admired it but he knew it not He had not the least affectation or shew of oftentation in his carnage or language or any other thing Empty Vessels make the greatest sound and noise those that are full are more silent Ignorance and Pride emptiness and arrogancy are usually concomitants He knew much yet the more he knew the more sensible he was of his ignorance and nothingness and unworthiness and walked the more humbly with his God as a Bough laden with Fruit or an Ear with Corn the fuller and weightier the more they bend down-ward he as the Violet hung down and hid his head though his fragranacy and sweetness discovered him what he was In his cloaths he was always grave and sober never minding the whimsical modes or fashions but ever keeping to the same manner of his attire I stood once with him at his door when a great Gallant antickly drest went by upon which he secretly said I have made a Covenant with mine eyes why should I be hold vanity How accomplished was this good man when he had such rich natural gifts and such great gracious Habits which as the Diamond to the Ring add true value to naturals Alas what are all natural abilities which act grace but as Ciphers which act a figure insignificant and in Gods account standing for nothing nay usually the greater part which act grace the greater prophaneness Satan makes most use of such acute Wits and sharp Swords to do the more mischief At best they are but as Toads with a Pearl in their Heads and Poison in their whole body But Mr. Wilson had this happiness to have his great gifts adorned and ennamel'd with great grace hourly he became the greater instrument of Gods Glory CHAP. XXIII His Wives and Children WHen he was about twenty six years of Age he married a Daughter of Sir Zinzans who being in a consumption before she married him and as I have heard for love of him her Parents judging him much below her died within seven or eight months after her marriage About a year after her death he married Mistress Damaris Cable Daughter of Mr. Iames Cable of London Merchant who was a meet help to him in his Civil and Spiritual concerns by her he had eleven children one whereof viz. his eldest son Samuel who feared the Lord in his youth died young the other ten he left at his death with his disconsolate Widow He had little of this world to leave his many Children about one hundred pounds a piece as I have heard after their Mothers death but he hath left them much if we consider the many fervent prayers which night and day he poured out before the Lord on their behalves I have read of one that when she came to die told her Children I have little to leave you but this I must tell you there is not one Room in the House which is not perfumed with prayer for you Often did good Mr. Wilson cry out to God O that my children might live in thy sight Lord come down by thy Spirit into their hearts least my children die least they die eternally The God of all grace who hath promised to be a God to his and their Seed in his own day give a gracious answer to all the Requests that are on the sile in Heaven for them He had the happiness promised the good man Psal. 128. 3. Thy Wife shall be as a fruitful Vine by the sides of thine House thy Children like Olive Plants round about thy Table O that he might have that happiness to meet all his Children with joy at the great Day CHAP. XXIV His Sickness and Death THat piety which did shine so brightly in his life did wonderfully sparkle in his death The messenger which God sent to call him hence for morbus est via ad mortem was a violent Feaver which he welcomed as knowing it was sent by a gracious Father to call him home to his Fathers House No guest comes at any time a miss to him that keeps a constant Table no providence no not death it self comes at any time amiss to him that is always ready and dieth dayly while he liveth His Lamps were burning his Oyl was ready in his Vessel when the Bridegroom came His Feaver had continued but a little while before his friends did Prognosticate that it would prove mortal and remove him from thence whom they loved as their own souls and under whose Ministry they had sat with so much delight But what he had been in the course of his life the same did he continue to be to his death Though his desease was violent and his fits often acute and sharp yet he never complained he might groan but he never grumbled his pain might cause him to mourn but it did not make him murmur he reverenced the rod in the hand of his Father and that Cup which his Father gave him to drink he submitted to In his extremity his Faith and patience would eminently shine forth to the honour of God and comfort of those that visited him Being sensible of his approaching death he was exceeding solicitous for the Town and Parish whereof he was Minister It s a worthy speech of Laelius in Cicer. de Amicit. Mihi non minori Curae est qualis respublicae post mortem meam futura sit quam qualis bodis sit My care is as great what shall become of the Common-wealth when I am dead as what it shall do while I live So this good man was very anxious what should become of this people when God should call him away As Moses before he died was careful to appoint a Successor that might lead Gods people whom he had brought into the borders into the Land of Promise the Earthly Canaan So Mr. Wilson before he died took care for a Successor that might further that good work which he had begun through grace in many of them and be helpful to conduct them to their Heavenly Canaan To this end he called some of the Town who were wise and gracious to him and advised them to consider of some able good Minister to succeed him and he commended Mr. Iohn Crump a worthy Minister to them as the fittest that he knew to be their Pastour Afterwards Mr. Crump did succeed him not only in his place but also in his faithfulness and diligence and serviceableness to the comfort and advantage of the people As Iacob before his death called his children together to direct and advise what should befall them so he called his Wife and Children to him desiring his Wife not to be discouraged at his death or to sorrow as they that have no hope but to continue to serve God in Christ to trust God and to be chearful in him adding this for her comfort Though now we are parted for a time yet there is a time coming that we shall be joyned again never to part more His children were most little but those that were capable
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF Mr. Tho. Wilson MINISTER OF MAIDSTONE In the County of Kent M. A. Printed in the Year 1672. To the Christian READER Especially those of Maidstone in Kent who were Hearers of and held Communion with Mr. Wilson HOw great the force of examples is to draw Men to good or evil is evilent to the World by daily experience The Governours of Families and Parishes are usually the Looking Glasses by which inferiours dress themselves And most look rather to their doings then their sayings Hereupon the Oratour tells us Non solum obsunt superiores quod illi ipsi corrum patitur sed etiam quod cotrumpunt plusquam exemplo quam peccato nocent Waters do not more constantly vary their savour according to the veins of the Soyl through which they slide nor Brutes their natures according to the Climates in which they live then men their conversations according to the examples that are set before them There is a persuasive power in rational precepts but a compulsive power in real patternes It is recorded of Elies sons men of vicious lives that they made i e by their examples The Lords people to transgress 1 Sam. 2. 24. And the Apostle rebukes Peter to his face for his Iudaizing in those words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Gal. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Why dost thou bring the Gentiles under a necessity Why dost thou necessitate them to judaize Why dost thou ferre them by thy example to live as do Iews Vpon this account God commandeth the Iews to suffer no Caänanites amongst them They shall not dwell in thy Land ne forte peccare te faciant in me A Lapide c. Saint Least they make thee sin against me i e by their examples Exod. 23. 32 33. The mind of man like Jacobs sleep receiveth the tincture and colour of those objects that are presented to it As the air in which we live hath a strong influence upon our bodies and inclines them to health or sickness so hath the pattern of those amongst whom we live a strong influence upon our Souls to incline them to vertue or vice Joseph quickly learns the Court Dialect to swear by the life of Pharaoh by living amongst Courtiers Israel becomes guilty of that horrid sin of Idolatry by their habitation in Egypt for the golden Calfe was first fassioned and formed in the Iron Furnace They who walk in the Sun are taun'd insensibly and before they are aware Thus also there is a sweet power and holy efficacy in good examples to draw men to good Justin Martyr acknowledgeth that he was converted by observing the pious lives and patient deaths of the Martyrs The holy conversation of Theodosius in his Family turn'd his whole Court into a Nursery of Religion The strict life and gracious carriage of the Baptist had so much power on Herod though bad enough and above all fear of John for any thing he could do against him that he reverenceth him heareth him gladly and doth many things Marks 6. â—0 The Sanctity of John had a commanding beauty with it his Holiness had an awing Maâ—esty in it which conquered and triumphed in the Conscience of the King Peter Martyr tells us Loc Commun Part. 1. Cap. 1.6 of a deformed Woman whose Husband was therein like her which by looking daily on beautiful Pictures brought forth fair and comely Children It s certain God is pleased to give us in his Word and in the World many examples of humble mortiâ—ed self denying Christians that we beholding â—hem might resemble them Therefore he proounds them in the holy Scriptures not only for our encouragement in the ways of Godliness Jam. 5. 10. Heb. 1. 2. But also for our imitation that we may walk as we have them for an example 2 Cor. 11. 1. Phil. 3. 17. 20. He sets up those shining lights in the World not for men to play with or to play by but for men to work by to be directed by them in the ways of Life And our not improving their holy patterns hereunto is one cause why he takes them from us so soon If Children and Servants will play by that Candle which is given them to work by no wonder if he who set it up put is out and leave them in the dark Reader I do here present to thy view in this little Treatise a great examples of Godliness one that did not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onley divide the word aright but also order his conversation aright Though he hath been dead some years yet as Abel being dead he speaketh to the living by the good example of his life What Nazienzen saith of the Baptist who is called the voice of one that cryeth in the Wilderness that he was tota vor All voice made up of voice a voice in his Habit a voice in his Diet a voice in his Dwelling a voice at Home a voice Abroad a voice in the Pulpit a voice out of the Pulpit a voice in the works and life So I may speak of this maâ—â— God without flattery that is impossible he being dead or falshood many a live can attest it that he was all voice A voice in his Doctrine and a voice in his Conversation a voice in his Language a voice in his carriage a voice in his Food in his Rayment in his Family in the Street as well as in the Church O what a lively pattern of zeal love faith humility Heavenly mindedness courage for and Constancy in the Truth did he set before you who had the happiness to live under his Ministry Be you followers of him as he was of Christ let his zeal inflame you his love draw out your hearts more to your God and his People let his humility make you low in your own eyes His Heavenly mindedness lessen your esteem of the World and all therein and his magnaminity of Spirit encourage you in the ways of Truth and Holiness against all the opposition that you meet with Look often on him with the eye of your minds till you are transformed into his likeness Can you not remember how often your Spirits have burned within you whilst be hath been opening Scripture to you Have not your hearts sometimes been carried up to Heaven in his Prayers Were you never above in the Mount with him at a Sacrament when your souls spake with Peter Lord 't is good to be here O let us build a Tabernacle and no more go down to a vain empty World O they are blessed that dwell in thy House they do ever and me without infinite cuase praise thee Beware you do not abate in your Sacred affections that you do not leave your first love that you draw not back and decline in Religion I believe many of you are ready to say with Job O that I were as in the days of old as in the days when God preserved me when his Candle
shined upon my head when the Almighty was yet with me Job 29.28 O that I were as in the days of ola as in the days when I sate under Mr. Wilsons Ministry O that I could hear such Sermons joyn in such Prayers partake of such Sacraments enjoy such seasons for my soul and see such gracious examples When you are wishing thus consider what a mercy it was that you enjoyed him so long Alas how many Parishes never had such a Pastor one Month then bewail your folly in making no better use of him while you had him Let all your complaint be of your selves for your unfruitfulness and unprofitableness under such excellent means and Spiritual opportunities And let you care be to make the most of him more by practising those wholesome precepts which you remember he gave you and by writting in your lives after that Copy which he hath set you I know his memory is dear to you and your love was great to him I beseech you manifest the truth of your love by doing that which you know he loved so much Did he not tell you often I have no greater joy then to see my Children walking in the Truth In a word Zeno Cittiana when he consulted with the Oracle how he might live well was answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If he were of the same colour with the dead It s certain you will live well if you live like them that died in the Lord. The Prince of the Powers of the Air i e the Devil liveth in them who live according to the course of the world Eph. 2. 2. The world though it often changeth its customs and fassions yet never for the better as the Camelion it turneth in to any colour but white so that if you will live according to most amongst when you live you may do and be any thing but what you ought to do and be But if you be of the colour of them that sleep in Jesus and resemble the dead in Christ your lives will be unblameable your deaths peaceable your names after death honourable and your resurrections at the great day comfortable That you may be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises and in special that you may be your Pastors Joy and Crown or Rejoycing at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Is the Prayer of your Affectionate Servant in Christ Jesus G. S. THE CONTENTS Chap. 1. HIs Birth Education at School and Vniversity Chap. II. His removal from the Vniversity with the occasion Chap. III. His first Living in Surry Chap. IV. His second living in Hampshire Chap. V. His third living with the success of his journey into Cumberland Chap. VI. His removal to Otham in Kent with the occasion of it Chap. VII His great success at Otham in Kent with his faithfulness there Chap. VIII His care to sanctifie the Sabbath Chap. IX His appearance at a Visitation about the Prayer against the Scott Chap. X. His fresh prosecution by the Arch-Bishop with a strange Providence Chap. XI Strange Providences Mr. Wilson's freedom obtained by Sir Ed. Deering with his character of Mr. Wilson Chap. XII His removal to Maidstone Chap. XIII His care for Otham and for Reformation at Maidstone Chap. XIV His extraordinary diligence and labouriousness on the Lords day Chap. XV. The great pains he took with his people on the Week-days Chap. XVI His diligence on all occasions to do good and his way of Preaching Chap. XVII His carriage in his Family Chap. XVIII The Reformation which was wrought by his means and Ministry in Maidstone Chap. XIX His Courage Chap. XX. His Zeal Chap. XXI His Faith and Heavenly mindedness Chap. XXII His natural parts and great humility Chap. XXIII His Wives and Children Chap. XXIV His Sickness and Death After the Chapters are annexed the Articles objected against him in the Arch-Bishops Court with his answers to them Verses on his Death THE LIFE and DEATH OF Mr. THO. WILSON Minister at Maidonestone in the County of Kent CHAP. I. His Birth Education at School and Vniversity THomas Wilson was born at Catterlon in the County of Cumberland in the year 1601. His Parents were sober and honest and of a competent Estate being of the best sort of Yeomen in those parts As soon as his Age would permit he was sent to School at Blentow i◠the saith County where under Mr. Wilkinson his School-master he profited beyond expectation and far excelled all his fellows He was observed in his youth to have a sharp wit large memory and to be very much given to his Book whereby his friends had hopes that he would in time as indeed he did prove a great instrument of good His great proficiency at School encouraged his Parents to send him to the University before he was seventeen years of Age where viz. at Christs Colledge in Cambridge he spent not his time as too many do male alind or nibil agendo but devoted himself wholly to his Studies in so much that he was taken notice of by the Master and Fellows for his diligence and industry It might have been written over his Study-door Nulla diel sine linea And though he did imploy his time most there about Academical Learning his acuteness in which did appear above 20 years after he had left Cambridge yet he did not neglect Divinity but in order to his design of serving God in the Ministry if he saw fit read both Positive and Polemical Authors But of all Books none was so dear to him or read so much by him as the Holy Scriptures for as the great Apostle saith of Timothy I may say of him From a Child he knew the Holy Scriptures which are able to make wise to Salvation Before he was Batchelor of Arts he had read as he told me Tremel and Iun. on the whole Bible three times over CHAP. II. His removal from the Vniversity with the occasion SOmetime after he had Commenced Batchelor of Arts he was removed from the University by this Providence Mr. Iohn Bristow a Reverend Minister of Chawswood in Surry desired Mr. Mead that eminent person for Piety and Learning his Tutor to send him an able Religious Scholar to teach School in his House Mr. Mead presently pitcht his thoughts upon his Puple Mr. Wilson not knowing how to pleasure Mr. Bristow better and glad he could answer his request so well At Mr. Bristows he continued four years or there about instructing the Lads committed to his charge with great diligence and faithfulness being far from the temper of Protagoras who boasted as Plato reports that having lived sixty four years he had spent fourty of them in corrupting and debauching young persons No he made conscience of his time and his trust and gave his Scholar more cause to bless God for their education under him then Socrates did Plato for his bringing up under such a Master He hath sometimes told me that he knew no Calling except the Ministry