance of her Physicians; but the Day following her Illness increasing, the Worthy Dr. Millington, and Dr. Ratcliff were called; and upōn the growing Danger; Dr. Brown, Dr. Cox, Dr. Gibbons, Dr. Robinson, and Dr. Cole, with other Learned Gentlemen were added to the Consult of Physicians: and on Saturday the Symptoms of the Small-pox appear'd, that Eternal Foe to Beauty and a Distemper which has prov'd too too fatal to the Royal Family.
HER Spiritual Physicians who always paid their Religious Attendance, were the most Reverend Dr. Tennison Arch-Bishop of Canterbury; the Right Reverend, Dr. Stillingfleet, Bishop of Worcester, Dr. Patrick Bishop of Ely, Dr. Burnet Bishop of Salisbury, and Dr. Kidder Bishop of Bath and VVells.
These Stars of the Church, whose Influence ever shined bright in the sweet Society of her whole Life; are now o'er-cast with Sorrow, and become her Mournful Assistants to conduct her out of it, and though it is not hard to imagine what a more Melancholly, though Spiritual Office they were to perform in this last dutious Service to their most Gracious Royal Soveraign, their best of Friends and Patronesses: yet as Grieved and Sorrowful as they were at the too visible Face of that King of Terrors, DEATH, that was so ready to snatch away that Sacred Life; however they could not but be extraordinarily Comforted to find her so well and so readily prepared to receive him.
THE worthy Arch-Bishop, who constantly attended her, even to the last moment of her Life, was one day ask'd by her Majesty, What her Physicians Opinion of her was? To which his Grace Sorrowfully, but Sincerely reply'd to this effect, that they despaired of her Recovery: her Majesty wholly unconcerned, but with her Natural Sweetness of Temper, was Cheerefully pleased to answer in these words, God be Praised, I am Provided.
THAT constant even Temper, of Tranquility and sweet Composure of Mind, accompanied her through her whole Sickness; (her preparation for Eternity being not the Work of her Death-Bed) that she always expressed a perfect resignation to the Divine Will and Pleasure of Heaven; and seemed to have nothing in this World, but what she could freely part from but her Dear Lord, to whom amongst many other kind Affectionate, and tender Expressions, she was pleased to breath forth this hearty and most Passionate wish, in these Words. That his Subjects might all Love him as she had done.
DURING her whole time of Sickness, his Majesty was that Pious and Constant Mourner over her, and such was his extraordinary tender Affection, and Fondness, that no Persuasions nor Intreaties could draw him a moment from her, neither could any Solicitations prevail with him to absent the Room, but Compassionately lay in a Camp-bed all the time by her.
THE day before her Departure she joyned in Communion with the Reverend Bishops, and took the Blessed Sacrament, as a Viaticum for Eternity: and all her Religious Deportment through her whole Sickness was so Angelical, that her Reverend, and Pious Heavenly Guides found opportunity to Learn more than Instruct; insomuch that the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury was heard to Express, That when it pleased God to call him, he Pray'd that he might be found so well prepared to Dye.
DURING her whole time of Indisposition, no Studious endeavours were wanting, if possible to Save so Precious a Life; but as Human Art and vigilant Diligence cannot exclude the Will and Pleasure of Heaven, so both the Physicians indefatigable Industry, and the Nations importuning Prayers were wholly Successless: for on Friday the 28th. of December, 1694. about One in the Morning her attending Divines resign'd their Royal Charge to her Ministring Angels; at which time without the least Pang of Death, in a Soft and Sweet Slumber she breathed out her Soul into the Arms of the Almighty.
I dare not presume to draw the Royal Face of Grief, or attempt to describe the Sacred Sorrows of our Afflicted King at this Mournful Juncture, but this I may humbly crave priviledge to Express, that as to his Royal Character, he is so good a Prince as no Age can Parrallel; one who for his Subjects Safety has expos'd his Royal Person in a Field of Blood, against a Tyrannical and Insulting Foe; when Balls of Iron thundred from the Roaring Cannons Mouth in Fire and Smoke then could he look grim Death in the Face in the fiercest Battles, and with an undaunted Courage ne'er have shook at the approach of that Pale Pince of Terrors; but when the Icy hands of Death had struck the fatal blow; he could not resist that melting and tender Affection, when he felt all the Agonies of Death in the dying looks of his beloved Consort: for though she left the World without the least expiring Pangs by dying even in Smiles; our Sorrowful King a Mournful Spectator, stood by in little less than Convulsions to behold her.
AND now what good Subjects can forbear opening the Sluces of their Eyes, and let fall Flouds of Tears upon so Mournful an Occasion; but to sum up our much to be Lamented Loss, I shall refer the Reader to the Pen of the Reverend Dr. Wake one of Eminent Authority,
If a Queen so Vertuous, that her very Example was enough to Convert a Libertine, and to Reform an Age: so Courteous and so Affable, as to be the Wonder and the Delight of all that knew her: so great a Lover of her Country, and the Interests of it, as to be willing to hazard what, next her Conscience, she the most valued; her good Name, and good Opinion in the World, for the preservation of them: so Firm and Constant in her Mind, as not to have ever known, no not in Death it self, what it was to Fear: so Happy in Business, as to Astonish rather than Satisfie, those who were the best Versed in it. I say that to have been deprived of such a Queen as this, and that at such an Age, when our expectations were at the highest from her, be a Loss above the power of Words to Express, then such is our Loss: the greatness of which we are so far from being able sufficiently to declare, that we cannot yet make an Estimate of it.
AND as our Sorrows cannot but be justly Expressed, in the Loss of so Excellent and so Vertuous a Queen; yet, let us offer up our Praises unto God, from whom every good and perfect Gift cometh: that he has not left us Comfortless? that he has not cut down the principal Cedar? that he has not deprived us of our chiefest Support, and Royal Defender? but that we enjoy and have a good King to Sit upon the Throne, to Sway the Scepter, and to go in and out before us, to Protect us from the force of France, and the danger of all Europe; and that our Dear and Dread Soveraign may be for ever Happy in us his Loyal Subjects, and we in so Good and Gracious a Prince, let us Implore the Divine Powers to Protect, Guide, and Defend him, in Spirit, Soul, and Body; as for his Enemies let them be Cloathed with Shame; but upon himself let his Crown for ever Flourish; and let all the People say, Amen.
AND now, O all you Sons and Daughters of Sorrow and Affliction, that faithfully Lov'd and Honour'd our Renowned Princess, Lament your Loss; but seem not to Bewail her Felicity: do not immoderately drown your Eyes, because God has Wiped away all Tears from hers: and though in such a National Concern of highest Grief, Natural Duty shews us to be Mortals, yet let us not forget to be Christians; and as our Saviour said to the Holy Women, so may I with all Awful Reverence Express, Weep not for her, Blest Soul, but for your selves, that you are not so Happy.
AND this Sweet Advice Saint Hierom gives us, Let us not Mourn, as for one Lost; but rather be thankful that we have had so Good, and so Gracious a Pattern; nay that we still have her, for all still live in Christ, yea, though they die, and whomsoever he thus takes unto himself are still within his Family.
THINK, that you heard her Royal Tongue Express the great Farewel; and in the most Tenderest Affection was pleas'd to say, Farewel my dearest Soveraign Lord, farewel; I hear Heaven's call, and the mighty Hour is come that we must part; farewell, my Royal Family, and all my mournful Subjects, now farewell: each in your own order all must prepare to follow me: Follow her, then first in her Pious Example, Fight the good Fight keep the Faith, finish your Course as she did, and henceforth is laid up for you (what she Blest Saint hath now received) a Crown of Righteousness: which God the Righteous Judge hath prepared for all those that Love and Fear him.
G. B.
Advertisement. For more particular Concernment in Devotion, read these Books following.
THE Whole Duty of Prayer, Containing Devotions for every Day in the Week, and for several Occasions Ordinary and Extraordinary. By the Author of The Whole Duty of Man. Necessary for all Families. The Fourth Edition. Price 1 s.
THE Whole Duty of Divine Meditation, in all its Various Parts and Branches. By the Author of The Whole Duty of Man. Price. 1 s.
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THE Whole Duty OF Mourning, AND THE GREAT CONCERN Of Preparing Our Selves for DEATH, Practically Considered.
PSALM lxxxix. ver. 68.
What Man is he that liveth, and shall not see Death? shall he deliver his Soul from the hand of the grave?