3oo Liles Apparition,. andMacVi/olution. dayes, and the was not only confiant at good exercifesabroad, but (which was the crown ofher commendations) thewas foat home alfo,fhewas conftant in reading theWord ; I am credibly informed,-that the readover the Bible (even times inthe (even years that the was married; the confiantly madeufe of that the heard, I my felffaw no lets than two quires ofpaper writ out withher ownhand,cotle6ted part- lyout of other books,but principallyout of Sermons,not notedat Church,when the heard them,but when the came home,being in this like Mary that layed up the fay- ings of Chrifi in her heart;hcr daily fpendingofher time was commendable,andex- emplary ; inthe morning up to prayer with her family, and then unto private pray- er by her (elf : from prayer to reading, and thento work ; and then to prayer, and to dinner, and then to work ; this was her continual courfe of lifewithout inter- ruption. She was a Sarah tor obedience, Rebecca for wifdome, Mary for piety, Martha for houfwifcry, a true Lydea, (he heard, and Godopened herheart, that the attended to thofethings the heard. A true Dorcas, full ofgood works ; they that knew her, knew her (fo far as wifdome and difcretion di&ated to her) fullo charity, ofgood works, and almes-deeds. But her lifewas avapour that appear for alittle while, and then vani/heth away. She verified my Text too truly, in that it pleafedGod fuddenly to call her, even in the prime andfirength ofher years, fhè was but a young woman, and the died in Child -bed. You that are Child - bearing women, I with you to let this pattern and exam- plebefore your eyes, and learn by this fpe&acle to fee how near you walk to the brinkof your grave, when youcome to be delivered of child I wonder there- fore by the way, that any fbould find fault with that folemn thankf- giving, that is appointed by the Church to be rendred to God for women, for his prefer ving them from the great danger of Child-birth ; there is but a ftep between you and death , you fhould then have a care to prepare for your death ; I fee a great deal of time fpent to prepare all brave and fine. God may quickly turn all your chambers, arid hang them with' black, and turn your jollity into mourning ; therefore you (hall rather prepare for your.winding- sheet, and for your grave ; for undoubtedly she did fo : and I may in fame fence apply that litterallyof the Apoftle to her; In bearing ofchildren she is faved. Itistrue, the Apoftle givesthatas an argument ofcomfort towomen, becaufebefore he had preached obedience tothem,adoftrinethat they do not well relish,yet he gives two reafons, becaufe eildam was firft made, and she fief finned, that is another rea. fon; yet left she should be too much difcouraged with that of the Apoffle, arid becaufe the pain of child-bearing was threatned towomen for a part of their curie ; the Apoftle adds that as a comfort ; In bearing of children they fhall be faved. Notwithflanding the pain and forrow of child- beating was inflicted as a punishment uponthem, yet under that curie there is a way of falvation open- ed ; if they be fuch women , faith the Apoftle, as, continue in faith and chari- ty , with holinefs and fobriety. Thefe venues being eminent in this dear Chri- ftian lifter of ours, no doubt but in bearing of children she is faved ; that is, she found under that curfe, away to a bletfing, an everlafting bleffmg of fal- vation. Howshe difpofedher felf in the time ofher ficknefs ; -thofeof the family well know ; truly I have not oft, fcarce ever heard of a woman of her rank and quality, ( for she was a woman well defcended, and well bred,) and yet I ne. ver heardof a woman more beloved , and more bewailed : her Husband com- plains of his lofs, never man loft a better vvife; all the fervants, never any had a better Miftrifs ; and all the neighbours , never any had a better neigh- bour. Concerning her in-the time of her ficknefs, they can give a better, anal more particular teft:imony than I ; I only did one office and fervice toher, when in the abfenceofyour reverend Paftor, I was called, I vifited her anhour or tvvo before she vvent, vvhen ( God knovvs) she vvas faint and vyeak , and able to breath but a fevv vvords, but they vvere fvveet : 'I told her, I,hoped, and doubt- ed not, but that as she had made a Chriftian profeon in her life-time, fo now she would feat it up : she anfwered ; 1 have endeavoured to f rve God, bus witls
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