the Hare the Hawke ceise upon the Partridge if now one beast bite and devoure another if any of the foules of the aire doe rend and teare one another all this is but the fruit of our sinne which can never be rightly rejoyced in so long as the root whence it sprang is to bee mourned for Vnlawfull to take pleasure in it This then is my opinion which yet I submit to the censure of sounder judgement I think it utterly unlawfull for any man to take pleasure in the paine and torture of any creature or delight himselfe in the tyranny which the creatures exercise one over another or to make a recreation of their brutish cruelty which they practise one upon another CHAP. X. GOd of his goodnesse hath given us liberty I grant to take the labour of some Gen. 9.2.3 Strab. Geo. l 5. p. 151. and the lives of others for our use As wee have the flesh of some to feed us the fleece to cloath us the strength and speed of some other to case us and both in peace and in warre to relieve us And as he hath appointed them to serve us for our use and comfort Polyd. de Inven. l. 3. c. 2. c. 5. Opusculum horrend de Feris Arg. 4. so hath he allowed us meanes and instruments some naturall some artificiall to bring them to our bent and fetch them into our hands Hence it is that we may warrantably use the naturall faculties and qualities of some of the creatures which are more familiar unto us for the overtaking and taking of those which being without our reach and compasse are either unwilling to come neer to do us good or ready still to stand out to doe us hurt So may we use and that not only for our profit Retia ad apros ursos lupos capien Authem l. 2. de Feudis § Nemo but for our pleasure also so it bee in Christian discretion and moderation the speed and swiftnesse of the Greyhound to course the Hare the sight and flight of the Hawke to take the Partridge the sent and sagacity of the Hound to hunt the Deere the nimblenesse and subtilty of the tumbler to snatch up and cony-catch the Cony Plutamb de curiosit even when hee seemes but to dally and sport with her And many other such naturall helpes may we use for our sober refreshing and delight as well as for our profit and benefit yet still with this caution and condition Neither in the enmity or cruelty of or towards the creatures that we take no pleasure nor delight either in the enmity of the creatures one against another or in their cruelty when they tire upon and teare one another much lesse that wee please our selves in their paines and not content to take away their lives once only unlesse we sport and delight our selves by torturing and tormenting of them to make them dye many deaths together in one also I saw once a Gentleman being about to feed his Hawke pull a live Pidgeon out of his Faulkners-bag and taking her first by both wings The example of cruelty to the creature rent them with great violence from her body and then taking hold of both leggs pluckt them asunder in like manner the body of the poore creature trembling in his hand while his Hawke was tiring upon the other parts to his great contentment and delight upon his fist This Act was held by some that stood by to bee somewhat too cruell and unmencifull both because of the torturing paines hee put the Pidgeon unto and for that hee seemes much to delight in the doing of it It was lawfull for him no doubt to have taken the life of the Pidgeon and to have given her warme flesh to his Hawke for her supper which he might have done by plucking off her neck to procure a speedy and prevent a lingring and tormenting death whereof the foresaid Gentleman being lovingly and respectfully admonished hee made presently a resolute or rather an obstinate answer viz. That might peradventure have given his Hawke some contentment but this he did with delight for his love unto his Hawke and for his owne pleasure Stiffenesse in opinion without judgement and fond affection without moderation breed no sound resolution neither in nor for the truth but rather obstinate and strong opposition against it Even in taking away life where the act is lawfull there may be mercy shewen and so it may be done more lawfully because it is done mercifully and in the same act there may bee much crueltie and so the act for the man and manner is made unlawfull because the actor was unmercifull in the doing of it Polyd. de Jnvent Rerum l. 2. c. 11. l. 3. c. 5. Authent l. 2. de Feudis §. Nemo retia sua aut laq It is lawfull to kill a Bird with a Bolt to strike a Deere with a Bow to shoot at Foule with a Peece to take Fish with Hookes and Nets to set Toyles for Foxes and lay grins and snares for wild and hurtfull beasts but to take pleasure and delight after wee have their lives in our hands to peek out their eyes to breake their legs to pierce their brests with Bodkins their bodies with Pikes or Swords and so to lend them a little use of their life onely to linger and lengthen out the paines of their death this is brutish cruelty to a brute creature and is no small argument of a bloody minde and a bad disposition if we will give any credit either to the light of nature amongst the Heathen Quintil. l. 5 c. 9. Erasm ad Episcop Basil 15 22 or to the Word of God amongst Gods people I have read in ancient Writers and so Erasâ—â—â—… doth report that he had done that the Magistrates amongst the Grecians observing a young boy to take great pleasure and delight when he had taken young birds to prick and peck out their eyes with Pins and Needles held him worthy to dye for his sporting cruelty because they did conjecture that such a cruell disposition and naughty humour in a childe might very dangerously breake out into some brutish and bloody practices if ever he should come unto his strength and riper age And this seemeth to bee the meaning and intent of the holy Ghost Deut. 22.6 Ex. 23.19 Deu. 14. â—â— when the people of God were forbidden if they found a Birds nest to take the damm with the young and to see a Kid in his mothers milk lest being accustome to deale cruelly and unmercifully with birds and beasts Gal. in Eâ— cap. 23. â—â— they might grow on to some savage inhumanity and bloody cruelty to wards men also and that because as a learned man saith Quia his initiis ad crudelitatem in homines itur ideo non incommode haec crudelitas in belluas M. Cartvv in Pâ—ov 12.10 inhumanitatis cujusdam peragitur Because by these beginnings of brutish
hodie quare non hac hora finis turpitudinis meae How long how long To morrow and to morrow Why not to day why not this houre is there not an end of my former filthinesse O happy Austin and holy man of God that was first thus humbled that he might be exalted And yet more happy that having the Lord to seeke him as a lost sheep he finding himselfe to go astray began presently to seek the Shepheard that sought him and happy most of all in this that in so seeking the Lord he did both finde him and was found of him In many particulars I will not compare this Gentleman for measure of grace with S. Austin but for the nature manner meanes and time and truth of their conversion he may well go hand in hand with him 1. Austin was about 32 yeares of age when he was effectually called and converted and so was he 2. Austin had at that time many combats betwixt Reason and Religion the flesh and the spirit and so had he 3. Austin had his heart full of prayers and his eyes full of teares when he sought after God and so had he 4. Austin had and held sweet communion with God by Colloquies Soliloquies holy and heavenly meditations and so did he 5. Austin having once tasted the sweetnesse of the Lord thought nothing so pleasant as to forgoe the pleasures of his former vanities Aug. Cons lib. 9. cap. 1. Quam suave mihi subitò factum est carere suavitatibus nugarum And held it now a joy to renounce those joyes and toyes which before he was afraid to lose Et quas amittere metus fuerat eas jam dimittere gaudium erat And such for all the world were this Gentlemans desires and delights such his disposition and affection when once he had tasted how sweet the Lord was and had drunk of the pleasures of his house somwhat more freely and fully than formerly he had done Whereof Austin gives the reason for them both Tu enim Domine qui vera es summa suavitas ejiciebas eas à me ejiciebas intrabas pro eâ—s omni voluptate dulcior omni luce clarior c. For thou O Lord who art the true and chief sweetnesse it selfe didst cast out of me those pleasures of vanities thou didst cast them out and didst enter in thy selfe in stead of them being unto me more delicious than any delight more cleare than any light whatsoever 6. Austins conversion was so blest of God that it was an occasion of the conversion of others of his friends as of Alipius Nebridius and Evodius neare about the same time And so was this Gentlemans conversion blest of God also being attended and accompanied with the conversion of diverse of his friends brothers and sisters and neighbours who being brought on by his good meanes and Gods blessing unto a love and liking of the truth of the Gospell were also effectually called to the profession and practice of the same 7. Austin being converted did not onely cease from the practice of his former vanities and old sinnes of his youth but he renounced the heresie of the Manichees wherewith he was tainted and did for go his Rhetoricke Lecture at Millan fearing to doe hurt unto his Schollars any longer by poysoning their mindes with errors and lies and corrupting their hearts with words of vanity And so did this Gentleman utterly renounce the pleasure and practice of his former vanities and purge out of his heart the poyson of Popish errours wherewith formerly he had been infected and would never any more either read or heare such Lectures of vanity as formerly he was wont to do 8. Lastly Austin upon his conversion began to seeke and serve the Lord with great power and zeale both in his person and calling standing and striving for the truth against a lie yea every lie that durst confront it or assaile it And so did this Gentleman for his calling and standing according to the gifts and graces which God had given him though herein much inferiour to Augustine I confesse who is gone before him yet superiour by much to many if not the most of his rank that either lived with him or shall follow after him The truth of all which specialties shall God willing be seene in divers and sundry particulars more plainly in the course of his life and sequele of this story CHAP. XIV SOme of the first though not the fairest fruits of his change and conversion The fruits of his conversion First as heire of the family in civill matters Secondly cap. 18. His reformation began then to appeare when first of an heire he became an inheritor of his Fathers state and took possession of his house and lands For being of himselfe unfit as many young heires are either to undertake such a charge or manage such an estate as by the fall of their parents is fallen unto them he notwithstanding by the mercy and grace of God at his first entrance began to cut off and cast out all lets and impediments which might hinder him and to use and embrace all helpes that might further him in running the race which the Lord had now set before him for whereas there were two speciall matters of importance that might now perplex him first how upon so small beginnings he might sufficiently provide for his owne family Removing impediments and secondly how his father having charged him and the land with the portions of twelve children sonnes and daughters which hee left behind him hee might faithfully discharge that trust which his father reposed in him hee both wisely and conscionably first of all laid away Hawkes and Hounds and cast off for ever his wide mouth'd Dogs and utterly ceased any longer to follow them or their followers And which is yet more Renouncing his pleasures to cut off all occasions of wastefull and riotous expence both of time and other things having a goodly Parke left him on the backeside of his house well stored and furnished with fallow Deere hee presently killed up the game and disparked the Parke and drawing himselfe to as narrow a compasse as well hee could lived so frugally and contentedly and yet for his place very competently and orderly that he provided sufficiently for his owne family His Frugality and faithfully discharged himselfe of his fathers charge paying his brethren and sisters all their portions and placing them in marriage and otherwise very comfortably as his owne words will beare me testimony This charge through Gods assistance saith he I well discharged His fidelity And married well all my sisters and preferred all my brothers and none of them offended A rare example I confesse considering the young heires that come to their lands in our time for as commonly they are sick of the father as Esau was before his day looking for his death so when they come on a sudden to so greate an estate A rebuke to
letter of the Lords prayer but to the matter all Set prayer a helpe Heart-prayer best of all Cap. 23. Secondly His singing of Psalmes His delight in singing of Psalmes Thirdly His reading of the Scriptures Fourthly His humble and holy prayer with thankesgiving Having alwayes matter of praise as well as cause of prayer Cap. 24. His Evenings exercise in opening and applying the word for the use of his Family Crowned with a blessing from God Opposed much by some men of the world His fortification against such assaults For justifying of his judgement and practice in thus teaching of his family By his collections and observations out of Godly and good Authors Cap. 25. And yet not usurping upon the ministery nor by any private spirit But by Godly and good meanes providing as Ioseph for himselfe and for his Family Cap. 26. Thus farre of his religious governement of his owne house in his private Family Now of his zeale to Gods house in the publicke Assembly First In abolishing meanes and instruments of false worship His inducements thereunto Authority of the Magistrate example of good and great men which made him proceed from the Chappell to the Church This act censured by Papists Iustified by themselves against themselves Cap. 27. Secondly In establishing Gods true Word and worship by procuring godly ministers to preach of his own Cost and chaâ—ge Little regarded yet he not discouraged because the word of God prospered Many vertues of his to be observed and imitated For Gentlemen to bee rich in good workes For Patrons not to spoile the Church being bound to provide for it For profane Gentlemen bestowing much on their lusts nothing on Gods service Neither maintaining any Levite at home nor seeking after the word abroad Cap. 28. Vpon their neglect of the publike ministry he maintained the Preacher in his owne house But after a while restored him to the publicke Assembly The cause and occasion thereof And so continued to maintaine the Minister both by his owne and Master Clarkes testimony Cap 29 Popish and profane wakes His godly care and labour to suppresse them By a more plentifull and powerfull use of the word preached Whereby hee prevailed and blessed God With rejoycing and Feasting of Gods people Renouncing all fellowship with sinne and sinners And herein following the example of Christ Cap. 30. Nine reasons against popish and profane Wakes Cap. 31. Being still more religious hee grew â—…ore famous Many desire to sojourne with him Sir Ricâ—ard Grosvenor in his tender yeares bâ—ought up in his house Master Hardware and his Family also tabled with him His wise and gracious dealing with him and his And the good effect and fruit thereof Both in his family and in the city Thus to season others and to build up Gods house in his owne was his labour of love and joy of his heart Cap. 32. The good successe whereof made him like David To make greater provision by publicke exercises which he frequented and by which he became better furnished In which his course divers things to be commended First His chéerefullnesse Secondly His painfullnesse First In seeking Secondly In gathering Manna and other provision Thirdly His attentive diligence First In hearing Secondly In writing Thirdly In repeating Fourthly in recording the summe and substance of all the exercises In many manuscripts commended to the heires of his family Fourthly His kind usage of Gods ministers First Love to their persons Secondly Reverence to their callings Fiftly His good affection to professors Cap. 33. The exercises of Religion great helps unto godlinesse A motion for exchange with other exercises of profanesse Difference great Company contrary Holy exercises acceptable to God Profitable unto men yet will none make an exchange but such as are changed themselves Cap. 34. He was otherwise exercised also by affliction In the death of his Wife Sudden death a fearefull Iudgement to some Sudden Death upon a wicked life fearfull Yet all that dye suddenly doe not dye fearfully but many otherwise as this Gentlewoman very hopefully No death sudden to a sound Christian His afflictions sanctified and passions moderated Cap. 35. Standing in need of marriage he sought and found a prudent wife by good opportunity and by good meanes of his trusty servant declaring unto him her Parents Her Father her mother and her parts worthy due Commendation So he made motion for marriage Prevailed in it and tooke her to wife He set up and renewed the exercises of Religion in that Family The good successe thereof by his own testimony Cap. 36 His returne home to Stapleford bringing his wife along with him Divers Gentlemen desire to sojourne with him His Family a famous nursery for Religion Master Wilbraham placeth his Sonne-inlaw and his daughter with him Cap. 37. His desire to give him contentment and to doe them good To try their dispositions he observed their words and workes They were teachable and tractable Touching the Lords day Concerning Cardeplay His Wife converted Himselfe convinced Al witnesses of his faithfulnesse Cap. 38. His burning of Tables Cards and Dice as malefactours An attestation of the Fathers with him against them Cap. 39. His collections against Cards and Dice Cap. 40. Instead of Tables Cards and Dice he set up two Bibles one in the Parlour another in the Hall Answerable to our Church Canons Bibles for Bs. servants and for strangers This neglected A remedy for recovery to take heed of evill and provide good servants Our Canons against Cards and Dice and all unlawfull games Some of our Divines in the Countrey make little Conscience of these Canons Cap. 41. Some defects in the publicke ministry He procured Master A. St. for supply whom he maintained for the most part His worthy testimony concerning Master Bruen Being an eye and care witnesse Master Perkins hearing of him did much admire and commend him Many Gentlemen desire to sojourne with him His owne relation Cap. 42. A sudden Storme upon the death of his deare wife A great affliction to the whole Family Her vertues and due praises The heavy parting of his Tablers All full of griefe Master Bruen himselfe exceeded Time and reason strengthened with grace will moderate passions Cap. 43. Master Bruen's owne relation touching his more private course of life Seaven things remarkeable therein Cap. 44. All to be said may bee drawne to three heads First His conversing with God Secondly His conversation in the world Thirdly His departure out of the world God gave him wisedome and understanding Also courage and strength as he did to Ioshua His conversing with God in foure Spirituall Duties Cap. 45. First His meditation The necessity and excellency of Meditation Meanes and helpes which he used Reading of the word and of godly mens writings his following the rules of direction for meditation The gaine Godlinesse many benefits and sweet fruits of it Great difference Many Enemies unto it Many of the better sort fayle in it Cap. 46. Secondly Observation of Gods judgements and
the profession of the Gospel and practice of true religion He that had done so worthily in Ephrata became famous in Bethlehem He grew more famous His name being perfumed with such and so great variety of Gods graces did send forth a most fragrant and sweet smell and savour into all the families of the countrey round about him insomuch Many desite to sojournwith him that now divers Gentlemen of the best ranck did much desire to sojourne under his roofe and to table with him for their better information in the way of God and more effectuall reclaiming of themselves and their families That honourable and worthy Knight Sir Richard Grosvenor Baronet when he was young and tender was by his parents godly and gracious care and desire of his religious education Sir R. G. in his tender yeares brought up in his house transplanted as it were into this family where for the space of three yeares he was trained up and nurtured in the knowledge and feare of God and that with so good successe and fruit of this Gentlemans labours and endeavours through the blessing of God upon him that both the University in his youth and the countrey in his reper age may and will seale him a worthy testimony for a Gentleman of an amiable and sweet disposition and of a studious and religious carriage and conversation amongst them The seed that was then sowen and the plants that were then set in this soyle are yet still increasing and bringing forth more fruit both in his person and calling whereof as wee have seene a faire increase already in some of his more eminent imployments so doe we yet looke for a more plentifull harvest of his holy and wholesome fruits in their season as hee may have further calling thereunto Much about this time also his brother in Law Master Hardware of the Peile M. Hard. and his family also tabled with him was very desirous to draw nearer unto him and so with his good liking and allowance brought himselfe and his whole family wife children and servants to be tabled with him This Master Hardware at the first seeing this Gentleman in the government of his family so full and free for wholesome admonitions and reproofes could no better abide a rebuke than sore eyes can endure the Sun Which when Master Bruen had once and againe observed knowing that Patient to be very sicke that is impatient of the meanes and medicine which might cure him He began to cast about how he might best deale with him and most effectually worke upon him for his good What he did to this end and with what effect and fruit His wise and gracious dealing with him and his he shall himselfe tell you in his own words I remember saith hee my brother Hardware when hee was tabler with us at first would not bee reproved but after a while having the 141. Psalme for our Evenings exercise and then divers of my family did usually give Notes being godly and well affected all concluded together that all should speake of the fifth verse Let the righteous reprove mee c. And my selfe gave the last note after which time he never resisted any more Yea more than all this And the good effect and fruit ther of he gives him yet a better testimony of his growth and proficiency in religion under his own hand in these words It pleased God saith hee so to worke upon his and their hearts that they went home with new hearts converted unto God and professed religion in holy sincerity untill their death My brother Hardware then at Peile Both in his family and set up religion in his family with great power and comfort So that the very first evening after their comming home they began to sing Psalms to read the Scriptures to Pray and to Catechise all which being ended his wife ran unto him and kissed him with great rejoycing saying O husband I thank God and blesse his name that ever you came to Staplefoord And so afterwards being Major of Chester In the city he that year shewed his religion very graciously in his government all praise to God c. These things he hath thus set downe as he hath done also many more as certaine memorials of Gods mercies Thus to season others in blessing his desires and endeavours for the seasoning of others both persons and families with the salt of true religion by his hand that so they might bee better able to offer themselves and their services as holy living and spirituall sacrifices acceptable unto God in Christ Jesus This was his labour of love And to build up Gods house in his owne was his labour of love And joy of his heart to build up the house of God even in his owne house and taking some out of other families as rough stones out of the Quarries to hew and square them smooth and polish them to be as lively and precious stones of and for the Lords Temple And this was the very joy of his heart to see the word of the Lord prosper in his hand according to that saying of Saint Iohn I have no greater joy than to heare that my children walke in the truth I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soule prospereth CHAP. XXXII THis comfort and contentment which hee tooke in laying the foundation The good successe whereof and building up the walles of Gods house in this manner did give him great encouragement to furnish himselfe better and to make his provision greater for this worke both by his private studies and also by his publike travels and endeavours being herein not much unlike to holy David who having it in the purpose of his heart 1 Chr. 29 1 2. to build Gods house provided abundantly all manner of materials wood and stone iron and brasse gold and silver marble and precious stones Made him like David to make greater provision as hee could procure them farre or neare besides all the treasure that he offered of his owne proper goods even three thousand talents of the gold of Ophir and seven thousand talents of refined silver to the furthering and finishing of the Lords house For whereas in those dayes it seemed good unto the Lord having compassion on his people to raise up and establish many holy exercises of religion By publike exercises both in Cheshire and in Lancashire which were kept constantly every moneth and maintained worthily by the godly labours of the faithfull Ministers and Messengers of God in those parts and that with great and comfortable successe and fruit for the edifying of the Churches of God in knowledge faith and obedience to the Gospell This worthy Gentleman Which hee frequented taking hold of this faire opportunity did frequent these assemblies and partake of the labours of the Lords Builders with great diligence care and conscience storing himselfe with their treasures
and place himselfe who knew right well what was worthy true praise and what it was that did make a mans face to shine in the mids of his own house and in the Congregation For as Laudari ab illaudato viro vituperiumest Vide Aul. Gell de Istaudate liâ—… 2. cap. 6. To bee praised of a man utterly unworthy of any praise himselfe is a dispraise So to be praised or a good man a messenger of God one of a thousand as he was and that with such ardent affection and heavenly rejoycing For the power of Religion and fruits of grace in that Family must needs advance the praise of this worthy Gentleman to a higher straine and pitch of his due and true commendation Thus it pleased the Lord every day more and more to crown this Gentleman and his house his desires and endevours with honor and favor beauty and glory Many Gentleme desire to so journe with him Insomuch that the eyes and hearts of many were towards him divers of the best ranck in the Country did much desire to have accesse and acceptance as some others had before to so journ with him His house being herein me thinks not much unlike unto a goodly Tower upon a hill Aspicis us veniunt adcandida recta collibae Accipior nullas sordida Turris 〈◊〉 faire built and richly beautified which doth easily invite and allure the Doves of the vallies to fly and flock unto it and for their better refreshing and repose to build their nests in it And so upon the sollicitation and importunity of his Cousins and Friends he entertained againe divers Families and personages of great place to partake of Gods meanes and mercies with him in his Family Who they were what successe they had what fruits they found what comforts and refreshings they reaped and enjoyed in their cohabitation and Communion one with another in holy duties he shall himselfe relate unto you in his owne words which he hath left upon record under his own hand to this purpose Afterwards saith he many more desired to table with me His owne Relation The Lady Egerton widow daughter in law to the Lord Chauncelour then being with her company And my consen Tho Dutton of Dutton with his wift son and daughter that now is the Lord Gerrards Wife being 10 of his Family And 4 Gentlewomen of Hatton being sisters and one maid attending on them Which maid was froward at the first against Religion and religious dutyes But God in his mercy began first with her For being in grievous affliction of conscience she was humbled soundly had a most comfortable conversion blessed be God Mary Sherington I think was her name And they 2 of the sisters had a more easie conversion but I believe true grace And the other 2 sisters convineed and very honest modest maids And for my cosen Dutton his condition with me was to keep the Lords Sabbath with my Family as well afternoon is forenoone which he and all his did in the publike Congregation All of us having then great help from a learned godly Minister M. Rob. Wats a Reverend Worthy man of God whom we called Old Eli for his gravity and faithfulnesse above many and being continually with us in my Family Observing this order for our Family exercises hee and I to pray in the family he one morning and evening and I another and both of us every evening to give a note upon a chapter and between nine and ten of the clock in the forenoone we agreed to have prayer again for the Tablers At the same time my cosen Dutton being pressed and charged by some of great place to mainteine his Royalty of Minstrelsey for Piping and Daunsing on the Sabbath day my Minister my selfe and my family were earnest against it and prevailed so far with my cosen Dutton that he promised that all Piping and Dauncing should cease on the Sabbath day both forenoone and afternoon and so his Licences were made and do continue so untill this day And so wee had great peace and comfort together blessed be God By all this we may easily see and perceive how graciously the Lord dealt with this Gentleman from time to time not only to blesse him and his family every day more and more but to make him a blessing also to many others of his kindred and friends which came but for a season to so journe with him CHAP. XLII NOW as sometimes it commeth to passe that in the fairest calme there may arise a violent and suddene storme to scatter A sudden storme and disperse such vessels as have laine for a while at quiet rode in the harbor So did it fall out by the Lords disposing hand in the mids of all these their sweet comforts to send amongst them a tempest of griefe Vpon the death of his deare wife and sorrow by the death of this Gent-gracious wife yokefellow which occasioned not long after a dissolving of his family and a dispersing of the whole Company The losse of this Gentlewoman was so much the more grievous both to her husband and the whole family because of the great help and comfort they had all by her She lived 10 yeares with this Gentleman her husband a faithfull helper and a fruitfull Vyne bearing unto him 9 Children sons and daughters and continuing with her husband in great peace and love a prudent wife and wise fellow-governor within his house much respected and beloved A great affliction to the whole family Prov. 31.10 11 12 Pro. v 31.26.27 28 29. Her vertues not only of her owne but of all these Gentlemen and Gentlewomen which did Table with them Who can find a vertuous woman for her price is far above Rubyes The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have not need of poyle She will do him good and not evill all the dayes of her life She openeth her mouth in wisdome and the Law of grace is in her lips She looketh well to the wayes of her houshold and eateth not the bread of idlenesse Her children arise up and call her blessed her husband also and he praiseth her many daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all A man may truly say without either fraud or flattery that in some good measure Such a woman such a wife such a mother such a governour was this Gentlewoman in her owne house and family Her due prâ—ises Fâ—â—ctum est prâ—cvâ—sissimum Margaritum Virens smaragdi gemma contrita est Hieron ad Para. deobitu Paulme uxoris She was also in her selfe of a gracious and amiable disposition having an humble heart and holy affections beautified and decked with that ornament of the hid man of the heart a meek quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price Yea she was one that was ripe in knowledg rich in grace full of Faith good Works One that held communion with God
charme he never so wisely Thus have we made it manifest that this gracious and Godly Gentleman was in his holy conversation full of mercy and full of good fruits All of which do taste and relish so much the better because they were seasoned with two other gracious qualities of that wisedome which is from above namely Equity and Syncerity for hee was without partiality and without hypocrisie According to that of the Prophet Micha He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to doe justlie and to love mercy and to walk humbly and uprightly with thy God And thus have we according to our purpose and promise taken a more speciall view of some parts and passages of this Gentlemans life wherein the gifts of Gods grace the vertues of Christ and the fruits of the Spirit did more eminently appear As first in his conversing with God and secondly in his conversation in the world And so wee come from the course of his life in the world and draw towards the end of his life namely his departure out of the world which was the third and last of those 3. generall heads which were proposed to be handled CHAP. LX. COncerning his departure out of this world 3. General Head His departure out of the world 1. Prepar 2. His Resol 3 His confidence 4. His const Psa 90.12 we propole divers things to be considered and observed First his preparation for it Secondly his patient resolution to Beare all the sharpe occurrents of it Thirdly his gracious confidence of a blessed and happy exchange after it Fourthly his happy constancy in the faith of Christ unto the end and in the end untill hee was put in possession of it and so obtained the end of his faith the salvation of his lonle in Christ Jesus Now for the first as his whole life was a meditation of death so was it also a continuall preparation for it For the Lord had taught him so to number his dayes that he did apply his heart unto wisdome I say both to be wise unto salvation and so wise also as to consider Wisedom Deut. 32.29 Iob. 14.14 and often think too upon his latter end So that all the dayes of his appointed time he did wait as Iob did till his change should come Al his studies and labours all his holy duties and services all his prayers and tears all his watchings and fastings all his desires and endeavors were especially bent and directed unto this end next unto Gods glory that he might so run that he might obtaine and so fight His preparation for death that he might overcome and in the end be more than a conquerour in him that loved him that is in Christ Jesus It was therefore his care and confidence ever so to live that he might never be affraid to dye yea so to live that he might desire to dye and to bee with Christ which is best of all even where he is and as he is for over Phil 1.23 Paulm in vita Amb. Possidon in vita Aug. As Paulinus hath recorded of Ambrose that being ready to dye he uttered these comfortable words unto his friends about him Non sic vivi ut pude no me inter vos vivere nec mori timeo quiu bonum habemus Dominum I have not so lived that I am ashamed to live amongst you neither am I affraid to dye because we have a good Lord. His more especiall preparation for his latter end His more speciall preparation in ten speciall duties consisted in these holy duties and heavenly exercises 1. To deny himself his wit his will his reason and affection 2. To renounee the world and to we are himselfe from the love of it and from all the pleasures profits honours and favours of the fame 3. To set and settle his affections on the things which are above placing his heart where his head Christ is 4. To take all his decayes of nature his bodily infirmities want of vigour and strength abatement of naturall heate and moisture to be certeyne Impressions of his mortality and evident Summons to a dissolution 5. To make all his spirituall rejoycings and refreshings in the estate of grace to bee pledges and earnests as it were of heavenly and everlasting joy and happinesse in the estate of glory 6. To consider that unto the godly death is but a passage unto life a dissolution of soule and body for a season which afterwards shall bee restored again in greater beauty and glory at the resurrection 7. To observe that death puts an end to all sins and sorrows to all temptations and afflictions and brings us into the possession of an heavenly inheritance where the true treasure is in abundance where also there are rivers of pleasures and fulnesse of joy for ever more 8. To meditate that here we are but strangers and pilgrims having here no continuing city but seeking one to come that heaven is our home and that whiles we are present in the body we are absent from the Lord and that Ierusalem which is above is the city of the Saints and mother of us all 9. To conferre and talke with his godly friends of the day of death and time of his departure out of this world even in the middest of all other comforts as Christ himself did with Moses and Elias in the holy Mount of his departure that is of his death at Ierusalem and as Austin had much holy and heavenly communication with his mother Monica Aug Cons l. 9. t. 10. and shee with him to the like purpose 10. Lastly to watch and pray with oyle in our Lamps and our lights burning taking every day for our last day Mat. 25.4 2 Tim. 2.21 Mat. 25.23 and so bee ready and prepared for our Masters worke for our Masters comming and for our owne reckoning Thus much of the means which he used and duties which he performed to prepare himself for his departure out of this world Now for his patient resolution to beare all the sharp occurrents of it As hee had obtained mercy of the Lord to bee faithfull in doing his will So had he also to be patient and resolute in suffering and abiding his good pleasure both in life and death To which end the Lord had given him a great measure of spirituall strength Phil. 4.13 Eph. 6.13 that he was able to doe in a manner all things in Christ which strengthened him and hee had furnished him also with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole armour of God whereby he might be able to stand fast in the evill day whether of tentation or affliction against all adverse power that might assaile him We read of that faithfull servant of Christ Chrysostome when hee was grievously persecuted by Eudoxia the Empresse that the Lord did give him such courage and resolution that he feared nothing which she could doe unto him though shee did threaten never
him that prayed could not containe himselfe but oftentimes with a cheerefull consent said Amen Amen unto the requests and supplications that were made for his good and comfort in Christ Jesus After this M. L. spake a word unto him to comfort him in the midst of all his sorrowes that hee knew that shortly hee should bee released and freed from all sinne and sorrow from Satan and this present evill world wherunto he answered most cheerfully and graciously I know I shall and bee with Christ which is best of all And now the messenger of death is upon me which he spoke of the hickock which had taken hold of him M. L. replyed I hope Sir that death is no scare nor terror unto you No indeed it is not I thanke God saith he for it is my way to life and I am now called of God unto it And thus he continued in great paine of body but yet in great peace of mind increasing still in consolations and enduring all his sicknesse with admirable patience not shewing any distemper nor discontent neither in word nor deed all the while in the troubles and sorrow of the same His care for prayer in the Family After this the same night he put it upon me to call his Family to Prayer and to performe the evening Sacrifice in the great parlour commading them to set open his little parlour doore adjoyning to it that he might heare us and joyne with us and partake of such mercies and meanes as the Lord should be pleased either to offer unto us or to accept at our hands The next morning though he did weare a way very much yet he called upon M. L. to pray with him Mindfull of M. L. being up very early to go a long journey to preach his ordinary Tewsday Lecture Of whom he was so very carefull that he caused some provision to be made for him especially a Posset that hee himselfe at their parting might drinke with him The same day I staid with him untill the afternoone A heavy Parting ministring such help and comfort as I could unto him And then mine owne occasions calling me home my wife being his former wives own sister and my selfe came to take leave with him which when hee heard and saw his very soule seemed to melt within him for both his and our hearts were full of griefe and our eyes full of teares and so mingling our sorrowes our teares and our prayers together be commended us to the grace and blessing of God as wee also did him And then falling upon his face and kissing his cheek we tooke our long leave with him leaving him yet in the hands of his heavenly Father that would never leave him CHAP. LXVIII Some ever ready to pray with him THe same afternoone he called for M. Lan. and M. Clerk his own Pastor to pray with him and was never at quiet unlesse hee were either Meditating and Praying himselfe or had some godly man or good Minister to pray with him and for him Divers desire a blessing from him Vpon Wednesday morning divers of those that were with him suspecting his death and dissolution to be neare tooke leave with him desiring at their parting a blessing from him Which he did willingly expresse by lifting up his hands and his heart unto Heaven for them Vttering also some words which they could not so well understand In the afternoone he overheard some making motion of blacks I wil have no blacks saith he I love not any proud or pompous Funerals neither is there any cause of mourning but of rejoycing rather in my particular After this he entreated a good Christian to pray with him which he did very willingly again and again to his good contentment And while they were in prayer in the Family they that were with him did imagine that he prayed himself silently and secretly He prayeth secretly himselfe by the pulling of his armes out of the bed and lifting up his hands and his eyes towards Heaven whence only he did looke for hearing and helping at Gods hands And now growing so weak that he was scarce able to speak a word those gracious people that were about him prayed him to lift up his hand if he understood them and would have them to pray for him Other gracious people pray with him which he did very willingly and readily and so he joyned with them and was heard to say Amen to the prayers that they made for him Afterward they perceived that he prayed himselfe again lifting up his hands and uttering these words with many other to the like effect The Lord is my portion His last Prayer my help and my trust his blessed son Jesus is my Saviour and Redeemer Amen Even so saith the Spirit unto my spirit Therefore come Lord Jesus and kisse me with the kisses of thy mouth and embrace me with the armes of thy love Into thy hands do I commend my spirit O come now and take me to thine own selfe O come Lord Jesus come quickly O come O come O come And so his spirit fainting His last end and his speech failing he lay quiet and still for a little season And then he meekly and graciously yeelded up his pretious soule into the hands of God his Father that gave it and into the armes of his Saviour that had bought it and redeemed it with his pretious bloud And thus having finished his course and run out his race the night of his death shutting up the dayes of his life Snaviter in Domino obdormivit He sweetly slept in the Lord. All Glory Thanksgiving and Praise bee unto our gracious God in and through his Son Christ lesus for ever and ever Amen Vae etiam laudabili vitae si remota misericordia discutias eam Aug. Conf. lib. 9. c. 19. Aug. Quisguis tibi enumerat vera merita sua Aug ibid. cap. 13. Quid tibi enumerat nisi muneratua FINIS Imprimatur JOH HANSLEY Jan. 16. 1640.