LADY MARGARET HOUGHTON.

To a sermon preached at Preston, in Lancashire, January the 4th, 1657, at the funeral of this lady, by that eminent minister of Christ, Mr. Isaac Ambrose, we are indebted for the following account of her. After the author of the discourse had finished his subject, Eph. v. 16. on redeeming the time, he thus speaks of this excellent person.

The deceased redeemed her time in life and death. I. In life. Ordinarily every morning and every evening, she was exercised in the duties of meditation and prayer. This was her course, and daily in her walks or private chamber, she spent both her early and later hours in communion with God. I speak not this by report only, for, of her goodness, she was pleased to invite me every spring to her house, and by this means I became acquainted with her constant practice. Indeed, I was the more willing to embrace her invitation, because her house seemed to me like a college for religion, or a retirement from the noises and more frequent temptations of the world; and this gave her and me, and all who pleased, an happy opportunity of continuing our devotions without interruption. She had some books for contemplation, others for an holy conversation, others for devotion, and of all these sorts she made some use. But of all books for constant use and practice, she preferred the Bible, often telling me, "That other books had their use and delight till, by

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frequent reading, they became more ordinary, and "that then they seemed to lose something of their "former lustre and excellency; but that the Bible "was in her frequent reading ever fresh and new." She found in it such perpetual streams of holy, heavenly, and spiritual delights, that, as Tertullian

said, "she could not but admire and adore the ful"ness of the Scripture."

She commonly spent the rest of the day in the works of the needle with her maids about her. Or, if other things of housewifery interposed, she was never so elevated with honour as to be above her duty in the way of a particular calling; as she well knew that idleness is the rust and canker of the soul, and Satan's very tide-time of temptation. She would sometimes visit poor cottages, and relieve the necessities she found there. In a word, she was ever careful in the affairs of her own house, and courteous to all the neighbourhood. Take her all together, and, for aught I know, she might be a pattern to most of the ladies in the nation, or at least shine as a bright morning star among other stars.

II. As she redeemed her time in life, so, she redeemed it in, or near death. She was now taken off her particular calling, and therefore this time she spent, as far as her sickness would allow her, in the exercise of spiritual duties and spiritual graces. As to her graces, she shone, and was most eminent in these that follow. 1. In meekness. She was of a mild and quiet spirit. Seldom have I seen her inordinate in passions; but often have I observed her, amidst provocations, peaceable, meek, gentle, and easy to be entreated. In her sickness she behaved herself as a lamb. Not a word of passion or peevishness dropped from her lips, so far as I observed. The very image of Christ was in this respect drawn fair within her. "Learn of me," says he, " for I am "meek." (Matt. xi. 29.) A meek Christ, and she a meek creature. 2. She was eminent for humility. She was of high descent, and sprung of royal blood, but yet, was humble and lowly in spirit. She never despised the poorest creature, but often stooped, as I viewed them, to wonderful condescensions. In her sickness as well as in death, she laid her honour in

the dust. She was far from their opinion who think humility a diminution, and meekness a disparagement to their reputation. She had otherwise learned Christ. Humility was her ornament; and with this grace, in the Apostle's language, (1 Pet. v. 5.) she clothed herself both in health and sickness. 3. She was remarkable for her patience, submission, and contentment to be at the Divine disposal. She had a sore sickness; and because of her former health, it was to her the sorer. For many years before, she had not lain sick in bed one day; but many a turn had she taken in her walks and her gallery ; and through much exercise in this way, she had the advantage of enjoying a good state of health. But now the Lord laid her on a bed of sickness, not for a few days only, but for a long time together. She was now God's prisoner; and such was the nature of her sickness, that she could not stir nor move one foot, and yet, she was patient and submissive under the hand of God. She learned the Church's lesson, (Micah, vii. 9.) "I will bear the indignation of the "Lord, because I have sinned against him." She never in the least murmured nor repined, but was conformed to that frame of Eli and David, "Lord, "here am I, do with me as it seems good in thy "sight." 4. She was eminent for her faith. She was during her sickness no stranger to the exercise of faith. She often acknowledged her own vileness and wretchedness, that she was of little faith, and had no ability to help herself. Indeed, her weakness in faith, in grace, and in all performances, was her constant complaint; and this made me remind her of that promise, (Matt. xii. 20.)" that Christ "would not break the bruised reed, nor quench the "smoking flax, till he had brought forth judgment "unto victory." Other persons I have seen most confident, in their sickness, of their salvation, whom though I dare not censure, because unacquainted with

their grounds, yet, I ingenuously acknowledge that I dearly love an humble, trembling, self-condemning frame. Sure I am that they who are vilest in their own eyes, are the souls in whom God most delights. Give me a man among you that will, as it were, kiss the dust of Jesus' feet, and I dare pronounce concerning such an one, that Christ wil take him into his arms, and lay him in his bosom. This was the spirit of this good lady. She was full of confession of her spiritual poverty, and yet, she cast herself into the arms of Jesus Christ, yea, she lay at his feet, crying, "Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief." And again, "I rest upon Christ, and upon Christ "alone, for heaven and salvation." And again, "Though the Lord slay me, yet will I trust in him.' And again," He hath delivered, and he doth deliver, " and I trust in him that he will deliver me still." And again, "Hold out faith, and anon thou wilt come "to vision." This expression," Hold out faith," was one of the last she uttered on that last day of her life. 5. She was eminent for her love to the ministers of Christ. Her heart was wholly set on Christ; and as a true sign of it, she loved the image of Christ, especially in his ministers. Among others, she was pleased to shew her regard to me, the unworthiest of all my Master's messengers. She preferred me to this place. The Lord made her the first wheel of his providence in bringing me hither; and it was some trouble to her spirit that I left this pastoral charge before she left the world *. Indeed, she honoured all the ministers of Christ, yea, the very function itself, for his sake. 6. She was full of love and charity towards all.. Many discords have happened in these sad times, and she hath suffered much in many respects. In her approaches near the confines of eternity, I de

Mr. Ambrose was some time minister of Preston, at which place he preached this lady's funeral sermon, and afterwards was minister at Garstang, in the county of Lancaster, where the Act of Uniformity found him, 1662.

sired her to forgive others, as she desired God to forgive her; at which she very affectionately declared, "that she freely forgave all the world, and that she "desired all whom she had offended to forgive her." Her children kneeling about her, she gave them her blessing, as Jacob to Joseph and his children. This blessing was pronounced with that cheerfulness, affection, and fervency of spirit, that it melted the hearts, and drew a flood of tears from the eyes of those who were about her bed, so that she was forced to rouse up herself, and to bespeak them, as Christ did those weeping women," Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves. Why should you weep for "me who am going to my Christ, and to those joys prepared by him?" And then she gave a charge respecting the duty to be performed by brethren. It concerned him most who was the eldest son, and, so far as justice or religion calls, I presume it will not be forgotten by him. Once more. 7. This pious lady was desirous to die, and to be with Jesus Christ, which was best of all. Sometimes she cried, "O! when will that blessed hour come?" And again, "O! that I were dissolved, that I might be "with Christ!" Being told of her duty, that she must wait, for that waiting was a fit posture for servants, (Psalm cxxiii. 2.) Behold as the eyes of ser"vants look to the hand of their masters, and as the

eyes of a maiden to the hand of her mistress, so "6 our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, till he have "mercy upon us," "Why then," said she, "I will "wait: Lord, I will wait till my change shall come." Only she bore in mind that promise, Heb. x. 37, "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will "come, and will not tarry." One thing occasioned her trouble. She was afraid that her body would not yield without much struggling to the stroke of death. This she mentioned to me and others once and again. Her reasons were best known to herself, but her apprehensions were verified; for indeed, when death