weak yet he was strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and did mightily admire the free Grace of God in Christ in separating him from his Mothers womb calling him by his grace and setting him apart for the work of the Ministry though unworthy of that high and holy Calling so many that walked worthy of their profession and received with the heart the form of Doctrine delivered to them And in his Sickness though sometimes he might be heard to groan yet never to grumble but would always justifie God and condemn himself and soon silence any mutinous and murmuring thoughts that might seem to arise in his heart upon their first sallying forth In the words of the Prophet Shall a man receive good from the hands of the Lord and not evil He counted his sickness and his sufferings light and momentany the glory to come weighty great and so joyous as too big to enter into the soul that the soul must enter into it often mentioning that passage of the Apostle For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh 2 Cor. 4. 17. unto us a far more exceeding weight of glory March 22. 1665 his dear sister Mrs. Eleanor Smith came to visit him and attended upon him to the very day of his death and wrote down in her Book the most remarkable passages that she heard from him Many of which you will have wound up in the ensuing Discourse He said he had done his work meaning that he had run the course of his Ministry and accomplished that last Work of his upon the seventy-first Psalm and now longed for his Dissolution Psal 71. and to rest with his dear Lord Jesus And though he rejoiced much that he had compleated his former Works yet this was the quintessence of all that he was going to receive his Reward and counted not his life dear unto him since he should shortly see the lovely face of his dear Saviour And as St. Augustine when he meditated of that passage of God to Moses Thou shalt not see my face and live Lord saith he then Tunc moriar ut te videam let me die that I may see thy face So this serious and sincere Servant of Jesus Christ having seen him by the eye of Faith was now ready to sing old Simeons Nunc Dimittis Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace Nothing troubled him so much as that he was going to a place where he was to have so great Wages for so little Work And he not only at the last as it was said to be the Speech of Bellarmine upon his Death-bed Tutissimam est iter ad Coelum per merita Christi but he wholly in his health and sickness relied on Christ for Justification Life and Salvation freely by Faith in his Blood Rom. 3.24 He told Mrs. Smith he much rejoiced at her kind coming to him especially at the hopes he had of her continuance with him to the last which might be a means to free him from all scandals that might be cast upon him by the Papists or Quakers who he knew would spare him no less at his Death than they had done in his life he thought they would not stick to say he died raging an Atheist or a Papist or cast the like Calumnies upon him as they did upon Luther or Calvin But said he being now in perfect memory I do declare I die a sincere Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and do detest from the bottom of my heart all their erroneous Opinions and Practices He said he thought he had been under as much contest with Satan the World and the Flesh as ever any man for his time of which he had left a particular testimony to be printed with his other works This was I conceive his Life written by his own hand which I never had the happiness to see though I much sought after it for the compleating of this his Narrative He often did reflect upon the evil of the times the reigning sins whereby God was dishonoured viz. Profaneness Atheism Idolatry c. were very grievous to him and he took it as a choice Mercy that God would take him out of the world in such a time as this Lord said he what am I that thou shouldst think on me and give me rest in such an evil day He much desiâ—ed to wait upon the Lord without distraction and diffidence knowing that his time was the best but rather if it were the Lords will and pleasure he desired to be out of the body that mortality might be swallowed up of life he would say O Lord how long holy and just why drive the Chariot-wheels on so heavily I long Lord to come unto thee And as he was comfortable in his Sickness so he gave much sweet counsel and encouragement to Ministers and private Christians that came to visit him especially to such as he had begotten to God by his Ministry or had fitted for the service of God in his Church A reverend Doctor coming to see him and speaking comfortable words to him he told him he was going to his rest and hoped the Church of God would have rest and that God would raise up and refresh his faithful Servants in the Ministry and though there might be a sharp storm coming he conceived that it would be but short He advised his Visitants to stand fast in the Faith and not to shrink though a trying time should come he would have them to continue constant to their Christian calling and not to be carried away with the errour of the wicked to forsake their stedfastness but to grow in grace c. prepare for death and judgment A young Minister coming to see him he exhorted him to adorn his Ministry with a holy life which if he did not he might do more harm by his Example than by all the Sermons he should preach He called for the four Youths in the Family under his inspection and gave them wholsome instruction viz. to remember their Creatour in the days of their Eccl. 12.1 youth he warned them to keep Gods watch to abstain from youthful lusts to observe the Lords Day strictly and to be obedient to their Parents which if they did it would be well with them and they should be a blessing to Posterity and bid them remember these were the words of their dying Master and so he blessed them particularly in the Name of the Lord. Ordinarily such of his Parish that came to see him he would caution them not to procrastinate their repentance but to be serious in the matters of God and his Service to break off all delays and to embrace the tenders of grace the motions of the Holy Spirit and set upon the practice of good works and to do nothing that might interrupt the peace of a good conscience which would witness for them or against them testifying that what he had taught them was the Truth of Christ
Honourable Earl of Manchester to be Pastor of Uttington in Lincoln-shire GReat was the Jewel hid within this field A Pearl more precious than the earth doth yield One grace surpasseth Gold and Gems as far As the Sun shining doth the brighter Star This parti-colour'd coat wrought such debate And caus'd thy brethrens envy their hate That from thy place and people thou wast sent To suffer sharp and severe ' prisonment Far worse than that of Joseph in the pit Who afterwards was sold to th' Ishmaelite And by that Merchant-man who came from far To the Kings Provost-Martial Potiphar Where he was prosperous yet by the wile Of her who would by sin his soul defile Was stript of 's coat to keep his conscience His feet were fettr'd for his continence Tell me bless'd Saint what was not this thy fate If thou wast not far more unfortunate For in his bonds good Joseph was more free Who favour found was loos'd honourably But 't was otherwise with thee dear brother Who wast sent from one prison to th' other 'Till death by a Habeas Corpus did remove Thy flesh to th' earth thy soul to heaven above In those thy bonds thou wast so comfortable As made adversity amiable For Divine Truth was girdle to thy loyns And uprightness the brest-plate of thy reins A Faith most firm a shield of thy defence And an incomparable patience Hope was the only helmet of thy head The Gospels peace did light thee to thy bed Thy feet thus shod thou fearest no surprize But could'st defend thy self ' gainst injuries Thou having gotten these to good degree Obtain'st a conquest over Calamity Sore were thy life's troubles sweet thy rest Thy smel 's as of a Field that God hath blest Richard Moore Vpon the Death of many Reverend Ministers since Bartholomew 1662. IF passion be a spur to poetry Sure it should teach me for to verifie Were there but Sympathy who can but weep To see so many Pastors laid to sleep What shall the poor Sheep do now these are dead But dread likewise they shall be scattered The Lord hath smitten many Cedars tall How should poor poplars chuse but fear a fall Are Israels chariots and horsemen gone How should we chuse but weep and make great moan Old Ash foreseeing what a dearth would be Of Sions Seers fell fell down suddenly Although it proved his death yet would he grieve And buried was on Barthol'mew Eve As father Ely bowed his aged head First when the news came thy two sons are dead But when he heard once that the Ark was lost It brake his heart his neck his life it cost Vines Naulton Cawdry Calamy went hence Like Nard and Camphire trees of Frankincense Still sending forth their aromatick scent Till twice extinct from us to Heaven they went Learned Vines went away as in a sleep And Zealous Naulton who was wont to weep Calamy for London he loved so well When in the Fire he heard her passing-Bell Cawdry crowded on Caryl White and Strong Gouge Gataker Hill whitaker and Young Gravely judicious Burges and Hall Who was Tom-tell-troth Baker and Burdall Pale death why do'st thou make such haste And the true Churches Treasure waste Tell me in truth what is there no reprieve That such renowned Worthies might survive See that a Supersedeas thou grant That such the Clergies benefit may'nt want Though thou accostest them with swiftest wing I 'me well assured thou hast lost thy sting They 're now made more than conquerors since dead And are triumphant who were conquered Their Captain Christ hath got the Victory And soon O Death will make an end of thee In the mean time thou canst not surely kill A Child of God but cure him of his ill His Soul 's above thy reach and in a trice When once dismiss'd shall mount to Paradice Nor hurt the Body only lay 't to bed In th' Grave or Coffin where it 's buried RICHARD MOORE De Immortalitate BRight Marble nor the gilded Monunuments Of valiant Heroes nor the rare Contents Of wealthy Monarchs shall out-last thy fame Immortal Scholar of eternal name Neither shall time thy praises e'r divide As learned yet as e'r was on our side Fierce Mars his Sword may Statues overturn And wealthy Cities into Ashes burn Spoil and deface the works of costly plates High Spires and Temples prized at dear rates Yet cannot blur nor these thy Works o'return Immortal Hall who sleepest in thine Urn Art dead do'st speak by Books thou 'st left behind Sight to the faithful eyes unto the blind Bright Orient Pearls to light through misty vales O're gloomy Mountains and obscurest dales When Kingdoms are o'return'd like Troys sad Town The brightest Gem thy lofty front shall crown Posterity Halls learned Name shall boast When this our Isle and Europe quite is lost Aeternitati Comparatum omne tempus breve Popham Gardiner An Epitaph on the never-to-be-forgotten Divine Mr. Thomas Hall STay Passenger in this cold dusty Urn Read carefully in reading see thou learn Life's brevity the shortness of mans days How soon his glory fadeth and decays How soon his honour 's brought unto the Grave How soon the worms their satisfaction have What does his Learning him at all avail When once his vital Spirits dying fail If literature could free learn'd Men from death This Golgotha and dormentorious earth Halls Skeleton should never yet have found Who did with copious works so well abound Genius of art thy loss we do lament Mellifluous Orator who still time spent In reading seeking hearing sapience But now alas from us he is snatcht hence That makes us weep weeping we do deplore Tears blur our writings we can write no more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Life's Shortness Life 's a bubble Full of trouble And a vapour Or a tapour Life 's a flower Lasts an hour Soon it blasteth Sooner wasteth Then think how soon Mans pleasures fly away Since all his life-times but a winters day Like to the flower that with the Suns uprise His bud unfolds and in the ev'ning dies His swift concurrent motions like th' Sun With winged paces suddenly are gone Then think on God on grisly death's strong hand How thy poor soul at Gods just bar must stand Therefore prepare his aid see thou implore When that thou com'st his bar to stand before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Solon Have God in mind him serve with filial fear And think how soon thy dying time is near Lord shall my soul when body it doth die Lord-liking climb the heavens Canopie Then farewel Earth Place of my Birth Adieu vain Pleasures Heaven yieldeth Treasures Far better than this tottring Stage doth yield Where we can't act but presently are kill'd O grisly pale-fac't death why so unkind To take him hence and leave me here behind Because I am not ripe too green of years To full this Corn-field of destroying tares If t' were not so thou wouldest take me hence To Heaven above thy dear's ones recompence Where Saints do triumph when the prize they 've won When this my body may out-shine the Sun When Moses-like I view the three in one FINIS Books to be Sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside In Folio SErmons upon the whole Epistle o◠St. Paul to the Colossians By Mr. John Daille translated into English by F. S. 2. An Exposition of Temptation on Mat. 4 v. 1 to the end of the 11 v. A practical Exposition on the third Chapter of the first Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians with the Godly Mans Choice on Psal 4. v. 6 7 8. By Anthony Burgess Forty six Sermons upon the whole Eight Chapter of the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans 8 Sermons upon the whole fourth Psalm 10 Sermons upon the whole forty second Psalm 19 Sermons upon the whole 51 Psalm 9 Sermons upon the whole 83 Psalm All Five by Tho. Horton D. D. Left perfected for the Press under his own Hand a little before his Death XXVI Sermons upon several Texts of Scriptures By the Learned and Reverend John Donne D. D. Quarto's The Morning-Exercise against Popery or the principal Errours of the Church of Rome Detected and Confuted in a Morning-Lecture preached lately in Southwark By several Ministers of the Gospel in or near London Mediocria or the most natural and plain understanding according to the Scripture of the great Doctrines of Election Redemption Justification the Covenants the Law and Gospel and of Perfection Large Octavo Captives bound in Chains made free by Christ their Surety or the Misery of graceless Sinners and their Recovery by Christ their Saviour By Tho. Doolittel The Faithfulness of God considered and cleared in the great Events of his Word or a second Part of the fulfilling of Scripture By the same Author Speculum Sherlockianum or a Looking Glass in which the Admirers of Mr. Sherlock may behold the Man as to his Accuracy Judgment Orthodoxy The Childs Delight together with an English Grammar The true way of reading and spelling English Both by Tho. Lye Small Octavo A Religious Family or a Treatise in which is 1. The Beauty and Excellency of a pious and well-ordered Family described 2. The single Mans Family-Book faithfully prescribed By Phil. Lamb. Index Biblicus Multijugus or a Table to the Holy Scripture wherein each of its Books Chapters and divers Matters are distinguished and epitomized The almost-Christian Discovered or the False-Professor tried and cast By Matth. Mead. The Godly Mans Ark or the City of Refuge in the Day of his Distress with Mrs. Moores Evidences for Heaven By Edm. Calamy The true Bounds of Christian-Freedom By S. Bolton The sinfulness of Sin and the Fulness of Christ By Will. Bridge A Discourse against Transubstantiation or an Answer to the ordinary Question whether a Man may be saved in the Roman Catholick Religion By I. C. D. D.
to excel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 follow him as he follows Christ Now give me leave to acquaint thee good Reader with the occasion of this my undertaking I was desired by some Friends to write what I knew concerning the Life of Mr. Hall which I did with some unwillingness and happily no less waywardness and no wonder for besides my personal knowledg of him and what I gathered out of his own Works I could be informed little of him by his Friends except about the manner of his Death I could neither procure to see the several Occurrences of his Life written by his own hand nor a sight of the Sermon preached at his Funeral and hearing that his Life written by himself was lost and being lost that one so well deserving of the Church of God should not be more publickly spoken of I was perswaded to print these plain Sermons together with his Character Life and Death wherein happily I may expect to meet with some morose reception from the malevolent but it matters not contra sycophantarum morsus non est remedium As touching me it is a small matter for me to be judged 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 1 Cor. 4.3 August cont Fass l. 22. c. 34. mans day Non curo illos Censores qui non intelligendo reprehendunt vel reprehendendo non intelligunt My Comfort is this That how mean soever the undertaking is yet the intenton of the Author is to bring honour to God and imitation to Men. Go and do like to him Ibeg of thee Courteous Reader to pardon my boldness in this my undertaking and where thou meetest with any Errata's correct them with thy Pen or cover them with a Mantle of love considering with thy self Humanum est errare errare possum haereticum nolo esse Mistakes may be occasioned by my distance from the Press or through the Printers being unacquainted with my hand Farewel Horace his Epistle Si quid novisti rectius istis Candidus imperti si non his utere me Thine in the dearest Lord. Richard Moore SERMON I. 2 COR. 4. 7. But we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels THe great Apostle of the Gentiles begins the Chapter with v. 1. a Remonstrance of Gods meer Mercy in calling him to the Ministry in the faithful discharge of which though afflicted he will go forward without fear or fainting and in this Case he commends himself and his Colleagues to the Corinthians Conscience and hereby takes away all suspicion v. 2. of arrogancy in that they sought not their own Gain their own Glory but v. 5. 2 Cor. 1. 24. Christs not to rule over their Faith but to relieve their Joy And here he seems to wipe off an Aspersion of the false Teachers tending to the contempt of his Person and the discredit of his Preaching They seem charge him as if he had not light and 2 Cor. 10. 10. sight to fit and qualifie him for the dispensation of the Gospel To this St. Paul answers 1. By way of Assertion God hath v. 6. shined into our hearts and given us out of his rich Treasure Wisdom and Knowledg 2. By a Concession he yields that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he and others who were authorized by Christ to preach the Gospel and to represent his Person were Earthen Vessels In the words you have these Parts 1. A Precious Pearl dispensed viz. The Gospel 2. The Steward 's intrusted with it The Apostles and all Faithful Pastors We have it 3. The great Proprietor that communicates it God who causeth Light to shine out of Darkness 4. The Pots or Pipes wherein this Pearl is put 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Earthen Vessels 5. The End intended in it that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us Herein the Apostle alludes to earthly Calvin in loc Pearls which usually are not put into a costly Cabinet but into a vile Vessel so the Lord is pleased to make use of frail miserable men to be his Ministers to bring their brethren to Christ that his Power hereby may be the more apparent As the Text hath reference to the foregoing Verse it seems to be a Metaphor taken from Lanthorns and so the Apostles did not hide their Light that shined into them but let it out to enlighten others but according to the Original Word it may be rendred Vessels made of Oyster-Shells by an allusion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Precious Pearl that is found in Shell-fish Hence you may observe Doct. That the Gospel is a Pearl of Price a choice Treasure 2. Christ Embassadours are Earthen Vessels intrusted with this Treasure 3. The Gospel should not be in less esteem with you because it is dispensed from or in Earthen Vessels In the handling the first Point I shall shew what a Treasure is what kinds of Treasures there are What a Treasure the Gospel is the Reasons why it is so and the Causes why worldly men do not so account it 1. A Treasure is something of Price and of account laid up closely and charily for future use in Chests or Cabinets in peace from the pilfering of Thieves and in War from the plundering of Souldiers And it is either 1. An Earthly Treasure as Gold and Silver Pearls and precious Stones Jam. 5. 3. which worldly men heap up for the last day wherein they place their chief happiness yet which shall be as fewel to put on fire the Wrath of God against them These have their Names written Jer. 17.13 c. 41. 8. in the Earth and their Conversation only their Treasure is in the Field 2. A Heavenly Treasure viz. Christ the Graces of the Spirit and the Gospel which Believers hide and hoard up in their hearts and lay out as the Merchant Luk. 12.33 upon Exchange doth his Money that he may receive it with advantage in another Country so Christians that are trading in and travelling towards Phil. 1.27 c. 3.20 another Country are laying up and laying out for that where they have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Burgess-ship they live by the Laws of that Country which is Psal 119. 11. Heavenly and hide them in their hearts Thy Word saith the Prophet have I hid in my heart This is the Treasure I am now to treat of More to be desired Psal 19.10 than gold yea than much fine gold More precious than jewels the price of it is Job 28.16 17 18. above rubies The Gospel is that Treasure hid in the Field which cannot be too far Mat. 13 44 fetcht or too dear bought 1. It is a precious Treasure to be preferred before thousands of gold and silver Psal 119. 72. it 's better than precious Stones Prov. 8.11 M. Bolton Job 28. 15 16. all the Pleasures nay all the Treasures in the world are not to be compared to it though the Mountains were Pearl and the whole Globe a shining
Hall away Our reverend Pastor to a bed of Clay Tell me blest Saint in sooth how couldst So great a Master in Divinity Could not at least our sighs our pray'rs thou die Prevail that thou might'st live old Nestors and tears Injurious Fate because thou couldst not get years The Pearl Would'st therefore spoil the Cabinet What wilt thou put no diff'rence 'twixt faces Not spare th' Saints for their transcendent graces Sure thou art neither blear'd nor brib'd nor blind Thou tak'st the best and leav'st the worst behind T' should seem from Death ther 's no prescription then The Preacher dies as well as other men Had I but tears to spare that are not spent Upon my sins I would give Sorrow vent I 'd drench the earth wherein his body lies And fill the air with Lamentable cries I 'd wet his Coffin and would wash his Tomb Till I another Niobe become But stay my Muse what means this Lamentation Sure his was not a Death but a translation H'walk'd with God and he hath took him hence Not to his loss but to his recompence And yet he lives methinks I see him still In 's doing good eschewing what is ill ' Specially in th' works he hath left behind The pious product of 's Prophetick mind London look to 't he foretold thy burning Thy Plague and poverty for not returning If Gods House be not built within th' Nation Yours and ours will be desolation Seeing those City-Comets that God sent As in fiery Chariot t' Heaven he went Were 't not Ambition I could wish that he Had lay'd the lap of 's Mantle on me Richard Moore An Epitaph upon Mr. Thomas Hall WIthin the period of Davids Span Behold the Sepulture of this Grave man Who whiles he liv'd fear'd not th' face of any Good counsel living dying gave t' many And though he chastly led a single life Held his School's Children and his Church his Wife To which he did impart most liberally His Books in 's life unto her Library The residue almost of what he had He gave the poor to make their faces glade Th' heaven born Jewel's gone the Grave contains Within her womb only those few remains Which though entombed now abide they may Unto the last resurrection day The Soul will then again resume this dust To the habitation of the Just R. M. Vpon the Death of that dear Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. Thomas Hall THou need'st no Trophees to adorn thy Herse Thy virtues serve t' imbalm thy Name in Verse And this I 'll say since death hath stopt thy breath Thy life was Priest-like Prince-like was thy Death In Truths defence thou wast a brazen wall ' Gainst execrable heresies a Mawl Witness thy Guards which still unrouted stand ' Gainst Tom Collier and that sooty band What Guard the Font the Schools and Pulpit too Which of your Mothers Sons have done like you But yet thy Comments writ on sacred story Most justly may deserve the greater Glory On th' Prophets those thy Lucubrations And those on Paul Doctor of th' Nations Live and thy other works of Charity Now thou art dead with God follow thee Those thou hast begot cry out my Father Which by Sage advice to God did'st gather Some of all sorts of these it doth them ease To trail a tear at thy sad Obsequies With blubred cheeks and countenance wan They sit and sing this Epicedium Let sad April cease her wonted showers And mornful May forbear t'yield its flowers Since this fair Flower 's cropt and with dry eye So many do slight this sad Destiny Richard Moore Vpon the much-lamented Death of Mr. John Ley who was Chair-man of the Assembly of Divines and late Rector of Solyhull His Character THe grace of God which in thy name did shine Was a Divine Spark like generous Wine Which was infus'd in thee without asswage Into thy heart and parts even in old age Which shews to all impartial Judges how That thou hast kept the good wine until now How many Learned within the Nation Like Conduits run wine at th' Coronation Whose parts soon flag grow flat and faint and wast Whil'st thine like wine on th' LEE when old do last Like Mâ—ason an old Disciple's rather Like Moses was this Reverend Father For in old age he had a Sp'rit like him His strength did not abate nor 's eyes wax dim His Pentateuch in th' tipes was partly seal'd Till by this Pen unvail'd the truth reveal'd The Christian Sabbath was by him maintain'd Against all sorts who would have it prophan'd A learned Schoolman much for moderation One able to give Laws for disputation He was skill'd in th' Tongues curious at his Pen A most just Censor both of Books Men He was a Load-stone in 's lovely Carri'ge An Adamant for unconquer'd courage He 'd speak the truth where ere he had bin And lov'd the person but reprov'd the sin More than most are from passion h' was free More mov'd to pity than most are was he He weekly made provision for th' Poor That constantly attended at his Door He 'd sympathize with such as were in bonds And had great skill in setting broken bones A rare Casuist and hath been sent for far Toth'sick to see what their distemperswere And how to heal them by his heav'nly Art H' hath powred balm to many a broken heart And that which crowns the rest is yet behind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 H' was high in parts and lowly in his mind Like God he had respect to men After the Good he saw in them This was the chief ingredient for which He prized any person poor or rich And such as these if they had need of them Should have his heart his horse his purse his pen. I wish no worse to 's Successor than he Just such another Rector there may be Richard Moore Vpon the much-lamented Death of Mr. Burdal Minister of the Gospel at Walshall in Stafford-shire WHat art thou dead too another Burgess a healing Barnabas and Bo'nerges Who could'st convert thy self to every form Of sp'rit and speech thy flock to reform When Rhet'rick and Metaphysicks would not do 't Thou sought'st by sound words to woo them to it Thy Speech was above Books or humane Art Thou melt'st the stone in many frozen heart More hard than that thou fear'dst would thee torment Till thy last sand was run and breath was spent These pains did not prevent thy powr'ful Preaching Or travel of thy mind in th' constant teaching And as thou trad'st with God in pray'rs and tears He gave thee a return above thy fears Thou dy'd'st in th' fiftieth year with little pain And an eternal Life in Heaven did'st gain Richard Moore Vpon the Death of that humble and holy Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. Henry Field born at Kings-norton bred up under Mr. Thomas Hall and sent to Pembroke-Colledg in Oxford and from thence removed to Christs-Colledg in Cambridg where he was Fellow and so preferred by the
sate up late for he had this happiness above many other men as he said he found himself best when he was most strongly employed his Work was to him instead of Physick and he chose rather to spend himself in Labour than to consume with rust and sickness See more in his following Life ABEL REDIVIVVS OR THE DEAD SPEAKER The Substance of an Anniversary SERMON Preached at Withall April 26. 1674. Whereunto is annexed certain dying Speeches of many Modern DIVINES especially of Mr. THOMAS HALL late Pastor of Kings-Norton HEB. 11. 4. And by it he being Dead yet speaketh LONDON Printed by A. M. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns near Mercers-Chappel in Cheapside 1674. To my much esteemed Friend Mr. William Turton of Aulderways in Staffordshire Worthy Sir YOV may wonder at my boldness in presuming to prepose your Name to this popular Sermon and imperfect draught of the Life and Death of Mr. HALL who may seem a stranger to you and indeed I do not remember that I saw your Face since the time that the Lord who sets the bounds of our habitations had cast our Lot together in a pleasant place in a time of Jacob's troubles where we only heard the Voice of Christs Turtle-Dove and had not those dreadful Allarums of War under which other parts of the Kingdom trembled and the very pillars of it tottered That which now encourageth me to this Attempt is that I took notice of your constant attendance upon the Ordinances of Christ and your readiness to sympathize with the sufferings of Sion and the respect you had to the godly Pastors of the Church in particular to the person spoken of in the ensuing Narrative betwixt whom and your self it is said there was a near alliance but doubtless there was an intimate friendship and alose familiarity contracted the remembrance of which I hope still liveth in your heart happily no less than Jonathans did in the breast of Davids or Basils in Nazianzens As therefore Epaminondas defended the body of his fast Friend Plutarch Pelopidas whom he supposed was slain and saw lying upon a heap of dead men so I supposed you would be ready to defend this poor Piece written concerning your deceased Friend of whom though I have said somewhat yet not the one half that I might Tou would not think me to be partial should I say of him what Nazianzen did of Basil aforesaid Antiqua probitate simplicitateque praeditus eruditis pietate piis erudition is laude antecellens Some that were more eminent for Learning he excelled in Piety and some that were more See Mr. Leys Epistle to his Com. upon 2 Tim. as also Mr. Calamy 's Epistle famous for Piety he excelled in Learning And indeed he was held to be by such as well knew him and were able to judg of mens parts and piety both learned and religious I have no more to say concerning him in this place I only beg your pardon and Patronage together with a share in your prayers that what is said in the ensuing Leaves may find acceptance with God and favour in the eyes of his people And my earnest desire and prayer to God for you is that he who holdeth your soul in life and hath lined it out to or beyond David's span would give you much joy and peace in believing That whilst your Body is descending towards the Common Mother the Earth your Soul may ascend as towards the top of Pisgah to descry the Holy Land that the nearer you come to the pit of corruption the more prepared you may be for that place of perfection and like a Tree planted in the Courts of Gods House you may bring forth Fruit even in old Age This I say Sir shall be the prayer of Your Servant in our dearest Saviour and Redeemer Richard Moore SERMON III. HEB. 11. 4. And by it he being dead yet speaketh IN the former Chapter the Apostle presseth the Hebrews to perseverance in the Faith and here in this by a Digression he demonstrates the nature of this Grace from the Effects 1. You have the Mysteries that it contains 2. The Histories that hold it forth 1. The effects that declare the Properties of Faith are three 1. It begets a sure and certain Hope of the accomplishment of Gods Promises v. 1. 1. In the substance of them though the thing promised have no present existence or being yet Faith makes them obvious and evident to the Believer for it is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ground or confidence by putting that which is hoped for as if we had it in hand and things invisible for such as are conceived by sense 2. The Effect of Faith is drawn from a demonstration of the Elders that by it received an excellent Testimonial that they pleased God and were blessed partakers of the benefits of the v. 2. Messias only by believing 3. A third Fruit of Faith is that by it we understand things incredible to Reason as the Creation of the World which v. 3. was formed and fashioned by the Word of God without appearance of a pre-existing matter yet hereby having respect to Gods Omnipotency we believe it that so it was And this is instanced and exemplified in the following Cloud of Witnesses 1. Of such as lived before 2. In such as were after the Floud The first sort of Witnesses were Enoch Noah and Abel here in my Text v. 5.7 who was the Proto-Martyr of the world as Cain was the first Murtherer Adam indeed slew all his Posterity in a spiritual sense but Cain his Brother bodily and bloodily And as Adam the common Parent of mankind was deceived in the Fruit of Paradise So here he and especially Eve was in the Fruit of Gen. 4. 1. c. 3. 15. the Promise For though the name Cain signifieth a Possession and notwithstanding he built a City yet was he of the wicked One and was no Heir of that City whose Builder and Maker was God And his Mother sensible of the deception in Gen. 4. 2. the First-born when she brought forth the second Son gave him a name suitable hereunto for the Word Abel written with the Letter Aleph imports mourning but with He Vanity one Josephus Antiq. b. 1. c. 2. humbled in mind and holding such Possessions Vanity Here then you have two Men the only Heirs of the World offering Sacrifice to God with different Success For 1. Abel's Offering was more acceptable than Cain's 2. The Cause of this not in respect of Sacrifice it self or the matter of it for the Fruit of the ground might have pleased God as well as the Firstlings of the Flock but it was Faith that made the difference 1. God had respect to Abels person justified by Faith and so to his performance Gen. 4. 4. and to his Sacrifice as a Fruit of his Faith testifying of his Gifts by Levit. 9. 24. some token of his favour
tasted the bitterness of death No saith she nor never shall For Christ bath promised that they that keep his sayings shall never see death A Believer may feel the stroke but not the sting of death Ignatius going to suffer Martyrdom triumphed in this that his blood should be found among the mighty Worthies and that the Lord when he maketh inquisition for blood will recount from the blood of righteous Abel not only to the blood of Zacharias but also to the blood of mean Ignatius It was a sweet saying of holy Mr. Hall in time of his health That the sweet rescent of a well-spent life would be matter of singular comfort at a dying day He would have his Hearers learn to know and know to do do to die and die to live In his sickness he said I am now going where I shall have rest from Sin Satan and from all fear weariness watching and from all the evils and errours of a wicked world for I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at Job 19. 26. the last day upon the earth c. Oh let my life be nothing but prayer and praises since God had dealt bountifully with me and even whiles he was breathing out his last breath he spake thus All the joys of this life are nothing nothing to the joys that are in Jesus Christ Come Lord Jesus And though he be now dead yet he speaks to you not by his Words but by his Works by Precept and by President Oh labour to lead his life that you may die his death for if you tread in the footsteps of his Faith though death bring your body to Corruption yet shall it never bring your souls to Condemnation I am now closing up the second year of my Ministry among you And Lord what have I been doing here all this while that so few of this Congregation have been brought from death to life to embrace Christ by Faith and to lead a holy life and to live to him Shall I say with the Prophet I have spent my strength in vain and laboured for a thing of nought I hope better things of you and I am perswaded better of some of you and that I may the better prevail with you to live by Faith Remember who it is that speaketh to you viz. one that is esteemed as dead And will you not credit such a Witness It was the request of Dives to Abraham Luk. 16. 30 31. that dead Lazarus might be sent unto his five Brethren he thought that if one came to them from the dead they would believe and repent Such a sight or report indeed might work upon the fancy but it is the Gospel preached that must work upon the affections For my own part I do believe the Truth of the Gospel upon surer Grounds and upon better Authority than if I had received it from one raised from the dead For such a Testimony if it be only Humane can beget but a humane Faith and should it be more than this we might see cause to question whether it were Divine or Diabolical for even Satan can transform himself into an Angel of Light Therefore be building up your selves daily in your holy Faith by Arguments drawn from the Doctrine of your Salvation that more sure Word of Prophesie and so your Faith will stand not on the Wisdom of Men but on the Power of GOD. 1 Cor. 2. 5 The Life and Death of Mr. Thomas Hall who died April 13. Anno Dom. 1665. THomas Hall was born in St. Andrews in the City of Worcester about July 22. An. Dom. 1610. His Father was Mr. Richard Hall a Cloathier in that City of a competent Estate his Mother was Mrs. Elizabeth Bonner descended of an antient Family but that which truly ennobled her was with the Bereans she Acts 17. 11. diligently searched the Scriptures These two lived together many years God giving them a plentiful Progeny of Sons and Daughters three of which Sons were brought up Scholars and afterwards proved godly Preachers The Mother being to them as an Eunice to Timothy or Monica to Augustine 1 Tim. 2.5 a careful Instructer in their Youth and lived to reap the Fruit of her endeavours in her old age Magnum est Dei beneficium pios nancisci Parentes ac praesertim Matrem qua pene tota filiorum A lapide educatio dependet like another Bathsheba she did bathe them with her Tears and Instructions and with her Prov. 31. 2 warm and melting Supplications This Thomas was first set to the Grammar-School under Mr. Bright and thence sent to the University of Oxford and admitted into Bayliole Colledg whence through the neglect of his Tutor he removed to Pembroke and became Pupil to Dr. Lushington a good Scholar but whose Principles As Plato saith of him were so poysonous that he might have boasted with Protagoras that he had spent many years in corrupting of youth Having taken his Degrees he returned into the Country and for a while preached and taught a private School at the Chappels belonging to Kings-Norton But as yet he was a Foe and no Friend to Gods Truth and People whom he opposed under the notion oâ— Puritans But as it was with St. Augustine who before was vitious in manners and erronious in judgment going to hear the Eloquence of Ambrose was reduced from his Errours so it fared with him being about that time a diligent frequenter of the learned Lectures of sundry Orthodox Divines at Burmingham he had here a sure and safe foundation laid of the true Religion and from that time he favoured the sincere Milk of the Word of God and intirely loved those that were born and begotten unto God thereby Not long after he was called to supply the Cure at Kings-norton under his Brother Mr. John Hall who had it annexed to the Vicarage of Bromsgrove and a while after gave it franckly to him the Free-School was also added to it for his further encouragement for though it were a large Parish yet the great Tyths being impropriate he had but a small Sallary and could scarcely have subsisted had he not embraced a single life for this cause chiefly as he said Yet after God had set a seal to his Ministry this great people were much upon his heart who ever sought Work rather than Wages that he would never be perswaded to leave them though solicited with a promise of far greater preferment and was in the time of War often accused cursed threatned with death plundred many times and five times imprisoned at the least He was a very hard Student though of a cold rheumatick Constitution he would impallescere Chartis even hazard his life to get Learning and the choice Observations he met with in good Authors he inserted into his Common-place Book and by his great industry he acquired a good measure of knowledg in Arts and Sciences especially in Divinity of God and his Word and Works of
supposed he had our Saviour his Precept and his Apostles Practice Acts 5.29 in such a case to obey God rather than Man And what Erasmus said of Luther Acts 4. 19. was true of him Non leve prejudicium est tantam esse Morum integritatem ut ne hostes reperiant quod calumnientur His life was so unblameable that his greatest Enemies could not blemish him 5. He was of an humble deportment and carriage easie of access and easie to be intreated he had not respect to the rich because of their riches nor despised the poor because of his poverty but his doors and ears were open to them and he would be an Advocate for them and plead their cause with such as were mightier than they and the meanest Inhabitant of the Parish should assoon have his request granted if lawful and in his power as the greatest He sought not after great things for himself but was content with mean fare and coarse cloathing and would often use that saying of Mr. Greenham brown Bread and the Gospel is good fare and if his Landlady had provided any Dish that he thought superfluous he could hardly be perswaded to taste of it but would blame her for it And it seemed to import his deep humility he gave order after his decease That his Body should neither be laid in the Church nor Chappel but in the Church-yard among the meanest of his neighbours 6. He was a great lover of peace and for peace sake hath often parted with his own right never looking exactly after Decimations but leaving it to the people many times to do as they pleased made compositions with them upon easie terms to their good liking and when he heard of Contentions in the Parish he would preach against them and perswade his Hearers to follow after the things that made for peace And when any litigious actions have been brought in their own Court he hath endeavoured to stop such procedures shewing the parties that contended how unchristian a Course it was for them who were brethren to fall out amongst themselves Esteeming it much better to buy Love than Law since Mr. Dod. they might buy much Love for a little but could not have a little Law for a great deal yea though he prized peace at so high a rate he would not part with purity to purchase it 7. His preaching was plain but profitable and powerful not in the inticing words of mans wisdom and he spake not Phalerata but fortia in the evidence 1 Cor. 2. 1. and demonstration of the Spirit never respecting the persons of men whether rich or poor but reproved sin in whomsoever he saw it 8. He was one that was much in Communion with God in publick and in private according to his duty and as the Churches necessity called for it observing many days of Humiliation and Prayer with his own Congregation and other private Christians Gen. 18.17 wherein he would reverently pour out his soul into the bosom of his Heavenly Father and had much of Gods Psal 25. 14. mind made known to him So that he did foretel what would befal this and our Neighbour Kingdoms for our hating to be reformed and in particular that desolation of London by Plague and Fire before God set up those Comers as Intelligencers to forewarn the Nation See what he writ in his Epistle Before his Samaria's Downfal to that famous City Sin saith he hath brought down greater Cities than yours as they had their time of rising so of ruining as of building so of bruning Witness Nineveh Noe Tyrus Babylon and Jerusalem Sin hath made them all a desolation I shall never expect saith he that City or State shall prosper or that your houses should continue when Gods House lies wast all our Buildings will be but Nods and Babels unsettlement and confusion till Gods House be settled and exalted 9. He was abundant in thanksgiving to God for calling him to the knowledg of his Will and for giving him â— heart to imbrace the Truth in the love of it who walked before as other Gentiles whom God hath passed by though greater in Wealth outward Worth Wisdom Learning c. and that he had called him to the work of the Ministry in a place according to his own heart and among such a people as bore good will to his person and acknowledging this to be the meer good pleasure of God he endeavoured to quicken himself and his Flock to a grateful Consideration of the love of God in this respect 10. He was very careful how he spent his time which he never did in idleness unnecessary journeys or complemental visits but whithersoever he went his intention was either to do or receive good that time that he could spare from his Pastoral Employment he spent mostly in visiting of Learned men and in writing Books Thirteen of which he printed in his life-time besides what he left for the Press after his Death Concerning that Commentary of his upon the Second of Timothy Mr. Ley a very Learned Godly Man writeth That it is the better half not in quantity only but in quality of the best Expository Treatises that he had seen upon that Scripture And doth believe for Congruity of the Truth with the holy Text pertinency and fulness of profitable matter deducted from it or consonant to it is the best that hitherto hath been Extant in the Church of Christ I am now arrived at the last Scene of his Life and the beginning of his Sickness no part of which he acted amiss admitting of common frailties which are incident to the best of Saints who should be denominated secundu n meliorem partem with some Grains of allowance As Dr. Fuller saith A Pomegranate without any Core must necessarily be planted in Paradise And as the Swan is said to sing most sweetly when he is dying and exchanging life Aristotle for death Of which Bird Martial hath this Epigram Dulcia defecta modulatur Carmina lingua Cantator Cygnus funeris ipse sui Sweet strains he chanteth out with 's dying tongue And is the Singer of his Funeral Song So this Saint and Servant of Jesus Christ as he was profitable in his life so he was peaceable and pleasant in his sickness singing and making melody in his heart unto the Lord. In the year 1664 about the beginning of September before his last sickness as he was going up the stairs to his Study he was smitten as if one had struck him with a Dagger on his back insomuch that he was not satisfied till they that were near him looked to see whether there were any visible here he was nigh fainting upon it and continued weak before this he had been visited with a Quartain Ague the Dregs of which Disease being not wrought out by Physick brought a lingring Scorbute and he felt an extream pain in his back and had a Flux of Blood issuing from him which brought him very
When some came to see him that he conceived were addicted to scandalous sins he would endeavour their Conviction by pertinent Texts of Scripture as I heard him say to one Remember to take heed of Covetousness and so he would say of other sins telling them that it was the Counsel of their dying Minister I think I shall never forget his valediction and benediction to my self and my dear Brother with his hearty Prayers and Precepts it put me in mind when I saw him in that posture of good old Jacob rearing himself upon his Pillow Gen. 47. 31. or leaning upon a Staff to bless his Children Oh with what gravity and authority did he speak as if he were already in the Suburbs of Heaven When he perceived some to go away sad from him as lamenting his loss he would say I am now going where I shall have rest from Sin and Satan from all fear weariness watching and from all the evils and errors of a wicked world even so said he Come Lord Jesus for I long for thy Coming When his pains grew greater he oft prayed that God would help him to wait upon him without sin He was abundant in praises to God that he was pleased to take him away in that opportunity of time as to the same purpose a little varied he said If God had put a Pen into my hand and had bid me write the time I would die I should have wrote for this before feebleness and disability of old age took hold upon me now my work is done and to die in peace is a great mercy Come Lord said he come away for my desires are wholly for thee and the remembrance of thy Name I am going to keep an everlasting holy day to the Lord a year of Jubilee is at hand and here he fell into such an extasie of joy and such seraphical expressions he spake as were those that the Apostle heard in his rapture which were hardly to be written his Sister said they were 2 Cor. 12. beyond her Pen. He lay after this very meekly under his weakness his body decaying apace April 20. and he said he felt the symptoms of death and then cried when Lord when wilt thou come Having some intermission from pain he affirmed Satan said to him What dost thou think to escape above all others but said he I prayed the Lord to rebuke him and so heard no more of him And when his Physician would have given him hopes that God might restore him to health he would not hear of that but gave him good Counsel and said He loved him much for the grace he saw in him and for his care he had of him and bid him prepare for a storm and keep his integrity for Christ and he would keep him in the hour of temptation He said I bless God I am going to better friends to a better place and better imployment I long to be in it When will it once be Lord not my time but thine After this there came a Neighbour-Minister unto him and said The Church of God would be a great loser by his Death he answered he had done his Work and God had better to raise up in his stead and counted himself happy that he was going to his rest and should see none of the evils that were coming yet was content that God should serve himself upon him and then let him depart in peace as David that served his generation faithfully according Acts 13.36 to the will of God slept with his Fathers Being asked what he thought of the Church of God he answered God was in the midst of her she should not be moved God would keeep her and that right early When a friend asked him how he did he said never better for I am going to God but never worse as to the outward man and his Sister offering him a Cordial he refused it saying Give no more now for it is not fit that I should be feasting my body when I should be continnally in Communion with Christ and waiting with my Lamp ready trimmed God feedeth me with better food than the world can afford me with He begged much that God would take him to keep an everlasting Sabbath with himself I know saith he that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand Job 19. 25 26. at the last day upon the earth And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet shall I see God in my flesh Oh let my life be nothing but prayer and praises since God hath dealt so tenderly with me He often comforted himself with the glorious estate he had in hope and that he had a company of Angels round about him to keep and guard him to his Fathers House Come Lord saith he carry me out of this weary house of clay which is so burthensome to me When when wilt thou come Lord He was as full of heavenly comfort as his heart could hold yet not without some intervals of assaults and Satans buffettings for he said Sister Sister Did not I abhor the Mass Oh yes said she let not Satan tell you otherwise for you have prayed and preached and wrote against it and now abhor it to which he answered I do and do abhor it A little after he said God was coming to do wonders by the operation of his Spirit it will be it will be go tell it Now said he I have nothing to do but to die and even whiles he lay with death-pangs upon him he spake this All the joys of this life are 〈…〉 nothing to the joy I have in Jesus Christ He closed up his Life and breathed out his last breath with these words Come Lord Jesus He died April 13. 1665. at 4 of the Clock in the Evening The Names of the Thirteen Books he Printed in his life-time viz. 1. THE Pulpit guarded in quarto 2. The Font guarded 4 to 3. The Schools guarded or a Defence of H. L. 4. The Beauty of Holiness 8 vo 5. A Treatise against long Hair 6. Wisdoms Conquest a Transl of the 13th Book of Ovids Metamorphosis 8 vo 7. Phaetons Folly a Translation of the 2d Book of Ovids Metamorphosis 8 vo 8. Hometius Enervatus or a Treatise against the Millenaries 9. Sal Terrae or a guard to the Ministers and their Maintenance 10. An Exposition by way of Supplement 〈…〉 4 5 6 7 8 9 chapters of the Prophecie of Amos. 11. Samaria's Downfal or a Commentary by way of Supplement on the 5 last verses of Hosea 13. 12. The Beauty of Magistracy in an Exposition of Psalm 82. Wherein is set forth the necessity utility dignity duty and morality of Magistrates 13. A Practical and Polemical Commentary or Exposition upon the 3d 4th Chapters of the Latter Epistle of St Paul to Timothy There is also Treatise a of his against May-poles An Elegy upon the Death of that humble and holy Man of God Mr. Thomas Hall WHat ayl'd pale Death in hast to