The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons, Part 2 · Biography 9
The Life and Death of that Excellent Lady Mary, Countess Dowager of Warwick, who died Anno Christi. 1678.
THis Eminent Laday was the seventh Daughter of the Right Honourable Richard, the first Earl of Cork, in Ireland, who being born a private Gentleman, and Her Parentage.the younger Brother of a younger Brother, yea, to no other Inheritance then is expressed in the Motto, which his humble gratitude inscribed upon all the Palaces which he built,
Gods Providence, mine Inheritance.
By which Providence, and Gods blessing upon his own Prudent industry, he raised himself to such an honor and Estate, and left such a Family as never any subject in these three Kingdoms did, and (which is more) with so unspotted a Reputation of integrity, that the narrowest scrutiny could find nothing to except against, in all the Methods of his rising, tho they were searched into most severely.
This Noble Lord was blessed with an ample Progeny, having five Sons, whereof he lived to see four of them Lords, and Peers of the Kingdom of Ireland, and the fifth, tho not equal in Titles, yet as truly famous and honourable for his piety, parts, and learning.
He had also eight Daughters, whereof the Eldest, the Lady Alice, was Married to the Lord Baramore. The second, the Lady Sarah, was Married to the Lord Digby of Ireland. The third, the Lady Laetitia, to the Eldest Son of the Lord Goring, who dyed Earl of Norwich. The fourth, the Lady Joan, to the Earl of Kildare, Primier Earl of Ireland, and of the antientest House in Christendom, of that degree, the present Earl being the sixth, or seven and twentieth of Lineal descent from the same.
A great Antiquary hath observed, that the three Antientest Families in Europe for Nobility, are the Veres in England, Earls of Oxford, and the Fitz-Geralds in Ireland, Earls of Kildare, and the Momorancies in France.
The fifth, the Lady Katherine, was Married to the Lord Viscount Ranelaugh. The sixth, was the Lady Dorothy Lofius. The eighth, the Lady Margaret unmarried. But the seventh, our Lady Mary, which shut up, and Crowned this Noble Train, was Married to Charles, Earl of Warwick, of whom it may be truly sayd; Many Dughters, all his Daughters did virtuously, but she surmounted them all.
She was great by her Marriage into the Noble Family of the Earls of Warwick, which Her Marriage and Character.yet received accession to its Grandure by the lustre of her Name and virtues: For she was great in all natural endowments and accomplishments of Soul and body, in Wisdom, beauty, favour and virtue.
Great by her Tongue; for few Women ever used one better: For she spake so gracefully, promptly, discreetly, pertinently, and holily, that many admired the gracious words which proceeded out of her Mouth.
Great by being the great Mistress and Promotress of the Art of obliging; in which she attained that Soveraign perfection, that she raigned over all their hearts with whom she did converse.
Great in her Nobleness of Living, and in her free, and splendid Hospitality.
Great in the almost unparallelled sincerity, constant, faithful, and condescending Friendship: And for that Law of kindness which dwelt in her lips and heart.
Great in the managment of her worldly Affairs, and in her great dexterity therein.
Great in her quickness to apprehend the difficulties of those her affairs, and to find where the pinch and stress lay; yea, to untye the knot, and to free them.
Great in the Conquest of her self, and mastery over her passions; and this did in a special manner appear in her deportment at the death of her deer and only Son, wherein her behaviour was so submiss, serene, and quiet, that (with holy David) she could say: I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, because thou Lord didst it.
Great in a Thousand other things which the world admires; yet did she despise them all, and counted them but loss and dung in comparison of the excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.
This Excellent Lady had good Education, and had been principled in the grounds Her Education.of Catechism in her Childhood, and yet (as she confessed) she understood nothing of the Life and Power of Godliness till some years after her Marriage. She came with prejudice, and strong apprehensions, as to matters of Religion, when she was engrafted into that Family, wherein afterwards she lived and dyed in so much Honour. For she was almost frighted, and discouraged with the disadvantagious report which was made of it. But when Gods Providence had brought her into it, and she came to behold the regular performances of Divine Worship therein; and had heard the most useful, and powerful Sermons upon the most useful, and practical points of Divinity; And withal, had observed, the good order, and Government of that Family, and received encouragment from her Right Honourable Father-in-Law, Robert, Earl of Warwick, (who had always an extraordinary respect for her, and affection to her) her prejudice, by degrees, wore off, and an approbation followed thereupon.
God was pleased to make use of two more remote means of her Conversion, namely, Afflictions, and Retirement: The kind of the first, and the occasion of the second need not here to be named. Only the divine Wisdom, and grace is very much to be admired and adored, for adapting and fitting suitable means to bring his purposes to pass; as these also were in her circumstances. For she did afterwards acknowledge, that her great Remora and difficulty was her love to the pleasures, and vanities of the world, which she neither knew how to reconcile to the strictness of Religion, nor yet could she be content to part with for that whose sweets and better pleasures, she was not then acquainted with; God therefore gradually weaned her, by rendring those things more insipid and distrustful, which before had been too much pleasing to her, and by giving leisure, and freedom from distractions, and to acquaint her self more throughly with the things of God: And hereby she was enabled to set her Seal to that Testimony which God gives to Spiritual wisdom, That all her ways are pleasantness, and all her paths are Peace. And to her friends she would freely, and frequently assure them, that she had no cause to repent the change which she found of the solid and satisfying Pleasures she met with in Religion, for those empty and dissatisfying ones she had left in the ways of vanity: Thereby encouraging them to try, not doubting but that upon experience, they would become of the same mind.
Two more immediate helps which God blessed to promote the work of grace in her Her Conversion.heart, were; The Ministry of the word (which God hath ordained to be the Power of God to Salvation to every one that believeth, Rom. 1. 8. 1 Cor. 1. 21.) and Christian Conference.
Before her Conversion, her Conversation was sweet, and inoffensive, yet would she Her Growth.confess that her mind was vain: But afterwards she walked with God most closely, circumspectly, and accurately: And (with Mary) having chosen the better part, few have walked with God more resolutely, and devoted themselves more unreservedly to Gods Love and fear, and service, learning to be Good in good earnest, and to encrease and grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
And to promote this great and excellent work, like the wise man in the Gospel [Mat. 7. 24.] she digged deep to lay her Foundation on a Rock. And she made a strict scrutiny into her Soul, and weighed the reasons and motives of this her choise in the ballance of the Sanctuary, and (with the other builder in the Gospel) she sat down and considered what it might cost her to carry on and finish her Spiritual Edifice, and whether she were furnished to defray the charges thereof. As also whether the grounds of her hope were firm, and such as would not abuse her, and shame her, and her evidences for heaven, such as would bear the test, and that the sacred Scriptures would approve and own: And this she drew up at large with her own hand many years before her Death, judiciously, soberly, modestly, and with humility.
Having thus put her hand to the plough, she looked not back, but minded Religion as her business indeed; and never gave any so much as suspicion of her trifling in so serious a work. And for her practice of it, it was her great design to walk worthy of the Gospel in all well pleasing, and to adorn her Professed subjection to the Gospel, by a Conversation becoming it; And to shew forth his Virtues and praises, who had called her out of darkness into his marvelous Light, and had translated her into the Kingdom of his dear Son.
First therefore she was circumspectly careful to abstain even from all appearance of Abstinence.evil; and in all doubtful cases, her rule was, to take the surest side, saying, I am sure it will do me no hurt to let such things alone. And tho none were further from censuring others or passing Judgment upon others liberties, yet for her own practice, she would never allow her self the help of artificial beauty (for she used neither patch nor paint) and was pleased with the saying of one of her Spiritual friends, upon the reading of a book which Apologizes for it (O Lord I thank thee that thou gavest me not wit enough to write such a Book, unless withal thou had'st given me Grace enough not to write) Neither would she play at any Games, because besides many other inconveniences, she judged Prudence.them great wasters of pretious time, of which she was always very thrifty. And tho she was known to be a Lady of good understanding, yet, she would say that there were three things which were too hard for her: and would confess that she could not comprehend them.
First, how those who professed to believe an Eternal estate, and its dependances upon a short inch of time, could complain of time, lying as a dead commodity upon their hands, which they were troubled how to pass away.
Secondly, how Christians, who would seem devout at Church, could laugh at others for being serious out of it, and slight the very Bible, and turn Religion into a mocking-stock,
Thirdly, how knowing men could take care of Souls, and yet seldom come among rhem, never to look after them.
And though, in the aforenamed particulars she was content only to give an Example of forbearance; yet from the Play-Houses, since the Stage hath taken so great liberty, she would openly dehort her Friends, and that with the greatest earnestness.
She, long before her decease, began to keep a Diary, and took Counsel with two, A Diary.whom she used to call her Souls Friends (and ever esteemed such to her best Friends) concerning the best manner how to mannage it. At the first, what she set down in it she used to perform in the Evenings; But finding that time inconvenient, by reason of her Lords long ilness (which gave her many inevitable diversions at that season) she changed it into the quiet, and silent morning, and for that end, she used to rise early. And therein, among other things, she used to record the daily frame of her heart towards God: His signal providences to her self, and sometimes also, towards others: His gracious manifestations to her soul: Returns of Prayer: Temptations prevailing, or resisted, or whatsoever might be useful for her caution, or encouragement: That might afford her matter for Thankfulness, or Humiliation, &c. And by this, and such like means she had arrived to, and attained such a measure of experience, that she could conclude, or at least, make strong conjectures of the issue, and events of such things as she spread before God in prayer, and that by the frame of heart in the performance of that Duty: as might be instanced in many particulars, if it were convenient.
She used to call prayer Hearts-ease, because she often found it so: And though her Prayer.Modesty was such, and she was so far from a vain affected ostentation of her Gifts therein, yet this may be affirmed, that she was mighty and fervent in Prayer, yea, constant, and abundant in it. For she sometime used her voice in prayer, and thereby hath been overheard, and her own Lord (knowing her hours of prayers) once convey'd a Grave and Godly Minister into a secret place, within hearing, who (being a man very able to judge) much admired her humble fervency: for in praying she prayed, and when she did not use an audible voice, her sighs, and groans, might be heard at a good distance from her Closet. And the very day before she died, she was shut up for above an hour, which time she spent in fervent private prayer, notwithstanding her bodily indisposition, and weakness. And indeed prayer was the Element wherein she lived, and actually died, and it was as the vital breath of her soul, and the Wing that wafted it immediately to Heaven.
But if she excelled her self in any thing, as much as she excelled others in most Meditation.things, it was in the Divine Art of holy Meditation. This was her Master-piece. For she usually walked two hours daily in the Morning to Meditate alone, in which rare Art she was an accomplished Mistress, both in that which was set, as also Occasional. For the first, choosing some select subject, which she would press upon her heart with most intense thoughts, till she had drawn out all its juice, and nourishment: And for the second, like a spiritual Bee, she would suck Honey from all Occurrences; whole Volumns of such she hath left behind her.
After this Consecrating of the day with reading the Scriptures, Meditation and Prayer, and using but a short dressing, and ordering her Domestick affairs, she spent the rest of the Morning in reading some good Book, till she was called to Family Prayers in the Chappel, from which she was never absent, and at which she behaved her self with much reverence and Devotion, thereby giving an excellent example to the rest of the Family.
She was a strict observer of the Lords days, which is truly, and fitly called, the Hedg and Fence of Religion: And though some please themselves in calling it Judaizing, to excuse the liberties which they indulge themselves in breaking it, yet our Church hath enjoyned all to cry to God for mercy for the breach of it, and for Grace to incline our hearts to keep the fourth Commandment, as well as any of the other nine: And it's not hard to observe, that the streams of Religion are deeper or shallower, according as these Banks are kept up or neglected.
She used great Devotion when she came to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and Devotion.seldom omitted to prepare her soul by solemn Fasting and Prayer, and renewing her Covenant with God at that time.
And to encourage others to such a serious preparation to that sacred Ordinance, to that Dreadful Table (as S. Chrysostom calls it) which she her self used before it, it will be worth the while to transcribe, and to take notice of the sweet advantages which she reaped hereby, as she her self hath left it upon Record under her own hand in her Diary, concerning one of the last Sacrament Days she ever enjoyed in this World; which is as followeth.
November 25th. Sacrament Day.
As soon as I awaked, I blessed God. When I had read in the Word, the Chapters of the sufferings of my blessed Saviour, I spent much time in meditating of his dying Love: By which thoughts I found my heart much drawn out to love him, and to be melted by his love. Then with great awful apprehensions of God upon my heart I went to pray. In which Duty, my heart was lifted up in the high praises of God, for both Spiritual and Temporal mercies: And my Affections were much drawn out in the Duty, in which my heart did follow exceeding hard after God for a nearer Communion with him in the Sacrament than ever yet I had; I then renewed my Covenant with God and made promises, that, by his Grace enabling me, I would walk more closely with him for the time to come. That which in a special manner I begged of God at this Sacrament was, more love to him, more holiness, more contempt of the world, and the glories of it: that I might be more useful to the souls and bodies of my fellow Christians than formerly I had been.
Those mercies that I was in a special manner grateful for, were the Creation, and Redemption of the World; and for the Gospel, and the Covenant of Grace, and for Justification, and for some measure of Sanctification: And for so much patience exercised towards me, before my Conversion. And in order to it, imbittering Creature Comforts, that I might seek for Comforts above. And for a Sanctified Affliction, and for some degree of patience to bear it; and for supports under it by the warm, and lively Comforts of the Holy Ghost. And for returns of Prayer. And for so many opportunities to seek unto God. And for the sweet reviving hours I had enjoyed with God in solitude by Heavenly Meditations. And for the Word and Sacraments, and the sanctifying motions of Gods spirit. I was in a more than ordinary measure melted in the Duty, and shed a very great plenty of Tears in it; which when I came from, I found a longing desire to pertake of the Lords Supper, and a great Joy that I was going to pertake of it. Then I went to Hear.—The Text was. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh to the Father but by me,
I was attentive at that good Sermon: and by what I heard of the excellency of Christ, had my heart much warmed with Love to him.
Afterwards at the Confession before the Sacrament, I found my heart in a more than usual manner broken for my sins, which I bewailed with great plenty of Tears, and from my heart judged and loathed my self for them.
After I had received, I found my heart in an extraordinary manner warmed with love to God, and my soul did follow very hard after him to be made more holy, and for Grace to serve him better than ever yet I had done. I had very lively Affections in the Duty, in which I received much Joy, and had sweet Communion with God in it.
After at the Table of the Lord I had given to the poor, I came from the Sacrament with my heart in a sweet, grateful, and heavenly frame, and then in private I blessed God for that blessed Feast, and begged strength to keep my promises I had made to God of new Obedience.
In the afternoon I heard again the same person, upon the same Text: I was in a serious, attentive frame at that good Sermon. The Subject of which was to shew, that Christ was the only way for poor penitent Sinners to come unto the Father.
I meditated upon the Sermons, and prayed them over. And had also Meditations upon the Joys of Heaven, with the thoughts of being ever freed from sin, and of being ever with the Lord: where I should enjoy him in his fullest Love.
I found my heart much revived, and my soul did then make strong Sallies, and Egresses after that blessed Rest.
After Family Duties were over, at which I prayed with fervency, I did before going to Bed commit my self to God.
O Lord, I do from my soul bless thee for this sweet day, in which thou wert pleased to vouchsafe unto me, thy most unworthy Servant, more soul joy, than thou didst give for a long time before.
She was a very serious, and attentive hearer of the Word, and constantly, after Sermons, Her Hearing.recollected what she heard, sometimes by Writing, always thinking, and calling it to mind that she might make it her own, and turn it into practise; not content to be a forgetful, fruitless Hearer only, but a doer, that she might be blessed in her deed.
And such she was for the external performances of Religion.
And though this was beautiful and lovely, yet her chief Glory was within, in the Her inward beauty.hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, in that dress of Graces which adorned her soul: This string was all of Orient Pearls, and evenly matched; not one of an ill water, or of an unequal size. There was not one withered limb; not one member wanting or defective in the New Creature: She was compleat in Christ; all of a piece.
Her head for knowledge was comprehensive and clear, The Eye of her Faith was piercing and steady. The Ear of her Obedience was open, and swift of Hearing, and boared at the Door Posts of Wisdoms House. Her Pallat was quick and relishing, to which Gods Word was sweeter than the Honey, and the Honey-comb, and preferred by her to her necessary Food. The Cheeks of modesty were fair and ruddy. The Arms of her desire were stretched out after God, and were flexible to embrace him. The hands of her Justice and Charity were strong and open. The Breasts of her Bounty were well fashioned, and full of Milk: And the Bowels of Compassion were tender and fruitful. Her Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness was even greedy and insatiable. The heart of her sincerity was sound and lively, and the Pulse of her Conscience smooth and equal. The feet of her affections were swifter than the Roes on the Mountains of Bether. The natural heat of her Zeal more fervent than the Coals of Juniper; And the Radical moisture of her Repentance more fluid than the Springs of Pisgah. She was seen with dry Eyes under Tear-moving circumstances, which very neerly concerned her self; and being asked how she could refrain? She replyed: I desire to weep for nothing but my sins. Her Name was as an ointment poured forth, which made her the desire and delight of all that were good; yea, she may fitly be called a She-Jedidiah, a female Lemuel, the Lords delight: She with whom God was.
Now the soul of this excellent Body which animated all its goodly Parts within, Her Love and Humility.was the Love of God: And the gorgeous robe which clothed it without, was her deep humility. These were as the Sun and Moon in this great Firmament, all whose Stars were of the first magnitude, and the least of which would have been a great Luminary in an other Orb. Such was this Beauteous Spouse of Christ; so like her heavenly Bridegroom, that for that resemblance sake, we may say of her, she was exceeding lovely.
Nor was she less solicitous to make others good than to be so her self. She well remembred Love to other Souls.our Saviours charge to S. Peter, when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren. She set her heart to promote the building of Gods Spiritual Temple, and therefore she applied her self to it with all her might. She had holy Transports for the Glory of God, and she was a great lover of souls, and these two engaged her to promote Religion with her utmost industry and zeal, which that she might carry on with the greater advantage.
First, She made it her great design to represent Religion as amiable and taking, and free from Vulgar prejudice as possibly she might, and not as might affright and scare men from it; but rather, that it might allure them, and insinuate it self into their love and liking. And for this end she was affable, familiar, pleasant, of a free and obliging Conversation, unaffected; not sowre, reserved, morese, sad, dejected, melancholy deportment, which presents Religion most disadvantagiously. She was, even naturally of a most sweet temper, and Grace inoculated into such a Stock, thrives to admiration; whereas some crabbed, peevish, sullen natures starve the best Cien they are grafted with. And she made grace and nature subservient to the good of others.
Secondly, She kept her self free and disinteressed from all Parties and Factions, that Her Prudence.none might suspect a design of making Proselytes to any but to God.
She was neither of Paul, or of Apollos, or of Cephas, but only of Christ. Her Name was Christian, and her Sirname Catholick: She had a large and unconfined Sou… not Piety.hem'd in, or pounded up within the Circle of any mans Name: But whosoever feared God and wrought Righteousness was accepted of her.
She, very inossensively, regularly, and devoutly observed the Orders of the Church of England in its Liturgy and Publick Service, which she failed not to attend twice a day with exemplary Reverence; yet was she far from placing Religion in Ritual Observances.
She used to perfume her Company with good savoury discourse to prevent idle or worse Communication, yet not abruptly, upbraidingly, or importunely, which is very nauseous and fulsome: But she was like a spiritual stove: you might fell the heat, but not see the fire. She would drop a wise Sentence, or Moral, Holy Apothegm (with which she was excellently furnished, some of her own making, others of her Collection) that which suited with, or at least was not far remote from what was spoken, and talked of, and commending, or improving that, she would wind about the whole discourse without offence; yea, with much satisfaction and pleasure.
She kept a book of such wise, pithy Sayings, much valuing words which contained much use and worth in a little compass.
Where she had particular kindness, or personal interest, she would improve the authority of her Friendship to gentle, but free reproof, and would argue, and perswade so strenuously, that her Bow (like sonathans) seldom returned empty; and would plead the Cause of God, and of their own souls; and to whom she spake, she would do it, with such winning, and insinuating sweetness, that it was hard to resist the Spirit she spake by; and her Zeal for their good, would cause her to argue with her friends, that she might by a holy Violence attract and allure them to be good and happy.
She was of an extensive Charity, and would make people good by believing them to Her Charity.be so, and by this engagement make them ashamed to deceive her hopes, and disappoint her expectation.
She had a tender, conscientious care to provide good Ministers in places where she had any thing to do, and to encourage them, would augment their maintainance where it was small, Leez, Braintree, Foulness, &c. may be her Witness in this.
She had had a great care of the souls of her Servants; And her Ambition was, to be the Mistress of a Religious Family, which appeared in these particulars.Family Government.
First, In requiring their Attendance upon Gods Publick Worship, and their reverent Behaviour there. Her Eye surveyed her Chappel, and none could be absent but she would miss them.
Secondly, In personal Instruction, and familiar perswading them. There were none that served her but can Witness that she took occasions to do them good.
Thirdly, In preparing them for, and perswading to the frequent participation of the Lords Supper.
Fourthly, In laying good Books in all the common Rooms, and places of attendance, that those who waited might not lose their time, and have a Bait laid of some useful, practical Books, and fitted to their capacity, which migh catch, and imploy them.
Fifthly, In making it the footstep to preferment. For she made the 101 Psalm the Rule of her Occonomicks: And though she treated all her Servants friendly, yet they were her Favourites which more signally feared God.
She was not a First Table Christian only: She did not halt, but walked in the ways of God with both her feet. She had learned Saint Johns Lesson: That he who Loves God must love his Brother also.
She was exactly Righteous.
Eminently Charitable.
Severely Just, both in Word and Deed. Her Word was as Sacred as an Oath, and Her Justice.as good security as any Bond. No inconvenience to her self would make her recal or flinch from the Obligation she had brought upon her self by her own mouth. Yea, she had such an abhorrence of a dishonourable recess from express, or but intimated promises, that it would render her esteem of such persons exceeding low and mean, who by little Arts and Shists would loose and free themselves from their engagements, and that would disappoint the expectations they had raised in others to save charges, accounting their money spared, a very poor shift, and base Redemption of their Reputation.
She abhorred a Lie, and used modestly to give this Testimony of her self: You know I Her Truth.dare not: I will not Lie. And her Lord knew this so well, that though he was positive enough, yet would he never persist, if there hapned any contest against whatsoever she affirmed peremptorily.
And a Lye was the foulest blemish any could stain themselves with, in conversing with her, and the most unpardonable fault a Servant could contract, to whom she used to say: Tell me the truth, and I can forgive you any thing.
About a Month before she died, she was (though then in perfect health) determined Preparation for death.to alter her Will. And whereas she had before given many large Legacies in Money to persons of great quality, she said, she would alter them all, and that for this reason: They are (said she) rich, and do not need money, but she would give it in some other thing that they might keep, as memorials of her Love to them: And when she had set down all their Names in a Paper, she bethought her self what probably might be most acceptable to each of them. For (said she) that renders a Gift most pleasing, when it suits with the fancy of the Party to whom it is given. And then surveying her own store, she resolved what to give to most of them: But not finding her self fully provided of what she might bequeath to all, she resolved to insert all in a Codicil, to be annexed to her Will: And added, I am now (God willing) going to London, when I have finished my Will, and then I will by Discourse, find out, undiscerned, what will be most pleasing to every one of them, and will provide accordingly.
Yet when the draught of her Will was made, she would put into the Will it self: For the Right Honourable, the Countess of Scarsdale, I bequeath a Set of Silver Sconses, which are in mine own Chamber. And being asked, why she would not leave the Gift to be put into the Codicil among the rest? She returned this Answer: Because (said she) She is the only person living, to whom I ever intimated that I had put her into my Will, and I would not die and have it found otherwise, and so be under the suspition of having told a Lie, or Dying with a Lie in my mouth.
She had perfectly learned S. Pauls Lesson: To speak evil of no man: And where she Her Prudence.could not speak well, the worst injury she would do would do was to be silent, and say nothing, unless it were to some single friend, of whose prudence and taciturnity she was secured by her own experience.
Nor would she invidiously diminish the just praises of any who deserved them. Nay, she would rather study to extenuate their other failings, by presenting the light side to hide the dark one. And would commend them for one good quality or action, to cover many bad ones: And would say, when others spake against them; yet I must do them this right, they are so, &c. Or for all this.
She was no less exactly just in deeds than in words. She not only gave goodly words but good performances.Justice.
And because the faithful discharge of Relative Duties is one of the most signal evidences of Righteousness, and the greatest Ornament of our holy profession, let us hear briefly how she used to acquit her self in that regard: And that first as a Wife to her Husband Living, and as an Executrix to his Will, and a Trustee to the Estate, after his Decease. As a Mother: As a Daughter: As a Sister: As a Friend: As a Mistress: As a Landlady: And as a Neighbour: In all which she was, as a singular blessing to all her Relations, so an eminent Example unto others.
First, As a Wife: The heart of her Husband did trust in her: And she did him good, and As a Wife.not evil, all the days of his Life. She was truly a Crown, and an Ornament to him. She always lived, with the sense of the Covenant of God which was betwixt them, upon her heart. She was an equal mixture of affectionate obedience, and obediential affection in her deportment towards him.
Her care and endeavour was to hide, and conceal his infirmities: She deeply Sympathized in his long, and tedious indispositions: She attended, and to her uttermost relieved him under them, with great tenderness. She loved his soul, and would both Counsel him with prudent Zeal, and pray for him with great ardor and fervency; Neither was he ever wanting in praising her. He hath with vehement protestations said: That he had rather have her with Five Thousand pounds (though she brought him much more) than any Woman living, with Twenty. Yea, when the very Torrent of his sorrows was at the highest for the Death of his only Son, he made That the most aggravating circumstance of his grief, That it would kill his Wife: Who (said he) is more to me than an hundred Sons. And to seal up his Love, he gave to her his whole Estate, as an honorary Testimony of his grateful esteem of her merits towards him, and left her sole Executrix: A high Testimony of his confidence in her integrity.
This Trust, though it cost her very much labour, and she encountred with great difficulties in the management of it, yet did she discharge it with such indefatigable pains, such scrupulous exactness, and admirable Prudence, that she failed not to perform his Will to the least tittle: So that she neither gave, nor left any occasion to any of Complaint, though they were interressed persons; but they rather applauded, and admired her prudent, and honourable conduct of that great Affair; which she owned, with great thankfulness unto God, as no small blessing, and mercy to her.
And for that Noble Estate which was to Descend unto others after her Decease, she would not imbezel, or wrong it in the least, to have gained the disposal of the whole. And therefore was at vast Expences in Repairs upon the Mansion-House, and of Farms belonging to it, though her self was but a Tenant for Life. And it was her usual saying, That whatsoever she lost her self, she would never give occasion unto them that came after her, to say, that she had damnified the Estate, or wronged her Trust, or them.
Her Noble and Splendid way of living, proceeded not from Pride and Ambition, but Her Housekeeping.at least principally out of Conscience: For she would not contract her Family, or make an abatement, because she would not deceive her Lords Trust, who, the rather gave her the Estate to keep up the Honor of his Name, and Family, in a place where it had long flourished, and had been famous in that kind for many years.
She was an incomparable Mother, which she made to appear in the Education of As a Mother.her only Son, and of three Daughters committed to her Trust. For she never had but two Children of her own: one Son, the gallant, hopeful, young L. Rich, and one Daughter, who died young.
Those three Excellent Ladies to whom she performed the Office, and Duties of an own Mother, though she were but an Aunt in Law to them, who by their Cousins death are become such vast Fortunes to their Husbands, being left with less plentiful Portions, even whilest her own Son lived, she would never leave pressing her Lord to make Noble Provisions for them, and to settle on them Portions answerable to their Birth, and Quality.
She was a Dutiful Child to her Parents, and upon all occasions would make honourable As a Child, Sister, Friend.mention of them. She was a more endearing Sister than in a few words can be expressed. A friend so faithful, so kind, so condescending, so free, unreserved, and unsuspicious, as the like is hard to be found.
She was a rare and excellent Mistress, in a double care both of the Spiritual, and As a Mistris.Bodily welfare of her Servants, whom she as much loved to please, as other persons Servants can be to please their Mistress, it being her delight to render their Lives about her, easie, and pleasant, and free from discontent, that so they might serve the Lord with the greater chearfulness. And when she was to leave them, she left not off her kindness to them, or care for them, but provided to the uttermost of her power, for their comfortable subsistence, according to their rank, and time of Service with her: Giving them Noble and Liberal Legacies, to some four hundred, to others three, two, and one hundred pounds a piece: And to others eighty, seventy to buy them Annuities for their Lives. To others, Fifty, Forty, Twenty, and a full years Wages to every one not specified by Name; and three Months entertainment, with Lodging, Diet, and all other accommodations, as in her Life time, to seek out, and to provide Services for themselves, before they should be removed.
She was a Noble, and compassionate Land-lady, and would usually say of her Tenants: As a LandladyAlas poor Creatures! they take a great deal of pains, and I love to see them thrive, and live comfortably, and I cannot endure to see them brought into straits, and therefore I would have all things made convenient for them, and if they have sustained any great losses, I would have it considered. And for her Copy-hold Tenants, she would urge earnestly the timely finishing of the Court Rolls, and delivery of their Copies to them, professing that she could not in Conscience suffer it to be neglected, because it was all they had to shew for their Estates.
Lastly, as a Neighbour: She was so kind and courteous to them, that it advanced the Rent of the adjacent houses out of a desire to be near unto her. Her House and As a NeighbourTable, Her countenance and very heart was open to all persons of quality within a considerable distance; and for the meaner sort, if they were Sick, or Tempted, or in any Distress either in Body or Mind, whither they should go but to this Countess, whose Closet was always furnished with things necessary, either for Physick or Chyrurgery. And her self would visit the meanest of them, and would send Ministers unto them for their Spiritual Edification and comfort:
But as her Love to God was the soul of her Religion, so her extraordiaary Charity towards Her Charity.those who needed it, was the conspicuous Crown which beautified all her sweetness and goodness towards Men: For in this she was forward to her power; yea, and beyond her power. For she would, upon occasion anticipate her Revenues and Incomes, rather than want wherewith to be liberal, insomuch that it was said of her: She was the Lady who would borrow money to give away. She would not live poor in Good Works that she might die Rich: Yea, though she had chosen Executors in whom her heart could trust, yet she would make her own hands her Executors, and they were very faithful to her enlarged heart.
But to instance in some particulars. When in her Lord, and Husbands Life time, she had an allowance, setled by Articles before Marriage, she enquired of an able Neighbour Minister, in whom she much confided about the quota pars, what proportion one is obliged to Consecrate unto God out of his Estate? He answered: That it was hard, if not impossible, to determine, or six a Rule, which might hold universally; but the circumstances must be considered in which persons stood; their Qualities, their Incomes, their Dependances, &c. But this, not satisfying her, she urged a more particular Answer as to her own case, what would be fit, and becoming her to do? He answered: That he supposed, a seventh part: But she replied, that she would never give less than the third part. And she made good her resolution with advantage, ever laying by her a third part for Charitable Uses, and would sometimes borrow of that which remained, to add to it, but never defalk from that to serve her own occasions, tho sometimes they were pressing enough.
When she came to the possession of so great an Estate as her Lord left her for her Life, she in a good measure made true what a Great Person said: That the Earl of Warwick had left all his Estate to pious uses. Meaning, that he had given it to this bountiful Lady, who would so imploy it. And she hath professed, that all the satisfaction which she took in it, was, the opportunity it afforded her of doing good: And she hath seriously affirmed; That she would not accept of, nor be encumbred with the greatest Estate in England, if it were offered her, upon condition, not to do good to others with it.
Her liberal heart devised liberal things. There are Objects of real Charity, which are not so to Vulgar Eyes or Purses, on whom she would confer, and whom she would surprise with Noble and sutable assistances: Such struck deep, and drew a whole Bag at once, but made no noise.
Forreigners who were forced to exile themselves to preserve their Religion, or to embrace what they were convinced of to be the Truth, she was always open-handed to such.
A great many young Scholars of hopeful promising Parts, she wholly, or in a good measure maintained in the Ʋniversities, allowing to some Thirty, to some Twenty, to some ten, to some eight, and to many five pounds per Annum, and to some who had more helps otherways, less.
Abundance of young Children she put out to School in the Neighbouring Towns, even all that were poor, and willing to learn. Yea, her Charity in this kind reached as far as unto Wales, contributing Nobly unto that pious design, set on foot, and prosecuted with indefatigable pains and earnestness by that Reverend, Charitable, and Pious Divine Mr. Thomas Gouge. And for those poor Children about her, she did not only pay for their Schooling, but gave them Books, oft-times Clothing.
Many godly Ministers, both Non-Conformists, who wanted means of subsistence, and Conformists, whose Livings were so small that they could not live on them, she bountifully relieved.
She turned not away her Eyes, or her Ears from occasional Objects of Charity, whereof there was no want. And though she was sometimes imposed upon, and deceived by those that neither needed, nor deserved what she gave, yet did not this discourage her from giving again. For (said she) I had rather relieve ten that only appear meet Objects, and are not, than let one go unrelieved who is so indeed. She thought it better to seed two Drones, than to starve one Bee. For though they deceived her in giving, she knew that God would not deceive her in accepting what was sincerely done for his Name sake.
The poor which she fed at her Gates were very many, not only with broken meat, but with liberal provision, purposely made for them. She was full of compassion, yea, a great lover of the poor, and she built a convenient Receptacle for them at her London House (as they had one at Leez) to shelter them from the injury of Weather till they received their Dole. And during her abode at London, having no Family at Leez, yet even then were the Poor provided for there. For twice a Week there was plentiful provision of Bread and Bief for the Poor of four adjacent Parishes: And in her Will she took order that the same should be continued for three Months after her Decease. And by her said Will she gave an hundred pounds to be distributed among the poor of Braintree, Felsted, Little Leez, and French Waltham, either at, or shortly after her Funeral.
It is not doubted that every year after she came to enjoy that great Estate, she gave as much in works of Charity as would have purchased Lands sufficient to have endowed a Free-School, or an Alms-house. And that Pious and Liberal Foundation of Rochford Alms-house, which, though Founded Legally by a Patent granted under the Broad Seal for its Confirmation, by the Ancestors of this Noble Family, of which she bore the Title, being by the Death of the Founder not endowed: Yet (as all her Predecessors had done) she always gave to the Alms-people their full designed allowance, and ordered, by her last Will, that it should be so continued for a full year after her Decease.
This is farther very remarkable in this rare Lady, that she was not notoriously defective Her Growth in Grace.in any Virtue, or Grace, but as eminent in all, as most have been in any one of them. She did abound in every Grace.
She was never stained with any scandalous deformity, or sin, which was a rare mercy: For though sometimes she might slip, or stumble, she fell not; much less lay, or wallowed to defile her Garments, concerning which, hear what her self hath written.
After God had thus savingly (I hope) wrought upon me, I went on constantly, and comfortably in my Christian course, though I had many doubts, and fears to contend with. And did truly obey that Precept, of working out my Salvation with fear and trembling; Yet God was pleased to carry me still onward. And though I, too often, broke my good Resolutions, yet did I never renounce them; and though I too often trip't in my Journey to Heaven, yet I never forsook my purpose of going thither.
Her very defects, and failings, were such as some others would have been proud of: Her Weeds would have been accounted Flowers; her Thistles, Roses in another Garden. For her two great faults, for which she was blamed, by the most curious Observers of her, were
First, Excess of Charity.Faults charged upon her.
Secondly, Defect of Anger. But even these admit of an Apology more easily than they need it. For
First, What was accounted excess of Charity in her, was her easiness to believe most People to be Good, or at least better than they were. She did indeed somewhat bend to this Right-hand Error: But if it were a bad effect, it proceeded from a good Cause. They that have clear, innocent, and sincere hearts themselves, are ready to judge the like of others. Charity thinketh no evil. Yet she used this her good opinion of others, as a means, and motive to make them, what she was so willing to signifie she thought them to be. And though she would never despair of any man, while she found them under the a we of Gods Authority and Word (for even those may receive some nourishment who Eat against stomack; and the Sieve under the Pump may be cleansed, though it hold no Water) yet if she discerned any to scorn, or deride, and mock at the Scriptures, to despise Gods Ordinances, and to turn that which is Sacred into a laughing stock, she used (as her Phrase was) to set her mark upon that Man. Neither yet was she so often, nor so much mistaken in her Judgment of persons, as some supposed, who more misinterpreted her Civility, than she did the others sanctity.
As for her defect of anger, which implies (if the charge be true) a want of Zeal Her Zeal.against Sin and Sinners, and then it is unjustly charged upon her: For though she could not, she durst not rage and storm, and vent her Anger, as some do, whose Anger is a short madness (For indeed, her calm, serene, and sedate mind, and amiable disposition, was not capable of such furious storms, so contrary to her nature) yet would she with less noise, make deeper impressions of her displeasure for great faults, than those who appear most furious: As we see, that a still, soaking Rain wets more, than a furious, driving storm. And therefore it was observed, that if any Servant had offended, and been faulty, they had rather have run the Gantlet thrice, of their Lords most furious expressions, than to have been once sent for to their Ladies Closet, who treated them with soft words, but hard Arguments against their misdemeanours. Her words were like that silent Lightning, which, without the noise of Thunder, melts the Blade, but singes not the Scabbard.
What Presages she had of her approaching Death, she discovered not to any; but her preparations for it had been of a long time habitual. It was one of the most constant Subjects of her retired musings, and she used to call walks to Meditate upon it, her going to take a turn or two with Death. And surely that could never surprise, or find her unprepared, who made it her great work to be fitting her self for it.
There are some passages worthy our most serious remarks concerning the watchful Eye of Gods Providence over his own Hephzibahs, alarming them to trim their Lamps (as the wise Virgins did) against the coming of the Bridegroom, and allowing them fit opportunities to do it; as in much mercy, he did unto her, as will appear by this Transcript taken out of her Lords Diary, containing an account how she spent the last Lords day, before she fell into her sickness, which proved mortal, and was Written but the very day before she was taken ill; by which, it will be evident how God, in a most remarkable manner, made some impresses upon her Soul of her approaching dissolution, though as then, there were no visible Symptomes of it upon her body.
March 24th. Sunday.
As soon as I was up, I blessed God. Then I Meditated, and endeavoured by thinking Sabbath Sanctified.of some of the great mercies of my Life, to stir up my heart to return glory to God. And those thoughts had this effect upon me, to melt my heart much by Gods Love, and to warm it with love to him.
Then I prayed, and I was enabled in that duty to pour out my soul to God, and my heart was in it, carried out to praise God, and I was large in recounting of many of Gods special mercies to me. And whilst I was doing so, I found God mighty upon my Spirit, and upon my heart, in a much more than ordinary manner, carried out to admire God for his goodness, and to love him: and I found his love to make great impressions upon my breast; and melting me into an unusual plenty of Tears.
Those mercies, which in a special manner I was grateful for, were the Creation, and Redemption of the World; and for the Gospel, and for the Sacraments; and for Free-Grace, and the Covenant of Grace; and for the excellent means of it which I had enjoyed; and for the great Patience God had exercised towards me before, and since my Conversion; and for Checks of Conscience when I had sinned; and for repentance when I had done so; and for a sanctified Affliction, and supports under it; and for so large a portion of wordly blessings.
After I had begged a blessing upon the publick Ordinances, I went to hear Mr. Woodroof. His Text was, Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. And after a summary account of the Sermon, it follows in her Book.
In the Afternoon, I heard again the same Person upon the same Text. And then follows a concise, and methodical recapitulation of that Sermon also. And after that she adds. I was in a serious and affected frame at both the Sermons, and was by them convinced of the excellency of fearing God, and of spending the remainder of the term of my life in his service. And did resolve to endeavour to spend the remaining part of my time better.
At both his Prayers I prayed with fervency. Afterwards I retired and meditated uppon the Sermons, and prayed them over.
And I had also this Evening large Meditations of Death, and of Eternity; which thoughts had this effect upon me, to make me in an extraordinary awaked frame, in which things of another Life were much realized to me, and did make very deep impressions upon me; and my soul did follow hard after God for Grace to serve him better than ever yet I had done. Then she concluded with this Prayer.
O Lord be pleased to hear my Prayers, which did not come out of feigned Lips: And to hear the voice of my weeping for more holiness, and for being more weaned from the world, and all things in it, Amen. After Supper I committed my self to God.
This was Written the very last day of her health, being Monday Morning. In which we may see how God realized to her, and gave her extraordinary impressions of Death, Eternity, and the Life to come, when he was about to bring her to it. For the very next day she began to be ill of that sickness whereof she died.
This Phaenix: This excellent Lady was far from their humours whose Conscience are so bad, and unquiet Company, that they hate solitude, and dare not be alone. For she loved, and even hugged her Retirements as her most pleasing hours which gave her the greatest satisfaction. And tho when she was called to it, she would deny her self, and her particular inclination to comply with a duty of a larger spread; yet she cheerfully sustained that hurry of businesses which was inevitable to the acquitting her self of the trust reposed in her, by her Lord and Husbands last Will and Testament.
But never did Bird take Wing, when disentangled from a Net, with greater chearfulness, nor chirp out the pleasures of its unconfined freedom, more merrily than she did solace her self, when she had escaped the noise and Croud of Worldly Affairs, which ruffled and turmoiled her quiet repose, and suspended the enjoyment of her self, and when as, in the begining of her last winter, her dearest Sister was about to leave her, the last farewel that she took of her was in these words. Now I have done my drudgery (meaning her worldly business) I will set to the renewing my preparations for Eternity. And accordingly, she made it the reiterated business of that Winter.
In the beginning of March, Anno Christi. 1677. She set to the making of her Will anew, and signed, and sealed it on the twelfth day of the same month: And on Tuesday before Easter [March 26th. 1678.] she was take with some indisposition of body, loss of Appetite, and an Aguish distemper, whereof she had four or five fits, which yet, in that season of the year were judged both by Physitians, and her friends, like to prove more advantagious to her future health, than dangerous to her life.
And in this state of body she continued, freed from her fits, both in her own apprehension, and in her friends hopes that were about her, until Friday, the twelfth of April following, on which day she rose with good strength; and after she had sat up some time; being laid upon her Bed, she discoursed cheerfully and piously: And one of the last sentences she spoke, was this, (turning back the Curtain with her hand),
Well, Ladies, if I were one hour in Heaven, I would not be again with you, as well as I love you.
At this time a neighbouring Lady, having given her a kind visit, at her departure, she arose from her Bed to her Chair, and sayd, that she would go into her Bed; but she first desired that one of the Ministers that was in the House, would go to Prayer with her; and asking the Company which of them they would have? She presently resolved her self to have him who was going away, because the other would stay, and pray with her daily; and immediatly he being called, and come, her Ladyship sitting in her Chair by reason of her weakness (for otherwise she always kneeled) holding an Orange in her Hand to which she smelt, almost in the beginning of the Prayer, she was heard to fetch a sigh, or groan, which was esteemed Devotional, as she used to do at oother times: But a Lady, who kneeled by her, looking upon her, saw that she had lost her colour, and looked pale, and her hand hung down: Hereupon, being affrighted, Her Death.she started up, and all applied themselves to Minister help unto her, but all in vain. For as tho she had faln into a sweet sleep, her Soul left its earthly Mansion, and by the Holy Angels was transplanted into Abrahams bosom.
Thus lived, and thus dyed this Right Honourable Lady: This Noble Woman: This blessed Saint: This incomparable pattern of flaming zeal for the Glory of God, and of burning Charity for the Good of Men; and that in the actual exercise of Prayer, in which duty she so often anticipated Heaven by pregustation, and which now wafted her longing Soul into the Holy of Holies, within the Vail; At the kiss of Gods Mouth (as the Hebrew Doctors say, that Moses dyed) and tho not full of years, yet full of mature, and ripe fruits and graces (for she had lived long in a short time) when all men judged her worthy of more days. But God, the only unerring Judge, had made, and now found her fully ripened for a better life, and therefore translated her from this vale of Tears into his everlasting Kingdom.
Thus she faithfully served and honoured God in her place, and Generation, and God likewise honoured her, according to that promise by the Prophet Samuel: Him that honours me I will honour. And that of our Blessed Saviour: He that serveth me, him will my Father honour. For God gave her Riches and Honour in abundance, as he did to Jehosaphat [2 Chro. 17. 5, 6.] and yet her heart was not puffed up by them; but lifted up under them in the ways of the Lord.
He gave her a Heaven upon Earth (after some trembling scruples and shiverings) even the blessed calm of a purified, pacified, serene, and well assured Conscience.
He gave her the fragrant perfume of an odoriferous Name, and of a bright, and resplendent Reputation.
He gave her many dear and Cordial Friends; faithful to her as her own Soul, to assist, Counsel, comfort, to help, and carry her through her greatest difficulties, and most entangled affairs; concerning one of whom she used often to say with much thankfulness, that he was a Friend of God Almighties giving, even beyond her own expectation.
He gave her many great merciful deliverances: One, very like to that which Gregory Nazianzen insists so largely upon, in his Funeral Oration for his Sister Gorgonia, the Mules in whose Chariot running away, not only bruized, but brake her bones, and yet A great deliverance.God miraculously restored her again. So that when the Horses in our Ladies Coach, throwing the Coach man out of his seat, ran furiously away with her, God, almost miraculously, hung the Coach against a Post in the way, whereby he stopped their fury, rescued her Life from most eminent hazard, and healed the bruises which she received, with safety. This happened, July 23d. 1661.
He gave her a hearty Love, and affectionate esteem of all her Neighbours, so that (with Titus) she might have been fitly stiled, Deliciae humani Generis: The Delight, and Darling of her Country. And with so cheerful willingness did they delight to serve her, that you might have seen fifty brave, lusty, and gallant Teams, day after day bringing in her provisions, and that without any other invitation, than the bare knowledge of the time (which also themselves would diligently enquire out) and nothing would grieve them more, than to be prevented of paying this Tribute of Honorary respect to her.
He gave her such an high esteem for her prudent integrity, and discreet, and impartial Her Justice.Justice, that she began to be (tho it was an imployment not usual to her sex) the Arbitress, and Umpiress of all the Controversies among her Neighbours: Many of which she happily, and succesfully reconciled, and decided their quarrels, both with wisdom and equity.
He gave her the universal approbation, Love, and admiration of all that knew her, whereby that Proverb was confuted, Who hath no Enemies hath no friends. For either she had none of the former: Or her ways so pleased the Lord, that he made her Enemies to be at peace with her; For Noble and mean, Rich and Poor; Persons of all degree, and which is more, of all perswasions, paid her most kind respect, honoured, and loved her.
Finally, God prevented her withe blessing of goodness, and Crowned her with loving kindness, and tender mercy. He made her glad with the light of his Countenance, and satisfied her as with Marrow and fatness. He granted the requests of her lips; and shut not out her Prayer from him.
He gave her time and ability to discharge her trust, and to settle her worldly affairs with honour and satisfaction: And he gave her opportunity, space, and a heart to recollect her self, and to redeem that time, which an hurry of business had deprived her of, and wherein to renew her evidences for heaven.
He took out the sting of Death before she came to die, and the pains of death when she dyed, and sweetly drew up her Soul to Heaven, to be immersed in that fulness of Joy, and bathed in those Rivers of Pleasure which are at his right hand for evermore.