the Apostle trembling and crying out Sir what shall I do to be saved To whom he was a Barnabas a son of sweet consolation and could so display the exceeding abundant riches of Divine grace in the Lord Jesus Christ as to draw and attract their hearts to a cheerful compliance with it and hearty acceptation of it He as a faithful Steward gave every one his portion terrour to whom terrour belonged and comfort to whom comfort whereby the Holy Ghost setting in with the Word a numerous issu of new born children were begotton to Christ. He preached there according to the command in season and out of season not only twice every Lords day but also every holy day and at Funerals though the persons interr'd were poor and nothing could be expected for his pains Whilst he was Minister of Otham many of Maidstone and others several miles about to my knowledge some seven or eight miles from Otham did ordinarily attend on his Ministry and joyn in Communion with him at the Lords Supper but the number that flockt after him which was so great that his Church would not hold them was a great eye sore to the prophane world and caused several of the Ministers about him to envy and maligne him CHAP. VIII His care to Sanctifie the Sabbath There was at Otham before his coming an ill custom for the Fulling Mills there abouts to work every Lords day but he convinced the owners so throughly of the unlawfulness thereof that they forbore presently and suffered their Mills to lie still on that day many years after he left them But the only wise God who governeth the world saw fit for some time to lay this usefull person aside for he had not been many years at Otham before the Book commonly called the Book of Sports on the Lords day came forth and was presented to him with a Command that he should publish it the next Lords day in his Church which he refused to do of which refusal he giveth the reasons which you may see in his answer to several Articles objected against him annexed to this Narrative and upon his refusal was suspended ab Officio Beneficio Upon his suspension his Cure was committed to such persons as he could not comfortably own or joyn with which caused him to remove his Habitation to Maidstone To the Christians there he was a great help whilst his suspension lasted and from them he received some support and supply for himself and his Family Whilst he was at Maidstone he still was solicitous for the good of his people at Otham and therefore to encourage them to unity and a Gospel conversation as also to convince his adversaries who had causelesly traduced him to be a savourer and a better of Schisms and Divisions he wrot a Letter to his Parish wherein the exhorted them to fear the Lord and the King and to walk in love c. and not to nourish in themselves any dislike of Government or contempt of those whom God had set over them c. Which Letter was read on a Lords Day in his Congregation by Dr. Tucke that all his Parishoners might know his judgement and the advice he judged necessary to give them without the appointment of Mr. Wilson The tidings of this Letter and the publick reading of it was soon carried to London and gave such a distast that both Mr. Wilson and Dr. Tucke were cited to appear before the High Commission Court and answer what they had done Both of them appeared several times to their great trouble and cost and were notwithstanding all they could alledge in their own defence forced to continue their attendance on the Court for the space of three years In this business Dr. Tucks trouble was the greater because his body unable to bear riding he was necessitated to make these long journeys of thirty miles and better on foot During Mr. Wilsons suspension a Neighbour Minister greedy of his Living commenced a Sute against him to eject him wholly out of Otham but his Patron Mr. Swinnoche made good his Title and so disappointed his Adversary CHAP. IX His appearance at a Visitation about the Prayer against the Scots HIs suspension continued till the year 1639. about which time the Scots entering England a Parliament was called and Archbishop Lawd took off his suspension But his sufferings were not at an end for in the year 1640. September 30. he and other Ministers were cited to appear at a Visitation of the Archbishops at Feversham in Kent to answer their not reading the Prayer against the Scots and also as they there heard to take the new devised Oath ex Officiam but when he and others of his Brethren presented themselves at the place they understood that the Oath should be wholly declined and the onely question should be why they did not read the forementioned Prayer Upon which they consulted together whether it were beâ—â— to appear before the Vicar General or no. â— was urged by some that the Parliament whom they apprehended would be some relief and shelter to them being to sit down on the 3 〈…〉 of November following it was but prudential for them to hold off at present and in case they were cited afterwards to Canterbury to appear only by a Proctour and protract time as much as might be But upon a serious weighing the reasons for and against their appearing it was concluded that they would appear and submit to the will of God however he should please to dispose of them Mr. Edward Bright of Gondburst and Mr. Wilson immediately repaired to the Inne where Sir Nathaniel Brent the Arch-Deacon and some inferiour Officers sat They no sooner appeared but Mr. Bright was pointed out by one present to the Arch-Deacon that knew him who presently asked him his name and whether he had read the Prayer against the Scots or no Mr. Bright answered No Whereupon the Arch-Deacon suspended him ab Officio Beneficio without admonishing him or giving him any time to consider of it which sudden act was deemed even by the Favourites of that Court to be neither prudential nor Canonical Though Mr. Wilson stood by when his Brother was suspended and perceived the service much hotter then he expected yet he did not flye from his colours or retreat in the least But being called answered to his Name and being asked whether he had read the Prayer gave a Negative answer with this reason Because in the Rubrick before the Common Prayer it was enjoyned that no Prayer should be publickly read except those that were in the Book of Common-Prayer but this Prayer against the Scots was not there This unexpected answer puzzled the Arch-Deacon being none of the readiest or accuted to reply and caused him to apply himself to Sir Nathan Brent who upon information of Mr. Wilsons reasons very ingeniously left the Arch-Deacon to himself and refused to meddle in it Upon which the Arch-Deacon the edge of his fury being
Mr. Robert Swinnocks to Supper By that time he had supped there would be hundred or more gathered together to Mr. Swinnocks house to joyn with him in the conclusion of the day Many times to my comfort I have seen two Rooms one considerable for largeness through which persons of all ranks the Mayor Jurates and their Wives by their patterns encouraging others to worship the great God After Supper he came among them begun with a short prayer then would read the Verses he had expounded in that day ask what observations were raised from such a Verse then proceed to the next so through all the Verses he had expounded forenoon and afternoon then enquire what the Text were the Doctrines the Explications Reasons Uses all in order as preached seldom named one head himself but still heartned them to speak and assisted them when they were at a loss then they sung a Psalm and he ended the day with prayer about ten a clock at night Once a month he administred the Lords Supper to a considerable number of solid serious Christians with that life and warmth in prayer and opening Scripture that some of his Communicants have thought themselves in the Suburbs of Heaven when they have joyned with him in that Ordinance in which he spent an hour and half commonly Thus he Sanctified the Lords Day spending nine or ten hours in publick and private Worship beside what time he spent in secret duties in which he was never niggardly so that the Sabbath which was a day of rest to others was a day of great pains and labour to him yet it was easie yea delightful to him and at the end of the day when those who took not half his pains have complained of their weariness he would be exceeding lively and chearful such was his great love to his Saviour and the souls committed to his charge The Sabbath day to him was a day of light and gladness and a good day CHAP. XV. The great pains he took with his people on the Week-days YEt he did not think it sufficient to Teach his people on the Lords Day but the Town being very populous and the Parish large and he rendred thereby uncapable of going from house to house on the Week-days he layd out himself in the service of his Lord for the henefit of his Parish Every Thursday their Market-day he preached a Lecture to which many Ministers came and with much delight sat under him On Frydays he met in private with as many of his people as would come together when sometimes he expounded the Scripture to them sometimes preached and always sung and prayed with them And also Mundays or Tursdays for his day was altered as he saw occasion he appointed a Conference in the publick Meeting place where the question being before propounded and known ex gr what was the nature of repentance or faith or what the sighness or what the means or what the motives to it his people prepared to speak to it and he by his wise courteous carriage and language won their hearts and drew them to Study the Scriptures and good Books that they might be able to speak to the purpose As they spake when he saw occasion he would help and assist them yet still take care to keep them in the way of Truth and that none did go beyond their bounds or incroach upon the Ministry After they had spoken he would gather together their scattered notions bring them into an orderly method apply to them sutable Texts of Scripture add what of his own he thought necessary and so render the meeting exceeding profitable and comfortable to his flock I have heard him at one of these Meetings when the question was about one of the petitions in the Lords Prayer to my great advantage and delight for Christian Communion mannaged with prudence is that which keeps our Religion in breath and without which it would be ready to die When he laid down this way of Conference instead thereof he set up Catechising on the Week-days in publick and this was continued till he had gone through the whole Town except some Families in the out bounds which Families he intended also to have Cathechized but was prevented He did work the work of him that sent him into the world spend himself as the Silk-worm to cloath and as the Lamp to direct others not to bury the Talent in the Napkin of idleness Indeed those Nurses Ministers I mean deserve the greatest condemnation who let their Children though they cry starve to death because they will not take the pains to draw out their breasts to them CHAP. XVI His diligence on all occasions to do good as also his way of Preaching HE was of a noble disposition very free upon the occasions to communicate knowledge to others not like a Whirlpool that sucks all to it self but as a Fountain to disperse its streams for the refreshment of many Seldom were any in his company but they might if it were not their own fault receive good by him He was neither vain in ostentation nor niggardly in reservation some might think he did ill to take so much pains on the Lords Days and on the Week-days constantly and on all occasions to the shortning of his life but he was sensible he could never labour enough for his Lord and that God make no difference between nequam nequaquam an idle and an evil servant Hence it was that when he was often advised by his friends to be mindful of his body and not to work it so hard he was deaf to all those advice and was ready to say with Calvin when counselled by his friends to take care of his health Would you have my Lord when he comes to find me idle and with Dr. Reynolds of Oxford when the Doctors persuaded him not perdere substantiam propter accidentia Noc propter vitam vivendi perdere causas I met him once at night at a friends house when he had travelled near fourty miles that day yet notwithstanding his great weariness he would spend some time in expounding Scripture to the Family beside singing and prayer which he never omitted before he went to bed St. Austins wish was that Christ when he came to call him by death might find him aut precautem aut predicautem either praying or preaching Truely such seem'd to be the desire of Mr. Wilson by his indefalligable laboriousness about his Masters business I never knew him given to any recreation though never so innocent but exceeding provident he was of his time A little after dinner he would sometimes sit and discourse but usually if he was at home his Study was his place of abode He was Hellno librorum an indefutigable Student stealing time from his sleep even when his body call'd for it for his Book It s said of Bradfrod that he slept not above four hours in the night and that his Book went not out of his hand till sleep came and
he exhorted to fear God be times and directing his speech to his eldest daughter he said Look to it that you meet me not at the day of Iudgment in an unregenerate estate He commended all his Children to the Lord and left them with him in much Faith in the Covenant which God had made to him and his When Christian Friends came to visit him he always laboured to require their kindness in Godly counsel and exhortations he wisht them to be frequent in reading the Scriptures to prize highly and meditate much on the promises to be holy and blameless in their conversations by no means to forsake but to stick close to ordinances and to hold on in communion with the people of God in the Town When Epictetus broke his leg it s reported of him he discoursed as if his soul had been in another mans body And when the bones of Mr. Wilson were sore vexed with the violence of his disease he would discourse in such a composed Heavenly manner as if he had ayled nothing When one or two of those who had separated from communion with him came to see him he did with much affection bewail their Schism prayed that God would bring them back again and told them that he could willingly lay down his life so they might joyn in Communion with the other Godly people in the Town As Iacob when he was dying worshipped leaning on his staff Heb. 11. 21. So he on his dying bed was frequent in praying to and praising his God It was but two nights before his death though he were very sick yet he made his bed his Pulpit out of which he preached to some that came to see him concerning the preciousness of the promises bid them look the 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding rich and precious promises we are made partakers of the Divine Nature and concerning the preciousness of Christ to Believers desired them to turn to 1 Pet. 2. 7. Vnto you that believe he is precious And oh with what affectionate expressions would this Minister and Member of Christ Commend his head the Pearl of great Price and the Promises he had purchased saying to his visitors that one Promise was more precious then a World He kept a pure conscience while he lived and through mercy had a peaceable conscience when he died It s said of 〈…〉 Lampadius that being asked on his death bed by one whether the light did not offend him clapping his hand on his breast answered Hic sat lucis Here is light within Mr. Wilson all along in his sickness manifested much peaceableness and calmness of Spirit Dr. Taylor when he came within two miles of the place of Execution leaped saying God be praised I am almost at home and have not past a mile or two and I shall be at my Fathers House Mr. Wilsons apprehension that Death drew near was very comfortable to him A Gentlewoman of his society coming to take her leave of him being to remove out of the Town he pleasantly said to her What will you say good Mistriss Crisp if I get the start of you and get to Heaven before you get to Dover When another came to see him he asked her what she thought of him who answering truly Sir I think you are not far from your Fathers House he replied Oh that is good news indeed which would make one to laugh for joy When others spake to him of his death in a mornful way he said to them I bless God who hath suffered me to live so long to do him some service and now after I have done the work appointed me is pleased to call me away so soon Thus in the breathings of his Faith and hope he departed this Life and commended his Spirit into the hands of him that redeemed it and that on the Lords Day that day on which he was wont to work so hard was the day of his entrance into eternal rest to keep an endless Sabbath He needed no Picture or Monuments to preserve his Memory His good works though transient in themselves are yet permanent in the hearts of many and praise him in the Gate for as Agesitaus dying said If I have done good that will be my Monument if ill all the Statues you can make will not keep my good name alive He was when he died about 52. years of Age of a strong constitution for strength and might in a course of nature if God had so pleased have lived much longer But he brought forth fruit early and was ripe when others of his age began but to blossom and therefore no wonder that he was gathered by God so soon He was in his Meridian when others were but just peeping above the Horizon and so might well set before them It was much desired and prayed for that his life might have been lengthened but his time was come he had fought a good fight he had finished his course he had kept the Faith and his Master call'd him to receive his Crown It may be said of him as one did of Bishop Iewel in Seneca's Phrases Diu vixit etsi non di◠fruit He lived long and much though he was not long on Earth he did not wast out with the rust of idleness but wear out with labour yet he was a light that did not blaze out needlesly and unprofitably but burn out for the enlightning many and directing them in the way of life which life he now enjoyeth and happy are they whom their Lord when he cometh shall find so doing of a truth I say unto you he shall make them Rulers over all that he hath Heb. 12. 43 44. Master Bright Minister of Gondhust in Kent his Testimony concerning Mr. Wilson in a Letter directed to a Friend in Maidstone SIR FOr Mr. Wilsons practical actings in Preaching and Life I need say nothing your self feelingly and experimentally knowing more then any can relate his natural parts were generally known to be very high in depth of Judgement readiness of Memory and quickness of Apprehension he was the best at much in a little with clearness of Judgement and exactness of method that I have heard or am ever like to hear His Spiritual endowments for graces and gifts were answerable in his Ministerial abilities he was taller by the head and shoulders then most of his Brethren his indefatigable pains answerable to his parts wore out his Spirit and spent him for good to be the sooner with God and that which to me adorned all was the depth of his humility in the height of his Sanctity He had much learned that hard lesson to receive much from God yet to be little in his own eyes his memory is still precious to my thoughts the general loss is great yours in particular greater I shall heartily desire his indefatigable labours and pious exemplary life may still live in your lives in which he dead yet speaketh c. Yours in Christ Edward Bright ARTICLES Objected
neglected the Sabbaoth in the least observation was guilty of casting off the whole worship of God Alsted Catech. on the fourth Commandment after Sermon the Sabbaoth is profaned by being spent in given to Plays Dancing Idleness c. 6. It s against Schoolmen Alexander Alensis Tom. 3. Q. 32. Memb. 4. Art 4. morrally in the fourth Commandment is forbid any work that hinders ones leisure to wait upon God Thomas Aquinas Sum. Theol. 22. Quest. 122. Art 1. in observing the Sabbaoth the end is that a man may be at leisure for Heavenly things 7. Reasons be against it I. Reason If any civil work be forbid on the Lords Day then civil recreations for honest pleasure calls a man away from things Spiritual Zanchy on the fourth Commandment as well as honest labour recreation breaks the rest as much as civil work II. Reason If recreations civil be not fit for consecrated places then not fit for consecrated times fo 〈…〉 me that is holy is the measure of holy Actions for divers be called holy not from the formal cause but final as ordained to holy things Zanchy on the fourth Commandment A day applyed to civil works is no more holy but common and a thing consecrated is profaned by a civil use and is not the Lords Day profaned by sports though civil now Recreations Archery May-games Dancing Morris-dancing may not be in consecrated places Cannon 88. no Plays and to play and dance is all one as Exod. 32. 6 19. And therefore not sit for consecrated times as the Lords Day is for greater is he that Sanctified the Day then he that Sanctified the place whether it were by the Lord or the Apostle or the Church Now I know not why they may not be fittest in consecrated places if they be most sit for consecrated times and I cannot in conscience read that which I take to be against mans Law and our Church the Scriptures Councils Divines Ancient and Modern Schoolmen and Reasons but think my self bound for conscience towards God to maintain the Truth and Holiness of the two Testaments and to keep the Commands of God and the Faith of Jesus Christ as a Preacher of Christs everlasting Gospel least people should think Preaching to be yea and nay VII ARTICLE 1633. When Commission came for reparation of St. Pauls in work to build sumptuous Temples is to justifie Anti-christ Writings Hos. 8. 14. RESP. I know not the time of the Commission for St. Pauls reparation I deny such words for I handled that Text Luke 7. 35. Wisdom is justified of all her Children Shewing that all the Children of God justifie Christ which doth reprove them that justifie Antichrist in erecting Altars to sin and in building Temples for Idols alledging for this Hos. 8. 11. 14. Ephraim hath made many Altars to sin Israel hath forgotten his Maker and Buildeth Temples according to the mind of the Prophet as I learned out of Authors Learned Zanchy Pareus Ribera who all understand it of Temples wherein they placed honoured and adorned Idols by forgetting God and out of contempt of God brought in a different worship VIII ART About the end of April 1634. he bid take heed of dealing with High Priests servants in great scorn and derision REPS. I deny both time and words but in May handling 2 Tim. 2. 12. If we deny him he will deny us perswading people not to deny Christ I admonished them to avoid as pernitious unnecessary company with the enemies of Christ producing Peters example who being brought into the High Priest Hall amongst the Servants denyed his Master affirming it was dangerous company naming the very words of the Text as is usually done by Writers Preachers Iohn 18. 16. Peter is brought in standing with the Servants and Officers is questioned by one of the High Priest Servants Vers. 26. denyed Christ upon it Vers. 27. which I spake in the fear and sight of God IX ART At Boxley-Inn 29. 1632. no man can have a broken heart that hath two Steeples moaning two Benifices alledging Acts 20 20. RESP. I never spake such words but at the funeral of a grave ancient and learned Minister I did not exhort but intreat Ministers to prepare to give an account of their Life and Livings shewing the vanity of Men that plead for pluralities saying That were a mans heart broken it would not bear the weight of three Churches and I followed in this no private opinions but the general Tenet of Divines 1. Ancients Chrysostom Tom. 5. Pag 104. Edit Paris 1536. When that the Pastor is away great danger is at hand seeing there is none which can defend and keep the Flock Damasus cited by Dr. Willet saith men that put people over to others seem like Strumpets which put their Infants as soon as they be born to other Nurses to be brought up that they may sooner fill themselves with filth 2. Moderne Bishops Bishop Iewel on 1 Thes. 2. 17 18. and on Iohn 6. Non residents and plurality men that hunt after many livings serve their Belly seek to be rich destroy the souls of many bring confusion and shame into Gods House be blind Guides and the darkness of this World be the remnant of the wicked Inhabitants of Iericho and the overthrow of Ierusalem resist the passage of Gods people towards the Land of Promise the curse of God will fall on them the blood of Gods People shall be required at their hands they bring the Abomination of desolation in the Holy place they suffer the flock of Christ to perish for lack of knowledge Pilkington Bp. of Durham 1585. saith there is remaining among us a sort not Popish as they pretend but earnest builders of Gods cause in their own opinion where indeed they be overthrowers of it which are in effect as ill Pharisees as the Papists be They will take a Benefice and Cure of souls promising solemnly to feed the Flock but when they have turned their back they have a Dispensation in a Box to lye from it and flock and flout whosoever would have them continue there and do their duty contending by Law they may do it and stand on their defence Domine nos exempri sumus God in mercy grant such unprofitable Caterpillers some remorse of conscience that they may become Pillers to uphold Gods Church and not poulers of his people the great God will take a strict account of them at the last day when their dispensation may not be pleaded nor will be allowed nor the dispensor can justly excuse himself nor them but both like Wolves and Hirelings shall be changed Vae Pastor Idolum Zach. 11. Wo to the Idol Shephard that leaveth the Flock Vers. 17. and Ezek. 3. Their blood will I require at thine hand on Nehem. 3. Pag. 45. 46. Bishop Downam on the fourth Commandment calleth non residenss alin against the fourth Commandment and on the fifth Commandment saith it ariseth of coveteousness Bishop Carleton in vita Gilpini a most
ordering that Plundered Ministers should first be provided for where any Livings were vacant they could not at present obtain their desire For one Master Smith an able holy man of the number of the foresaid Ministers was by the Committee of Plundered Ministers sent down to Maidstone Mr. Smith had not been long in Maidstone but a rumour was spread that eminent persons should be removed to great Towns and Cities that they might be capable of doing the more good and that Mr. Wilson should be removed from Otham to some considerable place At which news the people of Maidstone were much startled fearing they should lose their beloved Pastour To prevent which they apply themselves to Mr. Smith desiring him to accept of some other Living that Maidstone might be free for Mr. Wilson Mr. Smith considering the vehement desires of the good people after Mr. Wilson yielded to refer the business to six judicious Ministers of the Assembly whereof three to be chosen by himself and three by the Christians of Maidstone The Ministers met accordingly and having heard what could be said on both sides and weigh the matter throughly gave their advice that it would be best for Mr. Smith to resign the place to Mr. Wilson which also he did and having a considerable place some six or seven miles from Maidstone provided for him viz. Harrison he took his own time to remove thither Thus at last by the good hand of God Mr. Wilson and the people of Maidstone who brought him first into Kent who were long before joyned together in heart were joyned together in Habitation amongst whom he continued with much love and faithfulness till God called him out of this World CHAP. XIII His care for Otham and for Reformation at Maidstone BUt though he left Otham he did not leave off to care for the souls of his people there but kept his Title to the place still least the Patron should put in an insufficient Minister in case he had resigned and provided them a pious learned faithful man to whom he gave the whole profits of the Living for he held not his right to the place upon any carnal account or for any self ends but only for the good of the people When he had been some time at Maidstone he took care about the Reformation of the Church and due administration of the Sacraments according to the Word of God to which end he did first in his Preaching discover to them the necessity of Church Ordinances and Discipline the nature of the Subjects thereof c. and then God accompanying his diligent endeavours notwithstanding the obstacles he met with not onely by the prophane but also some that professed the fear of God he brought it to a good issue and put it in practice to the great comfort of them that were Godly Being freed Sea from attendance on the Assembly they being dissolved he applied himself to the work of the Ministry with the greatest diligence that ever I heard or read of any CHAP. XIV His great diligence and labouriousness on the Lords Day ON Saturday nights he would usually continue at his Study very late often till midnight to prepare himself the better for his task on the Lords Day On the Lords Day morning he would rise by two or three a Clock ordinarily and was much displeased with himself if at any time he did oversleep his hour About seven a clock he came down to his Family call'd all together read some part of Scripture expounded it caused those present to give an account what they remembred of his Exposition Sung some part of a Psalm Prayed with them and concluded between eight and nine a Clock that they might all be ready to attend publick Ordinances About nine a Clock he repaired to the Church and commonly begun with singing two Staves of a Psalm after which he prayed briefly for assistance in and a blessing on the Ordinances of God then he read some part of the old Testament and expounded sometimes three or four sometimes more Verses as more or less matter was contained in them for the space of an hour for he had an Hour-glass in his Desk for that end He had as excellent a faculty in expounding as any I know of His custom was first to analise the Book then the Chapters as he came to treat on them then he gave the several readings and expositions of the Verses which he handled He had Iun. Tremel Piscator Beza Calvin and several others ad rugnem insomuch that in the assembly of Divines as Mr. Gibbons sometime of Black-friers told me he heard it of his Father one of the Assembly if at any time they doubted what was the opinion of any of the aforementioned Commentators Mr. Wilson was called to satisfie them After he had delivered the several readings and judgements of Expositors as there was occasion he drew observations for the coherence dependance and matter of the Verses which he very briefly illustrated and applied Mr. Hutchison on the Gospel of Iohn comes the nearest him of any Comment that I read in English but he was fuller and larger then Mr. Hutchison I believe if his expositions on the whole New Testament and the far greater part of the Old had been Printed it would have been an useful Treatise and more serviceable for the enabling ordinary Christians to understand the mind of God in his Word then any Comment that is extant After he had expounded he spent about an hour in the Pulpit When he came home to his Family he constantly went to Prayer with them before Dinner and begg'd that the truths delivered out of the Word might be written by the Spirit of God upon all their hearts After which he went to his Studdy eating little or no dinner usually till after his Family had dinn'd then he spent some time with them in singing and other religious exercises In the afternoon in publick he did as in the Morning onely his exposition was then on some part of the New Testament After the Evening Worship in publick many Neighbours came to his house where he called his Family together asked of them and others present an account of his Sermons preached that day most of them present would speak somewhat one what the Text was another the division of it another the Doctrine of it another the reasons so others the explications and uses methodically as he had delivered them all whom he would help and encourage Hereby their understandings and memories were much advantaged for they knowing before hand his custome were the more attentive in hearing and the more careful to remember what they heard whereas when the Master of the Family repeats all himself Children and Servants who have a natural aversness to yea hatred of all good are usually heedless in hearing and mindless both in publick and private of what they hear After repitition he sung a Psalm and concluded with prayer Then he went to his quondam Patrons house
against Mr. Tho. Wilson Minister of Otham in Kent April 29. 1635. in the Archbishops Court with his Answers thereunto presented May 28. 1635. I. ARTICLE CAnonical Obedience due by Oath taken at your Institution into your place RESP. 'T is true as I understand the Oath it is according to Cannons by Law established in the Church of England and as it is propounded in omnibus licitis honestis II. ART That the Minister must have popular Election as necessary to hold his place RESP. I never held such an opinion neither privately speak nor publickly Preached such a Tenet III. ART That there is little comfort to a Minister instituted and inducted without approbation of the people as you know and believeth are still of this mind challenging Mr. Cragge the Competitor of the Rectory before Mr. Barrel with what conscience he could come without their call RESP. I know and believe the contrary viz. that a Minister inducted according to the Cannons and Custom of the Church of England may with good conscience discharge the place neither do I think fit my Parish should chuse their Minister nor did I depend on their call but came in away approved by the Church of England this I said to Mr. Cragge before Mr. Barrel the people liked me and I desire to love them and that it is a good incouragement for a Minister to take pains among such a people and he will have little comfort who knows he hath neither love of the people nor the people but comes out of love to himself for the profits and his maintenance as Mr. Barrel helped him to answer that was his end IV. ART Conventicles held in my house and other private houses in the Town of Otham within this two years and used exercises of Religion by Law prohibited expounded Sermons read and expounded Scripture to selected Proselytes to the number of twenty of six present RESP. I deny holding of Conventicles and using exercises of Religion by Law prohibited and the name nature or number of Proselytes but this hath been my practice with my Family in my own house to examine them what they remembred and to help them where they could not remember and I did teach Gods Word unto them diligently as I conceive I was and am bound by Gods Word Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thy House Deut. 6 6 7. Uses moreover I took it to be my duty as I could to teach by way of exhortation and conference from house to house what I had taught in publick that I might keep back nothing that was profitable as I am instructed to do Acts 20. 20. Paul bids the Minister look to his duty in private towards every member of the Church by his example as Iunius de natura Ecclesae citet Libro cap. 2. de Officio Pastoris Acts 20. 20. So that what I had delivered in publick I might as occasion was offered deliver in private This is not prohibited by any Law either Statute or Cannon that I know but is commanded of God as I am a Christian in his Word to teach others Let the words of Christ dwell in you richly Teaching and Admonishing one another Col. 3. 16. And it is injoyned by Authors and Fathers Zanchy in Col. 3. 16. That the duty of teaching is not only in the Church publickly but to be much set by and used in houses privately and Christians be bound to teach mutually and privately Chrisostom Archbishop of Constantinople on Gen. Hom. 2. commands let the Husband tell what we say that the Wife and Children and Servants may learn and the House be a Church that Sathan may be banished again Hom. 6. Let your speech be spiritual let one take the Bible in his hands and his Neighbours being called together let him water their mind and his own with Godly speech Again Hom. 8. I will I pray you all to be Teachers and not only Hearers of our words but carry our Doctrine to others Further more Hom. 10. He that studieth to teach his Neighbours and Brother doth him a good turn and God will reward him and by repeating our sayings he will hold them better adding we may at home after Dinner take the Bible to profit and to feed the soul with it Lastly Hom. 14. I intreat you all that go hence become Teachers and Admonishers confer with your Neighbours of the things which we have now said Caesureus Arcletensis Episcopus de cura animae Hom. 20. teacheth he that can retain all that we say let him thank God and what he retaineth let him always shew it to others adding let people afterwards repeat what they have heard in a Sermon saying Christians ought for their own good to seek and ask if need be also to give rewards that some may read over again Gods Word unto them V. ART Within four chiefly two years last to permit Novellist of Maidstone to the number of 30. or 10. and lead them riding or going and in some private houses Collected or cause to be got together afore Supper 60 50 or 40. persons repeated Sermons expounded Scriptures and afore it and after it made tedious extemporary Prayers full of Tantologies delivered scandalous Doctrine to the perverting and corrupting sundry of his Majesties Subjects RESP. I protest against such Doctrine and such effect on any as to be corrupted and perverted I deny the number or nature of persons and my Leading any or Collecting any or causing any to be gathered together I have no power to restrain any from hearing Sermons and it may be their Surties for their parts and duties did call upon them to hear Sermons I was upon occasion of my Family lodging and sojourning at Maidstone necessarily to go home and I have no reason to shun the way home for any company in which I knew no ill a way home being not denyed me and afterwards I examined my Family what they did call to mind of the Sermon as a Master ought to do also I prayed at all times according to the thing of a day in day and I took it to be no sin 1 Kings 8. 59. And I am taught to exhort comfort and edifie others as Crysostom in Homily cited applyes that 1 Thes. 5. 11. Babington Bishop of Worcester saith on that fourth Commandment besides the hearing of the Word on the Sabbaoth it is our duty and a Godly exercise fit for the day amongst our selves or with our Pastor to confer of what hath been said that he may expound it as we read was done by Christ to his Disciples when they were alone he expounded all thing unto them Mark 4. 10. and 34. So I have answered as well as I could when any thing was asked me by any for I durst not be dumb when I could satisfie them that did not understand and yet did desire to know the will of God VI. ART Refusal to read the Kings Declaration