""1'/:'" 'I!:~:" l,'. ;~I Chapter 1 Europe in an Age of Conflict and Expansion She was anointed with wisdom, as Abigail,' who is said to be of excellent understanding .... Such was her understanding as that she could readily recite fit texts of Scripture for any purpose and find them out; and for harder places, by singular labor she attained good skill herein .... She was anointed with true love, causing in her plenty of good works; as in Dorcas," her Jove was exceeding great both towards God and to- wards her neighbor. Of God, her love was so great that she burnt with the fire of earnest zeal for his glory, stoutly (even beyond the strength of her sex)opposing sin and maintaining virtue in those that were about her .... For the love of God, she kept a continual watch over her ways, lest she should offend against his holy will; no child is more afraid of offending the father or master than she of offending God. Because that, notwith- standing all watches, sin cannot altogether be kept out, she was not a little troubled for her frailties and falls, being always glad when the Lord took the matter into his own hands by chas- tising her with sickness; for then, and in health time also, she did much complain of her sins and forgetfulness for which it was necessary to be corrected .... Of her neighbor she had also a true love, not in word but in deed. She had love of almsdeeds which she plentifully performed to the poor .... From her youth up, the poor were nourished up with her; their lives blessed her, for that they were kept warm with her fleeces. Whilst she lived, the hungry could not go unfed, the naked unclothed, the sick unvisited .... She showed love by admonishing the disorderly, instructing the ignorant, and exhorting the backward in re- ligion, by all means provoking to love and good works. 'One of the wives of King David (?1010-970 B.C.E.), the second king of Israel and the reputed author of many of the Psalms. 'Dorcas, also known as Tabitha, was an early Christian con- vert mentioned in the New Testament Book of Acts. She was noted for her good works and charity. "'.~ if>:!,' _ 29 She was anointed with humility, as Mary the blessed mother of Christ who, being so highly graced by God, yet acknowledgeth herself his humble handmaiden .... She despised the or- naments of vanity, which other women so much delight in; her outward habit did show the in- ward lowliness and modesty of her mind. She strove against the sharpness of her narural dis- position, and by striving did attain a great mea- sure of meekness and gentleness .... She was anointed with due subjection to her own husband, as Sarah," who reverenced her hus- band, whose example is most earnestly com- mended by St. Peter" to all wives .... promising that thus they become the daughters of Sarah, not being terrified with any fear. Wherefore, having this virtue also added, she was doubtless without fear steadfast in the faith of her salvation. Unruly wives ... have such a mist or dark cloud of black sins before their eyes as that they cannot see this salvation. They may have hope indeed, but their hope is presumption, the end of which is damnation. Now as this elect servant of God was beauti- fied with these graces in her health, so they re- mained in her without being dimmed in her last sickness. For heavenly zeal, she gave a sure instance hereof in the beginning of this sickness by com- manding her servants not to trouble her with any worldly affairs, for now she would wholly be settled to heaven. And indeed she lay in her sick- bed as in heaven, full of heavenly speeches and of heavenly comfort. Now all her practice was praying, confessing of sins, singing Psalms, and godly conference. For wisdom, when strength of body failed her, this was s~rong yet in her even unto the end; lThe wife of the biblical patriarch Abraham; she represents loyalty, hope, and God's promise to His people. 4Peter was the most prominent of Jesus' disciples. The two Epistles oJ1'erer in the New Testament are ascribed to him, although the attribution is quesrioned. The reference to wives can be found in I Peter 3:16.