Mary Magdalen's tears wip't off. Or The voice of peace to an unquiet conscience.: Written by way of letter to a person of quality. And published for the comfort of all those, who mourn in Zion.

SOLUTION.

35. IT may be Gods not giving you Chil∣dren is principally intended by you in this objection: the Key of the wombe be∣ing

(as the Hebrewes were wont to say) in the Hands of God, there being indeed a more immediate coucurrence of the Divine Majestie required to the fruit thereof then to the production of other things in the or∣dinary course of Providence. I have known this prevaile very farr with some of your sex, heightning their perplexityes from that of St. Paul to Timothy, 1. Ep. 2.15. from whence they conclude, that if a Woman continue barren in a state of Marriage, there is no hopes of her salvation; that depending so necessa∣rily upon the former condition of Child-bear∣ing, to this we answer by these degrees.

1. It is no mark of Gods irreversible anger against us that many Crosse accidents befall us in this life; seeing they are generally ac∣knowledged, to be not only matter of ad∣vantage to our Souls, bettering us by such chastments? but they ought to be apprehend∣ed as Signatures, or Marks of our adoption; St. Paul having illegitimated all such as are not own'd by God for sons by these fatherly Corrections of them Heb. 12.8. very farr are they too from being distinctive prognosticks, of those everlasting distributions, at the day of judgment, in the opinion of King Solomon; who tells you that, no man knoweth either Love or Hatred by all that is before them. Ec∣cle. 9.1.

2. Where God hath given Children, and by some evill accidents taken them away,

there may more justly be supposed a mani∣festation of Gods heavy displeasure, then where he gives no Children at all: yet that hath been the case of many (holy Men and Women, as appears in the example of Job. and David, whose Histories are furnisht with most remarkable passages to this purpose, their lives being chequered (as one may say) with various contingencies of good and evill.

3. Be it granted that barrenness, amongst the Jewes was reputed a curse, and that God threatneth it as a judgment upon them to have miscarrying wombs, and dry breasts. yet ought it not to have that Character with us Christians, who are not engaged to obedi∣ence by promises of temporall, but of Spiri∣tuall and eternall blessings: things of that con∣cernment even in those dayes, (clouded with shadowing and carnall ordinances,) that God himself proposes them to the obedient Eunuches, as a full (indeed superabundant) satisfaction for their Sterility, Is. 56.5. the truth is, there ought not to be (neither is there without our own fault) any barrenness in Christians of either sex, the forming of Christ in their Souls (intimated by the A∣postle, Gal. 4.19.) being a misticall birth in all the Sons and Daughters of God; and not without some reflection on this, did the Church appoint the Magnificat, of that bles∣ed Virgin, to be publikely sung in her Li∣turgie; it being hoped that every member

thereof, would consider, that they were bound to bring forth this fruit unto God.

4. Lastly, for that of the Apostle to Timo∣thy, the sense is so obvious, and that false in∣terpretation so remote from the wisdome, goodness, and truth of God; that it is strange the Fancies even of women (who 'tis confest are very forcible) should be able by any chimistry of imagination, to extract such a disproportionall meaning from that text. For St. Paul. having fixt that sex, in their due place of subordination in the Church; that he might give them some rea∣sons to be content with that portion, men∣tions the order of their Creation, the wo∣man being not only formed after Adam, as that signifies order of time, but of Nature also, (the Man being as one may speak the first running of the metall) and her being first in the transgrssion, (a token of weak∣nesse and frailty) as the Grounds upon which he builds a conclusion, or canon for the order; not so likely to stand fast, upon the bare authority even of the Apostle himself without being cemented and crankt with very good and undeniable reasons. but yet, not to leave them under the dishonour of being first in that fatall Crime, (Ringleaders in Rebellion seldome tasting, of that mercy which is shewed to their followers) and like∣wise to keep them from being chrust out of that place, by the anger and insolence of

the other sex, the Apostle tells them that by the fruit of their Womb they made amends for the miseries and mischiefs of their fault; the Remedy comming by them (namely the incarnation of Christ) as well as the disease, of the efficacy whereof they were likewise to have their part if they should continue to per∣for me the conditions of that mercifull Co∣venant; the Apostle very seasonably mind∣ing them, of constancy in their professions, and Practise: of which the first of that sex, shewed no good example, in her hearkning to the suggestions of the Serpent in Paradise.

More (perhaps) might be sayd to this purpose, but the apprehensions I have of your abilities and art of discerning, beyond the common capacity of your sex, having already check't me, for falling into this so∣lemne, and foreseen Digression.

Thus, Madam, have I given you my thoughts, in these generall, and conjecturall applications hopeing that they may possibly light on the whole, or some part of the cause of your trouble. I have offered them to you, not so much in acknowledgment of those favours, I have heretofore received from your self, and your dear Husband (since with God) (though my obligation, there∣by could not be discharged, by a farr great∣er attempt to recompence them) as for the tender respect I have to your afflicted state. That this should do a perfect cure (though I

know God doth (manie times) great things by small meanes,) I have no grounded hopes to believe: not only because of the defects, and impotence of my endeavours, but for that difeases of this kinde, are influenced up∣on by the distempers, or complexion of the Patient, and have a secret and maligne aspect upon them from many circumstances, not guessable (I presume) by persons more A∣cute, then I can deserve to be thought.

I know Divines should not undertake to cure, like Empericks, by Guesses, and at ran∣dome; and therefore, madam I have not ob∣scurely intimated, my desire unto you in this Paper to make a very seasonable and home address to some one of a Thousand, Job. 33.23. A skilfull Phisician of Souls; that you may not be thought, to subordinate the care of your better, and eternall part, to that Cabinet of beautifull earth, wherein God hath lock't up that rich Jewell for some few years: I am confident Madam, it is not on∣ly the best, but the only Counsell you can follow, with assurance (by Gods blessing) of cureing these wonnds in your Spirit: no if I have but cleansed and Wip't, or done the least other good office, of helping forward their cure; as I ought (and you) to give all the Prayse thereof to God, so shall it be e∣steemed a plentifull Reward, for this little Labour of Madam,