their repentance and pardon of their sin against God oft saying If this or that be the worst they can do we shall shift well enough He had in some considerable degree learned that hard lesson our Lord teacheth Mat. 5. 44. But I say unto you love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you This this is a great height of true Christianity to do good and hear evil bear our Cross and follow Christ with patience and self-denial 6. He was very faithful to his Friends and look'd upon the bond of friendship as sacred and not to be violated whether in the business of counselling and keeping secrets or preserving and performing the trust reposed in him and this was not small nor from persons inconsiderable and this upon several accounts putting himself to much cost many troubles and some inconveniences rather than seem by negligence to falsify his word or in any respect to fail of his duty as many instances might manifest It was Conscience of his duty God-wards that awed his spirit in those cases wherein no mortal could detect or punish him for neglect He was marvellous obliging in his deportment very taking in his discourse with such as he could be free with instructing the ignorant indulging the impotent by words or carriage manifesting his dislike of sin but encouraging any that discovered any sparks of true Piety however they might differ from him in some things for he was of a Catholick Spirit 7. He was very humble and self-denying which was the brave ornament of all his other graces and eminent qualifications this indeed was his Master-piece he had always very mean thoughts of himself and his own undertakings disgusting others commendations of him which indeed were to him instar fulminis like a thunderbolt as that German Divine said of mens praises yea he would even cover his face with shame and modestly blush when any spoke well of him his maxim was rather to be than seem good not affecting triumphs as Pompey did but approving his heart to God being more pleased with God's gracious acceptance and the conscience of his own integrity than affecting the favour of great ones or the applause of the vulgar tho there was scare any had such general approbation or flocking after them yet his Spirit was not elated or lifted up therewith In him was verified that observation That honour is like a shadow which being pursued it flies away and the more a man flies from it the more it follows him He could never be persuaded to Print any of his labours though he was often solicited thereto for he judged nothing that he did worth exposing to publick view he so far disliked the humour of ostentation that he abstained from doing that which might have been profitable to the Church Though his Sermons were elaborate and acurate yet very pathetical which he desired to be conveyed only to the ears and hearts of his hearers Yea his modesty lock'd up his lips in company unless he had a just call to speak and he spake with great judgment and as much humility and submission to better judgments but always with great advantage to his hearers He was mild in his censure and spake well of others mean and well-meaning undertakings he commended all that in any thing were praise-worthy and envied them not that honour that was due to them 8. He was much and mighty in Prayer he had an excellent gift in confessing sin petitioning for mercy and thankfulness to God for mercies received He did with pat and proper Scripture-expressions wrestle with God in Prayer Oh! how frequently and fervently did he pour out his Soul to the Lord with sighs and groans strong cries and tears He had a large measure of the Spirit of Adoption and was usually large and much enlarged in that duty especially upon extraordinary occasions Though he had long used to go to God alone yet in his last sickness he was more abundant in Closet-Prayer His Wife and Children coming to him have often found him upon his knees And the Lord gave in many signal impressions upon his Spirit and remarkable returns of his prayers Many years ago when his Wife was dangerously sick at Godley in Yorkshire nigh to death he told her she must not die at that time she demanded of him Why he thought so He answered because my heart is much enlarged in prayer to beg for thy life accordingly God raised her up at that time And he hath oft taken notice of the frame of his Spirit in prayer for several sick persons and hath taken his measures from his straitness or his enlargedness and it hath often proved suitable to his presages 9. He had a great measure of Faith both as to Soul-concerns and temporal affairs As to the former God had helped in Soul-troubles to trust God in the way of a promise and at last buoyed up his Faith into a Plerophery or full Assurance As to the latter he was trained up in the life of Faith many years a Wife and nine small Children being turned out of all having nothing before-hand and knew not in an ordinary rational way where his subsistence must arise this put his Faith hard to it yet committing his all into God's hands he was strangely supplied as if he had been fed by Ravens or as Israel in the Wilderness O man great was thy faith O Lord great was thy bounty It 's true he was often afraid of discontent and murmuring but pluck'd up his spirit saying to his Wife Let us pray and wait on God he never failed us yet come let us trust him this he spake with great alacrity and he oft took notice that at a pinch God sent in seasonable supply by unexpected means help came in so strangely that he resolved to set down punctually what he received and of whom He said once to a Friend I cannot but wonder how God sends in Money just as I need it he drops it into my hand by Sixpences and Shillings most seasonably and the review of these experiments much strengthens my Faith and engageth me to thankfulness This course he had taken for above twelve years and advised his Friend to the same course From his multiplied experiments he gathered great encouragements he often wondered at the unaccountable provision God made for him and his 10. He was of a loving peaceable frame much addicted to peace both in Sacreds and Civils He was not willing to fall out with any and it was strange if any fell out with him for he gave not any just occasion at any time Testimonies and instances might be produced wherein he complied to the utmost extent of what he judged lawful to avoid giving any offence and sometimes receded from his right for peace sake It is true he was a man of contention as the Prophet Jeremiah was but it was his grief and made him cry Wo
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
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
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
hid them out of our sight and hindred our Converse with them yet they have dropt the Mantle of good Examples which still we have and observant Eyes and diligent Pens have drawn some Renowned Patriots in lively Colours in which we may behold much of God's Image in the face of their conversings amongst men and Conversations both in their Personal and Publick Capacities This is a petty Resurrection and much good service is done to succeeding Ages hereby by which they being dead yet speak yea spiritual life is transfused to Readers through the Lines and Leaves transmitted to them Blessed be God for these famous Heroes If the Jews mentioned such Brave Men dead with Notes of Remark as Rabbi Hillel of Blessed Memory Why should not the memory of the just be blessed Certainly Prov. 10. 7. there 's a vast difference in the ears of Protestants betwixt Blessed Bradford and Bloody Bonner Men usually say when they have interred the Corps of their dead Relations and left them in the Dust that they have done their last Office to them or for them But I judge that to be a gross mistake for there are several Offices to which we are bound on their behalf 1. We ought to lament their Death as a sad loss for the Church of God I speak of pious and useful Persons Gen. 50. 10. decent Funeral Solemnities were kept a considerable time in Scripture 2. Observing and complying with the Commands and the Gen. 50. 16. Deut. 34. 10. Counsels of the Dead so Joseph's Brethren 3. Giving the Dead deserved Commendation 4. Vindication of their Reputation according to truth 5. Monuments erected for a Memorial as Jacob over Rachel's Gen. 35. 20. 2 Sam. 1. 17. 1 Kings 3. 6. Acts 9. 34. Grave 6. Funeral Elegies as David over Saul and Jonathan 7. Owning our Father's God and Covenant so Solomon 8. Manifesting Demonstrations of dead Person 's Charity and Piety as the Widows for Dorcas 9. An exact imitation of their praise-worthy Acts. 10. Communion with Heb. 6. 12. Heb. 12. 22. dead Saints believing that there are such rejoycing in their Glory hoping in a short time to be with them thinking of them studying Conformity to them that we may do God's Will on Earth as it 's done in Heaven 11. Yea something is also due from us to the surviving Relations of our pious dead Friends as David shewed kindness 2 Sam. 9. 2. to Jonathan's seed All this and possibly more without the imputation of Saint-worship may surviving Christians do when their gracious Friends and Relations disappear in this Lower World only let us not admire them but God in them so saith the Text 2 Thes 1. 10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe Mark it Gods holiest Saints must not be admired but God in them Our Admiration must not respect Men simply but be terminated upon God through them Creature-worship is very natural to us especially if we see more than ordinary excellency in the Creature or receive some singular Benefit thereby The great Apostle John was twice guilty of Angel-adoration and was twice admonished against it But doubtless it is a good Work and no despicable Office of surviving Friends to commemorate the imitable Acts of dead Ministers or Christians of considerable Magnitude and Figure in the Church This is my Apology for writing this History knowing how acceptable it will be to Christian Friends Natural Relations and to the Church of God indeed he was amiable to all and very imitable in the Passages of his Life and Circumstances that relate to his Death what was praise-worthy in him let God have the Glory of it what is defective in the Copy or Transcriber let Charity draw a Curtain over both I do find that the Servants of God have been very careful and critical in Writing the Lives of Eminent Men as Camerarius wrote the Life of Luther Junius of Ursin Beza of Calvin Antonius Jaius of Beza Josias Simlerus of Peter Martyr Dr. Humphry of Bp. Jewell c. Melchior Adamus hath summed them up together and Mr. Samuel Clark hath made many Collections neither the Person described nor the Scribe answering these men of God it doth make me blush to appear in this Undertaking especially in this so Critical Age but this I dare say The Subject or Person treated of was full of good Works and he that treats thereon is full of Good-Will Nor have I related all that might have been writ and that he himself writ judging it not convenient because it might be offensive Take this in good part live up to it pray for the weak Transcriber and beg hard that God would raise up many Masters in Israel to make up this and other Vacancies made of late by the Death of Eminent Ministers which seems to be a sad Omen and dreadful Prognostick of some desolating Judgment approaching for our Defence is departing from us the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel are ascending in a Fiery Chariot Stakes are taken out of the Hedge that Wild Beasts may enter Pillars are removed the House totters we have lost much good Blood Jacob's Face looks pale May our dear Lord once at last restore his Ministers to their Publick Employments pour out a Spirit of Prayer cause an universal casting of melted Sinners into the Mould of the Gospel and revive a Work of Reformation that the promise may be performed in Isaiah 29. 22 23. Thus saith the Lord who redeemed Abraham concerning the house of Jacob Jacob shall not now be ashamed neither shall his face now wax pale But when he seeth his children the work of mine hands in the midst of him they shall sanctify my name and sanctify the holy one of Jacob and shall fear the God of Israel Amen So be it March 29. 1694. A SHORT Historical Account OF THE LIFE and DEATH OF Mr. Nathanael Heywood c. Mr. Nathanael Heywood was Born in Little Leaver in the Parish of Bolton le-Moors in Lancashire descended of godly and useful Parents Richard and Alice Heywood he was baptized in the Parish-Church Septemb. 16. 1633. During his Infancy he was exceeding weak and sickly much afflicted with Fits of Convulsion and was frequently under the sentence of Death in the apprehension of all Spectators His tender-hearted Parents often gave him up for gone but God who quickneth the dead raised him from the gates of the grave that by him he might raise sinners from Damnable Death to Spiritual Life Notwithstanding those violent Fits did so weaken his Spirits that in his younger days he was not judged fit to be trained up for the Ministry and therefore his Parents did frequently take him from School and set him to learn to Write and cast Accompts in order to sending him to London for an Apprentice But he recruiting as to natural strength and they being encouraged by his extraordinary capacity for Learning kept him still at School
or Gravel certainly it was exceeding acute and painful yet it is disputable whether his loss of Gospel-Liberties or his violent Bodily Distemper was the greater Affliction to him His Riding about Six or Seven Miles in the year 1675. rendered his pain in making Water scarce tolerable thus he writes I have now this last ill fit discovered more of the cause of it than ever before I am very confident it is not the Stone but Flegm or a Salt Humour or both that stops the Urine c. It 's not properly the Strangury saith he in another but a Coagulation of Humours through overmuch Acidity that sharpens and sometimes stops my Urine Want of Health and Liberty believe me are two sore evils I hope you will particularly help me with your Prayers for direction as to Health but more especially as to restoration of Liberty in my beloved work the loss of which is a greater grief than the want of Health and Ease In another Letter dated July 15. 1676. he saith I have endured extreame pain and torment a Month together all which time excepting two or three days I never make Water and that I was forced to do very often but the last drop came out with so much difficulty and excessive pain about the neck of the Bladder that it made me roar and tremble and had so shrunk my Flesh and weakened my Body that I did apprehend Death to be approaching The good Lord fit and prepare me for it and account me worthy to find Mercy in that time of need My pain was occasioned by the great heat and preaching that hot weather oftener and longer than I was well able I am sure I have greatest reason to submit to his holy Will yea and be thankful also that though he hath afflicted me very sore yet he hath not given me over to death whereas I hear of many that are dead of late of my distemper Bishop Wilkins Cousin John Crompton and several hereabouts within these two months I beg your prayers that if God spare my Life he would also give Health and Liberty to improve it in his service more publickly and fruitfully or if it be death which will be less unwelcome because of my restraints pangs and troubles in this world only my Wife and Children make the thoughts of it burthensome may God be glorified I hope it will be my advantage I wish neither you nor any faithful Minister that minds and loves his work may ever know what I have felt in the want of People and Work Other Afflictions are light compared to a dumb Mouth and silent Sabbaths c. Yet notwithstanding all this Affliction he had a wonderful great desire once again if it were the Will of God to visit his friends in Yorkshire and God was pleased to grant his request for he gave him some mitigation of his Pain which was an encouragement to undertake that Journey so himself his Wife and his Two Sons Travelled into Yorkshire April 20. 1677. there he preach'd the Sermons that are since Printed and another most excellent and pathetical Sermon upon Rom. 5. 8. From thence he sent his Eldest Son to be trained up in Academical Learning with Mr. Frankland at Natland in Westmorland But Oh! what affectionate parting was there as if they must never see one another's faces again and indeed so it proved they could not speak to each other for weeping and sobbing he desired another to pray for he could not refrain In that Journey he was carried out beyond himself in praying preaching discoursing to the admiration and edification of all his ancient Friends in those Parts though he had frequent returns of his wonted Pain He was as a man coming down from Heaven to tell what 's done there or as one ripe for Heaven too big for Earth upon the wing to take his flight into those Mansions above as indeed it proved After he had done his work in those Parts which he designed he left Yorkshire on May 1. 1677. but could reach that day but Ten Miles the next morning he went to Ratchdal he was forcibly detained by the importunity of Christian Friends and preached there that evening tho greatly to his prejudice as to Health the day following he reached Bolton yet saith he with great difficulty and hard hewing they got home on Friday night and it would have been great inconvenience to have staid one day longer upon several necessary accounts which he mentions Thus God carried him abroad in Mercy and brought him seasonably back to his own house in safety How much he was satisfied with this Journey though his pains were extreme several days after his return home his Letter May 14. 1677. doth testifie The great Mercy saith he in my late Journey to you comforts with you and safe return home where we found all well I hope I shall never forget pray help me to be thankful for them I do heartily thank you for all your Pulpit Table House and Countrey-kindness I am sorry and ashamed I made no better improvement of them not knowing that ever I shall enjoy such opportunities again of doing my self and others good in your parts but an indisposed Body and a bad heart marr Duties and waste Mercies His distemper still continued and prevailed upon him all that Summer in a Letter dated September 20. 1677. he saith I am far from being well and as the Church once complained she forgat prosperity so I health and am ready sometimes to add as She my strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. This day Five Weeks I came from the Exercise at Toxtoth-Park where I had preached twice and oftener then I was well able a little before Since that day I never came on Horse-back nor preached but once near home but all this time God hath been preaching to me with a terrible thundring Voice Oh! that I could hear the Rod and who hath appointed it So sharp and so long a fit of Pain I never had since this distemper begun God alone knows what may be the issue of it but for my part though I find it no easy matter to look death in the face and to conquer the difficulties that precede and attend it yet I have no great reason to love life or to desire my long stay in this wicked weary world my pained days and wearisome nights make thoughts of death and grave less terrible and apprehensions of Rest with Christ most welcome and pleasant But I feel natural inclinations working towards life and to loving themselves with the fair glass of doing God more and better Service in his Church I am best resolved and most at Anchor when I can but oh how seldom how coldly do I say The Will of the Lord be done Dear Brother Pray for me as I would do for my self that to me to live may be Christ and to die gain Yesterday for some hours I was in extreme torment but am much easier I bless God to day
Curse by mens unjust Censures 2. But the throne of God and the lamb shall be in it this is the Beatifical Vision that looks Souls out of sin and suffering and who dare presume to arrest the King's Favourites in his presence 3. And his servants shall serve him whether Devils or Men will or no these blessed Attendants on the King of Glory shall never be interrupted in their chearful Service 4. And 1 Cor. 13. 12. 1 John 3. 2. they shall see his face i. e. they shall not behold him in a glass darkly as now they see God in Ordinances but then face to face yea they shall see him as he is which is a riddle to us here below immediately though not comprehensively 5. And his name shall be in their fore-heads i. e. They shall openly profess whose they are and to whom they belong as distinguisht palpably from wicked men and Hypocrites They shall no more sculk in Corners or be thrust out of publick Places but shall openly avouch their Master 6 And there shall be no night there i. e. no works of darkness to lament or contest with no Beasts of prey to creep forth and worry the Saints no secret Plots against them no ignorance amongst Christian Societies to create Differences Jealousies and Animosities 7. They need no candle neither light of the sun no need of Ordinances as here below they are used and useful Preachers shall study or preach no more People need not hear Sermons neither Preachers or People shall stand in need of Seals the Substance is present Shadows flee away 8. The Lord God giveth them light their injoyment of God is immediate uninterrupted and satisfying in his light they see light as the Object will be clearer to be seen so their Eyes will be perfectly irradiated to behold him 9. And they shall reign for ever and ever though his Servants shall serve him yet it shall be no troublesome bondage or slavery but a liberty and dominion they shall sit with Christ in his Throne as Assessors judge the World and it Rev. 3. 2. may be judge their Judges approving the righteous Sentence of 1 Cor. 6. 2. their Royal Master the Blessed Jesus King of kings and Lord of lords And if all this be meant of some glorious state of the Church on Earth as some will needs have it yet that 's but a faint resemblance of this more happy State in Heaven And further for the duration of it 't is added 10. And they shall reign for ever and ever Earthly Monarchs are but short-liv'd Kingdoms have their periods but Kings are of less continuance of Christ's Kingdom there is no end and his Subjects reign runs paralel with the Life of God and Line of Eternity Oh blessed Souls oh happy Saints that shall for ever be with the Lord And here we leave the Soul of our dear Brother singing triumphantly the Song of Moses and of the Lamb in the height of Zion whilst we poor Mortals are glad if we can sing but the Song of degrees As for the solemn interment of that Case and Cabinet once the Receptacle now the Relict of that precious Pearl it was judged meet that Solemnity should be put off till Wednesday Dec. 19. 1677. that distant Friends might have seasonable notice and that day Mr. Starky a Non-conformist Minister preached an excellent Sermon in the Parish-Church at Ormes-kirk no man forbidding him nay all that were any way concerned consenting upon Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory There was a vast confluence of all sorts of people at his Funeral great lamentation and many signal demonstrations of universal love and respect which he had from all the Country his Body was laid in the Chancel and Burying-place which belongs to the Ancient Family of Stanlies of Bickerstaff Knights and Baronets it was with their free consent and desire The Reverend Minister that preached after he had acutely learnedly and profitably handled his Text gave a short but full Account of him in his several Capacities as Minister Husband Father Friend and especially God-wards as a Christian And as the Eccho's of the Hearers gave testimony to the truth of what was spoken so to their sad resentment of their irreparable loss All the Town in their several Capacities doing him honour in their peculiar way Mr. Constable the chiefest Officer in the Town of considerable Authority carried the Staff like a Mace before the Corps and the rest walked in their due and decent order Now although this was insignificant to the Dead and not edifying much to the Living yet decent Burials have always amongst civilized Nations been accounted the duty of the Living and an honour to the Dead And there is a special remembrance of this in Scripture for it 's said of Hezekiah that all Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death On the contrary it is recorded 2 Chron. 32. 33. as a perpetual Infamy of Jehoram the bad Son of good Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 21. 20. that he departed without being desir'd and of another bad Son of a good King Jehoiakin the Son of Josiah that they shall not lament for him saying Ah my brother but he shall be buried with Jer. 22. 18 19. the burial of an Ass drawn and cast forth beyond the Gates of Jerusalem But this Good man honoured God whilst living and God honoured him at his death and advanced his Soul to better and Eternal Honour Mr. Heywood went to his Grave in peace after all his tumultuous Tossings upon the tempestuous Sea of this World he dyed in the 44th year of his Age and about two Months above having lived long in a little time and I find several choice men taken out of the world about that Age. So among the German Divines Strigelius dyed Vid. vit in Metch Ad. 44 years of Age and 6 months Flinschpach 44. Simlerus dyed in the 45th year so we find Erpenius dyed at 40 years of age Mr. Robert Rollock dyed in the 43d year of his age the Famous Dr. Whitaker in his 47th But to mention no more our Famous Mr. William Perkins lived but 44 years being cut off by a violent Fit of the Stone And indeed we have frequently observed that laborious Ministers are short-liv'd some are of weak Constitutions and spend their Lungs with speaking or by a sedentary life contract Diseases or are fretted with the untowardness of their people or God in judgment takes them away as a punishment to a wicked world However like a Candle they spend themselves to give light to others Many gracious young men are very zealous and make hast with their Work and get it quickly dispatcht off their hands and go to bed betimes And God is not willing to be without their company too long Oh how many brave promising Plants have been pluckt up of late years that were heavy laden with
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