for sports on Sundays and giving disdainful words toward Power the Apparitor and Officer of the Court. RESP. I said unto the Apparitor remember you to keep Holy the Sabbaoth day and added no more words I refused to read the Book mentioned not out of any contempt of any Authority but as being commanded by no Law for the Kings Majesty doth not in the Book command or appoint the Minister to read it nor it to be read but published neither came it with nor know I of any Seal to confirm it so that I dared not take notice of it to be the Kings Book for as I understand all his Majesties Writs Proclamations and Mandats use to come with a Seal and his Majesty intended as I conceive not to trouble any that refused to read it seeing there is no penalty threatned nor authority given that I know of to any to question them that refuse to read it my refusal to read it was upon sufficient grounds of Law and Conscience which for satisfaction to his High Court and to clear me from contempt I shall here by way of Answer briefly and fully express thus His Majesties express Pleasure is that the Laws of the Kingdom and Cannons of the Church be observed in all places of the Kingdom Book Pag. 8. and therefore in Kent and in Otham now this Book as I conceive is contrary to both 1. It is against the Law as the Statute Edward VI. Anno 5. Cap. 3. Christians on all Holy days and times appointed should apply themselves only and wholly unto holy works properly appertaining to true Religion and such times be dedicated onely to God and his true Worship and be separated from all prophane uses but say I no civil recreation is any part of Gods true Worship the Stature Caroli Anno 1. Cap. 1. the Holy keeping of the Lords day is a principal of the true service of God and it is now prophaned by a disorderly sort of people by interludes and other unlawful exercises and pastimes the 13. Cannon all manner of persons shall keep the Lords Day according to Gods Holy will and pleasure 2. Our Church is against it First In Homilyes which contain Godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times We keep now the first day of the week which is our Sunday and make that our Sabbaoth by the fourth Commandment God Commands one standing day in the Week and all Men and Women and Children and Servants be to keep it in a holy rest and use it Holily and give themselves wholely to Heavenly exercise of Gods true Religion and Service but I say Archery May-poles May-games Dancings Morrice-dancing and the like be not exercises of Gods true Religion and Service Secondly In the Liturgy a Minister in enjoyned to read the fourth Commandment Remember thou keep Holy the Sabbaoth Day and all are to intreat Gods Mercy to incline their hearts to keep this Law Ps. 118. 24. is appointed to be read on Easter day as proper to it it shews V. 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it so that the Lord instituted it Bishop Andrews on Easter-day 1611. Preaching on that Psalm 118. Psal. 22. c. Thirdly In the Exhortation fit for the time upon the fast-Fast-days 1625. declaring the apparent cause of the Plague saith the Lords Day is not kept holy but polluted and the Ministry of the Word despised and in the end of that Book mention is made of Playes Pastimes Idleness Drunkenness the proper sins of our Nation which pulled Gods wrath upon us and I dare not by reading seem to allow what did bring the Plague of God on the Land that year 3. It is against Scriptures Exod. 20. 8. Remember the Sabbaoth-Day to keep it Holy where we are commanded to keep holy the Lords Day as I learn out of Authors Zanchy on the fourth Commandment we keep holy the Lords Day and Sanctifie it Iunius in Animadvers in Bellar. Controv. Lib. 7. Cap. 10. The Lords Day answereth to the Sabaoth and its proportionable to it and is commanded in Exod. 20. 8. again in Gen. 2. 82. This Law is established by the fourth Commandment of the Decologue to be observed of all Alexander Alensis Tom. 3. Q. 32. Memb. 4. Art 4. In the observation of the Sabboath is commanded the observation of the Lords Day chiefly according to intermination Isa. 58. 13. If thou turn thy foot from the Sabboath from doing thy pleasure on my Holy Day and call the Sabbaoth a delight the Holy of the Lord honorable and shalt honor him not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasures nor speaking thine own words and Cultetus in locum saith they took away the Sabbaoth by scandalous deeds that hinder Gods worship as drinking sports and idle wandring Isa. 56. 2. The man is blest that keepeth the Sabbaoth from polluting it Vers. 4. God rewards such abundantly Vers. 67. Such a one shall be made joyful in Gods House which is true in the day of the Gospel when Gods House is a House for Prayers for all people 4. It is against Councels Concil Toletan 4. cited by Zanchy on the fourth Commandment Let there be no dancing on Holy Festivals nor filthy Songs but let all be at leisure for Godly duties and Divine Worship Concil Laodice Cannon 59. In the Church there ought not to be sung any common Service nor Books be Read besides the Connonical Scripture but only the Sacred Volums of the Old and New Testament 5. It is against Divines Ancient Augustine on the Ps. 32. concio It s better to Delve then to Dance on the Sabbaoth and on Iohn 1. Tract 3. It s better to Spin then to Dance on the Sabbaoth Chrysost. on Gen. Hom. 10. God intimateth from the beginning that in the circle of the Week one whole entire day should be seperated and set by for Spiritual works Ireneus Lib. 4. Cap. 30. The Sabbaoth requires and Teaches the continuance of the whole day in the service of God Ignatius in Epistol ad magnes Let every one keep the Sabbaoth Spiritually rejoycing in the Meditation of the Law not in the recreation of body let every one that loveth Christ now keep holy the Lords Day 2. Modern and late Divines Rabington Bishop of Worcester on the fourth Commandment saith to keep Holy the Sabbaoth day is to separate and consecrate it to all Godly exercise wherein our Faith and Obedience to God is shewen Zanchy on the fourth Commandment All the day is to be consecrated to the Worship of God by day understanding the true natural day the true observing of the Sabbaoth is that we do not what we please but what Gods will is the rest on Holy days is not to be set a part for our lusts and pleasure plays and sins but for Gods worship onely They do not keep holy a day which instead of Gods worship give themselves to pleasure Iunius on Numbers 15. He who
that Latimer Winter and Summer at two a Clock in the morning and of another Martyr that he was spare of meat sparer of sleep out sparest of time Mr. Wilson made much conscience of his time and especially on the Lords Day If he were invited to a Feast he was so zealous for his God that he commonly after dinner called for a Bible sung a Psalm expounded some Verse of Scripture and prayed with his friends Mr. Fenner of Essex that eminent servant of Christ meeting him once at Mr. Butchers house was so extreemly taken with his active chearful Spirit for God and Godliness that he said to Mr. Butcher I am ashamed of my self to see how Mr. Wilson gallopeth towards Heaven and I do but creep on a Snails pace Though he was a good Linguist well read in modern and ancient Authors yet ordinarily he preached though always rationally and with evidence of reason yet in a plain clear stile by Doctrine reason and use that he might be understood by the meanest capacity His constant preaching discovered him an able Workman his Doctrines were always clear from his Text his heads pertinent to his subject and he had a rare faculty in applying sutable Scriptures which is the principal way of convincing the judgement for 't is the authority of God must do the work to all his heads On the Lords Day in the afternoon for a considerable time I suppose till he had gone through all he preached on the Heads of Divinity but therein he discovered so much Learning and judgement in his plain preaching that if his Sermons had been preached at the University they must have been highly approved He was so much valued for his abilities that there was scarce any publick occasion of Sermons in the County but he was chosen to be the person to preach them sometimes he preached before the Judges at the Assizeâ— twice before the Parliament What Augustine said of another I may say of him Ratuir eloquens ut intelligenter ut obedienter andiretur CHAP. XVII His carriage in his Family and his exemplary conversation HE was not of the number of them who are zealous abroad that they may be well spoken of but careless at home what becomes of their Families but as David he walked in the midst of his house with a perfect heart and brought up his Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Cicero saith of Quintus Maximinus that he was not good only in the sight of the people but he was better out of their sight truly he was as good within as without doors each morning and evening he read some part of Scripture expounded it sung part of a Psalm and prayed with his Family He would often ask his Children questions about the Principles of Religion examine them about his Sermons on the Lords day and cause them to learn the Scripture without Book As it was said to Mr. Hooper he governed his house so that in every corner of it there was some sinal of vertue good example honest conversation and reading of the Scripture I am sure if Mr. Wilsons house was not so the fault was not the want of a good Governour He prayed often with his wife apart from the rest of his Family and spent much time in secret prayer knowing a truth in what Lactantius saith Non est vera Religio quae cum Templo relinquitur He was very watchful to set a good example before his Children and Servants knowing that such are led more by the eye then the ear and more observant of what their Superiours do then what they say And indeed his whole conversation was a living exposition upon the Gospelâ— that what he taught on the Lords Day in his Doctrine he preached over all the week in his life O how unlike was he to those Ministers that are lovely in their preaching but loathsome in their practices whose lives give the lie to their Doctrines He was exemplary in his converse with all men and spake much by his carriage even when he spake not a word His good works were unanswerable syllogismes invincible demonstrations to convince his Neighbours whereby he stole their hearts and won their affections after the beauty of holiness What Ruffinus saith of Gregory Naziaenzen is true of him Gregorius vir per omnia incomparabilis qui verba operibus clarus splendissimum lumen scientiae Ecclesiae prebuit dum ea decuit quae ferit c. He practized what he preached and did according to what he saith Such Ministers only can make their people believe that when they disswade from sin and perswade to holiness they are in earnest and believe what they speak It was not without cause that in the holy Scriptures where Epistles are recorded to be sent to two Ministers onely they are both commanded to be examples to their people 1 Tim 4. 12. Be thou an example of the believers in Words in Conversation in Charity in Faith in Purity Tit. 2. 7. In all things shewing thy self a patern of good works CHAP. XVIII The Reformation which was wrought by his means and Ministry in Maidstone MAidstone was formerly a very prophane Town insomuch that I have seen Morrice dancing Cudgel playing Stool-ball Crickets and many other sports openly and publickly on the Lords Day I have heard them jeer and deride and mock at those who professed Godliness and went to hear a Sermon on the Lords Day abroad when they had none at home Commonly after the Evening Service many of them went to the Ale-house many to walk idly in the Fields It was their constant custom to ply the conduits on the Lords Day for the drawing of water The former vain sinful customes of sports were reformed before his coming but by his preaching he prevailed with them to forebear vain walking idling at their doors also to draw their water on Saturday night which they should have occasion for on the Lords Day Though the Town was large and full of people yet you should hardly see one person in the street after the Sermons on the Lords Day and I have known when the Mayor hath searched the Innes and Ale-houses he hath scarce found one of the Town there One of the Judges at an Assize was pleased to say That in all his Circuit he never came to a Town where the Lords Day was so strictly observed I must say that I scarce ever knew any man so strict as Mr. Wilson in the Sanctification of the Lords day He so much wrought upon the people there that in the house where I lived all Pot hearbs were gathered and made ready on the Saturday night and whatsoever for their Dinners put into a readiness for the fire on the day before not a Rose or Flower suffered to be gathered on the Lords Day He was much of the mind of the primitive Christian who being asked Servasti Dominicum answered Christianus sum omittere non possum The Sanctification of that day is exceeding useful to
shined upon my head when the Almighty was yet with me Job 29.28 O that I were as in the days of ola as in the days when I sate under Mr. Wilsons Ministry O that I could hear such Sermons joyn in such Prayers partake of such Sacraments enjoy such seasons for my soul and see such gracious examples When you are wishing thus consider what a mercy it was that you enjoyed him so long Alas how many Parishes never had such a Pastor one Month then bewail your folly in making no better use of him while you had him Let all your complaint be of your selves for your unfruitfulness and unprofitableness under such excellent means and Spiritual opportunities And let you care be to make the most of him more by practising those wholesome precepts which you remember he gave you and by writting in your lives after that Copy which he hath set you I know his memory is dear to you and your love was great to him I beseech you manifest the truth of your love by doing that which you know he loved so much Did he not tell you often I have no greater joy then to see my Children walking in the Truth In a word Zeno Cittiana when he consulted with the Oracle how he might live well was answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If he were of the same colour with the dead It s certain you will live well if you live like them that died in the Lord. The Prince of the Powers of the Air i e the Devil liveth in them who live according to the course of the world Eph. 2. 2. The world though it often changeth its customs and fassions yet never for the better as the Camelion it turneth in to any colour but white so that if you will live according to most amongst when you live you may do and be any thing but what you ought to do and be But if you be of the colour of them that sleep in Jesus and resemble the dead in Christ your lives will be unblameable your deaths peaceable your names after death honourable and your resurrections at the great day comfortable That you may be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises and in special that you may be your Pastors Joy and Crown or Rejoycing at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Is the Prayer of your Affectionate Servant in Christ Jesus G. S. THE CONTENTS Chap. 1. HIs Birth Education at School and Vniversity Chap. II. His removal from the Vniversity with the occasion Chap. III. His first Living in Surry Chap. IV. His second living in Hampshire Chap. V. His third living with the success of his journey into Cumberland Chap. VI. His removal to Otham in Kent with the occasion of it Chap. VII His great success at Otham in Kent with his faithfulness there Chap. VIII His care to sanctifie the Sabbath Chap. IX His appearance at a Visitation about the Prayer against the Scott Chap. X. His fresh prosecution by the Arch-Bishop with a strange Providence Chap. XI Strange Providences Mr. Wilson's freedom obtained by Sir Ed. Deering with his character of Mr. Wilson Chap. XII His removal to Maidstone Chap. XIII His care for Otham and for Reformation at Maidstone Chap. XIV His extraordinary diligence and labouriousness on the Lords day Chap. XV. The great pains he took with his people on the Week-days Chap. XVI His diligence on all occasions to do good and his way of Preaching Chap. XVII His carriage in his Family Chap. XVIII The Reformation which was wrought by his means and Ministry in Maidstone Chap. XIX His Courage Chap. XX. His Zeal Chap. XXI His Faith and Heavenly mindedness Chap. XXII His natural parts and great humility Chap. XXIII His Wives and Children Chap. XXIV His Sickness and Death After the Chapters are annexed the Articles objected against him in the Arch-Bishops Court with his answers to them Verses on his Death THE LIFE and DEATH OF Mr. THO. WILSON Minister at Maidonestone in the County of Kent CHAP. I. His Birth Education at School and Vniversity THomas Wilson was born at Catterlon in the County of Cumberland in the year 1601. His Parents were sober and honest and of a competent Estate being of the best sort of Yeomen in those parts As soon as his Age would permit he was sent to School at Blentow i◠the saith County where under Mr. Wilkinson his School-master he profited beyond expectation and far excelled all his fellows He was observed in his youth to have a sharp wit large memory and to be very much given to his Book whereby his friends had hopes that he would in time as indeed he did prove a great instrument of good His great proficiency at School encouraged his Parents to send him to the University before he was seventeen years of Age where viz. at Christs Colledge in Cambridge he spent not his time as too many do male alind or nibil agendo but devoted himself wholly to his Studies in so much that he was taken notice of by the Master and Fellows for his diligence and industry It might have been written over his Study-door Nulla diel sine linea And though he did imploy his time most there about Academical Learning his acuteness in which did appear above 20 years after he had left Cambridge yet he did not neglect Divinity but in order to his design of serving God in the Ministry if he saw fit read both Positive and Polemical Authors But of all Books none was so dear to him or read so much by him as the Holy Scriptures for as the great Apostle saith of Timothy I may say of him From a Child he knew the Holy Scriptures which are able to make wise to Salvation Before he was Batchelor of Arts he had read as he told me Tremel and Iun. on the whole Bible three times over CHAP. II. His removal from the Vniversity with the occasion SOmetime after he had Commenced Batchelor of Arts he was removed from the University by this Providence Mr. Iohn Bristow a Reverend Minister of Chawswood in Surry desired Mr. Mead that eminent person for Piety and Learning his Tutor to send him an able Religious Scholar to teach School in his House Mr. Mead presently pitcht his thoughts upon his Puple Mr. Wilson not knowing how to pleasure Mr. Bristow better and glad he could answer his request so well At Mr. Bristows he continued four years or there about instructing the Lads committed to his charge with great diligence and faithfulness being far from the temper of Protagoras who boasted as Plato reports that having lived sixty four years he had spent fourty of them in corrupting and debauching young persons No he made conscience of his time and his trust and gave his Scholar more cause to bless God for their education under him then Socrates did Plato for his bringing up under such a Master He hath sometimes told me that he knew no Calling except the Ministry
the Apostle trembling and crying out Sir what shall I do to be saved To whom he was a Barnabas a son of sweet consolation and could so display the exceeding abundant riches of Divine grace in the Lord Jesus Christ as to draw and attract their hearts to a cheerful compliance with it and hearty acceptation of it He as a faithful Steward gave every one his portion terrour to whom terrour belonged and comfort to whom comfort whereby the Holy Ghost setting in with the Word a numerous issu of new born children were begotton to Christ. He preached there according to the command in season and out of season not only twice every Lords day but also every holy day and at Funerals though the persons interr'd were poor and nothing could be expected for his pains Whilst he was Minister of Otham many of Maidstone and others several miles about to my knowledge some seven or eight miles from Otham did ordinarily attend on his Ministry and joyn in Communion with him at the Lords Supper but the number that flockt after him which was so great that his Church would not hold them was a great eye sore to the prophane world and caused several of the Ministers about him to envy and maligne him CHAP. VIII His care to Sanctifie the Sabbath There was at Otham before his coming an ill custom for the Fulling Mills there abouts to work every Lords day but he convinced the owners so throughly of the unlawfulness thereof that they forbore presently and suffered their Mills to lie still on that day many years after he left them But the only wise God who governeth the world saw fit for some time to lay this usefull person aside for he had not been many years at Otham before the Book commonly called the Book of Sports on the Lords day came forth and was presented to him with a Command that he should publish it the next Lords day in his Church which he refused to do of which refusal he giveth the reasons which you may see in his answer to several Articles objected against him annexed to this Narrative and upon his refusal was suspended ab Officio Beneficio Upon his suspension his Cure was committed to such persons as he could not comfortably own or joyn with which caused him to remove his Habitation to Maidstone To the Christians there he was a great help whilst his suspension lasted and from them he received some support and supply for himself and his Family Whilst he was at Maidstone he still was solicitous for the good of his people at Otham and therefore to encourage them to unity and a Gospel conversation as also to convince his adversaries who had causelesly traduced him to be a savourer and a better of Schisms and Divisions he wrot a Letter to his Parish wherein the exhorted them to fear the Lord and the King and to walk in love c. and not to nourish in themselves any dislike of Government or contempt of those whom God had set over them c. Which Letter was read on a Lords Day in his Congregation by Dr. Tucke that all his Parishoners might know his judgement and the advice he judged necessary to give them without the appointment of Mr. Wilson The tidings of this Letter and the publick reading of it was soon carried to London and gave such a distast that both Mr. Wilson and Dr. Tucke were cited to appear before the High Commission Court and answer what they had done Both of them appeared several times to their great trouble and cost and were notwithstanding all they could alledge in their own defence forced to continue their attendance on the Court for the space of three years In this business Dr. Tucks trouble was the greater because his body unable to bear riding he was necessitated to make these long journeys of thirty miles and better on foot During Mr. Wilsons suspension a Neighbour Minister greedy of his Living commenced a Sute against him to eject him wholly out of Otham but his Patron Mr. Swinnoche made good his Title and so disappointed his Adversary CHAP. IX His appearance at a Visitation about the Prayer against the Scots HIs suspension continued till the year 1639. about which time the Scots entering England a Parliament was called and Archbishop Lawd took off his suspension But his sufferings were not at an end for in the year 1640. September 30. he and other Ministers were cited to appear at a Visitation of the Archbishops at Feversham in Kent to answer their not reading the Prayer against the Scots and also as they there heard to take the new devised Oath ex Officiam but when he and others of his Brethren presented themselves at the place they understood that the Oath should be wholly declined and the onely question should be why they did not read the forementioned Prayer Upon which they consulted together whether it were beâ—â— to appear before the Vicar General or no. â— was urged by some that the Parliament whom they apprehended would be some relief and shelter to them being to sit down on the 3 〈…〉 of November following it was but prudential for them to hold off at present and in case they were cited afterwards to Canterbury to appear only by a Proctour and protract time as much as might be But upon a serious weighing the reasons for and against their appearing it was concluded that they would appear and submit to the will of God however he should please to dispose of them Mr. Edward Bright of Gondburst and Mr. Wilson immediately repaired to the Inne where Sir Nathaniel Brent the Arch-Deacon and some inferiour Officers sat They no sooner appeared but Mr. Bright was pointed out by one present to the Arch-Deacon that knew him who presently asked him his name and whether he had read the Prayer against the Scots or no Mr. Bright answered No Whereupon the Arch-Deacon suspended him ab Officio Beneficio without admonishing him or giving him any time to consider of it which sudden act was deemed even by the Favourites of that Court to be neither prudential nor Canonical Though Mr. Wilson stood by when his Brother was suspended and perceived the service much hotter then he expected yet he did not flye from his colours or retreat in the least But being called answered to his Name and being asked whether he had read the Prayer gave a Negative answer with this reason Because in the Rubrick before the Common Prayer it was enjoyned that no Prayer should be publickly read except those that were in the Book of Common-Prayer but this Prayer against the Scots was not there This unexpected answer puzzled the Arch-Deacon being none of the readiest or accuted to reply and caused him to apply himself to Sir Nathan Brent who upon information of Mr. Wilsons reasons very ingeniously left the Arch-Deacon to himself and refused to meddle in it Upon which the Arch-Deacon the edge of his fury being
somewhat abated proceeded more considerately with Mr. Wilson then with Mr. Bright and gave him fourteen days time to consider of it and then to appear again at Canterbury and answer it CHAP. X. His fresh prosecution by the Arch-Bishop as also a strange providence BUt for all this present favour the Arch-Bishop had not done with Mr. Wilson or in March following he was again and fresh prosecuted by him Upon an Holy-day in that Month he met at the Personage house of which one Mr. Butcher an eminently pious person had a part of whom diâ— not my Relation to him forbid me I could speak much after his Sermon in publick with several friends to repeat the Sermon and seek God by prayer After the exercises were done in a Room peculiar to Master Butcher one knockt at the poor to which Mrs. Wilson was going but suddenly started back fearing a Messenger was come to apprehend her Husband but the Messenger soon entered into the Room where Mr. Wilson and his friends were and putting off his hat enquired which was Mr. Wilson pretending some private business with him Though Mr. Wilson was there in his Gown having newly Preached and Prayed and thereby easily to be distinguished from others yet God so ordered it that the Messenger observed served him not Soon after the Messenger came into the Room Mr. Wilson stept behind some of his friends and Mr. Butcher wisely stept forward and told the Messenger that the Room in which they were was his and that he should look for Mr. Wilson in his own Rooms upon this he quickly withdrew into the Hall another Room in the intrim Mr. Wilson went up the Stairs into his Study and lay close there till night and then escaped to Mr. George Halls at the Park is Maidstone The Pursevant looking about in vain on second thoughts returns back into the Parlor into which he first entered and missing one whom he had seen there before enquires for him chargeth all there present that they had conveyed Mr. Wilson away and they must find him out he also produced his Warrant under the hands of many privy Counsellors whereof the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London were two to attach the body of Thomas Wilson Rector of Otham and bring him before them After he had shewed his Order he commanded Mr. Butcher and one Mr. Morgan to assist him in the search of the House for Mr. Wilson But notwithstanding his diligent search he mist his desired prey The Messenger was very angry that he should see him and yet lose him but when in some threatnings to the persons present he had given his fury vent he was somewhat cooler and after some private discourse with Mrs. Wilson he took his leave Before his departure he said that he had been a Messenger to the Councel Table thirty six years and was never served so before for as he confessed he heard him Preach that day in publick and yet when he saw him so soon after and that in his Gown he did not know him But God had an hand in it Thy Kingdom ruleth over all Psa. 103. 19. He hath strange ways for the preservation of Men. CHAP. XI Strange Providences Mr. Wilsons freedom obtained by Sir Edward Deering with his Charactor of Mr. Wilson THe Circumcellians beset the way which they knew St. Augustine was to go that they might kill him but he mistook his way and so escaped their hands In Queen Mary's days the Bishop of Winchester pursued Mr. Iohn Fox the Martyrologist to Ipswich the Bark in which he was was newly gone out of the Haven when the Messenger came to take him and the next day by reason of storms forced to return thither again the Messenger was departed Since those days Mr. Parker a learned worthy Preacher was prosecuted by Archbishop Bancrost for his Book against the Cross c. and the Archbishop having intelligence that he was in a Citizens House in London thought he had him safe sent one presently to watch at the door of the house to see that none stirr'd out till others came with authority to search it for Master Parker The person sent sat him down at the door boasting that none should come out but he would know who and what they were Mr. Parker and his Friends within were in great thoughtfulness what was most addresseable in such a straight at last it was resolved that Mr. Parker should habit himself like a Citizen and venture out this way he might possibly escape if he staid within he was sure to be taken Accordingly he thus clad came forth not knowing but that the Waiter was still at the door but Providence so ordered it that the Waiter espying a Maid whom he Loved and Courted walking on the other side of the way stept over to her just at Mr. Parker came forth so that though the Messenger stayd a very little while with her but returned again Mr. Parker was gone and when the rest came with power to search the house the person they sought was not to be found But to return to Mr. Wilson who hid himself in the Countrey from the storm till the Parliament sat at which time he repaired to London and there continued in some change of Apparal that he might not be commonly known till his liberty and freedom was procured by the means of Sir Edward Deering one of the Knights of the Shire for Kent whose character of him in one of his Speeches in Parliament I shall here insert Mr. Wilson for so is your Petitioner named a Man Orthodox in his Doctrine conformable in his Life labourous in Preachings as any we have or I do know He is now seperated from his People to both their griefs for 't is not with him as with others who are glad to set a Pursivant a work that they may have an excuse to be out of the Pulpit It is his delight to Preach Having thus obtained his liberty he returned to his former charge and wonted pains at Otham Not long after he was chosen by the Parliament a Member of that Reverend Pious and Learned Assembly of Divines which sat at Westminster on which Assembly he usually attended most part of the week and notwithstanding his pains there supplied his Cure on the Lords Day though his Parish was 35 or 36. miles from London He was much esteemed in the Assembly for his solid judicious Discourses as occasion was offered and his meek humble behaviour CHAP. XII His removal to Maidstone HIs last remove was to Maidstone the Shire-Town of Kent for who so fit for so populous a place where there is but one English Church as one of such vast parts exemplary Holiness and strong constitution of body As soon as the way was opened to his induction into Maidstone through the ejection of the old Incumbent by the Committee of Plundered Ministers his old Hearers there whose hearts were close knit to him long'd for his settlement among them But the Parliament
not only sound in the Faith and did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hold fast the form of sound words 2 Tim. 1. 3. But also as Abraham 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was strong in the Faith Rom. 4. 20. And in the greatest dangers and difficulties could rely on God and trust him with himself and all he had He met with much opposition as is before declared in the work of Ministry from all sorts of persons both from open enemies and seeming friends for Satan knowing him so great an enemy to his Kingdom of darkness both by his life and Doctrine raised great winds and storms if it were possible to put out this burning and shining light But he was undaunted in the midst of all not moved by any of those things neither counted he his life dear unto him so he might finish his course with joy and the Ministry which he received of the Lord Iesus Acts 20. 24. He minded his own work consulted his duty left Gods work the issues and events thereof to God He was a Rock immovable though the Waves beat sore upon him and had often that saying of Luther in his Mouth Mallem ruore cum Christo quam regnare cum Caesare I had rather fall with Christ then stand with Caesar. He knew God could and would take care of his own cause and interest what ever became of him and other instruments His Lutheran Spirit could argue Si piam justam causam defendimus cur Dei promissis non confidimus praeter vitans hanc misellam Satanas Mundus nobis etipere nihil possunt At vivit in sempiternum regnat Christus in cujus tutela consistit veritas Is nobis aderit is etiam causam hanc quae non nostra sed ipsius est ad optatum producet sinem If the cause be good that we defend why do we not trust God who hath made us such gracious promises The Devil and World can take nothing from us but the miserable life but Christ lives and reigns for ever c. He was a man that lived much above the World the great things therof were very little in his eyes though his habitation was on Earth his conversation was in Heaven Indeed he had but a small estate especially considering his great charge but a poor man may be Earthly and covetous as one that is rich for covetousness doth not lie in the Chest or Bags or great Mannours but in the heart But he was Master of not a Slave to that little he had His mind was fitted to his estate and notwithstanding he had many opportunities and advantages for the getting riches if he had sought them yet he never made use of them for that purpose He was wholly taken up with his Treasure in Heaven and was so far from minding Earthly things that he seldom or never meddled with Earthly things but left all to his pious and prudent yoke fellow I have often admired his indifferency of spirit to the things of this life O how far was he from the number of many in our days who trouble themselves with Ploughing and Sowing and Reaping unnecessarily and worldly concerns all the Week and on the Lords Day and set their people off with raw indigested confused discourses and sometimes little better then non-sense A little before the insurrection in Kent in the year 1648. one hundred pound was brought into Mr. Wilsons house being a Legacy given his eldest Daughter by a gracious man Mr. Iohn Bigge one of the Jurates of Maidstone and I believe the greatest portion any of his children had which money in the time of the insurrection was by the Souldiers when they searched the house for Armes discovered and taken away though quickly restored again Mr. Wilson being then at London When the Countrey was quiet and Mr. Wilson returned again to his dwelling I asked him whether he was not much troubled when he heard his money was gone he answered me and I do believe him I was no more troubled when I heard the money was carried out of my house then I was when I heard it was brought into my house I also then enquired of him what frame of spirit he was in when he went from Maidstone for the Town Country being in Arms many of the mean prophane wretches reproached him when he was going out of the Town they took his Horse by the Briddle and twice or thrice brought him back crying out Wilson Wilson Where is your God now Where is your God now He told me truely I thought when they blasphemously said unto me Where is your God on the Text My God is in Heaven and hath done whatsoever he pleased Ps. 115. 3. CHAP. XXII Of his great natural Abilities and his Humility GReat were his gifts as well as his graces God was pleased to bestow on him large natural endowments whereby he became much the more capable of doing good He had a quick apprehension a clear understanding a deep and sound judgement and a most tenacious memory He was none of those Preachers whose tongues and galloping whilst sober reason and convincing sense standeth still or at best doth but creep He discovered strong judgement in a few words His body was of a strong constitution and truly so was his soul. He would presently find out the meaning of haâ—d Authors and what he read was his own I never knew any of the same strength of memory Though he was careful to write down his Sermons Heads Proofs and explications as he himself told me yet I never saw him use any Notes And he made a good use of his memory it was not as a childs pocket stuft with trash but as the Ark wherein the two Tables were laid up He had scarce his equal for his remembrance of the Scripture he was as I have heard tried a long time together One took a Bible and read a Verse in one Chapter another Verse in another went forward and backward both as to the Books and Chapters and Verses of the Scripture and all along he told the Reader the Verse Chapter and Book without any mistake And to the best of my remembrance himself told me that he believed he could tell the Book Chapter and Verse which any should read to him all the day long Much appeared in his Prayers I have heard him of a fast-day pray an hour together and most of the time in Scripture Phrases The Word was dear to him his daily delight and meditation That which made all his parts useful and amiable was that he made Hagar to wait on Sarah and as David consecrated the spoils taken from the Gentiles to the Temple so he Dedicated his natural accomplishments to his God and made them serviceable before the advancement of his honour But for all his great natural and gracious accomplishments he was cloathed with humility None thought so low of him as he of himself His face like Moses shined that all his judicious friends observed it and