The Praise of a Godly Woman

THE PRAISE OF A GODLY WOMAN

Honovrable Sir,

Although it bee true (which a worthy Diuine1 obſerueth) that formall Hypocrites are heartned and hardned in their lewd courſes & falſe conceits of happineſſe, when they heare more infamous Sinners than themſelues, gloriouſly and flatteringly commended at their Deaths; yet we need not feare any ſuch bad effect by the Funerall-commendation of Gods true Saints; becauſe the publike Teſtimonie of their iuſt Praiſes doth not onely make the wicked more inexcuſable, and the Glory of Gods Graces ſhine farre brighter to Poſteritie; but alſo enkindleth in the hearts of the godly a greater fire of Zeale for imitation. Theſe are ſome of the Ends, why it hath euer been and is ſtill an vnreproueable Cuſtome in Gods Church, that the Godly ſhould be Marked2 and Honoured3 at their Deaths, as Hezekiah was by all Iudah & Ieruſalem: Valentinean, Satyrus and Theodoſius by Saint Ambroſe4: Baſil, Gregory and Gorgonia by Nazianzen5: Nepotian, Paula and Marcella by S. Ierom6. Had not their Holy Liues and Happie Deaths beene publiſhed by ſuch vnpartiall Pens, wee ſhould haue bin ignorant now of many excellent Courſes of ſanctified Men and Women, of many comfortable workings of the Holy Ghoſt in them, and ſhould haue wanted many inflaming Motiues to follow their religious ſteps. Vpon this conſideration I was bold to commend vnto Gods people the more than Ordinary paſſages of your Honourable Mothers Holy Life and Death: wherein I haue as a Chriſtian ſpoken the truth of a Chriſtian, that is, (as Saint Ierom7 proteſteth in a like caſe) made a true Narration; not a Vain-glorious Panegyrick. Let Poets and Oratours praiſe thoſe women, which Poppæa-like8, are graced with all other things ſauing a Gracious Heart: Let them commend their Wit, Wealth, Beautie, Nobilitie, and other Gifts of Fortune (as they call them) in ſtead of Vertues9. Wee the Miniſters of Chriſt, and Stewards of the Myſteries of God, muſt adorne none with the Honourable Attributes of Heauenly Praiſe; but ſuch as are truly beautified, enriched, and ennobled with the Purity and Power of Gods Feare in their Humble Soules10. This praiſe the Lord will Proſper11, which is vttered in that Wiſdome12, whereof the Feare of the Lord is the beginning. But for the Saints themſelues: I dare ſay with Saint Auguſtine13, that they deſire more the Imitation, than the Commendation of their vertues: and therefore to tell you the truth (as the ſame Father doth his friend) you ſhould neuer haue heard mee commend this deceaſed Lady, but in hope, that Gods Graces in Her might by this meanes, ſuruiue in your religious Imitation, and not only in you and all them that are of Her bloud; but alſo in all them that haue heard or ſhall reade this Sermon. This is all the gaine I looke and pray for, that Gods14 word, which I haue faithfully alledged (not without ſome Illuſtrations (I confeſſe) borrowed from the holy Fathers15, whereof I need not to be aſhamed) may be conſtantly practiſed by vs all. For when all is done and ſaid, aſſure your ſelfe (Deare Sir) it is only the Life of Grace, the Grace of the Feare of the Lord can truly Honour you, or any vpon earth, ſweetly comfort you at your Death, and eternally Glorifie your Soule and Bodie in Heauen. Abandon then I beſeech you in the name of Chriſt16, all iniquitie, and all workers of iniquitie, yea abominate the ſweeteſt ſin, to which your youthfull affections are moſt endeared, elſe you will neuer be able to encline and enlarge them to the purſuit and practiſe of ſo excellent and Glorious a Grace as the Feare of the Lord; becauſe this godly Feare and the impenitent Allowance of any luſt, is as incompatible as Heauen and Hell: ſo that if you ſhould hate to be diuorced from your Boſome-ſin whatſoeuer it be (which God forbid) you could haue no true right and intereſt to the precious promiſes of this and of that other life17. Thinke on this continually, and hold it your greateſt Honour, the Nobleſt imployment of your Soule, as it is indeed, to keep your ſelfe (as a King18 did before you.) from your iniquitie. Quod ſi tu (quod procul abſit) nolueris, ego liber ero. Epiſtola, immo concio me hæc mea, cum lecta fuerit, abſoluet.19 And ſo I reſt, being mindfull of your Vertues,

Saint Mauganthe

19. Auguſt 1626.

Praiſe is a Debt (ſaith Gregory Nazianzen20) and it muſt be paid, not to men alone, but to women alſo; yet not to euery woman, be ſhee neuer ſo noble, wittie, wealthy or faire21, vnleſſe ſhe be godly withall: For fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vaine; but a woman that feareth the Lord, ſhee ſhall be praiſed.

The Diuiſion.

A promiſe this is and affirmatiue, and an affirmatiue promiſe hath two parts in it. The firſt is the Partie to whom it is made, and ſhee is Muliertimens Dominum. A woman that feareth the Lord, which is alſo the reaſon why ſhe ſhall be praiſed: euen becauſe ſhe is a woman fearing the Lord. The ſecond is the thing promiſed, and that is Laudabitur, ſhe ſhall be praiſed.

I.

In the former, it is not enough that ſhe is a woman, becauſe euery woman is not Timens, one that Feareth, nor ſufficient that ſhe Feareth; becauſe euery woman that feareth is not Timens Dominum, one that feareth the Lord; but ſhe that ſhall be praiſed, is all three. 1. A woman by nature22, where the weaker her ſex is, the more ſhee ſhall be commended. 2. By Grace23, a woman that feareth, where the continuall act of this Fearing is required. 3. That feareth the Lord, where the right Obiect of her continuall feare is limited.

II.

And in the latter we are to conſider; Firſt, to what matters, Laudabitur, her praiſe will reach, and in what reſpect to Ipſa Her perſon. Then ſecondly, When ſhe ſhall be praiſed; not for the preſent, perhaps, no more than ſhe hath beene heretofore; yet Laudabitur, the time will come when ſhe ſhall be praiſed, and then too her praiſe ſhall ſo be, that it ſhall be ſtill. Thirdly, of whom ſhee ſhall haue praiſe, for Laudabitur is an action, and must bee done of ſome agent, therefore we muſt finde who ſhal praiſe her, and they will fall out to be her Huſband and her Children (if ſhe haue them24) and if they faile in this dutie, then the godly ſhall praiſe her; and if they ceaſe to doe it, then her own workes ſhall praiſe her, yea rather than faile, God himſelfe ſhall praiſe her, which is beſt of all. So ſure ſhe is to be praiſed, not for the preſent onely, but for euer. And ſo this Text beſides that it is a Promiſe, it is alſo a Motiue to ſtirre vs vp to feare God, that so we also may haue true and eternall praiſe of God. It is both, and both waies wee to haue vſe of it, as of a Promiſe, and as of a Motiue: both theſe waies at once; A woman that feareth the Lord ſhe ſhall be praiſed.

A Promiſe, and Motiue.

I.

The partie that ſhall be praiſed.

A weake ſex25 to beginne with, and yet being ſtrengthned by Grace26, no impediment; but that a woman as wel as a man may feare the Lord, and haue praiſe of him, and ſo become the partie who ſhall, and one Reaſon too, why ſhee ſhall be praiſed.

For a woman muſt be more good than nature, art, policie, preferment can make her, elſe ſhee is not good enough for Gods Spirit to praiſe her. He commends neither men nor women conſidered in their pure Naturalls only, in that eſtate of corruption, they all heare alike to their diſgrace, that they are All vnder ſinne27, All come28 ſhort of the glory of God, and are All the children of29 wrath, becauſe they Are without all feare of God30

By nature then both ſexes are alike faultie, alike diſcōmendable in Gods ſight, and ſo they ſhould be in ours. We ſhould not diſpraiſe women more than men, for the ſex ſake only (as ſome doe31) becauſe they haue as noble ſoules as men, for32 ſoules haue no ſexes, (as Saint Ambroſe ſaith) nor praiſe women for the endowments of the fleſh onely (as otherſome doe33) vnleſſe they be adorned alſo with the ſauing Graces of the Spirit, whereof a chiefe one is not noble birth, great wealth, excellent wit, or rare beautie: but the feare of the Lord, his treaſure.34 This godly feare is that, that makes a Woman in relation35 to God, praiſe-worthy. And good reaſon it ſhould do ſo, if we regard the weakneſſe of a woman, in whom ſo excellent a Grace as the feare of the Lord, is found, and the Nobleneſſe of fearing the Lord, being ſo found.

Firſt, a womans weakneſſe is naturally36 greater than the mans, and therefore by how much her fleſh is weaker, and her ſpirit leſſe willing, by ſo much the combate ſhe hath, is more difficult, and the victory ſhe gets, more commendable. I know a man (Bleſenſis by name) that thought two things ſhould excuſe him at the dreadfull day of iudgement, the Frailty of his fleſh, and the Ignorance of his minde; but then he feared leſt God would iudge men by womē, whoſe ſex being more fraile, more ignorant than that of mens, were for all that oftentimes more holy, more deuout than many men.

Secondly, the Feare of the Lord is the trueſt Nobilitie (as Gerſon37 proues) the nobleſt grace that can ennoble and extoll a man or a woman. Other naturall, ciuill, and meerely morall excellencies, perfections, and endowments a woman may haue, nay (which is neereſt the point) other kindes of Feare ſhe may haue, and yet be baſe, ſeruile, curſed as Iezebel38, not praiſe-worthy, as namely, if ſhe feare men39, or what elſe beſides more than God, or not for God (as Saint Bernard40 limits) or if ſhee feare God as a Iudge, in reſpect of his puniſhments only41, & not as a Father for loue of his goodneſſe, and from an hatred of wickedneſſe, or if ſhe haue caſt off the feare of the Lord, which ſhee hath ſeemed to haue, or if ſhee puts off his Feare from time to time, and continues not in it.

Looke we then firſt to the Obiect of the Laudable womans feare, that he whom ſhe feareth be the Lord, in reſpect of his Mercy and Iuſtice both; then to the continuall employment of her Feare, not one that hath feared him, or will feare him; but one that doth feare him for the preſent, and continueth therein, elſe ſhee is not a woman Timens Dominum, Fearing the Lord, and ſo not worthy to be praiſed.

I.

The Obiect of her feare.

Firſt then (that the Obiect may be right) the42 Lord is her feare, who ſhal be praiſed. For if He be not, all exquiſiteneſſes beſides are nothing in compariſon; and if He be, all ſufficiencies (remarkable in that ſex) are improued, and all Duties (obſerueable in the feare of the Lord) are practiſed. To ſee this the better, let vs follow Tertullians43 rule, and oppoſe one againſt another, a veſſell of diſhonour againſt a veſſell of honour, a woman not Fearing, againſt a woman Fearing the Lord.

A womā fearleſſe of God.

She that fears not the Lord, ſets light by Gods anger and her Huſbands44, not caring whether they bee pleaſed or diſpleaſed. Shee neglects to plant the feare of the Lord in her childrens hearts, chuſing rather to be an example of wickedneſſe vnto them, and to miſplace them in mariage for ſiniſter reſpects. She brings want of things neceſſary to her family by her waſtefulneſſe, brauery, and idleneſſe. She contemnes her naturall and legall kindred, lifts vp her ſelfe aboue her equalls, diſdaines her inferiours, diſhonours her place by an ouer-loftie or an ouer-baſe and contemptible behauiour in the ſame. She alienates the hearts of Gods people from her, by neglecting the offices of courteſies and helpfulneſſe. She declines and vnderualewes the moſt ſearching meanes of Saluation, the Word, Prayer, Conference, Repentance, Meditation, Sacraments; in a word (according to Saint Ambroſes45 Diſtinction) ſhe feares hell torments, becauſe ſhee hath ſinned, but ſhee feares not Gods diſpleaſure, leſt ſhe ſhould ſinne, and therefore ſhee liues and dies in worldlineſſe, wantonneſſe, pride, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, ſtrife, reuenge, impatiencie, gluttonie, or ſome ſuch darling ſinne: and tell me (Beloued) if ſuch a woman not beautified and adorned with religion and the feare of the Lord, be worthy to bee praiſed of the Lord? I am ſure the ancient Fathers46 declaime bitterly againſt her filthy heart, falſe haire, adulterate paintings, naked breaſts, new-fangled faſhions of ſuperfluous, monſtrous attire: & the holy Scriptures47 vilifie her to her face, threatning her (notwithſtanding all her other ornaments and excellencies of nature, art, policie, preferment,) that without this Feare of the Lord, it ſhall not be well with her, Eccleſ. 8. 13. The Lord will come neare to her to iudgement, he will be a ſwift witneſſe againſt her, Mal. 3. 5. She ſhall leaue her memorie to be curſed48, and her reproach ſhall not be blotted out, ſhe ſhall be counted vngodly of all49, more bitter than death50. As rottenneſſe in her husbands bones51, As ſpittle52, yea As a Dogge53, and at laſt ſhe ſhall be caſt into hell fire, Saluâ Veniâ, without pardon from God, becauſe (ſaith Tertullian54) ſhe hath ſinned Saluo metû, without any feare of God.

A womā fearing the Lord.

But on the other ſide what perſonall ſufficiency, what ſingular duty is there requiſite in a Woman, either in reſpect of God, or of her huſband, children, kindred, ſeruants, place, and of Gods people, which the life of Grace, the Grace of the Feare of the Lord doth not animate, aduance, and accompliſh? This godly Feare ennobleth Nobilitie, beautifieth Beautie, enricheth wealth, teacheth wit, wiſdome. She that hath this Feare, dare not for her heart, but be loath to offend her huſband, and deny her inferiority55, but be an example of godlineſſe to her children56, prouide things neceſſary for her ſeruants57 both in health and in ſickneſſe; loue her naturall and legall58 kindred, eſteeme her equals aboue her ſelfe59, countenance and relieue her inferiours60, maintaine the dignitie of her place by all ſuch vertues as may diſcharge the61 ſame; winne the affections of Gods people, to her more and more, by the offices62 of courteſies, ſalutations, gifts, viſitations, inuitations and of helpfulneſſe; yea ſhe that feares God, dare not for her heart but Honour them that feare God, Pſal. 15. 4. but keepe her ſet taskes63 of hearing, reading, faſting, praying, meditating, moderating paſſionate diſtempers, and of all other gracious exerciſes, of Selfe-deniall64; ſo that there is not any knowne65 ſinne which ſhe nouriſheth, alloweth, or goeth on in, but quaketh and trembleth at the very firſt thoughts, yea motions and inclinations thereunto, as being in the ſight66 of an inuiſible God, vnder the perpetuall preſence of his All-ſeeing glorious pure eye, which ſhee will not prouoke to anger by any ſinne, for all the gold that euer the Sunne made, or ſhall make while it ſtands in Heauen67.

This glorious deſcription of a woman fearing the Lord, is not mine (Bleſſed Brethren) but the Scriptures, wherein I finde; 1. The cauſe of her Feare to be not Selfe-Loue68, but the Loue of God; not the ſpirit of Bondage69; but the Spirit of Adoption: 2. The Obiect of her feare to be not the precepts of men70, but the Commandements of God71: not his Threats only72, but his Promiſes alſo73: not his Anger only againſt ſin74, but his Mercy alſo in Chriſt75: not his Preſence only, as a Reuenging Iudge76, but his Forbearance alſo as a louing Father77. 3. The workings of her Feare to be in the heat of temptations and afflictions, not Deſpairing78; but Beleeuing the forgiueneſſe of her ſinnes, not Limiting God to the present danger; but79waiting for his mercy, not Diſtruſting his Prouidence; but hoping for Good80: not Murmuring againſt him; but praiſing Him, and praying vnto Him81, yea (which is the proper Act of her Feare) not Louing any ſin, but hating and eſchewing all ſin82, not out of a ſlauiſh terrour of puniſhment; but chiefly becauſe it is Sinne, an Infinite euill; and becauſe an Infinite Good God, whom ſhe loueth (ſaith Saint Auguſtine) is offended by it, though ſhe ſhould neuer goe to Hell-fire to be puniſhed for it83.

II.

The continuance of her Feare.

Laſtly, in the Scriptures I finde Perſeuerance or Conſtancie84 to be euer an inſeperable Attendant vpon her Feare! For ſhe is not one that hath not yet taſted of this ſauing Grace, or elſe not continued in the ſame; but ſhe is a woman for the preſent, Timens Dominum, Fearing the Lord. You ſhall neuer finde Her otherwiſe, than (as God would haue her) In the feare of the Lord all the day long, Prou. 23. Fearing and keeping his Commandements alwaies, Deut. 4. Doing her Husband Good and not euill all the daies of her life, verſe the 12. of this Chapter.

It is true indeed, as Feare is oppoſed to Diffidence, Luke 1. So ſhe ſerves God without a Diſtruſtfull Feare all the daies of her life; becauſe of Gods continuall preſence with Her85, continuall mercy towards Her86, continuall power87 ouer Her, in Strengthening, Helping, and Vpholding Her, Eſai. 41. 10. But yet as Feare is oppoſed to Negligence, ſo ſhe ſtill feares God, leſt ſhe ſhould be ſecure by reaſon of his Power which is inuincible88; of his Wiſdome, which is infallible89; of his Mercy, which is compaſſionate90; and of his Iuſtice, which is inflexible91.

It is as true alſo (which Gerſon and others haue obſerued92) that many times a Deuout Soule is ſo diſquieted with a ſlauiſh Feare of the Aduerſary; that ſhe feares leſt ſhe hath not any true Feare of Gods Maieſtie; but yet (B. B.) ſay the Pelagian what hee can to the contrary, ſuch is the Euerlaſtingneſſe of Gods Loue93, Mercie94, and Couenant95, the Vnconquerableneſſe of his Power96, the Immortality of his Word97, the Certaintie of his Promiſes98, the Efficacie of Chriſts Spirit99; Prayer100, Merits101, and of Faith in them102; yea ſuch is the durable vigour of this ſauing Grace of the Feare of the Lord103, that being once rooted by God, (as Saint Auguſtine vrgeth) it cannot be remoued; but through it we may perſeueringly adhere vnto God according to his promiſe: I will put my Feare in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me, Ier. 32. 40. with Pſal. 80. 17. She then that truely hath this Feare, doth ſo feare the Lord in Loue, and loue him in feare104, that as in the midſt of Gods not Conſuming, but Conſummating Anger (for ſo Saint Auguſtine105 calls Gods Anger towards the Godly) ſhee can ſee the yerning and relenting Bowels of a Compaſſionate Father, ſo in the height of Satans Terrifying iniections, ſhe can ſhunne and abhorre Gods Diſpleaſure106, more than all other miſeries of Puniſhments, and therefore in what ſtate ſoeuer ſhe be of Conſolation or Deſertion, ſhee is ſtill the ſame Woman, Timens Dominum, Fearing the Lord.

Thus wee haue ſeene who ſhe is, who ſhall be praised, lest we ſhould praiſe Her vnawares, whom we ſhould not praiſe. And now it were good we did thinke a little better on the Reaſon, why ſhe ſhall be praiſed, euen becauſe ſhe is ſuch a woman fearing the Lord.

The Reaſon.

For if any thing, ſo rare and excellent a Grace as the Feare of the Lord is, ſhould moue vs to affect it, and labour for it, eſpecially being found in so weake a Veſſell as a Woman is107. For I could tell you, there are more Michals108 than Abigails109, more Iezebels110 than Sarah's111, more proud Vaſthy's112, than humble Eſthers113, more Fearefull women, than Women Fearing the Lord; and therefore the rarer ſuch Phœnixes are (as S. Ierom calls them114) not One to be found by wiſeſt Salomon115, among a Thouſand, greater is her praiſe that feareth the Lord116.

Then I muſt tell you, that euery Feare is not commendable. Not that Feare which is Hypocriticall, for this is Superſtition, when men feare the Feare of Idolaters117. Not that feare which is Worldly, for this is wicked ſelfe-Loue, when men feare Men118, Loſſe of Goods, Fire and faggot, more than God the Onely Soueraigne Commander of the Soule, the Only Dreadfull Threatner of euerlaſting Burnings. Nor that feare which is Seruile119 or adulterate120, for this is no Vertue (proues Pariſ.) when men feare the Euill of Puniſhment only; not the Euill of Sinne, as an Adultereſſe feares the Comming home of her Huſband; but feares not the Committing of Adultery. Nor is that feare commendable, which is Diſtruſtfull or Immoderate like Ruben (as Gerſon121 alludes) growen great, and lying with Bilhah, for this is Infidelitie when men tie Gods Grace to preſent deliuerance out of danger, without a Beleeuing and waiting Spirit for his Mercie, Eſai. 28. 16.

But the Feare for which a Woman ſhall be praiſed, is informed by Wiſdome, inſtructed by Vnderſtanding, directed by Counſell, ſtrengthned by Might, gouerned by Knowledge, adorned with Pietie, as Saint Ambroſe collects out of the eleuenth of Eſay122. It is a Faithfull feare truſting in God123, and making Him her Feare, Eſai. 8. 13. and her Hope too in the Day of Euill, not without this feruent Prayer vnto Him then: Be not thou a Terrour vnto me, Ier. 17. 17. A chaſt and Cleane Feare124, Cleanſing from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and Spirit.125 A Reuerent and Godly Fear126, Preparing the heart, Humbling the Soule in Gods ſight127, Trembling at his Word128, not Diſobeying it, Eſchewing129 euill, Working righteouſneſſe and Giuing much almes130. A Bleſſed Feare it is131, Bleſſing them that haue it, Bleſſing the Lord that giues it, Praiſing Him and ſaying: That his Mercy endureth for euer132.

Laſtly, it is an Euerlaſting Feare, euer encreaſing133, and Enduring for euer134, though not in reſpect of the Act of Declination or eſchewing of ſinne135, becauſe in Heauen there is no feare of ſinning136; yet in reſpect of the Act of Celebration or Reuerencing God, becauſe there the Saints doe nothing elſe; but ſtill Giue Glory to Him, and Worſhip Him with humble Acknowledgement of their owne Vnworthineſſe, Pſal. 19. 9. with Reuel. 4. 10. 11.

The Excellencie of Godly Feare.

Now (Honourable and Beloued) though I haue ſet nothing at all beſides this Heauenly Manna before your eyes; yet your full Soules muſt not Loath it. For if that only is to be praiſed which is excellent137, then (by your leaue) I muſt ſtand ſomewhat longer vpon the Excellencie of this Feare, before a Woman can be praiſed that hath it.

I demand then what doe you count Excellent? Riches, Honour, Life. Why, theſe are neuer well gotten, nor well kept; but by the Feare of the Lord. So ſaith Salomon, By the feare of the Lord are Riches and Honour, and Life138. Say what you will, it muſt needs be an Excellent thing wherwith Chriſt Ieſus Himſelfe was Filled, and that was with The Spirit of this Feare, Eſai. 11. 2.139. An excellent thing which God Himſelfe so earneſtly deſires to be ſtill in vs, and that is this Feare. O (ſaith He) that there were ſuch an Heart in them, that they would feare me, and keepe my Commandements alwaies140, which is indeed the whole Dutie of Man141; without which (Saint Bernard concludes) Euery man is Nothing. He is not a Man (reaſons a Schoole-man142) but the Shadow of a Man; becauſe He imployes not his Soule to that noble End for which he had it, namely, to be ſquared and ruled by the feare of the Lord: without which no man can ſo much as Begin to be wiſe, becauſe this Feare is the Beginning143 of wiſdome, nor ſo much as Begin to Loue God, becauſe this Feare is the Beginning of the Loue of God144. It is the Salt (alludes Bleſenſis) that muſt be in euery Sacrifice145, in euery Worke we doe, ſo that there is no Seruing God, no Reioycing in Him146, no heartie Repenting147, no Chaſt Conuerſing148, no Perfecting Holineſſe149, no Working out our Saluation, but with Feare and Trembling150; nay there is no Saluation, no Bleſſedneſſe without Continuing in this Feare151, Prou. 28. 14. Againe, is not that Excellent, that will make vs more Excellent than our Neighbours152, that will Exalt vs aboue them, that will keepe our hearts from Hardning153, our Houſes from Ouerthrowing154? but nothing can doe this; but this Feare of the Lord. This feare (ſaith Pariſ.155) can cauſe a ſpiritual Earth-quake in a mans Heart, able to ouerthrow all the Deuils ſtrongeſt holds, any156 Boſome-ſinne, be it neuer ſo pleaſing and profitable, by reaſon of that Contrarietie and Oppoſition157 that is betweene Lying in any Sweet Sinne, and Liuing in Gods Feare and Fauour, as you may ſee, Leuit. 25. 36.