what book soever you read or Minister you hear when you do understand what they mean you are to examine whether it be a truth or no which they teach but as for the Scripture you are not to say How can this be but whether this bee the meaning of the words for the sense of the Scripture when once known is not to bee examined any further since there is no truth more evident by which the Scripture it being taken for the Word of God can bee tryed for since it is Gods Word it is as true as that God is true for since truth is essential unto God it is all one to deny that God is true as to deny that God is as since roundness is essential to a circle it is all one to say it is not round as to say it is not a circle 7. Wee are to read it applyingly Indeed divers commands were personal divers are in respect of their Office as to Ministers Magistrates divers were typical those that were personal as the command to Abraham to offer his Son so is not to bee applyed to any other save only to the equivalency of it viz. that nothing should bee so dear unto us but though in case God do require it wee should bee willing to part with it As for those commands that are typical they are ceased those that belong to any one as having such an Office are not to bee applied to any but of that office but as for the promises wee must not think that they were made to those to whom they were made because they were such or such but because they were so qualified viz. the promises were not made to Abraham as Abraham but to Abraham as believing Abraham and that promise which was made personally to him and confirmed with an oath was not made or confirmed by an oath that Abraham should have strong consolation only but that all the heirs of promise should have strong consolation also Heb. 6.14 17. compared together 8. Thou must read it frequently But because I have spoken more largely in that little Treatise viz. Directions to Christian Perfection I shall proceed to nominate what other books I would advise you to read CHAP. V. Wherein is set down a Catalogue of several books for the ignorant and poorer sort who in respect of their poverty cannot buy and of their ignorance cannot understand books of greater value and depth AFter my commending of the constant daily serious understanding reverent applying believing and conscionable reading of the holy Scriptures to all persons whatsoever 1. Bee they never so learned since the very Angels themselves desire to look into those mysteries though they despise the learnedst book that ever were writ by men as wonderfully below them 2. Though they bee the holiest knowingest and most experienc'd Saints since the Prophets and Apostles who themselves were pen-men of Scripture did read and meditate on and admire and study the Word of God as David Daniel Peter c. and did account it not less sure than the Revelations that God gave them Wee have a surer word of Prophecy 2 Pet. 1.19 and the more experience wee have of Gods goodnesse should not make us abate at all of our earnest desires of the Word of God for if wee have tasted how good the Lord is wee should still as much desire the sincere milk of the Word that wee may grow thereby delighting and being affected with it as wee were with that Sermon or that truth of Gods Word by which wee were converted as wee were the first day that wee were born of God 1 Peter 2.2 3. I say after such reading of the Scripture that the truths therein contain'd may be better understood and the commands thereof better practis'd to those specified in the title of this Chapter I commend these books following 1. The Plain-mans Path-way to heaven a book which partly because it goes by way of Dialogue as also because it answers the common objections of simple people against Religion as also because it writes very plain and stoops to the capacitie of the meanest I do highly commend it to such people to read The next is The Practice of Piety These two books I think next to the Scripture have done as much good as any two books in the Christian world The next book I shall commend is Mr. Balls Catechisme a book of great use and much solidity The next which is of super-eminency in its kinde is The Confession of Faith the larger and shorter Catechismes of the Assembly of Divines Another book of small price and bulk which after you are wel grounded in the principles of Religion set down in the former is a book called The fiery Pillar which hath very much in a little You may add to these for the better stirring you up to holiness and discovering of your spiritual condition Mr. Wheatleys New birth and his Sermon of the Redemption of time and Fenner of final impenitence and Mr. Shepherds sincere convert and sound believer Mr. Scudders daily walk is also a solid and very useful book Mr. Perkins his six principles and Mr. Dod upon the Commandments I am not willing to omit For those that are of a troubled conscience Doctor Sibbs his Bruised Reed and Souls Conflict As also Simmons his Deserted Souls case and cure are very good of which the two former are the plainest Mr. Baxter of the same subject 2. For those who in respect of their estates and capacities are able to buy books of greater price and understand books of higher knowledge FOr those that desire to encrease further in knowledge let them read Amesius his Medulla and Cases of Conscience and Calvins Institutions which are all translated into English for those that have large families especially of children I shall commend Bâ—ards Theatre of Gods Judgments as also Clerks Martyrology not but these two last books as well as the rest are fit for men of riper Judgements to read but because they are most fit for children and others of weak capacity for examples are easily remembred and understood and take deeper impression generally than precepts The Theatre of Gods Judgements sets down the Judgements of God upon blasphemers murderers swearers drunkards Sabbath-breakers disobedient children and therest of the sins against the ten Commandments and the Martyrology setting down the innocence holiness constancy of the Martyrs as also the mighty supports comforts that God gave unto them in their sufferings it will exceedingly provoke them up to an holy resolution to suffer for his sake who never leaves his comfortless nor forsaken and that which I very much intend in the reading of Martyrology is that they may bee brought to an utter hatred and detestation of Popery for they shall finde that there have been more massacred and butchered and greater cruelties and breaches of oaths vowes covenants by the Papists than ever were used since the world began by all the enemies of God and for a further
detestation of Popery against which we need now especially more than ever to arm our selves You may read Mr. Squires Lectures or Sermons upon the 2. of Thes 2. I shall also commend to those who have a larger purse Mr. Hildersham upon the 51. Psalm and fourth of John books that are written as the oracles of God who is the fullest of Scripture and the best Text-man that ever I read or as I think is extant in the world and is so singularly eminent a book so plain and so profitable that it may bee understood by the lowest capacities and admired by the greatest Divines that was famous through the Christian world for learning and for piety and humility of those that were acquainted with him The Arch Bishop of Armaugh did exceedingly prize Hildersham Doctor Prestons works are singularly good the best of them is his Tract of Gods Attributes Mr. Baxters Saints everlasting rest is a book for piety and working upon the affections so eminent that I do not know any beyond it I must not forget to commend that solid Orthodox spiritual book Anthony Burgesse his spiritual Refines There is also a small rational spiritual searching and very eminent book called Pinks Tryal of our sincere love to Christ Memorandum that through ignorance not knowing the books or through inanimadvertency or for want of judgment or because I would not multiply Authors it may bee I have not named many Authors which are better than those which are here nominated but these are very good and the best that I think I know in their kinde and for those persons and that end for which I have given these directions CHAP. VI. The next great help for the attaining of holiness is communion with Saints and first of solemn conferences and how to mannage them THere are many rare spiritual advantages that are to bee gain'd by our communion with Saints by conferences and combinations with them by their example gifts graces c. of which I shall speak in order Now conferences are either occasional or solemn As for occasional conferences I shall say little onely I shall advise that you should improve your acquaintance with every Saint according to your intimacy with them mark what grace they are most eminent in as suppose it bee humility observe their carriage especially as to that grace for their example will bee much more eminent in that than in other graces so that from their carriage you will understand that which I have spoke of in the beginning of this Treatise wherein the power of Godliness consists as to humility If their eminency lies in their ability to confute errours then enquire of them what are the best arguments against such and such an errour if they are most able for the resolving of spiritual doubts or cases of conscience direct your discourse that way as Scholars use to discourse with other Scholars of that wherein they are most eminent But I shall especially treat concerning solemn and set conferences and those may bee mannaged several wayes to much advantage some of them I shall mention The first way is for a number of understanding and experienced Saints to meet 1. at a prefixt hour for else it will occasion the loss of much time if that be not observ'd 2. Let the question they intend to speak to bee given the week or meeting before for their discourses will bee much more mature solid and deliberate 3. Let every one speak to the question succinctly pertinently orderly and when all the rest have spoken let the Minister for I judge it convenient hee should bee one give his judgement and resolution of the point This hath been one way that I have known of mannaging Christian conferences another hath been this some select experienced prudent Saints of a long standing met together they begin with a short but fervent prayer for a blessing upon their conference the subject of their conferences was only spiritual experiences viz. every one told the manner and method of their conversion which took up several meetings they communicated their answers of prayers those that have been in desertions if they remember how they fell into them what their doubts were and how resolv'd and how afterwards they were delivered at other times to communicate their experiences as to joyes and as to the manifestations and discoveries that God made of himself unto them what promise or other place of Scripture was the golden pipe that conveyed these cordials to them for the Spouse desires to bee kist with the kisses of his mouth for joyes that spring not from the Word of God are to bee suspected They told also what were the effects of those joyes Another subject of their discourse was to tell what they knew of other Saints and their experiences concerning the former matters Another was to tell what their life and conversation was and the rules they walked by as to eating drinking sleeping c. At another time they have brought forth the chief places of Scripture which they have written down wherein they have found most relish most support best directions in matters concerning their conversation or those that they accounted most eminent upon any spiritual account especially in those cases for which it is hard to finde out places of Scripture to direct us in As for example What example what place of Scripture have you to prove that the thoughts that Christ had of his own excellencie makes him more ready to give an example of love and humility to his people methinks that is a singular place John 13.3 4. that Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that hee was come from God and went to God hee riseth from Supper c. What place doth set forth the superexcellencie of God most Nehemiah 9.5 Blessed bee thy glorious Name that is exalted above all blessing and above all praise And so Exod. 15.11 Who is like unto thee O Lord among the Gods Who is like thee glorious in holinesse fearful in praises doing wonders And when all was done one repeated the substance of what was spoke and this they did one by one in their course one one day and another the next Another way was this divers Christians being met together and the subject being proposed the meeting before every one brought their answers in writing confining themselves to half a quarter of a sheet of paper which papers that no one might know whose papers they were that were to bee read were put into a book by them that writ them that whatsoever was amiss in any paper they that own'd it might not have the shame of their errour or ignorance it not being known whose it was then all the papers being read what was amiss was corrected and what was wanting was added what was doubted of was resolved by the Ministers that were present when all was done the papers were committed to one who wrote all of them into a book where they did not speak
Thou must never think to have any great measure of communion with God as long as thou standest in this uncertainty and irresoluteness As a woman as long as shee is courted by two and will not give an absolute denial to one of them cannot enjoy either as an husband c. so wants that communion that she might have with the one so that indeed both visit her but shee dwells with neither So while thou art thus doubting and wavering thou may'st have many visits and motions of the Spirit of God but the Spirit of God does not dwell in thee thou loosest those unspeakable advantages both of grace and joy which come by the co-habitation of the Spirit therefore make Religion thy businesse and follow God fully as Joshuah did and follow hard after God as David did and press forward to the mark as Paul did and strive to enter in at the strait gate as our Saviour commands CHAP. XVI The next great impediment is worldly company THe twelfth great impediment is worldly company such as have no acquaintance with God but talk of such things as Turks and Heathens do talk of as well as they When a Saint has been in private ravisht with the love of God and the joyes of heaven and meets with company which speaks not one word of such matters nor can what a damp is it and quenching as it were of the spirit of God in us How sapless juiceless and without relish are such discourses And the people of God do generally loose more by worldly men that in respect of their conversation are somewhat blameless than they loose by wicked and prophane men for their company they utterly avoid but the other they conversing withal they suffer much from It is generally in every ones mouth that wee have three grand enemies the World the Flesh and the Devil but few there are that deal with the flesh or with the world as enemies but they endeavour too much to please both which they do not use to do to enemies nay wee suffer very much many wayes meerly because wee would not displease the men of the world I knew an excellent Christian a woman of Quality who spent most of her time in private and secret duties a woman of the greatest eminency for that as I knew She when persons of great Quality came to see her would not omit her set times but would as they call'd rudely take her leave of them rather than omit her communion with God Alas What good can conferences with the people of the world do us though they talk of the things of God their discourses are unprofitable and unsavoury for one may see that they speak of things they understand not and have no experience of they speak as if one should speak of the West-Indies that was never there Alas they are neither able to comfort one nor to advise one concerning spiritual matters the lesse wee have to do with them the better CHAP. XVII The next impediment is abundance of worldly imployment The next impediment is abundance of worldly imployments and businesses Many there are that never think they can exceed this way and they put it all under the notion of their particular calling and grasp so much business that they can have no leisure or communion with God nay that time which they do spend in private their heads and hearts are so distracted with the thoughts of their imployments that God has little of them but their bodily presence and lip-labour for what with the business they were involved in before duty and that which they are to bee imployed in as soon as ever they have done there is such a throng of worldly thoughts in their heads and hearts that they do finde it an hard matter to get their hearts so much as in tune the time is so little they can spare for such matters then all must bee excused they must provide for their families or else they are worse than Infidels whereas they should withal think of providing for their own souls and for the soules of their families and their prayers with them for them and instructions of them they do not consider enough how that Christ blames Martha for being busied about many things though they were not onely domestical imployments but such as belonged to her and were undertaken for the immediate service and entertainment of Christ and if Christ blamed the multitude of her imployments thus qualified how much more will hee blame theirs They should also consider that those children thrive best for the most part both in the matters of the world and especially in the matters of God who have so much left them as they may with their own reasonable endeavours and industry live well else not And these men if they can but finde a place of Scripture or two which injoynes them to take up some calling or other they rejoyce and quiet themselves as if their greedy and covetous desires were justified by it Why do they not also consider how earnest the Scripture is in setting down the danger and deceitfulness and uncertainty of riches insomuch wee scarce read of any rich man that was holy except hee were holy first And those that wee read of that were holy they got their riches not by such worldly imployments as now adayes are used but such wherein they had abundance of leisure to serve God for they were generally Shepherds and their riches consisted in cattel So Abraham Isaac Jacob Job David they should also think with themselves how much the Scripture presseth us to have our conversation in heaven and there to lay up our treasures and that we should bee frequent in prayer meditation and closet duties for without frequency in them 't is impossible to bee heavenly minded in earthly imployments Hee needs frequently to take Antidotes that converses nay lives with those that have the plague Why do not men put bounds to their desires of growing rich they put bounds to their charity and to their times for solemn duties and why not to the things of the world CHAP. XVIII The next great impediment is to have a carnal opinion that it is easie to bee religious ANother great impediment is to think it is an easie thing to bee religious and that one need take no pains but that wee may go to heaven upon a bed of roses or at least now and then to pray and to read some good books to hear Sermons and repeat them and other such outward works of Religion are abundantly enough Alas Alas the work of Religion is within 't is neither the ear that hears nor the tongue that prayes but the heart doth both It is true the body by consent and sympathy may suffer somewhat insomuch that it is a hard thing to pray as wee ought upon a full stomack without being sick And if one has something that wee must obtain of God and intend to wrastle with him for it wee shall finde that our
thoughts 2. It honours Gods mercy abundantly for wee suppose that God is so ready to hear and waits to shew mercy Isa 30.18 that the swiftest shortest prayer cannot escape him 3. It is a distinguishing note between regenerate and unregenerate persons for solemn prayer publike family closet prayer an hypocrite may perform them but not frequent mental ejaculatory prayer 4. By this means the soul must needs be perfumed and inflamed and established as hee that is often in a Perfumers Shop and at the fire must needs retain much of the heat of the one and the sweet sents of the other 5. These ejaculatory prayers keep us in a perpetual fitness for solemn prayer instruments of musick that are seldome plaid on though they bee left never so well in tune yet if hung by for any considerable time will grow out of tune and unfit to play on without retuning of them So our hearts except continually exercised by ejaculatory prayer will loose that sweet harmony they had nor will bee fit for solemn duties without further preparation but one that continually multiplies ejaculatory prayers is alwayes in such a frame of heart as is fit for solemn prayer 6. This is the way to keep God always with us in a friendly presence for if so be ones friend comes to see one if ones busines bee of that nature that one cannot speak with him from morning to night or if it bee not of that nature as divers kindes of imployments are if one would not so much as minde him hee leaves us but if wee will converse with him though we bee doing something else hee stayes with us So if thy heart bee continually speaking to God by ejaculatory prayers hee will not forsake thee but if you will not by ejaculatory prayers speak one word to God when thy solemn prayer is ended thou mayest not expect the presence of God at other times nay nor then neither 7. Thou wilt miss of abundance of blessings and mercies if thou neglectest ejaculatory prayers for divers times thou wilt finde while thou art in conference with the people of God or reading some good book c. that thine heart will bee sometimes inflamed with the love of God and desires after enjoyments of him thou wilt bee brought to the sight and sense of thine own unworthiness and spiritual wants so that thou wilt finde many things that thou standest in need of for which it is very fit that thou should'st put up thy prayers to God and while the sense of these things do affect thee thou wilt pray with more zeal and fervency but if thou wilt refer all to thy solemn prayers and say to thy self As soon as the company is gone and I have an opportunity for solemn prayer then I will poure out my soul before God But by this meanes two great mischiefes will befall thee 1. It may bee that frame of heart may cease and thou not striking while the iron is hot ten times more strength and time will not serve 2. Thou canst not keep in minde all those things which thou wast moved to pray or praise God for for in an hour or two especially if wee are in conference with the people of God a multitude of occasions of ejaculatory prayers will occur which it is almost impossible for thee to remember if thou neglectest them when they offer themselves unto thee and if thou canst remember them when thou comest to thy solemn prayers thy former ejaculatory prayers will not hinder but further thee in the duty 8. This is the way to spiritualize all our worldly imployments this is our having our conversation in heaven I have heard it reported of one that hee kept a stricter communion with God whilst hee was walking in the streets than ordinarily Christians did on their knees By this means worldly objects that take up the thoughts of wicked men in their worldly imployments and also in holy duties I say those worldly objects that distract others will serve to imminde thee of and give thee matter of more frequent ejaculations unto God 9. The want of ejaculatory prayers cannot bee any way supplied not by solemn duties and if the case were so that wee must omit one of them it were better to omit our solemn prayer in the morning and to have our heart sending up continually ejaculatory prayers and breathings after God than to spend an hour in the morning in solemn prayer and meditation and all the rest of the day not to have so much as one thought of God One that were to write or read all day in exceeding cold weather which of these two do you think hee would chuse either to bee an hour at a good fire in the morning but not to come neer it all the rest of the day or an hundred times a day if hee so pleased to go and stay a while and warm himself and return again to his imployment though both were best yet the last if they must bee sever'd were to bee chosen as to warmth By our ejaculatory prayers wee do frequently warm our souls and keep the heat of the love of God from going out in us 10. These are the first and last prayers of every Saint as soon as hee is new born hee cries Abba Father or with Paul Lord what wilt thou have mee to do and it is the last thing that a Saint doth when hee comes to die An ejaculatory fervent inflamed prayer is the fiery Chariot which carries the soul of every Saint to heaven So our blessed Saviour Father into thine hands I commend my spirit when hee dies and takes his leave of praying it is by an ejaculatory prayer and so it is the first and last of all solemn duties it prevents and prepares us for them When a man is converted as hee is hearing the Word hee cannot stay while hee comes home to solemn prayer but is sending up sparks and ejaculatory prayers from the time that hee is wrought upon by God it is the Amen which closeth up all our prayers for Amen is but an ejaculation great fires begin and end in a spark So David ends his Psalm with an ejaculatory prayer Psalm 19.14 As in a bell when it ringeth out if you let it go it will not cease of a sudden but will strike many a Toll before it quite ceaseth so the Soul after solemn duties hath some motions and returnes and callings upon God Mark those solemn duties which you have begun without ejaculatory prayers by way of preparation and have ended without any consequent breathings after God you shall finde such duties much lesse effectual 11. This is the way to weary out Satan as a City is wearied out by continual Assaults and Alarums for every ejaculatory prayer gives Satan a fresh Alarm so that by this means thou dost never let Satan alone Solomon compares a contentious Wife to a continual droping Prov. 19.13 one that rideth in a great shoure if the rest of the day
commend this only upon that account not as a thing of absolute necessity but if any better way can bee found for the performance of those duties mentioned in this Chapter or a better model for keeping a Diary as I doubt not but many may be use them but in the mean time neglect not the using of any because you cannot have the best 5. I understand not this question it is somewhat like a question once proposed to me I pressing one of my Parishioners some years since to minde holiness make it his business and to spend one hour a day reading and praying c. and giving more particular directions for the daily time set apart for Gods service after by many evasions and excuses hee endeavoured to shift off this exhortation all which by Gods assistance I having taken off and answered hee at last in some discontent asked mee why I should offer to press him to spend an hour a day in the immediate service of God c. Had I prest any of the neighbours to it or did I ever press it to any other before Why should hee be the first that I should speak to So it is for you to ask Why should I bee the first that should keep a Diary Though let mee tell you thou art not the first as I suppose of thousands yet because Scripture is the soundation of all matters of Piety therefore I shall shew many places where the year the moneth the day of the moneth is set down when such and such things were done when the waters abated and the tops of the mountains first appeared when the Ark rested when the earth was quite dry the very day when Moses spake to the people such and such things the very moneth day and year of Solomons Reign and from the children of Israels coming out of Egypt is set down when the Temple began to bee built and the very day when it was finished the very year and moneth and day when Nebuchadnezzar came up against Jerusalem and when the famine began c. Gen. 8.4 5 13 14. Exod. 19.1 Deut. 1.3 1 Kings 6.1 38. 2 Kings 25.1 3 8 2 Kings 25.27 And as for the Prophet Ezekiel hee hath kept a perfect Diary of several times when the Word of the Lord came unto him and divers other circumstances added also besides the year moneth and day as of place where and persons with whom hee was as by these places following plainly appears Ezekiel 1.1 2. Ezek. 8.1 Ezek. 20.1 Ezek. 24.1 Ezek. 26.1 Ezek. 29.1.31.1.32.1.40.1 Why should the Spirit of God write down so particularly the year the moneth and the day surely it is for our instruction there may bee some spiritual advantage got by knowing the very day when the Lord did bestow such or such a mercy c. then only to know that God did bestow it on us but not know when This was not only the practise of Ezekiel but of other Prophets also as Jer. 29.1 2 Hagg. 1.1 Hagg. 2.1 10 20. so if you observe the book of Psalmes there are 99. that are ascribed to David 74. have his name prefixt 25. of them have no name prefixt yet some of them the Scripture it self entitles David to Acts 4.29 Heb. 4.7 and Ainsworth supposeth the rest of the 25. to bee his also Now you shall finde in those Psalmes as it were a Diary of the most remarkable passages of Davids life nay you shall finde in many of the Psalmes the very prayers and meditations that David had upon several particular occasions as in these Psalmes following 51.52.54.56.57.59.60 so Psal 3. and many others as by their several titles do appear How often do you finde mention of Nathan the Prophet Gad the Seer Ahijah the Shilonite Jaddai Shemmajah Iddo c. these were private Records or Diaries kept by them of remarkable passages that concern'd the Church of God and that expression is not this written in the book of Jasher Joshua 10.13 and 2 Sam. 1.18 cannot bee meant of any particular person for the same person could not live from Joshua till the time of David but the meaning is Is it not written in the book of the Just for holy men in those times and since used to keep Records of the special mercies and judgements of God as Grotius observes and the very title of the book of Chronicles signifies the words of daies Now it is evident that in civil matters also not only the Kings of Israel and the Kings of Judah did keep Diaries for where you read Is it not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel and in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah those are meant but even Heathen Emperours as Julius Caesar writ his own Commentary that is Diary so the word signifies Tyberius Caesar and Augustus Caesar had their Diurnos Commentarios as Gasper Sanctius in his Prolegomena to the Kings observes So Ahasuerus and the Kings of Persia had Secretaries by them continually to write down all that they did and said and all that befel them as Diodate upon Hester 2.23 observes I have been a little larger in this business because people think it is a new thing and that there are no Scripture proofes at all for it to prove it either a profitable or an ancient practise among the people of God but doubtless as I have said if there were no spiritual advantage to be got to know the particular times of matters the Scripture would never have been so punctual and particularly in setting of them down But to prosecute this a little further do but consider that whether you keep a Diary or no God doth Revel 20.12 and in his Diary are all your sins and all your good works set down surely if it were possible for us to see it every minute wee should see something written either in the black Register of our sins or in the Records of our good works and it would startle us if an Angel should be by us and we should see him write down every idle word as wee speak it and tell us this you must answer for at the day of Judgement it would make us more watchfull yet though wee cannot see this done nor read what is written in those books yet wee may do something towards it by keeping a Diary of our own and by judging and condemning our selves out of our own wee may prevent our being judged and condemned out of Gods Diary nor was David ignorant of this truth that God doth keep several books of Records to speak after the manner of men some where our sins are written down Psalm 51.9 for blotting out supposeth writing down and other where the members of our bodies are set down Psalm 139.16 A third book that David observes that God keeps is of the afflictions and tears of his people of their several wanderings when they are driven from place to place and as for their tears hee bottles them up and writes
of the Priests being cloathed all in white which he doing Alexander as soon as he saw him fell prostrate before him his Army wondering at his carriage Parmenio asked him what he meant to worship the High-Priest when all others worshipped him He answered he did not worship the High-Priest but that God whom the High-Priest served For saith Alexander when I was in Dio considering what to do in my wat 's God appeared unto me in this very artire and wished me to go on and hee would prosper me and I never since saw any in that attire before now and therefore it is that I do shew that respect to the High Priest and then giving the High-Priest his hand was conducted by him into the Temple and offered Sacrifice according to his directions who also did shew him the Prophesie of Daniel wherein he told him it was prophesied that one of the Grecians should destroy the Persians and hee supposed that hee was the person meant by the Prophecy of which Alexander was very joyful and bestowed great favours both on the High-Priests and the rest of the Jewes Now because of all the stories of the Martyrs either in the time of the Primitive Church or since by the far greater cruelty of the Popish persecution I do not know that ever I read any story equal to this which is recorded by Josephus of the Martyrdome of the seven sons of one Mother I thought good to insert this story which though as for the substance of it it is in the book of Macchabees yet being exceeding more large in Josephus I have transcribed it out of him and the rather do I set down this story because generally Expositors do think that the Apostle in Hebrewes 11.35 hath relation to the sufferings of these worthy Martyrs and it was thus Antiochus whom the Prophet Daniel calls a vile person Dan. 11.21 after he had Martyr'd Eleazer a man of great age reverence piety and constancy caused seven brethren who were brought up and instructed by that blessed fore-named Martyr Eleazer to be brought forth to Martyrdome the Tyrant beholding them and their Mother amongst them with merry and gladsome countenance hee thus spake unto the children I wish your good O admirable young men for so both your beauty of body and Noble parentage perswade mee do not therefore like mad men resist my command avoid not only torments but death also for I desire not only to exalt you unto honour but also to encrease your riches and possessions contemn the superstitious and superfluous belief of your Countrymen and imbrace our Religion which if you refuse to do as I hope you will not I will devise all torments whereby I may by a lingring and painful death consume you and to the end hee might terrifie them the more hee commanded all instruments of torments to bee presented to their view so wheels rods hooks rakes racks cauldrons cages gridirons were brought forth and engines to torment the fingers and hands gauntlets bellowes brazen pots and frying pans Then Antiochus said Consent unto mee O prudent young men for if that I command you to commit a sin yet do not you offend in doing it seeing you commit it only upon compulsion But the young youths guided by a Divine Spirit contemned so many kindes of torments and despised the Tyrants threats and flatteries and with one consent denied to eat of the Sacrificed Swines flesh as they were commanded wherefore said they doest thou persecute us that are innocent wee both desire and wish to die and will until such time as death expelleth life firmly keep that which God commanded and Moses taught us and do not thou seek to seduce us by protesting feigned love towards us the pardon which thou dost offer is to us more dangerous than punishment we are arm'd with contempt of death and esteem not thy words as being by our late Master Eleazer taught to despise them Why then dost thou think such pusillanimity to bee in us young men seeing of late thou foundest such courage in an old man we follow him thou canst not try and know our mindes except by tearing our bodies thou search them out Wee will safely and securely suffer for our God any thing and leaving this earth we shall bee entertained into heaven and thou for so tyrannizing most cruelly upon innocent souls shalt bee reserved unto hell fire Antiochus being greatly moved to see that hee could neither prevail by fair promises nor threatnings hee caused them to bee beaten with Bulls Pisles and first hee commanded the eldest of the seven brethren to be stript and stretched out upon a rack and his hands to bee bound behinde him and then to bee most cruelly beaten who wearied his tormentors by his sufferings so that they more desired to leave beating him than hee desired they should leave This done hee was put upon a wheel and a weight hang'd upon his feet and so stretched round about it that his sinews and intrals brake and so his pains encreased yet for all the pain his mouth was not hindred from calling upon God who beheld all and reproving the Tyrant that devised those torments for the innocent hee cryed out after this manner O thou that persecutest the Majesty of God I whom thou thus tormentest am no Conjurer nor Murderer but one that dies for the truth and observing of the Lawes of God Then the Tormentors wishing him to yeeld Your wheels said hee are not so sharp and cruel that I thereby will bee forced to forsake heaven whereon my minde is fixed tear my flesh yea if it so please you roast it at the fire torture each part of my body with several cruelties you shall for all this finde your selves unable to force us young men to sin As hee thus spake a fire was kindled and hee as hee was upon the wheel racked was so thrown into the fire And thus hee was so burned that his bowels appeared he being nothing moved though his flesh was out of the midst of the fire cryed thus to his brethren O beloved brethren learn by mee an example of constancy contemn and despise the alluring baits of this world and rather obey God than Antiochus who can if hee please humble the proud and mighty and exalt the lowly and dejected As thus he spake hee was taken out of the flame and flean alive his tongue was pull'd out of his mouth and hee put into a Frying-pan and so hee ended his dayes After him the second Brother being haled by the Souldiers Antiochus before hee asked him whether hee would relent caused all those instruments of torments to bee shown him also thereby to terrifie him but hee nothing thereat moved and denying to eat of their foresaid Sacrifice his hands were bound with iron chains and hee being hang'd up by them the Skin of his body was flean from the Crown of his head unto his knees so that the intrals in his brest appeared naked yet in such manner
that was a Batchelour who lived as poor as shee who very seldome would give her any thing sometimes some small single money the last time shee came to him though shee was in great want and used much importunity yet hee would not give her a farthing shee then begg'd a cup of drink of him hee pretends that he was so poor that hee had not money to buy himself bread and so sent her away with nothing but her own tears to drink but though weeping may endure for a night joy comes in the morning for the Lord struck that hard-hearted man with death and this poor woman being Heir to his Estate was worth next day ten thousand pound which with a great deal of care hee had scrap'd together and with a great deal of uncharitableness had kept and though hee would not give her a farthing over night hee was forced to leave her all the next morning Luther hath this story A certain woman in the time of famine having nothing at all for her children and her self to eat being brought to very great extremity shee resolv'd upon this course shee made her self and all her children ready and with a great deal of comfort and confidence shee walked to a Spring not far from her house as shee was going one met her who ask'd her whether shee was going with her children Shee told him that all her provision was quite spent and shee was going with her children to such a Fountain close by being confident that God that had provided drink for her and her children would there provide food for them also and hee that heard the young Ravens and provided for them would much more take care of her and her little ones hee that met her wished her to return home for shee should meet with provision that was ready for her there shee returned and found a considerable quantity of meal which was food for her and her children but whence this provision came shee knew not nor knew the man who told her of it There was a certain poor family being in great wants and had little or nothing for their children when dinner came they put them off with play-things and told them they would see if they could get them something for Supper and when Supper came they would give some small piece of bread and so get them to bed And thus they used them so long while at last the children would not to bed but cryed for bread that night it was so that my Lord Fawkland waking before midnight and could not sleep it came into his minde that this family was in great want insomuch that hee call'd up some of his servants and sent them with a great loaf and a Cheese to the house when the servant came hee found the children crying for bread and the Parents weeping by them who with a great deal of joy and eagerness received that unexpected provision Thus the Lord ordered it by his Providence that they were not only then relieved but their necessities being related to the Lord Fawkland by his servant hee took care of them for the future Speed in his Chronicles relates this story there being a great famine the year before as soon as the corn was ear'd the poor would gather and eat insomuch that the Inhabitants of the Parish came to the Priest desiring him to curse the people for gathering and spoiling the corn but one of the Parishioners stood up and charged the Priest that hee should not curse them for his corn for it did him good to see the poor eat his corn for hee was very sensible of their necessities but the clamours of the others prevail'd but as the Priest was cursing the poor there fell a great storm of Thunder and Lightening and Hail which beat down all the corn so as if Horses and Carts had gone over it nor would either beasts or any fowl eat any thing of it only this good mans corn though intermingled with others stood untouched not an ear of it being blasted Doctor Hill in his book of living and dying well hath a remarkable story of a young Gentleman of one of the Innes of Court who it seems expected to die suddenly and before hee should bee twenty four years of age and so hee did having these verses found about him viz. Not twice twelve years full told a wearied breath I have exchanged for an happy death Short was my life the longer is my rest God takes them soonest whom he loveth best Hee that is born to day and dies to morrow Loses some hours of joy but moneths of sorrow Other diseases often come to grieve us Death strikes but once and that stroke doth relieve us So grave a Doctor setting down this story in his book I thought it no lightness in mee to set it down in mine The story of Mr. Holland not only because it is very remarkable but also because it hath pleased God to affect me very much with it I shall setdown here also This Mr. Holland was a pious and faithful Preacher of the Gospel as some that have been acquainted with him and have heard him have testified of him a man that was a stranger and Pilgrime in the world neither having any thing to do with it nor indeed knew it his Wiâ—e mannaging all his worldly affairs for him hee knew not what the common coyns of gold were worth and for his cloaths except his Wife had otherwise ordered it hee would have worn them till they had been rags hee spent his time wholly in his Study and a man of great charity insomuch that if hee had no money about him and a poor man had begg'd of him hee would have given his Gloves or Handkerchief or Band c. being regardless of all things save the glory of God and the Salvation of his own and others Souls This precious Saint the day before his death calling for a Bible continued his Meditation and Exposition on the eighth to the Romans for the space of two hours but on a sudden hee said O stay your reading what brightness is this I see and they said it is the Sun-shine nay saith hee it is my Saviours shine Now farewel world welcome heaven the Day-Star from on high hath visited my heart I doubt not but you all see that light but I feel a light within me that none of yee all can know and then turning himself to the Minister who preached his Funeral Sermon who was one of them that came to visit him hee said Sir I desire you would preach my Funeral Sermon for this night I dye and speak this from mee and speak it confidently that God deales familiarly with man a rare and sweet expression I feel his mercy I see his Majesty whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell God hee knoweth but I see things that are unutterable And being thus ravished in his spirit hee roamed towards heaven with a cheerful look and soft sweet voice