Heavenly pastime, or, Pleasant observations on all the most remarkable passages throughout the Holy Bible of the Old and New Testament newly allegoriz'd in several delightful dialogues, poems, similitudes, and divine fancies / by John Dunton, author of The sickmans passing-bell.

CHAP. XIX. Giveing an Account of the Death of Sara. (Book 19)

THe most smiling prosperities often swim amidst Tears; the clearest and most serene dayes are followed sometimes by the most obscurest & dusky Nights: Bodies for Companions have their own sha∣dows, Roses are mixed with Thorns, and even the Life of Man never ends but in Death. To see Abra∣ham, Sara, and Isaack, after their deliverance, and the tryals God had of their fidelity, would not one have believed them almost immortall and exempted from all the miseries of Life? And yet scarce were they returned to their own home, but Abraham and Isaack met with a new occasion of grief for the Death of Sara. But so it is, the strictest unions must break, the sincerest friendships must have an end, and even M••rriages themselves of which God was the sacred knot, must at length make a Tragick Divorce upon a Bed which is the most common Theater of the blind furies of Death.

We ought to confess nevertheless that it is a spect∣acle able to excite the constancy of a good Courage, when we shall behold this unmercifull Murdress which snacheth away Daughters out of their Mo∣thers Bosoms, and Sons in the sight of their Fathers, and Wifes between the Arms of their Husbands.

In such a case, if Nature had not some tenderness, she would be unnaturall, and we must have Hearts of Marble not to be touched with some sense of grief and pitty: Abraham had then just cause to testifie by his tears, the regret he had for his dear Sara's Death; and surely since he lost so rare a blessing, well might he disconsolately bewayl it.

This mourning was not yet blameable, and he was very carefull not to doe like those, who bury all their affections in the preparation of a Funerall pomp, and who have but a shadowed meen, or else not being able sufficiently to disguise their looks, strive to hide under the Veils and shadows of a Bed or dark Chamber, the shame of their insensibility.

Abraham shed more tears from his Heart, than by his Eyes, and in rendring all duties to Nature and his Wife, he most amply satisfied God, and his own piety: while he was a Pilgrim and stranger in the Land of Canaan, Sara being Dead in the City of He∣bron, he went directly into the place where his Wifes Body reposed.

There he offered up his Prayers unto God, and kiss'd a thousand times those amiable reliques, wa∣tering them from time to time with his tears.

He presently intreated Ephron to sell him a double Cave which was close by the vale of Mambre to in∣terr Sara in that place.

Ephron is willing to grant what he asketh; but be∣ing at last as it were inforced to take a sum of Money for the purchace of his Land, Abraham became Ma∣ster of the Field and Groat in which he laid the Bo∣dy of his dear moity.

It is in this monument where the most generous Woman of her time reposeth; and under this Rock of Diamond will be found a Diamantine Heart in the Body of Sara, who was a perfect pattern of Constancy and Fidelity.