The worthy of Ephratah represented in a sermon at the funerals of the Right Honorable Edmund Earl of Mulgrave, Baron Sheffield of Botterwic. In the church of Burton-Stather, Sept. 21. 1658. / By Edward Boteler, sometimes fellow of Magdalen-Colledge in Cambridge, and now rector of Wintringham in the county of Lincoln.

I Have done with the Text; and now there'll need but little to bring it and the Occasion together. The persons, Actions, Fame, all run so true a parallel, every one is by this time ready to pre∣vent me in the application.

First then, for that eminent Person whose Obits we this day solemnise: He was Boaz, of antient and very honorable descent; it would lead us up to the fur∣ther end of our English antiquities, to follow his Name to the rise of it. And no small happiness it is for a people to have such in place; if King Solomon's vast knowledge and full grown experi∣ence had taught him what happiness is: Happy art thou, * 1.1 O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles. Such Progenitors be∣ing often, not always, blessed in suitable productions:

— Nec imbellem feroces Progenerant aquilae columbam.

Then for the Place, you may read it in his Escucheons; if you look at them, you may find there both Ephratah and Beth-lehem. Behold the Garbs, * 1.2 the Sheaves, and they signifie plenty or a∣bundance, that their first Bearer did de∣serve well for his hospitality; there you have Ephratah, Fruitfulness. * 1.3 Look at the Cheveron, and there the Heralds shew us the representation of a House in the roof or rafters of it; there's Beth-lehem, a house of bread, a plentiful house; and such was his, I need not go out of the Congregation for witnesses of it. So that he which looks on his Escucheons, may see another interpretation of Josephs dream: * 1.4 Lo his sheaf arose and stood upright, and behold the sheaves that stood round about it did obeisance to his sheaf.

And if you say, these are to be reckon∣ed among the — Quae non fecimus ipsi, those Honors which came to him, rather then he to them: Let us go on to the parts of the Text, and come to the A∣gendum, the something to be done; and there you shall find him nobly active and doing his part. He was much for action; his hand ever kept pace with, and for the most part outwent his tongue.

He was not practised in false Court∣ship, and perfectly hated that foolish ostentation which our Saviour chargeth upon the Pharisees, * 1.5 They say and do not. He would do as much, as others think enough to say; And it was his grave and sober manner, rather to do a favor then profess it. He shewed his faith by his works; * 1.6 and loved not in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth: Reckon∣ing of that only as happiness, to know the things of God and to do them.

Next for the rule of doing, it was that of the Text; He did worthily; take the word in what signification you please.

First he did decently, things like him∣self. We may say of his actions, as Zeba and Zalmunna of the brethren of Gideon; * 1.7 As he was, so were they, each one resembled the children of a Prince. You might see what he was, by what he did; every action spake it self the child of honor: He hated any thing that looked like un∣worthiness; And though he was very humble, yet he knew how to be a man and no worm, as well as when to be a worm and no man: He knew when to lay his Honor in the dust, and when to

no dust lie upon his Honor: He could tell when it was not seasonable nor hand∣som for his Honor to stoop; of which some instance might be given, but the time will not bear it.

Next, He did deservingly, meriting much and many ways: And though we cannot say of him as of the Centurion, He loved our Nation and hath built us a Synagogue; * 1.8 yet he loved this part of our Nation, and to witness it, declared, not long before his death, his intentions to repair and keep against the assaults of time, our Synagogue, I mean that ele∣gant structure of the Cathedral at Lin∣coln, (as sometime his Grandfather, when Lord President of the North, interceded for the Conventual Church of Rippon.) And this I may say was done, because purposed by him: For so God tells David upon his design for building the Temple; * 1.9 Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. This is a choise piece of desert, I wish it may have some followers, that such a pur∣pose may not die and go to the dust with him.

Then, He did exemplarily: His whole

life was a Copy of Vertue fairly written over with few, very few blots. He was one of those whom Tully calls loquentes leges, speaking Laws, unprinted Statutes, in whom men might read their duties, as well as hear them from him. He knew what great evils evil great ones are; that they have many followers, go they whi∣ther they will, and seldom go to hell alone: — Tutum est peccare authoribus illis. And therefore he was a practical Com∣ment upon that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of the Apostle, * 1.10 See that you walk circum∣spectly, or exactly. Examples should be exact, and so was he. But more of this by and by.

He did excellently too: His actions were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 right by the rule, his dealings eaven and square: Great was his integrity, appearing in all parts both of commutative and distributive justice. Those who dealt with him, know his commutative; and those who had been ill dealt with but for him, may be thank∣ful witnesses of his distributive justice. I could benight my Auditory with a discourse of this subject; but, I must contract. He was a Worthy, I will not assign him his place, let impartial po∣sterity

decide it, whether among thirty, or among three.

And now for that Exemplarity, in which I shall engage all my following discourse; not as if I were such a slave to the curse of the Council of Trent, that I dare not but prefer the Vulgar Latine (though but a translation) before the Ori∣ginal, but making now for my purpose, I shall readily follow it, and speak of some of those many vertues wherein the decea∣sed Lord was very exemplary. Of some, I say; for I do not, I dare not undertake to give you in a perfect List of his nu∣merous excellencies: As well might the Spies who went to search the land, * 1.11 en∣gage to bring all the land upon their shoulders, and lay it down before them that sent them: It will be enough; and as much as the declining day will allow, * 1.12 to let you see some Pomegranates, some Bunches of grapes, and some of the Figs; they'll give you a taste, and make you some discoveries; by their fruits you shall know them: * 1.13 Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? You may ghess at the gardens of the Hesperides, when you see some of the golden apples which there grew.

And here I might speak of him in his several capacities, Lord, Landlord, Hus∣band, Father, Friend: In which he has not miscarriages to bewail like him that cried out, Omnia fui, nihil profui; I was every thing, and did nothing! For he made every station an advantage to do good by; All his Relations were as so many cuts and channels for his goodness to run and flow in. But this would lay more load upon them that groan under the burden of their loss, and give them more gashes whose wounds are deep e∣nough already; it may suffice to have named it.

We shall go on; beginning first as he began every day, with his Devotions. God was next his heart, he gave him his morning-thoughts, yea and his evening too: * 1.14 Evening, morning, and at noon did he pray; four times a day, twice in his family, and twice in his closet, was his course, to which he was faithfully constant, say they that were near him. God was first and last in his mind and meditations:

Te veniente die, te decedente canebam.

He entred, and ended every day with him: His honor neither made him so high, but he could bow down, nor so stiff but he would worship and kneel before the Lord his Maker. * 1.15 Nothing on Earth could make him neglect sending to Heaven; a sign and evidence that he had great concerns, where he held such daily intelligence: No question but he had a Bank of Glory going on, which made him send and seek so often, so earnestly after it; his treasure was in Heaven, and his heart was there also.

Another excellencie which will come in as a good second to this, was his Constancie to the truths of Religion; the more commendable, because in such bogling and starting times: So that it may be said of him as of Trajan, He was Melior pejori aevo, Good, and the better for being so in a worse age. He was fixed in flitting times; in lubrica aetate, that's S. Hierom's word. And he stood his ground in a time of universal apostacie and revolts: He was no miscellaneous Samaritan, no temporising Any thing, Every thing, No thing: He was not No∣bilis & Mobilis, like the Courtiers of

the Heathen Tyrants at the first entry of Christianity into this Nation, who measured out their Profession by the Sword, liking the longest always best, and being Christian or Pagan, according to the humor of the Conqueror. Naaman is for the God of Israel, but he must have a toleration for the house of Rimmon. Great ones commonly move as (they say) the Planets do, they will have their Epicycles. 'Tis Constancie commends the deceased Lord: It's choise fruit that keeps sound at the core in a rotten age. And I might tell you, as he was stayed in himself, so he was a stay to others: I dare not say as of Athanasius, that the Church leaned on him in her persecution; but I may say, that he was a refuge from the storm; * 1.16 Bless God for this Lord, O house of Aaron! let the house of Levi say that he was good! And I'll say no more of this.

I know not where to be next, I have such choice. His Wisdom; let us look at that a while. To this he had a good title, whether we look at it as Science, or Pru∣dence. It was great in him, but not loud: Deep streams slide away in silence, whereas shallow rills babble in their

passage, and cannot roll down their chan∣nels without a noise. He was very re∣served, and no wonder if so much trea∣sure was under a lock, of which he kept the key himself; and when he did open it, it was to good purpose, so that when the ear heard him, it blessed him. * 1.17 By this wisdom of his I do not mean a crafty cunning, which prostrates and lays down honor, and honesty, and conscience, and religion and all to tread on, and climbs up to greatness by any steps; But that gracious gift which is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from above, * 1.18 and is pure and peaceable, and gentle, and easie to be intreated, full of mercy and good works, without partiality, without hypocrisie. For which he hath a place among those the Son of Sirach speaks of, The people will tell of their wisdom, * 1.19 and the congregation will shew forth their praise.

As a branch of this Prudence, I may speak of his Providence, not for this life only (which was discreet and commend∣able) but chiefly for that which is to come; knowing he could not be happy on this side glory: * 1.20 Therefore did he wait for his change, and the time of his departure, which he looked on as at hand,

and foresaw at some distance, and laid in for it. Parum viae, multum viatici: When he had but a little way to go, he made great provision for it. And though he did build, * 1.21 it was not with those in∣ward thoughts that his house should con∣tinue for ever, and his dwelling-place to all generations. He was well acquainted with that observation, That great Build∣ers are seldom long Possessors: And there∣fore carried on a Building for Heaven and Earth both together; and did so little rely on this foundation in the dust, as that he was still careful to lay up in store for himself a good foundation against the time to come, * 1.22 that he might lay hold on eternal life.

Another grace, and another evidence of his wisdom, was his Meekness: So runs the Apostles rule; * 1.23 Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversa∣tion his works with meekness of wisdom. He shewed it, shewed it notably, shewed it always. That which would have raised a storm in some breasts, would not stir in his; * 1.24 Inferiora fulminant. He was calm and clear like the upper region of the air, whilst all tempests and blustrings are

below. I am perswaded he had out∣learn'd most that lived since our Saviour gave out that lesson, Learn of me, * 1.25 for I am meek and lowly in heart; And now takes part in the annexed promise, You shall find rest unto your souls.

We must not overlook that low, but high-prized grace of Humility: He was eminent in it; this was his schola & scala coeli, a school to teach, a scale to reach heaven. He was an high Star, and ap∣peared little; yet it was not in the eyes of others, but in his own, which made him great in God's: * 1.26 I dwell with him that is of an humble spirit. This lying low made him a rich soil for graces to grow in, fruitful in every good work. * 1.27 The vallies stand so thick with corn, * 1.28 they laugh and sing: So have you seen a fruitful Tree with its laden boughs stooping to the earth, when some proud aspiring Plants have run up all into branches, and exalted their fruit∣less tops.

Nor may we pass his remarkable Temperance and Sobriety, which he both loved in himself, and looked after in his family. Nor did this proceed from any weakness of body, but goodness of

mind; It was not the choice of an infirm constitution, but of a vertuous inclination. And the more commend∣able it is, because in these days, where∣in luxury and riot have so far obtained, that Entertainments are never thought well enough, except they be wet enough; and Drunkenness is deem'd the most fashionable and familiar treatment. And the greater the vertue still, because in a Great person; Drink being become a Flood, which like the great Deluge too often tops the Mountains: * 1.29 So easie it is even for Noah to plant a Vineyard and be drunk; and rich Nabal, that wretched Churl, who could not afford David a little water, to overcharge himself with wine. A rare thing it is, to swim in Plenty, and not swallow down too much of it.

His Charity would speak for it self, should I hold my tongue: Not that the Hypocrites trumpet gave notice of it, * 1.30 (For I have reason to think, much of it ran invisible, like the * 1.31 Rivers our Antiquary tells us of, which spend their streams in part under ground;) but because he left such tokens of it in all places where he came, pouring it out

rather then giving it; He was God's Almoner with his own estate. He had 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, * 1.32 that word which hath, and yet will have no singular num∣ber, bowels of mercies. * 1.33 He would draw out his own soul to the hungry, and satisfie the afflicted soul. Let me borrow an ex∣pression or two from Job, they'll fit us as well as if they had been made on purpose. * 1.34 He would not eat his morsels alone, the stranger and fatherless must eat thereof: * 1.35 He would not see any perish for want of clothing, or the poor without co∣vering: * 1.36 Many loins blessed him and were warmed with the fleece of his sheep: He was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, * 1.37 and a father to the poor: The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him, * 1.38 and he caused the widows heart to sing for joy. I'll say no more of this, many mouths are full of it, this place is a standing Monument of his Cha∣rity: He hath dispersed, * 1.39 he hath given to the poor, his righteousness endureth for ever, his horn shall be exalted with honor.

I fear to have spent your Patience, before I speak of his: But a word of it therefore. This grace was in him (like

the rest, which makes them thus con∣catenated) in gradu heroico, in an high and invincible measure, not to be broken, nor baffled by any assaults. As he was not Tumidus agendo, so neither was he Timidus patiendo; He did nothing proudly, * 1.40 he suffered no∣thing poorly. Many a great fight of affliction (as the Apostle phraseth it) did he endure, endure without shrink∣ing, or recoiling; one whereof had been charge enough for ordinary pieces of Mortality. Indeed, his whole life was a continued act of Patience, under a succession of several Sicknesses and Infirmities; having (as it is said of overworne Students) Bonam Consci∣entiam, & malam Valetudinem, a clear Conscience, and a crazie Carkass. He had need of patience, * 1.41 and he had patience for his need; so much, that you have seldom heard of the like; it being observed (as I am credibly informed) he was rarely, or never heard to groan under whole loads of pressures that lay upon him. God had laid in much of this grace, where he intended it should be much laid out; He had given him a stock of it suit∣able

to those great expences he pur∣posed to put him to, and his stock held out like the Israelites clothes, * 1.42 it wore not out, it waxed not old on this side Canaan. No more of his patience, lest I trouble yours.

Perseverance shall close all: That's the last, but not the least grace; more then a grace, a complication of many, the complement and perfection of all grace. It is this that lays hands on the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: Other graces run in the ce∣lestial course, but this seiseth the prise, and sets the crown on the Conqueror's head. Perseverance is grace scrued up to the highest pin; grace at stretch, and holding out to the last. Such was his, enduring to the end, * 1.43 free from all suspi∣tion of despondencie, notwithstanding those many batteries and breaches made upon his walls of earth. All this was but Tundere vasculum Anaxarchi, non Anaxarchum: This knocked but at the case, the casket, the carkass; the jewel was safe, his soul prospered and did well: He possessed his soul in patience, * 1.44 till his soul was dispossessed of his body, and taken up into the prepared mansions, * 1.45 there to rest within the embraces of the

Everlasting arms: * 1.46 He was faithful to the death, and hath now changed his Coronet for a Crown of life.

It remains then that we contribute our dues to his fame. Let us decently commit to the Earth, what Heaven hath left of him: * 1.47 Let his Body rest in peace, and let his Name live for evermore! Let his Vertues survive in his Son, his Memory in the hearts and mouths of his Country! And when we can neither keep it nor our selves up any longer, let us make it over to succession, and leave it for the children which shall be born, that the Generations to come may know how good, how great he was! He hath done worthily in Ephratah, let him be for ever famous in Beth-lehem!

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eccl. 10.17.
• * 1.2

  Guil. Dis. of Heral. p. 151.
• * 1.3

  Idem p. 77.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 37.7.
• * 1.5

  Mat. 23.3.
• * 1.6

  Jam. 2.18. 1 Joh. 3.18. Joh. 13.17.
• * 1.7

  Judg. 8.18.
• * 1.8

  Lu. 7 5.
• * 1.9

  1 King. 8.18.
• * 1.10

  Eph. 5.15.
• * 1.11

  Num. 13.
• * 1.12

  v. 23.
• * 1.13

  Mat. 7.16.
• * 1.14

  Ps. 55.17.
• * 1.15

  Ps. 95.6.
• * 1.16

  Isa. 25.4.
• * 1.17

  Job 29.11.
• * 1.18

  Ja. 3.17.
• * 1.19

  Ecclus. 44.15.
• * 1.20

  Job 14.14. 2 Tim. 4.6.
• * 1.21

  Ps. 49.11.
• * 1.22

  1 Tim. 6.19.
• * 1.23

  Ja. 3.13.
• * 1.24

  Seneca.
• * 1.25

  Mat. 11.29.
• * 1.26

  Isa. 57.15.
• * 1.27

  Col. 1.10.
• * 1.28

  Psal. 65.14.
• * 1.29

  Gen. 9.21. 1 Sa. 25.11, & 36.
• * 1.30

  Mat. 6.2.
• * 1.31

  Mola & Anas. Cam. Br. p. 296.
• * 1.32

  Col. 3.12.
• * 1.33

  Isa. 58. 10
• * 1.34

  Job 31.17.
• * 1.35

  v. 19.
• * 1.36

  v. 20.
• * 1.37

  ch. 29.15.
• * 1.38

  v. 13.
• * 1.39

  Ps. 112.9.
• * 1.40

  Heb. 10.32.
• * 1.41

  v. 36.
• * 1.42

  Deut. 29.5.
• * 1.43

  Mat. 24.13.
• * 1.44

  Luk. 21.19.
• * 1.45

  Joh. 14.2.
• * 1.46

  Deut. 33.27. Rev. 2.10.
• * 1.47

  Eccle. 44.14.