the Spirit did make his consolations to abound for increase of his joy and peace in Christ Jesus About the fifteenth of Ianuary his strength was much abated and his weaknesse increated by reason of a sore stopping in his breast and throate which did so trouble him that hee could take no food nor refreshing no not so much as a Spoone-full of any Syrup or broth or any other liquid thing but he was ready to faint and to be gone upon it It was much about this time Sir H. B. came to visit him that a worthy Knight his neare and deare Cosen came to see him one whom hee loved most intirely for his faithfulnesse in his place zeale unto Gods house and love unto Gods people Who when hee saw him in so great weaknesse could not refraine from teares but wept over him abundantly which when hee was aware of hee began to speake comfortably unto him saying Good Sir weepe not for mee for there is no cause of weeping His gracious words and exhortations unto him but of much rejoycing in my behalfe Turne your teares into prayers and let mee enjoy that fruit of your love Let them weepe that have no other hope but in this life only Let them weep that have no portion in the Lord nor any part in Christ Iesus But as for you and me let us in every estate and condition while we live together rejoyce in the Lord together You are in your way I am at my journeys end walke on still as you have well both begune Iosh 1.7 8 Heb. 13. and continued a long season And the Lord will bee with you hee will never sayle you nor forsake you And with many other words did hee exhort him and others that were with him to be Faithfull in keeping Covenant with God to continue in the grace of God whereunto they were cald in Christ Iesus His son and heire came unto him Vpon Monday being the 16 of Ian. his son and heire came unto him whom he rejoyced to see unto whom hee gave many wholsome instructions and gracious exhortations praying for him and blessing his children encouraging him to be constant in Religion and commending unto him the excellency His good counsel unto him and reward of the same Exhorting him also to uphold the worship and service of God both in the Assembly and in his Family When Theoà osius that good Emperour was dead and gone Ambâ—in Funere Theod Saint Ambrose at his Funerall went about to comfort himselfe and the people that they had not wholly lost him because hee did yet live in his good and godly sons Arcadius and Honorius whom as a part of himselfe hee had left behind him It was the godly desire wee may see of this gracious Gentleman His desire to have his heires to follow his steps that when hee should bee dead and gone he might yet live in his children especially in the heires of his body and Family that they might bee followers of his Faith and Religion both for the power and practise of it as well as Inheritors of his lands and possessions for the fruits and profits of the same This was their Fathers charge That being dead he might as it were live in them again the discharge whereof would bee their comfort and their crowne if the Lord give them grace thus to fulfill the desire of the dead and the joy of the living For so this gracious Gentleman should still live in his Posterity and Religion should neither dye nor decay in that Family And that Religion might never dye nor decay in that Family Liquefacta hac nive multum erit luti Soc lib. 3. c. 19. where it was maintained not only in life and strength but in beauty and glory full of all good fruits as we have heard already and free from all rootes of bitternesse and from all soure grapes of grosse Sins springing and arising from such roots CHAP. LXVII M.L. and my selfe came to visit him Ian. 16.1625 UPon the same day Ianuary 16. Master L. and my selfe came unto him And here what shall I say Recrudescit doloris vulnus My sorrow bleeds afresh I can now rather weepe than write mine eyes drop downe teares as my pen doth words and my writing rejoyceth as it were to mingle it selfe with my weeping to blurre and blot my paper that no more be said of these things Curae loquuntur leves Senec. ingentes stupent But I will indeavour to refraine and containe my selfe Juvat tanli viriobituÌ„ destendo scribere scribendo deflere Linthprand l. 1. cap. uâ—to and tell you as I can some few things of many which I saw and heard from him at that instant Vpon my comming unto him so soone as he saw me hee seemed to bee much cheered and comforted even in his very soule and so spake in such broken and short speeches as then he could to this effect unto me Oh brother H. you are a welcome man unto me I am here you see the Lords prisoner His patient waiting for release cast upon the bed of my sicknes and in great affliction yet waiting upon the mercies of my God for a comfortable release in due season And when he was asked of the estate of his faith and hope in Christ and whether his consolations did not abound in the middest of all his afflictions His con solations still abound Yes I thank God saith he they doe and farre doe exceed them Yea and that which is more remarkable the Lord of his mercy hath given me so strong evidence of his favour and love in Christ Without all trouble of mind or conscience that I am not troubled in mind nor conscience with any doubts or feares nor aâ—… other Satanicall molestations or tentations but rest and wait in patience for the accomplishing of his mercies upon mee according to his good pleasure towards me Hereupon We rejoyced in his joy although we were sorrowfull in his sorrow yet were we joyfull also in his joy and finding him so graciously setled and resolved concerning his peace and reconciliation with God in Christ and touching his assurance of his heavenly inheritance we resolved not to trouble him much with many words in his great weaknesse but demanded of him whether hee would not have us to commend him unto God in our prayers At which motion hee seemed to rejoyce in his spirit and answered yes he would and did much desire it Prayed with him and for him Egredere anima quid times Egredere anima quid dubitas septuaginta propè annis servisti Christo mortem times In haec verba exhalavit spiritum Hieron in vita Hilaâ—ionis And so he raised up himselfe in his bed and lifting up his heart with his hands to God in the heavens did as it were reach after the petitions that were put up to God for him and joyning in heart and spirit with
so many as have list and leasure may derive and draw water enough either to quench their thirst Polyd. Vir. de Invent. lib. 2. cap. 13. Pet. Crin de honest Discip lib. 24. cap. 14. Ammian Marcell lib. 14. pag. 1420.1422 Idem lib. 28. pag. 1773. Calvin Ep. 347. Bez. in Luc. 1.9 in Act. 1. in Ephes 4.14 Bulling Dec. 3. Serm. 1. Danaeus de ludo Aleae Hyperius de provid Dei p. Mar. Cap. 12. Class 2. loc com after such pleasures of sin or to drowne and overwhelme as with a deluge all their carnall desires and delights in such vanities And so I leave this point His collections against cards and dice. if I may first have leave to set downe some few Observations which this Gentleman himselfe hath collected to strengthen his judgement and justifie his detestation of these games CHAP. XXXIX 1 ALL games depending upon hazzard or chance as many call it are to be eschewed 2 The Prince of Divils first invented the same and the place was hell 3 Such Gamsters were held and accounted for infamous persons uncapable of any Office and unworthy any benefit of Law 4 Dicers Harâ—ots and Theeves be of one Hall and Corporation and the more cunning in this Art the more wicked in their lives and manners 5 All gaine by gaming is turpe lucrum Prov. 16.33 18 18. plaine theevery worse than usury 6 All play at Dice is plaine Lottery Acts 1.26 which to useidely or trislingly is a sin against the third and ninth Commandement Ezek. 22.12.13 Act 16.16 Luk. 6.31 7 There is no recreation of body or mind in these games unlesse it be in desire and hope to gaine by another mans losse which is unlawfull 8 Cards and Tables seeme lesse evill but neither barrell better Herring there is such and so much craft in pricking and packing c. 9 These are mixt games consisting partly of Lottery partly of witt and industry and oftentimes maintained with trickes of cousenage and knavery 10 The coat Cards were in times past the Images of their Idols Phil. 4.8 1 Thes 5.22 Rom. 13.3 4 5. Rich. 2. Hen. 4. Edw. 4. Hen. 7. Hen. 8. Eliz. 14. 1 Cor. 10.31 1 Cor. 8.13 Mat. 7.12 Luc. 6.31 Dives eram dudum me feertunt tria nudum Alea Vina Venus tribus this sum factus egenut 11 We must abstaine from such games because 1. They have never been nor yet are of any good report in the Church 2. There is great appearance of evill in them 3. The commandement of the Magistrate forbidding them by the name of unlawfull games 4. They tend not to Gods glory 5. They are causes of much hurt unto our neighbours and occasions of many sinnes and sorrowes to the gamesters themselves and to their families for thus many bring a Castle into a cap-case and a Lordship into a Cottage and a Fee simple into a Fee single and an estate of abundance and superfluity unto an estate of beggary and misery And thus have you heard some reasons of this godly Gentleman 's both practice and judgement against Tables Cards and Dice especially amongst Christians wherein I would intreat this favourable construction at the hands of every good Christian in his behalfe that they would not censure him as too singular or too precise in these things seeing he hath followed herein the Doctrine of such worthy Divines and others Pet. Mar. in Judg c. 14. Taffin of amendment of Life in our reformed Churches as have had their workes approved printed and published many yeares agoe even in our land and in our owne language for our instruction and reformation in these things lib 2. c. 19. Perkins in his golden chain on the third Commandement Dudley Fenner in his Treatise of Recreation Northbrooke against Cards and Dice Esty in his history of the Gospel Destruction of small Vices Anatomy of Abuses pag. 131. Dialogue betwixt Paul and Demas Sir Thomas Eliot in his Gover. booke 1. chap. 26. Ludovic Vivues in his Institution of a Christian woman Chap. 3. M. Perkins in his Cases of Conscience Booke 3. Chap 4. Bullinger Decad. 3. Serm 1 in pracept 8. Bishop Babington in Com. 8.409 Bishop Hooper in Com. 8. pag. 75. Canon Ecoles Anglucan ann 1571. pag. 7. pag. 11. See the Margent CHAP. XL. NOW after a while having thus rid his hands and fired out of his house these so dangerous instruments of idlenesse and profanenesse wastfulnesse and much wickednesse as he saw every where Cards and Dice Tables and Tablemen to be Hee began to think of a wiser and better course both to prevent these mischiefs In stead of Tables Cards and Dice hee set up two Bibles and to exercise the minds and hearts of his own family and such as might by occasion come to his house unto godlinesse and good things To which end hee brought in and set up upon a deske both in his Hall and in his Parlour two goodly faire Bibles of the best Edition and largest Volume as then they were Printed some in a larger and some in a larger and some in a lesser Fol. and these hee placed to be continuall residentiaries the bigger in the Parlour Ohe in his Parlour Another in his Hal. and the lesser in the Hall as the holy Tables of the Covenant of God instead of the profane Tables of the men of the world wherein men of good minds might exercise themselves in reading and hearing the Word of God for their farther edification and comfort as their list and leisure would serve them thereunto A good purpose I confesse and that of an honest and well affected heart both to cut off all occasions and provocations to evill and to open a way and offer a passage by good meanes unto better things And a course no doubt so much the more commendable Agreeable to Church Canons as it was more answerable to the Canons and Constitutions of our own Church of England by which there is a serious and heavy charge laid upon all Arch-Bishops Can. Ecclesiae Anglicanae anno 1571. Cap. de Episco Bishops Deanes Cathedrall Churches c. that they provide themselves of Bibles in the fairest and largest Volume and of the Book of the Acts and Monuments and place them in their Hals or dyning Chambers Vs ipsorum famulis advenis usui esse possint that they might be for the use of their own servants Bibles for Bishops Servants and for Strangers and for strangers also which come in unto them Which good order I would to God it had been ever since as carefully and conscionably observed as it was at the first well and wisely ordained and enjoyned by them This neglected For then should we have had lesse cause to complaine of the strange dealing of some who have been so busie about tything mint and cummin that these and other weightier things the Law are yet left undone A speciall remedy hereof might
frowardnesse and fiercenesse with words of meeknesse and gentlenesse imitating herein the meeknesse of Moses against the bitter and insolent speeches of Aaron and Miriam when they rose up against him Iud. 8.1 2. And following the good example of Gideon who when the Ephraemites were very angry with him and did chide him most sharply did answer them againe with meeke and gentle words most courteously and wisely and so mitigated and asswaged the rage of their passions presently In mildnesse like his Master Christ Iohn 18 2â— 23. But above all remembring and expressing the mildnesse and meeknesse of his Master Christ who being checked and smitten on the face by an officer of the High Priest as having answered him otherwise than was meet never revenged the wrong but answered the party in great meeknesse of spirit and mildnesse of speech If I have spoken evill heare witnesse of the evill but if well why smitest thou me Many of a cruell and bloody dispostion O how farre short are all they of this his sweet behaviour and gentle carriage and conversation which usually carry with them and about them warre in their hearts strife in their tongues swords in their lips and blood in their hands 1 Ioh. 3.12 Gen. 4.23 24. Gen 49.7 Pro. 15.1 2 being as cruell as Cain as proud and fierce as Lamech as violent and raging as Simeon and Levi as churlish and foolish as Nabal who was so wicked that a man could not speak unto him 1 Sam. 25.17 A soft answer saith Solomon turneth away wrath but grievous words stirre up anger The tongue of the wise c. useth knowledge aright but the mouth of fooles powreth out foolishnesse CHAP. LIV. HE was also being taught and seasoned with the same wisedome which is from above 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 easie to be intreated of an ingenuous facility Iam. 3 1â— 4 Easie to be intreated either to be perswaded to any thing that was good or to be disswaded from any thing that was evill He needed not many reasons to presse him to that which was reason nor many retractives to draw him backe from that which he saw was otherwise An honourable Judge in open Court Iudge W. his testimony of M. Bruen when complaint was made of some wrong which he did to a neighbour-Gentleman by a water-course about his Mills out of that good opinion which he had and held of him gave him this worthy testimony I cannot thinke but that you wrong M. Bruen I will undertake for him make him but sensible of any errour or wrong which he hath done you and he shall both willingly of himselfe acknowledge it and make you double amends for it Iob 31.13 14. He durst not despise the judgement of his man-servant nor the cause of his maidservant when they contended with him For what then should he doe when God riseth up and when he visiteth what shall he auswer him Nay that which is more for such of his servants as were religious and wise he would give them good leave and liberty to advise with him as Abraham dealt with Eliezer and Cornelius with his servants to produce their reasons to perswade or disswade as occasion did require and. if there were cause would he rather follow their opinion than his owne and so suffer them easily to prevaile with him So did Naaman the Assyrian hearken willingly to the advice of his servants 2 King 5.12 perswading him with so reverent termes of honour and respect and upon so good reason to go and wash himselfe seven times in Iordan that he might be healed So did good David yeeld himselfe overcome by the seasonable and wholesome counsell of Abigail 1 Sam. 25 32 33. diffwading him by found reasons from shedding of blood so rashly without any great cause in so great a rage and passion against Naball who by his churlish answer and behaviour had provoked him to wrath against him And thus might this Gentlemans neighbours tenants friends adversaries finde him ensie to be intreated and so they did ingiving and forgiving bearing and forbearing borrowing and lending in doing any good or restraining any evill as they had occasion to make triall of him A good proofe hereof may be had in this one instance following There was a Portion of money a matter of forty shillings given to the use of the Parish and so put into the hands of some honest men to that end but through some neglect as the men failed the money melted away by little and little and was at last quite wasted and gone He easily intreated to his cost For redresse and repaire hereof M. Bruen was intreated to doe something by his owne or by some other means even as he thought good And here he shewed himself easie to be intreated for he made answer presently I meane not to presse upon any mans purse for this matter and so tooke to his owne purse and gave them forty shillings for supply of this want But some so hard they will give nothing A matter I confesse of no great moment yet such as if many of our Gentlemen of farre greater meanes were intreated unto A man might sooher wring forty pottles of water out of a flint or marble stone or draw forty pints of wine out of a Church-wall than get I say not forty shillings but forty pence from any of their hands for any Parish profit or Church uses Yea they are so stiffe and obstinate No nor pay their ovâ—ne 〈◊〉 tiâ—â— 2. that they will not be intreated to pay their owne layes and duties whereof they are convinced to their faces that they wrong the parish in detaining of them CHAP. LV. BUt now to proceed to some other graces and vertues of this worthy Gentleman which according to the properties of that wisedome from above which the Lord had given him hee expressed by his workes in a godly conversation Hee was as we have heard already first pure then peacable thirdly gentle fourthly easie to be intreated and fifthly as it now followeth full of mercy and of good fruits Full of Mercy and of good Fruits Iam. 3.17 Mat. 5.45 Luk. 6.36 He had learned this of his Heavenly Father to bee mercifull as he is mercifull and that not only in Affectu but in Effectu not only in Affection but in Action also A branch of the true vine Ioh. 15.1 2. Phil. 1.10.11 Num. 13.23 A tree of righte ousnesse Esay 61.3 Ier. 17.8 Psal 1 3. Ioh. 15.2.5.8 Psa 92.13 14. He was a Branch of that noble Uine Christ Jesus from whom he drew such sap of grace and vertue by the power of faith that hee was filled with the fruits of righteousnesse and holinesse to the praise and glory of God A Branch clogged with fruit like that which was cut downe at the Brooke Eshcol which was so loaden with one cluster of Grapes that it was enough for two men to bear it on a staffe betweene them
shall therefore breake or blemish it let them know the disadvantage is their owne not the Authors and as he for one fowle face they saw before may see twenty then I would send such to be disciplined by Erasmus Eras Epist. ad Dorp who writes thus to Dorpius concerning the Readers of others writings Siquispiam offendatur et sibi vindicet non habet quod expostulet cum eo qui scripsit ipse si volet secum agat injuriam utpote sui proditor qui declaravit hoc ad se pertinere He that quarrels at others workes betraies his owne folly not their Authors to prevent which if you in this shall meete with any errours of Pen or Presse doe not for those slight all the rest but remember the rule of the Naturallist Hor. in loc Vbi multa nitent in carmine non ego paucis offendor maculis Where many things are good shall I for but some triviall all let flie If the Zeale either of the Author or Subject outgoe thy expectation or Practice blame them not since as there is no ayming at any mans person so there is no favouring of any mans sinne according to the rule of the Poet. It is but just and as hath bin to spare the man and speake his sinne Licuit semperque Licebit Parcere Personis dicere de vitiis If the Style prove not so plausible as thy curiosity may expect or if in the discountenancing or battering downe of any errour in Life or judgement thou thinkst it mingled with too much bitter Hierapicra Remember then the Physitians rule Sharpe sauces best become the meat and move the appetite to eate Acriora Orexim Excitant Embammata But if all this will not doe it like Gallio you care for none of these things yet at least and at last remember the rule of our Saviour Doe to others as you would that others should doe to you Mat. 7.12 Deale not with their good names as Lycurgus did with his Country Coines or as Rehoboam with his Fathers Shields which they found of beaten gold but left of Brasse rather as Augustus did with the walles of Rome Juveni lateritiam reliqui Marmoream which he found of Bricke but left of Marble And whatsoever in them is vertuous Honest Iust Lawfull Laudible and of Good report Phil. 4.8 that follow and the while thy Charity is thus to them the blessing of God be with thee So prayes the Subjects Kinsman the Authors Sonne and thy Servant in CHRIST Samuel Hinde From Prescot this 20th of May. 1641. A Table of the Contents Chapter I. IOhn Bruen His birth and Bloud from Father and Mother well descended Cap. 2. His education free in good measure from Popery and profanesse also His childhood His Prayer Children may have good motions Some seeds of grace in his childhood Cap. 3. His youth His dancing Cap. 4. His going to Oxford about 1577. His Fathers care and cost Like Saint Austines Fathers for him He went up about 17 yeares old Few Gentlemen like minded The cause hereof their owne ignorance and profanesse Cap. 5. At his comming to Oxford somewhat popish But the Lord did reclaime him Meanes of his reclaiming from popish errours By his companion Master Brerewood By the Scripture urged Applied Private persons may sometimes helpe one another for Conversion A worthy example for young Gentlemen Cap. 6. He was much like Galeacius His proficiency at Oxford but small The causes of it Some unfitnesse for learning His sufficiency not great for great employment yet such as God chose to shew his power in as in Galeacius a young Christian and great Champion very like unto him in many things Cap. 7. His comming from Oxford 1459. His Father bestoweth him in marriage-1580 In a godly Family with a godly young Gentlewoman with mutuy all consent otherwise then manr Parents doe where lust and lucre makes the motion and the Fathers dropsie and the Sonnes phrensie make up the match They live together in love Cap. 8. His recreation of Hunting in some abuses reproved Some inconveniences of Hunting Cap. 9. The estate of the Creatures since the fall and before Their enmity a fruit of our sinne Vnlawfull to take pleasure in it Cap. 10. Neither in the emnity nor Cruelty of or towards the Creatures may we take pleasure An example of cruelty to the Creature Cap. 11. A good man is mercifull to his Beast not onely in the taking care for the preservation of his being but of his wel-being also Giving him due allowance of pasture and moderating hiâ— labour Cap. 12. The lawfullnesse or unlawfulnesse of Hunting laid downe in nine particulars Cap. 13. His more effectuall conversion and the fruits thereof upon his Fathers death by Gods good meanes not very violent likeunto Saint Austines in many particulars Cap. 14 The fruits of his conversion First As Heire of the Family in Civill matters His reformation removing impediments Renouncing his pleasures His frugality His fidelity A rebuke to others Prodigality and Infidelity and a check to some others obstinacy in their ould sinnes Secondly other fruites of their conversion in matter of religion as Governour of his Family Cap. 15. In setting up Religion in his Family Laid downe first in the Generalls Cap. 16 And then in the specialties and particulars First In his Family and secondly In the assembly In his Family First in dwelling with his wife as a man of knowledge in peace and love as equall yoke fellowes A good example to husbands and Wives A discovery of the misery of unequall yoak fellowes manifested in 4 instances Secondly In the godly education of their Children first by instruction secondly by correction wherein if his passions exceeded hee was humbled healed and bettered in foure particulars Thirdly In governing of his Servants Cap. 18. First in choosing Secondly In the using of his servants some of speciall note as old Robert Old Robert his Girdle for the helpe of his memory A rebuke to mindelesse and carelesse Persons And to such as use not their skill and other faculties aright Cap. 19 His familiar conversing with old Robert both gainers by it others dealing otherwise are loosers by their statelinesse His kind usage of him in his old age Vntill the day and houre of his death To the reproofe of mercilesse masters Cap. 20. His due regard to the rest of his servants Some attending upon him Some labouring for him His Family a Religious Nursery by disposing or dispersing his servants Cap. 21. His course in Family duties towards God The necessity and excellency of family Duties First His preparation in foure things First In his vigilancy Secondly in his Private prayer Thirdly Meditation Fourthly Industry in writing Cap. 22. Secondly His execution and performance of his Family exercise First A little short prayer in a set forme A set forme of prayer justified by our Saviours institution of the Lords praier and by his owne practice None precisely bound to the
letter of the Lords prayer but to the matter all Set prayer a helpe Heart-prayer best of all Cap. 23. Secondly His singing of Psalmes His delight in singing of Psalmes Thirdly His reading of the Scriptures Fourthly His humble and holy prayer with thankesgiving Having alwayes matter of praise as well as cause of prayer Cap. 24. His Evenings exercise in opening and applying the word for the use of his Family Crowned with a blessing from God Opposed much by some men of the world His fortification against such assaults For justifying of his judgement and practice in thus teaching of his family By his collections and observations out of Godly and good Authors Cap. 25. And yet not usurping upon the ministery nor by any private spirit But by Godly and good meanes providing as Ioseph for himselfe and for his Family Cap. 26. Thus farre of his religious governement of his owne house in his private Family Now of his zeale to Gods house in the publicke Assembly First In abolishing meanes and instruments of false worship His inducements thereunto Authority of the Magistrate example of good and great men which made him proceed from the Chappell to the Church This act censured by Papists Iustified by themselves against themselves Cap. 27. Secondly In establishing Gods true Word and worship by procuring godly ministers to preach of his own Cost and chaâ—ge Little regarded yet he not discouraged because the word of God prospered Many vertues of his to be observed and imitated For Gentlemen to bee rich in good workes For Patrons not to spoile the Church being bound to provide for it For profane Gentlemen bestowing much on their lusts nothing on Gods service Neither maintaining any Levite at home nor seeking after the word abroad Cap. 28. Vpon their neglect of the publike ministry he maintained the Preacher in his owne house But after a while restored him to the publicke Assembly The cause and occasion thereof And so continued to maintaine the Minister both by his owne and Master Clarkes testimony Cap 29 Popish and profane wakes His godly care and labour to suppresse them By a more plentifull and powerfull use of the word preached Whereby hee prevailed and blessed God With rejoycing and Feasting of Gods people Renouncing all fellowship with sinne and sinners And herein following the example of Christ Cap. 30. Nine reasons against popish and profane Wakes Cap. 31. Being still more religious hee grew â—…ore famous Many desire to sojourne with him Sir Ricâ—ard Grosvenor in his tender yeares bâ—ought up in his house Master Hardware and his Family also tabled with him His wise and gracious dealing with him and his And the good effect and fruit thereof Both in his family and in the city Thus to season others and to build up Gods house in his owne was his labour of love and joy of his heart Cap. 32. The good successe whereof made him like David To make greater provision by publicke exercises which he frequented and by which he became better furnished In which his course divers things to be commended First His chéerefullnesse Secondly His painfullnesse First In seeking Secondly In gathering Manna and other provision Thirdly His attentive diligence First In hearing Secondly In writing Thirdly In repeating Fourthly in recording the summe and substance of all the exercises In many manuscripts commended to the heires of his family Fourthly His kind usage of Gods ministers First Love to their persons Secondly Reverence to their callings Fiftly His good affection to professors Cap. 33. The exercises of Religion great helps unto godlinesse A motion for exchange with other exercises of profanesse Difference great Company contrary Holy exercises acceptable to God Profitable unto men yet will none make an exchange but such as are changed themselves Cap. 34. He was otherwise exercised also by affliction In the death of his Wife Sudden death a fearefull Iudgement to some Sudden Death upon a wicked life fearfull Yet all that dye suddenly doe not dye fearfully but many otherwise as this Gentlewoman very hopefully No death sudden to a sound Christian His afflictions sanctified and passions moderated Cap. 35. Standing in need of marriage he sought and found a prudent wife by good opportunity and by good meanes of his trusty servant declaring unto him her Parents Her Father her mother and her parts worthy due Commendation So he made motion for marriage Prevailed in it and tooke her to wife He set up and renewed the exercises of Religion in that Family The good successe thereof by his own testimony Cap. 36 His returne home to Stapleford bringing his wife along with him Divers Gentlemen desire to sojourne with him His Family a famous nursery for Religion Master Wilbraham placeth his Sonne-inlaw and his daughter with him Cap. 37. His desire to give him contentment and to doe them good To try their dispositions he observed their words and workes They were teachable and tractable Touching the Lords day Concerning Cardeplay His Wife converted Himselfe convinced Al witnesses of his faithfulnesse Cap. 38. His burning of Tables Cards and Dice as malefactours An attestation of the Fathers with him against them Cap. 39. His collections against Cards and Dice Cap. 40. Instead of Tables Cards and Dice he set up two Bibles one in the Parlour another in the Hall Answerable to our Church Canons Bibles for Bs. servants and for strangers This neglected A remedy for recovery to take heed of evill and provide good servants Our Canons against Cards and Dice and all unlawfull games Some of our Divines in the Countrey make little Conscience of these Canons Cap. 41. Some defects in the publicke ministry He procured Master A. St. for supply whom he maintained for the most part His worthy testimony concerning Master Bruen Being an eye and care witnesse Master Perkins hearing of him did much admire and commend him Many Gentlemen desire to sojourne with him His owne relation Cap. 42. A sudden Storme upon the death of his deare wife A great affliction to the whole Family Her vertues and due praises The heavy parting of his Tablers All full of griefe Master Bruen himselfe exceeded Time and reason strengthened with grace will moderate passions Cap. 43. Master Bruen's owne relation touching his more private course of life Seaven things remarkeable therein Cap. 44. All to be said may bee drawne to three heads First His conversing with God Secondly His conversation in the world Thirdly His departure out of the world God gave him wisedome and understanding Also courage and strength as he did to Ioshua His conversing with God in foure Spirituall Duties Cap. 45. First His meditation The necessity and excellency of Meditation Meanes and helpes which he used Reading of the word and of godly mens writings his following the rules of direction for meditation The gaine Godlinesse many benefits and sweet fruits of it Great difference Many Enemies unto it Many of the better sort fayle in it Cap. 46. Secondly Observation of Gods judgements and
the next place commend themselves unto God in humble and hearty prayer making their requests knowne unto God 4. His humble and holy prayer with thanksgiving in all manner of supplications with thanksgiving which hee usually performed with that power and feeling fervency and sincerity faith and humility as the spirit of grace gave him understanding and utterance and their severall occasions and other necessities did require that hee was oftentimes much admired of them that heard him and by his holy petitions and gracious affections did much refresh the hearts and cheere the spirits of many of his neighbours and friends which joyned with him Gen. 32.26.27.28 Hos 12.4 Hee would so wrestle with God by prayers and teares like Jacob that hee would not let him go untill like an Israel he had by praying and weeping prevailed with him The fruits of which his holy desires and endeavours were so remarkable in that family whether hee prayed against sinnes or sorrowes or sought unto God for grace and good things that seldome did they meet againe to pray but they had some new and fresh cause of praise and thanksgiving unto him that had heard their prayers Having alwayes matter of praise as well as cause of prayer A godly and an holy course in prayer which I wish were as well performed as it is well worthy to bee observed Namely Not only to consider wisely what we ask in prayer but to observe carefully how wee speed after it for in so doing as we should still be stirred up and provoked to new praises so should wee be quickned and encouraged to seeke unto our God againe by continuing or renewing the same or the like prayers and requests unto him This was the practice of holy David that man after Gods owne heart who having called upon God Psal 41.1 did patiently wait upon him for hearing and diligently observed what successe he had and as hee found the fruit of his prayers did thereupon come againe into Gods presence with new and fresh praises Psal 66.17.19.20 I called unto the Lord saith he with my mouth and he was exalted with my tongue Verily God hath heard me he hath attended to the voice of my prayer Blessed bee God which hath not turned away my prayer nor his mercy from me CHAP. XXIV THus did he exercise himselfe and his family unto godlinesse every morning His evening exercise and after the duties of the day and their naturall refreshing and repast in the end thereof hee called them again to the like service and sacrifice in the evening which hee very religiously and constantly performed much after the same manner saving thaâ— then he tooke some more paines with them having more liberty In opening and applying the word and better opportunity so to doe for then he ordinarily instructed and taught his family out of that portion which hee tooke in the Chapter read at that time unto them propounding and applying some wholesome doctrine profitable for their godly edification as the tenor of the Scripture best served 2 Tim. 3.16.19 whether to convince any errour or to confirme the truth to rebuke any sin and to instruct in the way of righteousnesse to comfort the heart under hope in doing well and settle the soule by faith and patience in suffering ill This was his holy defire and delight to edifie his family in faith and love For the use of his Family and to traine them up in the true knowledge and feare of God so acquainting them with their duties towards God and man Tit. 2.10 11 12. that living soberly righteously and godly in this world they might beautifie their profession and adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour alwayes and in all things All which his godly paines and practices in the instructing of his family out of the Word of God as a pastor and teacher in his owne house Crowned with a blessing from God albeit they were through the blessing of God crowned with good successe at home yet were they much maligned reproached opposed and questioned abroad and that not only by the vulgar fort but even by some of our masters in Israel whose negligence was much rebuked by his diligence their prophannesse checked by his holy duties their government in their families not onely obscured but blemished Opposed much by some men of the world but blemished by the comely order and beautie of his government in his family which was so farre advanced above some of theirs as ever Bethell was above Bethaven Sion above Shilo or the Temple of God above the Temple of Idols Which malignity of the world His fortification against such assaults and enmity of godlesse persons against godly and good duties when he well observed and wisely considered of hee began to fortifie his building both for his judgement and practice as Nehemiah did the wales of Jerusalem against the assaults of Gods enemies which he did very faithfully and effectually by his painefull collections and observations which he made out of the Scriptures For justifying of his judgement and practice in thus teaching of his family and by the expositions testimonies and examples of godly and good men records of antiquity and evidences of worthy Writers and witnesses to the truth of God all sutable to the doctrine of our Church to justifie his course and stop the mouthes of all such as without any just cause did open them so wide against it I have seen and read what hee hath collected and set downe to this end and purpose under his owne hand which I approve of and like so well for his choice and paines in binding up together so many sweet and wholesome flowers of heavenly doctrine By his collections and observations out of godly and good authors for his owne confirmation and other mens satisfaction that I could have been well contented to have set downe these his collections and observations at large concerning this point of the masters duty in teaching and instructing his family in the feare of God and faith of Christ and in opening and applying some portion of the Scriptures to their mindes and hearts for that end but that I much feared lest my labour and paines herein at this time might be held not so needfull and lesse pertinent seeing many godly mens bookes are filled with the same or the like instructions since that time justifying the same point and practice and that the bulk and body of this little booke would swell too bigg if I should bring in another Treatise to stuffe up the bosome and brest of it CHAP. XXV And yet not usurping upon the Ministery Nor by aprivate spirit But by godly and good meanes Homines discunt prius quod doceant ab alâ—o accipiunt quod aliis tradant Amb. Coster us in eins Vita Amb lib. 1. de Offic. c. 1 NOw because some may mistake both him and me in this businesse as imagining
part in the suffering or in the doing of them His fits and passions His fits and passions were much after this manmer Being brought so low so weak and feeble for any naturall strength that hee was nothing as we say but skin and bones yet for the space of 24 houres every day having one halfe houre which they called his awakening time wherein they gave him a little refreshing by some food to susteine him he shewed himselfe to be of that extraordinary strength that if he would fold his hands together no man could pull them asunder if he did roll his head or tosse his whole body as usually he did no man could stay or restrain him hee would with marvellous astonishment to the hearers and beholders somtimes howle like a Dog mew like a Cat roare like a Beare froth and some like a Boare When any prayed with him his passions were the strongest and his rage and violence the greatest ready to fly in their faces and to drown their voyces by his clamours yellings and outcries If one came neare him with a Bible though under his cloak and never so secret yet would he run upon him and ramp upon him with great violence to have gotten it from him and to rend it in peeces as he did divers when hee could come unto them Sometimes he would lye along as if he had been stark dead his colour gone and mouth so wide open that he would on a suddeine thrust both his hands at once into it His gestures and actions And as for his gestures they were marvellous strange In so great weaknesse hee would leape and skip up and down from his bed unto the table from the table to the window from the window to his bed again and all with that nimblenesse and quicknesse as scarce any professed Tumbler could do the like And that which maketh the matter yet more admirable having all this while his legs grown up close unto his buttocks whereof he could now have no present use for such feats of activity Sometimes we saw his chin drawn up unto his nose so that his mouth could scarce be seen Sometimes his chin and brows drawn almost together like a bended Bow His countenance fearefull by yawning mowing c. Hee was brought to the Bishop The poore Child being thus tormented the Bishop for his better satisfaction hearing so much of his strange affliction sent for him His parents brought him And once the Bishop prayed with him when the boy was so outragious that he flew out of his bed and all his men were affraid and one of them fell into a sownd and then such a stir about him that the Bish was glad to lay hold on the boy ramping at the windows to have gotten out that way But they could not find him a counterfeat as some imagined The Bishops Licence for a private fast for his release Afterwards this Rev. Bish being moved with compassion towards the boy did grant a Licence himselfe together with the High Commissioners for a private Fast in his fathers house for his better help and release according to Gods good pleasure and that in these words Having seen the bodily affliction of this child and observed in sundry fits very strange effects and operations either proceeding from some naturall unknown causes or of some Diabolicall practises We thinke it convenient and fit for the ease and deliverance of the said child from his said grievous affliction that Prayer be made publikely for him by the Minister of the Parish c. And that certein Preachers namely these following M. Gerrard M. Harvy M. Pierson c. these and none other to repaire to the said chid by turnes as their leisure will serve and to use their discretion for private Prayers and Fasting for the ease and comfort of the afflicted c. Ric. Cestren David Yale Griffith Vaughan Hugh Burches According to the tenour of these directions Master Bruen telleth us who did joyne together in Prayer and Fasting to that end Master Harvy and M. Pierson saith hee two godly Preachers were with him prayed and fasted My selfe also and some 20 or 30 more But God gave not deliverance at that time Now as for his Speeches strange in themselves 3 His Speeches yet more strange in this that hee never uttered any of them but when he was in his fits without any understanding or knowledge of what he did or what he said I will give you a taste of some few of them Jesus saith so he usually began his Speeches The Devill when he comes takes away my hearing seeing understanding hands legs that I should have no senses nor lims to glorifie God withall Jesus saith If they would have cast out the evill spirit they should have come better provided Jesus saith Some men did think that he that prayed had a better Faith than the other but he had not Jesus saith I have but three Divels It is like one of the spirits will go out of me and go and take counsel of a great number of foule spirits and come againe and trouble me worse Jesus saith Some folke will say that the Witch will not looke one in the face but shee will look here a way and there a way And so he turned his hands this way and that way Jesus saith The witch saith shee hath done mee no hurt that she knows of A witch may overlook a child but shee cannot make him in such a case as I am in The Devill is affraid when hee heares any word that he must be cast out then he quakes Iesus saith Now the witch would faine undo that which shee hath done but now shee cannot undo it Jesus saith Some say if I were bewitched or possessed I could neither move my tongue nor my lips But the Devill can move both my tongue and my lips Satan I am bound to a hard prentice-ship for thou wilt not give me leave neither holy-day nor work-day to eat a morsell of bread The Papist that brought the stinking weed and laid it to my nose if God had not had a stroke in this would have cast out the Devill And a boy was confederate with him Now the Devill is possessed of their soules And he must continue a little while with me but a great while with them God puls the Devill back with a ring in his nose yet the Devill shakes my faith as if it would go out of mee They may know there is some ill thing in mee for when I should say may prayers he would come up and stop me and then I must stay a little and then again and he would stay me Being in a sore fit and a great rage biting his own hands gnashing with his teeth foming like a boare and casting blood and filth out of his mouth hee uttered these words Proud witch witch proud I will tell you who these witches work all upon life all upon life all upon life but they cannot take my
kill the heart of his adversary with kindnesse Pro. 15.1 Rom. 12.20 and as if coales of fire had beene cast upon his head did cause him to melt into teares and tendernesse and so having such a returne from so gracious a Gentleman of peace for warre of love for hatred of mildnesse for fiercenesse of discretion for foolishnesse of so great kindnesse for so great unkindnesse he presently changed his minde and being willingly reconciled became a faithfull and true friend unto him for ever afterwards Now as he was thus peaceable in procuring and preserving his owne peace with others so was he no lesse carefull of preventing or removing and occasions of variance and strife amongst neighbours and friends A peace-maker both neare about him and farther from him If he saw naturall brethren likely to fall out as even they are not alwayes the best friends he would lovingly and wisely admonish them for peace Gen. 45.24 as Joseph did his brethren You are brethren fall not out by the way If he saw two Gentlemens servants at strife and variance fearing least such sparks of contention begun by servants might kindle a fire and flame as many times they doe betwixt the masters He would begin to take up the matter with the Masters and then appease and pacifie the servants with meeke and gentle words of wisedome and peace for their better instruction and reformation following herein the example of holy Abraham who upon a strife betwixt his brother Lots heardsmen and his owne spake thus wisely and peaceably unto him Let there be I pray thee no strife betweene me and thee nor between my heardsmen Gen. 13.8 and thy heardsmen for we are brethren And as hee spake peaceably unto him so did he deale for peace sake as peaceably with him in giving him the choice of the right hand or of the left in all the land before them Gen. 13.9 though he were superiour both in place and grace unto him And so would this Gentleman make peace betweene Masters and servants If hee saw two Christians strive together as Moses did two Hebrewes he would take up him that did the wrong with the same or the like words as Moses did Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow And if somtimes he had no better recompence for his good mind and meaning than Moses had as commonly the most wicked and injurious are most rude and clamorous he would be content to sit downe with the worse as Moses did Thus have we seen that walking according to that rule of heavenly wisedome which the Lord had given him he was first pure in his conversation and then peaceable And so the fruit of righteousnesse was sowne in peace of him that made peace CHAP. LIII HE was also according to the same rule and quality of the same wisdome Gentle Gentle that is of a moderate calme and quiet temper meeke in spirit and mild in speech This was a more speciall work of God in him and a remarkable fruit of this wisdome and grace which the Lord had given him from above Not by nature For by his naturall constitution and in his naturall estate and condition he was of a passionate disposition somewhat froward and fierce angry and hasty but now having received not onely pardon for sinne in the value of the death of Christ 1 Ioh. 1.7 1 Cor. 6.11 Rom. 6.17 18 19 But by grace but power against sinne in the vertue of it he found his nature healed his passions subdued his frowardnesse changed into mildnesse his fiercenesse into meeknesse and his roughnesse into gentlenesse The power of grace had now abated much of the violence of his passions and the sweet influence of Gods Spirit had taken away the bitternesse and virulency of them so that now they were of a better temper ordered by a better rule and directed to a better end and were made as it were hewers of wood and drawers of water as Ioshua made the Gibeonites Iosh 9.23 for the use of the Tabernacle That is They became more serviceable unto God and more profitable unto men Paul when hee was a Saul was as cruell and fierce as a Lion Aug. Conf. l. 8. c. 4. Aug. Conf. l. 9. c. 9. but being a converted Paul he became as mild and meek as a lamb So it is recorded of Patricius Austins father as also Calvin that holy man of God that he was in his naturall disposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hasty and angry â—â—afervidus Beza in vit Calv. p. 109. which yet the Spirit of God taught him so to moderate that there was never any word heard from him which might seeme unbeseeming a good man And yet of this passion so subdued and seasoned the Lord gave him as he did also this Gentleman some good use when he dealt in the cause of God and of Religion and against refractory and obstinate offenders turning his naturall anger into spirituall zeale against them Many of the ancient Fathers were of violent and fierce spirits Many of the Fathers very passionate Vid. August Epist 14 15. Ep. 19. savouring much of pride and passion as they were men but being called and converted and become holy men of God were great Instruments of Gods glory the Lord making use of their naturall affections for spirituall services to give them thereby courage and boldnesse constancy and confidence to stand out against all such affronts and assaults of impieties and heresies as in their times did rise up and make head against them He that shall read some of their writings as of Hierome against Ruffinus Vigilantius Jovinian and against Austin himselfe of Austin also against the Pelagians and Donatists of Hilary against Auxentius and Constantius Socrat. Eccles Hist. l. 6. c. 16. Sozom. Eccles hist l. 7 c. 24. Yet well accepted of God and good men and of Chrysostomes sharpe invectives against Endoxia the Empresse and of Ambrose his severe dealing with Theodosius the Emperour may easily see as much as I say That as they were men subject to like passions as this Gentleman was and we are having some wilde fire mixed with holy fire in some of their best services so were they accounted and accepted as holy men of God both for their persons and imployments notwithstanding all their frailties and infirmities But to returne to this grace of Gentlenesse in this Gentleman Phil. 4.5 It is that which the Apostle Paul cals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a moderate and meeke both bearing and forbearing when indignities and injuries either in word or deed are offered unto us or intended against us His bearing and forbearing Thus did he make his patient minde knowne unto all men taking nothing that could possibly be well taken in ill part but interpreting all to the best would make the best of the worst In meeknesse like Moses Num. 12.1 2 3. and so abate the edge of mens