OVr Sauiour Christ was invited by a Pharisee to eate . Hee went . For meate and drinke ? No : Yes : It was his meate and drinke to doe Iohn . 4. 34. his Fathers will , to conuert and comfort Sinners , as he doth in this Story . Where is a Watch-word [ Behold , ] and a Deuout Party , largely describ'd : by her Sexe [ a woman ] by her Place [ in the Citie , ] by her Reputation , [ a Sinner , ] by her Faith , [ when shee knew that Iesus sate at Table in the Pharises house , Shee went to him , ] by her liberall Intent , [ shee brought an Alabaster-Boxe of Oyntment , ] by her Humilitie , [ she stood at his feete , ] by her Modeslie , [ behinde him , ] by her godly Sorrow , [ weeping , ] by her Increase of that sorrow [ she beganne to wash his feete with her teares , ] by the Neglect of her selfe , [ and did wipe them with the hayres of her head ] by her Loue [ and kissed his feete , ] by her Bountie , [ and annoynted them with the Oyntment .

Thus am I imbarqued for a long Voyage , and am to passe the Magellan Straits : but my comfort is , I saile in the DESIRE , where the Word is my Compasse , and the Lord my Pilot.

[ Behold . ] This particle , Behold , is sometime in Scripture Repletiue , but in this place Demonstratiue , importing Attention and Admiration . The People must at one time attend two Preachers ; the Man in the black gowne , that deliuers the Meditations of his heart , and the mighty GOD , whose Chaire and Pulpit is in Heauen . About the Heart ( saith De Re Anat. lib. 7. c. 1. Columbus ) are two Eares , a Right one , and a Left , both thin-skin'd , and anfractuous : whose vse , in Reason , is to preserue the Hollow and Arteriall veynes from bursting ; in Diuinitie , to teach vs to draw vp our Hearts to our Eares , that the word may pearce both at once . The end of all our Senses , is to bring vs to Christ , but of Hearing chiefly , as being the sence of Discipline . The Gospell for the eare , the eare for the Gospell , and both for the Conscience . So that to attend , is to heare , meditate , practise . For as Art without Nature is lame , Nature without Art , Plut. Mor. 1. blinde , and both without Experience fruitlesse : so Hearing without Meditation , is windie , Meditation without Hearing erroneous , and both without practise , vneffectuall .

Beloued , not I , but th' Evangelist , not He , but GOD inioynes you to attend : if I thought you would not , I would call vpon the dead Element to hearken , and crie out with the Prophet Ieremie , O Earth , Earth , Earth , heare Ierem. 22. 19. the word of the Lord .

Further , this , Behold , implyeth Admiration . Things are wondered at , eyther for their greatnes , or rarenes : both these are conspicuous in this Example . Beholde an huge Whale , a liuing Mountayne of sinne , a mightie Sea-monster caught in the silly Draw-net of the Gospell , and the Cords vnbroke , and the Mashes whole , because the Fishers name is WONDERFVLL . Behold a Blacke-Moore Isaiah . 9. 6. washt white , a Leopard made spotles , a merry Larke turn'd to a groning Culuer : Behold a modest boldnes , a ioyfull sadnes , an acting passion , a speaking silence . Behold one weeping . Is' t such a matter to see one weepe ? A great matter to see one weepe for sinne . This of the Watch-word .

The Devout Partie followeth , who is first described by her Sexe [ a woman . ] If you aske What woman ? Austen , Gregory , Beda , tell you Mary Magdalen : others doubt : heere godly Ignorance is safest . The Lord , for iust causes Matth. 15. hath concealed her Name , as he did the Syro-Phaenicians , her Parallel . Suffice it vs , that a woman must reade vs a Lecture of Repentance . Doe wee scorne it ? But Apollos disdain'd not to be Catechiz'd by a woman , and Super Cant. Ser. 75. Ierem. 8. 7. Prouer. 6. 6. women ( saith Bernard ) were at Christs Resurrection , The Apostles of the Apostles . As proud as we are , we are sent to the Crane , and Swallow for Instruction , and ( by your leaues ) to that little , leane , creeping Thing , the Pismire . What beauteous floure , what medicinall hearb , but may be found in the Womans garden ? May we not learne Meeknesse of Sarah , Fortitude of Deborah , Patience of Naomi , Humblenesse of Hanna , Wisedome of Abigail , Zeale of Elizabeth , and all these Graces of the Virgin Mary ? O that our women would tread in these steppes ! No : they will not , they care not , they degenerate , they goe like men ; and some feare they will shortly ride after that ill-fauour'd fashion , vs'd in this Realme , before Richard the seconds Queene The Annals of England . came from Bohemia . Harke , yee Grammarians ; Hic mulier , ere long , will be good Latin . Well , since they will not few by those Samples , I will send them Latimers Handkerchers , Ezech. 16. 23. and worke woes in Chayne-stitch , as the Prophet Ezechiell hath taught me .

The second branch , is this good womans Place of abode . She was a Citizen . Of what Citie ? Some say Nain , some Ierusalem : we cannot point downe on any one . It is like her worst staynes were Citie-sinnes , for , the Country ( vsually ) sinnes more bungerly than Corporations . Mightinesse of state , frequencie of strangers , multitude of people , curiousnesse of Arts , heapes of riches , sumptuousnesse of buildings , store of prouision , strength of munition , make Cities settle vpon their Lees ; and yet not they , but their abuse . O harlot Ierusalem ! O bloudy Niniueh ! Ezech. 16. 33. Nahum 3. 1. they be the words of the Prophet Ezechiel , and Nahum . Diana at Ephesus , Lais at Corinth , Mahumet at Constantinople , Antichrist at Rome , at Venice nothing but Pride , because Venice is nothing but Riches , but at London , Omnia benè . Farre be it from mee to be blowne vp with such a Gunne-pouderzeale , as to forget the honour of that Place : yet this I must tell them , that as the great sickenesse , so the great sinnes , ordinarily , are from them deriued to the Countrey .

The Reputation of this woman comes next to be scanned . She was counted mercenary , a notorious sinner , a whipster . Yet , loe , shee is now become an honest woman . Vpbraid her not then with her former lewdnesse , but giue God thankes for her present goodnesse . The Lord hath forgot , & shall we remember ? The Angells reioyce , and shall wee be fullen ? A gracelesse woman ( saith a Father ) Ambros . that had long in snared a young man , now conuerted , speakes to him familiarly , as he goes by . He regardes her not . She replies , Ego sum ; Its I. He answers , At ego non sum ego , But I am not my selfe : I am not as I was , I was not as I am . There were some of the Corinthians , Idolaters , Adulterers , and ( which I tremble to vtter ) Buggerers : and yet they 1 Cor. 6. 11. were washed , yet they were sanctified , yet In fest. Mar. Magdal . they were iustified . Who would despaire ( saith Bernard ) when such great sinners obtayne not mercy onely , but glory ? Did not Rahab , the Harlot , recouer her selfe ? I dare say more , ( and S. Matthew will beare me out ) Christ himselfe descended from her , and from Thamar too : to succour ignoble birth , saith Chrisostome , to comfort distressed soules , saith Ierome . Here let vs pause , and sigh , In Math. and ioy : sigh at our sinnes , ioy at the wondrous loue of our Sauiour , who for our sakes became a worme , and no man , the very Psal. 22. 6. scorne of men , and contempt of the People .

But let vs now weigh this womans Faith , so highly commended afterward by our Sauiour . Thus shee reasons : Christ Iesus disdaines not to eate with the Pharises , ( to whom , of his goodnesse , hee preferres vs Harlots , ) therefore will I to him , and importune him for mercy . I know these haughtie Sectaries will mocke mee , and all the Towne and Country will ring of mee ; but I am so sicke of Sinne , and feele such Convulsions , that I dye , alas , vnlesse I repayre to him . And in truth , shee had perished , had she not imbrac'd him : for , no other Name was Acts 4. 12. there vnder Heauen , by which shee could possibly be saued . If a King be displeas'd , ( though his Wrath be like the Roaring of a Prou. 19. 12. Lyon ) yet , Force may encounter him , or Friends intreate him , or Musicke still him , or Eloquence perswade him , or Promises winne him , or Riches tempt him , or something preuayle with him : but when fire is kindled in the wrath of The Lord of Hosts , that consumes the Earth , and burnes vnto the bottome of Hell , what Creature dare step forth to looke him in the face , much lesse to parle with him , and least of all , to grapple with him ? Dare Man ? Like enough ; for hee is a proud Worme , and will lift vp his Neb , but the Lord can soone tread him into slime . But ( perhaps ) he will offer him heapes of Coyne , and thinke to buy out his Sinne with Siluer . No : Gold and Siluer are corruptible things , and the Samuel of Heauen will take no Bribes . Now how rare this Faith is ( howsoeuer the World thinkes nothing more common ) the Christian in his Combat , findes by experience . Before hee commit sinne , the Serpent tels him , hee shall not dye at all ; and , come what will come , it is but Beleeuing in Christ : but when he hath yeelded to the temptation , then he shewes him Halters , and Kniues , and Poysons .

And thus ( no doubt ) the Deuill insulted ouer Dauid , when he was in penning the one and fifteeth Psalme . Why , how now Dauid , are you fallen to a Psalme of Mercy ? Are you at last come to whyning and puling for your sinnes ? O , Sir , you should haue lookt better about you : it is now too late to call againe yesterday . Thou arrant Hypocrite , how dar'st thou lift vp those eyes , those adulterous eyes to Heauen ? How dar'st thou spread those hands , those murtherous hands before the Lord ? What ? the King ? the King of Israel ? a Prophet ? and play the Beast ? Is your Zeale and Dancing before the Arke come to this ? And would no lesse sinne serue thy turne than Adulterie ? Could not thine owne wife , nay wiues suffice thee ? Is the breach of holy Matrimony nothing ? No , no , it was nothing , and therefore to make it something , thou lashest into murther , and chainest thy sinnes together . But , if thou wilt needes kill , I hope it shall be some Philistine . Calst thou Vriah a Philistine ? Thou Tyrant , thine owne Conscience tels thee , it was thy Subiect , thy faithfull , honest , and valiant Subiect , whom craftily thou caldst home , and all to hatch thy Cuckowes-egg , by 2 Sam. 11. 13. same token thou mad'st him drunke , and thou neuer the better , and hee much the worse . Ah Sir , who would haue thought that Dauid could play such pranckes ? Thy other sinnes I haue vpon Record , and they be forth-comming , but these will I write in a paper by themselues in Text-letters , and pinne them on the Curtaine at thy Beds-feet , when thou liest a dying . And so farewell for a season .

I proceede to this Womans liberall Intent . She goes not empty-handed , but takes with her a Boxe of Oyntment , with full purpose to bestow it on Christ . The Boxe is Alabaster , so called of A , the priuatiue particle , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as hard to be held for the slippirinesse . A fit Vessell for such piercing aeriall matter . The Oyntment was not grosse and sophisticate , but pure and costly , being ( to speake in the Schoole-mens phrase ) Refrigerativum , Delinitivum , Confortativum , Cooling , Suppling , Refreshing , chiefly with the odour , which was like the sweet sent of Muske , Ciuet , Amber-Greece . This was her Present resolu'd vpon for Christ , not in opinion of Merit ( for that were to proffer him the Nard , and to throw the Alabaster at his head ) but in token of the soundnesse of her Faith , the truth of her conuersion , and the dearnesse of her affection to him , who had already giuen her hansell of his abundant mercies . A notable Patterne and Platforme of Christianitie , declaring that good thoughts must be nourished by continuance , fortified by Prayer , and not iustled out by rouing cogitations . For a diuine motion kild soone after the conception , is like an Embrio , vnkindly perishing in the wombe . But that we may build on a sure foundation , we must looke that our purposes haue substantiall Originals , Directions , Ends , since Aduerbs in Scripture , are more forcible than Nownes , and Benè better than Bonum . This churlish age admits no thought of Spiknard for Christ . What , nothing to carry him ? Nothing . What s the cause ? Want. True , want of Deuotion . For otherwise the poorest man hath two Mites to giue him , his Soule and his Body . But passe wee on to this Christian womans Humilitie .

Shee stood , that is , she remayned at his feet , for so standing is taken in the seuenth of the Acts , the 55. verse , and in other places . The Foote is the lowest part of the body , and is opposed to the Head , the principall member for Order , Perfection , Vertue . This silly wretch is here stooping to the ground ; in abasement of her selfe for her grieuous offences : for Humilitie thinkes nothing more strange , and incredible , than the report or supposall of her owne worthinesse . A vertue so honourable , that Pride ( her enemy ) will striue to resemble her . The Virgin Mary ( saith Bernard ) was adorned with three flowers , the Violet , the Lilly , the Rose , with Humilitie , Chastitie , Charitie . And , in truth , all Graces loose their glosse and brightnes , goe not Humilitie before them , beside them , after them . Downe then , proud heart , that neuer yet feltst the weight of Sinne , the wrath of GOD , the wound of Conscience : downe on thy knees , this day , this night , least thou be in thy winding-sheet , in thy graue , & in the fire of Hell by to morrow . Say vnto the Lord , in the anguish of thy soule , Lord , I am a wretched , & wofull creature , I am nothing but sinne . Sin in the wombe , sinne in the birth , sinne in the cradle , sinne in my youth , sinne in my riper age ; blinde in iudgement , dull in memory , stubborne in hart , wayward in affection , vain in words , peruerse in manners ; an outragious Swearer , a damnable Mockpreacher , a cursed Sabbaoth-breaker , a Theefe , a Barabbas , a Viper , a Carrion , ah Lord , so loathsome , and so full of poyson , that I know not how to expresse my vilenesse .

There followeth the Modesty of this Saint . She stood behinde him . Shee dare not presume to behold his countenance , but ( like the woman with the bloudy Issue ) comes stealing behinde Marke 5. 27. him , with a trembling hart , and blushing hue ( the colour of vertue . ) And here ( as euery where ) behold a wonderfull alteration . She had beene wilde , and audacious , giuing her members seruants to vncleannes : Rom. 6. 19. dallying with her hands , minsing with her feete , smiling with her cheekes , glancing with her eyes , flaring with her haire , kissing with her lips , impudent in all , and all to make others impudent : but now she is ashamed of her selfe , and creepes at the backe of this noble Guest , with eyes so demisse , & gesture so modestly composed , as if Bashfulnes it selfe were confined to her person .

Then , let vs here cast our eyes on this Shamefastnes : a passion , in yong-men commendable , in women admirable , which good men neede not , but by accident , which old men would not haue , which bad men cannot haue . I will shew you ( if you please ) her Picture , drawne by a cunning hand , aboue foure hundred yeeres agoe , and the Table yet sound , and the colours fresh . She is the Sister Bernard . ad Mil. Temp. of Continencie , the Discouerer of Simplicitie , the Lampe of Chastitie , the Defender of Puritie , Consciences Glory , Fames Keeper , Lifes Honor , Vertues Seate , Natures Praise , Honesties Cognisance . Yet as louely as she is , she is little set by in this sensuall age , which spending it selfe in bruitish pleasure , hath a face of Brasse , though Shame , by Nature , be intail'd to Intemperance , as a vice most repugnant to humane excellencie .

Time and Desire now hasten vs forward to this womans godly Sorrow , which she testifies by teares , the dew of Grace , the ioy of Angels . The Compunction of the wicked is eyther Ceremoniall or Desperate : from which this differs , both in the forme , as being a true griefe , allayed by the comforts of the Gospell : and in the effect , as comming to GOD , when the other flyes from him . The Attendants of it are seauen : Care , Apologie , Indignation , 2 Cor. 7. Feare , Vehement Desire , Zeale , Reuenge . The Parts are three , Discussion , Collection , Detestation : by the first wee make priuie-search for our sinnes : by the second , we put them in hold : by the third , we censure them with bitternes and adiudge them to death . The Meanes of it are eight ; The Knowledge of the Law , of the Sanctions of the Law , of the Contempt of both , of the Guilt of sinne , of the Judgement of God against it , of the Price of our Ransome , of the End of our Redemption , and of the Promise of Saluation .

Now all this Knowledge , and ( by sequel ) this Sorrow , is from God , chiefly wrought by sharp ( but discreet ) Application of the word . This is that Iesus whom Yee haue crucified , Acts 2. 36. saith Peter to the Iewes : He sets the Accent in the right place , this yee , was it that prickt them to the hearts . Yet must we take heed we throw not stones at the head of Innocencie , nor vent our gall to the disgrace of Persons . But , Oh , for a Moses in these dayes , to fetch water from the Rocke , and tears from the eies of our hard-harted drunkards , who swarme in euery place , carowsing mans-bloud in Cans , and Flagons . The land , at this day , mourneth because of Oaths . Ier. 23. 10.