The non-pareil, or, The vertuous daughter surmounting all her sisters described in a funerall sermon upon the death of that vertuous lady, Elizabeth Hoyle, late wife of the worshipfull Thomas Hoyle, alderman of the city of Yorke / by that godly and reverend divine, Mr. Iohn Birchall ...

Reas. The reasons of this truth are the••e; The first is taken from the inward working causes, and they a••e these two, Christ his spiri∣tuall providence, and his peoples speciall diligence. First, Christs spiritual providence in dispensing the gift, for according to his gift so is not the truth of grace only, but the measu••e of grace also, Eph. 4 every one hath grace given him according to the measure of the gift of Christ; and (as the Apostle speakes unto the Corinthians,) The spirit

of Christ distribute unto every one even as he will: This blessed Head, though he gives unto all, yet notwithstanding he gives unto all dif∣ferently, to some more, and to some lesse, even as he pleaseth; this for the inward meanes. So for the outward means, by his spirituall pro∣vidence he affords unto some, more and greater meanes, and a longer time, to others lesse: He also doth blesse the means more unto some then unto others.

Againe, another inward working cause is the speciall diligence of Gods people themselves, exciting and stirring up, and also exe••cising that grace which is given them, applying the meanes unto their hearts, and bringing all home in private, that was done in publique, this is the reason why, though some do vertuously, yet others do ex∣cell in grace, even their practise of Piety, and their Christian dili∣gence. And as thus ye have heard the working causes per se, by them∣selves, so also per accidens, by accident, the Lord sometimes makes the sence of sinne a means to break the heart, and that sinner that hath bin exceeding ••••nful, that sinner afterwards somtimes becomes a no∣table Saint; this is the first generall ground from the inward wor∣king causes.

The second generall ground is from the finall cause, and that is double, for his owre g••ory, and his peoples good; for this double reason, though others do vertuously, yet the Lord will have some to excell in grace: First, for his own glo••y; thus in dangerous times, Elijah he must stop up, the three children they must be willing to step into the Furnance, and D••nie into the Denne, rather then the Religion and Wo••ship of God shall ••e demolished and beaten down: though ther∣fore he have many Worthies, yet the Lord will have some speciall Worthies, that not onely shall have grace, but also much grace, for his honou••. Thus fo•• his own glory th••ugh others do vertu••usly, yet the Lord will have some to excell in grace. So also for the good of his people, to draw them on when they are backward, to strengthen them when they are weake, and to incourage them when they a••e faint-hearted. Why had Caleb and Joshu•• an excellent spirit given them? why? to strengthen and incou••age others that were weake and f••int-hearted: therefore when the people were discou••aged Ʋp (say they) f••••r not the people of the Land, ••••r th••ir strength is de••arted f••o•• them, u••d th••y shall be but as bread ••or us. This from the working 〈◊〉〈◊〉,

and also from the finall cause, you see reasons why though others do vertuously, yet the Lord will have some to excell in grace.

But why is this their praise and glory? why, the reason of that is taken from the definition of true honour; that is truly honoura∣ble, which the wisest and the best do speak in the praise of; That is not honourable which every man speaks well of, (though I am perswaded in respect of this Saint of God, who ever he or she was that did speak against her, while the tongue was against her, the conscience was for her,) but that is truly honourable which is commended by the wisest, and by the best, by the wisest Prophets, and the wise Apostles; For the wise Prophets when they come to commend persons, whom do they speak well of? why, holy per∣sons, holy soules, the Saints that do expresse the power of grace in their lives: And for a wise Apostle, tell me, where Paul is commen∣ding any but a Saint especially: nay, if an Angell must come from heaven to speak in the praise and commendation of any man here on earth, it shall be onely in praise and commendation of a Saint; this is plain in the 9. of Daniel, there Daniel is humbling of his soule, and breaking of his spirit for his own sinnes, and the sinnes of the people; well, now an Angell is dispatced from Heaven with a message to him, and he brings him this newes, Oh Daniel thou art a man greatly beloved; thus an Angell will rejoyce to bring good ty∣dings from Heaven, for the praise and commendation of a Saint upon Earth. But what do I speak either of Saints or Angels, even God himselfe doth account their death to be precious, hee hath a high opinion of them, he hath high prizing thoughts of them, as you have heard Here you see the reasons of this truth, why though many doe vertuously, yet some of Gods people do excell in grace, and this is their glory and honour. We have a question before we c••me to Application, it is this; Wherein appeares this excellency in grace? I answer in short, It appeares in the matter that is done or suffered, and in the manner of doing it: First, in the matter that is to be done, both in avoiding evill, and in doing good; For the avoiding of evill (and all this you shall see in this godly soul that we have discoursed of) She is a woman of an excellent spirit, that indeavours so to avoid all sinne, her speciall sinne (which David cals his owne iniquity, and the speciall sinnes of the time; here is an ad∣mirable

spirit indeed; and certainly herein did this blessed child of God shine out most chearly, in that she laboured to avoid all finne, and her own sinne, and the sinnes of these dayes and times.

Again, for the doing of good, she that indeavours to perform all duties, and especially her duties, and those duties that the world hates, and scornes, and speakes ill off, certainly such a woman as this, is of an admirable spirit; yet this also was the spirit of this Saint of God, in that she indeavoured to do all duties injoyned: and for those that concerned her in her place, she shined out admi∣rably in them; yea, she was constant and diligent in performing those duties, which a wicked heart most hates, as redeeming of the time, walking precisely, growing in grace, standing for God with zeale of heart, and the like; this argues an excellencie: And as thus in doing the will of God in his command, so also for a patient subjecting unto the will of God in his providence. Though the Saint of God had much experience in matter of prosperity, yet she had had also great experience in matter of adversity, yet notwithstan∣ding was not that an admirable speech of her: I•• is the Lord, let doe what seemes him good? had any d••ne this but the Lord, I should never have borne it, but seeing the Lord hath done it, why should I be impatient under it. Nay, when her Child, her dear and onely Sonne was dead, this was that which stayed her spirit, that the Lord had done it.

And as thus for the matter, so also for the manner too, when this is done sincerely, with constancie and continuance, truly that was a pretty time of tryal which she had for 30. years together, and for the measure thus, with zeal, when this manner and measure is added to that matter, there must needs be an excellencie; together with this effect growth in grace, and this end, the glory of God, when for for the matter it is thus universally, against all sinne, our sinne, and the sinnes of the Time; unto all duties, our duties, and the contem∣ned duties of the Time. And thus in respect of suffering, patiently submitting unto the will of God, and when for the manner, it is thus, sincerely for truth, constantly for continuance, zealously for measure, having this effect, growth in grace, and this end, the glory of God, this must needs be excellent indeed. Thus you see wherein this excelleney appears.