Augustine's Table was engraven Quisquis amat dictis absentem rodere amicum Hanc Mensam indictam noverit esse sibi He that doth love an absent Friend to jeer May hence depart no room is for him here Which Rule one of his Fellow-Bishops upon a time forgetting St. Augustine sharply rebuk'd him for it and told him That he must either blot those Verses out of his Table or arise from his Dinner and go to his Chamber Clark 's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 2. Crispin a Donatist Bishop being fined in two Pounds of Gold by the Proconsul for abusing one of Augustine's Society the Catholick Bishops and especially Augustine so prevailed with the Emperour that the Rigour of the Sentence was taken off from him which Piety and Charity of theirs much conduced to the increase of the Church Clark 's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 3. It was Mr. Palmer's saying the Martyr None are to be counted valiant but such as contemn Injuries Fox 4. It 's reported of St. Katherine that she suckt the invenom'd Wounds of a Villain who had wronged her most impudently Dr. Taylor 5. Anthony the Great was wont in his Exhortations to the People to wish them to keep in mind that of the Apostle Let not the Sun go down upon thy Wrath. Drexel upon Eternity 6. John Patriarch of Alexandria in a Controversy with one Nicolas a chief Man of the City to be tryed by Law John being for the Poor Nicolas for his Money after a private Meeting for Peace-sake and much Contention and Choler used till night and they were parted the Good Bishop weighing with himself and arguing to this purpose Can I think God will be pleased with his Stubbornness c. could not rest till he had sent Messengers to Nicolas charging them to say no more to him but only this The Sun is going down On the hearing of which there was such a sudden Alteration wrought in Nicelas that his high Stomach came presently down he began to melt and his Eyes stood with Tears and he had much ado to keep them in out of doors he ran presently after the Messengers and making haste to speak with the Patriarch he came to him and saluted him thus Holy Father I am willing to be ruled by thee in this or in any other matter So they embraced lovingly and became good Friends Idem 7. A Suit of Law is of it self lawful But certainly he had need be an Angel that manageth a Suit innocently and he that hath so excellent a Spirit as with Innocence to run through the infinite Temptations of a Law-Suit in all probability hath so much Holiness as to suffer the Injury and so much Prudence as to avoid the Danger Idem 8. I will rather suffer a 1000 Wrongs than offer one I will rather suffer a 100 than return one I will suffer many e're I complain of one and endeavour to right my self by contending I have ever found that no Content with my Superiours is furious with my Equals doubtful with my Inferiours sordid and base Dr. Hall 9. Deschartes is said to be no Detractor nor injurious to any Person never committing Injuries to Memory but to Oblivion See his Life by Borellus p. 23. 10. There was one who did Sir Matthew Hale a great Injury which it is not necessary to mention who coming afterwards to him for his Advice in the Settlement of his Estate he gave it very frankly to him but would accept of no Fee for it and thereby shewed both that he could forgive as a Christian and that he had the Soul of a Gentleman in him not to take Money of one that had wronged him so hainously And when he was asked by one How he could use a Man so kindly that had wronged him so much His Answer was He thanked God he had learned to forget Injuries See his Life written by Dr. Burnet p. 93. CHAP. XLI Remarkable Instances of Munificence WE are to do Good and to distribure according to our Power and the number of those Talents which God hath bestowed upon us He that hath little ought to give of that little but to whom much is given of him much is required A pair of Turtle Doves or two young Pigeons was a pretty reasonable Offering from those who had but little for the support of their own Families's the poor Widow's Mite in the Gospel was accepted kindly and interpreted favourably by our Saviour But if those who have large Estates and heavy Purses and no great Necessities near home do not build Synagogues or Schools or Hospitals or mend High-ways or disburse with a greater Freedom and more Generosity than others however their Estates may be great their Souls are but little and their Spirits narrow and their Accounts will not be easily made up hereafter For though Men may be deceived at the present and their poor fellow-Creatures may be put off with weak Pretensions there is a God in Heaven that will not be mocked but will give them a Harvest in the other World according to their Seedness in this and They that sow sparingly shall reap sparingly But every Body is not so stingy and close-fisted there are those in the Church of God who are not willing to stand to the adventure and hazard of a cheap Seedness but give plentifully with an open Breast full of Charity and a Hand full of Good-works and Alms-deeds As for Instances 1. In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and in the Year 1596. Ralph Rokeby one of Her Majesty's Masters of Request then dying gave by his Will to Christ's Hospital in London One hundred Pounds to the Colledge of the Poor of Queen Elizabeth One hundred Pounds to the poor Scholars in Cambridge One hundred Pounds to the poor Scholars in Oxford One hundred Pounds to the Prisoners in the two Compters in London One hundred Pounds to the Prisoners in the Fleet One hundred Pounds to the Prisoners in Ludgate One hundred Pounds to the Prisoners in Newgate One hundred Pounds to the Prisoners in the King's-Bench One hundred Pounds to the Prisoners of the Marshalsea One hundred Pounds to the Prisoners in the White-Lion Twenty Pounds A liberal and pious Legacy and not worthy to be forgotten 2. Richard Sutton Esq born of Gentile Parentage at Knaith in Lincolnshire sole Founder of the Charter-House Hospital which he called the Hospital of King James for the Maintenance thereof he settled these Mannors in several Counties 1. Dasham-Mannor in Cambridgeshire 2. Bastuogthorp-Mannor in Lincolnshire 3. Black grove-Mannor in Wiltshire 4. Broadhinton-Land in Wiltshire 5. Castlecamps-Mannor in Cambridgeshire 6. Chilton-Mannor in Wiltshire 7. Dunby-Mannor in Lincolnshire 8. Elcomb-Mannor and Park in Wiltshire 9. Hackney-Land in Middlesex 10. Hallinburg Bouchiers-Mannor in Essex 11. Missanden-Mannor in Wiltshire 12. Much Stanbridge-Mannor in Essex 13. Norton-Mannor in Essex 14. Salthrope-Mannor in Wiltshire 15. Southminster-Manner in Essex 16. Tottenham-Land in Middlesex 17. Vfford-Mannor in Wiltshire 18 Watalescote-Mannor in Wiltshire 19. Westcot-Mannor in Wiltshire
this to be written upon his Tomb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was able to do all things Monstrous Ambition Mr. Baker 's Flores 79. Similius being buried in the Cares of the Court and living rather for his Emperor's sake than for his own caused this Inscription to be put upon his Tomb. Here lies Similius an Old Man of Seven Years of Age. 80. Adrian appointed this to be his Epitaph Adrianus Sixtus hic situs est qui nihil sibi infoelicius in vitâ duxit quam quod regnaverat Here lies Adrianus Sixtus who never thought any thing so unhappy to him in his Life as his Reigning Mr. Barker 's Flores 81. I have read of the People called Sicyonians that they would have no Epitaph written upon the Tombs of their Kings but only their Names that they might have no Honour but what did result from their Merits Mr. Barker 's Flores 82. Earl Morton put this Epitaph upon John Knox his Tomb. Here lieth the Body of that Man who in his life-time never feared the Face of any Man Mr. Barker's Flores 83. Semiramis ordered this to be written upon her Tomb. If any King stand in need of Money let him break open this Monument Hereupon Darius ransack'd the Tomb and found within another Writing Hadst thou not been unsatiably Covetous thou wouldst never have invaded thus the Monument of the Dead And so went away ashamed Mr. Barker 's Flores 84. On Sardanapalus's Tomb by his own appointment was written So much I had as I eat and drank Chetwind 's Hist Collections 85. A Monk bestows this Epitaph on Wickliff The Devil's Instrument Churches Enemy Peoples Confusion Hereticks Idol Hypocrites Mirror Schismes Broacher Hatred's Sower Lyes Forger Flattery 's Sink who at his Death despaired like Cain and stricken by the horrible Judgment of God breathed forth his wicked Soul to the dark Mansions of the black Devil-Whereby God's Children may learn not to regard while they live the Malice nor to expect after their Death ought else but the slanderous rancour of the wicked Speed's Hist p. 622. 86. One John Child a Gentleman Hunting in the depth of Winter in Dartmore Forest in Devonshire lost both his Company and his Way in a bitter Snow and to preserve himself from perishing with extream Cold he killed his Horse and crept into his Bowels for warmth and wrote the following Verses with the Blood He that finds and brings me to my Tomb The Land of Plinistock shall be his doom That Night he was frozen to Death and being soon after found by some Monks of Tavestock Abbey the Abbot of Tavestock having caused him to be decently buried got that Rich Manor See a Book called Mankind displayed Some Remarkable Epitaphs now to be found in Westminster Abbey Stepney Churchyard and the New Burying-Place in Bunhill-Fields the last of which was inclosed with a Brick-Wall at the sole Charge of the City of London in the Mayoralty of Sir John Lawrence Knight Anno Dom. 1665. And afterwards the Gates thereof were built and finished in the Mayoralty of Sir Thomas Bloudworth Anno Dom. 1666. Here lies waiting for the Resurrection of the Just Mary late Wife of John Merrion who died Nov. 25th 1693. in the 26th Year of her Age. From my sad Cradle to my Sable Chest I found few Days of Joy or Months of Rest My Race was short yet tedious ending soon For suddenly my Sun did set at Noon I groan'd for Rest and fell asleep at Even So when I wak'd behold I was in Heaven Weep not dear Husband do not weep no more Because I am not lost but sent before Here lieth the Body of Mrs. Dorcas Bentley the Faithful tender Wife of Johathan Bentley Citizen and Watch-maker of London who lived much desired and died much lamented Aug. 3. 1693. My Dear Thy zealous care to serve thy God And constant Love to Husband dear Thy harmless Heart to every one Remains still tho' thy Corps lie here J. B. Mary Morris died Novemb. 13th Aged Three Quarters of a Year and Nine Days 1695. If I cou'd ever write a lasting Verse It shou'd be laid Dear Saint upon thy Herse Ah beauteous Blossom too untimely dead Whither Oh whither is thy sweetness fled Where are the Charms that always did arise From the prevailing Language of thy Eyes Here lies Interred the Body of Mr. Edward Bagshaw Minister of the Gospel who received from God Faith to embrace it Courage to defend it And Patience to suffer for it When by the most despised and by many persecuted esteeming the Advantage of Birth Education and Learning all Emiaâ—â—t in him as things of worth to be accounted loss for the Knowledge of Christ from the Reproaches of pretended Friends and Prosecutions of professed Adversaries he took Sanctuary by the Will of God in Eternal Rest 28th of December 1671. Here also lies the Body of Mrs. Margaret Wife of Mr. Edward Bagshaw who departed this Life 20th of February 1692. Here the Wicked cease from troubling and here the weary be at rest Here the Prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the Oppressor Upon a Stone adjoyning to Stepney Church is writ Of Carthage great I was a stone Oh Mortals read with pity Time levels all and spareth none Man Mountain Town nor City Therefore Oh Mortals all bethink You whereunto you must Since now such stately Buildings lie Buried in the Dust An Odd Epitaph on Will. Wheatly Whoever treadeth on this stone Pray now tread most neatly For underneath this stone here lies Your honest Friend Will. Wheatly Here lieth Interred the Body of Mary Wife of Captain Malachy Simons Mariner who departed this Life the 29th of June Anno Dom. 1677. Aged 50. Rest thou whose Rest gives me a restless Life Because I 've lost a kind and vertuous Wife I 'll visit thee and when I leave this Light Come spend my time in the same Cell at Night Till then farewel farewel I cannot take A final leave until thy Ashes wake Here lieth Interred the Body of Dame Rebecca Berry the Wife of Thomas Elton of Stratford Bow Gent. who departed this Life April 26. 1696. Aged 52. Come Ladies ye that wou'd appear Like Angels fair come dress ye here Come dress you at this Marble stone And make that humble Grace your own Which once adorn'd as fair a Mind As ere yet lodg'd in Womankind So she was dress'd whose humble Life Was free from Pride was free from Strife Free from all envious Brawls and Jars Of Humane Life the Civil Wars These ne'er disturb'd her Peaceful Mind Which still was gentle still was kind Her very looks her garb her meen Disclos'd the humble Soul within Trace her through every Scene of Life View her as Widow Virgin Wife Still the same humble she appears The same in Youth the same in Years The same in low in high estate Ne'er vex'd with this ne'er mov'd with that Go Ladies now and if you 'd be As fair as great as good as
the Devil Nay he used to stop his Ears at the ill Speeches of Hereticks and shunn'd the Places where they were uttered Clark's Marr. of Eccl. History 2. Origen was sometimes necessitated to frequent the Lectures of one Paulus a famous Heretick at Antioch being both kindly entertained by the same Gentlewoman in the same House yet would he never be perswaded to join with him in Prayer detesting his Heretical Doctrine ibid. 3. Athanasius was so great a Lover of Truth and Orthodoxy that he alone resisted stoutly all the Devices and malicious Contrivances and Opposition of the Arians insomuch that it was said of him One Athanasius stood firm against all the World He was often falsly Accused often forced to Fly often Deposed and as often Escaped The Magicians and Soothsayers in Alexandria in Julian's time acknowledged that they could do nothing in their Art except Athanasius were removed out of the City ibid. 4. Basil being attacked by fair Speeches and Promises of Preferment from Valens the Emperous to turn Arian answered the Messenger Alas Sir These Speeches are fit to catch little Children that look after such things we are otherwise taught by Sacred Scripture and are ready to suffer a thousand Deaths rather than suffer one Syllable or Tittle of Scripture to be altered when Modestus the Prefect ask'd Know ye not who we are that command it No Body said Basil so long as you require such things to which he answered Know ye not that we have Honours to bestow upon you whereunto he replied They are but Changeable like your selves Upon this the Prefect in a Rage threatned to Confiscate his Goods to Torment Banish or Kill him Basil answered As for Consiscation he had nothing to lose for Banishment Heaven only was his Country and for Torments one Blow would dash his Body in pieces and for Death that was the only way to set him at Liberty The Prefect told him He was Mad I wish said he that I may be ever so Mad. The Emperour being acquainted with this Carriage of Basil went to Church next Morning with Design to disturb him but seeing his Reverend Carriage he was so convinced that he made a large Offering which yet Basil refused as coming from an Heretick ibid. 5. Epiphanius was semper acerrimus Hereticorum oppugnator i.e. always a very brisk Opposer of Hereticks ibid. 6. St. Augustine was called Hereticorum Malleus i.e. the Hammer of Hereticks Disputing often with the Manichees Donatists Arians and Pelagians and commonly in his Disputations making use of Notaries to write down the Arguments and Answers on both sides to prevent mis-reports and herein was very successful So many things were dictated and published by him so many Disputations held in the Church so many things written against Hereticks and so many Books of Sacred Scripture Expounded by him that a Studious Man all his life long can scarely know and read over ibid. In his latter Days he looked over all his Books and wrote two Volumes of Retractations and complained that some Ministers had gotten and divulged some of his Books before he had perfected them ibid. 7. Theodosius senior having called a Council upon occasion of the Arian Heresy the Emperour retired into his Closet fell down upon his Knees before God humbly beseeching him to reveal the Truth unto him and to assist him in finding it out then perusing every ones Opinion and seriously weighing it in the Ballance of the Sanctuary he condemned and tore in pieces all those Creeds that derogated from the Unity that is in the Blessed Trinity allowing and highly commending the other Clark in vitâ Theodosii 8. Pomponius Atticus neither would tell a Lye nor could endure one Text. Officinum 1138. 9. Bericus the Abbot that dwelt in the Wilderness of Thebais was never heard to swear an Oath never to tell a lye never to be angry never to speak an idle word ibid. 10. Hor the Abbot is said never to have told a lye never to have spoken evil to any Man ibid. 11. The late Countess Dowager of Warwick was exact in Word and Deed she never forfeited her Title to the Privilege of Peerage to be believed upon the honour of her Word which was as Sacred as any Oath and as good Security as many Bonds No inconvenience to her self would make her Recoil or Flinch from the Obligations she had brought her self under by her own Mouth Yea she had such an abhorrence of a dishonourable Recess from express or but intimated promises that it would render her esteem of such Persons exceeding cheap and mean who by little Arts and Shifts would lose and free themselves from their Engagements and disappoint the Expectations they had raised in others to save the Charges accounting their Money spared a very poor and base redemption of their Reputation She abhorr'd a Lye and used modesty to give this Testimony to her self You know I dare not I will not Lye And her Lord knew this so well that though he were positive enough yet would never persist if there happened any contest against whatever she affirmed peremptorily And a Lye was the foulest blemish any could stain themselves with in Converting with her and the most unpardonable fault a Servant could contract to whom she used to say Tell me the Truth and I can forgive you any thing Yea she feared the very shadow of a Lye Dr. Walker in her Life p. 90. 12. Sir William Fitz-Williams was a Man of so great Veracity that that grand Word On mine Honour was Security enough for a Kingdom and the only Asseveration he used It was his privilege that he need not swear for a Testimony and his renown that he would not for his Honour Lloyd's Worthies p. 549. CHAP. XXXVII Remarkable Friendship A Young Gentleman with whose Father I had held an uninterrupted Correspondence for near thirty Years but was lately Deceased wrote yesterday a Letter to me challenging as heir to his Father the Inheritance of his Correspondence tho' at a great distance building upon that Text Thy own Friend and thy Father's Friend forsake not And in Truth a solid Friendship founded upon Virtue and sincere Religion is one of the greatest sweetnesses of this Life and rarely to be found in the World A David and Jonathan a Gregory and Nazianzen a Cranmer and Cromwel a pair of true Friends among Men are seldomer to be found then a Club of Knaves or a herd of Bruits agreeing together 1. Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea for his great Love to Pamphilus was Sirnamed Pamphilus 2. Basil the Great at Athens fell into acquaintance with Gregory Nazianzen and joining Studies together they continued in firm amity all their Life after Clark's Marr. of Ecclesiastical Hist. 3. Theodoret and Cyril after a breach healed between them were mighty loving each to other ever after Ibid. 4. S. Bernard seeing a want of Ministers in his Country and burning with a Zeal to Save Souls resolved to set on the Work and seeking one by
hundred pounds to the Mayor and Commonalty of Chester to be lent to young Tradesmen and for the relief of Poor and Prisons and other such charitable Uses Two hundred pounds He gave to the Company of Haberdashers to be lent to Freemen gratis Two hundred pounds more to pay Ten pound yearly to the Poor of the Company two hundred pounds more to give Ten pounds per Annum to two Scholars in each University one to Bethlehem One hundred pounds to other Hospitals Prisons and Poor One hundred and fifty pounds more In toto One thousand four hundred and fifty pounds 12. The Lady Mary Ramscy who in the life-time of Sir Thomas Ramsey joining with him and after his Death assured in Land Two hundred forty three pounds per Annum to Christ's-Hostital in London to these Uses following To the School-master of Hawstead annually Twenty pounds to the Master and Usher in Christ's-Church by the year Twenty pounds to Ten poor Widows besides Apparel and Houses yearly Twenty pounds to two Poor a Man and a Woman during Life to each Fifty three shillings four pence to two Fellows in Peter-house in Chambridge and four Scholars yearly Forty pounds to St. Bartholomew's Hospital Ten pounds to Newgate Ludgate Compters Ten pounds to Christ's Hospital after the Expiration of certain Leases there will come per Annum Ore hundred and twenty pounds to St. Peters the Poor in London St. Andrew Vndershaft St. Mary Wâ—olnoth Ten pounds to six Schools in Cambridge Twenty pounds to six Scholars in Oxford Twenty pounds to ten maimed Soldiers Twenty pounds for two Sermons Forty shillings to the Poor of Christ-Church Parish Fifty shillings to the Poor of the Company of Drapers yearly Ten pounds ten poor Womens Gows ten poor Soldiers Coats Shooes and Caps All these Gifts aforesaid are to continue yearly 13. Mr. George Blundel Clothier of London by his last Will and Testament Anno 1599. bequeathed as followeth To Christ's Hospital Five hundred pounds to St. Bartholomew's Two hundred and fifty pounds to St. Thomas's Hospital Two hundred and fifty pounds to Bridewel yearly eight pounds towards Tiverton-Church fifty pounds to mend the High-ways there One hundred pounds to the Twelve chief Companies in London to each One hundred and fifty pounds towards the relieving of poor Prisoners and other charitable Uses in toto One thousand eight hundred pounds For poor Maids Martiages in Tiverton Four hundred pounds to the City of Exeter to be lent unto poor Artificers Nine hundred pounds towards the Building of the Free-Grammar School in Tiverton Two thousand four hundred pounds laid out since by his Executors Sir William Craven and others One thousand pounds to the School-master yearly fifty pounds to the Usher Thirteen pounds six shillings eight pence to the Clark forty shillings for Reparations eight pounds to place four Boys Apprentices in Husbandry yearly twenty pounds to maintain six Scholars three in Cambridge and three in Oxford the Sum of Two thousand pounds The Sum of all counting the yearly Pensions at a valueable rate together with the Legacies of Money maketh Twelve thousand pounds or thereabouts 14. Mr. Rogers of the Company of Leather-sellers gave by his Will as followeth To the Prisons about London Twelve pounds to the Poor of two Towns in the West-Country Thirteen pounds six shillings eight pence to the Poor of the Town of Pool where he was born Ten pounds to build Alms-houses there Three hundred thirty three pounds to relieve poor Prisoners being neither Papists nor Atheists that may be set free for twenty Nobles a Man One hundred and fifty pounds to poor Preachers ten pounds a Man One hundred pounds to poor decayed Artificers that have Wife and Children One hundred pounds to the Company of Merchants-Adventurers to relieve poor decayed People and for young Free-men Four hundred pounds to Christ's-Hospital to purchase Land for the relief of that House Five hundred pounds to erect Alms-houses about London and to maintain Twelve poor People threescore pounds to the Parish where he dwelt ten pounds and for two dozen of Bread every Lord's-day to be distributed One hundred pounds to Christ's-Church Parish fifteen pounds to the Poor in divers Parishes without Newgate Cripplegate Bishops-gate and St. Georges in Southwark Twenty six pounds thirteen shillings four pence to each alike To St. Georges Parish in Southwark St. Sepulchres St. Olaves St. Giles St. Leonards to each thirty pounds One hundred and fifty pounds to St. Botolphs without Aldgate and Bishops-gate to each twenty pounds forty pounds Given to maintain two Scholars in Oxford two in Cambridge Students in Divinity to the Company of Leather-sellers which is carefully by them employed and augmented Four hundred pounds The whole Sum amounteth to Two thousand nine hundred and sixty pound six shillings eight pence 15. Mr. George Palyn by his last Will and Testament gave unto these charitable Uses To erect an Alms-house about London and to allow unto six poor People yearly Six pounds thirteen shillings four pence he gave Nine hundred pounds Given to the Chime and Bow-Church One hundred pounds Gives to St. John Baptists and Brazen-Nose Colledge in Oxford to maintain four Scholars to each four pounds yearly to each Colledge three hundred pounds in toto Six hundred pounds given to the like Use of Trinity and St. Johns-Colledge in Cambridge to each three hundred pounds in toto Six hundred pounds To fix Prisons about London sixty pounds to Christ's-Hospital to purchase twenty pounds per Annum Three hundred pounds to St. Thomas-Hospital fifty pounds to Preachers at Pauls-Cross to bear their Charges two hundred pounds to divets Parishes in London to some ten pounds to some twenty pounds One hundred thirty two pounds To the Poor in Wrenbury in Cheshire to purchase twenty Marks per Annum two hundred pounds to the Use of the Church there thirty pounds for forty Poor Gowns forty pounds The Sum is Three thousand two hundred twelve pounds or thereabouts 16. Mr. Dove gave unto the Company of the Merchant-Taylors the Sum of Two thousand nine hundred fifty eight pounds ten shillings to pay One hundred seventy nine pounds to these Uses following To maintain Thirteen poor Alms-men and six in reversion per Annum One hundred and seventy pounds to a School-master eight pounds to the poor of St. Botolphs Twenty pounds nine shillings to the Prisoners in both Compters Ludgate and Newgate twenty pounds given to St. John's-Colledge in Cambridge One hundred pounds to Christ's-Hospital to purchase sixteen pounds per Annum for one to teach the Boys to sing Two hundred and forty pounds to tole the Bell at St. Sepulchres when the Prisoners go to execution fifty pounds 17. Sir William Craven Alderman of London hath given a thousand pounds to Christ's-Hospital in London to purchase Land for the Maintenance of that House He hath also been a worthy Benefactor to St. John's-Colledge in Oxford He hath built at Burnsall in York-shire a Church compassing it with a Wall at the charge
ever open to all that he thought Objects of Charity Thus did this pious Gentleman honour God with his Substance and adventure upon the Royal Prophet's Words to cast his Bread upon the Waters which though the unbelieving World accounts Folly and usually reckon it among their Losses yet he to his advantage according to the Promise thereto annexed found it again not after many Days This Bread like the Loaves which Christ fed the Multitude with was multiplied in his Hands and his Oyl increased by pouring out He was but a younger Brother and the Etate setled upon him was but 800 l. a Year or thereabouts and yet notwithstanding I had almost said this Excess of Charity his Estate was so far from being ruined or impaired as that not only the same bare Measure he received but much greater pressed down and running over was meeted out to him and his Posterity There is now left to his Heirs an Estate of more than the double value of what he received from his Father besides the Portions which he gave to all his Daughters Five in Number which were very considerable to some of them more than 2000 l. 15. Dr. William Gouge late Pastor of Black-Fryars a Man eminent as in other Graces so in this of Charity used to say That the Tenth part of a rich Man's Estate was a fit Proportion to be devoted to God for charitable Vses but himself as his Son tells us he collected from his own Papers gave the Seventh part of all his yearly Comings-in towards the Maintaining poor Scholars at the University and the Relieving poor Families and distressed Persons And how wonderfully God blessed as his Ministry so his outward Estate is so well known to all who lived in his Days that as his Son saith it is needless to say any thing of it only there may be truly applied to him the Words of the Psalmist He was ever merciful and lending and his Seed is blessed Mr. Tho. Gouge 's Surest and Safest Way of Thriving p. 16 17 18 19 20 c. From whence I have extracted all this Chapter almost entirely It were easie to multiply Instances of this nature but we will pass to another of somewhat a different kind The Story of SYNESIUS and EVAGRIUS LEontius Apamiensis a most faithful religious Man that had lived many Years at Cyrene assured them that Synesius who of a Philosopher became a Bishop found at Syrene one Evagrius a Philosopher who had been his old Acuquaintance Fellow-Student and intimate Friend but an oâ—â—â—â—ate Heathen and Synesius was earnest with him to become a Christian but all in vain yet did he follow him with those Arguments that might satitfie him of the Christian Verity and at last the Philosopher told him That to him it seemed but a meer Fable and Deceit that the Christian Religion teacheth Men that this World shall have an end and that all Men shall rise again in these Bodies and their Flesh be made immortal and incorruptible and that they shall so live for ever and receive the Reward of all that they have done in the Body and that he that hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord and he that gives to the poor and needy shall have treasures in heaven and shall receive an hundred-fold from Christ together with eternal Life these things he derided Synesius by many Arguments assured him That all these things were certainly true and at last the Philosopher and his Children were baptized A while after he comes to Synesius brings him 300 l. of Gold for the Poor and bid him take it but give him a Bill under his Hand that Christ should repay it him in another World Synesius took the Money for the Poor and gave him under his Hand such a Bill as he desired Not long after the Philosopher being near to Death commanded his Sons that which they buried him they should put Synesius's Bill in his Hand in the Grave which they did The Third Day after the Philosopher seemed to appear to Synesius in the Night and said to him Come to my Sepulcher where I lie and take thy Bill for I have received the Debt and am satisfied which for thy assurance I have subscribed with my own Hand The Bishop knew not that the Bill was buried with him but sent to his Sons who told him all and taking them and the chief Men of the City he went to the Grave and found the Paper in the Hands of the Corps thus subscribed Ego Evagrius c. I Evagrius the Philosopher to Thee most Holy Sir Bishop Synesius Greeting I have received the Debt which in this Paper is written with thy Hands and I am satisfied and have no Action against Thee for the Gold which I gave to Thee and by Thee to Christ our God and Saviour They that saw the thing admired and glorified God that gave such wonderful Evidence of his Promises to his Servants And saith Leontius this Bill thus subscribed by the Philosopher is kept at Cyrene most carefully in the Church to this Day to be seen of such as desire to see it Baron Annal. ad An. 411. Ex Sophron. Praet Spir. c. 155. See the Story of the Lord Cromwel's Gratitude to Frescobald a Florentine Merchant mentioned in the Chapter of Remarkable Gratitude CHAP. LXXIV Present Retribution to the Observers of Sabbaths AS God hath inflicted remarkable Judgments upon those that have profaned his Sabbaths so he hath remarkably blessed them who have been careful to observe them according to his Promises made upon that point Isa 58.13 14. If thou turn away thy Foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy Day and call the Sabbath a Delight the Holy of the Lord Honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own ways nor finding thy own pleasure nor speaking thy own worlds then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the High places of the Earth and feed thee with the Heritage of Jacob thy Father for the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it 1. Bishop Jos Hall observed that according to his Care of observing the Lord's-Day he commonly prospered in his Undertakings the Week following 2. The Lord Chief Justice Hales hath made the very same Remark upon himself See my Christian's Companion where both these Examples are cited And if I mistake not the late Lord Delamere did the same 3. Towns and Families that have been more strict and regular upon that Day have commonly fared better than their Neighbours who have been profane and licentious Even within the Circuit of my own Knowledge the Town of Whitchurch in Shrop-shire escaped Publick Calamities better than some of her Sister-Towns as Draiton Wem Newport c. where frequent and sometimes dreadful Faires made great Devastations And which deserves not to pass without a Nota Bene the Difference of their Devotions upon that Day was notable to a common Eye In the former you should scarce see
again and again that they would not fail to remember him in their Publick Assemblies and Private Duties At last he tells us that before this Desertion he had prayed very earnestly and vehemently that God would deliver him from the World being froward and dissatisfied with his Condition troubled in his Thoughts and weary of the World whereas he should have prayed for Submission and Patience See the Narrative Printed by himself at London 1676. 2. Mary Cook executed for the Murder of her own only Child 1670. declared that the occasion was a great Discontent which she had conceived in her Mind grounded upon an apprehension of exceeding unkindnesses of Relations to her tho' she had never been undutiful to them alledging her Relations slighted her she was weary of Life and afraid the Child should come to want when she was gone See the Narrative 3. One Tho. Holt of Coventry a Musician having Nineteen Children and a Competent Estate but not a contented Mind fearing Poverty made a Contract with the Devil and on Feb. 16th 1641. after a very Tempestuous day and mighty Wind which blew down several Houses and Reeks of Corn and Hay was himself by one in Humane shape at Night after he had called to his Wife for Pen Ink and Paper to make his last Will killed in his Bed whilst his Wife almost at her Wits end was calling her Neighbours and there found by them in a wretched manner with his Neck broken to their great astonishment after his Death they opened a Chest which he would never suffer his Wife or any Child to look in whilst living wherein they found Gold up to the top as they thought but upon touching of it it fell at to dust This was attested and published by one Lawrence Southern of Coventry Anno 1642. And tho' it may seem incredible to a Reader of ordinary size yet compared with many other Relations as that of Young Sandie mentioned before who received Money from the Devil and lost it again before Morning c. it is not so very strange CHAP. CXXXI Divine Judgments upon Idleness and Evil Company I Put Idleness and ill Society together because they are near a-kin one to the other and both of them give an occasion to vitiousness The one betrays us more immediately to the Snare of the Devil and the other by the Mediation of his Agents exposeth us with a greater violence and a stronger Torrent than the Corruption of our own single Natures In Idleness our own Hearts are in danger of being too hard for us but in ill Company they meet with their Seconds to abet them And when several vitiated Natures meet together like so many dry sticks they are easily enkindled with a little Fire and blown up into a great Flame and therefore seldom do any good Effects or Consequences follow upon such precedent Causes 1. The Egytians made a Law that he that could not shew by what means he maintained himself should be put to Death Plut. Laert. in vita Periandri 2. St. Augustine tells us of Alipius his dear Friend who went to Rome to study the Law where there were usually those Gladiatory Pastimes wherein Men kill'd one another in sport Alipius could not be perswaded by his Companions to see those Sports They oft desired him but by no means would he go At last saith St. Augustine by a famillar Violence they drew him to go Well saith he I will go but I will be absent whilst I am there I will not look on it He went but when he came there amongst others he shut his Eyes and would not see any of those Sports till at length there was a Man wounded at which the People shouted He heard the shout and would see what was the matter he looked about and seeing the wounded Man he desired to see a little more Thus saith St. Augustine he grew at last not to be the same Man as he was when he came thither For after that time he desired to see it a second and third time and at last he came to be not only a Companion of those that went thither but would be a Guide to them and one of the forwardest till it pleased God by a mighty hand to deliver him from this Vanity Let those amongst us that adventure to go to the Meetings of Hereticks out of Curiosity to see and hear learn Wisdom by these Examples Vid. August Confess and Clark's Examples c. 3. Mat. Hunniades King of Hungary when one brought him a Wooden Coat of Mail wherein was not one Ring wanting a Work of Fifteen Years commanded him to Prison for Fifteen Years more to expiate for so much Time and Parts mispent Author of Education of Young Gentlemen 4. Few or no Beggars are found in China for a young Beggar hath the Whip The whole Country is well Husbanded and though the People are generally great spenders yet they first get it by their hard Labour Idle Persons are much abhorred in this Country and such as will not Labour must not eat amongst them for there are none that will give Alms to the Poor If any be Blind they are put to Grind in Horse-Mills If Lame Impotent Bed-rid c. the next of their Kin is forced to maintain them if they be not able the King hath Hospitals in every City wherein they are sufficiently provided for Sir Tho. Herb. Travels P. Pil. 15.3 5. The Lacedaemonians brought up their Children in Labour from their Infancy whereby it grew into a Proverb That only the Lacedaemonian Women brought forth Men. Alex. 6. The Cretans brought up also their Sons from their Childhood in daily and difficult Labours lest when they grew Old they should think it was not unseemly to waste themselves in Idleness Idem 7. The Gymnosophists to reclaim their Scholars from Idleness Enacted a Law that Young Men should neither eat nor drink any day before they had given an Account to the Elder what Work they had done that Morning Idem 8. Amasis made a Law that the Egyptian Youth should no day eat and Food till they had run One Hundred and Eighty Furlongs Judging them unfit either to eat or drink till by honest Labour they had deserved it Diod. Sic. 9. The Aethiopians anciently accustomed their Youth daily to fling great Stones or Darts that thereby they might understand that Man was born to Labour not to Idleness Alex. ab Alex. 10. In the City of Casan in Parthia an Idle Person is not suffered to live amongst them 11. Sir Philip Sidney as one writes in the extream Agony of his Wounds so terrible the sense of Death is adds my Author requested the dearest Friend he had living to burn his Arcadia Will. Winstanley's Worthies p. 219. 12. I have read formerly that Mr. Abraham Cowley on his Death-bed made it his Request that this Poems called The Mistress might undergo the same Fate be burnt Mr. Herbert on his Death-bed commended his Poems to the Press 13. And I