[227] Pſal. 21. 3. Eſth. 2. 17
[228] Eccleſ. 25. 10.
[229] Eccleſ. 10. 24.
[230] Eccleſ. 7. 19.
[231] Prou. 31. 10.
[232] Eccleſ. 26. 14. 15.
To Her Children ſhee ſhall be Commended; becauſe by her they haue a place of Refuge[235]; by Her they haue good meanes to bring and continue true Honour vpon them[236], and if They (the Fruit) be a great Bleſſing[237] (as it is to haue Iſſue by ſuch a One) what is the Root that beareth it[238]?
But I muſt haſten: How ſhall ſhe be Praiſed in reſpect of her Parents? euen as Rachel[239] for doing ſeruice to them as to her Maſters (the true propertie of one that feareth the Lord[240].) In reſpect of her kindred by mariage, as Ruth, louing them[241], Dealing kindly with them[242], and Cleauing vnto them[243]. And in reſpect of her kindred by bloud, as Eſther, who did the Commandement of Mordecay when ſhe was a Queene, like as when ſhe was brought vp with Him[244], who was exceedingly grieued at his Griefe[245], and procured the Enlargement and Deliuerance of her kindred with her Feaſts[246], her Teares[247], and the Hazard of her Life[248].
In regard of her Seruants alſo, ſhe ſhall be commended becauſe ſhe Buildeth her Houſe[249]: Shee is like the Merchants ſhip, She fetcheth her food from farre[250], She giueth meat to her Houſhold[251], She cloatheth them all with Scarlet[252], and Shee looketh ſo well to their waies[253], that As the Sunne when it ariſeth in the high Heauen; So is her beautie in the Ordering of her Houſe[254].
Laſtly, becauſe all the Eſſentiall Glory and Faireneſſe, which is to bee found in the whole Church, The Woman cloathed with the Sunne[255], as that of Iuſtification & Sanctification &c. belongs to euery Member of the Church[256], and cōſequently to euery Woman fearing the Lord, therefore to Gods people ſhe ſhall be commended, as one of the Hands of the Church dropping with ſweet ſmelling Mirrhe[257]: as the Curtaines of Salomon[258]; As a Lilly among thornes[259]; A Garden incloſed: A Spring ſhut vp. A Fountain ſealed[260].
