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The Praise of a Godly Woman
by: Hannibal Gamon
Description:
Excerpt
Honovrable Sir,
Although it bee true (which a worthy Diuine obà ¿erueth) that formall Hypocrites are heartned and hardned in their lewd courà ¿es & falà ¿e conceits of happineà ¿à ¿e, when they heare more infamous Sinners than themà ¿elues, gloriouà ¿ly and flatteringly commended at their Deaths; yet we need not feare any à ¿uch bad effect by the Funerall-commendation of Gods true Saints; becauà ¿e the publike Teà ¿timonie of their iuà ¿t Praià ¿es doth not onely make the wicked more inexcuà ¿able, and the Glory of Gods Graces à ¿hine farre brighter to Poà ¿teritie; but alà ¿o enkindleth in the hearts of the godly a greater fire of Zeale for imitation. Theà ¿e are à ¿ome of the Ends, why it hath euer been and is à ¿till an vnreproueable Cuà ¿tome in Gods Church, that the Godly à ¿hould be Marked and Honoured at their Deaths, as Hezekiah was by all Iudah & Ieruà ¿alem: Valentinean, Satyrus and Theodoà ¿ius by Saint Ambroà ¿e: Baà ¿il, Gregory and Gorgonia by Nazianzen: Nepotian, Paula and Marcella by S. Ierom. Had not their Holy Liues and Happie Deaths beene publià ¿hed by à ¿uch vnpartiall Pens, wee à ¿hould haue bin ignorant now of many excellent Courà ¿es of à ¿anctified Men and Women, of many comfortable workings of the Holy Ghoà ¿t in them, and à ¿hould haue wanted many inflaming Motiues to follow their religious à ¿teps. Vpon this conà ¿ideration I was bold to commend vnto Gods people the more than Ordinary paà ¿à ¿ages of your Honourable Mothers Holy Life and Death: wherein I haue as a Chrià ¿tian à ¿poken the truth of a Chrià ¿tian, that is, (as Saint Ierom proteà ¿teth in a like caà ¿e) made a true Narration; not a Vain-glorious Panegyrick. Let Poets and Oratours praià ¿e thoà ¿e women, which Poppæa-like, are graced with all other things à ¿auing a Gracious Heart: Let them commend their Wit, Wealth, Beautie, Nobilitie, and other Gifts of Fortune (as they call them) in à ¿tead of Vertues. Wee the Minià ¿ters of Chrià ¿t, and Stewards of the Myà ¿teries of God, muà ¿t adorne none with the Honourable Attributes of Heauenly Praià ¿e; but à ¿uch as are truly beautified, enriched, and ennobled with the Purity and Power of Gods Feare in their Humble Soules. This praià ¿e the Lord will Proà ¿per, which is vttered in that Wià ¿dome, whereof the Feare of the Lord is the beginning. But for the Saints themà ¿elues: I dare à ¿ay with Saint Auguà ¿tine, that they deà ¿ire more the Imitation, than the Commendation of their vertues: and therefore to tell you the truth (as the à ¿ame Father doth his friend) you à ¿hould neuer haue heard mee commend this deceaà ¿ed Lady, but in hope, that Gods Graces in Her might by this meanes, à ¿uruiue in your religious Imitation, and not only in you and all them that are of Her bloud; but alà ¿o in all them that haue heard or à ¿hall reade this Sermon. This is all the gaine I looke and pray for, that Gods word, which I haue faithfully alledged (not without à ¿ome Illuà ¿trations (I confeà ¿à ¿e) borrowed from the holy Fathers, whereof I need not to be aà ¿hamed) may be conà ¿tantly practià ¿ed by vs all....