have done had he not had a greater succour than any on Earth but God was all in all to satisfie his soul. He used to say all my strength is in God had I not depended on the Holy Jesus I had been dead e're this He could not lay himself to sleep but with some of these expressions Jesus is my strength God is a very present help in trouble in him we live move and have our being It is he that performeth all things for us All my fresh springs are in thee O Lord. He used to have the Italian Testament Bishop Hall's Book called The Balm of Gilead with other good Books at his beds-head which he would read in before he went to sleep finding some comfortable sentence suitable to his condition of which he would discourse with me as he laid himself to rest He used in great troubles to take the Bible and open it at adventure and then read what he first found which often hath been so suitable to his condition that he hath received great comfort and writ the places down which I have by me His heart was so much set on Heaven that he wonder'd how any Religious person could concern himself for any of these vain and transitory things and would use this expression of D r Hammond Let God govern the world And when he heard of any false reports he said Let us not trouble our selves but consider how we stand in the sight of God He was very fearful of taking Gods name in vain Insomuch that when Fits seized violently on him and pain made him cry O Lord he was troubled lest he had broken that Commandment who said he is able to help me but he in this my great extremity He could not endure to hear any one swear and hated a lye He wrote some of our blessed Saviours Sermon on the Mount which he intended to write out resolving to get it by heart and make it his practice but death seized him before it was finished He had a great love to the Word of God and said to his Sister on his death-bed I love Gods word and I fear him When he first waked in the morning he said God be blessed that I have lived to see the light of another day Lord grant that I may spend it to thy service and that Collect of the Church Prevent us O Lord in all our doings c. And when he rose crossing his Arms he said In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen and then he said the Lords Prayer which he had a high veneration for afterwards he read a Psalm He did not use long Prayers but short Ejaculations often both day and night When I have waked in the Morning I have seen him lifting up his hand with so great devotion that it hath moved my affection He delighted much in discourses of Religion and holy Meditations and hath told me in his bed he hath had such sweet Meditations as have raised him even to Heaven I am not able to express how excellently he would speak of his love to the Holy Jesus and the blessed Trinity He said he loved God above all and not any thing in comparison of him and that he would be a Martyr for God If he were sure his sins were forgiven and the pain of death over he could willingly leave this world for he desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ. He hath reckon'd to me the many dangers he had escaped and the many blessings he had received admiring the great goodness of God that had preserved him to that present and had given him time to repent of his sins and bestowed many undeserved blessings on him He told me he had desired some temporals which God denyed him but he look'd on it as a mercy and clearly saw that it was better for him to be in that very condition God had placed him in and would often speak of Gods Providence He was a great lover of the company of Divines and could not abide to see them slighted He had several of them in his prayers and desired the benefit of theirs for himself Satan would tempt him to lay aside his confidence in the mercies of God but he resolved and armed himself by faith against those assaults and hath said to me that he could as plainly see Satan in his malicious designs and temptations against him as if he saw him with his bodily eyes And sometimes Satan tempted him to infidelity but he did resist him and presently said the Creed I heard him say on his Death-bed Satan would tempt me but I will not believe him And then said I believe in God c. which made me think he had the same temptations then which he had told me of at other times And that that good God that had sustain'd him to that time would not then leave him but strengthn'd his faith to the last gasp About half a year before his Death he had many scruples which proceeded from the tenderness of his Conscience and made him full of fears lest in this or that he had offended and though when company came to see him he seem'd as chearful as he could yet when they were gone he would be troubled for any word or action he might offend in and did examine himself of his former life with sorrow for all he had done amiss He had very humble thoughts of himself and would judge and blame himself rather than others and often say a proud Man could not go to Heaven He was of a very sweet disposition and so tender hearted that he could not endure to see any creature in misery and hath told me of one that put his only Son to death for delighting in putting out the eyes of birds thinking he would be a cruel Man And though he was thus tender hearted yet upon a good account he had great courage as he hath shewed in his readiness to serve his King in the Surrey rising and at other times though he never had the fortune to be in any action He was a very good Scholar understood Hebrew Greek Latine and Italian and had the French Tongue as perfect as a Native He had great skill in Musick and delighted very much in it He had a great love to any he thought loved God Once a poor man came begging that said he had been taken by the Turks and used very cruelly but rather than he would deny Christ he would be torn in pieces I cannot express how much my Husband rejoyced to hear him say so and he was so taken with him that he gave him both Money and Cloaths There was a poor Woman that used to sit with the rest of the Poor at his Servants Table and he heard she had the report of a good Woman he took her to his own Table and used her with much respect He had such humble thoughts of himself that for some time he would not allow himself decent
Burial but afterwards he consented to it and desired his Neighbours might accompany him to his Grave He often desired me to be buryed in the vault by him I have something in memory of a dream that he told me of when he waked a little before his last sickness he dream'd that the day of Judgment was come and the Lord appearing in the clouds and calling the Elect he was left behind upon which being grievously afflicted he prayed earnestly and the Blessed Jesus look'd back and called him and he went with great joy and was received into Heaven with the rest of the Elect. He was full of fears as to his future condition while he was here But now I question not but he is received into the joy of the Lord. He was a sickly man for many years troubled with Convulsion Fits and shortness of breathing which made him fear sudden Death and pray dayly against it But his last sickness was the Yellow-jaundice with a very sore throat and a violent Feaver And though he was in very much pain he bore it with a great deal of patience speaking comfortably to all about him so that they said they never were with any one that made a better end He was much in Prayer I think I heard him say the Lords Prayer near twenty times in one day when he was so weak that he could hardly bring out his words He desired me not to be troubled and said God would provide for me and prayed God to send us a happy meeting He often told me his Prayer for me was That God would bless me with the Blessings of his right hand and of his left I cannot remember half the Heavenly Expressions he had when Mr. Benson the Minister of our Parish prayed by him He said to me Mr. Benson is a good Man he speaks so sweetly when he speaks of God He desired the Bell might be rung and asked many times after it if it did not ring He departed this life on the 10 th day of May 1678. being Friday the day after Ascension And I hope he hath received the benefit of the precious Passion and glorious Resurrection and Ascension of our dearest Lord and ever blessed Saviour Jesus He had formerly desired me not to be by him when he was dying lest seeing me should make him unwilling to leave this world and lest I should by any sudden passion disturb his soul departing But at last he very much called upon me not to leave him so I stayed with him to the last and though my trouble was not to be expressed yet I thank God I did not in the least disturb him He endured much pain in his sickness but at last I could not perceive he had any but his breath grew shorter and shorter and so he went away without the least gasp or groan His thoughts and discourse were much of death long before he would say our life was but as a dream or the shadow of a dream and as a vapour And when he saw any disturbed for fear of losses in this world he would say none are ever undone till they come to Hell He loved much to dispute about Religion but once being disputing against Predestination and fearing he had spoken something irreverent he was extremely afflicted I never saw any one express more sorrow and writ what I here set down and have under his own hand by me I did immediately strip my self of it and threw my self down before the Throne of Grace by which it had no propriety in me I did it whatever it was to vindicate God's mercy I have committed my cause to God who knows my thoughts and let him deal with me according to his infinite goodness and wisdom let Satan do what he can against me I know my Saviour is the Captain of my Salvation I have here endeavoured to give what account I can of my dear Husbands life but I know I come very short of what might have been observed by one of a better memory that had been with him so much as my self I hope the Christian Reader into whose hands these Papers shall come will pardon all imperfections in the Stile or Method and make the best use of what was so well design'd by the Author The fulfilling of whose Will in setting forth his Book and discharging my duty in clearing him to the world is the only cause I venture to appear in Print Sarah Freman I Received a Letter from a very Reverend Divine that gives this account of my dear Husband which I write in his own words That he was in many respects the most remarkable instance of humility the greatest example of godly sorrow and the most admirable Precedent of self-denial and sincere detestation of sin in himself and passionate care that it might not infect others which I have known And of this it pleased the all-wise guider of all things to make me a very heedful witness about 18 years ago when I preached at the Savoy for Dr. T. F. Not many daies after I was summon'd to wait on Sir George Freman a person then altogether unknown to me whom he entertained with a most doleful tenderness of affection and with manly because Christian showers of tears spoke after this manner Sir You are to me as I suppose I am to you a stranger I thank you for your Sermon at the Savoy where I was your Auditor I do not think you aimed at me but sure I am your discourse pierced my heart I could scarce think any one there besides concerned I dare say none more than my self I am that miserable man who have not remembred my Creator in the daies of my Youth my Text was Eccles. xii 1. and now what shall I do what shall I do give me your advice assist me with your Prayers Thus in one person perceiving many blessed marks of true penitents wounded with S t Peter's hearers who were pricked to the heart Acts 2. inquisitive with the Baptist's pious Auditors S t Luke 3. vowing amendment with David and commanding it in those under his care sending to me as good Josiah did to Huldah the Prophetess I did as soon as I had recover'd my self from that tumult of passions which a sight so unexpected did raise apply my self according to my poor ability with utmost compassion to aid the sorrowful patient of the Almighty who was pleased after diverse weeks conference prayers and meditations on several Texts of Scripture and such like means used by my self and others of far more experience to raise up his troubled spirit bowed down with the dreadful apprehensions of God's heavy displeasure and to stay him with some comfortable hopes that our heavenly Father would not cast him off for ever nor always shut up his loving kindness and tender mercy For which with what singular expressions of penitential sorrow he prepared himself I am not able to utter With what zealous indignation did he call to mind his sins With what
affectionate care did he dehort his Family from all wicked and vain courses I was astonished to see and hear with what awful reverence prostration and tears with what inflamation of soul he kiss'd the sacred Book when he solemnly renewed his Covenant with God I am too little acquainted with virtue to describe that masculine meekness wherewith he deprecated the injury he had done to his meanest attendants by his former example I know too little of sanctification to tell you with what fervency of spirit he declaimed against and disswaded his servants from the imitation of his now abhorred practices and with penitent Manasses solemnly resolved to command all under his authority to serve the Lord The sincerity of these resolutions was proved by his pious behaviour whereof I was till 1664. sometimes an eye-witness and by this did appear the soundness of his judgment for hereby he declared that he knew how dangerous and senseless a conceit it is which is too common that men may believe well without repentance and repent well without amendment live well without prayer and pray well without faith And now Madam who can think he wants joy who thus sowed in tears and why should any bewail him who is happier than here he could be Relieve your self from sad thoughts with reflecting upon that bliss and fulness of pleasure which he most earnestly groaned for and now enjoys for ever The disswasive from Drunkenness a most acutely pious discourse I had from his own hand and 't is now no little ornament to my Study The reliques of his judicious and divine Pen designed for the benefit of more than one age will have great commendation to the wiser part of the world from the learned Author and those excellencies wherein they resemble him will give security that none can buy his Book too dear or better bestow his time than in reading what he wrote A Letter written to me upon the Death of my Husband Madam YOur loss is great by reason of the Death of your dear Husband however you have this comfort to allay the grievance of the loss the hope and even confidence that he is gone to Heaven Neither will it be accounted partiality in you in thus charitably judging of him for it is very reasonable that is thus concluded concerning him Contrary to the usual way of a Letter let me so method what I knew of him to be very true First He was a person of great reason and had such a judgment as would rightly distinguish betwixt good and evil Secondly He did not thwart his Judgment and opinion of things by his actions but accordingly steered his course as nearly as frail humanity would permit Thirdly He was a true son of the Church of England and wondred at the opposition and contradictions of others to its Christian tenents Fourthly His Prayers were constant unto God for the conversion of our Churches Enemies He laboured not only by strong arguments when he met with the Recusants but at other times also when he was alone by his Prayers to make them Proselytes Fifthly He was heavenly minded and his discourse was continually about God and Eternity and he affected no mans company whose talke was worldly for he accounted it frivolous and vain Sixthly Though a person of quality yet he was affable and courteous and strangely condescending and chused his Associates rather for their goodness than for their greatness Seventhly He was charitable ready to contribute towards the necessity of the poor and timed some of his liberal gifts excellent well encouraged many of the poor Parishioners to come constantly to the Church by entertaining many of them at his own House every Sunday Eightly He had a singular love for you his affectionate and most loving Wife It was nothing but death that could have separated him from you I might speak several things more very honourably of him but I purpose brevity Madam I know you lament because you have parted with so good and vertuous an Husband as Sir George was but let his vertue and goodness be an occasion of your rejoycing He now is possessed of that which we pray for to enjoy Everlasting bliss and happiness I am Your humble and Faithful Servant J. B. TO THE MEMORY OF THE Pious Author Sir GEORGE FREMAN Knight of the BATH His ever Honour'd Godfather 1. BLest Soul Thou who art wont to be Ev'n when alive a Saint to me And on my tender bead didst often lay Blessings for which thy little Votary Was taught to pray With humble voice and bended knee As to some Officer of Heav'ens great Treasury Hear me agin now after Death Accept the tribute of my grateful breath And let it not disturb thy happiness A while to hear my Verse express Our sorrows for our loss of Thee And joys for thy fruition of vast Eternity 2. Thou now the storms of sin and grief are o're Art landed safe on the eternal shore And looking down smile'st on lifes Galley slaves Tost to and fro on Fortunes waves Now to th' top of Honours sky they 're gone And down to th' Hell of low disgrace are headlong cast anon Some in slight Pleasure boats do careless row And unconcern'd o're the deep Gulf they go Ne're minding either Stars above or Monsters hid below 3. Now quiet and serene are all thy thoughts Thy mind not tangled with hard knots Ty'd by thy too scrup'utous fears Not to be loosen'd by thy tears Which vanish now quite out of sight Like idle Phantoms of the night And Heav'n without a cloud does now appear Nothing but Love and joy and Hallelujah's there Now are thy busie scruples all at rest And ev'n thy Melancholy's blest Which did thy looser appetite command Though with too strict and too severe a hand Now thou art entred on those solid joys Where without laughing's mirth and musick without noise 4. Thou the great circle of all arts hast past Another Drake hast learning's world embrac't And knowest how small a point 't is if it vye With the immense circumference of the skie What folly't all is when we'ave left this worlds Academy The soul shakes all these rags off then To the new cloath'd in Heav'en agen And here as reminiscence science is So there when we forget it are we wise Our sins or virtues only then remain We have no list to think on ought that 's vain Who can from Heav'ns observatory view If Tycho or Copernicus be true And with as much ease know as now we err with pain 5. Thou wast my Guardian Angel here below And didst me all the paths of virtue show When I a stranger hither come From nothing's and my Mother's Womb Did neither the people nor their language know Straight didst thou wash my soul from sin It s original secundine And at the sacred Font for fear I from th' eternal laws should swerve Or any other Master serve Madest me the badge and name of Christian bear 6. But now alas thou' rt