leave a sweet savour and relish upon their spirits and whole converse To give you a true and full Character of his whole deportment in few words He was a good and a faithfull Steward in his Masters house alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord a Pillar in the house of his God never weary of his Lords work but best pleased when he had done most service His conversation was immaculate and unblameable His behaviour uniform and universally pious He was grave without austerity pleasant without levity Courteous without dissembling Free in discourse where he might profit yet reserved where he saw cause He was seldom the first speaker although he was best able to speak He loved usefull discourse but abhorred froth and babling He was witty without vanity facetious without girding or grieving of others He knew his place yet was not insolent Resolute he was but not wilfull He maintained his authority but was not haughty A great Master he was of his own Passions and Affections and thereby abundantly furnished with the more abilities and embellishments that most attract and maintain the dearest love the deepest reverence and highest respect He was a great admirer of Learning and Piety in others though they were far below himself in both His affections were above though he were below He conversed more with Heaven than with earth while he remained on it and is now a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a Royall Diadem in the hand of his God as being an ornament unto Heaven it self He lived in the world seventy five years within one moneth in which long race he saw many sad changes and sore storms beating hard upon the Church tossed with tempests and not yet at Anchor But never was David more distressed for his dearest Jonathan than this man of Bowels was for the calamities of the dear Spouse of Christ. He was most incessantly inquisitive after the Churches estate in all Countries A sad lamenter of all her afflictions A daily Orator and mighty Advocate for her at the Throne of Grace and never enjoyed himself but when he descried her under sail towards some Creek or Haven wherein she might find comfort and rest being much in Prayer and Fasting for her full reformation and perfect deliverance Some good hopes whereof he conceived in the prosperous atchievements of the Great Gustavus Adolphus late King of Sweden semper Augustus But when he by the sad and unsearchable providence of the only wise God suddenly and untimely fell in the full carier of his victories and of the Churches hopes and that the Christian world was by his fall hurled from the height of so great expectation he continually mourned over the unhappy setting of that glorious Northern Starre as a sad presage of all the inundations of miseries since befallen and that still are rising higher and higher upon the Church of Christ the quick and deep sence whereof lay close upon his heart to his dying day Neither was he without his sufferings and dangers in our uncivil Civil Wars He was affronted by rude Ruffians and bloody minded Souldiers who tyranized over him in his own house not permitting him quietly to enjoy himself and his God in his private study to which he often retired not only from their insolencies but from their Blasphemies Even thither would they pursue him with drawn swords vowing his instant Death for not complying with them in their bloody engagements Yet it pleased that gracious God whom he had so faithfully served to preserve him for further service and to make that an hiding place for his preservation which they intended for his slaughter house and after all to bring him to his end in peace When he had faithfully served his Generation by the will of God in the Gospel of his Son for above forty seven years he was gathered to his Fathers in a good old Age full of Days and Honour by a blessed and happy Death the certain result of an holy life Decemb. 25. Anno Christi 1649. the day formerly used for celebrating the Nativity of his great Lord and Master the Lord Jesus Christ. The last Testimony of the Peoples great love to him must not be forgotten by any that desire to preserve his precious memory in their hearts with honour This amply appeared by their great lamentation and mourning for him in his sickness and at his Death and sad Exequies His Funeral was extraordinarily celebrated not only by the voluntary confluence of the greatest number of people that ever crouded into the spacious Fabrick of that Church and by many hundreds more there assembled about the door which were unable to get in But by multitudes of Gentlemen and Ministers all striving to out-mourn each other standing about his Hearse with tears recounting his excellent Labors his fruitfull Life their great profiting by him as sometimes the widows about Peter weeping and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them every one aggravating their griefs and losses in his gain and striving who should honour him most in bearing his Body to the bed of Rest. The Testimony given him at his Interment by him who performed that last office of love with many tears and which he knowingly spake from his long and intimate acquaintance and conversing with him almost forty years together take with you for a close in that Ministers own words out of the Pulpit Although said he Funeral Orations are commonly either the vain flourishes of mercinary tongues or the weak supports of an emendicated fame and since good mens works shall praise them in the gates it is but to light a candle to the Sun and since bad mens works cannot be covered with so thin a daub It is but to paint arotten Post. Yet some Testimony is due to such as having obtained a more eminent place in Christs mystical Body the Church have also been instruments of more than ordinary good to his Members Samuel died a Judge a Prophet a Great man a Good man in Israel and all the Israelites were gathered together to honour his Obsequies and lamented him and buried him 1 Sam. 25. 1. To say nothing then of so rich a Cargazoon so full a Magazine so rare a subject of all commendable qualities and admirable endowments were a frustrating of your eager expectations To say little were a wrong to him that deserved so much to say much were both a derogation from his merits that may challenge and an imputation upon your Judgements and affections that will acknowledg more due than I can now deliver Nevertheless since the memorial of the Just is a sweet perfume give me leave to strew a few of his own flowers upon his Herse and I will discharge your Patience His holy Life and consciencious courses his constant Labors thrice a week in the Ministery of the Gospel unless in times of sickness or necessitated restraint for the space of
one year in the pursuit thereof by force of Arms but effected little Nor did the Archbishop of Upsal get ought in Denmark who saw that he played his own game nor could he escape the seisure of his Temporalities in Sueden for his treachery against his native Country whereupon the year following he obtained the Popes sentence of Excommunication against the Governour of Sueden and all his partakers for invading the rights of his Church and Bishoprick and hereupon the King of Denmark takes courage to invade Sweden once more with an Army under his General who in a Battel overthrew the Suedes and wounded Steno their Governour who thereupon retired to Stockholm the Regal City and unto him repaired all such as intended to adventure their all in the defence of their Country The rest of the Suedes submitted to the Danish General who encouraged thereby marched to Stockholm but meeting with many difficulties in his march and when he came to the City finding no hope to draw them to a Treaty and his Army being now much wasted he sent to Denmark for Recruit and after a while the King in person comes to him and so Stockholme is beleagured which yet held out bravely so that the Danish Army being wasted and the remainder being wind-bound and almost famished a Treaty of peace is set on foot and at last agreed unto by both parties But the King intending nothing less than to stand to it pretends that he could not come into Stockholme to finish the Treaty till pledges were first given for the safety of his person This the Suedes assent to and send him pledges of the Sons of the Nobles who were sent aboard his Ship and the Kings minde changing with the wind away he sails with them into Denmark and there committed them to safe custody And after four years returns into Sueden with a great Army and gives a second overthrow to the Suedes in the Field wherein the Governour Steno was slain then the King marching to Stockholme findes the City standing upon its Guard under the Government of Christina the Wife of Steno where for a while we shall leave him in a long and tedious siege whilst we give you some account of our Gustavus Amongst the pledges carried away and imprisoned as aforesaid by the King of Denmark was this Gustavus the Son of Ericus a Noble Suedish Lord now in Stockholme beleagured by the King This Gustavus was of a Noble Familiy whose Grandfather having married the sister of Steno Stur the Governour thereby he became incorporate into the antient Stem of the Kings of Sueden and in his younger years he was trained up in the Court under his Uncle Steno who was no less valiant in the Field than wise for Government in peace Under him did our Gustavus learn the principles of War which afterwards he began to practice under Suanto the next Governour For after the death of Steno the first the difference between the Danes and Suedes about the Government grew so high that they fought two Battels in both which the Suedes were the Victors Gustavus carrying the Royal Standard of Sueden though at that time he was but eighteen years old and being now about the age of twenty six he was as was said before committed prisoner to the Castle of Callo in Jutland under the custody of Sir Ericus Banner a Knight of Denmark who kept him warily that he might suffer no wrong except from the King himself This imprisonment he had now endured for the space of four years with patience But having daily intelligence brought him of the Danes cruelty to the Suedes his Countrymen he concluded that his own condition was like to Ulysses in Polyphemus his Den being reserved but as a chief dish for the Tyrants pallate when all the rest were devoured Having therefore upon a day obtained liberty to ride on hunting being eager in the chase though he minded another game he rode away and having changed his apparel as well as his course passing through many unknown wayes and dangers after a chase of three hundred miles he arrived at last at Lubeck one of the Hanse Towns and that held correspondence with Sueden against the Dane upon the same quarrel of being oppressed by them No sooner was Gustavus arrived at Lubeck but that his Keeper Sir Ericus Banner was come thither also in pursuit of him who demanded of the Magistrates the delivery of his Prisoner Gustavus pleaded for himself that he was no lawful Prisoner to the King of Denmark but amongst others was delivered by his Country as a pledge for the safety of the Kings person during the Treaty between the King and his Countrymen and that the King contrary to all right and faith detaining him and the other pledges had carried them captive into Denmark that now he was under the Publick Faith of the State of Lubeck to whom he was fled for refuge against oppression desiring to have the benefit of Law and to have the matter tried divers of the Senate of Lubeck were of opinion that Gustavus ought to be returned to the Dane as his prisoner and that it concerned not them to be Judges of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of his imprisonment But the Consul overruled the matter who affirmed that though originally they had not power to determine the point yet Gustavus being before them de facto a Freeman and as such had put himself into the protection of the City of Lubeck and had appealed to them for Justice it becomes them therefore to do herein according to Law and that by the Law of God the Law Civil and the Law of Nations they ought to enquire into the true state of Gustavus his Captivity and to determine the same upon grounds of Justice otherwise they might make themselves parties to the King of Denmarks oppressions if the case prove so before they understand what they do The Authority of the Consul and the strength of his reasons prevailed so far with the rest of the Senate that they passed this definitive sentence That Gustavus shall be protected by the State of Lubeck till the cause be tried This served Gustavus his turn for the present but he knew not how short a time it would continue He knew that interests of Nations are soon changed especially of such petty States as Lubeck was Besides he had too much other work to do to continue long in one place and thereupon secretly without giving notice to any save to his good Friend the Consul whose counsel he took along with him he gat aboard a Merchants ship and sailed into the Bay of Calmar into which he entred secretly and finding that they stood upon their Guard against the Danes he discovered himself to the Lady Magnus that held the Castle acquainting her with the manner both of his Captivity and escape and taking advantage of the reports which then came of the sad examples of the
good and a charitable neighbour and a true and constant friend Towards her latter end she fell into some bodily distempers wherein she had fits or trances like the embrions of death which by a gradual failing of her spirits left her at last unable to speak or move yet without any great alteration in her countenance which by some was conceived to be a spice of the Mother it was short and not sharp for she felt no pain yet when she returned to her self she found that she was commonly more feeble than before Upon the Munaay sevenight before she dyed was the first assault given which set Deaths pale colour upon her face and fingers from the middle joynts towards the ends her nails turned to a blewish black which being rubbed a while returned again to their former complexion and she remained that night indifferent well the next day her disease appeared in the form and quality of a kindely ague and so continued mostly tâ—ll within three or four daies before her end then it turned from an intermitting Ague to a continual Feaver that afflicted her with extream burning and other pains which commonly accompany such a disease especially when it rageth most as it doth towards the latter end During her sickness having the free use of all her faculties her soul no doubt was exercised in holy meditations for whâ—h she had kept in store many particulars of importance to be remembred at her departure out of this world Her desires were strong for a speedy dissolution so that she implored God with the request of David Psal. 38. 22. Make haste to help me O Lord my salvation and Psal. 40. 13. Be pleased O Lord to deliver me O Lord make haste to help me And this she desired that she might have a joyful meeting with him and fruition of him after whom her soul longed even then when her life was most lightsome and her condition most comfortable And now the time drew near that her desire was to be granted in that kinde which she most desired by the power of death to pass to the Authour of life which she did in such a calm manner that when she was thought to be but asleep she was found to be dead on Friday August the 17. Anno Christi 1638. The Life and Death of Mr. Ignatius Jurdaine who dyed Anno Christi 1640. IGnatius Jurdaine was born at Lime-Regis in the County of Dorset Anno Christi 1561. And when he was yet young he was sent by his Friends to the City of Exeter to be brought up in the profession of a Merchant and from thence being about fifteen years old he was sent into the Isle of Garnsey and God by his good providence having brought him to that place did also there effectually call and convert him by his Grace So that from that time he resolved to be like that wise Merchant in the Gospel Mat. 13. 46. to part with all for that Pearl of great price whereas others did make it their great work and highest design to get the pelf of the world and to load themselves with thick clay Hab. 2. 6. And in testimony of his thankfulness to God he left by Will a considerable Legacy to the poor of Lime where he was born and to the poor of Garnsey where he was new born God seasoning his heart with Grace in his younger years the general course of his life did for the future relish of it according to that of Solomon Prov. 22. 6. Train up a childe in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it For as he was trained up in Religion from his youth so he continued not only in the form and profession but in the life and power of it until his old age and death In the whole tenour of his life his piety was most eminent and indeed there have been few observed to hold such constâ—nt and close communion with God as Mr. Jurdaine did It was his constant practice for many years together even to his old age to arise between two and three of the clock in the morning and that even in the coldest seasons of the year and to spend the time in secret meditation and prayer until six a clock which was the appointed time for his Morning-sacrifice in the Family at which time he was called from his secret devotions to the exercise of Religious Family-duties And if at any time he had over-slept himself as he accounted it and did not rise until four a clock he would much bemoan himself for the loss of so much precious time wherein he might have enjoyed sweet and comfortable communion with God Surely had he not experimentally found much sweetness in this his spiritual converse with God as David did Psal. 104. 34. he could not have continued so constantly therein And having thus awaked with God in the morning and renewed his acquaintance with him day by day it s no marvel that he did walk with him all the day long after In all his affairs and dealings his care was to walk very exactly and sincerely according to St. Pauls direction Eph. 5. 16. But though in all things he studied to approve himself to God and to walk as in the sight of God 2 Cor. 2. 17. yet could he not escape the malicious censures of men who charged him to do all in Hypocrisie He well knew that he had the imputations of dissembling and hypocrisie cast upon him by men void of charity and sincerity but the testimony of his own conscience did more comfort him than the uncharitable censures of men dejected him and he used upon that occasion to take up the words of Job Till I dye I will not remove mine integrity from me Job 27. 5. Many have oft heard him to profess that he would not willingly commit a sin to get a world though the evil which he would not do that did he as Rom. 7. 25. as it is incident to the best of men yet did he bewail it with grief of heart The sincerity indeed both of his intentions and actions hath been questioned by some who were not ashamed to say that under colour of doing Justice when he was a publick Magistrate and providing for poor he robbed the poor and helpt to keep his own house which was due to the poor But for that falshood that was thus charged upon him there were none that could ever better clear him from it than himself not onely his conscience witnessing for him before God but his books wherein he kept an exact Record of all the money which he received by way of mulct from Swearers Drunkards c. according to the Law and the Officers that distributed the money testifying his integrity before men so that might truly say with Jacob Gen. 30. 33. My righteousness shall answer for me and so it did herein both before God and men Nay he was so far from depriving
of God against it Thou shalt not take the Name of God in vain And another of them reasoning with his fellows about God and the Devil professed that he had rather be in hell with God than in heaven with the Devil And a third who by reason of her age could not speak distinctly said in some discourse with her Father that God Almighty would not bless them who tell Fibbs meaning Lies and that she had rather dye than tell a Fibb so far had their Mothers instructions prevailed with them She was eminent for a charitable and bountifull spirit she was another Dorcas full of good works and Alms-dâ—eds That high Elogium that Solomon gives a vertuous woman may properly be applied unto her Many Daughters have done vertuously but she excelled them all Prov. 31. 29. Many there are that come far short of her but very few that went beyond her in the acts of Charity God gave her a liberal and plentifull estate and that was a great mercy but it was a far greater mercy that he gave her a liberal heart to do good and to distribute To cast her bread on the waters and to honour God with her substance That protestation which Job makes for his own vindication may fitly be applied unto her Job 31. 16 19. He would not with-hold the poor from their desire nor cause the eyes of the widow to fail He would not see any to perish for want of cloathing nor any poor without covering The whole Country round about where she dwelt will bear her witness that she visited and relieved the sick and cloathed the naked fed the hungry and healed the wounded Her purse her hand her heart were all open for their relief She bought many precious Drugs and cordial waters She made several precious salves and gave them all away to such as were in need of them She spared not her best pains being never aweary of well doing insomuch that in the extremity of her greatest sickness such bowels of compassion yearned in her she compounded several Medicines with her own hands and applied them Thus will her works praise her in the Gate and being dead she yet speaketh Prov. 31. 31. Heb. 11. 4. For her precious name liveth The Lord will have the name of the Righteous to be in everlasting remembrance Psal. 112. 6. and the memory of the just is blessed Prov. 10. 7. And precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal. 116. 15. Now this rare Gentlewoman reaps the fruit of her serving of God and the whole harvest whereof she received onely the first fruits in this present world The usual saying is All is well that ends well Come we therefore to speak of her end Her life was holy and therefore her death must needs be happy It pleased the Lord to exercise her with a long and lingring sickness and amidst the weakness of the outward man God gave her great strength in her inward man though her limbs and outward strength failed her yet God was her strength and portion and he never failed her A few dayes before her distemper waxed high her Husband being from home she sent for all her Family both young and old to come in unto her chamber with whom she prayed near two hours with such pathetical heavenly Scripture-language as drew admiration and tears from those that were present She blessed her children counselled her servants heartily and affectionately commended her Husband unto God she wept and prayed and prayed and wept and could not easily part with the company nor yet leave off praying and weeping Upon the encrease of her distemper her spirit was much disturbed and some impertinent speeches did fall from her yet in the middest of all her impertinences Grace and the Spirit of God did eminently declare their Power and Sovereignty in her by many savoury and choice speeches and sweet breathings of her soul some of which are these that follow I was in the Devils claws but Jesus Christ the sweet Bridegroom of my soul the sweet Bridegroom of my soul these words she often reiterated the sweet Bridegroom of my soul hath delivered me At another time I am safe for Jesus Christ is at my heart and I would not part with him for ten thousand worlds Again Come Lord Jesus the Captain of my salvation ride on gloriously conquering and to conquer for me Satan Sin Hell Death and all mine enemies Afterwards again I was in Hell but now I am in Heaven I am in Heaven indeed indeed I am in Heaven I am in Heaven eternally I am in Heaven the habitation of Gods glory unto all eternity Much of this nature she did speak even when her understanding was so disturbed that she scarce did know her near Relations and those who did attend upon her in her Chamber And now all these things are worthy to be transmitted unto posterity and to be had in perpetual remembrance She was an eminently godly Gentlewoman being but little above Eight and twenty years of age when she dyed which was in the beginning of March Anno Christi 1656. But though she was young in years yet was she old in Grace She had lived long in a little time She was a mirror of her age and a renown of her sexe a pattern worthy of imitation She was the beloved faithfull wife of as an intirely loving and faithfull Husband She was a tender affectionate Mother to her own and no less carefull of those pledges committed to his charge She was a most dear Sister an affectionate Mistress carefull both of the bodies and souls of her servants that they should neither want corporal nor spiritual food Her profession was with Joshua Chap. 24. 15. Choose you this day whom you will serve But as for me I and my house we will serve the Lord. She was not onely a friend to her friends but a friend to her enemies even unto such as despitefully used her All the Country round about could not but look upon her whilst living as a publick gain and when dead as a publick loss She was very usefull whilst she lived and will be much missed now she is dead Two things were very eminent in her Setledness in Religion and holiness of conversation By her death the poor have lost a liberal Almoner the sick 〈…〉 a good Physitian the wounded have lost a 〈◊〉 Chirurgion the Husband hath lost a faithful Wife the children a tender Mother the servants a gracious Mistress and not any that knew her of all her neighbours and friends but they will finde a great loss and miss of her All that knew her loved her but onely such whose love is not worth the having She lived much desired and dyed much lamented For her to live was Christ and to die was gain Phil. 1. 21. She was honoured in her life and she was honoured at her death by a confluence of many persons of quality of the Gentry
continued labouring in that imployment through many pains till Tuesday the 6. of December Anno Christi 1653. About which time as his natural strength was exceedingly decayed so now also his Intellectuals began to fail and for the following three dayes a drousiness seized upon him insomuch that he could not hold up his head to look into a Book but slumbered away his time in a Chair and upon Friday being the third day after he had given over his studies enquiring what day it was he cried out Alas I have lost three dayes The day following being Saturday he had no desire to arise out of his bed neither indeed could he in regard of his weakness which was such and he was so sensible of it that he said Now I have not long to live in this world the time of my departure is at hand I am going to my desired Haven the apprehension whereof was no little joy unto him for he had often said to such of his friends as came to visit him in his sickness I am willing to dye having I bless God nothing to do but to dye Indeed sometimes he seemed to be in the same strait with St. Paul between Life and Death having a desire to depart that he might be with Christ which was best of all but yet very desirous he was to finish his Commentary upon the Epistle to the Hebrews which he knew would be very useful to the Church of God and in that respect he was willing to live and God so far answered his desire in that particular that he lived to finish it within half a Chapter But when he perceived that his time in this world could not be long O! how sweet and joyful was the apprehension of Death unto him which he often termed his best friend next to Jesus Christ. So that he came willingly he was not plucked and dragged to Death Death was his familiar acquaintance it was his priviledge as well as his task When his good sister said to him in his sickness Brother I am afraid to leave you alone Why Sister said he I shall I am sure be with Iesus Christ when I dye The meditation of Death was not more frequent than sweet unto him His soul was upon the wing and was bent Heaven-ward even whilst it was in the cage of his decrepit body Upon Saturday though he kept his bed through weakness yet was he more wakeful and his spirit more lively and cheerful than for several dayes before which questionless was from his joyful apprehension of his approaching departure His speeches that day were more than ordinary Heavenly He spake much in the admiration of Gods Free grace and riches of his Mercy in Jesus Christ. As while he lived he led a heavenly life so about the time of his death by those comforts and joyes that he found in his soul he seemed to be in Heaven even while he was upon the earth and so he continued full of sweet and divine comfort and heavenly expressions to the last of his understanding and speech which continued to Munday morning when both of them failed him from which time he lay breathing yet shorter and shorter till eight of the clock at night about which time in the presence of all his Children and divers of his Friends he quietly slept in the Lord making an happy change from earth to Heaven which was Decem. 12. Anno Christi 1653 being 79 years old after he had served God faithfully and painfully in his Generation A Catalogue of the Books published by him Of Domestical Duties on Eph. 5. and 6. The whole Armour of God on Eph. 6. Of the sin against the Holy Ghost on Matth. 12. 31 32. Mar. 3. 28 29. Upon the Lords Prayer called A Guide to go to God Gods three Arrows Plague Famine and Sword on Num. 16. 44 c. 2 Sam. 21. 1. Exod. 17. 8. The extent of Gods Providence Nov. 5. on Matth. 10. 29 30 31. The Dignity of Chivalry on 2 Chron 8 9. The Saints Sacrifice or a Comment on Psal. 116. Two Treatises 1. The Sabbaths Sanctification 2. A Treatise of Apostacy on Luke 15. 31. The Saints Support A Sermon before the Commons in Parliament on Nehem. 5. 19. Mercies Memorial Nov. 17. on Exod. 13. 3. The Progress of Divine Providence A Sermon before the House of Lords on Ezek. 36. 11. A Funeral Sermon on Ezek. 24. 16. The Right way A Sermon before the Lords on Ezra 8. 21. Two Catechismes A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews My Reverend Friend Mr. Tho. Gouge eldest Son to this famous Doctor desired me to insert this Life amongst these other Worthies contained in this Volume The Life and Death of Mr. Thomas Gataker who dyed Anno Christi 1654. MR. Thomas Gataker or Gatacre for so he wrote himself till of later years to prevent miscalling occasioned frequently by the view of the Letters he changed it into Gataker was a branch of a very ancient Family so firmly by Gods Providence planted in Shropshire that the Stock hath continued in the same House carrying the Name of its owner and known by the Title of Gatacre-Hall by an un-interrupted succession from the time of King Edward the Confessor His Father Mr. Thomas Gatacre being a younger Son of William Gatacre was designed by his Parents to the study of the Law in order whereunto he was admitted a Student in the Temple And during his abode there he occasionally went to visit some of his Kindred who were then high in place and power whereby he was often present at the examination of some Christian Confessors of the Gospel in those bloody times wherein Satan armed all his Forces to suppress that dawning light which threatned ruine to his Kingdome of darkness The harshness and cruelty of those proceedings together with the constancy of those weak yet sincere Christians who with evidence of truth and resolution of minde maintained faith and a good conscience were very prevalent with him to facilitate his entertainment of that purer Doctrine of the Gospel which began to shine into his soul. This being apprehended by his Parents fearing his change in Religion they sent him over to Lovaine in Flanders and to win him to a compliance with them in Religion they setled upon him an estate in a Lease of an hundred pounds per annum in old Rents but like St. Paul Phil. 3. 8. He counted all outward advantages as nothing in comparison of the knowledge of Iesus Christ. His Father therefore perceiving how fixt and unmoveable he was in his choice of Religion in which yet he had nothing to except against but only the novelty of it he recalled him into England and in great displeasure revoked his former Grant of 100 â— per annum which yet could not be effected without his Sons consent But this young Disciple had already learned the hard lesson of self-denial and of forsaking all to follow Christ and therefore to preserve his
of Faith Patience Contentment and spiritualness which he had formerly preached to and pressed upon others he was very profitable unto them who visited him and might also prove very advantagious unto others who might be acquainted therewith through Gods grace by Christ. So great was his tender respect to his friends that when his pains were coming with violence he would intreat them to withdraw from him that they might not be grieved with his roariâ—gs and he used often to bless God that his compassionate friends were not necessitated to abide within the reach of his doleful lamentation As his death drew more nigh so his fits of pain were more frequent either every half hour or many times every quarter yea two or three in a quarter of an hour which did exceedingly abate his strength The night before God took him out of this vale of tears Mr. Ash hearing that he was not likely to live another day went early in the morning to take his leave of him whom his soul loved at which time he found his bodily strength much decayed and perceiving that he could not speak without much difficulty Mr. Ash spake the more unto him in reference to the approach of his happy hoped for change and his discourse through Gods mercy was very refreshing his spirit He told him also that many of his friends intended to set apart that day in seeking the Lord for him and asked him in what things eâ—pecially he desired to be remembred before the Throne of Grace His answer was Do not complain but bless God for me and intreat him to open the prison door Then Mr. Ash laying his hand upon his cold hand covered with a clammy sweat took his last farewell of him with an aking heart and upon his departure from him the last words which Mr. Whitaker spake to him were these Brother I thank you I pray God bless you and I bless God for you That day was spent in addresses to God for him at Peters Cornhill where Mr. Newcomen quickned and guided our prayers in his Sermon upon Joh. 11. â— Lord Behold he whom thou lovest is sick and Mr. Jenkin endeavoured to moderate and regulate our sorrows from Luke 23. 28. Weep not for me Thus his friends having by prayers and praises on his behalf given him to God and having prepared their hearts for the loss of him the Lord was pleased that evening to take him to himself June 1654 being above Fifty five years old After his death Mr. Holiard opened his body in the presence of Dr. Cox Dr. Micklethwaite and Dr. Bevoir some other more ancient Doctors would have been there if either their being out of Town or present urgent occasions had not hindred being opened they found both his Kidnies full of ulcers and and one of them was swelled to an extraordinary bigness through the abundance of purulent matter in it Upon the neck of his Bladder they found a stone which was about an inch and an half long and one inch broad weighing about two ounces when it was first taken out and withall they found an ulcer which was gangrenized and this was judged to be the cause of his death All other parts of his body were found firm and sound He was so humble that he feared lest Gods people praying for him should speak too well of him before the Lord. He was a self-denying man never daring to look after great matters in this world whereby he condemned many whose self-seeking in earthly advantages renders them very offensive and unsavoury in the Church of Christ. Mr. Calamy speaking of him saith If I should enter upon his Commendations I might truly say what Nazanien doth of his Sister Gorgonia that I have more cause to fear lest I should speak below than above the truth For he was a burning and a shining light in this our Israel A Messenger and an Interpreter one amongst a thousand A Bazalâ—el in Gods Tabernacle A true Nathaniel that by his integrity humility constancy charity publickness and peaceableness of spirit and by his diligence and fâ—ithfulness in preaching the Gospel made his life both amiable and desirable I will say of him as it was said of Athanasius that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Adamant and a Loadstone To all that conversed with him he was as a Loadstone to draw their hearts to love him But in the cause of God and in reference to the truths of Christ he was as an unconquerable Adamant He was a Jeremy both in mourning for and in witnessing against the sins of the times He was a second Whitaker though not so eminent in Learning as to be what is said o◠〈◊〉 Mundi miraculum Academiae Oraculum the miracle of the world and the Oracle of the University yet he was which is also said of him sound in the Faith one that had no private opinion that did not in veteri viâ novam semitam quaerere seek out new paths of his own but kept the old way and the old path That had a great wit without any mixture of madness He preached no less by the heavenliness of his Doctrine than by the holiness of hâ—s life yea he preached as effectually by his death as by his life or Doctrine for so great was the patience which God measured out to him that though in his extremity of torments he groaned yet he never grumbled Though he often mourned yet he never murmured nay though he often roared by reason of the greatness of his pain yet he alwayes justified and mâ—gnâ—fied God therein and this he did so constantly and in such a measure that as it is said of Job so it wiâ—l be said by the Saints that succeed us for their mutual consolation and encouragement Ye have heard of the Patience of Whitaker He had indeed an ulâ—â—rated flesh but a sound and whole spirit and that inabled him to bear his infirmity he had a stone in the Bladder but a very soft and tender heart he had a gangreene in his body but a sound soul unstained by sin I heard him often say with thankfulness that under all his bodily sufferings he had a blessed calmness and quietness in his spirit that God spâ—ke peace unto him that though he roared for pain yet the Devil was chained up from roaring upon him On the Death of my dear Friend Mr. JEREMIAH WHITAKER IF Death be but a servant sent to call The souls of Saints to their Originall Dear Saint thine was a Noble soul to whom Three Messengers were sent to call thee home A Stone an Ulcer and a Cangreene too Three Deaths to hasten that which one should do ' â—was not because thy soul was deeper set Than ours within its house of clay nor yet Because thou wert unwilling to depart Thither where long before had been thine heart They were not sent to hale by violence A soul that lingred when 't was called hence God shew'd how welcome one Death was to thee
of Woolweaver were as little satisfied as he and therefore sent messengers after him who finding him upon his journey in the Territories of a Prince who owed him no good will they procured him to be imprisoned and afterwards charging him with Treason against the State of Lubeck he was put to death and quartered And now Lubeck was setled upon its old basis and flourished again leaving this lesson to such as would be States-men That miscarriages in Government are not reformed by altering but by establishing the Government Haffnia now after a years siege being tired out with the miseries of War was surrendred upon tearms not altogether so honourable for the Duke of Holst as might have been expected whereupon the King of Sueden told the Duke that being privy to his own engagements in the Dukes behalf he little expected that such an agreement should ever have been made by the Duke without his knowledge and in one thing not without his consent For said he why should I be excluded out of this agreement and you thereby to engage your self not to aid me in case I should not agree with the Lubeckers upon just tearms The Duke pleaded that he was necessitated to it to gain the present surrender of the City as also that the importunity of the Lords and his neighbour Princes drew him thereto nevetheless he assured the King that if he would send Ambassadours he should finde that he should not receive any damage thereby And accordingly the King did send Ambassadours but the Lubeckers could never prevail to have a resettlement of their priviledges in Sueden as they desired so that in conclusion there was onely a bare truce concluded betwixt them and the King of Sueden for five years Thus are the three Northern Kingdomes brought once more into a settlement and turbulent Lubeck was calmed and the Captive King in a manner twice captivated and now if not quite hopeless yet less hopeful than ever formerly England indeed was allied and had done what it thought meet and possibly more than was meet For Ambassadours were sent from hence to draw the Lords to a Treaty but they liked not to adventure their necks upon purposes and promises The Emperour did less either judging Christians person despicable by reason of his unworthy carriage to his Queen and Lords or the Lords were more wise and wary than to adventure upon a second trial of their late Kings curtesie unless they were compelled thereto by force To do which the Emperour had neither time nor money to spare though the opportunity lay as fair to do his brother a good turn as he could desire if he had intended it And lastly though the common people did what they could yet they effected nothing It s many times seen that Providence doth advance some particular persons of the meanest rank to be instrumental in the publick Government but never puts the Government into the power of such which would be the speedy way to confusion as appeared in those very times by the Earthquakes in Government raised by the Anabaptists in Germany wherein though the issue was abortive yet it came to that growth as made the greater Powers to tremble And now the time of Suedens rest was come where both King and people might have leisure to injoy their several lots The King had hitherto acted the Souldiers part very well and now he must try his skill in a peaceable Government wherein I shall onely set down the brief Contents of many Laws and Acts of State which shew rather the disposition of the Government than the several actions thereof The King now at leisure taking into consideration that the fewel which maintained the Civil War was now spent and that the people who had been trained up to the toyl of War were fitter for labour than leisure and considering also that a time must come when a Commonwealth reduced by War must be governed and maintained by peace he now applied himself to acquaint his people with matters of profit drawing them to Mining Husbandry Fishing and Merchandize all which were much advanced by the Kings own ingenuous contrivances and by encouraging the laborious banishing idleness punishing vagabonds and wanderers he found a way to make the Sea to serve the Land the Land to serve Men Men to serve their Nation the Nation to observe their King and both Nation and King to serve God and thereby he laid a far better building of Sueden than Augustus did of Rome of whom it was said That he found it of earth and left it of stone The people likewise soon found the sweetness of this Government and were not far behinde in requital of the Kings favour to them They had now lived twenty years under his Government and in a good measure found the benefit of peace though bought with their sweat and blood in a long War but how sad would it be if the last breath of the King should put an end to their happiness The Council therefore at their meeting taking this into consideration that the Government of Sueden by Election was alwayes uncertain and seldome effected without deceit and discord and oft-times at the price of the peoples blood that it is of short continuance depending upon the life of one man and prejudicial to the publick good For that in such cases Kings will deplume their subjects to feather their own nests to keep their young ones warm when themselves are gone and that it were far better for the people to be sucked by one Leech which in time might be satisfied than by the change of many who will but increase the pain and suck without satiety That the advancement of one Family to the Throne would be a cure to all this and a preparative to a wining aspect from it upon the people and of a due respect from them to it and so of a kind of conjugal affection between both against the Marriage day That it is a means to suppress the turbulent aimes of ambitious men who croud into the Throne though of all others they be most unworthy Besides that it secureth the present Government in the peaceable possession of him that enjoyes it And that upon these and such like grounds Augustus and other Roman Emperours who wanting issue used in their life times to adopt and declare their successours in the Government and trained them up for that service nor did they finde it dangerous either for themselves or their successours so to do That the people at the siege of Stockholme offered to settle the Government upon the King and his children when at that time he neither had any nor was married But now that he is married and hath children and hath given such large experience of his love industry and faithfulness in adventuring all that he had even to his own life to vindicate the honour of his Country What acknowledgement can be sufficient for so great a merit less than the
yet will I trust in him I will wait and hearken to him when I say he is thus far proceeded Satan may now go shake his ears and receive his answer Its God that justifies who shall condemn Oh! Hell where is thy power Oh! Death Oh! Devil what is thy Commission It s not my meaning to prescribe to God any one way of working but this is the way he often takes with his children and this we may finde exemplified in this foregoing Narrative touching the conversion and procedure of this Saint so far as she hath commented upon her own life Now for her death I will tell thee whâ—t my observations were thereabout 1. I finde that God began with her quickly and called her hence before she was aged and that is mostly his method where an early harvest is intended a timely seeds-time is promised they live quickly and live apace who ripen betimes so was it with her who was seldome out of action after her entrance but gained as much time in so little a time as any I knew 2. I observe that death came not all at once upon her she was yearly dying some years before she dyed her last and thus death was made familiar to her I have seldome known any of her age that was less amazed at the speech and thoughts of death so good a thing it is to know experimentally what it is to dye beforehand 3. Observe how Gods power triumphs in weakest vessels It is a thing I have often thought on that godly women for the most part dye more confidently and comfortably than do good men the Lord trampling upon Satan in them and in her very eminently 4. Her patience was remarkable in the midst of sore pains which frequented her in the beeding and bearing of children yet then her speech was I fear not pains I fear my self lest through impatiency I should let fall any unfitting word It is a blessed frame when pain seems light and sin heavy 5. I plainly saw in her the power of Grace beyond nature 1. When life and death were both laid before her her speech was this I am at my Fathers disposal howbeit of my self I rather incline to death than life 2. Whereas her affections were very strong both to her loving Husband and children insomuch as it was conceived that the last farewell would go very near her when she should part with so precious and dear Friends she was so much taken up with the thoughts of Christ that she seemed not to stick at any such relations Nay thirdly she seemed wholly to forget her natural self for being intreated to favour her body and speech in regard of the lowness of her spirits after some pause she brake forth into these words Shall I for this poor carkass be wanting to my souls comfoâ—t and my Saviours praises Let me have your prayers still and God his praises yea pray not onely for but with me Which being done she overflowed with comfort and in that condition I left her and that stream of comfort led her not long after to the Fountain where are Rivers of joy for evermore Thus lived she a most profitable life Thus dyed she a most fruitfull death God so turned this his servant that living dying and after death she should be fruitfull Thus will God honour those that honour him To him be all honour to Eternity Amen Now it may be usefull to make mention of her last sickness especially eight weeks before her death All her discourses were savoury tending to edification Many good Christians came to visit her who all if it were not their own fault might reap some spiritual benefit from those many excellent speeches which proceeded out of her mouth And the counsels she gave to her Relations and other friends were tempered with gravity and affection She accustomed not her self to affectation of high-flown phrases but held fast the form of sound words She was an old Disciple and her grave and sober language accordingly discovered her so to be From the very first of her last sickness her apprehension was that she should dye shortly and her longing desire was to be dissolved and to be with Christ. She often repeated those words of Job There the weary go to rest and those words in the close of the Revelations Come Lord Jesus come quickly upon the approach of her death whereof she was very sensible she asked her Husband what Promises of assurance were a firm ground for her to bottome upon He named Joh. 10. 28. And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Likewise he added Rom. 8. 33. 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is ever at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us He added vers 38 39. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor â—â—ings to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. These said she are sweet promises That morning she dyed she desired her Husband to read the 17 Chapter of John which Chapter that eminent holy Scotchman Mr. Rollock caused to be read to him when he was dying after that was read she was ravished with great joy and expressed her self accordingly Her Husband and two other Friends prayed with her After the last Prayer was ended she said My flesh and my heart faileth Her Husband answered her That God was the strength of her heart and her portion for ever He would never fail her She returned an answer which were the last words which ever she spoke to him He will never fail me About an hour after she resigned up her spirit unto God who gave it and her last words were I have finished my course She slept in Jesus December the 8 Anno Christi 1654. To her to live was Christ and to dye was gain She lived much desired and dyed much lamented Her name is like precious Oyntment powred forth She lived holily and dyed comfortably and now partakes of those joyes which eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither can enter into the heart of man to conceive even those things which God hath prepared for them that love him Divers Epitaphs were made at the Death of this rare Gentlewoman I shall onely insert two which were made by two Reverend and Learned Doctors On the Death of that worthy Gentlewoman Mrs. ELIZABETH WILKINSON E-re while Dear Consort I was leas'd to thee Wise now to Christ for perpetuity L-iving with thee was sweet with him far best I-n earth joy 's mixt with pain in him all rest I-wrought I suffer'd much in a few years L-ife now rewards
p. 157. l. 11. r. dayes for life p. 233. l. 31. r. knowing for know p. 312. l. 4. r. wrote for wroughâ— p. 318. l. 25. r. jure humanâ— juris humanâ— p. 342. l. 17. r. bury for bâ—y l. the last r other for to her p. 315. l. 8. r the restless for restless the p. 369. l. 17. r. Sabboth for Sabbath l. 27. r. Lubeckers for Lubecks p 435. l. 21. r. the soâ—l for the sould p. 439. l. 7. r. Mâ—t. 6. 3. for Mâ—t. 3. 6. p. 443. l. 11. r. which for when p. 451. l. 15. put in by that l. 24 pâ—t in he p. 452 l. 13. pâ—t out used and put in to p. 457. l. 3. put in of p. 468. l. 29. r. you for yours l. 529. l. 11 r. breeding for being Mr. JOHN CARTER The LIFE and DEATH OF Mr. JOHN CARTER Who died Anno Christi 1634. MAster John Carter was born at Wickham in Kent near Canterburie about the year of our Lord 1554. He was descended but of mean Parents yet were they Religious and of good report who not being able to maintain him at the University wholly upon their own charge there was one Mr. Rose a rich man in Canterbury who taking notice of his Piety in those his tender years of his ingenuity studiousness and proficiency in all School-learning even beyond the pitch of a Grammer Scholar and finding him hopefull and likely to prove a precious instrument in the Church of Christ he took him into his care sent him to Cambridge and contributed such sums of money to him from time to time as were needfull He was admitted into Clare-Hall and was Pupil to Dr. Bing a famous Civilian and Master of that House Presently after his first admission into that House he was taken notice of as one of singular Learning and ripeness for his years Amongst the rest that were of his year he had a Theam given him to make upon this Subject Frugalitas virtutum maxima and when the young Students brought in their Theams the Lecturer took and read them and when he came to Carters Theam he stood and paused awhile and at last said before them all Here is the best Theam that ever I read and gave him some money for his encouragement and highly commended his Industry and always after cast a favourable eye upon him and sought opportunities to do him good When Mr. Carter had taken his degrees of Batchelor and Mr. of Arts his Tutor Dr. Bing out of his singular love to him for his Piety and Learning gave him a Chamber in his own Lodgings where he continued a year or two which conduced much to the compleating of him for the work of the Ministry and all the while that he continued a gremial in the lap and bosom of his Mother the University he held constant Meetings with divers of his famous Contemporaries and that every week as with Dr. Chaderton Dr. Andrews afterwards Bishop of Ely Mr. Culverwell Mr. Kewstubs and divers others whom God raised up and fitted to send forth into his Harvest to gather his Corn then ripe for the Sickle into his Barn At their meetings they had constant Exercises first They began with prayer then applied themselvs to the Study of the Scriptures one was for the Original Languages anothers task was for the Grammatical Interpretation anothers for the Logical Analysis anothers for the true sense and meaning of the Text another gathered the Doctrines and thus they carried on their several imployments till at last they went out like Apollos eloquent men and mighty in the Scriptures and the Lord was with them so that they brought in a very great Harvest into Gods Barn Mr. Carter would not run before he was sent though he was so excellently qualified for the work he durst not venter upon the exercise of the holy work of the Ministry till he had not only an inward but an outward call also viz. an assignation approbation and solemn admission by the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie When he was ordained the Bishop who in those days was primus Presbyter or Praeses seeking to oppose him asked him this Question Have you read the Bible through Yes said he I have read the Old Testament twice through in the Hebrew and the New Testament often through in the Greek and if you please to examine me in any particular place I shall endeavour to give you an account of it Nay said the Bishop if it be so I shall need to say no more to you only some words of Commendation and encouragement he gave him and so with other assistants he Ordained him Anno Christi 1583. the Vicaridge of Bramford in Suffolk near Ipswich fell void and Mr. Rose of Canterbury beforementioned procured the Presentation thereof for Mr. Carter of the Dean and Chapter of Canterburie in whose Gift it was The Salary at first was only twenty Marks per annum but afterwards the Church raised it to twenty pound per annum and that was the most that ever he had there yet he accepted of it and being setled in it he set himself to do the work of Christ faithfully with all his might as a workman that needed not to be ashamed Every Lords day he preached twice very powerfully and Chatechised the younger sort He also preached a Lecture every Thursday to which multitudes from Ipswich and other adjacent places did resort And God gave such success to his Ministry that by his labours many sons and daughters were from time to time begotten unto God Many precious Christians that remain unto this day acknowledge that their Conversion was by Mr. Carters Ministry Before his Sermons he made but a short Prayer and that always in the same words After Sermon he used to be large and full and expressed himself with great variety of phrases and with much fervency and always he concluded with the Lords Prayer He was very diligent in visiting the sick especially the poorer sort and he never went to the house of any poor creature but he left a Purse-Alms as well as a Spiritual-Alms of good and heavenly advice and prayer No poor body ever came to his door that went away empty his wife also looking to that as carefully as himself Every Saturday throughout the whole year he gave the Milk of his Cows to the poor of the Town and indeed he gave more to the Poor every year then the Revenue of his slender Vicaridge came to in the whole yet God so blessed him that whilst he was in Bramford he quickly paid Mr. Rose of Canterbury all the money that he had disbursed toward his Education in the Uuniversity and before he left Bramford he purchased about twenty pound per annum Gods blessing only makes rich He had but two sons and he brought them both up in Learning and maintained them in the University in good fashion He
them that curse thee Some years after his death his Son John being at Bramford there was an ancient Gentleman that had lived there long and was Mr. Carters old Friend who spake thus unto him Mr. Carter I have nowliâ— to see the downfall of all your Fathers opposites and enemies there is not one of them but their Families are scattered and come to ruine Let all the enemies of Gods faithfull Messengers hear and fear and do no more so wickedly It may be truly said of him and his faithful Yoke-fellow as it is written of Zacharias and Elizabeth they were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless and truly the world will and can testifie that neither of them did ever do that thing that was evil or unjust or scandalous or uncomely even their enemies themselvs being Judges they were as to men without blemish their life was a sweet savour and they went out of this life as a fragrant persume This Life was drawn up by Mr. John Carter Junior now also with the Lord one who degenerated not from the steps of his Learned and holy Father and by him was sent to me some years since together with this ensuing Epistle which I have the rather inserted to provoke and stir up others who can in this way revive the memories of the Dead Saints to do it which will be a more lasting Monument to them and far more beneficial and advantagious to the Church of God than any sumptuous and costly Funerals or Grave-stones whatsoever To his Reverend Brother and fellow Labourer in the Lords Vineyard Mr. Samuel Clark Pastor of Bennet Fink London Worthy Sir THat which Naomi spake to Ruth concerning Boaz He hath not left off his kindnesse to the living and to the Dead It is fully verified of your self You cease not to shew kindness to the Living and to the Dead To the Living by your Preaching and Ministery you make Saints daily To the Dead Saints you shew kindness by perpetuating their Names to their honours and the good of many And herein you are a greater gainer you shine your self by making others shine Amongst the rest of those that honour you I am one though I never saw your face otherwise then in the Frontispiece of your Learned Books In the first part of your Marrow of Ecclesiastical History we had information that you did resolve to add a second Part and to put in the Lives of such godly Divines and others as were eminent in these latter times if you were furnished with faithfull Informations Hereupon divers did set upon me with very great importunity to write the Life of my dear Father and to send it up to you Truly worthy Sir I was desirous of the thing but durst not undertake the work I was sensible of mine own weakness and also that his sayings and doings had 〈…〉 slipped the memories of this Generation that I should have brought to light such an imperfect thing as rather would have been a blemish to so eminent a Saint than any Honour Hereupon I laid aside all thoughts of medling or attempting such a thing I know that he is glorious in heaven and on earth too so far as his name is spread Now good Sir let me be bold to give a short account of my self Some few days since I went about to make a new Diary for my self I was desirous in the first place to set down some passages of my Father for mine own satisfaction and use I began so and before I was aware it amounted to so much as I thought better that that should be published than nothing at all and at last my Spirit grew restless I could not satisfie my self till I had digested it into some order and made it publick And now Sir here it is I present it to your judicious view accept it in good part from a meer stranger My humble request to you Worthy Sir is this that though I slipped the last opportunity yet if you shall set forth any more Lives or if you shall have a new Impression of any of the former that you would extract so much of my precious Fathers Life as you shall judge fit and place it where you please in your Ecclesiastical History Your Monuments will be lasting in after Ages when my poor Pamphlet will be worn out with time Pardon my boldness The Lord lengthen out your days for the good of his Church and the honour of his Saints Your most observant friend and brother that truly Honoureth you JOHN CARTER The Life and Death of Mr. Samuel Crook who died An. Christi 1649. SAmuel Crook was born at Great Waldingfield in Suffolk Jan. 17. Anno Christi 1574. He was a Prophet and the Son of a Prophet even of that great and famous Light Dr. Crook a Learned and Laborious Divine who was sometimes a Preacher to the Honourable Society of Greys-Inn A Gentleman well descended and of an ancient Family This our Samuel was in his younger years trained up in Merchant Taylors School in London and having perfected his Studies there he was sent to the University of Cambridge and admitted into Pembroke-Hall where he was first Scholar and afterwards chosen Fellow of that House being chosen by the unanimous consent and suffrage of all but the Master upon whose refusal he was soon after Elected and admitted one of the first foundation of Fellows in Emanuel College where until this day his name is precious being preserved in their Library amongst their choicest Ornaments of that House in the Catalogue of their first Fellows thus written Mr. Samuel Crook Batchelour in Divinity From his very youth he was highly esteemed in that University both for his candid and ingenuous behaviour in a comely person as also for his pregnant parts ready wit great industry and answerable proficiency in all kinds of Polite Learning which renders a man more expedite and exquisite for any worthy and noble imployment and is more especially preparatory and introductory to the Study of Sacred Divinity which being observed and taken notice of he was first made choice of to be the Rhetorick Reader and afterwards was advanced to be Philosophy Reader in the Publick Schools both which places he performed with general applause Amongst his other youthly imployments he translated Virgâ—ls Eclogues the first and second Books of his Aeneids Juvenals first Satyre and most of the memorable speeches both in Virgil and other Poets All which were clear demonstrations of his ingenious capacity and ingenuous sufficiency And to shew that his heart even in his youth was drawn Heaven-ward from whence his wit was sanctified he translated divers of Davids Psalms and composed several Sacred Hymnes of his own Some of which he sung with tears of joy and desire in his last sickness having a sweet voice and good skill in Musick In his younger years also he was a constant and diligent hearer and
Pastor which suffered much extremity by reason of the persecution of their then prevailing adversaries forcing them from Bermudas into the Desart Continent The sound of whose distress was no sooner heard of but you might have heard the sounding of his bowels with many others applying themselves to a speedy Collection and sending it to them on purpose for their seasonable relief the sum was about seven hundred pounds two hundred whereof he gathered in the Church of Boston no man in the Contribution exceeding and but one equalling his bounty And it was remarkable that this Contribution arrived there the very day after those poor people were brought to a personal division of that little Meal then remaining in the Barrel and not seeing according to man but that after the eating thereof they must dye a lingring death for want of food and upon the same day their Pastor had preached unto them it being the Lords day upon that Text Psal. 23. The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want At such a time the good hand of the Lord brought this succour to them from afar Whilst he was in Old England his eminent piety the success of his labours and his interest in the hearts both of superiours inferiours equals drew upon him much envy and his Non-conformity added thereunto so that he was delivered in a great measure to the will of his Adversaries who gave him not over till they had bereaved him of much of his livelihood his liberty Country and therewithall of the sweet society of lovers friends and many wayes endeared acquaintance more precious to him than life it self Yet the measure of the afflictions of Christ appointed to be suffered by him was not so fulfilled but lo in the time of his exile some Brethren provoked by the censure of Authority though justly not without tears inflicted upon them singled out Mr. Cotton as the object of their displeasure who though above other men declining irregular and unnecessary interesting himself in the actions of the Magistrate and while opportunity lasted endeavouring their healing yet they requited him evil for good and they at least some of them who were formerly companions with him in the tribulations of that Patmos yea respecters of him had taken sweet counsel together and they had walked in the house of God as friends Hence was he with Tongue and pen blasphemed by them for whom he formerly intreated and for whom he both then and afterwards wept and put on sackcloth As touching any Tenet wherein he may seem singular remember that he was a man and therefore to be heard and read with judgement and happily sometimes with favour St. Hierom makes a difference between reading the writings of the Apostles and other men They saith he alwayes speak the truth these as men sometimes erre But no man did more placidly bear a Dissentient than he It contributes much towards the fuller discovery of truth when men of larger capacities and greater industry than others may be permitted to communicate their Notions onely they should use this liberty by way of disquisition not of Position rather as searchers after Scripture-light than as Dictators of private opinions But now this Western Sun hastens to his setting Being called to preach at a neighbour Church he took wet in his passage over the Ferry and not many hours after he felt the effect of it being seized upon with an extream ilness in his Sermon time This sad providence when others bewailed he comforted himself in that he was found so doing Decet Imperatorem stantem mori It is the honour of a Commander to dye standing St. Austins usual with was that when Christ came he might finde him Aut praecantem aut praedicantem either praying or preaching Calvin would not that when the Lord came he should finde him idle After a short time he complained of the inflamation of his lungs and thereupon found himself Asthmatical and afterward Scorbutical which both meeting in a complicated disease put an end to his dayes insomuch that he was forced to give over those comforting drinks which his stomack could not want If he still used them the inflamation grew unsufferable and threatned a more sharp and speedy death If he left them his stomack forthwith ceased to perform its office leaving him without hope of life By these Messengers he received the sentence of death yet in the use of means he attended the pleasure of him in whose hands our times are his labours continued whilst his strength failed November the 18. he took in course for his Text the four last verses of the second Epistle to Timothy Salute Prisca and Aquila c. Giving the reason why he spake of so many verses together because otherwise he said he should not live to make an end of that Epistle He chiefly insisted upon those words Grace be with you all so ending that Epistle and his Lectures together For upon the Lords day following he preached his last Sermon upon Joh. 1. 14. And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we â—eheld his Glory as of the onely begotten Son of the Father full of Grace and Peace Now he gave himself wholly to prepare for his dissolution making his Will and setting his house in order When he could no more be seen abroad all sorts Magistrates Ministers Neighbours and Friends afar off and those near at hand especially his own people resorted to him daily as to a publick Father When the neighbour Ministers visited him in which duty they were frequent he thanked them affectionately for their love exhorting them also as an Elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ to feed the Flock encouraging them that when the chief Shepherd shall appear they should receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Finding himself to grow weak according to that of James he sent for the Elders of the Church of Boston to pray over him which last solemn duty being performed not without much affection and many tears Then as Polycarp a little before his death said That he had served Christ fourscore and six years neither had he ever offended him in any thing so he told them through Grace he had now served God forty years it being so long since his conversion throughout which time he had ever found him faithful to him and thereupon he took occasion to exhort them to the like effect that Paul sometime did the Elders of Ephesus a little before they were to see his face no more Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the Flock over wâ—ich the Lord hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Particularly he lamented that the love of many yea and some of their own Congregation was grown cold towards the publick Ordinances calling upon them so much the more for their watchfulness in that respect which done he thanked them for their loving and brotherly assistance to
was exceeding skilful and dextrous as many hundreds in the City have found from time to time being sought unto far and near by such as groaned under afflictions and tentations many of whom through Gods blessing upon his labours were restored to joy and comforts out of unspeakable terrors and torments of Conscience He was of a most sweet and meek disposition yea such was his meekness of spirit that it seemeth not to be paralleld For though he lived with his wife above twenty years yet neither childe nor servant could ever say that they saw so much as an angry countenance or heard so much as an angry word proceed from him towards her all her life long Some have observed that towards his latter end in his visage he did much resemble the Picture that is usually made for Moses Certainly he was the exact Effiges of Moses his spirit and in this resembled him to the life that he was one of the meekest men that this Generation hath known He was as a great peace-keeper so a great peace-maker having an excellent dexterity in composing of differences he was far from doing wrong to others and as far from revenging wrong done to him by others Notwithstanding which he suffered much both by the speeches and also by the actions of evil and envious persons yet his manner was rather to pray for them than in any harsh manner to retaliate like for like He alwayes judged that revilers and injurious persons wronged themselves more than him Sundry scandalous and false aspersions were cast upon him yea by such persons as were guilty of those very crimes which they laid to his charge For some who lived by the unwarrantable trade of Usury to justifie their own unlawful practices have not stuck to charge the same upon him though he was alwayes free from it never putting out any money to use either by himself or any other for him neither directly nor indirectly as he hath been often heard to affirm both in his life time and not long before his death Being chosen President of Sion College according to the custome when he left his Office he preached a learned and polite Latine Sermon ad clerum which he delivered by the strength of his memory without the help of his notes which shewed that though his body was decrepit and feeble yet his intellectuals were vivid quick and vigorous He was very charitable especially to the godly poor according to that direction of the Apostle Gal. 6. 10. where he exhorts us to do good to all but especially to the houshold of Faith He maintained some poor Schollars in the University wholly at his own charge and contributed liberally towards the maintenance of others Indeed he set apart a Sacrea stock as he called it a portion for the poor proportionable to his receits which he faithfully distributed Yea he was of such a charitable and bountiful a disposition that though his Father left him a competent estate yet such were his annual disbursements for his kindred and others that stood in need of relief that from the time of his Fathers death till his children came to be of years and so to call for their portions he laid up nothing of all his comings in whereby it may appear that they who out of envy cry up his estate to be greater than it was do consequently cry up his bounty and charity For that whatsoever his estate was it was wholly laid out for the relief of such as stood in need necessary expences for his Family only excepted which as it doth appear by his Papers so in his life time he professed it to some of his Children and truly as in other things he excelled many others so in this he excelled himself He was very conscientious in the expence of his time from his youth to the very time of his death His custome was to rise very early both in the Winter and Summer In the Winter time he constantly rose so long before day as that he alwaies performed all the exercises of his private devotions before day-light And in the Summer time he rose about four a clock in the morning by which means he had done half his work before others began their studies If he happened to hear any at their work before he began his studies he would say as Demosthenes spake concerning the Smith that he was much troubled that any should be at the works of their Calling before he was at his He was a man of much temperance and sobriety both in his eating drinking and apparrel And for Recreations howsoever many pious persons do spend time therein and that lawfully in warrantable Recreations yet he spent none of his so whence it was that he was never expert in any kinde of sports He hath been often heard to say that he never took any journey meerly of pleasure in all his life-time Study and pâ—ins were alwayes both in youth and age his chefest pleasure and delight yea it was his meat and drink to be doing the will of his heavenly Father wherein he took as much pleasure and delight as natural men do in their eating and drinking or in their disports and pastimes Such was his deportment in his conversation that there was scarce a Lord or Lady or Citizen of quality in or about the City that were piously affected but they sought his acquaintance and were ambitious to enjoy his company wherein they took much content and found much benefit to their souls thereby And whereas many persons of quality out of their great respect to him came to visit him he would so endeavour to order their conference as might tend most to their edification and if their visits were meerly complemental he soon grew weary and accounted it a burden to him He was alwayes of a very friendly and courteous disposition in so much as the meanest not only of his own Parish but of the City found easie access to him and he was as easie to be intreated yea ready to do what good he could to all And amongst other Graces his humility was very eminent and exemplary Though others knew 〈◊〉 when his face did not shine yet he knew not when it did He that readily could observe the least glimpses or appearances of any worth in others would not acknowledge them in himself He was as it was said of Nazianzen high in imployments and abilities but low in his disposition and resentment of his own worth He was not observed to be puffed up either with the multitudes that flocked unto his Ministry which were many and great nor with any applauses of men but would still say That he knew more by himself to abase him than any could know to extol him yea so eminent was his Humility that he charged his Executor to whom he committed the care of his Funeral that there should no Green-staffe be laid upon his Herse though this usual respect
Sir your head doth not lye right he answered It will lye right in my Coffin July the 25 at one a clock in the morning Death began to seize on his left foot from which the spirits retiring he felt the deadness of that part and a very sharp pain in the part of the leg adjoyning to it Hereupon he called for his Son and told him He feared that he should have a difficult death He then commanded two Surgeons to be sent for to look upon his leg whom he required to tell him whether or no his Foot were any whit discoloured It seems he had conceived some fear of a Gangrene but being satisfied by them that there could not be any ground for such an apprehension he rested with patience In the evening of that day being visited by Mr. Santhil and lying in great anguish by reason of the violence of his heat he prayed for pity and patience support here and a comfortable issue July 26. Early in the morning being full of pain gasping and panting he cryed out How long Lord How long Come speedily But though Death had made an encroachment upon his outward perishing part yet his inward man felt no decay For with a full use of reason he that morning ordered the continuance of a weekly relief to certain poor persons as also ofâ—some small monethly Pensions to some widows for a season He also caused his Physitian to be consulted with about taking something that might procure rest and was erected to a more cheerful disposition He also enquired after News and dicoursed freely yet confessed himself to be in pain About three a clock that afternoon feeling some great change after the putting forth of Nature he called his Sister Son and Daughter to receive his last charge and when they were come he thus spake unto them My heart fails and my strength fails but God is my Fortress and the strong Rock of my salvation Into thy hands therefore I commend my soul for thou hast redeemed me O God of truth Then turning his discourse to his Son he said Son you have a great charge look to it Instruct your wife and family in the fear of God and discharge your Ministry conscientiously To his Sister a Gentlewoman two years elder than himself he said Sister I thought you might have gone before me but God calls for me first I hope we shall meet in Heaven I pray God to bless you His Daughter he admonished to minde the worldless and God more for that all things without Piety and the true fear of God are nothing worth He advised also that his Son Draper being a man of means should entertain some godly Minister into his house to teach his children and instruct his family He exhorted them all to love and concord which he said he hoped the rather because he had cleerly settled his estate so as to prevent differences He inlarged himself in each of these a little wishing them all to lay to heart the words of a dying man After this he desired that all should withdraw and leave him to his rest which he hoped was at hand But all his conflicts were not yet accomplished July the 27 His voice began to be less intelligible the putrid preternatural heat having furred up his mouth as is usual in Feavors yet both his understanding and senses were very quick and active About six of the clock in the evening he called for his Son to recommend his soul unto God by prayer and endeavoured to express what he desired but could not do it so clearly as to be well understood yet by his gestures he gave assurance that he understood perfectly and concurred fervently with the devotions used on his behalf Within an hour after Nature being quite spent he gave up the ghost and was translated into that Rest which he so often and earnestly had desired to finde in another World because he could obtain none in this Thus after forty three years inspection of this pious and diligent Pastor of Redrith he left his Flock returning to the great and chief Shepherd of our souls from his gracious hands to receive an incorruptible Crown of glory having almost compleated fourscore years For his Person the express whereof though he was often importuned by dear Friends he would never allow to be taken either by pencel or sculpture He was of a middle stature of a thin body and of a lively countenance of a fresh complexion that looked young when he came to preach at â—incolns Inne and yet was grey betimes which made him to be thought elder than he was because he had long appeared ancient in the eyes of the world of a choicely temperate diet of a free and cheerful conversation addicted much to study yet not secluding himself from fit company He was of a quick apprehension sharp reason solid judgement vast memory which through Gods mercy continued fresh to the last of his dayes He was Helluo librorum one that did not vainly encrease his Liberary for ostentation but chose books for use which also he made of them so happily that he had conquered a strong portion of learning which he made to serve him upon all occasions He was not so great a treasurer as a free dispenser of those riches of the minde which he did communicate readily expeditely and cleerly He was an ornament to the University and of that Society designed for the study of the Law a Light of the Church the salt of the place where he abode a loving Husband a discreet Parent a faithful Friend a kinde Neighbour a courteous entertainer of strangers a candid encourager of Students a stout Champion for the Truth yet a lover of peace preserving the unity of Charity even where there was difference of judgement an Adversary to novel fancies as well as to antiquated superstitons in Religion of a Christian Magnanimity in despising the world and therefore resolute through bad report as well as good to maintain a clear conscience In brief he was a faithful Shepherd and a fit mirrour for Pastors as well as an exact patern for people who having almost compleated eighty years departed full of 〈◊〉 but being dead yet speaks in his living Monuments of sound Learning His Printed Works are these Of the Nature and use of Lots in 4o. A Just Defence of the same against Mr. Jo. Balmford in 4o. Tho. Gatakeri Londinatis Antithesis partim Guilielmi Amesii partim Gisberti voetii de sorte Thesibus reposita in 4o. A Discourse of Transubstantiation with a Defence thereof in 4o. Davids Instructer The Christian mans care The Spiritual Watch. The gain of Godliness with Self-sufficiency The Just mans joy with signs of Sincerity Jacobs Thankfulness Davids Remembrancer Noahs Obedience A Memorial of Englands Deliverance in 88. Sorrow for Sion Gods Parley with Princes with an appeal from them to him Eleazers Prayer being a Marriage Sermon A good Wife Gods gift A Wife indeed Marriage
After he had been trained up at School and well fitted for it he was sent to the University of Oxford where his diligence and proficiency was such that he was chosen Fellow of Magdalen-Colledge and had the breeding up of some there who afterwards proved excellent and eminent Scholars as Dr. Frewen who was alwayes a thankfull man to him for his education and famous Mr. Pemble who ended his dayes at his house c. His attendance at Court upon the chiefest favourite in the dayes of that learned King James gave him opportunity of advancement iâ— his thoughts had been bent that way but he sought not great things for himself yet continued at Court till the death of Sr. Thomas Overbury that learned Knight and his very good friend and then he had adieu to that course of life As for his inward storms they were very many and exceeding bitter which also were accompanied with many bodily infirmities which attended him in his younger years but it was well for him that he bore the yoke in his youth and there was none that knew so much of his temptations and desertions as thâ—t eminent and learned Divine Dr. Harris by reason of that intimate acquaintance he had with him in those dayes being his kinsman which also was occâ—sioned the more by the often recourse he had then into those parts for the fetching of some spiriruall refreshing from that man of God Mr. John Dod who was both able and willing to speak a word in season to a broken and coâ—rite heart For the eminency of hâ—s parts there were very few that could match him The most even of our most high-flown Eagles have commonly some peculiar gift wherein they most excell and by it â—o very good service to Christ and his Church but this man had grasped all good learning and made every thing his own so evenly to see to that he was very expert in the same and would with Cato the elder be up in the height in all thâ—t ever he was to act in Melancthon used to say that Pomeranus was the Gramarian that himself was the Logician that Justus Jonas was the Orator but that Luther was all in all here was one that was not inferior to Luther If he pleased to turn to the School or to Case-Divinity to Augustine or Chrysostome to Galen or Hippocrates to Aristotle or Tully to History or Philosophy to Arts or Tongues who could tell but himself which of them he was best versed in He was a very living Library a full storehouse of all kind of good literature no less than a little University the mirrour of those parts and above the envy of most The least draught of his Pencil would have told any Protogenes he had been the Apelles He excelled in all that ever he would set his hand to unless it were in his utterance in the publick Congregation and therein indeed he had a great defectiveness God 〈◊〉 him great understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do He stood upon the Watch-tower and saw what was hid from most mens eyes and being quick of sent in the fear of the Lord he gave timely notice to some that stood in place which had it been heeded we had never been so fearfully pestered with those Hydraes heads that are now starting up afresh daily to the great disturbance of our people Simler said of Melancthon at his going from the University of Tubing that none of the learned men there how many soever they were had so much learning as to know the great learning that was in that man Too too many amongst us were even sick of the same disease that knew not the depth that was in this mans brest There were many men in this one man even all Scholarship epitomized in this profound Clerk and yet for all this he had that great blessing which he himself observed as a singular favour vouchsafed to Dr. John Reynolds that great Oracle of Oxford that he never set on foot any manner of new opinion The like is observed of learned Dr. Whitaker stâ—led the Oracle of Cambridge and the miracle of the world A mercy that most men of superlative parts use not to be too rich in There is scarce any strong brain without some strong fancy If the great wits of our times had kept themselves close to the steps of these rare Divines we had never seen the sorrows that we now sigh and groan under and would be glad to be rid of if we knew how For the excellency of his preaching he excelled most men He was an Inâ—erpreter one of a thousand His understanding was strangely opened for the understanding and opening the Scriptures He would bolt out that out of the holy Book of God that would not come into any other mans consideration yet it should be genuine and evidently appearing to be the driâ—t and meaning of the Holy Ghost An intelligent man could never sit at his feet or be in his company but he should meet with that there that would never fall from any other mans mouth nor ever drop from any other mans Pen. His words were as Goads and as Nails fastened by the Master of the Assemblies They were edged with so much reason re-enforced from the lively Oracles that they could not fall to the ground in vain It 's no marvell therefore that the Cream of the whole Country where he lived as they could have opportunity would hang upon his Ministry Yet he used to be very plain in all his expressions He would not deliver what he had from God in an unknown tongue nor yet in words and phrases which were too spâ—uce and trim He had learned his lesson weâ—l of that great Apostle and Doctor of the Gentiles who came not with enticing words nor with any other but such as the very Catechuâ—nâ—ni the youngest beginners might understand He kept close to the footsteps of our choicest Worthies as famous Mr. Dod who used to say that so much Latine was so much flesh in a Sermon Mr. Cleaver Mr. Hildersam and such other holy men of God led by the self same Spirit He would deliver the whole and wholesome truths of God in such an holy and wholsome way that it bred very good bloud in the hearts of his hearers He would stoop so low as to speak to the poor Country people in their own proper dialect so as they could not but even see and feel and find out God and be occasioned to speak of him all the week after If he met with a deep mystery he would make it plain to the shallowest capacity Whatever Subject he sell upon he would handle it so Divine-like that the hearts of his Auditors would be wrapt up into Heaven whilest they heard him winding and turning a point of Divinity like a workman that needed not to be ashamed Whereas now adayes whilest some of our great Divines seem to
further happiness upon earth than to maintain what he had gotten yet was he once over-reached by the Livonians who proffered to commit themselves to his protection which he refused yet when they were much endangered by the Muscovites he sent aid unto them who engaging too far and the Livonians hanging behinde the whole burden was left upon the Suedes who finding the Muscovite too heavy for them and the Livonians heartless or faithless withdrew their assistance betimes and made their own peace It s a usual policy amongst Princes to be slow in advancing their eldest Sons who are to succeed them into places of Government and not without cause for in such cases especially in times and places of darkness their designed successours if well gifted by nature or education may prove heads of parties and factions and thereby put the present Governours to much trouble the one being looked upon as the rising the other but as the setting Sun Yet it seems more prejudicial to the people to have a raw and unexperienced Governour set over them who knows not how to govern himself And therefore if Ericus had been more experienced in Government he might have proved either more advised by the overruling direction of his Father or else he would have discovered himself so far as that he would never have been trusted and so many troubles might have been prevented which ensued afterwards But it is vain to call back things which are already past the time draws on a pace which must determine the work of this great King He had now governed the Kingdome of Sueden long and had seen many changes in other Nations as well as his own and yet must outlive one more in Denmark before he leaves the world For about this time died Christian the third King of Denmark by whose decease the Kingdome was put to the hazard of an other Election which concerned Sueden not a little for Christian the captive King was yet alive and had another fair opportunity to try the curtesie of the Lords of Denmark But they being unanimous for the choice of Frederick the Son of the Duke of Holst him they Crowned and Christian was still set aside Unhappy man that having lived a prisoner seven and twenty years in his own Nation could not in all that time by his carriage gain a better opinion amongst the Nobility of Denmark but that still he remained under the note of an impenitent and obstinate Tyrant It is the opinion of wise men that the breach between a King and his people is like the Divorce between a man and his wife never to be made up again and yet the difficulty lyes not in any determinate judgement or rule upon the Case as that of Divorce doth and therefore comes not within the compass of impossibility but in the distemper of the parties by ambition on the one side and jealousie on the other both hard to be cured yet the first leading the way to the second if that be first allayed the second may be cured And this Christian might have observed in the example of Carolus Canutus his corival in the Suedish Throne who having been Crowned King and fought successfully against the Danes and Norwegians ruled somewhat too imperiously for which he was ejected out of his Throne and yet afterwards being re-admitted he ruled in that manner that he dyed satisfied with honour and the love of his people But Christian was of another temper he would fain come again into the Government but not under restraint nor with submission nor by leave nor with the love of his Nation but still depending upon a forreign interest and the power of the Emperour he was looked upon as an enemy and his return as that of the unclean spirit that would render the latter condition of the Nation sevenfold worse than the former For he that is a King indeed though wrongfully rejected will still bear the minde of a King to desire the peoples good and will endeavour to deserve their love But he that depends upon the forreign interest of such as are professed enemies to a peoples Religion and Liberties disowneth interest in his people and therefore cannot rationally expect any re-acceptance if that Nations Religion be right either by the leave of God or liking of the people Now whether Christian took conceit at this Election seeing no hope of ever gaining a better condition than for the present he was in Writers mention not but he dyed presently after even within one moneth of the death of Christian the third and in the Seventy eight year of his age And Gustavus out-lived him and all these changes well-nigh two years seeing his people in a settled condition for Justice Religion and Peace amongst themselves and with all their Neighbours thriving in Trade industrious in Husbandry Skilfull in improving the benefit of their Mines Potent both at Sea and Land and himself blessed with repute and honour both from his own people and strangers Successfull in all his affairs and leaving a numerous posterity behind him And having lived seventy years and thereof raigned thirty eight years he gave in charge to his children to endeavour the peace and to maintain the liberties of their Country but especially to preserve the purity of Religion without the mixture of humane inventions and to live as brethren in unity among themselves All which also he left as a memorial â—ealed up in his last Will and so he resigned up his spirit to God Anno Christi 1562. So lived Gustavus or Augustus for the name is the same which perhaps minding him of imitation made him exceed his patern His aims out reached the Roman Empire and were higher than the world His difficulties and dangers greater His enemies more desperate by conjuncture of the Devils His labour and industry not unlike His success beyond all even to wonderment If he came short of Austustus in his time of Government wherein the difference was not much yet he exceeded him in the manner It being with such an excellent temper of Monarchy with popularity He preserved the peoples liberty with the honour of a King and common security without pride of Tyranny The people living as well under the King without servitude as in a popular estate without sedition and yet he attempered all with just liberty of conscience and the true worship and service of God which he owned as the chief Diamond in his Crown and conveyed all to his successours by a better and more enduring settlement than Augustus did or could attain unto His worst enemies never publickly taxed him with any crime but covetousness And Thuanus a Writer of credit in those times gives no countenance thereto Nor did the Patrimony left by him to his children hold forth any such thing and therefore if any such thing were it was for the service of the state of Sueden wherein if he spared not others it s confessed by all that he spared not
intercede for them The Bishop told him that such Conventicles were forbidden by the Law the State being jealous lest the seeds of Sedition or Heresie might be sown in them To whom Mr. Jurdaine replied My Lord Do you think that the Lord Jesus Christ when he comes to Judgement will say concerning these and such like poor Christians Take them Devil take them because though they sought me by fasting and prayer yet they did not observe every circumstance with so much prudence as they might have done Whereupon the Bishop dismissed them I am now come to the last act of his Life his sickness and the period of that his Death In his sickness which was very painfull he being sorely afflicted with the Stone and Cholick yet did he manifest more than ordinary patience not opening his mouth in any word that might savour of repining or discontent at his present condition but meekly and patiently submitting to Gods afflicting hand and waiting for his long-expected and much desired dissolution He did then much act faith in Jesus Christ and his gracious Promises and his assurance remained unshaken though Satan was then busie with him by his temptations But being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might he did resist him Some of his nearest Friends that observed his confident Assurance in the course of his life and of his happy estate in heaven after death did suppose that Satan would have set upon him with so much violence as to have shaken his Assurance as no doubt he had will enough to do but God who had him in chains would not permit him to do it But he went out of the world as a Conquerour out of the Field being through Christ victorious over all his spiritual enemies One particular in his sickness may not be omitted which was his taking all occasions of exhorting and encouraging others to constancy in the faith zeal for God and making sure of Heaven and when his spirits began to fail him he would say I cannot speak much more to you now Râ—member what you have heard from me in my health He was willing also to incite others that were absent to the discharge of their Duties The Mayor of the City that then was sending to see how he did he called the messenger unto him and said Remember me to Mr. Mayor and tell him from me that he have a special care of these three things To do Justice To provide carefully for the poor and to make sure of Heaven His gracious speeches in the time of his sickness were many and more than can be here expressed Having fought the good fight of Faith and finished his course he sweetly and quietly resigned up his soul into the hands of his blessed Saviour and Redeemer He departed this Life July the 15. Anno Christi 1640. being the Sabbath day The Sabbath was his delight on earth and on that day God gave him to enjoy an eternal Sabbath with him in Heaven As he had sweet communion with God in the use of Ordinances for many years on that day so he went to enjoy an immediate communion with God on that holy day and after all his labours he entred into rest even that glorious Rest in Heaven Heb. 4. 11. His departure hence was in the Seventy ninth year of his age and according to his account for the New-birth in the Sixty fifth year For so long he reckoned since the time of his effectual Calling At the celebration of his Funerals there hath not been known any man to be more lamented than was he the loss being so great not to the City alone but to all those Western parts the influence of his example as a zealous Magistrate and Christian reaching far and near After he had served his own Generation by the will of God he fell on sleep Act. 13. 36. The Life and Death of Mrs. Margaret Ducke who dyed Anno Christi 1646. THe Father of Mrs. Margaret Ducke was Mr. Henry Southworth a Gentleman of a good Family Her Mother was a vertuous and Religious Matron He was a Merchant and Customer of London by which means having acquired a plentiful estate he contented himself with it and withdrew from thence to a more quiet and retired that is a more happy life at Wells where he lived plentifully and having onely two Daughters his Co-heirs he gave them liberal and pious education in all those wayes which commend and accomplish well-bred Gentlewomen This Gentlewoman who was the younger of his Daughters was deservedly dear to both her Parents and lived with them till their deaths which fell out to be shortly one after another For as they were lovely and pleasant in their lives if I may so use the words of Davids lamentation over Saul and Jonathan 2 Sam. 1. so in their Deaths they were not divided She was then about the one and twentieth year of her age at which time she was desired in marriage by many younger in years and higher in means and lands than the Gentleman was unto whom with her great contentment even to her dying day she yeelded her self and her affections resolving as the vertuous Marcella in St. Jerom answered her young Woer Cerealis who was of a Noble and Consular race Si nubere vellem utique maritum quaererem non haereditatem that when she married she would marry an Husband not an estate though yet God had blessed her Husband with a competency of these outward things Their Marriage was celebrated by that incomparable and even in this age famous Prelate Bishop Lake in the City of Wells who never married any persons besides themselves where for some years they lived together and the Town to this day gives an ample testimony to their piety and charity For her part they say as Gregory Nyssen said of Placilla that if she prevented him not in any work of charity yet she was sure to concur with him therein and when she departed from thence they soon complained and lamented the want of her charity The blinde complained that they wanted an eye the lame a staffe the mourners one to comfort them the languishing one to visit them as St. Jerom said of Nepotian For indeed she was eyes to the blinde feet to the lame she was a mother to the poor and distressed and to those who had nothing to help them The blessing of those as Job saith of himself that were ready to perish came upon her and she caused the widows heart to sing for joy From Wells they removed to Blackfriers in London where she lived long under the powerful Ministry of the thrice worthy and learned Dr. Gouge a man famous for his pains in the Church of Christ. What her Life Faith Charity Patience was during her abode there was well known to all in general and particularly observed by that Reverend Doctor and abundantly testified at her Funerals by him so that nothing needs to be added to
his full and faithful testimony One thing was well observed by him and is very remarkable that notwithstanding the many opportunities she had to see Playes to which the neighbourhood and vicinity of the Play-house there and the frequent throngs of Gentlewomen which prest thither might have been forcible and prevailing invitations yet she could never whilst she lived there nor indeed all the time of her being in London be induced to see any of them and being sometimes advised by her dearest Friend to go thither as other Gentlewomen did to avoid too much retiredness she answered it is hard to say whether with more discretion or Religion that she liked it not and that next to Gods house she could best spend her time in her own In Gods House if I may with reverence use Tertullians expression she saw enough of the Scene Scenicae Doctrinae delectant Sat nobis sententiarum sat versuum sat etiam Canticorum c. Sentences Verses and Songs enough to delight her soul. Would she see a Tragedy There she could see before her eyes Jesus Christ evidently set forth crucified amongst them Gal. 3. 1. What a sight is Christs coming to Judgement Kings throwing down their Crowns and Scepters and themselves before him In her own house she could as Solomon describes the excellent Huswife Prov. 31. 27 28. imploy her self in looking well to the wayes of her Houshold and not eating the bread of idleness that so her children might rise up and call her blessed her Husband also and he might praise her She was so far from the gadding disposition of other talking walking women that she was for the most part as a Snail Domi porta within her own shell and family And as St. Jerom pourtaits his never enough admired and applauded Marcella Raro procedebat in publicum maximè Nobilium Matronarum domos vitabat ne cogeretur videre quod contempserat She went seldome abroad and especially chose to decline the houses of Noble and Honourable Ladies lest she should be tempted to see those vanities which she resolved to contemn and so be unwillingly wrought and brought to desire what she so willingly despised This retiredness as usually it doth drew on her a decrease of health which occasioned for the enjoyment of a better air and recovery of health her removal to Cheswick where she lived to her dying day exceedingly beloved and dyed extreamly lamented and desired of all While she enjoyed her health which yet was much interrupted her constant and unfailing practice was besides daily prayers in the Family to betake her self in the morning and at other convenient times to her constant private devotions in her Closet and then allotting some time for being a wise and prudent woman she made a little time reach far in the education and oversight of her children and disposing and dispensing the affairs of the Family the residue of the day she spent in reading books of Piety and Devotion and most willingly those of Dr. Gouge by which means she made her heart Bibliothecam Christi a Library of Christ and furnished her self with such a stock of Christian knowledge and devotion as carried her on with much comfort and cheerfulness through all her afflictions till she arrived at her long and much longed for home Both in her health and sickness she was of so meek and milde a comportment and behaviour towards all that she conquered by it as Ignatius advised Polycarp to do those that had if at least any had any venemous sting or spleen against her For her meekness she seemed indeed like that Dove in the Prophet Hosea chap. 7. 11. that had no heart none certainly to do any harm or injury to any And as Solomon saith Prov. 15. 1. A loft answer turns away wrath so without doubt her soft and milde disposition in these rough and blustering times kept off many an impetuous storm and shower from her This mildness was eminently conspicuous in her sickness One night her Husband perswaded her to use an Electuary that was sent her she refused it twice but in milde tearms yet the next morning she told him that she had been too blame it might be in her words the night before Often she desired all the world to forgive her if she had offended any as she heartily forgave them all that had offended her Her Husband told her that he thought she had no enemies Yea said she some have wronged me but I forgive them from my heart and desire God to forgive them In all the time of her sickness she was never heard to use any impatient word to any or of any Quis unquam ab hac muliere quod displiceret audivit That I may use St. Jeroms Question concerning another on her behalf Who ever heard any thing from this good woman that might displease him or believed any thing against her and condemned not himself of too much credulity or malignity in believing it Cheerful she was yet she tempered it with such a becoming severity severe she was yet she allayed it with such a decent cheerfulness that it may be truly said of her what was said by St. Jerom of a vertuous woman Nothing was more severe than her cheerfulness nor cheerfull than her severity Such a concurrence and constellation of vertues and sweetness such a Mirror of Charity such a Treasury and Magazine of Chastity and Sobriety was in her In short she had such an eminency in single vertues as if she had had no more and yet such a worthiness in all as if she had been singular in none Since the troubles of these bleeding times she suffered many afflictions with a Masculine patience though much imbittered to her by a long and tedious sickness and the necessary and indispensable absence of her dearest Consort which yet she professed that it never bred in her the least ill thought of him saying often that she did but desire to see him again and to speak with him and then she was ready if God so pleased the next day to sing old Simeons Nunc dimittis Luke 2. 29. Lord now lettest thy servant depart in peace And God heard her prayer and his also for in this they were joynt and mutual Orators and to her great comfort she saw him and spake with and for three weeks space they mutually enjoyed each other abroad in the house But then the first-born of Death began to devour her strength as Bildad speaks Job 1. 13 14. and threatned to bring her to the King of Terrours for so indeed Death is to them that have not made their peace with God But to her however in regard of the dissolution and parting of those dear friends body and soul which had been now for two and forty years sweet and loving inmates a valley of Achor Hos. 2. 15. that is bitterness as the word imports yet was it to her a door of hope to open her a passage
forty seven years wherein he could give an account of above seven thousand elaborate Sermons preached by him are so well known not only in this or the neighbour Parishes but through the whole County and the Country round about that I need not mention them Few men ever ran so long a Race without cessation or cespitation so constantly so unweariedly so unblamably All which time he was a burning and a shining light joyfully spending and being spent for the good of Gods people Many many of whom he hath guided to Heaven before him who received the beginnings of spiritual life from his Ministry and many more shall walk in that light after him And from his splendent Lamp divers faithfull Ministers some Triumphant before him some Militant after him have lighted their Candles His Tuesdays Lecture being more profitable to teach usefull Divinity than an Academy whereby he did not only Dolare lapides sed artifices Two things rarely met in one man were both eminent in him A quick invention and a sound judgement and these accompanied with a clear expression and a gracefull elocution To which Integrity and Humility being joyned made him a transcendent Minister and a compleat Christian. In his sickness full of biting pains which he bore with great Patience it was his greatest grief that God had taken him off from his labour which was his life and joy His heavenly mind like the heavenly bodies counted his work no weariness If he were weary in work he was yet never weary of work His spirit was still willing when the flesh was weak And he often used to say in his health Si per hanc viam mors sum immortalis and in his weakness Odi artus fragilemque hunc corporis usum desertorem animi And when he saw no more ability for labors he accounted it superfluous to live and chearfully not only yielded but patiently desired to die in a satiety and fulness of life not as meat loathed as many times natural men do but as a dish though well liked that he had fed his full of He had his intellectuals strong in a weak body witness his last Swan-like song in this place the sweet Doctrine of our Adoption in Jesus Christ on Rom. 8. 16. so far he had gone in that Chapter most clearly and acuratly delivered and aptly distinguished from Justification and sanctification yet that day October 16. going to Church and sensible of his own weakness he said to a dear Friend who told him that he came to see and hear him perhaps it may be my last as to all our loss it was indeed And as if his motion in Gods work had been natural he was more quick more vigorous toward his Center and like the Sun shewed his greatest light when he was nearest his setting His last Ministerial duty privately done in great weakness of Body unable to go to the Church was the Baptizing of two children wherein he streamed such beames of Divinity sounded such bowels of Humanity shewed such sweetness of affection to his charge that I seriously wished his whole Congregation had heard him in this departing farewell And being told how well it was approved he replyed with tears in great humility Lord what am I What am I To diverse of his loving Neighbours visiting him he often protested that Doctrine that he had taught them was the truth of God as he should answer at the Tribunal of Christ whereunto he was hasting exhorting them to stand fast therein as he most affectionately prayed for them professing of them with joy I have kind friends kind neighbours Lord reward them all and grant they may find mercy with him in that day His desire was to give to his Neighbours if enough could have been had his Printed Catechism which to my knowledge hath had the approbation and commendation of the profoundest and accutest Judgements in both Universities and well it might being a compleat Body of Orthodox Divinity and to have this assertion of the Apostle Peter written before it Exhorting and testifying that this is the true Grace of God wherein ye stand and to subscribe his name to it After he had in himself received the sentence of death approaching which he chearfully did when he saw no more likelihood of Labour he desired his Friends not to pray for his life but pray God said he for Faith for Patience for Repentance for joy in the Holy Ghost and the Lord heard him in that he desired for he was a rare pattern in all these as amongst many others these gracious words of his may witness Lord said he cast me down as low as Hell in Repentance and lift me up by faith to the highest Heavens in confidence of thy salvation I wish our proud presumptuous impenitentiaries had heard him crying for Repentance and seen him weeping for Grace It might perhaps have melted their stony hearts As he was full of days so was he full of grace full of peace full of assurance The Tuesday before he departed This day seven night said he is the day on which we have used to remember Christs Nativity and on which day I have preached Christ I shall scarce live to see it but For me was that Child born unto me was that Son given who is Wonderfull Councellor the Mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace And no less full was he of true Honour for his worth and work sake in the hearts of all that feared God his memory shall be blessed and his name a sweet perfume to posterity when the names of his reproachfull scorners the last brood of Beelzebub shall rot and stink and be an abhorring to all slesh He is now come to the end of his labour and the beginning of his rest His work was with his God and his reward shall be from his God Now he sees the blessed and blessing face of God which is the glory of all sights and the sight of all glory Thus set this bright Occidental Star A Star of the first Magnitude One of the first and I dare say without envy of any that knew him and that knows himself one of the most glorious Lights that ever shone in this Orb or ever is like to arise in this Horizon O! how is such a publick loss to be lamented Of such a Champion of Christ Such an Atlas of the Truth that set his shoulders to support the shaken pillars thereof in these days of abounding and abetted errours Well may this Parish mourn well may this Country well may his Friends his Family well may we of the Ministry bewail it saying O my Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof Ah my Brother my Brother I am distressed for thee very pleasant hast thou been unto me Lovely and gracious in Life lovely and glorious in Death Heu tua nobis Morte simul tecum solatia rapta I end in one word of Exhortation You that have heard the joyfull sound of this
now broken silver Trumpet so long remember that by the space of forty and seven years he ceased not to warn every one with tears Remember what he hath spoken while he lived Remember what he yet speaks being Dead Hold fast the form of sound words which ye have heard of him Hold fast the faithfull word which he hath taught you Hold fast the profession of your Faith without wavering Take heed of wolves Beware of Dogs Take heed of men Men of perverse minds speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them Although the Prophets die yet Gods word spoken by them shall live for ever and will do good to them that walk uprightly and shall take hold on them that obey it not So let us leave our Brother in the Bed of Honour till the joyfull morning of the Resurrection of the just when he amongst them that have turned many unto righteousness shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever The Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance Psal. 112. 6. The issues of his brain and heart made publick were only these First that exquisite and accurate Guide to true blessedness so often reprinted and so highly esteemed by all that read it through with understanding and care Then at several times he gave way to four occasional and select Sermons viz. The Waking sleep The Ministerial Husbandry The Discovery of the Heart and Death subdued That wherein he had taken most pains which since is published in Print by Dr. Burgess and Mr. W. Gregory is an excellent Treatise wherein his main design in very apposite and acutely distinguishing Characters was to lay open not those more apparent and obvious contrarieties of vertues in Holy and vices in wicked men evident unto ordinary capacities upon the first aspect but the more hidden and less discerned difference between the plausiblyâ— seeming vertues of evil men and the real Graces of the truly Godly as likewise between the raigning sins of Hypocrites and the daily infirmities of the Saints which many times even by quick-sighted Spectators are both mistaken In prosecution whereof he first brings forth the Hypocrite in his best dress and attire and then sets by him a Regenerate man living up to his Rule adding the differences between them thereby to unmask the Hypocrite and to detect his Incroachments upon the name and priviledges of the Saints Secondly he sets out a true Childe of God labouring under infirmities and an Hypocrite under the power of sin which cannot consist with saving Grace notwithstanding all his flourishes that so he may clearly distinguish a Christian in black from a Counterfeit in white and between the bewailed weaknesses of the Saints and the wilfull wandrings of the wicked A work no less needfull to all than gratefull to the Soul-sound self-searching Christian that labours for sincerity and the assurance of it But the iniquity of the Times full of Hypocrisie and Atheism hating and hindering such discoveries and by all means discouraging those that would make them together with the Authors constant Imployment even unto the impairing of his strength and spirits in feeding his Flock disabled him from compleating that admirable Piece Sundry other issues of his fertile and excellent wit and curious Invention he left behind him as divers choice and sacred Aphorisms Anatomica Nosognostica Pathologica Therapeutica Physiologica and Prophylactica As also divers Divine Emblemes and Similitudes all eminent demonstrations of his exquisite abilities and profitable improvements of them The Life and Death of Mr. John Cotton who died An. Christi 1652. JOhn Cotton was born at Derby Anno Christi 1584. His Parents were persons of considerable quality and of good reputation Their condition as to the things of this life competent neither unable to defray the expences of his education in good literature nor so abounding as to be a temptation on the other hand unto the neglect thereof and God who had then predetermined this then tender plant to be a Tree of Life for the feeding of many thousands and to be a chosen Vessel to bear his Name before the Nations in way thereunto he inspired his Parents with an effectuall sollicitude concerning the ordering of this their Son in his minority This care in his Parents was quickly above expectation answered in the first-fruits of their Sons proficiency who more and more encreased great hopes concerning him throughout the whole time of his minority wherein he was trained up in the Grammar School of Derby When he was about the age of thirteen he was admitted into Trinity College in Cambridg where his industry was great and his profiting in the Arts and Languages above his equals so far commended him to the Master and Fellows as that he had undoubtedly been chosen Fellow of that College had not their extraordinary expence about building of their great Hall at that time put it by or at least deferred their election untill some longer time From Trinity he was removed to Emanuel that happy Seminary both of Piety and Learning and in that Society the Lord gave him favour so that in due time he was honoured with a Fellowship amongst them when he was elected to it after a diligent and strict examination according to the Statutes of the College wherein this is not unworthy the taking notice of that when the Poser came to examine him in the Hebrew Tongue the place that he made triall of him by was that portion of Scripture Isaiah the 3d wherein the Prophet declaims against the pride and haughtiness of the Daughters of Sion which Text hath more hard words in it than any other place of the Bible within so short a compass and therefore though a present construction and resolution thereof might have put a good Hebrician to a stand yet such was his ability and dexterity as made those hard words facil and easie and rendred him a prompt respondent And this providence is further remarkable about him That whereas his Father whose calling was towards the Law was but obscure and had not many Clients that made use of his advice in Law-matters before it pleased God after his Sons going to Cambridg to bless him with great practice so that he was very able to keep him there and to allow him full and liberall maintenance Insomuch as this blessed man hath been oft heard to say God kept me in the University Being thus advanced he was in the place of improvement beset with Examples as so many objects of better emulation If he slacken his pace his compeers will leave him behinde and though he quicken it there are still those that are before him But he was not only a lover of Labour but Communicative of his Learning and therefore he proved a diligent Tutor and had many young Students committed to his care He was a Didactical-man both able and apt to teach and truly ability to instruct youth argues a Wise man and to be willing to teach
Ministry and Neighbourhood round about who by their concourse at her Funeral shewed plainly in what an high estimation she was amongst them and that her good Name was like a precious Oyntment powred forth The hope of Glory was that sovereign Cordial which abundantly revived and satisfied her spirits whilst she lived and now her hope is turned into fruition and her faith into vision All her sorrows and sighings are turned away and her imployment is without the least tediousness without interruption and intermission to sing Hosannahs and Allelujahs to him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever more This Life was drawn up by my Reverend and worthy Friend Dr. Henry Wilkinson principal of Magdalen Hall Oxon. The Life and Death of Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson who dyed Anno Christi 1654. Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson was born of godly Parents of an ancient and well reputed Family of the Gentry in Devonshire Her Father was Mr. Anthony Gifford her Mother Mrs. Elizabeth Cottle and by them she was religiously educated during her minority After which she lived with an Aunt an old Disciple above twenty yeares together where she had many prizes put into her hands to get wisdome even many spirituall advantages for her eternall good But considering that no helps of education nor any means could prove effectuall without divine influences it pleased the Lord out of the riches of his mercy in a signall manner to vouchsafe a blessing to all those helps for the good of her soul and to crown all endeavours in order thereunto with good success She was observed from her childhood to be very docile very willing to learn industrious in reading of and swift to hear the Word of God preached She was very carefull to remember what she heard and took much pains in writing Sermons and collecting speciall Notes out of practicall Divines She had the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit with that she was eminently adorned She looked not as too many do upon gaudy and vain dresses as any ornament She neither liked them nor conformed to them but went in a grave decent and sober attire She was humble gentle tender-hearted and full of bowels of compassion remembring such as were in bonds as if she had been bound with them Heb. 13. 3. She was of so affable sweet and courteous a disposition that she gained abundance of love and respect from all those that conversed with her and by this means she was the greater gainer by all good conferences It was her usuall custome to move good discourse and ofttimes she turned the stream of other impertinent talk into something which was solid and tended unto edification and that ministred grace to the hearers She kept a Diary of Gods dealings with her soul and of other various dispensations that she met withall She was much busied in prayer meditation and self-examination She would often desire her Husband and others of her acquaintance to deal plainly and impartially with her For said she I would not be deceived with a formall profession nor with a temporary faith Perhaps through affection you may judge far better of me than I deserve wherefore I desire you to sift and search me throughly for I like such plain dealing best of all and those are my best friends which deal most plainly with me In process of time after a carefull watching over her heart and frequent addresses made unto the Throne of grace she found returns answerable to her prayers and desires God gave her a large measure both of parts and graces She was able not only to assert the truths of God but to convince gainsayers She abounded in love faith meekness humility and the rest of the graces of the Spirit insomuch as she became a Christian of the higher Form a tall Cedar of Libanus a grown solid and excellent Christian It pleased God for the triall of her graces to exercise her very much in the School of affliction Insomuch as ten years before her death she was one time reckoned with another at least half the time sick But God ordered this sickness of her body to be a medicine for her soul. For the spirit of prayer was much set on work hereby and her faith love and patience did appear and shine the more eminently Out of the Furnace she came forth as gold purified seven times so that the rod and staff correction and instruction went together and by these fatherly chastisements her soul did thrive more abundantly When she was able she neglected not the frequenting of the publick Assemblies they were her delight and she was a professed adversary to the withdrawing from the publick Congregations of the Saints Both them and the godly and Reverend Ministers of the Gospel she had in high esteem and reverenced them all her dayes And when she was not able to go to the publick Congregations she used to spend her time in reading prayer and meditating at home and imployed her friends to read to her and pray with her Such as were stable and sincere Christians were her delight Those she accounted more excellent than their neighbours She would often say that She valued no friends like to those who were friends to her soul. Concerning her deportment and carriage to her Relations for such as are reall Saints shew it in their severall capacities never was a Wife more full of sincere love and respect to an Husband whom she loved entirely and was as entirely beloved by him Her affection to her children was very tender She was carefull to Catechize instruct and to train them up in the fear of God and upon her Deathbed amongst many other excellent counsels and instructions she added this charge as from a dying Mother that they should remember that they had a Mother who would not allow them in any sin She was carefull also to instruct her servants and to teach them the fear of the Lord. Indeed she was ready and willing as opportunity was offered to do good unto all and as need required gave unto them both corporall and spirituall food She had a large heart and improved it to do a great deal of good in a little time Insomuch as the poor the sick the afflicted and the unexperienced to whom she was very mercifull and usefull whilest she lived had a very great miss of her when she was dead In brief she was one of those Worthies of whom the world was not worthy And yet to give a further Character of her I will here set down a Narrative copied exactly out of her own hand-writing of Gods gracious dealing with her soul as it follows word for word It pleased the Lord out of the riches of his grace to remove me from an ignorant place where I was born and to bring me very young into a Religious Family And when I was about twelve years of age upon the reading in the Practice of Piety concerning the happy estate of
the godly and the miserable condition of the wicked in their death and so for ever unto all eternity it pleased the Lord so much to affect my heart with it as from that time my heart was wrought over to a desire to walk in the wayes of God But at that time I fear I did not go upon a right principle for I then did not eye the glory of God in it but only my own safety that it might be well with me for ever But quickly after that I had but begun to set my face towards Sion I was set upon with many temptations and perplexities in my thoughts which were very troublesome to me at all times but especially when I was alone the consideration whereof brought such an horrour upon my conscience insomuch as I did not know what to do That little I had whether from education or from the light of Nature caused a striving in me continually against those thoughts of Atheisme which were most terrible unto me I was sensible that it was a fearfull sin to have any such thoughts to lodge within my brest but I desired from my soul to be freed from them and had continuall reasonings within me against them and yet still for a long time I was troubled but could not acquaint any with my condition I did not think that it was so with any other as it was with me In this strait when I knew not which way to turn me even there did the Lord extend his compassion towards me in my greatest extremity in directing me to read Calvins Institutions and especially that part that treats of the Creation Whereupon the Lord was pleased to give in such satisfaction to my soul concerning those things about which I was troubled as that from that time forwards I was not violently assaulted in that kind But no sooner was I freed from that trouble but new ones sprang up For the very remembrance of that horrid sin of Atheisme left such a terrour upon my spirit as made me fear that I had committed that sin against the Holy Ghost and so my condition seemed to be not only for the present but in my apprehension then for ever most miserable All other sins though never so great I knew upon true repentance were pardonable but this sin that I lay under the fear of I knew out of the Word of God should never be pardoned which caused many sad fears upon my spirit known to God alone For the removall of these fears the Lord in mercy directed me to the reading of Mr. Scudders Works where are laid down the marks of that sin Upon perusall whereof the Lord was pleased to satisfie my misgiving heart by a clear manifestation to my soul that I had not committed that sin and so assured me that though my sins were great yet were they pardonable which put me more chearfully upon the use of such means as the Lord had directed me unto And having satisfaction given in concerning this particular there was a great burden taken off from my spirit Although I found no grace in my heart nor discovery of the love of God unto my soul yet in that there was but a possibility there was a ground of comfort administred to my heart which I formerly feared that I should be shut out from But still my fears remained that I was not one of those in particular for whom Christ died The more I looked into mine own heart the more I saw of sin and Satan discouraging me from having any hope that the Lord should accept of such a vile sinfull wretch as I was who had entertained such sinfull thoughts I likewise thought how small the number was of those that should be saved in comparison of others and my repentance I feared came short of that which was required in the Gospel As for faith I could not find the least measure of it in my soul with many other sad discouraging thoughts But when I was most perplexed with fears and doubts even then did the Lord graciously dart in some beams of his reconciled countenance as I was reading something in Mr. Scudders Christian daily Walk c. which the Lord set home upon my soul and brought into my soul so much joy and comfort at the present as neither my tongue nor Pen can express But this joy remained not long for I quickly lost the sense of it yet the remembrance of it was sweet unto me at all times But after this all my former fears returned afresh again upon my heart only I had a door of hope opened that when God saw it best for me he would return and renew his reconciled countenance unto my soul in the clear light and apprehension thereof and this was when I was about sixteen years of age After which time the Lord did exercise me with various dispensations For for two years space I was by providence cast upon a place where I heard very little powerfull preaching small helps for the good of my soul but what the Lord was pleased to give in by the use of private means But his power and abundant mercy was much seen in that time that though I had not much comfort yet the Lord was pleased to keep up my spirit in a way of depending upon him and my fears were less at that time than formerly when I had more helps So gracious was tâ—â— Lord unto me in keeping me alive in a time of famine After this through Gods goodness I was sometimes under the preaching of a powerfull Minister Mr. Bateman of Ockingam who was Crowned with the conversion strengthening and building up of many souls unto whose preaching the Lord gave me such a blessing as I seldome if ever went away from hearing him without comfort Though I came to hear him with many doubts upon my spirit yet the Lord so ruled and directed him as if his Sermons had been only concerning my particular and he fully acquainted with the whole condition of my soul. Sometimes the Lord directed me to some supporting Promises upon which I relied But those Promises which were made to Believers though I highly prized them yet I durst not apply them to my self fearing that I had no interest in them But that Promise Prov. 28. 13. He that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall find mercy And that 1 Joh. 1. 9. If we confess our sins he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And the Promise is 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but for the sins of the whole world and the Invitation Isa. 55. 1. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price together with