THESE Words were spoken by Jesus Christ to the Virgin Mary, and other Women, whose Devotion led them to attend him in the A­gonies of Death; I shall at present consider [...]hem, as coming from our late Gracious Queen, at Her Departure; and, in this Sense you may look upon them as Her Last Advice, or Legacy to us, and [...] all of both Sexes within this Realm; Weep not for me, but, &c.

Here we find Two Parts;

• 1. A Prohibition; Weep not for me.
• 2. An Injunction; but weep for your selves.

First, The Prohibition, or Caution; Weep not [...] me.

[...], To weep, imports more than a bare weep­ [...]g, or shedding of tears, for it signifies also an Eju­lation, [Page]Howling, or Crying out; moreover, it im­plies an Hearty and Intrinsecal Sorrow, arising from a due consideration of our present pressure.

So that in a Day of Calamity, such as this (when God hath called us to Mourning and Lamentation) for any to say, They cannot weep, for they are of too dry a Constitution, will be no excuse; for, ad­mit they have not Tears at their disposal, yet, unless they are stupid and senseless, or possest with a Stoi­cal Apathy, they cannot but be greatly affected with what is come to pass; and this is one sort of weep­ing, though we weep best when both the eyes drop and the heart sighs.

Weep not. [...]ot.

Not, you may observe, in Reading the Scripture is not always taken as an Absolute Denyal, but sometimes it is used in a Comparative Sense, and direct [...] us in two several things, which is better and mor [...] expedient; [...]t. 9. Thus, * I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice: God did not hereby prohibit Sacrificing [...] but minded them, that Love and Charity should b [...] mixed with their Piety and Devotion: So also [...] † (which comes up to our present purpose) Re [...] your hearts, [...]el 2. and not your garments; i. e. Rather griev [...] inwardly, than outwardly; the humbling you [...] Hearts, and the afflicting your Souls, is a mu [...] [Page]better Testimony of your Mourning, than the Ta­ring your Robes, though this you may doe, yet the other you ought not to leave undone.

Weep not.

These words and the Age sute together; for tho' Wise Solomon affirms, [...] There is as proper a Season [...]or Sorrow, as for Mirth; yet many of us are slow [...]f heart to believe him: We are grown like the [...]nhabitants of Tambutum in Affrick, whom Travel [...]ers report to spend their days in Singing and Daun­ [...]ing; the great business of our time is to drive away [...]orrow.

The Reproof given the Jews Ma [...] 11.1, is very Applicable [...]o us; they were like those Children which their [...]ellows complain'd on, saying, We have Piped unto [...]ou, and you have not Daunced; we have Mourned [...]nto you, and you have not Lamented: Neither Mirth [...]or Sorrow, Prosperity nor Adversity affect us as [...]hey ought. When God listed up his Countenance [...]pon this disconsolate Kingdom, and with a Graci­ [...]us King and Queen Restor'd our Religion, Laws, [...]ives and Liberties, In how few did their Hearts [...]aunce for Joy? and now he hath taken from our [...]ead our great Queen, How few in this Lamenta­ [...]le Catastrophe are true Mourners?

Weep not for me.

Your Tears, I want not, they cannot reverse the Sentence already executed; such Lamentation for me is as Impertinent as Invocation of the Virgi [...] is Idolatrous: For, How can Mortals Believe [...] that we in Abraham's Bosome take Cognisance o [...] what they do or suffer, [...]. 63.when * Abraham himself [...] in such cases, is ignorant.

While in the Body, I had, and show'd Compassion; but it is one Priviledge of Heaven to b [...] above all occasions of it: We are so Ravish'd wit [...] the Glorious Presence, and so Diligent at our Ha [...] lelujahs, that had we Intelligence, yet we wante [...] Opportunity to consider your Circumstances.

Weep not for me, because Dead and D [...] parted.

No more in this is befallen me, than what wa [...] Natural, than what I ever Expected, Death is th [...] common Lot of Mortals, neither Crown nor Scepter, Authority nor Treasures, Health or Beauty [...] Youth or Strength, Wit or Policy, no nor Grace [...] self, is a Sanctuary from the Arrest of Death [...] not onely Kings and Queens, Emperours an [...] Emperesses, but Mary the Mother, and Lazarus, th [...] [Page 5]Favourite of the Lord of Life have gone this way before Me.

3. Weep not for Me, because so early Dead.

Death is a Lawless Tyrant, observing no Rules, moving in no steady course; some he seizes in their full strength, their bones well-stor'd with Marrow, and their breasts with MilkJob [...] 24. On some [...]e steals, sending no fatal Symptoms as Fore-run­ [...]ers.

Death is grown dainty, and indulges himself [...]ith Variety, as well High as Low, Poor as Rich, [...]trong as Weak, Healthy as Crazy, Young as Old [...]e feeds upon.

He Respites not the Strong, till he hath first dis­ [...]atcht the Feeble, and the Decrepit; he will some­ [...]mes neglect an old weather-beaten and tottering [...]ottage, while he takes a pride to demolish a new­ [...]ected Pallace; he is too bold to pass by him [...]at handleth the Sword, to take him that leaneth [...] his Staff; nor hath he the tenderness to pity [...]e Beautiful in their Flower and Prime, and take [...] with the Old and Wither'd; but, when e'r [...] pleases he makes bold with all: For,Ps. 89.48. What [...]an is he that liveth, and shall not see death? The [...]ave is our home, we are but wanderers till we [Page 6]come there. The youngest is old enough to die, Death's Scythe will cut as will the Green, as Ripe Grass.

4. Weep not for Me, in that Death hath snatcht me so hastily away.

[...], Those whom God Loves, he soonest sends for; you may think it too soon, yet to me a Sinner, he conceeded as long, if not lon­ger duration than to his Son, in whom was no sin: Weep till you are planted in the Garden of God, for it is his particular care to House his Choice Plants, and not leave them too long ex­pos'd to Storms.

5. Weep not for me, as if by Death I were a Loser.

Though dead, yet am I not kill'd with Death. * I dy'd to live. [...]v. 2. For me to die was gain.

I have left my Heavy, Thorny, and Anxious Crown, but speak it not that you should weep ha­ving, in exchange, receiv'd from him (for whom I Reign'd among you) an Immarcessible Crown o [...] Glory.

'Tis true, I have left my Palace, my Train and [Page 7]Attendance, who may bemoan my Retiring; but these I cannot miss, being arriy'd at the Heavenly Jerusalem, and incorporated in an Innumerable Company of Angels, I am come to a Glorious As­sembly of holy and happy Souls.

Some accounted my Life Madness, and that I was beside my self, in that I exerted not my Authori­ty, consumed not my Revenue to the Pampering and Indulging Nature; my Devotion and Chari­ty, my VVatchfulness over my self, my Circum­spection among my Attendants, was a Riddle, if not a Scorn to others; but, how sweet was the Reflexion in the Agonies of Death! and how Mer­ciful hath the Gracious Lord rewarded those small pittances of Duty and Service! Weep not for me, for Psa [...] 11. verily there is a Reward for the Righteous.

But methinks I hear of some of you protesting your noble and grateful tempers cannot dispence with this Counsel; but though she neither wants nor takes notice of your Tears; Though Death be as natural to Princes as to Beggars; Though an early departure to Bliss be an happiness; And though she is the Gainer by Exchange of Crowns, yet you must and will Weep, you cannot re­frain.

1. Because Tears are the Due Rights, the Ac­custom'd Benevolence paid to departed Friends, [Page 8]it was not Reason, but Morossness, that Spoke in Ennius, Nemo me decoret Lachrymis.

Tears are called [...],justa defunctorum, the Dues, the Tribute belonging to the Dead: Thus Abraham, a great Prince, bemoaned his deceased Sarah; Jacob, Moses, Samuel, and many others were Lamented when dead, because they had been so useful and good when Living.

The Greater the Person, the higher in degree and Quality, the more Religious and Beneficial in his Generation, the Greater was the lamentation; thus Ahijah, † Jeroboam's Son died, and, by God's Special Command,King. 13. all Israel Mourned for him; and the Reason is there given, Some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel was found in him.

But when the Good King Josiah was taken a­way by death *,Chron. 31. his death was in an extraordina­ry manner Lamented; all Judah and Jerusalem Condoled him: † The Prophet Jeremiah's head was as a Fountain of Tears, [...]ers. 25. all the Singing Men and Singing Women made great Lamentation for him: Such was the Mourning for that good Prince, so that it grew into a Proverb, [...]ch. 12. * As the Mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon.

The Comparison were at hand, had Grief a Tongue, and delighted in Loquacity. Was Josiah zealous for the Lord, according to the Law of [Page 9] Moses? Who more zealous than the Late Queen? (whose Translation hence we now Commemo­rate) She was zealous for God, both according to the Law and the Gospel; How industrious was She to Suppress Swearing, Drunkenness, Whore­dom, and Sabbath-breaking? And how did She commend each respective duty of the Gospel to Her Subjects, by her own Practice and Exam­ple? Was Josiah zealous against Idolatry? She more against all Idolatry and Prophaneness; Did he turn unto the Lord with all his Soul? Who could perceive that she had many Thoughts, De­sires, Studies, or Delights, but what tended either Primarily or Subordinately to the Glory of God? It was that King's Praise, That he had the Law Read in the Audience of the People; It was our Queen's, That She delighted in having the Gospel Piously, Reverently and Frequently Preach'd; In a Word, he was Chronicled for his Strict Observation of the Passover; She ought much more to be had in Remembrance, for her Devout and Frequent Receiving the Sacrament of the LORD's SƲP­PER.

I want Time, to shew what Zeal She had, what Travel She underwent, to Settle the Church, to heal our Distractions, to compose our Differences; How Fervent was Her desire to see the House of [Page 10]God purged from all its dregs? to remove all just and tolerable Causes of Separation? and to make the Terms of Communion as clear and comforta­ble as became the Christian Religion? Doubtless, had God spared Her, She would have so Labour'd our Reformation and Union, that our Church should have been a Praise in the Earth: Should I proceed by the Rule of Her Deserts, and you, by the same, Commensurate your Weeping, it were enough to Convert this Island into another Hada­drimmon.

Is it not Reason then to say, Ah Lord! and, Ah Her Glory! It were unpardonable if such a Prin­cess should depart without the Groans of Her Peo­ple.

2. We cannot prevent weeping, nor would we, because an Unlamented death is Threatned by God as a Curse: and, the worst of Her Enemies will not Judge so hardly of Her, therefore it is pardo­nable if Her True Admirers Mourn for her.

God threatens16. the Restraining of Lamentati­on at death, as a grievous Punishment; and more expresly concerning Jehojakim King of Judah, † God said,22. They shall not Lament for him, saying, Ah my Brother, or, Ah Sister; Ah Lord, Ah his Glory, i. e. [Page 11]neither his Relations, nor his Subjects were permit­ted to make Lamentation for him.

Solomon speaks of it as a thing usual and com­mon,Ecc [...] 12.5 That when Men die, and go to their long home, The Mourners go about the City: And how then shall we say, That they whom God calleth Gods, die like Men, if a Queen shall want what is allowed to common Subjects.

In a word, God seems to Resent it very ill, when this Kind Office is neglected, when these Tributes of Tears are kept back,Isa. 1. The Righteous perish, and no Man layeth it to heart: To spare, where God calls for spending; to grudge, where a gracious Princess so highly deserves, is surely Impious.

But, notwithstanding, let us once more Mind [...]he Text, and although it be a general Custom, [...]nd so we were out of Fashion if we did not weep; Although God wills this Respect be shewn to so Eminent an Instrument of his Glory, and our Good; yet, Weep not for me.

1. Hypocritically.

Take heed your Grief, your Tears, your Con­ [...]rnedness for this Great Loss, be not Counterfeit; [Page 12]Country have swept away Thousands? Hear you not the Cries and dismal Complaints of the Poor? The Threats of Enemies? The Conspiracy of Traytors? The Frauds and Deceits of Subjects? And will not the blackness and horrour hereof raise a Tempest of Tears? Then surely all Com­passion is extinct; the Clouds are wont to drop upon less noise.

Yet behold so little are we affected with ou [...] Sufferings, or sensible of what we have to fear that every one keeps on his old Rode, one to his Farm, another to his Merchandize, one to hi [...] Business, another to his Pleasure; and few la [...] either the present, or what we may hereafter lose to heart.

God took away Josiah, 22.10. that he should not see the Evil that was coming on his Kingdom; and who knoweth but that our Queen was taken a­way in like manner?

Could we weep and pray, pray, and drow [...] our Prayers in Tears, God would certainly hea [...] our Cries; for Tears have an audible and signi­ficant Voice. Man may hear their general Voice and from our weeping, collect we are in Sorrow but God hears their secret, and special Voice, an [...] in our weeping reads our Humility and Repentance

Weep for your selves.

We have just cause to fear our Sins have hastened this Death, which we now deplore. God in his Goodness sent us such a Princess, as was both a Patroness, and Example of Goodness: A Glass by which this crooked Age might have rectified it self; and seeing he has waited divers Years, and found no amendment, what was it but just to take the Mirrour from us? What should they do with a Light, who will not walk by it? This is no new thing; for If you continue to do wickedly, 1 Sam both you and your King shall be destroyed.

So Solomons Observation was;Prov. For the Trans­gression of a Land, many are the Princes thereof: And if we have not dissembled with God, in the Service for the Thirtieth of January, we confess that the Crying Sins of the Nation occasioned the Death of King Charles the First.

The Throne feels many Removes, when Sub­jects go on still in their Wickedness; so that there [...]ies a necessity upon us to weep an hearty Re­pentance by way of Atonement, and hereafter to live most religiously by way of Prevention: Which brings us to the next Consideration.

III. Weep for your selves, and your children.

Weep so as to reform; shed Tears of abhorrence and detestation: It were extremely provoking for all this to sin on; to be found sinning against God in the day that we should be crying out of our Trouble and Misery.

While Amasa lay openly wallowing in his Blood the whole Congregation stood astonied, they were all highly concerned to see the Land so defiled with Blood;20.12. but yet no sooner was the Dead cove­red with a Cloth, and removed out of sight but every one marched on as he was going.

I no ways question, but the first relation of the Queen's Sickness was dismal to most; and at the report of her Death, the hearts of many good People were ready to sink within them; and all concurred in this Opinion, that for the Wickedness of the Land she was fallen; and shall we now the Solemnity of her Funeral is over, recant? God forbid: I hope as every day will discover our lo [...] to be greater and greater; so our loss will imbitte [...] our Sins to us, that we shall set upon a general Re­formation.

Some Tempers are corrected when brought to weeping: God grant us Hearts to weep, and Grace to amend. It was an Observation made of the Jews, that they were best in their worst Con­dition; of the Athenians it was spoken Proverbi­ally, Non nisi Atrati, they never kept any decorum, but when in Mourning: And a great Statesman once spoke of this Nation, Anglica gens est optima slens, pessima ridens, The English are most like them­selves when God turns their Mirth into Sorrow. Now therefore you are called to the House of Mourning, it is very seasonable both to weep and amend.

Could we thus mourn, God would re­turn, and leave a Blessing behind him, as [...]e did to Nineveh, we might yet see Jerusa­lem in Prosperity. Could we thus weep for [...]ur Sins; and in weeping, leave them off, there were hopes, after a fair Enjoyment of Peace and Prosperity here, we may, like her that is now gone before us, dye willingly and chear­fully; for she willingly resign'd her Breath; she [...]ll a-sleep without the least reluctancy or resi­stance: It was not regardlessness, or ignorance of Death; nor was it the Gallantry of her natural Courage, that taught her thus to defie the [...]ing of Terrors, but the good Foundation she [Page 20] [...] [Page 21] [...] [Page 22]had laid up against this Day: Her Fidelity in God's Service emboldned her Trust in his Mercy.

To Conclude.

I shall now endeavour Two things.

• I. To remove some Discontents.
• II. To give some needful Exhortations.

1. Peradvenrure my appearing no sooner upon this Occasion, may be called Coldness or Un­concernedness; I shall excuse my self no other­wise, than by shewing you that I learn from Joab's Reproof to Ahimaz, 18. it was manners to l [...] Zadock, who was thereunto appointed, run be­fore.

2. Perhaps I may be censured as too partia [...] that I have not sufficiently illustrated, and bl [...] zoned the Queen's Vertues. In answer hereunto my Opinion is, true Grief loves not to be Rh [...] ­torical; where it does speak, it is but abrub [...] and brokenly, like the harsh Cry of Cranes, [...] the unpleasant chattering of Swallows: Beside▪ [Page 23]I did conclude, should I have told you in the Language of some, that she exceeded King Da­vid, Queen Elizabeth; nay, all the Kings and Queens that ever were, this would offend as ful­some: I could not in one breath declare she was beyond Description, and in the next do it in a few Words.

In short, I have seen and observ'd many things, I have heard more, and do probably believe as much as another; but yet dare not speak too liberally, for fear I should be thought another So­stratus, and to offer more to the Living than Dead.

Yet however I will not deny my Character; which is this: Our late Queen Mary was so good, that God took her away as too good for such a wicked People as we are. You may have a larger, Prov. 31.

3. There is yet another prejudice, some reproach'd [...]he deceased Queen when living, and still brand her Honour now dead, by charging he with For­getfulness of the Fifth Commandment.

This is the Charge; but they that are so indu­strious in spreading and aggravating it, would do better to consider; The Conjunction of Matri­mony is nearer and stronger than that of Pa­rents [Page 24]and Children; for God who so strictly com­manded, and encouraged the Obedience of Chil­dren to Parents, yet was pleased to dispense with this Law, [...] 13. in case of Matrimony: For thi [...] cause shall a man forsake father and mother, &c. which Law is equal to either Sex; and shows us, that i [...] ever the Paternal Duty should contradict the Mar­riage, that of the Marriage hath the pre-eminence. Moreover, in the State of Matrimony, the Husband hath power over the Wife: So that it is against all Reason, that the Queen should answer as a Daugh­ter for what she could not refuse as a Wife.

Plancus, near his end, was told that Asinius Poll [...] had prepar'd Funeral-Orations against him, and had steep'd his Pen in Gall, Plancus slighted the Informa­tion, saying, None but Ghosts will contend with th [...] Dead: Though he thus bravely scorn'd Pollio's Ma­lice, yet could not Pollio disgest Plancus's Answer but departed from his intention of railing at him For fear the Manners and Wisdom should be wan­ting among Christians, which was found in th [...] Heathen, something I will say, though not much left the adverse Party should conceit their Obje­ction of greater weight than really it is.

Put case God had in Mercy to his afflicted Churc [...] dealt by the Father, as he hath formerly done b [...] other Crowned Heads, removed him by som [...] [Page]strange Death, had not the Daughter's Title then been good? Had she not then legally ascended the Throne? What is it then that occasions all this Dis­content, unless it be God in Judgment remembred Mercy; and, by one single Act of his Providence, both prevented farther Mischief, and conceeded the Deluded a larger time for Repentance.

It hath been said by them of old time, Vox Populi, Vox Dei; then, when so fairly call'd, who was she that she should withstand?

We are told our Laws are consonant to Gods; if so, what are they but Murmurers who complain of what the Law justifies?

Some Exhortations.

I. Resolve henceforward to be more Loyal, Obe­dient, Faithful, and Assisting to his Majesty: All wise People will remember they have the Dues of Two to pay to one.

II. You have great cause to love, and be stedfast in your Religion, if you consider rightly what of late God hath done in its defence.

David says,Psal. Let the multitude of the Isles rejoice (we may particularly call upon our own to do so) for you [...]ee God ruleth in the Kingdoms of Men.

You have read that Moses young and help­less less) was cast out, and should have been destroy'd, the King had given such Order; yet he that sitteth in Heaven consented not, but chose the Daughter of that King to preserve him: God can secure our Re­ligion by ways unthought of by us; if ever it fall, it will not be for want of power in God, but love in us.

I could not leave you with a better Remark, that you may remember what great things God hath done for you, and yours, by her means whom he hath now taken to himself.

God grant what hath been said may prove as pro­fitable, as it has been seasonable; and that we may all of us weep so heartily for our Selves, and our Children, that God may depart from his Wrath and by his gracious Providence make up the breach he hath made upon us.