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A62048
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The life and death of Mr. Tho. Wilson, minister of Maidstone, in the county of Kent, M.A.
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Swinnock, George, 1627-1673.
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1672
(1672)
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Wing S6277; ESTC R34633
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41,246
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112
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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
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-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