A Collection of the Lives of Ten Eminent Divines, Biography 14
The Life, and Death of Mrs. Margaret Ducke, who dyed Anno Christi 1646.
THe Father of Mrs. Margaret Ducke was Mr. Henry Southworth, Her Parentagea Gentleman of a good Family: Her Mother was a vertuous and Religious Matron. He was a Merchant and Customer of London, by which means having acquired a plentiful estate, he contented himself with it, and withdrew from thence to a more quiet, and retired (that is a more happy) life at Wells, where he lived plentifully, and having onelyonly two Daughters, his Co-heirs, he gave them liberal, and pious education in all those wayes which commend, and accomplish well-bred Gentlewomen.
This Gentlewoman, who was the younger of his Daughters, was deservedly dear to both her Parents, and lived with them till their deaths, which fell out to be shortly one after another: For as they were lovely and pleasant in their lives (if I may so use the words of Davids lamentation over Saul and Jonathan, 2 Sam. 1.) so in their Deaths they were not divided. She was then about the one and twentieth year of her age, at which time she was desired in marriage by many younger in years, and higher in means and lands than the Gentleman was,Her Marriage. unto whom (with her great contentment even to her dying day) she yeelded her self, and her affections, resolving (as the vertuous Marcella in St. Jerom answered her young Woer, Cerealis, who was of a Noble, and Consular race; Si nubere vellem, utique maritum quaererem, non haereditatem) that when she married, she would marry an Husband, not an estate, though yet God had blessed her Husband with a competency of these outward things.
Their Marriage was celebrated by that incomparable, and (even in this age) famous Prelate, Bishop Lake, in the City of Wells (who never married any persons besides themselves) where, for some years they lived together, and the Town to this day gives an ample testimony to their piety and charity. For her part, they say, as Gregory Nyssen said of Placilla, that if she prevented him not in any work of charity, yet she was sure to concur with him therein; and when she departed from thence, they soon complained, and lamented the want of her charity. The blinde complained that they wanted an eye, the lame a staffe, the mourners one to comfort them, the languishing one to visit them, as St. Jerom said of Nepotian. For indeed, she was eyes to the blinde, feet to the lame; she was a mother to the poor and distressed, and to those who had nothing to help them; The blessing of those (as Job saith of himself) that were ready to perish came upon her, and she caused the widows heart to sing for joy.
From Wells they removed to Blackfriers in London, Her removed to Blackfriers.where she lived long under the powerful Ministry of the thrice worthy and learned Dr. Gouge, a man, famous for his pains in the Church of Christ. What her Life, Faith, Charity, Patience was, during her abode there, was well known to all in general, and particularly observed by that Reverend Doctor, and abundantly testified at her Funerals by him, so that nothing needs to be added to his full, and faithful testimony. One thing was well observed by him, and is very remarkable, that notwithstanding the many opportunities she had to see Playes, to which the neighbourhood, and vicinity of the Play-house there, and the frequent throngs of Gentlewomen which prest thither, might have been forcible and prevailing invitations, yet she could never whilst she lived there, nor indeed all the time of her being in London, be induced to see any of them; and being sometimes advised by her dearest Friend, to go thither, as other Gentlewomen did, to avoid too much retiredness, she answered, it is hard to say whether with more discretion, or Religion, that she liked it not, and that, next to Gods house, she could best spend her time in her own. In Gods House (if I may with reverence use Tertullians expression) she saw enough of the Scene, Scenicae Doctrinae delectant? Her love to Gods House.Sat nobis sententiarum, sat versuum, sat etiam Canticorum, &c. Sentences, Verses, and Songs enough to delight her soul. Would she see a Tragedy? There she could see before her eyes Jesus Christ, evidently set forth, crucified amongst them, Gal. 3. 1. What a sight is Christs coming to Judgement? Kings throwing down their Crowns and Scepters, and themselves before him? In her own house she could (as Solomon describes the excellent Huswife, Prov. 31. 27, 28.) imploy her self in looking well to the wayes of her Houshold, and not eating the bread of idleness, that so her children might rise up, and call her blessed; her Husband also, and he might praise her.
She was so far from the gadding disposition of other talking,Her retiredness. walking women, that she was for the most part as a Snail, Domi porta, within her own shell and family. And as St. Jerom pourtaits his never enough admired, and applauded Marcella, Raro procedebat in publicum, & maximè Nobilium Matronarum domos vitabat, ne cogeretur videre quod contempserat: She went seldome abroad, and especially chose to decline the houses of Noble and Honourable Ladies, lest she should be tempted to see those vanities which she resolved to contemn, and so be unwillingly wrought and brought to desire what she so willingly despised.
This retiredness (as usually it doth) drew on her a decrease of health,Her weakness. which occasioned, for the enjoyment of a better air, and recovery of health, her removal to Cheswick, where she lived to her dying day, exceedingly beloved, and dyed extreamly lamented, and desired of all.
While she enjoyed her health,Her holy life. which yet was much interrupted, her constant, and unfailing practice was, besides daily prayers in the Family, to betake her self in the morning, and at other convenient times to her constant private devotions in her Closet, and then allotting some time (for being a wise and prudent woman, she made a little time reach far) in the education, and oversight of her children, and disposing and dispensing the affairs of the Family, the residue of the day she spent in reading books of Piety and Devotion, and most willingly those of Dr. Gouge, by which means she made her heart, Bibliothecam Christi, a Library of Christ, and furnished her self with such a stock of Christian knowledge, and devotion, as carried her on with much comfort and cheerfulness through all her afflictions, till she arrived at her long, and much longed for home.
Both in her health,Her Meekness. and sickness, she was of so meek and milde a comportment, and behaviour towards all, that she conquered by it, as Ignatius advised Polycarp to do, those that had (if at least any had) any venemous sting, or spleen against her. For her meekness she seemed indeed like that Dove in the Prophet Hosea, chap. 7. 11. that had no heart, none certainly to do any harm or injury to any. And as Solomon saith, Prov. 15. 1. A loft answer turns away wrath; so without doubt her soft and milde disposition in these rough and blustering times, kept off many an impetuous storm and shower from her. This mildness was eminently conspicuous in her sickness. One night her Husband perswaded her to use an Electuary that was sent her, she refused it twice, but in milde tearms; yet the next morning she told him, that she had been too blame (it might be) in her words the night before. Often she desired all the world to forgive her if she had offended any, as she heartily forgave them all that had offended her. Her Husband told her, that he thought she had no enemies; Yea (said she) some have wronged me, but I forgive them from my heart, and desire God to forgive them.
In all the time of her sickness she was never heard to use any impatient word to any,Her Sickness. or of any Quis unquam ab hac muliere quod displiceret audivit? That I may use St. Jeroms Question concerning another on her behalf, Who ever heard any thing from this good woman that might displease him? or believed any thing against her, and condemned not himself of too much credulity or malignity in believing it? Cheerful she was, yet she tempered it with such a becoming severity; severe she was, yet she allayed it with such a decent cheerfulness, that it may be truly said of her, what was said by St. Jerom of a vertuous woman, Nothing was more severe than her cheerfulness, nor cheerfull than her severity. Such a concurrence and constellation of vertues and sweetness, such a Mirror of Charity, such a Treasury and Magazine of Chastity and Sobriety was in her. In short, she had such an eminency in single vertues, as if she had had no more, and yet such a worthiness in all, as if she had been singular in none.
Since the troubles of these bleeding times she suffered many afflictions with a Masculine patience,Her patience. though much imbittered to her by a long, and tedious sickness, and the necessary, and indispensable absence of her dearest Consort, which yet she professed, that it never bred in her the least ill thought of him, saying often, that she did but desire to see him again, and to speak with him, and then she was ready, if God so pleased, the next day to sing old Simeons, Nunc dimittis, Luke 2. 29. Lord now lettest thy servant depart in peace. And God heard her prayer, and his also (for in this they were joynt and mutual Orators) and to her great comfort, she saw him, and spake with, and for three weeks space they mutually enjoyed each other abroad in the house. But then the first-born of Death began to devour her strength (as Bildad speaks, Job. 1. 13, 14.) and threatned to bring her to the King of Terrours; for so indeed Death is to them that have not made their peace with God: But to her, however in regard of the dissolution, and parting of those dear friends, body and soul (which had been now for two and forty years sweet, and loving inmates) a valley of Achor, Hos. 2. 15. (that is, bitterness, as the word imports) yet was it to her a door of hope to open her a passage into that better world, which she so much longed after, often professing, that there was nothing that could tempt her to wish for life, but the breeding up of her little ones; which yet now she was the less solicitous about, because she could leave them in the hands of their tender, and careful Father, not doubting (as old dying Jacob said when he was blessing the two Sons of Joseph, Gen. 48. 15. 16.) That that God which had fed her all her life long untill that day, and the Angel which had redeemed her from all evil, would bless them. And now finding her self arrested by the messenger of Death, and her body (like the house of Saul) growing weaker, and weaker, but her soul (like the house of David) waxed stronger and stronger, took higher flights, and made nearer approaches to God that gave it.
When her Husband came to her (as he did frequently) he continually admonished, and minded her of the gracious Promises of mercy in Christ, and of faith in him, and desired her to be strengthened, and comforted in them: Her answer was, she was comforted in them,Her Comforts. she found the comfort of Gods Spirit in her, and verily believed she should see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living, Psal. 45. 13. Ever and anon saying, I am comforted: Gods Spirit is in me which makes me endure my sickness, and more pains than you can think of, so comfortably as I do.
When she knew of none by, her usual prayer was, Lord look down upon me in thy mercy, Lord forgive me my sins, Lord assist me with thy holy Spirit; Lord thou hast assured me of the forgiveness of my sins; Lord assist me still with thy holy Spirit. And many times passing the whole night without sleep, she spent that time in these, and the like heavenly prayers, and ejaculations, in which her Husband, and those which attend her continually, still found her when they came to her.
Never man had a more faithfull,A loving Wife. dear, and loving Wife, or more carefull of what concerned him, than himself, and more tender of any thing said, or done against him, than if it had been said, or done against her self. And when he seemed to lament the loss he should have if God took her from him: She meekly answered, We came not into the world together, and therefore may not look to go out together. When he replied, that it would be much better for their children if he went first, as by the course of nature was most likely, she said, that he could do much better for the children than she could, and thanked God for that she could now leave them with him.
For the space of three weeks she kept her bed, and about a fortnight before her death, being surprized with a fainting fit in which she was like to depart, and thereby perceiving that earth would suddenly return to the earth whence it came, that her soul might be the better winged, and prepared for a return to God that gave it, she de…ired that all the Family might be called up, and joyn in prayers with, and for her. At which time, observing the grief and passion of her Husband, and those that were present, expressed plentifully by tears from their eyes, she besought him, and them not to grieve, and lament for her happiness.
About that time a Reverend person coming to visit her Husband, he solicited him to enlarge that great act of favour unto him, by a greater act of charity to his wife, by visiting her also whom God now visited with sickness, as also to pray with, and administer some comfort unto her, which he most willingly condescended unto; and having taken a strict account of her faith in Christ, and hopes of a better life, he left her with his Fatherly benediction, top full of comfort; and when she was afterwards told that he came out of respect and kindness to visit her Husband, she said, No, but God had sent him for her comfort, often acknowledging the consolations which she had found by him.
When any came to visit her in the time of her sickness, at the parting, she desired them to pray for her, and often sent Messengers, and caused Letters to be directed to her friends in London to pray for her, for that she was now preparing for another world.
When she was sometimes desired for her childrens sake to chear up her self,Her Faith. her answer was, that to leave them did not trouble her, because she was assured that God would provide for them, adding that she would willingly leave Husband, Children, and all, to go to Christ, which was just the minde of that blessed Martyr Ignatius, Befall me (said he) what will, or can, so I may enjoy Jesus Christ, my Love, my Life that was crucified for me; or rather St. Pauls case, expressed in that most elegant Barbarisme, Phil. 1. 23. Desiring to be with Christ, which is multo magis melius, much more better.
And now finding the day of her life wasted to the evening,She begs Prayers. and ready to dye into night, on the Lords day before her death, she desired the prayers of the Congregation in the Parish where she lived, being well assured (as she said) that many good people would pray heartily for her. After which, some coming to visit her, and exhorting her to patience, and to remember the afflictions of Job, she answered, that she had had her part in his afflictions, God having given her Luctuosam foecunditatem, Her Afflictions.as St. Jerom said of Laeta, a sad, and sorrowfull fruitfulness, taking away seven of her children in their minority, so that she (as Hanna spake in her song, 1 Sam. 2. 5.) that had born seven, waxed feeble, yet she comforted her self with this hope, that they were in Heaven before her, and hoped that they would be Lamps to lead her to heaven; for she assured her self, that they followed the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; and for those two which were yet alive, she thanked God, for that she saw no ill qualities in them. Besides (she said) that God had taken away her goods from her, but had given her patience, which to her was of more value; and she esteemed it above them all, knowing that God was able to restore all when he pleased.
She often acknowledged Gods goodness to her in sending her a milde sickness, and not taking her away with some sudden stroke (as he did the wife of Ezekiel, Chap. 24. 16.) or by some tormenting disease, as he is pleased to visit some of his dear ones, acknowledging the wonderful mercy of God to her therein.
A week before her death,She blesseth her Children. she called her eldest Daughter to her, being to go from her to School at Putney, and putting her hand on her shoulder, she said to her, I give you that blessing which my Mother gave me at her death, The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob bless you (and then added the blessing which Aaron by Gods own appointment was to give the children of Israel) The Lord bless thee, and keep thee, the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And bid her serve God, and pray duly to him both morning and evening, and fear his Name, and then (said she) I doubt not but God will bless you, as he hath blessed me. In the evening of the same day, she commanded her younger Daughter to be brought her, and to be put upon the bed in a kneeling posture, and then putting her hand on her shoulder, she gave her also the same blessing as she had given to her sister.
Four dayes before her death she grew a little better, which put her Friends in some hope of her recovery; but the day following her sickness seized on her again, and so continued upon her that she slept no more till she slept the sleep of death, and together with her sickness, her Piety, Devotions, and comforts encreased in her.
In the last night of her life, presently after midnight, feeling death now approaching, she sent for her Husband,Her Devotion and Family out of their beds, and told him when he came to her, that she was now leaving the world and him, and expressed in many words her great devotion, faith and assurance of that everlasting life which she now was shortly to enjoy, and desired that they might now all pray together, which they did, she still expressing much devotion and comfort; and after an hour spent in those passages, she desired that the Bell might be tolled for her, and some Gentlewomen of her neighbours, coming to her, before them she expressed her comforts, and assurances of everlasting life as before, and with increase, and therein, and in prayers they continued till near the rising of the Sun.
After this she seemed for a wh'le willing to slumber, and closed her eyes, and so lay for a little while, but then turned her head to the other side of the Pillow, and after a few restless turnings, she said (what the Prophet Micha had said before her, Mich. 2. 10.) There is no rest in this world, and then opening her eyes, after some expressions of the comfort which she felt, distinctly knowing all that were present, and speaking to them all, she seemed to slumber again, and after a little time, spake these words, Come, let us go, let us go; repeating those words several times, which she spake not in a slumber, but being awake, and as perfect in her understanding, and memory, as at any time in her life. And it is a comforttable opinion that Divines teach from Luke 16. 22. that the Angels do attend on Gods children, especially at the time of their dissolution, to conduct their souls from earth, to heaven; which opinion she sometimes in her sickness related to her Husband, and added, that she had heard it from the Pulpit, and had read it in some Books, and she believed it to be true, and comforted her self with it.
After a little time she called for some drink, and having taken it, it began to alter her, as it seems she felt in her self, for she presently laid her self back on her Pillow, and lifting up her eyes towards Heaven, she said, Lord have mercy upon me; Lord Jesus receive my soul; and so continued moving her lips, and her tongue, but her words were not heard, and then held up one hand, and then joyned both her hands together, holding them up with her eyes still heaven-ward, till her strength failing her, she laid down her hands by her, and stretched her self in the bed without any help, and sweetly fell asleep about seven a clock in the morning,Her Death. August the 15. Anno Christi 1646.
And August the 24. she was decently, and solemnly laid in her bed of rest; the house (as Job saith) appointed for all the living, Job 30. 23. where the weary are at rest; where the wicked cease from troubling, and hear not the voyce of the oppressor, Job 3. 17, 18.