I Have made choice of this remarkeable passage of Scripture at this time, upon a twofold Occasion, to both which it seemes to be most fitly, and properly suited: So that if the time be a circumstance, which like an Embroidred Border, setts off the richness of a Garment; and if a Word spoken in season, and duly applyed, be as the Wiseman tells us it is, as comely and Ornamental as Apples of Gold inclos­ed in Pictures of Silver, then these few words of our Blessed Sa­viour, who spake as never Man spake, will receive all the ad­vantage that a due timeing and a Seasonable opportunity can give them.

The happy action to which our Saviour referrs; and of which he gives so large, and so lasting a Commendation; had an [Page 2]immediate relation to his own Death and Buriall, which were shortly after to ensue: As he himself explaines it in the Verse foregoing my Text; For in that she hath poured this Ointement upon my head, she did it for my Buriall. We are now well en­tered into the dayes of Mourning, and humiliation for our Sins, Our treacherous Sins, that occasioned our Blessed Lords ap­proaching Passion; which caused those Bitter paines, and dread­full excruciations both of Body, and mind which he underwent for them: And therefore ought at this time more then ordina­rily to be lamented, and sorrowed for by us; as being those Traytors which delivered him over to the merciless Executio­ners; and which nay led him to the Cross: And which will without a true Repentance and hearty sorrow for them, de­prive us of all the benefits of those exquisite, and all meritorious Sufferings that he underwent for us Men, and our Salvation: And what can be more agreeable and seasonable to prepare our hearts for the better, and more exact celebration of those de­voute Exercises of Religion, which the approaching Solemnity, of our great Passeover requires of us; then in the insisting on some of the particulars of Maryes most worthy and significant Action which our Saviour here so honourably commemorates, and which he hath applyed to this very purpose; telling us with­all that the sound of it should go forth into all Lands where his Name should be known, and his Gospel publisht through the whole World.

This is the First, and greatest Reason of my pitching on this Subject; but I cannot say as our Saviour does in answer to the Lawyers question; Which is the great Commandement? That the Second is like unto it: Though there is great reason for that also: For the wise man hath told us that the Memory of the just shall be blessed: And his Royall Father David hath assured us, that the actions of the Righteous shall be had in ever­lasting Remembrance. Therefore when I shall have shown you how proper a preparation that Action of Marys was for our [Page 3]blessed Saviours Buriall, and exhorted all those who design to solemnize his Death and Passion in that holy Sacrament, which he Instituted as a perpetuall memoriall of it, to imitate this blessed Saint and Convert in that signall Act of Love, Charity, and Gratitude which she performed to her Saviour in poureing that precious Oyntment upon his Head. I shall then crave your Patience, to present a small free-will Offering of the sweetest Oyle I can pour out of my shallow and narrow Cruse, mixt with a few graines of Frankincense for a memoriall of another Mary, our late most gracious Queen, now of Glorious, and happy memory; whose Works shall ever praise her in the Gates, and whose remembrance shall be like the Perfume made by the Art of the Apothecary; and as sweet, and Fragrant to all that wish well to the Reformed Religion in generall, and to the Church of England, the most refined part of it, and to the happiness, and Prosperity of these Kingdoms; as that precious Oyntment, which this Blessed Woman in my Text so liberally poured on our Saviour, to anoint him aforehand (as I doe now his Glorious servant this day) to his Buriall.

But First, I am to present you with this remarkeable Action, of which our Saviour takes so much notice; which though full of Time, and which hath seen the end and Flight of many Ages, doth it selfe never grow Old: This action so long since performed, might with many others, which perhaps appear'd more glorious and conspicuous in the Eyes of Men have been by this time darkely Buried in the Tomb of Oblivion; but that he in whose hand Time and Eternity is grasp't, hath promi­sed that it shall ever Grow, and Flourish, — Occulto ve­lut Arbor aevo, spreading it's branches far and wide over the Face of the whole Earth; desying all the furious blasts and Tempests that the envy and malice of the Prince of the Air can raise to overthrow it: For he in whose power, and at whose com­mand all Created Beings are, hath Circumscribed the memorial of it, with no other Limits then the Compass, and Duration [Page 4]of the whole World: Pliny justy esteems them happy who writ things worthy to be read; but prefers them in the degree of fe­licity who acted things worthy to Be written: In what blessed Estate then must they bee who have done such things which the holy Spirit hath thought fit to commend to Posterity, and to re­gister in the never perishing Volumes of Gods word, and which shall bee read, preacht, and publisht through all the Na­tions, Quarters and Corners of the Earth: of which Sort our Saviour assures us this is one: Verily I say unto you Wheresoever this Gospell, shall bee preacht, there shall also this that this Woman hath done be told for a Memorial of her.

Which words contain our Saviours defence, and commenda­tion of an Action which to some of the Disciples seemed worthy of a sharp and reproachful Censure. Wherein we may ob­serve these 3 parts.

1. The Glory and Excellency of the Action: It was thought so worthy, and deserving by our Saviour as not fit to be smo­thered and buried in Oblivion, but to be told and spread abroad.

2. The end of the Publication; for a Memorial of her: to en­courage others to follow her good example, Praise: Credit, and Reputation are great incitements, and Invitations to the promote­ing of vertuous Actions in the World.

3. The Extent of this glorious Publication. Where ever the Gospel should be Preacht in the whole World. No good Action whatsoever, shall go unregarded or unrewarded: But such Emi­nent acts of Piety, Love, and Gratitude, such as this was, shall have an especial Mark, and Star of honour affixt to them: They are Cedro linends; they are to be anointed with the Oyl of Cedar, to preserve them from corruption; Things worthy of Immortality; to be had in everlasting Remembrance,

What this Excellent Action was of which our Saviour gives this great Elogy, we find Verse the 7th. of this Chapter. There came unto him a Woman having an Alabaster Box of precious Oyntment, and poured it upon his head as he sate at meat

[Page 5] In which we are to consider,

1 The Quantity which this good woman presented, and bestowed upon Christ. It was an Alabaster Boxe; which when filled with that Ingredent denoted a stated Measure.

2 The Quality of the Oyntment which she dedicated to Christs Service, it was precious Oyntment; Oyntment of Spikenard, pure, and unmixt, a confection of the purest nard; and of the choicest part of it: the Spike, or Top of it: both for the makeing true, and for the value costly: as we may gather from Herodotus, who tells us that Cambyses King of Persia sent an Alabaster box of Oyntment (the very same quantity) as a present to the King of Ethiopia.

3. We are to consider the two Severall ends at which this Action aimed

1. The end to which Mary designd it; which was to give a noble testimony of her Love, and gratitude to her Lord, and Master, by that honour which she Showed him in pouring that quantity of Precious Oyntment upon him at that great Feast.

2. The ultimate End to which the Divine Providence had orderd it: that is, to be a preparative to our Saviours Death, and Buriall.

1. For the Quantity: her Present was large, as we may gather from the vessell wherein it was Contained; an Alabaster Box; which denotes a vessell of Such an exact Size, and figure wherein those precious Oyntments were preserved: and relates not so much to the matter, as to the forme, and, capacity of it: For Theocritus makes Mention [...]: And Epiphanius in his booke of measures tells us, that this Alabaster Box of Oynt­ment was a pellucid Vessellof a glassy Substance, (else it could not so easily breake) containeing a pound: Which exactly a­grees with what St. John mentions, John: 12 c: 3d v. And Mary took a pound of Oyntment: A very larg proportion, considering the searceness, and the richness of the persume. where the Heart is well affected, there the hand will soon Sympathize: where the heart strings are dilated, the fibres of the hand will not bee [Page 6]contracted. Love sooner and more infallibly then Night shade, makes all Locks and Barrs fly open before it: when once that charming Power hath insinuated it self into the Breast; it dissolves the before stony and unrelenting heart, and in larges the before narrow thoughts and dispositions of the Soul; it thaws the ioye, and cold Temper that was predominant; and makes the waters which were sluggish, bound, and without motion to overflow those shallow banks wherein they were formerly confin'd: If we love Christ as this blessed Convert did, we shall be ready to imi­tate her generous Example; and be liberal in the expressions of our kindness to him, and his poor Members: she had received largely at the hand of God, and she returns according to her abi­lity, plentifully: as Christ had shown the greatness of his Love to her in forgiving: so she indeavour'd to expresse the largeness of hers in giving: and as she had much forgiven, so she showed by her Present, that she loved much: She gave not by drops, but showr'd it down in streams: And as she had received the unction of the holy one, mention'd in the 1. Epistle of John 2. c. 20. v. in a plentiful Measure from him who had it without Mea­sure, so she returned of the Oyntment which she had at her great cost procured, very liberally; and having received freely of spi­rituals; she was no niggard of her temporals. 'Tis to no purpose to give sparingly, when we may affor'd thorough Gods blessing to scatter and pour forth largely: for the Charitable Man gaines by what he parts with; whilst the Covetous wretch whom God abhorreth looses even what he seems to keep.

2. As what this devout Mary presented unto Christ was large for the quantity, so was it most excellent, and precious for the Quality. She would not as David told Araunah, Offer unto God of that which cost her nought; it was Precious Oyntment. The same Quantity as I told you was a present for a King. And To was he to whom this grateful acknowledgment was made: No lesse then the King of the whole Earth: And though he stand in need of none of our Services, seeing the earth is his and the fulness there­of, [Page 7]yet he kindly receives, and graciously accepts what we offer with a willing and chearful heart, even for our sakes; that he may be provoked to scatter his blessings more profusely and abun­dantly upon us: And therefore lookes upon his Divine Maiesty to be affronted when we show the smallness of our respect by the meannesse of our Oblation; either pinching him in the Measure; or which is worse, giving him of that which is vile and of no estimation, for the Nature and Quality of it.

Indeed a Mite is accepted; but it is where the will is large and the ability small: And this good Woman received our Saviours Praise and commendation for this Act, because he expresses it in the 4th. of Mark 8th. v. she did what she could: As she was very rich, and wealthy for her substance, so she show'd the Munifi­cence of her spirit by the Price and value of her donation. From whence we may observe: that God accepts us according to what we have, and not according to what we have not: If we have but a Mite, he does not look for a farthing: And if we have ten thousand Rivers of Oyle, he does not expect to be put off with a cup of cold Water. Tho he is pleas'd rather to abate then to exact the whole of us, takeing short of what he might justly re­quire of us: Otherwise were he exact to mark either what we omit, or wherein we have done amisse, who might be able to stand before him; but still our Obedience must bear some Propor­tion to our knowledge, our Power, and our opportunities of yield­ing it; when we do what we can, then we do in Gods sight what we ought; when we do what he by his Grace inables us to per­form; we need not question but those Testimonyes of our Obe­dience shall be graciously receivd, as this happy Action of Mary Magdalens was, when she poured a Pound of precious Oyntment on our Saviours Head: for as she was not niggardly as to the quantity, so was she not negligent as to the quality: She would serve God of the best. Abels Offering was accepted, because he took of the choicest of his Flock, and of the sat of it; and Cains reject­ed, because he brought of the fruits of the ground which first came [Page 8]to hand, without picking or culling: And it is to be observed, that in all the Commands that God gave concerning Sacrifices or Oblations, he alwayes order'd the best, and the choicest to be presented for his Service; nothing that was common, or defective was to appear in his presence; nothing that had any spot or ble­mish was to fall before his Altar: God in some Cases abated of the Measure and quantity; if the Offender were not able to bring a Lamb for a sin Offering, God would accept of two young Turtles, or two young Pidgeons; but we never read that he dis­pens'd with the quality of any Sacrifice: that he either received the halt or the blind.

But alass! How little do we follow these Precepts and Com­mands of God? How little do we follow this good Womans Example, in giving the best of our store to his use and Service? No, rather on the contrary, we are apt not only to pinch him in the Measure, which few scruple at; but to show our disrespect to him likewise by setting apart that which is most vile and contemp­tible for the sacred Portion: But above all how careless and re­miss are we in offering up the calves of our lips; in the dedicati­on of the Sacrifice of our Prayer unto God, there be but too many who in this sense offer unto God, of that which costs them no­thing; no, not the least thought, or consideration: They pour sorth it may be whole torrents and streams of words, but with­out a drop of sense or meaning; of Zeal or Devotion. But sure­ly we cannot be of their minds who think that the bare perfor­mance of the Duty, without ever minding of the manner after which it is performed will serve the turn; who think they have sufficiently answered the end, when they have mumbled over so many Pater Nosters and ave Maries, and gone over such a set of Prayers, or travelled so many miles bare footed to visit the Shrine of a Saint, or to kiss some holy Relick: But we have not learned so to serve God; this is to worship him by Rote, without either will, affection or understanding: No! As those Sacrifices were best accepted which were wholly consumed by fire from Hea­ven [Page 9]of which we have some Instances in Scripture; so we may assure our selves, that no Sacrifice of Prayer, or thanksgiving will find any acceptance at the hand of God which is not first kindled by a Heavenly Zeal, and then ascends by vertue of that holy Flame to him who presents it in the golden Censer of his own Merits to his Almighty Father. Let us be careful in all our addresses unto God, In all our Divine Services to be intent upon what we are about; to be elevated, and raised in our Spirits; and how short soever our Prayers be, let us indeavour they may be fervent and sincere; if we offer up but two young Turcks let them not want their wings. Mary we see was careful in what she presented unto Christ; the scent of it perfumed the whole Room, the Whole house: as St. John tells us, was filled with the Odour of the Oyntment: And if the Acts of our Love, and Charity to Christ, and his Members be as unadulterate, and diffusive, as hers was, we shall not fail of the same gracious acceptance that she met with, whil'st she went to pay the acknowledgment of her thankful heart to her beloved Lord and Master. Which leads me to the first end for which this Action was designed; that which Mary aimed at in anointing our Saviour at this time with her costly Oyntment. viz.

1. To give an ample Testimony of her Love, and Gratitude, her kindness and respect to her Saviour who had done so great things for her; that was all she aimed at: She dream'd not then either of his Death, or Burial. The greatest honour that could be shown to Guests of the best Rank, and Fashion by the Master of the Feast, was to perfume them with precious Oyntment; and that this was customary among the Jews, and Romans, and the Greeks also, I might show you, were it either a matter in question, or worth the dispute: the only thing extraordinary in this, was the Quantity; and the anointing of our Saviours feet, a thing unusual, even where ease, and Luxury did most abound: And Pliny tells us that Otho did first teach Nero to besmear his feet with precious Oyntments: But this, as I shall snow you had a My­sterious signification, which neither she nor any of the company [Page 10]were aware of. O blessed Mary! Sweet was thy Oyntment But Sweeter was thy Love: Gracefull was thy Action, but more gracefull was thy affection: The Scent of the rich Perfume, was quickly gone; but the Sweet Odour, and the fragrant Smell of thy pure, and Sincere Love shall bee preserved in the Sacred Records of the Gospell, as long as the world endures; and the memory of that precious Oyntment wherewith thou didst anoint thy Saviours head and feet, shall bee more lasting, and incorrupti­ble then the oyle of Cedar, the great Preservative against the moth of time;

2. Though Maryes designe was only true, and unfeigned Love in this Action, yet as our Saviour intimates the divine Providence had a further reach, and prospect: Viz: That this anointeing which was common both to festivalls, and Burialls should em­blematically presignifye our Lords approaching Death, and Passion: Thus our purposes often times unawares to our selves, serve Gods end and looke farther then wee direct them. This Custome of anointing the Body for the sunerall, and of strawing it over with rich gummes and Spices among the Jews is made plaine from the last Offices that were performed by Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea, to the Body of our Saviour after it was taken downe from the Crosse, and before it was layed in the Sepulchre. At feasts the head was generally anointed, but when the Body was dresst, and prepared for a funerall all parts Shared in the anointeing: And if we looke into the nature, and kind of this particular Oyntment which this good woman poured upon the Head, and wherewith she anointed the feete of our Saviour wee shall find that as it was a very fit present by reason of the richness of the scent and the greatness of the Value, to express her Love, and gratitude, so that likewise it was very proper and correspondent to the end to which Gods providence had allotted it: Viz: To foreshowe his Death and Buriall.

The pure confection of Nard was no dry Oyntment, but moyst, and fluid: Whence Nonnus calls it [...]; a dew, or watry [Page 11]Substance, and is reckoned among those precious Oyntments, which distill out of Canes or Stalks either of their owne accord, or when cut, and bruised by others: hence this was called Spike­nard, from the Tops of the Plant from which that Odoriferous Liquor issued, either naturall; or which it yeelded after it was bruised, and wounded; and in both these respects was proper to represent Christs death, and Buriall. Thus it foreshowd that na­turall Balme, his precious bloud, which was Shortly after to flow in streames from all the hollow Vessells of his body: And as the stalks were sometimes bruisd before they yeelded that Soveraign Balsame, and as Mary brake the Albaster Vessell before she poured forth the Oyntment, so his Body more white, and pure then any Alabaster, was bruised for our Sinnes; and broken for our transgressions, and from thence did issue forth that noble Iuice, that precious liquor, which not only by the fragrancy of the Smell, (as being a Sacrifice of a Sweet smelling Savour) makes us acce­ptable unto God, but also by its healeing balsamick quality cures all our inward wounds, and heales all our sinfull distempers.

Well didst thou O Mary to diffuse thy Oyntment over the blessed body of thy Lord and Saviour, the holy Iesus, to mollify it against the then approaching time of his bitter, and dismall A­gony in the garden; wherein hee was to sweat blood out of every pore for thy sake: well didst thou to anoint that Sacred Head, the head of the universe, which was shortly to bee crowned with thornes: well didst thou to anoint those feet the extremest parts which came nearest to the Earth to which hee descended for thy good: those feet which had taken so many Sharpe, and painfull journyes for the benefit of mankind; well didst thou to anoint, and Supple those feet which were to Support his Body in carry­ing up the heavy Load of his Crosse, made heavier by our sins, up that steep, and craggy hill, Mount Calvary: and which were to drop forth a more generous and Soveraign Juice to heal all our Spiritual Infirmities.

Alass; O Lord thou didst not need any of these, to the un­necessary [Page 12]Ceremonies, either liveing, or dead: Thou like the Rose of Sharon and like the Lilly of the Valley, (to both which thou art compared) had'st, as being free from all the pollutions and cor­ruptions, of our decayed Nature, an innate sweetness in thee, far surpassing all aromatick perfumes: and as there went a healing vertue out of thy Body, so likewise we may well imagine that an Odoriferous scent must needs Transpire out of that exactly tem­per'd Complexion, and constitution: Neither didst thou need either Spices or Oyntment, to preserve thy body when dead, and laid in the Grave; for that, as the Prophet David hath assur'd us could suffer no Corruption, could admit of no Putrefaction: And yet O blessed Jesus thou wast pleas'd to permit these usual Offices to be performed to thy self, and kindly to accept of them: To show us that thou dost allow of neatness, and chear­fulness, of the Oyle of gladness, and of the Wine of rejoycing; and that we may be thy Disciples without wholly abjureing the use of those Creatures, which thou of thy Almighty wisdome, and Infinite bounty hast provided for the comfort and refreshment of mankind; and to show us likewise that we may, and ought, to take a decent care of our Bodies after their better part their Im­mortal Companions have left and forsaken them, seeing that which shall cre long be crumbled to dust, shall by thy allquickning spi­rit return to itsold forme, and those two old Friends be reunited never to suffer a second separation. Thus O Lord, both thy Life and thy Death, both thy Burial, and Resurrectioun, and eve­ry circumstance thereunto appertaining, teach us some or other good Lesson, and whil'st our Meditations are concerning thee, we cannot fail, of wholesome Instructions.

2. The second General part of the Text is the end of the Pub­lication of Maryes good work: it was done for a Memorial of her; where ever vertue and goodness break forth eminently, and exem­plarily like the Sun in its noone-tide strength, there alwayes remaines the indelible Character of a happy Remembrance: The com­mendation of this Woman in my Text is chiefly excellent in these two respects.

[Page 13] 1. It is such a praise as shall never be in any danger to be lost, it points to futurity; it shall be told in Ages to come: Praise not any saith the wise man before his death; because such commen­dations are neither safe on his part that commendeth; in that it begetteth a shrewd suspition of Flattery; nor on his part that is commended; because if he conceive the praise that is spread a­broad of him to be true, it is much to be fear'd that it may puffe him up with Pride, and vain Glory, so that the most opportune time to give Vertue her deserved commendations, is when a man can neither be hurt with Flattery, nor infected with Ostentation.

2. The Praise that is given of her, is a true, and real Praise, setled upon a solid foundation; she is not much extolled for the Ornaments and good qualities belonging to the Body, as Beauty, comeliness, and the like, which she had in great Perfection; all which are common to the bad as well as to the good; but she is magnifyed for the Graces of her Mind, for her vertuous and cha­ritable Works, and is the only Praise that Solomon admitteth in a Woman: Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her Workes praise her in the gates; with which he concludes his Proverbs, and I the second General, and proceed to the last, which I can barely mention.

3. We have here the extent of this manifestation of Maryes Praise: It shall reach as far, as the sound of the Gospel shall be heard; and that is from one end of the Earth to the other. And this had I leisure to prosecute it, would yeild much matter wor­thy our consideration; I will give you in a little to understand how much might be said of it.

1. It teaches us that the praise of the Just is of a certain du­ration and continuance, in respect of him from whom it proceed­eth; for it is not founded upon the Judgment of Man, who often judgeth things to be Praise worthy according to the out­ward appearance, which oftentimes have no real and intrinsick worth, and value in them. But this is grounded upon the [Page 14]Judgment of God, who neither is, nor can be capable either of Ignorance, or Error I say unto you.

Judge not saith the Apostle, 1 Ep: to the Cor: 4. c. at the 5th v. before the time; untill he come that shall bring to light the things that are done in darkness, and manifest the Counsels of the heart, and then every one shall have Praise of God: 'Tis Christ who gave this Testimony of this Woman, whose word is more firm, and assured then the Poles and Basis of Heaven, and Earth, for Heaven and Earth shall pass away but his word shall not pass away.

It showes that the Extent is universal: for the Gospel is a Message of glad Tidings that is to be communicated to all Peo­ple: It is not sent into the World to be concealed, or kept close; not to be mutter'd in an unknown Tongue: No Man lighteth a Candle to put it under a Bushel; the light of the word is not to be shut up in a dark Lanthorn; nor is the Gospel given unto Men, that with that unfaithful Servant they should hide it in the Earth; nor is it to be kept in the heart only; Mistake me not; God grant that it may take deep root there, and that the fruits of it may appear in our Lives, and Conversations; my meaning is this: All those to whom God hath been pleas'd to reveal the Mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, are bound when lawfully call'd, and Authoriz'd thereunto, to Preach and divulge it unto others, yea a woe is denounced against all such as do it not: Though it may be thought foolishness in some who would be thought to be carnally wise; yet it hath pleased God by such foo­lishness to make them that believe, truly wise unto Salvation: Let men therefore Reverence the Lords dispensation, and be glad to accept of Salvation, upon such termes, and by such means as he hath appointed.

Thus have I at length finisht my observations upon the main design of the Text, so farr forth as the time allotted for this Ex­ercise would give me leave, and in some measure answered one End in pitching upon it.

[Page 15] Suffer me now therefore in the second place, which both my Duty and inclination lead me to; to pour a little sweet Oyl, and to present a few drops, (not of what is Precious, for such have I none,) but of the best that I have, of that which is true, and sin­cere; as preparatory to the Solemn Exequies of our most incom­parable, and most Vertuous Princess suddenly to be celebrated and perform'd. Another Mary, our late gracious Queen, whose Me­mory shall be preserved fresh, and sweet in the lasting Records of Fame, so long as Vertue, Piety, Charity, Meekness, Humility, Wisdome and all that chain of Graces that added lustre to her Royal Quality shall find any respect or Countenance in the World: And truly if ever a larger Tribute of tears then ordinary were due; if ever a more then usual Portion of sorrow were allowa­ble; it is certainly at this time for the great, and never enough to be lamented Losse of that most excellent Priucess, who as she was the Glory of this Age, so shall she be the wonder and Admiration of the next. To say nothing of the infinite, and ir­reparable Losse sustained by her right Valiant, and truly kind Lord, the sole partner of her Affection, as well as Power; whose mutual indearments were as much above the ordinary level as their Sacred Persons were. To say nothing of the inestimable Damage that the Nation in general feels for want of such a main and strengthning Pillar for the support both of Church and State, we cannot but passionately mourn, and lament the sud­den and untimely end of her still blowing, ever growing Vertues; which even in their early Spring yielded such a Sweet, & Fra­grant Scent, (like the precious Oyntment in my Text that per­fumed the whole Room) as comforted, and refresht all that had the happiness to bee near her.

My intention is not, as an Herald to proclaime her great Quality, the royall stemme from which she was descended, nor to set forth the worthiness of that ancient, and Illustrious fa­mily of Nassau, the Support of the Protestant Religion, in the [Page 16]Low Countries for the Last Ages; into which she was so happily married: But give me leave, ut Proeco Evangelicus, as an Herald of the Gospell of Jesus Christ to blazon Some few of those many vertuous, and most excellent qualities for which she was, and ever shall be eminent; and which shall allways be told for a memorial of her. These are the most fragrant flowers that can bee strewne upon her herse, the richest Spices, the sweetest Gums, the most precious Oyntments wherewith her honourable Name can bee embalmd.

Her Exemplary Piety, and Devotion justly challenge the first place; for as that was allways payed first by her unto her God, so ought it first to bee remembred by us: How frequent, yea how constant was shee in her private Addresses to the Throne of Grace: Her Closet, that little Oratory was allways filld with the sweet Incense of fervent, and well directed Prayer: There was no ceaseing of that holy Sacri­fice from her Altar: Shee preferred that with-draweing Roome before her own Presence Chamber; as that beloved place where she could enjoy a more ravishing delight, and Satisfaction then in all the pompous Ceremonies of her own Splendid, and magnificent Court: where at highest she could converse but with Princes, who though they are called Gods, must, (which alass she her selfe hath too Soon for us, experimented) dye Like men; But in her own retir'd apartment she could pay her homage to the King of Kings, to her Saviour, to her Redeemer: Here it was that she so often mourned like a disconsolate Turtle the Absence of her deare Consort whilst he was exposeing him­selfe to all the hazards of warr, to all perills both at sea and Land for our sakes; Here she put up her constant, and ardent prayers, here she Sent up her most fervent Wishes, [Page 17]for his safety, his success, and his happy Return; And questi­onless if the Prayers of the faithful are available as to be sure they are; we are not a little beholden to her devout Orisons, which we may be sure were offer'd up with a Fervent, Zealous Spirit, fill'd with pure and unfeigned Love, for those many wonderful deliverances of our most Gracious Prince, whose Person, and affaires she so earnestly, and so constantly recom­mended to the Divine Protection: Neither is it a small losse that the King and the Nation sustain, in the now missing the benefies of those winged Messengers, which she so often sent up to Heaven to implore its assistance for his, and our secu­rity and Preservation: But sure if there be any knowledge in Blessed Spirits departed hence, of what is done and transacted here below; ( [...]) if there be any sence remain­ing of humane Affaires, she does not fail to put up her most fervent wishes for her dear Lords Prosperity, and success in all his hazardous undertakings: she does not fail to cast a kind, and Pitying look upon these poor Nations, now depriv'd of her cheerful Prefence, whose Interest she did so Zealously espouse: Neither was she lesse constant at the Publick Service of the Church, in her Chappel Royal which she as often as convenient Opportunity would give her leave, graced with her Presence: Never was the true Reformed Religion, and the pious and Learned Ministers of it more countenanc'd, and incourag'd, since our most renowned Queen Elizabeth's time (of whom in many things she was a lively Pattern) then in her dayes: So that the Church as well as State have lost in her, their great Patroness and protectress.

Thus did Our Gracious Queen Mary like the Mary in my Text anoint the Head of Christ with her precious Oyntment; the Church whereof Christ is Head; neither was she want­ing in the other part of that Vertuous Womans Action; for she like her, anointed our Saviours feet also: The Poor, the lowest, and extremest of his Members, and which there­fore [Page 18]were most subject to cold as being fart distant from the chief Seat of life, felt the warm Inffuence of her diffusive Charity in a Princely manner, and an abundant Measure de­scending upon them for their nourishment and refreshment: The Poor which she had allwayes with her. The Poor which were her continual care and Charge, tasted liberally of her Royal Bounty: Her Munificent hand, to those who stood in need of her assistance, was like Mary to our Saviour, (and what is done to them he lookes upon as done unto himself;) no lesse than a whole Pound of Precious Oyntment: her Charity, and liberality to them was of the largest Size, and dimensions; contain'd (if it had any bounds) in the biggest Measures, heap'd up, pressed down and running over: These are the Innocent Causers of our great, and unspeakeable Losse by her so spee­dy Removal hence: These were the Importunate Beads-men who have sollicited Heaven so earnestly for her; who have prayed her up out of a troublesome World, to Heaven, too soon for us, though not for her self.

Neither must her unparallell'd Clemency, that truly Royal Vertue, for which she was so Eminent, and which so many who so little deserv'd it experimented, be forgotten; how unconcernedly did this Noble hearted, and undaunted Prin­cess, at a time when her dear Lord was absent, and when all things did not answer our hopes, and expectations (as the Events of War are various) bear the rude Behaviour, and as bad Language of some Insolent, and disaffected Per­sons, which she pass'd by with a generous disdain; punishing them most nobly, and Christianly, and withal severely by taking no Notice of them. This is that Heavenly Vertue that shin'd so bright in this adorable Princess; and was one of the Beauties of her large, and well complexion'd Soul; which could forgive almost as much, and as easily as others could offend: This was that Princely Quality which made her not an Angel, but as one of the best of those Gods [Page 19]who have the subordinate Government of the World under their Supreme and Universal Head ‘Nam cum vincamur in omni Munere, Sola Deos aequat Clemen­tia nobis.’

'Tis this Noble Vertue that transforms our Nature, and makes it in some degree like unto him who is tender hearted, compassionate, of great kindness repenting him of the evil.

I shall not meddle with her Political capacity, as being beyond my Sphere; though upon the observation of those who tooke notice of the posture of Publick affaires, during the time of her Administration; when upon unavoidable Nece­ssityes; the Husband, and Wife, likeas of Old, the two Bro­thers Castor, and Pollux, ruled by turns when one rose, the o­ther set; have agreed, that in the mostdifficult Occurrences, She manag'd all things with that Prudence, Conduct, and Courage; as if the Brave, undaunted, Heroick Soul, of the only Partner of her Throne, and Bed had acted in her, or ra­ther that they were both one.

Her affability, Candor, Humility, and unsullied Innocence, her sweet, and inoffensive deportment, and that Noble train of graces already mention'd, that constantly attended her, as they gained her the esteem and veneration of all that knew her, so they fitted and qualified her for that blessed Company, with whom she now converses, so that she scarce needed any Change, for her Admission into that Heavenly Society. Her stay'd, and solid Temper of spirit must, (not without praise) be remembred; a temper not to be alter'd by all the several divertisements, and avocations, which the high and publick Orb she mov'd in must necessarily expose her to: She us'd this World, though living in the greatest Splendor, and Glory of it, as if she us'd it not; as knowing that the fashion of it must, as she her self hath now done, passe away; receiving the innocent satisfactions without the Vanities, and Impertinencies of it: Like the Famous River Arethusa that [Page 20]runs through a large Sea without mixing her pure Waters with that salt, and troubled Element, she conversed with her Court, the best of which cannot but be tainted with some blemishes, without partakeing of the Corruptions of it.

Thus by well ordering and disposeing of her time, she lived much though she Lived not Long: Like a Chymicall Spirit whose quantity is Small, but its Vertue and operation great, she had crowded a great heap of life into a narrow compasse: not like the many of the world, who can give no other Testimony that they Live, but that they breath, and that Scarce wholosomely too; the greatest Signe of whose Life is their motion, and that generally a very irregular one too. But she, a true Mary, whilst others cumbred themselves about the gay and unnecessary Vanities of the world, minded the one thing necessary which shall never be taken from her: for her good workes like the Oyntment which that blessed Convert poured on our Saviours head shall perfume her glorious memory, and make it Smell Sweet in every place where her Sacred Name is mentioned as Long as the world endures: These good workes, and vertuous qualities are the Orators, Eloquent without fiattery, which give her a lasting and never dying Encomium; the loud tongu'd Speakers that have commended her even without a figure, to the very Heavens?

And now perhaps you may think that by my long insist­ing upon a few of those many particulars I might have named, that I have been indeavouring to raise your Passions to an unallowable height, and to Leave Such firm impressions of our unutterable losse upon your memorys, as will not easily be worn out: And truly the parting with so much vertue, and Goodnesse as she was Owner of, especially when it is a Treasure in this degenerate Age not commonly to be found, [Page 21]cannot enough be lamented: But my design is more Chri­stian; Tis to raise in you, after her Example an undervalue­ing of those little gay Vanities wherewith the generality of mankind are so much infatuated, and to beget in you a gene­rous imitation of those many most excellent Qualities for which this blessed Saint, and most renowned Princesse is, and ever shall be deservedly famous.

I told you the Poor, the many poor whom she fed, and whose necessities she relieved, were by their continual Pray­ers to Heaven for her, the Innocent Causers of her so speedy, and sudden removal out of a wicked, and deceitful World into the Regions of Everlasting Peace and Happiness; Let me put you in mind now what have been the guilty Instruments which have pull'd down this fatal calamity on our heads, and deprived us of that great and inestimable Blessing which we so lately enjoy'd; that so we may seriously mourn, and lament for those unhappy Causes that have occasion'd all this trouble and Mischief unto us; for God does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the Children of Men.

They are our Sins our Crying and hainous Sins of all sorts, and amongst the rest our horrible Ingratitude for the many deliverances which God hath sent us by the miraculous hand of his over ruling Providence, that have caused God to take away the desire of our Eyes, and the Joy of our hearts With a stroke. 'Tis Sin, which like a Mell-dew, (properly so cal­led being seemingly sweet, but really pernicious) hath smit­ten our early hopes, and blasted our most forward Expecta­tions in a moment. It was Sin that wrought the first disor­ders in Nature, and brought the whole Creature into Bondage, from which it longs, and groans to be delivered. Endless it would [Page 22]be to show how this hellish Enchantment hath removed the mighty Kingdomes, and Empires of the Earth; tossing them like a Ball when they came to her hand, to be under her Dominion, from one to another; from the Assyrian to the Persian, from the Persian to the Graecian, from the Graecian to the Roman; with whom by reason of Temperance, frugality, Justice and Na­tural Honesty which then reigned amongst them, the Seat of Majesty continued for a long Period of Time; till Foreign Conquests introduceing exotic Vices, and Orontes pouring forth its wanton and Lascivious streames into the before cold and chast Tiber, she by degrees receiv'd the fatal Infection, and dyed at last of a Luxurious Surfeit. What turns and al­terations of Government; what dire effusion of Christian Blood, what Ruin, and havock, this too successful Instru­ment of Hell hath made in all Places whereever she came; is too dismal a Story, (but might befit this sad occasion) to remember: No wonder then that we who have drunk so largely of the inchanted Cup, should feel the miserable effects of it, and that we who have been intoxicated with the Be­witching Potion, should partake of the shamefull Spueing: Let us therefore whilst the stroke of Gods hand is fresh upon us truly bewayl our manifold Sins that have put our hopes so far backward, and that have already cost us so dear, and amend our lives lest a worse thing befal us. God miraculously delivered the Children of Israel from their Egyptian bondage but when they murmured against their Deliverer and were disobedient, and continually repining, they provoked him to swear in his wrath, that none of them should enter into the Land of Promise: He could have led them to Canaan by a sar nearer way; but for their ungrateful carriage toward him, for their hard heartedness and unbelief, he harass't them out in the Wilderness, till all but Joshua and Caleb, of that vast num­ber that came out of Egypt were consumed. Let us take heed lest for our ingratitude, and rebellious dissatisfied Temper we [Page 23]provoke God to put a stop to that happy deliverance he hath so graciously begun among us; and reserve the consummati­on of it for another Generation that will be mote thankful then we have been, and will bring forth better fruit; then we have done; Lest for our unworthy behaviour towards him, and his Laws, he let us only have a Pisgah sight of this Palestine and never let us enter into an actual possession of that happy state of Rest and Peace of which we have had so fair a Pro­spect. Into which State of everlasting Rest, and Bliss, of which Canaan was only a Type, the Lord of his Mercy bring us all, under the Conduct of our most holy Jesus, the Cap­tain of our Salvation who hath purchas'd it for us with the Price of his own most precious bloud: To whom with the Father and holy Spirit be all honour and Glory. Amen.