Firſt then (that the Obiect may be right) the[42] 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 Tertullians[43] 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 Huſbands[44], 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 Ambroſes[45] 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 Fathers[46] declaime bitterly againſt her filthy heart, falſe haire, adulterate paintings, naked breaſts, new-fangled faſhions of ſuperfluous, monſtrous attire: & the holy Scriptures[47] 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 curſed[48], and her reproach ſhall not be blotted out, ſhe ſhall be counted vngodly of all[49], more bitter than death[50]. As rottenneſſe in her husbands bones[51], As ſpittle[52], yea As a Dogge[53], and at laſt ſhe ſhall be caſt into hell fire, Saluâ Veniâ, without pardon from God, becauſe (ſaith Tertullian[54]) ſhe hath ſinned Saluo metû, without any feare of God.
FOOTNOTES:
[40] Convertatur ad ipſum etiam Timor tuus, quia peruerſus eſt timor omnis, quo metuis aliquid præter eum aut non propter eum. S. Ber. in cap. Ieiun. ſer. 2.
[41] Quid magnū eſt, pœnā timere? Quis enim nō timet? quis Latro, quis ſceleratus, quis nefarius? &c. S. Auguſt. de Verb. Apoſt. ſer. 15. fol. 332. tom. 10.
[42] Deut. 10. 12. 2 King. 17. 36. Luk. 12. 5. Eſ. 8. 13. Mal. 1. 6.
[43] Loquacitas in ædificatione nulla turpis, ſi quando turpis. Itaque ſi de aliquo bono ſermo eſt, res poſtulat contrarium quoque boni recenſere. Quid enim ſectandum ſit, magis illummabis, ſi quod vitandū ſit, proinde digeſſeris. Tertul. de Patien. c. 5. tom. 2.
[44] Esth. 1. 12, 17, 20, 22. Eccl. 26. 26. Eſ. 36. 9. & 3. 16. Prou. 30. 33. Eccleſ. 25. 13. & alibi paſſim. Vbi verò timor Dei non eſt, ibi diſſolutio vitæ eſt. S. Aug. de Temp. ſer. 213. tom. 10.
[45] Aliud eſt timere quia peccaueris, aliud timere ne pecces. Et ibi eſt formido de ſupplicio, hic ſolicitudo de præmio. Epiſt. 84. tum. 3. Eſt quem timor Dei ligat, qui non expaueſcit ad vultus hominū, ſed ad memoriam gehennalium tormentorum. Et hic quidem peccare non metuit, ſed ardere. S. Bern. de Tripl. Coberent: Vincul. &c. Eſ. 33. 14.