This elect lady set out early in the ways of God, in the morning of her age: there was care taken while she was young, that she should be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. She came not from her nurse's arms, without some knowledge of the principles of the Christian religion. While she was very young, her obedience to her parents, (which she extended also to her aunt, who had some charge over her in her father's house,) was very exact; and as she began, so she continued in this gracious and awful temper of duty. I have heard you say, madam, that you cannot remember any one particular, wherein, at any time, she disobeyed her father, or you.

That her time might not be misspent, nor her employments tedious to her, the several hours of the day had variety of employments assigned to them; and the intermixing of prayer, reading, writing, working, and walking, brought a pleasure to each of them in their courses; so that the day was carried about faster than she would; and she began in this her youth to abridge herself of her sleep, and was oftentimes at a book in her closet when she was thought to be in bed.

You remember well, I presume, the purse her young fingers wrought for her own alms, and how importunately she would beg your single money to fill it; and as greedy she was of emptying it too. The poor seldom went from the house, without the alms of the young daughter, as well as of the parents.

And how constant she was then, at her private prayer, I know, by what I have heard from the keeper of your house. When strangers were in her own room, where she ordinarily had her retirements, he was called to give her the key of some other chamber for that purpose: at her hour of prayer, she would procure a new oratory, rather than omit, or defer that duty. And how powerful with God the lifting up of her pure hands, every where in this her

innocent childhood, was, soon appeared; for, while her holiness was in the bud, a violent attempt was made to blast it. About the thirteenth year of her age, there was a storm of temptation raised in her, and some arguments the tempter had suggested to drive her to despair of God's mercy towards her. And this I note the rather, because it is not ordinary at such years to have attained to that growth, as to be thought fit for those encounters. But God upheld this young twig against such a storm, which hath torn up many a fair tree; for, after some anguish of spirit, and patience in the combat, and earnest prayers, God's grace was sufficient for her. And surely it was not the strength of her hands at this age, but the pureness of them, which prevailed for her.

And

After this conquest, her soul enjoyed much peace and tranquillity, and she went on most cheerfully in holy duties; and tasted much comfort and delight in them; and her heart was ever so full, that out of the abundance of it she would say, 66 Oh what an incomparable sweetness there is in the music of "David's harp! Oh, what heavenly joy there is in "those psalms, and in prayers, and praises to God! "How amiable are the courts of God's house! how "welcome the days of his solemn worship!" now, nothing could hinder her from those holy assemblies. Every Lord's-day constantly, forenoon and afternoon, she would be with the earliest at them: some while, (when she wanted a convenience of riding,) she walked cheerfully three or four miles a day, as young and as weak as she was, to them; and at night, she accounted the joys and the refreshments which her soul had been partaker of, a sufficient recompense for the extreme weariness of her body. And within a short while, by reading good authors, and by frequent converse with learned men, she improved (by God's help) her natural talents of understanding and reason, to a great degree of wisdom and knowledge.

And now these riches, of her piety, wisdom, quickness of wit, discretion, judgment, sobriety, and gravity of behaviour, being once perceived by Sir Lucius Cary, seemed portion enough to him: these he prized above worldly inheritances and those other fading accessions which most men court. And she being married to him, riches and honour, and all other worldly prosperity, flowed in upon her; and consequently, to proceed in holiness and godliness grew an harder task, than before it seemed to be; it being much more difficult when riches and honour thus increase, not to set our hearts upon them.

Yet God enabled her by his grace for this also; for, when possession was given her of stately palaces, pleasantly seated, and most curiously and fully furnished, and of revenues and royalties answerable, though your ladyship hath heard her acknowledge God's great goodness towards her, for these temporal preferments, yet, neither you, nor any of her friends, could perceive her heart any whit exalted with joy for them. They were of the Babylonians' retinue, who, when they had seen Hezekiah's riches and treasures, set their hearts upon them. (Isaiah, xxxix.) This true Israelite reserved her affections for those riches which never fade, and for those dwellings which are above, where the city is of pure gold, and the walls garnished with precious stones.

This confluence of all worldly felicities and contentments did so little affect her, that there were some seemed displeased at it; and then she would attribute much of it to a melancholic disease, which was upon her. And though I deny not that some worldly delights might fall by the hand of her melancholy, yet, doubtless, where the disease slew its hundreds, grace slew its ten thousands.

In this condition some years passed, during which time she was most constant at prayers and sermons, and frequently received the blessed Sacrament; and although now and then, she felt not her wonted

spiritual comforts, but, instead of them, had some anguish, and bitterness of spirit; yet, by the advice of good divines, and by her ordinary help of prayer, she soon recovered her peace and joy.

Thus in the several conditions of youth, and ripe years of virginity, and marriage, and amongst contrary temptations, of adversity and prosperity, affliction and comfort, she continued that course of holy life which she had begun; a great proficiency this, yet I crave leave to reckon it all into her beginning, for this was but slow in respect of that great agility and quick speed she attained unto, in the other part of her spiritual race.

Her proficiency and progress I shall account from that time when her prosperity began to abate; when her dear lord and most beloved husband went from his library to the camp; from his book and pen, to his sword and spear; and the consequence of that, an inevitable necessity, that she must now be divorced from him, for a while, whom she loved more than all the things of this world. This was a sad beginning; but that total divorce which, soon after, death made between him and her, that he should be taken away by an untimely death, and by a violent death too,this, this was a most sore affliction to her: the same sword which killed him, pierced her heart also. And this heavy affliction which God sent upon her, she interpreted for a loud call from Heaven, to a further proficiency in piety and virtue. And yet, she feared it might be a punishment also upon her, for some sin or other, and therefore strictly examined herself, and ransacked every corner of her heart, to find out wherein she had provoked God to lay this great affliction on her.

And now she addressed herself to a divine of great eminency for piety and learning; and from him she took directions for a more strict course of life in this her widowhood, than formerly. Now quite forgetting what was behind, she pressed forward to what