to this day Archers have sorely griev'd us and shot at us 34 Arrows I mean Warrants but our Bow abides in strength by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob Officers have come Eighteen Lord's days together but have not as yet scattered us how easy is it for God to save us while we serve him if we could believe I am encouraged to hope that some good is done or may be done by my poor labours in this season and 't is no ill sign when Satan rageth so violently against us God can work without or against means and can work by improbable means to accomplish great ends I was never more inwardly born up under storms nor strengthened against difficulties in all my life it may be my time is but short and my work near an end Oh! that I may live and die in God's work and way and be faithful unto death Dear Brother let my condition have a deeper impression on your heart than ordinary Two Warrants one for 20 l. the other for 40 l. have been out against me these Seven Weeks but we keep our doors fast Barred and the Officers are very Civil to us Oh! that I could see you I have no Horse but go all my Journeys on foot November 13 1674. He thus writes I bless God my Liberty notwithstanding all my troubles is not wholly lost but sometimes disturbed we meet in fear yet we meet in both Chappels No Warrant is sent for a Month or more and my Auditory increaseth again Oh! that I had an heart to improve late experiences and present opportunities and do my duty leaving the issue to him that judgeth righteously But his excessive Pains though refreshing to his Spirit yet were wasting to his Body for about that time thus he writes I am still at work in both Chappels but I am much cast down with pains and weakness of Body having overgone my strength and wasted my self in these intervals of Liberty God hath given us But I have no reason to repent any thing I could ever do for so good a Master Oh! that I had done more and better About the same time he Writes thus Some assaults Satan hath made upon me with a right-hand Temptation the whole Parish of Aughton have been importunate with me to put my self into a capacity for their Parsonage worth Seven or Eightscore Pond per Annum the Bishop i. e. Dr. Wilkins promiseth favour to me in it but God did not leave me so much as to have any serious thoughts to yeild to that Temptation I do preach still but not so constantly nor in so full a Congregration as formerly Dear Brother I beseech you for the Lord's sake and for the love of the Spirit strive together with me in your Prayers to God for me you know for what c. At last after many struglings threatnings affrightings peoples withdrawings and rallying again a stratagem was contrived to knock all dead at a blow some Deputy-Lieutenants sent some Soldiers to take Mr. Heywood in the Pulpit and though it was known yet they met in Bickerstaff Chappel Lady Stanly came out of her Gallery and placed herself near the Pulpit-door hoping to over-aw their Spirits and obstruct their designs the Soldiers stood without while Mr. Heywood was at prayer but when he had prayed they rushed in and required him to come down and go along with them he mildly desired the favour of them that they would give him leave to preach and he would go along with them but they rudely run towards the Pulpit the Lady would have stopp'd them but they pressed forward opened the Pulpit door got hold of his Coat and tore it and in a sort pull'd him out and took him away with them straight to Holland nor could the Lady's mediation prevail to procure him a little refreshment only in the road he grew saint and desired them to call with him at an Ale-house which they did and the Landlady though he had no acquaintance with her was exceeding kind to him and said he should have any thing she had in the house but those Rogues said she shall not have a morsel that took him so they carried him away to an Alehouse in Holland where he lodged that night and from whence thus writ to his Wife I am very well I bless God and never in greater honour or so highly advanced in all my life I was pulled out of the Pulpit with a Pistol lifted up at my head and a God-dam-me in mine ears but the man repents his rashness and wishes he had let me preach for he never heard a better prayer c. But be not troubled God hath shewed me more mercy than I can be thankful for Oh! help me to praise him Oh! what cause have we to rejoice in suffering upon this account God will have Glory and his Church the benefit c. but I fear it must be an Imprisonment or promise not to preach which is my very life But God in his gracious Providence did also scatter this cloud for the day after when it was noised abroad that Mr. Heywood was taken abundance of People and many considerable Gentlemen and some that were no friends to his Cause yet out of respect to his Person mediated for him yea several of good report and intimate with the Justices offered to be bound for his appearance and to give any security that should be required The Justices then tendred him the Oxford Oath he was in a strait for if he peremptorily refused it they had some advantage against him he told them that persons must swear in judgment and therefore he desired some time to consider of it which was consented to And seeing such an appearance of persons of all ranks for him they gave him respite and liberty to go home till the next Quarter-Sessions which was to be at Wigan a Month after but they bound him to appear at the Sessions Thus he was delivered out of that snare and went home and writ a Letter that day dated Jan. 28. 1674. Pray help me to praise God and remember a poor sufferer for the Gospel in your prayers People do so throng in to see me now I am come home again that I have not time to write fully to you but commit you to God and his protection that you may long enjoy and fruitfully improve that sweet Liberty in God's Vineyard which I doubt I have lost and indeed so it proved The Sessions at Wigan came on he attended there according to his Bonds several Justices appeared for him and his friends came to see the issue and to mediate for him Old Lady Stanly came herself and her Husband Mr. Henry Hoghton a Justice of Peace yea Mr. Christopher Banister of Bank and several others spoke much on his behalf another Justice then upon the Bench said If Mr. Heywood was sent to Lancaster Goal he should be as comfortably maintained and as honourably released as ever any Prisoner was some of his
Augmentation added of 50 l. a year by Queen Elizabeth upon an Itinerant Preacher which had been long fixed upon the Minister of that place There were four of them in Lancashire this was one and 200 l. per An. was paid out of the Revenues to those four this was paid by several Trustees at the Audit At the return of King Charles II. one Mr. Stanninghaugh Parson of Augham worth 140 l. a year about two Miles from Ormskirk rode up to London and by the help of Friends surreptitiously obtained this 50 l. a year to be setled upon himself which gave occasion to some persons to reflect upon a Sermon Mr. Heywood preached at Ormskirk upon a day of Thanksgiving for the King's Restoration upon 2 Sam. 19. 30. And Mephibosheth said unto the king Yea let him take all forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house Which was indeed an excellent Discourse greatly approved and highly applauded by all especially the Gentry who earnestly sollicited him to print it but he refused not out of disloyalty but modesty not because he durst not own his Sovereign but he was not willing to be much taken notice of in the world Mr. Heywood digested this disingenuous carriage of his Neighbour and pretended Friend with great aequanimity and calmness and it proved a Worm to the one and at Blessing to the other for though this Mr. Stanninghaugh's Parsonage was 148 l. a year and his Tenement was 30 l. a year and this 50 l. yearly and he had no Child yet he left nothing at his death but Debt and his Wife in a poor condition But it pleased God from that time to bless Mr. Heywood's small Incomes incredibly and 't is next to a Miracle to consider what great things he did when shortly after he was turn'd out of all he paid some Debts and maintained his numerous Family in a good decorum for he had nine Children whereof six are yet living took a Lease for Three Lives of an House and Land paid 60 l. built a good part of it paid 30 l. for buying but a Lease elsewhere maintained his two Sons at School at Holland which cost him 14 l. a year sent one to Mr. Frankland to be educated in University-learning besides many sore Sicknesses in his Family Yet such was the blessing of God that he waded through all without contracting any Debt but rather increasing his Estate out of his small Incomes This Holy Man was very sensible of this strange Providence and often expressed it with admiring thankfulness In the year 1662 Aug. 24. that fatal day struck him civilly dead with the rest of his Brethren how beit he continu'd his publick Preaching in the Church after that day without disturbance till the place was filled up with a new Vicar on Mr. Ashworth a Schoolmaster who lived six or eight Miles from thence taught his School rode thither or Saturday and back on Monday morning was absent all the week for several years so that Mr. Heywood still seemed to have the sole charge of that Town and Parish visiting the Sick instructing them praying with them preaching privately to them as occasion was offered He was abundant in the work of the Lord not only in his own Parish but at Wigan Warrington Leverpool Preston Eccleston and upon a call in more remote places But in his own Parish and amongst his old Hearers he was in Labours more abundant he usually preach'd twice on a Lords day sometimes several times in Week-days ordering his Labours in several parts of the Parish both in the day and night Yea in times of great danger he hath preach'd at one house the beginning of the night and then gone two Miles a-foot over Mosses and preach'd toward morning to another Company at another house Nor was he scant and short in his Sermons but usually very long two hours at least often three yea sometimes he would have continued four or five hours praying and preaching his heart was so fully set upon his Master's work that he forgot his own strength and his Hearers patience Nor did he tediously dream over his work but was full of zeal vigour tenderness and affection often straining his voice beyond what his natural strength could well bear which occasioned torturing and mortal Diseases like a Candle he spent himself to give others light Neither was he vox praeterea nihil a meer voice and no more like some Preachers that like Thunder give a loud crack without a distinct sound or significancy no his Sermons were stuffed with solid Divinity Scripture Arguments alluring Similies heart melting Passages He was an excellent Text man producing solid Interpretations An experienc'd Casuist resolving Cases of Conscience with great satisfaction A clear Disputant stating Controversies solidly and substantially answering Objections learnedly and distinctly and proving the Truth demonstratively He was a pathetical Preacher driving the Nail home in close Convictions of Conscience warm Exhortations to Conversion or to particular Duties plain and undeniable Directions still laying open and obviating Satan's wiles the deceits of a bad heart and insnaring insinuations of a wicked world rifling the Conscience by a thorough Examination comforting God's Children with sweet Gospel-Promises This this indeed was his Master-piece and main Scope in his Preaching to lay open the Beauties and Excellencies of the Blessed Jesus and Sinners great necessity of him displaying in lively colours the love of God in sending his Son the love of Christ in the unparallel'd work of Redemption the Offices Purchases and Undertakings of the Son of God unfolding the Covenant of Grace the Operations of the Spirit in applying the Merits of Christ c. The truth of this appears in two excellent Discourses printed since his Death transcribed out of his own Notes as he preached them the same year he died The one called Christ the Best Gift which was grounded on John 4. 10. The other entituled Christ the Best Master grounded upon John 13. 13. Two excelent Treatises bound up together Printed after his death for he would never be persuaded to publish any thing though doubtless they would have been more Acurate if he had imagined they should have seen the light But such as they are they have proved very acceptable and profitable to the Church of God Many have read them with pleasure and some good Divines have quoted passages out of them His labours in the Ministry were so exceedingly welcome that the loss of him in publick work was greatly bewailed by the whole Town and Parish he was beloved of all good and bad A poor ignorant man came to him when he was turned out saying Ah! Mr Heywood we would gladly have you Preach again in the Church Yes said he I would as gladly Preach as you desire it if I could do it with a safe Conscience in Conforming The man replied Oh Sir many a man now-a-days makes a great gash in his Conscience cannot you make a little
choice Fruits whilst some old withered Trees barren and fruitless still stand cumbering the ground But the Soveraign Jehovah knows what is fittest and doth all things well A little while before Mr. Heywood dyed he said to a Friend I think this turning out of our Licensed Places will cost Mr. Yates and me our Lives Oh this goes heavily our casting out of our great Places was not so much as casting us out of our little Places And indeed Mr. Yates of Warrington dyed shortly after Having thus nakedly given a brief account of Mr. Heywood's Birth Life Imployment and Death and what is worthy a remark therein I shall select some few Characters of him comfortable to and imitable by his surviving Brethren Friends and Hearers for the Memory of the Just is blessed and possibly Generations yet to come may reap benefit by what they find recorded of him And I dare appeal to the God of Truth that searcheth hearts that the description I shall give of him is true which I have by personal knowledge or credible Testimony 1. As to his Proportion Physiognomy and Constitution which is the Case Shell and Outside that was comely enough no part lacking crooked or deformed tall and straight blackish curled Hair not fat nor very lean yet fatter in his Body than he seemed by his Face of an healthful Constitution mostly after he was past his Childhood which might have continued long had not the Vessel been crackt by impetuous dashings inflamed with the love of God and zeal for Souls which haled the Carcase faster than Nature could keep pace and this over-driving took off the Chariot-wheels for all agreed that his excessive pains laid the foundation of these Diseases that at last wasted his Spirits He was an excellent Footman and could walk both fast and far and in his last Distemper walked much and found most ease therein tho when he went beyond his strength it cost him dear In his best health he was an extraordinary Sweater especially in his preaching his sweat hath dropt at his Hair-ends wet his Band all over Letters wet in his Pocket through Linings as if put in water and it may be that sweating was some advantage to him but when he could not take that pains to sweat and thereby evaporate those acid Humors they might settle and gather into those acute Diseases Yet want of leisurely cooling might prejudice him Once old Mr. Woods and he preacht an Exercise in a Chappel in an hot Summer-day the number of people was too many to come within hearing Mr. Haywood having preacht first Mr. Woods withdrew the Army or Assembly from that strong-hold wherein they were coopt into the Champaign of a fair large Field where that Excellent Solid Laborious Man of God preacht under a shady Tree Mr. Haywood sitting in a Chair got an extream Cold which cost him dear afterward 2. As to his natural Constitution and Disposition he was naturally Cholerick being of a sanguine Compexion but such was the predominancy of Grace that it did very little appear in him being regulated and rectified with that sweet corrective of Gods Fear which turned his natural Constitution into a Spiritual Channel and put a due by as into it to move God-wards He was much transported in the affection of love where Reason dictated a discovery of the loveliness of the Object both in Spirituals and Naturals In his younger days he was judged to be inclined to Melancholy sitting sometimes silent and poring upon something and so he was in his last Distemper Yet at some times he was very chearful and facetious putting off harmless Jests with much advantage for his own and his Friends diversion and this with recreating himself with his Children was all the recreation that he used for many years He was indeed wonderful witty and ingenious when he slacked the strings a little and applied himself that way which was very rarely his mind being ordinarily intent upon more necessary business in his Study or Soul concerns 3. As to his Entrance into the Ministry and his Judgment in Ecclesiastical Points he was according to his Education a strict Presbyterian as they are called avoiding both the extremes of Prelatical Tyranny on the one hand and Congregational Democracy on the other Upon his first setling at Ormiskirk he presently applied himself to the Ministers of that Classe in that Division where God had cast his Lot and after probation and approbation of his Ministerial Abilities Learning and fitness for that Place consent of the People expressed he was solemnly set apart by Fasting and Prayer and imposition of Hands to the work of the Ministry in a Publick Congregation to the great satisfaction of all that were concerned The Reverend grave Ministers that laid hands on him were Mr. Thomas Johnson Parson of Halsal Mr. Thompson Parson of Sefton Mr. Edward Gee Parson of Eccleston Mr. Bell of Highton all Worthy Eminent Men and some others 4. As to his Ministerial Labours I shall add little to what hath been said He willingly did spend and was spent in the Service of his Lord and Master he prayed and wept preached and sweat in publick and private in season and out of season he constantly preached twice a day catechised exhorting admonishing with all long-suffering He was much in spending days in solemn Fasting and Prayer with Christian Friends in his Parish and elsewhere He loved and delighted in the Communion of Saints so that those few Christians in those parts lamentably bewail the loss of him as their Pastor and Leader their prompter to and prop in those spiritual Exercises His heart was set to do good unto all but his delight was in God's Children He refused not to come and visit the poorest and wickedest that either sent for him or that he judged would make him welcome or where he had any hopes of doing good He was diligent in visiting the sick and took great pains with the ignorant procuring Catechisms for them that were willing to learn instructing them and using ingenious artifices to bring them into a love of Religion and engaging young people to learn 5. He was exceeding meek and patient not only in bearing his bodily pains with an invincible spirit but enduring the affronts reproaches and various indignities that were offered him with an heroick chearfulness yea he gloried in them as the afflictions of Christ notwithstanding all the forementioned oppositions yet his Spirit was so sweetly calmed that none ever heard him revile or speak evil of the Instruments but many have heard him pity and pray for them it 's true his Spirit was sometimes so disturbed that he would dream of them and mention them in his sleep but still he bore a compassionate heart towards them and would often bewail their condition though some of the Townsmen and others thought some Prosecutions were malicious and unreasonable not fit to be named yet he freely forgave all as an offence against himself and affectionately prayed for
is me and besides it was rather passively than actively that he was so men contended with him rather than he with them and it was in the matters of his God and Conscience and he was resolved rather to obey and please God than men In this he was as a sturdy Oak in other matters a bending Ozier If any time he was angry at others yet anger did not ferment into malice or long rest in his bosome he sought reconciliation with them and if any had taken offence at him he sought to win them by loving means and methods of kindness yea he was not only a peace-keeper but a peace-maker to his power reconciling Neighbours that were at distance not by sitting with them in the Ale-house as the manner of some is but by Christian Advice Counsel Prayers healing differences in God's way He preached an excellent Sermon upon mutual Love from Ephes 5. 2. an excellent duty from an excellent pattern excellently managed discovering a savoury spirit full of gentleness sobriety moderation he sought to calm mens minds and lay the wind of passion that the word might take place for the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace James 3. 18. 11. But tho he was of a peaceable spirit to condescend to any thing lawful for peace sake yet not so facile flexible and wire-drawn as to recede an hairs breadth from truth or well fixed principles he was Magnes Adamas an attractive Loadstone yet an inflectible Adamant in the cause of God He well understood his own latitude and as he would not groundlessly withdraw by wanton curiosity so he would not be led aside into sin to please a friend or prostitute his Conscience to mens fancy Others might perhaps judge it a needless preciseness perverseness or obstinacy but he could not turn his sails to their wind or dance after their pipes though he had manifold temptations on all hands from great and small but he was of blessed Paul's mind and practice Gal. 2. 5. To whom we gave place by subjection no not for an hour that the truth of the Gospel might continue with you And if he died not a Martyr for yet a Confessor of and Witness to the truths that concern Christs Kingly Office over his Church to appoint what Laws Orders Officers Ordinances he pleaseth as one of his last Sermons abundantly doth demonstrate He was Faithful unto death and now receives a Crown life It might be said of this man of God as was said of Erasmus Sarcerius Lucebat in hoc viro Melch Ad. Vit. Sarc p. 326. commemorabilis gravitas constantia non minas non exilia non ullam ullius hominis potentiam aut vim pertimescebat Pene dixerim solem facilius de cursa dimoveri potuisse quam Erasmum à veritatis professione 12. He made great proficiency daily both in Learning Grace and Holiness having laid a low foundation he built a stately visible superstructure It might be said of him as the Apostle of the Thessalonians That his faith did grow exceeding 2 Thes 1. 3. and his love to christians abounded The Pearl grew too big for the shell his head soared above the Clouds and his heart mounted Heavenwards And as he grew in Faith Love Meekness Zeal for God Endearedness to Souls so above all in Humility Self-denial and Contempt of the World as he travelled up and down to do good so he travelled in birth over poor necessitous sinners Possibly some may think Mr. Heywood took too much upon him and was too sedulous in his indefatigable pains both in the face of danger and to the hazard of his health but as to the one Calvin's Apology was his Would you have me found idle when my Lord cometh As to the former his Answer and Actings were justifiable by a like instance in the life of Olevian who asked them Whether he must suspend or supercede his Preaching at that time for fear of danger Or Whether they desired to hear him as formerly The People all with hands lifted up and loud voices cryed out Imo hoc imo hoc per Deum Melch Ad. Vit. Olev p. 600. te oramus ut pergas concionari We beseech thee to Preach Thus the necessities and importunity of the People extorted work from this poor man His heart was upon it and being engaged he regarded not any carnal arguments from flesh and blood or self-preservation The last Sermon he preached at a Friends house in the Parish was as a Swan-like Song pithy and sententious ardent and affectionate that as before he exceeded others so then he exceeded himself as if he knew before hand that it was the last Thus his last was more than his first and the nearer the center the quicker was his motion He was so full of matter as if he were at a loss for time to do the remainder of his work in that he might dispatch it all and be at Rest 13. He was very Charitable to the Poor and such as were in real Necessity And though his small Revenue and constant Charge did somewhat bind his hands yet could not restrain his Spirit he drew out his Soul to the Hungry And indeed 2 Cor. 8. 12. true Charity is seated rather in a large heart than liberal hand the Imprimis of a willing mind finds acceptance when the Items of Alms run but shallow And to his power v. 3. many will bear him record yea beyond his power he was willing freely welcoming objects of pitty stirring up his hearers to free Contributions especially in the behalf of Godly Poor whereby the bowels of many were refreshed by this Brother And hence it was that he that sowed 2 Cor. 9. 6. bountifully did then and much more doth now reap bountifully For the liberal soul shall be Prov. 11. 25. made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself 14. He was a great admirer and a profound Preacher of the glorious Gospel-design especially in the giving of Christ And indeed this he made his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the main scope of all his preaching It 's true he did oft preach Law and Terror to awaken mens Consciences and drive them out of themselves to Christ He did often press duty in a circumspect exact and holy walking and urged a spiritual and diligent worshipping of God But still demonstrating that Christ is the end of the Law Rom. 10. 4. for righteousness to every one that believeth It was his proper genius and most suitable to his Evangelical Spirit to know and preach nothing but a crucified and glorified Redeemer He much inlarged himself 1 Cor. 2. 2. upon the Gospel-way of the justification of a Sinner by the imputation of Christ's perfect Righteousness by faith His working thoughts run still upon this Theam sleeping and waking so that once many years ago he was heard in his Dream to say there are vast heaps of Free-grace His heart was greatly