494 i.Tbed:q:. ELLt.aa. rob.y. The Liu etobee Vpon the Thurfeday after pittiedthan theDead. Chrifi more mooned with thofc difafters which happen ento vs, than we our (clues. and Euflochius,vttereth excellent thiPigs of thofe that are true Widows indeed, andof thole that areWidowes but injean and(port. Of the former,ludithand Anna, Samuels mother,were notableexamples : And amongft the Gentiles, Ar- temiftaQ2sene of Caria, who not defirous to blade her husband in Vrnes of filuer or gold, buried him inher owne bowells bydrinking downehis afhes incontemplation whereof, there is averie medicinable herbe called after her name,Artemifia; whichall Widowes in ftead of other hearbes or flowers, ought to haue lying by themvpon their Eflrado's,their beds, and their chamber windowes. Ofthofe otherfabulous widowes, Alcione may ferueas anexample, who tookeon fo extreamely for the death of her husband, that the gods were faine tocomfort her ; andwhen they had giuen her comfort, the was metamor- phifed at Taft intoa Bird bearingthe fame name : of which Saint Ambrofe fayth, That itlines about riuers ofwaters, thefeathers thereof being greene, and the beake red, in token that thofe Widowesthat fo quickely receiue comfort, their life is commonly greeneand youthfull,and their words red and full ofamorous pallions, lanching themfelues forth like Ships, into afea ofvicesand voluptuous pleafures,turning their vails to failes,whichfaile with euerie wind. Chrifi takingpittieofher, &c. It isnot herePaid, That he pittiedthe fon, but themother ; for they that die are not fomuch to be pittied as they that liue: for ifhe that dies goe toHell, we wrong Godsjuftice if we take any commiferation of them ; and if theygoe toHeauen, theirhappineffe doth not require it , ha- uing morereafon toenuie thanpittie them. Lotswife was turned into a pillerof fait, becaufe the furrowed for theburningofSodome : and in Heauen, asthere canbenomiferie, fo is it impoffible that there fhould be any commiferation ; fo that pittie is onely to bee reduced to thofe that liue. The Scripture calleth death,Reft andSleepe. SaintPaul faith, Iwouldnot haue you to he ignorant concer- ning them which are aflcepe, that yeefurrow not tan ac others which haue no hope. AndEcclefiaflicurgiueth vs thisaduice, Weepemoderately osier the dead,feeing he is atrefl. TheScripturecalls life aWarfare,a pilgrimage,aHusbandmans taskeor day labour, a nauigation, &c. ciYlans life is a warfare vpon earth, andbis layes like the dayesofan hireling, &c. The fouldier defireth to fee theend of his Warre, and the Trauellerhis trauellended, to return againe intohis owne Countrie; anhireling looketh for arewardof his worke, a Marinerforagoodvoyage,and man for death, Gaudent vehementer cum inuenerint mortem. Great was mans mif- fortune, thathe was to enter into a fea fo full of miferies. But (as 2'cazianzen faith) death againe, wasgreat gaine vnto him. Takingpittieofher,&c. Greater was Chrifts forrow and compaffion for this difafter, than that of this Widowwoman ; for that harmewhich hapneth vnto vs,touchethvsincomparifon but lighrly,but toucheth God euen in the verie applesofhis eyes ; and this did Chrifts mercie and pittie manifeft, in thehaft that he made inother his myracles : He had manyfuitors to intreat him to raite vp Lazarus, as c Marthaand Marie : fo likewife toreftore the Centurions feruant to hisformer health, hewas folicited by the Priefts and the Elders : Here onely his mercie mooued him thereunto, and therefore it isfaid, c.xifiricordia mottos. In the fine Buff: that flamed, and wasnot confumed with the fire, God did re- prefent thofe finefcourgeswherewith they fcourged hisPeople,and the fireof thofeFurnaces wherein theybaked their bricke ; and therefore hefaid vntoMa- f s, Vade, Goe thy wayes; which is all one as ifhe fhould haue faid vnto him, It is I that am thus fcortched andfcourged, and thereforeFade, haft thee toPharaoh. Butfome will obied, IfGod be fohaftie tohelpe hisPeople, why didhe Puffer them
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