A CRYSTALL GLASSE, for Christian Women. Wherein they may see most wonderfull and rare examples of a right vertuous Life and Christian Death, as in the discourse following may appeare.

CAlling to remembrance most Christian Reader
the finall end of mans Creation, which
is to glorifie God, and to edifie one another
in the way of Godlinesse, I thought it my
duty, as well in respect of the one, as in regard
of the other, to publish this rare and wonderfull
example, of the vertuous Life, and Christian
Death of Mistris Katherine Stubs: who whilest she
lived was a mirror of woman-hood: and now being dead, is a
perfect pattern of true Christianity. She was descended of
honest and wealthy Parents: her Father had borne divers
Offices of worship in his Company, amongst whom he lived
in great account, credit, and estimation all his dayes, he was
zealous in the truth, and of a sound Religion. Her mother was
a Dutch woman, both discreet and wise, of a singular good
grace and modesty: and which did most adorne her, she was
both religious and also zealous.
This couple living together in the city of London, many
years, it pleased God to bless them with children, of whom
this Katherine was youngest but one, but as she was the youngest
save one by course of nature, so was she not inferior to any
of the rest, but rather excelled them all without comparison by
many degrees, in the endowments and qualities of the mind.
At fifteen yeares of age, her Father being dead, her Mother
bestowed her in Marriage to one Master Phillip Stubs,

A2

with whom she lived foure years and almost a halfe, very honestly
and godly, with rare commendation of all that knew
her, as well for her singular wisdome, as also for her modesty,
courtesie, gentlenesse, affability, and good government, and
above all, for her fervent zeale which she did beare to the truth,
wherein she seemed to surpasse many: insomuch, that if she
chanced at any time to be in place where either Papists or
Atheists were, and heard them talk of Religion, what countenance
or credit soever they seemed to be of, she would not yield
a iot, or give place to them at al, but would most mightily justifie
the truth of God against blasphemous untruths, and
convince them, yea, and confound them by the testimonies of
the word of God. Which thing, how could it be otherwise?
For her whole heart was bent to seek the Lord, her whole
delight was to be conversant in the Scriptures, and to meditate
upon them day and night. Insomuch as you could seldome
or never have come into her house, and have found her without
a Bible, or some other good book in her hand. And when she
was not reading, she would spend her time in conferring, talking
and reasoning with her Husband of the word of God,
and of Religion: asking him what is the sense of this place,
and what is the sense of that? How expound you this place, and
how expound you that? What observe you of this place, and
what observe you of that? So as she seemed to be ravished
with the same spirit that David was, when he said, The zeale
of thy house hath eaten me up.
She followed the Commandement of our Saviour Christ,
who biddeth us search the Scriptures, for in them you hope
to have eternall life: She obeyed the Commandement of the
Apostle who biddeth women to be silent, and to learn of their
Husbands at home. She would never suffer any disorder or
abuse in her house to be unreproved or unreformed. And so
gentle was she, and courteous of nature, that she was never
heard to give to any the Lye in all her life, not so much as
thou to any in anger. She was never known to fall out
with any of her neighbours, nor with the least child that lived:
much less to scould or brawl, as many will now adaies for
every trifle, or rather for no cause at all. And so solitarily was
she given, that she would very seldome or never, and not then
neither, except her husband were in company, go abroad with
any, either to Banquet or Feast, Gossip or make merry as
they tearm it: Insomuch, that she was noted by some though
most untruly to doe it in contempt and disdaine of others.
When her husband was abroad in London, or elsewhere,
there was not the dearest friend she had in the world that could
get her abroad to dinner or supper, or to plaies or enterludes,
nor to any other pastimes, or disports whatsoever: neither
was she given to pamper her body with delicate meats, wine
or strong drink, but rather refrain them altogether, saying,
that she would eat to live, and not live to eat. And as she excelled
in the gift of sobriety, so she surpassed in the virtue of
humility: For it is well known to divers yet living, that she
utterly abhored all kind of pride, as well of apparell as otherwise.
She could never abide to heare any filthy or unseemly
talke of scurrility, bawdery, or uncleannesse, neither swearing,
nor blaspheming, cursing nor banning, but would reprobe
them sharply, shewing them the vengeance of God due for
such deserts: and what is more, there was never one filthy,
uncleane, undecent, or unseemly word heard to come out of
her mouth, nor ever once to curse or ban, to swear or blaspheme
God any maner of way: but alwaies her speeches were
such as both might glorify God, and minister grace to the hearers,
as the Apostle speaketh. And for her conversation, there
was never any man or woman that ever opened their mouths
against her, or that did or could accuse her of the least shadow
of dishonesty, so contentedly she lived, and so circumspectly she
walked, eschewing even the outward appearance or shew of
evill.
Againe, for true love and loyalty to her husband and his
Friends, she was let me speake without offence I think
the rarest Paragon in the world: for she was so farre from
disswading her Husband to be beneficiall to his Friends, that
she would rather perswade him to be more beneficiall unto
them. If she saw her Husband to be merry, then was she
merry: if he were heavy, or passionate, she would endeavour
to make him glad: if he were angry, she would quickly
please him: so wisely she demeaned her self towards him.
She would never contrary him in anything, but by wise
counsell, and sage advice, with all humility and submission,
seek to perswade him: And also, so little was she given to this
world, that some of her neighbours marvelling why she was
no more carefull of it, would aske her sometimes, saying,
Mistris Stubs, why are you no more carefull for the things of
this life, but sit alwaies poring upon a Book, and reading?
To whom she would answer: If I should be a friend unto
this world, I should be an enemy unto God, for God and the

A3

world are two contraries. Christ biddeth me, Love not the
world nor any thing in the world, affirming that if I love the
world, The love of the Father is not in me. Again, Christ biddeth
me, first seek the Kingdome of Heaven, and the righteousness thereof,
and all these worldly things shall be given to me, Godliness
is great riches, if a man be content with that he hath. I have
chosen with good Mary the better part, which shall never be
taken from me. Gods treasury she would say is never drawn
dry. I have enough in this live, God make me thankfull,
and I know I have but a short time to live here, and it
standeth me upon to have a regard to my salvation in the life
to come.
Thus this godly young Gentlewoman held on her course
three or foure yeares after she was married. At which time, it
pleased God, that she conceived with a man-child; after which
conception she would say to her husband, and many other good
neighbours and friends yet living, not once nor twice, but many
times, that she should never beare more children, and that
Child should be her death, and that she should live but to bring
that child into the world, which thing no doubt was revealed
unto her by the Spirit of God; for according to her Prophesie,
so it came to passe.
The time of her account being come, she was delivered of a
goodly man-child, with as much speed, and as safely, in all womens
judgment, as any could be. And after her delivery shee
grew so strong, that she was able within four or five dayes to
sit up in her bed, and to walke up and down her chamber, and
within a fortnight after to go abroad being throughly well,
and past all danger as every one thought.
But presently upon this sudden recovery, it pleased God to
visit her again with an exceeding hot and burning Quotidian
Ague: in which she languished for the space of six weeks, or
thereabout: During all which time, she was never seene nor
perceived to sleep one hour together, neither night nor day, and
yet the Lord preserved her which was miraculous in her perfect
understanding, sense & memory, to the last breath, praised
be his holy Name therefore. In all her sickness, which was
both long and grievous, she never shewed any signe of discontentment
or impatience, neither was there ever heard one
word to come forth of her mouth sounding either of indiscretion
or infidelity, or mistrust or distrust, or of any doubting or
wavering, but alwaies remained faithfull and resolute in her
God: and so desirous she was to be with ye Lord, yt these golden
Sentences were never out of her mouth, I desire to be dissolved
and to be with Christ; and, O miserable wretch that I am;
who shall deliver me from this body subject to sin? Come quickly
Lord Jesus, come quickly; Like as the Hart desireth the Water
springs, so doth my soul thirst after thee O God; I had rather be a
doore-keeper in the house of my God, then to dwell in the tents of
the wicked: with many other heavenly Sentences, which lest
I should seem tedious I willingly omit. She would alwaies
pray in sicknesse absolutely, that God would take her out of
this miserable world. And when her Husband and others
would desire her to pray for health, if it were the will of God:
she would answer, I beseech you pray not that I should live
for I think it long to be with my God: Christ is to me life, and
death is to me advantage: yea, the day of death is the birthday
of everlasting life, and I cannot enter into life, but by
death, therefore is death the door or entrance into everlasting
life. I know, and am certainly perswaded by the Spirit of
God, that the sentence is given already by that great Iudge,
in the high Court or Parliament of Heaven, that I shall now
depart out of this life: and therefore pray not for me, that I
might live here, but pray to God, to give me strength and patience
to persevere to the end and to close up mine eyes in the
justifying faith of the blood of my Christ.
Sometimes she would speak very softly to her self, & sometimes
very audibly, these words, doubling them an hundred
times together, O my God, why not now, why not now? O
my good God, I am ready for thee, I am prepared, O receive
me now for Christ his sake. O send thy messenger death to
fetch me, send thy Sergeant to arrest me, thy Pursevant to
teach me, thy Herald to summon me, O send thy Iaylor to deliver
my soule out of prison, for my body is nothing else but a
stinking prison to my soule: O send thy holy Angels to conduct
my soule into the everlasting Kingdome of heaven.
Othersome times she would lie as if she were in a slumber,
her eyes closed, & her lips uttering these words very softly to
her self, O my sweet Iesus, O my love Iesus, why not now
sweet Iesus, why not now? O sweet Iesus pray for me, pray
for me sweet Iesus; repeating them many times together.
These, and infinite the like, were her daily speeches, and continuall
meditations; and never worser word was there heard
to come forth of her mouth, during all the time of her sicknes.
She was accustomed many times, as she lay, very suddenly
to fall into a sweet smiling, and sometimes into a most hearty
laughter, her face appearing right fair, amiable, and lovely:
and her countenance seemed as though she greatly rejoyced at
some glorious sight. And when her Husband would aske her
why she smiled and laughed so? she would answer O, if you
saw such glorious and heavenly sights as I see, you would rejoice
and laugh with me: for I see a vision of the joyes of heaven,
and of the glory that I shall go unto; and I see infinite
millions of Angels attendant upon me, and watching over
me, ready to carry my soul into the Kingdome of Heaven.
In regard whereof, she was willing to forsake her selfe, her
Husband, her child, and all the world besides. And so calling
for her child which the Nurse brought unto her, she took it up
in her arms and kissed it, and said God blesse thee, my sweet
Babe, and make thee an heir of the Kingdome of Heaven: and
kissing it againe, delivered it to the Nurse, with these words,
to her husband standing by; Beloved Husband, I bequeath
this my child unto you, he is no longer mine, he is the Lords
and yours, I forsake him, you, and all the world, yea, and mine
owne selfe, and esteem all things but dung, that I may win
Iesus Christ: and I pray you, sweet Husband, bring up this
Child in good letters, in Learning and Discipline, and above
all things, see that he be brought up and instructed in the exercise
of true Religion.
The child being taken away, she espied a little Puppy, or,
Bitch, which in her health she loved well lying upon her bed
she had no sooner espied her, but she beat her away, and calling
her Husband to her, said, good Husband, you and I have offended
God grievously, in receiving this Bitch many a time
into our bed: we would have been loth to have received a Christian
soule, purchased with the pretious blood of Iesus Christ,
into our bed, and to have nourished him in our bosoms, and
to have fed him at our table, as we have done this filthy Cur
many times: the Lord give me grace to repent it, and all other
vanities: And afterwards she could not abide to look upon the
Bitch any more.
Having thus godly disposed all things, shee fell into a
Trance, or swound, for almost the space of a quarter of an
houre, and so as every one thought shee had been dead: but afterward
shee coming to her selfe, spake to them that were
present, as there were many, both worshipfull and others
saying, right worshipfull, and my good neighbors and friends,
I thanke you all for the great pains you have taken with me
in this bed of my sickness: and whereas I am not able
to requite you, I beseech the Lord requite you in the kingdom
of Heaven, and for that my houre-glasse is run out, and that
my time of departure hence is at hand, I am perswaded for
three causes to make a confession of my Faith before you all.
The first cause that moveth me thereto is, for that those if
there be any such here that are not yet throughly resolved in
the truth of God, may hear and learn what the spirit of God
hath taught me, out of his blessed and alsaving Word.
The second cause that moveth me, is, for that none of you
shall judge that I dyed not a perfect Christian, and a perfect
member of the mysticall body of Iesus Christ, and so by your
rash judgment might incurre the displeasure of God.
The third and last cause is, for that as you have been witnesses
of part of my Life, so you might be witnesses of part
of may Faith and Beleefe also.
And this is my confession, I would not have you to think
that it is I that speak unto you, But the Spirit of God that
dwelleth in me and all the elect of God, unlesse they be reprobates.
For S. Paul saith Rom. 8. If any one have not the spirit of
Christ dwelling in him, he is none of his. This blessed Spirit
hath knocked at the door of my heart, and my God hath given
me grace to open the doore of my heart, and he dwelleth
in me plentifully. And therefore I pray you lend your patience
a little and imprint my words in your hearts: for they
are not the words of flesh and blood, but the Spirit of God,
by whom we are sealed to the day of our redemption.

A most heavenly confession of the Christian Faith made by the blessed Servant of God, Mistris Katherine Stubs, a little before she died

ALthough the Majesty of God be both infinite and unspeakable,
and therefore according to his excellent dignity,
can never be conceived in heart, nor expressed in
word: yet to the end you may know what God is, in
whom I beleeve, as far as he hath revealed himself to us in
his holy Word, I will define him unto you, as the Spirit
of God shall illuminate my heart.
I beleeve therefore with my heart, and freely confesse with
my mouth here before you all, that this God in whom I believe,
is a most glorious spirit or spiritual substance, a divine essence.

A most wonderfull Conflict between Satan and her soule, and of her valiant Conquest in the same, by the power of Christ.

HOw now Satan what makest thou here? Art thou
come to tempt the Lords servant? I tell thee thou
Hell hound thou hast no part nor portion in me,
nor by the grace of God, never shalt have, I was,
now am, and shall be the Lords for ever: yea Satan, I was,
chosen an elect of Christ unto everlasting salvation, before the
foundation of the world was laid, and therefore thou must get
thee packing, thou damned Dog, and go shake your ears, for in
me thou hast nought. But wt dost thou lay to my charge, thou
foule Fiend? Ah, that I am a sinner & therefore shall be damned,
I confesse indeed that I am a sinner, and a grievous sinner,
both by original sin, and actual sin and that I may thank thee
for, & therefore Satan I bequeath my sin to thee, from whence
it first came, and I appeal to the mercy of God in Christ Jesus.
Christ came to save sinners as he himself sayeth & not the righteous.
Behold the Lamb of God, saith Iohn, that taketh away the
sins of the world. And in another place he crieth out, The blood
of Jesus Christ doth cleanse us from all sins. And therefore Satan
I constantly beleeve my sins are washed away in the precious
blood of Iesus Christ, & shall never be imputed to me any more.
But what saiest thou now Satan? Dost thou aske me how
I dare come to him for mercy, he being a righteous God, and I
a miserable sinner? I tel thee Satan, I am bold through Christ
to come unto him, being assured & certain of pardon & remission
of all my sins, for his Names sake. For doth not the Lord bid
all that be heavy laden with the burthen of sin, to come unto
him, & he will ease them? Christs arms were spread wide open,
Satan, upon the Cross with that she spread her own arms to
imbrace me and all penitent sinners: and therefore Satan, I
will not fear to present my self before his foot-stool, in full assurance
of his mercy for Christ his sake. What more, Satan?
Dost thou say it is written, that God will reward every one
according to his deserts? so it is written again, thou deceitfull
Devil, that Christs righteousness is my righteousness, his
works my works, his deserts my deserts, his merits my merits,
and his precious blood a full satisfaction for my sins.
O but God is a just God thou sayest, and therefore in
Iustice must needs condemn me.
I grant Satan that he is a just God, and therefore he cannot
in justice punish me for my sins, which he hath punished
already in his own Sonne, it is against the Law of Iustice
to punish one fault twice. I was and am a great debtor unto
God the Father, but Iesus Christ hath paid the debt for me:
and therefore it stands not with the justice of God to require
it again. And therefore avoid Satan, avoid thou Firebrand
of Hell, avoid thou damned Dog, and tempt me no more: for
he that is with me, is mightier then thou, even the mighty and
victorious Lion of the Tribe of Judah, who hath bruised thy
head, and hath promised to be with his children to the end of
the world. Avoid therefore thou bastard, avoid thou cowardly
souldier, remove thy siege, & yield the field won, and get thee
packing, or else I will call upon my grand Captain, Christ
Iesus, the valiant Michael, who beat thee in heaven, and threw
thee down to Hel, with all thy hellish train and devilish crue.
She had scarcely pronounced these last words but she fel suddenly
into a sweet smiling laughter: saying, now he is gone
now he is gone, do you not see him fly like a coward and run
away like a beaten Cock? he hath lost the field, and I have
won the victory, even the Garland and crown of everlasting
life and that not by my own power and strength, but by power
and might of Iesus Christ, who hath sent his holy Angels
to keep me. And speaking to them that were by, she said, Oh
would God you saw but what I see, for behold, I see infinite
millions of most glorious Angels stand about me with fiery
Chariots ready to defend me as they did the good Prophet Eliseus.
The holy Angels: these ministring spirits are appointed
of God to carry my soul into the Kingdome of Heaven,
where I shall behold the Lord face to face, & shall see him not
with other but with the same eys. Now I am happy & blessed
for ever, for I have fought the good fight, and by the might of
Christ have won the victory. Now from henceforth I shal never
tast neither of hunger nor cold, pain nor woe, misery nor
affliction, vexation nor trouble, fear nor dread, nor any other
calamity, nor adversity whatsoever: From henceforth is laid
up a Crown of Life, which Christ shall give to all them which
love him, And as I am now in possession thereof by hope, so
shall I be anon in full fruition thereof, by presence of my soul,
and hereafter of my body also, when the Lord shall please.
Then she spake softly to her self as followeth: Come sweet
Christ Iesus.

C3

come my love Iesus, O send thy Pursevant sweet Iesus, to
fetch me: O sweet Iesus, strengthen thy servant and keep thy
promise. Then sung she a Psalm most sweetly and with a
chearfull voice: which done, she desired her Husband that the
133 Psalm might be sung before her to Church. And further
she desired him he would not mourn for her, alledging
the Apostle Paul where he saith Brethren, I would not have you
to mourn, as men without hope, for them that dye in the Lord: affirming,
that she was not in case to be mourned for, but rather
to be rejoyced of, for that she should passe as she said from
Earth to Heaven, from men to holy Angels, Cherubims and
Seraphims, to holy Saints, Patriarchs, and Fathers, yea to
God himself. After which words, very suddenly she seemed as
it were greatly to rejoyce, and looked cheerfully, as though she
had seen some glorious sight: And lifting up her whole body,
and stretching forth both her arms, as though she would imbrace
some glorious and pleasant thing, said: I thank my God
through Iesus Christ, he is come, he is come, my good Iaylor
is come to let my soule out of prison. O sweet death, thou art
welcome, welcome sweet death: never was there any guest so
welcome unto me as thou art welcome, the messenger of everlasting
life: welcome the doore and entrance into everlasting
glory. welcome I say and thrice welcome my good Iaylor, doe
thy office quickly, and set my soul at liberty: Strike sweet
death, strike my heart, I fear not that stroke: now it is. Father
into thy blessed hands I commend my spirit: sweet Iesus, into
thy hands I commend my spirit: blessed spirit of God, I commit
my soul into thy hands: O most holy, blessed and glorious
Trinitie, three persons and one true and everlasting God, into
thy blessed hands I commit my soul and body: at which
words her breath stayed, and so moving neither hand nor foot
she slept sweetly in the Lord.
Thus hast thou heard gentle Reader the discourse of the
vertuous life and Christian death of this blessed and faithfull
servant of God, Mistris Katherine Stubs: which is so much the
more wonderfull, in that she was but young and tender in
yeeres, not halfe a yeere above the number of twenty, when she
departed this life. The Lord give us grace to follow her example,
that we may come to those unspeakable joys wherein
she now resteth, through Iesus Christ our Lord: To whom
with the Father and the holy Ghost, be al honour, praise, dominion
and thanksgiving, both now and evermore. Amen.
FINIS.