is doubtlesse farre from being an eminent Christian and those that make this Covenant are not onely to tell one another what they see evident to bee amiss but they are also to tell them of their fears and jealousies and of the reports yea even of slanders that are spoken of them for a Saint may get a great deal of good from slander for generally wee do something that gives some occasion to the slanderer to misreport us for if they report that one is a drunkard and a glutton though we may be far from deserving those calumnies yet it gives us just occasion to examine our selves whether wee do not take somewhat too much liberty in the use of the creature and many times wee should go so far if slanders were not raised that wee should deserve them Another great advantage from this our Communion with the Saints is our being acquainted with all their spiritual experiences the waies means that God useth with them what places of Scripture do most affect them either by way of Consolation or provoking and stirring them up to a more strickt and circumspect walking and to a high prizing of and longing after heaven and Christ which places will either stir us up and work the same frame of heart in us or else they will much humble us when wee consider the strange frame of our own hearts that those places that makes others like the charets of Aminadab should not move us and those places that enflame others should not thaw us Another rare advantage that wee have with Gods people is from those high discoveries that God makes of himself to them upon their beds of languishing a little before they depart hence and bee no more seen and because I will not transgress my own thoughts in this particular being confident that relations of the great discoveries that God doth make to his people wil much affect the Christian reader therefore I shall relate some few of the eminentest I know A very precious Christian acquaintance being sick unto death as those that were about have thought I coming to her she said Sir I have examined my own heart but am not willing to trust it but desire the seal of your Ministery and that you would try and examine if there bee any way of wickednesse in me I put her to her choice whether shee would discover her own condition or put mee to finde it out by questions shee chose the former and said O sir God hath handled mee on his knees from my Cradle to my grave for I hope this night the nuptials between my Saviour and my soul shall bee consummate I askt her if shee could remember the time of her conversion shee told mee that shee alwaies lived blamelesse since she could remember But about twenty years ago I was at a Sermon and the point that was spoke to was that every done ought to examine what it was that they had that they durst own at the day of judgement I went home and examined my graces I found them weak and bid them stand by I durst not own them at the day of judgement I examined my duties and found them sinfull and when I found nothing in my self I went out of my self unto that rock that is higher than I and there I have been to this day Her pronunciation as well as her expressions being full of joy and earnestnesse I askt her whether none of her sinnes lay upon her conscience and whether shee used to have such joyes shee answered that God had hid all her sinnes from her for the present and that she formerly used rather to have calmness than joy but now there was a beam of light and joy came into her soul but how shee knew not and speaking much of her desires to bee dissolved I askt her why shee desires to dye shee answered that shee might bee rid of sinne and free from temptation and have an eternity to praise her God in A Neighbour of hers comming in to see her who was a carnal man she left her discourse with others and applyed her self to him and with abundance of intention of spirit and voice shee said O Sir see that you get Christ and the time that you spend in your Garden for hee much delighted in his Garden spend on your knees for I le tell you I would not loose the joys of my dying hour for ten thousand worlds some about her wisht her not to speak so loud for shee would spend her self not speak for my God said shee I will speak for my God as long as I am able to speak and when I can speak no more I will hold my tongue and it was so by Gods good providence that shee resting pretty well that night the next day shee beganne to recover whereupon shee fell a trembling every joynt and shee being askt why shee trembled and what became of her joyes shee answered that â—er joyes was as great as ever but shee trembled to think that shee should live to dishonour that God that gave them when shee was well recovered I askt her what were become of her joys shee answered mee that ever since shee knew God shee had the faith of adherence and I hope that God would have mercy on mee but I never thought it almost possible that God would ever shine upon such a dung-hill as I am but now I can say that God hath stampt upon my soul that I am his and he is mine That precious Saint Mris. Drake of whose life and death there is a little Book worth the perusing out of which I shall only give you an account of her carriage and the wonderful raptures that God gave her a little before her death She was a woman of great temptations and desertions for the space of ten years yet notwithstanding the endeavours and labours of those four eminent servants of God B. Usher Doct. Preston Mr. Hooker and Mr. Dod but at last growing sickly being free from her desertions she became incessant in her discourses of heaven and of the things of God night day so that she took little rest but spent her time and strength in duties and conference shee knew her end approached neer though others lookt upon her distemper rather as an indisposition of body than a fit of sicknesse but she being confident she should dye and thereupon went to her Fathers house where shee alwaies desired to end her daies and Mr. Dod comming to her spending much time in prayer conference and expounding the Scripture shee carried her self with such unsatiable desires of more and such inflamed discourses of the things of God that they were all fill'd with admiration The Lords day before her death shee call'd all her children together and with many admonitions and zealous instructions and heavenly discourses shee spent much time that day with them The Tuesday following Mr. Dod came and spent some time in heavenly discourses and then went to prayer and suddenly as prayer
of the Priests being cloathed all in white which he doing Alexander as soon as he saw him fell prostrate before him his Army wondering at his carriage Parmenio asked him what he meant to worship the High-Priest when all others worshipped him He answered he did not worship the High-Priest but that God whom the High-Priest served For saith Alexander when I was in Dio considering what to do in my wat 's God appeared unto me in this very artire and wished me to go on and hee would prosper me and I never since saw any in that attire before now and therefore it is that I do shew that respect to the High Priest and then giving the High-Priest his hand was conducted by him into the Temple and offered Sacrifice according to his directions who also did shew him the Prophesie of Daniel wherein he told him it was prophesied that one of the Grecians should destroy the Persians and hee supposed that hee was the person meant by the Prophecy of which Alexander was very joyful and bestowed great favours both on the High-Priests and the rest of the Jewes Now because of all the stories of the Martyrs either in the time of the Primitive Church or since by the far greater cruelty of the Popish persecution I do not know that ever I read any story equal to this which is recorded by Josephus of the Martyrdome of the seven sons of one Mother I thought good to insert this story which though as for the substance of it it is in the book of Macchabees yet being exceeding more large in Josephus I have transcribed it out of him and the rather do I set down this story because generally Expositors do think that the Apostle in Hebrewes 11.35 hath relation to the sufferings of these worthy Martyrs and it was thus Antiochus whom the Prophet Daniel calls a vile person Dan. 11.21 after he had Martyr'd Eleazer a man of great age reverence piety and constancy caused seven brethren who were brought up and instructed by that blessed fore-named Martyr Eleazer to be brought forth to Martyrdome the Tyrant beholding them and their Mother amongst them with merry and gladsome countenance hee thus spake unto the children I wish your good O admirable young men for so both your beauty of body and Noble parentage perswade mee do not therefore like mad men resist my command avoid not only torments but death also for I desire not only to exalt you unto honour but also to encrease your riches and possessions contemn the superstitious and superfluous belief of your Countrymen and imbrace our Religion which if you refuse to do as I hope you will not I will devise all torments whereby I may by a lingring and painful death consume you and to the end hee might terrifie them the more hee commanded all instruments of torments to bee presented to their view so wheels rods hooks rakes racks cauldrons cages gridirons were brought forth and engines to torment the fingers and hands gauntlets bellowes brazen pots and frying pans Then Antiochus said Consent unto mee O prudent young men for if that I command you to commit a sin yet do not you offend in doing it seeing you commit it only upon compulsion But the young youths guided by a Divine Spirit contemned so many kindes of torments and despised the Tyrants threats and flatteries and with one consent denied to eat of the Sacrificed Swines flesh as they were commanded wherefore said they doest thou persecute us that are innocent wee both desire and wish to die and will until such time as death expelleth life firmly keep that which God commanded and Moses taught us and do not thou seek to seduce us by protesting feigned love towards us the pardon which thou dost offer is to us more dangerous than punishment we are arm'd with contempt of death and esteem not thy words as being by our late Master Eleazer taught to despise them Why then dost thou think such pusillanimity to bee in us young men seeing of late thou foundest such courage in an old man we follow him thou canst not try and know our mindes except by tearing our bodies thou search them out Wee will safely and securely suffer for our God any thing and leaving this earth we shall bee entertained into heaven and thou for so tyrannizing most cruelly upon innocent souls shalt bee reserved unto hell fire Antiochus being greatly moved to see that hee could neither prevail by fair promises nor threatnings hee caused them to bee beaten with Bulls Pisles and first hee commanded the eldest of the seven brethren to be stript and stretched out upon a rack and his hands to bee bound behinde him and then to bee most cruelly beaten who wearied his tormentors by his sufferings so that they more desired to leave beating him than hee desired they should leave This done hee was put upon a wheel and a weight hang'd upon his feet and so stretched round about it that his sinews and intrals brake and so his pains encreased yet for all the pain his mouth was not hindred from calling upon God who beheld all and reproving the Tyrant that devised those torments for the innocent hee cryed out after this manner O thou that persecutest the Majesty of God I whom thou thus tormentest am no Conjurer nor Murderer but one that dies for the truth and observing of the Lawes of God Then the Tormentors wishing him to yeeld Your wheels said hee are not so sharp and cruel that I thereby will bee forced to forsake heaven whereon my minde is fixed tear my flesh yea if it so please you roast it at the fire torture each part of my body with several cruelties you shall for all this finde your selves unable to force us young men to sin As hee thus spake a fire was kindled and hee as hee was upon the wheel racked was so thrown into the fire And thus hee was so burned that his bowels appeared he being nothing moved though his flesh was out of the midst of the fire cryed thus to his brethren O beloved brethren learn by mee an example of constancy contemn and despise the alluring baits of this world and rather obey God than Antiochus who can if hee please humble the proud and mighty and exalt the lowly and dejected As thus he spake hee was taken out of the flame and flean alive his tongue was pull'd out of his mouth and hee put into a Frying-pan and so hee ended his dayes After him the second Brother being haled by the Souldiers Antiochus before hee asked him whether hee would relent caused all those instruments of torments to bee shown him also thereby to terrifie him but hee nothing thereat moved and denying to eat of their foresaid Sacrifice his hands were bound with iron chains and hee being hang'd up by them the Skin of his body was flean from the Crown of his head unto his knees so that the intrals in his brest appeared naked yet in such manner
profit if wee love the impediments more than the things they keep us from as if wee love a multitude of worldly imployments more than grace How justly may God give us up to our owne hearts desires And it were better for us bee given up to Satan by way of excommunication for that is but for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may bee saved in the day of the Lord But whosoever is given up to his owne hearts desires is given up to them both for the destruction both of body and soul THE THIRD PART Wherein are set down Severall meanes and helps For attaining The Power of Godlinesse CHAP. I. The first thing that is necessary for a godly life is faith THE first thing that is necessary to an holy life is Faith for without that 't is impossible to please God 't is the foundation of things hoped for and the foundation of our love I have many times seriously thought what is the true reason why so few believe the Scripture assuring my self that if they did firmly believe it were impossible that their lives should bee so contrary to it For although as I have said conviction does not necessarily work conversion yet it would work reformation or at least it would not suffer them to go on with so little fear and dread upon their spirits as they do Now though divers pretend that it is because divers speculative truths that are set down in the Scripture are so contrary to or at least above their reason that they cannot assent to them yet I am very confident that it is the practical truths of the Scripture that they stop at which they being loth to obey they are fain to pretend or by the just judgment of God they are dis-inabled to believe those truths that are more speculative that this is the reason seems to me evident because that they cannot but confess if not all most of the practicals of the Scripture not to bee against nor above reason but such as whosoever shall obey and live according to them that their very enemies cannot but approve of their lives And this was it that made the Christians both in respect of their charity and love one among another and to their enemies to bee admired and commended even by their persecutors amongst whom they lived The very Heathen could see a beauty in Holiness therefore since the glorious light and lustre of the holiness of the commands of God in Scripture is so clear that men cannot but be convinc'd and yet will not obey no marvel that those saving truths of the Gospel which cannot bee seen by the light of nature I say 't is no marvel that God does not give them of that light which is supernatural since they resist and make no better use of their natural light living quite contrary to those things that teacheth them And it is observed that one reason why God has not made all his truths so clear and demonstrative as mathematical natural truths are is that he would order matters so that those that were of corrupt mindes might finde some pretences for not believing of them for to such people God may justly send strong delusions and it may bee it is much better even for the people of God that all wicked men are not fully convinced of divine truths for that would make them much more outragious and malicious for those whom the truths of God convince but not convert they do inrage as they do Satan who believes and as it does those who commit the sin against the Holy Ghost who hating the truth they know are the greatest and most malicious persecutors nay and indeed 't is a mercy in some kinde even to the wicked also for it is better that they should not know the truths of God since if they did know them they would not obey them therefore if thou wilt believe obey that is if thou wilt believe the mysterious truths of the Gospel obey the holy commands of the Gospel do what thou knowest and thou shalt know what as yet thou art ignorant of I have also considered with my self what truth is the most difficult to believe and to mee it seems that to believe that God hath given his only beloved Son to die for sinners is that truth which we hardliest yeeld to For first our pride is utterly against it for by nature we love to go to heaven by our own merits and to bee justified wholly from another and for our own works not so much as to bee one ingredient in our justification and our own free will to have no hand in our regeneration and our own good works in our glorification by way of merit the pride of man will not stoop to And then secondly it is utterly against humane reason partly because wee think with our selves that God might have forgiven us our sins without so much ado as to have his own son suffer so much for us but wee little consider that wee many times do many things our selves with a great deal of trouble out of love which may bee done as well without us so the mother nurseth her own childe and dresseth it and doth many other things which shee might have done by others as effectually though shee were only a Spectator And further wee must understand that there are two special reasons why God gave his Son and Christ gave himself to die for us chiefly to satisfie his justice as also to satisfie us of his love and it is not easie to say which are hardest to bee satisfied for 't is true that hee that injures forgives not wee therefore having so much offended God can hardly forgive him that is believe that hee will forgive us hee therefore to satisfie and cure our infidelity gives us his only son to die for us to give us an infallible testimony of his love the sufferings of Christ did satisfie the Justice of God by way of merit and our infidelity by way of motive the sufferings of Christ did reconcile God to us and the Spirit of Christ doth reconcile us to God It was necessary that hee that satisfied Gods Justice should bee God and it is as necessary that hee that satisfies us of Gods love should bee God also Another thing that hinders our belief of this mystery is because the goodness and love of God is so exceeding great that wee cannot believe it for wee are subject to judge of God by our selves and therefore because we should never suffer our onely beloved childe to die a miserable shameful death to save an enemy therefore wee judge that God cannot do so neither Hence it is that the more patient meek long-suffering wee grow by the grace and Spirit of God the more easily do wee believe his love to us but if wee truly consider that which makes this mystery of love incredible should make us believe it viz. the greatness of it for since God hath said in his Word that herein
spent and gone which caused that weaknesse then shee remembring all that passed her strange raptures but nothing which then she had said in them retaining her former grounds comfort and cheerfulnesse as in so much weakness could bee expressed called for Mr. Dod and Doct. Preston with the rest of her friends causing them to give thanks with her and for her venting her self unto them thus That her time was now at hand prayed them not to leave her and being very weak spake then her minde unto her Father Mother and Husband in a sort taking leave of them sent for her Children and blessed them now imagining to have done all her work and so from thence fell into a silent rapture of joyfull singing of Hymnes and verses of Psalms not greatly caring to speak unto any body save now and then unto Mr. Dod when hee moved an occasion and so shee lay this Saturday night and the next Sunday only when Mr. Dod came desiring still to give thanks all which time shee grew weaker and weaker having by this time no audible but a hollow low voice searce to bee understood The Munday after in the morning when shee fell a sleep being come Mr. Dod with the rest comming unto her shee when shee saw them all about her rejoyced and smiled taking them all by the hand with a cheerfull countenance beckned to Mr. Dod to give thanks and bent her self what shee could with lifted up hands to joyn speaking softly to her self in her hymning way and so whilst they were at Prayer suddenly her hands falling and her lips going she sunk down in the bed and departed leaving all her friends mourning about her CHAP. X. Of the sixth help to a godly life which is the getting and observing of rules to guide us in indifferent actions THe next means for the advancement of holinesse is the treasuring up and observing rules for the directing us what to do in indifferent actions As for those things wherein the word of God is plain either in commanding of them as good or forbidding of them as evil to deliberate what to do in such a case argues either a weak head or a weaker heart either want of knowledge or want of love of God and wee need no more in such cases but to bee conversant in scripture that wee may know what God would have us to do and in prayer that we may do it But for those things that in themselves are indifferent and the scripture hath determined neither way it is good to get some general Rules fince we have no particular directions in the word of God some of which I shall endeavour to set down First When thou art in doubt what to do walk by this Rule consider with thy self what in thy conscience thou thinkest God-will allow of and what thou shalt dare to own as for the matter of it at the day of judgement and what thou thinkest thou shalt be afraid to own then bee afraid to do now and consider whether those excuses and reasons and shifts whereupon thou neglectest to do what otherwise is a duty will have weight in them at that day doest thou in thy Conscience think at the Day of Judgement it will be a sufficient excuse for thee to say such a one provoked mee and therefore I swore Dost thou think that this will be a sufficient excuse for thy sin that most did so or that I should have displeased such a friend if I had not done it I remember it was storied of Ignatius Jordan whose Life is lately publisht and worth perusal of all Christians especially Magistrates though this story be not in the book if I mistake not a servant of the Bishop who had alwayes been a loving friend to Mr. Jordan was drunk and brought before him and hee set him in the stocks so many hours as was directed by the Statutre and being known whose servant hee was by his Badge and Livery the Bishop took it as a high affront to him and therefore upon a Court day when hee and his c. sat in Court Mr. Jordan was sent for and the Bishop began a long Oration and told him how much hee had been his friend and how that he took it as a disgrace and a high discourtesie from him that hee should set his servant in the Stocks Mr. Jordan gravely piously and mildly answered My Lord when at the great Day of Judgement if I had neglected my duty it shall bee said unto mee I made thee a Magistrate to bee a terrour to evil doers and why didst thou bear the Sword in vain in that thou didst not carry thy self as the Minister of God to execute wrath upon him that doth evil Such a day such a one was brought before you drunk why did you not execute the Law upon him My Lord Do you think it will bee a sufficient answer for mee to say that hee was the Bishops servant who had done mee many a courtesie and therefore I thought it fit to bee more tender of his honour than of thine Do you think that God would take this answer If you think hee would not I pray bee satisfied that I have judg'd it fit rather to please God than man It is related also in the book of Martyrs that the President of St. Julian and other sent to the Angrongians made enquiry for one dwelling at Angrogne and examined him whether hee had not baptized his childe at Angrogne and wherefore hee had so done The poor simple man answered that hee had baptized his childe at Angrogne because baptisme was there administred according to the institution of Christ Then the President in great rage commanded him in the Kings Name to baptize his childe again or else hee should bee burnt The poor man desired the President that hee might bee suffered to make his prayer to God before hee should make answer thereunto which after hee had done in the Hall before all the company there present hee required the President that he would write sign the same with his own hand that he would discharge him before God at the Day of Judgement of the danger of that offence if hee should baptize his childe again and that hee would take the peril upon him and his The President hearing this was so confounded that he spake not one word a long time after then hee faid in a great fury Away thou Villain out of my sight and after that hee was never called more 2. The second rule to guide us in indifferent things is to think with thy selfe what do I in my conscience think I would wish I had done when I come to die and do likewise blessed is the man the remembrance of whose life is sweet unto him in the hour of his death Where is that man that ever repented on his death-bed that hee had redeemed so much time by prayer and meditation c. that hee had forgiven too many injuries or given too much to the poor I
day of Fasting and Prayer put F in the margent and so in other things common prudence will direct Thus you see that I have shown you how easie a thing it is to keep a Diary and how little time it takes up yet notwithstanding I could wish you would write your Diary somewhat larger as when your affections are raised in reading the Scripture to set down the verse which most affects you so when you hear a Sermon when you come home to write down those passages that most affect you and most concern you So when you make any vow to write down what was the especial occasion of making that vow so when you finde your heart somewhat dead in duties to set down what the cause was of that deadness if you can finde it out whether it was for want of preparation or some sin the day before which caused God to withdraw himself So if God comes in with any special comforts write down that place of Scripture which was the golden pipe that convey'd them for generally as I have elsewhere said his comforts are the kisses of his mouth that is something that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken some passage in the Word of God brings our comforts This was that which quickened David in his afflictions Psalm 119.50 This is that which David did especially praise God for Psa 56.4 and 10. for this it seems was that which convey'd to him all his comforts Or if God doth any other way satisfie thy fears and doubts as I remember it is related in the life of Mr. Murcate that when hee was once in great doubts of Gods love towards him this was darred into his soul with a great deal of evidence and power If I am not thy father am I thine enemy And at another time upon the like occasion If I am not thy father why doest thou follow after mee This is set down with many other singular passages in a Diary hee kept which was found in his Study after his death But for all particular directions it is almost impossible to set them down but either God will direct you if you set to consider what is to bee done in the case or consult with some experienced friend that keeps a Diary only I shall add this because it concernes most Christians as Scholars may set St to signifie studying because that is the work of their particular calling so others whose particular callings are trades or Merchandise c. they may set down a great E to signifie Employment c. The next objection is I have not skill I know not how to keep a Diary For that I think I have already in some considerable measure answered by setting down several directions and have also told you that for other particulars that may occur you must have recourse to some experienced Christian only I shall add this that I would have you leave about four leaves at the beginning of your book you intend for a Diary each leaf divided into five parts thus and thus super-scribed Vowes Prayers Manifestations and deliverances Answers Sinnes Septemb 3. November 6. January 10. March 9. April 2. November 10. December 10. March 11. April 13. May 7 March 16. February 16. August 8. July 3. June 9 The reason of doing this which will bee very little trouble since all these heads do seldome occur is that you may speedily finde out what vowes you have made and so know whether you have performed them what prayers you have made and whether they have been answer'd what extraordinary manifestations you have had like that of Mr. Murcate or of like nature and whether you have given special thanks and praise to God for them so you may easily see what grosser failings you have been guilty of and whether you have particularly humbled your soul before God for them As soon as ever you made any vow prayer or received any deliverance c. you are to enter the day under the respective head and when you have performed the vow or your prayer bee heard or given thanks for the mercy or particularly repented of the sin you are to draw a line under the respective day of the moneth under that head But you will object by this means all my doings shall bee made publike to all the world when I die which may be very scandalous to Religion in several cases and to make ones graces and comforts known though after death may bee an occasion or act of pride while wee live To this I answer 1. If thy sin bee publikely known thou shouldst do something to make thy repentance as publikely known as David did Psalm 51. but if it bee secret thou mayest have a secret mark in thy Diary to signifie it which none can know but thy self and as for Gods manifestations and mercies of that nature towards thee as answers of prayers comforts c. thou shouldst not bee too willing to conceal them but willing to make them known to some of Gods people Psal 66.16 But if thou canst write Short hand all this is answered or else it is probable God may give thee so long time before thy death to dispose of matters as to give thy Diary into the hand of some Christian friend Object 2 is Why do you press this as a duty though not absolutely necessary to all yet of great spiritual advantage How comes it then that so many eminent Saints do not have not kept a Diary I answer 1. Suppose through ignorance they have neglected this duty will you therefore conclude that it is unprofitable to them that know it Eminent Saints may live all their lives in a sin of omission and commission as for instance in Poligamy though our Saviour proves it to bee a sin from the beginning Mat. 19.5 6. So also for meditation I suppose it hath been very much neglected amongst Christians I mean as to the making of it a solemn particular duty and yet solemn meditation is of singular use 2. How do you know what eminent Saints have done or what they do for such things as these are kept so secret communicated it may bee not to the most bosome friends 3. Some you say do not keep Diaries and others do keep Diaries and I suppose I shall sufficiently shown you the footsteps of keeping a Diary in the practises of the Saints in Scripture 4. Suppose no such thing hath been done doth that argue that it 's not convenient to bee done now Printing hath not been many years shall wee therefore decry it as not expedient so the Scripture hath not been long distinguished into verses nor alwayes into Chapters Do wee rather chuse Bibles not so distinguished and account such distinctions and divisions useless doubtless though as to Ordinances wee ought not by our humane prudence to invent any that are new and not commanded in Scripture yet as for the decent orderly mannaging of them as may be most to edification Christian prudence is very useful and wee
and said shee was not at all afraid Not afraid said hee Why how comes that to pass that such dreadful claps of thunder make you not afraid I will tell you why said shee with a very cheerful voice because it is the voice of my Father Hee was amazed at her cheerfulness and answer and began to think with himself surely these Puritanes have something within them that they are able to bear up in such storms and that they have peace and are cheerful while I tremble and being not far off immediately he did ride to Mr. Bolton beseeching pardon that he had persecuted him and desired that he would tell him what he should do to be saved A Doctor of Divinity of singular learning and piety I forbear names since the Parties whom this story concernes are as I suppose all yet living his maid being to go to Market came to him for money but all the money he and his Wife could make was but five shillings to get provision for the following week though hee had many hundreds a year for merly his Wife being much troubled that they were brought to such straits and that they were like to bee greater fell a weeping and told her Husband that there was little likelihood they could live together and that therefore she would take one or two of her children with her and live amongst her own friends if hee could provide for himself and the rest of his children Nay dear Wife said hee wee have lived thus long together let not us now part let us relye on Gods providence She in her grief and haste answered Well send Providence to Market and see what it will bring home It was so that day a Noble man who knew this Doctor very well dining with divers Gentlemen at an Inne who were to go a Hawking that afternoon looking out of the Window saw his Maid who being an ancient servant he knew and sent for her up asking her how her Master did She answered very well and fell a weeping He enquiring the cause she told him what straits they were brought to hee wondering and being troubled at it called the Inne-keeper and wished him to give that Maid ten pound and every one of the Gentlemen gave twenty shillings a piece so the Doctor sending Providence to Market it brought him home fifteen pound doubtless it is because we do not trust not because God either cannot or will not give that makes us so often want mercies and such providences would be usual if our confidence in God were so A Widdow Gentlewoman that I knew being unable to follow Suits of Law lost a considerable Estate and was fain to work for her living she married a Daughter to a Minister that had a great living but he that was sequestred dying another was presented and this Minister was turned out and for a pretended debt cast into prison his Wife being great with-childe and ready to lye down Hereupon the Mother went to the house to fetch away her Son-in-laws goods where she found another of her Daughters neer death she not knowing before of her sickness The workmen that were mending the house for him that was to come to it would needs uncover the Chamber where this sick Maid lay the Mother desired them but to forbear till her Daughter died or recovered but they would not and when she went to carry away the goods there stood two ready to seize upon them one for Taxes and the other for debt In this sad condition she came home I being present yet neither by her pronunciation nor by any expressions could any one discern her to be moved with these afflictions making only a Narrative of them without complaining or blaming any yea when her Daughter wept and wailed greatly she said to her Is not Christ yours Why are you so troubled What would you have more There was a certain Christian woman who being very sick sent for me amongst other things to order and dispose of things concerning her outward Estate I knowing that she was a woman of many and great experiences of Gods goodness entreated her to impart some of them to me which she did and was so very much affected therewith her self that the joy of the Lord proved her strength and so raised up her spirits that she recovered of her disease and was well from that very hour though it was some time before she recovered her strength A godly woman told mee that shee much frequenting Sermons and desiring to walk in the wayes of God afterwards fell into great desertions but being in secret prayer God came in with abundance of light and comfort sealing unto her soul that part of his Covenant viz. I will take away the heart of stone out of thy flesh and give thee an heart of flesh and withall did assure her that shee should never want which seemed the more strange unto her because shee had a very plentiful Estate at that time but within a moneth after these comforts shee being to receive the Lords Supper all her former fears and troubles returned upon her insomuch as a little before the bread was administred to her though she could not say that the devil appeared to her in a bodily shape yet he seemed to her as if he did and told her that she should not eat but then the Lord was pleased to bring into her minde that passage in the Canticles Eat O my friends notwithstanding Satan still continued terrifying of her and when she had eaten told her she should not drink but the Lord brought that second clause of the verse into her minde drink yea drink abundantly my beloved and so she drank also and presently was filled with such unspeakable joyes that she knew not how she gat home which soul-ravishing joyes continued for a fortnight after and fill'd her mouth with songs of praise so that shee could neither sleep nor eat more than she forced her self to do out of conscience of duty At the fortnights end when God was pleased to abate her measure of joy she came to a setled peace of conscience and assurance of the love of God so that for twenty years after she had not so much as a Cloud upon her spirit or the least questioning of her interest in Christ but hath lived cheerfully and contentedly without the least murmuring against any of Gods dispensations though she hath had many and great afflictions but her carriage hath been eminently Christian-like full of patience yea rejoycing in the Lord in the midst of all her sufferings One having in dispute said that if Gods children could not fall away then that supposition Heb. 6.6 if they shall fall away c. is non-sense But some years after being convinced of the perseverance of the Saints it came to his remembrance what words he had spoken concerning that place of Scripture and he presently apprehended that he had charged the spirit of God with non-sense and by consequence that he had blasphemed the Holy
Ghost and the temptation came with so much violence that he could not withstand it which filled his conscience with terrours and he received the sentence of condemnation within himself believing that his sin was unpardonable and so being in much terrour Satan followed him with temptations perswading him that it was in vain for him to pray or to serve God any more seeing he must certainly go to hell yet did he presently go to prayer begging of God that though he must go to hell when he died yet that he would be pleased to let him serve him whilst he lived upon which his former terrours immediately vanished being clearly convinced that none could pray that prayer that had committed the sin against the Holy Ghost There was a woman who was thirteen years under desertion which was so vehement that for most of the time she was fain to keep her bed through weakness Mr. Ludlam a godly Minister in Leicestershire went to comfort her and pray with her but when he came and proffered to do it she shrieked out utterly refusing and forbidding him to pray with her for said she I have too many mercies abused to answer for already yet would not he be put off but prayed by her and so prevailed with God on her behalf that the next morning she was delivered from all her fears and had such exceeding joy that the like hath scarce been heard of This Mr. Ludiam himself on his death-bed the night before he died had a great conflict with Satan but though heaviness endured for a night yet joy came in the morning whereupon he spake to this purpose This night hath been as the shadow of death to me but now I can say and am assured that God is mine and I am his and so he died The same woman that having been under great desertions on a time being at a Sermon wherein the Minister wholly preached of promises and mercies she was never more terrified at any Sermon in her life because she saw such sweet mercies such precious promises and such unspeakable joyes and yet she had no share in them She told him also to the glory of God that during the time of her desertion she had sometimes prayed with that earnestness that the very blood hath gushed out of her nose and that when she hath been walking in the streets in the midst of all her horrours expecting every step that the earth should open and that she should sink down to hell yet that even then if she heard but an oath sworn she was ready to fall down as dead so exceedingly was she troubled that God should be so dishonoured A precious holy man told me of a woman that was six years in desertion and by Gods providence hearing Mr. Rollock preach she of a suddain fell down overwhelmed with joy crying out O hee is come whom my soul loveth and so was carried home for dead and for divers dayes after she was filled with exceeding joyes and had such pious and singularly ravishing expressions so fluently coming from her that many came to hear the rare manifestations of Gods grace in her and amongst the rest that went to hear there was one that could write Short-hand who yet a great while stood so amazed at her expressions that he could not write at last recovering himself he wrote a whole sheet of paper which this Minister read and told me that of all the expressions that ever he read in the book of Martyrs or elsewhere he never read any so high as the lowest of them Recalling to minde an eminent and evident hand of God shewed unto us in a wonder of mercy in the late wars wee being at the Town called Saltash in Cornwal where we were three hundred and odd souldiers of the Parliament taken in that Town being taken by Sir Richard Greanvile Gen. to the King of the Western parts some had quarter given others were cruelly butchered yet the next day this onslat being made about midnight and contrary to the Law of Armes we were appointed by the said Gen. Greanvile all to be executed on Gallows's appointed for that intended execution to which place we were brought and by seven at a time they intend our execution then having hanged up seven in a short space of time one of those seven drop'd down the rope breaking not being so much as staggered but stood on his feet and this the Regiments of Horse and Foot as also all the multitude of people saw and some of the people cryed out hang him no more yet the Colonel of Horse who was commanded to see the execution performed strictly commanded the Executioner to be sure to take him and hang him again or he should be hanged for him and caused him to take two ropes and twist them together which done he was taken by the Executioner and hanged therewith who after a little space dropped down again both the Ropes breaking and was then sensible but had more wrong by the Ropes yet was lively sensible as all beholders stood amazed at insomuch that the Colonel rode to the Gen. and acquain'ed him therewith as also of the cryes both of people and Souldiers hang him no more for Gods sake All this time the other six were hanging the Colonel came and gave command to hang on others and let him alone which accordingly was done another was taken up and he had not long hanged but also the Rope broke and he drop'd down and then the Souldiers and all with one consent cryed hang no more for Gods sake and no more were hanged and then they went and shot an Ensign of Colonel Vowse his Regiment whose name was Keckwich to death a Cornish man as if they were perswaded they could hang no more He that was as you heard twice hanged was a precious Christian he lived in Taunton Dean his name was Nicholas Weeks who died in Lidner prison afterwards the other we know not his name but he was a Devonshire man and of a smal stature Eye-witnesses were of this very many but to this have these testified it for a certain truth Kettilby Woodhouse Will. Anstees Lievt Will. Horsham This wonderful and almost miraculous deliverance that God bestowed because it seems almost incredible I have annexed the names of those that testifie it with one of whom I am very well acquainted and know him to be one of so much veracity that I durst believe it upon his single report though I should not be willing to propose it to others without more witnesses Jaddus the High Priest understanding that Alexander was highly incensed against Jerusalem and intended speedily to come against it he desired the Jewes to keep a Fast as also he himself did and offered Sacrifice begging of God to direct him what should be done in this matter and the next night in his sleep God appeared unto him and wished him to open the gates of Jerusalem and in all his Priestly Robes to meet Alexander the rest
as he might abide great torments for hee was cast before a cruel Libbard thirsting most extremely after blood to the intent that he might devoure with his teeth the rest of his body but the beast smelling of him forgat his cruelty and turning away his face hee did no hurt to the Martyr but hereat the Tyrantsrage encreased and the Martyr by suffering such torments was made more constant crying aloud O how pleasant is that death unto me which is caused by all sorts of torments for Gods sake yea so much the more pleasant for that I assuredly hope to finde reward for it in heaven Let these torments inflicted upon mee O Tyrant satisfie thy cruelty for my pain is not by thy tortures encreased but rather my pleasure as thou shalt finde by my patience in this agony more willing am I to suffer than thou to punish yea my pain in suffering is less than thine by inflicting the same upon me I am tormented for the truth and observing the Law and the Justice of God shall banish thee from thy Regal Seat thou by tormenting art tormented and almost consumed thy wrath and fury being almost spent upon mee in vain thou shalt not escape the Day of Judgement eternal pains are there prepared for thee which neither thy profane minde is able to endure nor thy cruelty of power to decline thy sinful soul being condemned to eternal punishments Thus hee remaining constantly in his Faith and animated by his Brothers example departed unto heaven Then the third Son was brought whom all pittied for the death of his two Brethren and many exhorted him by his Brothers examples to desist from his opinion and so avoid punishment but hee being hereat angry thus replyed One Father begot us one Mother did bear us one Master instructed us wee are all of one mind and all alike affected do therefore no longer prolong the time in vain I came hither for to suffer and not to speak use all your tyranny possible against this body for you have no power at all over my soul The Tyrant hereat moved to see this third nothing relent by his brothers deaths he devised more cruelty than humane wit alone could invent wherefore hee commanded a Globe to bee brought and tied the holy Martyr about it in such sort that all his bones were set out of joynt and displaced whereat the holy Martyr was nothing dismaide the skin also of his head and face was pulled off and then hee was put upon the wheel but hee could not bee racked any worse for that all his bones were displaced and did hang one separated from another in most pitiful manner And when blood issued from him abundantly hee was deprived of the use of his hands and feet but perceiving his life to bee spent hee spake thus and died Wee O Tyrant endure this torment for the love of God and thou the Author of such unjust cruelty shalt suffer everlasting pain then his tongue being cut out of his mouth hee was put into a Frying-pan and so amidst those torments yeelded up the Ghost Next after followed the fourth Brother whom all the people perswaded and entreated to obey the King but hee contemning their exhortations said thus with all constancy Your fire shall not separate mee from the Law of God nor from my Brethren who instead of this mortal life enjoy life everlasting I denounce unto thee O Tyrant destruction and overthrow but to such as believe salvation Make tryal of mee therefore and see if God will forsake me who hath with open and stretched out armes received my three brethren that are gone before mee and whom the Womb of so holy a Mother at several times brought forth unto glory The cruel Tyrant hearing this was much moved and leapt down from his Chair to torment this Martyr himself that so hee might overcome him and in his fury commanded his tongue to bee cut out but hee hereat not terrified said unto Antiochus This cruelty will nothing avail thee neither shalt thou hereby as thou supposest conquer mee our God needs not by voice to bee awakened but rather by secret cogitation to bee prayed unto to help his servants and our God knoweth all things before wee ask and before wee our selves enter into cogitation thereof hee understandeth our necessity cut out my tongue thou canst not cut out my minde while my life remaineth Those prayers which by it I have uttered to Almighty God have taught it to suffer Would God thou wouldst so sanctifie all parts of my body by punishing them for thou therein inflictest punishment upon thy self and reward upon mee and think not that thou shalt thus escape long unpunished When hee had thus spoken his tongue was cut out of his mouth and hee bound to a stake and there hee was beaten with ropes ends and hee did patiently endure this notwithstanding the colour of his face became dead and wan being loosed from thence hee was put upon the wheel and then praying for the Church of God hee by death went unto the rest of his Brethren Then the fifth Brother before hee was haled to torments spake in this manner Behold I come to bee punished before thou command mee hope not therefore any jot to alter his minde who as thou seest desireth to bee tormented the blood of my four innocent brethren which thou hast shed hath condemned thee to hell fire I am to make them up the number of five that by it thy pains may bee encreased Tell mee for what offence by us committed dost thou thus punish us For what impiety dost thou so persecute us What villainy have wee committed What wickedness what naughtiness have wee attempted This is all thou canst alledge against us that wee honour God our Creatour and live justly in obedience of his Lawes and therefore do not esteem thy punishments but they are to us honour and salvation and not punishment we shall bee greatly rewarded by God if no part of us bee left free from torment Whilst thus hee spake his Executioners by the Kings command took him and cast him into a brazen pot and was prest down in it his head to his feet and afterwards hee suffered all other torments which his Brethren had endured yet not amazed hereat hee suddenly started up and thus hee said Cruel Tyrant how great benefits doest thou against thy will bestow upon us yea the more thou art incensed against us the more acceptable to God shalt thou make us yea I should bee sorry if thou shouldst shew mercy upon mee this short affliction gaineth us life everlasting if this temporal death should not betide mee everlasting life could not befal mee and thus hee finished his agony and died Then the Tormentors laid hands upon the sixth Brother who was permitted either to chuse honour or else punishment but hee aggrieved at his offer said although I be younger in my years than my Martyr'd Brethren yet my constancy of minde to theirs is not
that was a Batchelour who lived as poor as shee who very seldome would give her any thing sometimes some small single money the last time shee came to him though shee was in great want and used much importunity yet hee would not give her a farthing shee then begg'd a cup of drink of him hee pretends that he was so poor that hee had not money to buy himself bread and so sent her away with nothing but her own tears to drink but though weeping may endure for a night joy comes in the morning for the Lord struck that hard-hearted man with death and this poor woman being Heir to his Estate was worth next day ten thousand pound which with a great deal of care hee had scrap'd together and with a great deal of uncharitableness had kept and though hee would not give her a farthing over night hee was forced to leave her all the next morning Luther hath this story A certain woman in the time of famine having nothing at all for her children and her self to eat being brought to very great extremity shee resolv'd upon this course shee made her self and all her children ready and with a great deal of comfort and confidence shee walked to a Spring not far from her house as shee was going one met her who ask'd her whether shee was going with her children Shee told him that all her provision was quite spent and shee was going with her children to such a Fountain close by being confident that God that had provided drink for her and her children would there provide food for them also and hee that heard the young Ravens and provided for them would much more take care of her and her little ones hee that met her wished her to return home for shee should meet with provision that was ready for her there shee returned and found a considerable quantity of meal which was food for her and her children but whence this provision came shee knew not nor knew the man who told her of it There was a certain poor family being in great wants and had little or nothing for their children when dinner came they put them off with play-things and told them they would see if they could get them something for Supper and when Supper came they would give some small piece of bread and so get them to bed And thus they used them so long while at last the children would not to bed but cryed for bread that night it was so that my Lord Fawkland waking before midnight and could not sleep it came into his minde that this family was in great want insomuch that hee call'd up some of his servants and sent them with a great loaf and a Cheese to the house when the servant came hee found the children crying for bread and the Parents weeping by them who with a great deal of joy and eagerness received that unexpected provision Thus the Lord ordered it by his Providence that they were not only then relieved but their necessities being related to the Lord Fawkland by his servant hee took care of them for the future Speed in his Chronicles relates this story there being a great famine the year before as soon as the corn was ear'd the poor would gather and eat insomuch that the Inhabitants of the Parish came to the Priest desiring him to curse the people for gathering and spoiling the corn but one of the Parishioners stood up and charged the Priest that hee should not curse them for his corn for it did him good to see the poor eat his corn for hee was very sensible of their necessities but the clamours of the others prevail'd but as the Priest was cursing the poor there fell a great storm of Thunder and Lightening and Hail which beat down all the corn so as if Horses and Carts had gone over it nor would either beasts or any fowl eat any thing of it only this good mans corn though intermingled with others stood untouched not an ear of it being blasted Doctor Hill in his book of living and dying well hath a remarkable story of a young Gentleman of one of the Innes of Court who it seems expected to die suddenly and before hee should bee twenty four years of age and so hee did having these verses found about him viz. Not twice twelve years full told a wearied breath I have exchanged for an happy death Short was my life the longer is my rest God takes them soonest whom he loveth best Hee that is born to day and dies to morrow Loses some hours of joy but moneths of sorrow Other diseases often come to grieve us Death strikes but once and that stroke doth relieve us So grave a Doctor setting down this story in his book I thought it no lightness in mee to set it down in mine The story of Mr. Holland not only because it is very remarkable but also because it hath pleased God to affect me very much with it I shall setdown here also This Mr. Holland was a pious and faithful Preacher of the Gospel as some that have been acquainted with him and have heard him have testified of him a man that was a stranger and Pilgrime in the world neither having any thing to do with it nor indeed knew it his Wiâ—e mannaging all his worldly affairs for him hee knew not what the common coyns of gold were worth and for his cloaths except his Wife had otherwise ordered it hee would have worn them till they had been rags hee spent his time wholly in his Study and a man of great charity insomuch that if hee had no money about him and a poor man had begg'd of him hee would have given his Gloves or Handkerchief or Band c. being regardless of all things save the glory of God and the Salvation of his own and others Souls This precious Saint the day before his death calling for a Bible continued his Meditation and Exposition on the eighth to the Romans for the space of two hours but on a sudden hee said O stay your reading what brightness is this I see and they said it is the Sun-shine nay saith hee it is my Saviours shine Now farewel world welcome heaven the Day-Star from on high hath visited my heart I doubt not but you all see that light but I feel a light within me that none of yee all can know and then turning himself to the Minister who preached his Funeral Sermon who was one of them that came to visit him hee said Sir I desire you would preach my Funeral Sermon for this night I dye and speak this from mee and speak it confidently that God deales familiarly with man a rare and sweet expression I feel his mercy I see his Majesty whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell God hee knoweth but I see things that are unutterable And being thus ravished in his spirit hee roamed towards heaven with a cheerful look and soft sweet voice