I so much love When she enjoyed the greatest portion of temporal or spiritual comfort yet would she never say Master it is good to be here as Matth. 17. 4. but making that but a step for an higher ascent she rather inferred It is good going hence For if on earth there be so much good how pleasant and desirable is Heaven the joyes on earth to those that are there are but as the earth is to Heaven little and low dark and heavy Why I do not fear Death I fear not Death because it is but the separation of the body from th sould and that it is but a shadow of the body of death Rom. 7. 24. whereas the separation of the soul from God by sin Isa. 59. 2. and of soul and body for sin is death indeed I fear not Death because Death is such an enemy as hath been often vanquished and because I am armed for it and the weapons of my Warfare are mighty through God and I am assured of victory I do not fear Death for the pain of it for I am perswaded I have endured as great pains in life as I shall finde in Death and Death will cure me of all sorts of pains and because Christ dyed a terrible and cursed Death that any kinde of Death might be blessed to me and that God who hath greatly loved me in life will not neglect me in death but his Spirit will succour and strengthen me all the time of the combate I do not fear Death for any loss For I shall but lose my body by it and that is but a prison to my soul an old rotten house or ragged garment nay I shall not lose that neither for I shall have it restored again at my Saviours second coming made much better than now it is For this vile body shall be like the Body of Christ and by death I shall obtain a far better life And as an incentive of Divine love she prepared a breviate of Gods principal benefits to her self for meditation on her Death-bed and for thanksgiving to God which was this How shall I praise God 1. For my Conversion 2. For his Word both in respect of my affections to it and the wonderful comforts I have had by it 3. For hearing of my prayers 4. For godly sorrow 5. For fellowship with the godly 6. For joy in the Holy Ghost 7. For the desire of death 8. For contempt of the world 9. For private helps and comforts 10. For giving me some strength against my sin 11. For preserving me from gross evils both before and after my calling c. She shewed her holy love to God by conforming her practice to his Precepts according to that Joh. 14. 15. If you love me keep my Commandements She thought nothing too much that she should stick at if God commanded or forbad it nothing so small but his Word was able to give it weight enough to bow down her neck to the obedience of it If it was a greater matter that he required of her she considered that he was a God infinitly both great and good and that unto her who had and would do for her ten thousand times more and greater things than she could do for him If it were a little thing she conceived that the contempt or neglect of it would aggravate her guilt as Naamans servants said to their Master If the Prophet had bidden thee do some great matter wouldst thou not have done it How much rather when he saith unto thee wash and be clean 2 King 5. 18. the less the duty is the more is the disobedience if we do it not for thereby we extenuate the Authority of the Almighty and such as sleight it in a little thing will not regard it in a greater She was therefore very precise in every point which God required the perâ—formance of By this means she still increased in holiness and sanctification and kept a greater distance from great offences according to that of St. Jerom Non cito ad majora progreditur qui parva formidet who so is afraid of a small sin will not easily grow bold on those that are greater Her love to God was strong as death Cant. 8. 4. yea and much stronger so that Death could not affright her for she desired daâ—ly to look death in the face nor could it hurt her more than she was content to endure For though it was not likely that she should go through the narrow wicket of Death and not be pinched in her passage yet was she well contented with it seeing it was the ready way to come to God whom she so much longed to behold Her Charity was very chary of the credit of the absent towards whom she would not suffer either her tongue or her ears be guilty of any wrong or robbery of their reputations She never imposed false crimes or feigned faults upon others She never discovered their secret sins or aggravated those that were known She never denied dissembled nor diminished the vertue or good parts of any Though her hatred of sin was such as became a sincere Christian yet knew she how to distinguish betwixt sin and the sinner and setting a severe dislike on the one she reserved as charity required love or compassion for the other Her Charity was regular according to the Rules of Scripture which she set down in a paper with quotations of Texts for her direction in four particulars 1. I must give readily Job 31. 16. Prov. 3. 28. 1 Tim. 6. 18. 2. I must give secretly Matth 6. 3. 3. I must give liberally 2 Cor. 8. 12. 9. 6. 4. I must give cheerfully 2 Cor. 8. 12. It was answerable also according to her own ability and others necessities She had rather give a little to many since the number of the needy is very great then a great deal to a few and she so ordered her charity that she might still be able to exercise her hand that way and not as some who give so much that after a while they can give no more And upon extraordinary occasions if she were not magnificent the let was not in her minde but in her means Her Charity was vigorus and so cordial that what she gave was alwayes without grudging knowing that God loves a cheerful giver 2 Cor. 9. 7. yea she was so cheerful herein that she bestowed nothing upon her self with more readiness than she did upon others whether it were towards the maintenance of the Ministry or in giving Almes to the poor and yet herein did she follow the rule of our Saviour Matth. â— 6. Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth for she was many times as close in giving her own as a Thief would be in taking away from others so that none did more good deeds with less shew or sound of words than she For the object of her charity she took her direction from the Apostles precept
the Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace And bid her serve God and pray duly to him both morning and evening and fear his Name and then said she I doubt not but God will bless you as he hath blessed me In the evening of the same day she commanded her younger Daughter to be brought her and to be put upon the bed in a kneeling posture and then putting her hand on her shoulder she gave her also the same blessing as she had given to her sister Four dayes before her death she grew a little better which put her Friends in some hope of her recovery but the day following her sickness seized on her again and so continued upon her that she slept no more till she slept the sleep of death and together with her sickness her Piety Devotions and comforts encreased in her In the last night of her life presently after midnight feeling death now approaching she sent for her Husband and Family out of their beds and told him when he came to her that she was now leaving the world and him and expressed in many words her great devotion faith and assurance of that everlasting life which she now was shortly to enjoy and desired that they might now all pray together which they did she still expressing much devotion and comfort and after an hour spent in those passages she desired that the Bell might be tolled for her and some Gentlewomen of her neighbours coming to her before them she expressed her comforts and assurances of everlasting life as before and with increase and therein and in prayers they continued till near the rising of the Sun After this she seemed for a wh'le willing to slumber and closed her eyes and so lay for a little while but then turned her head to the other side of the Pillow and after a few restless turnings she said what the Prophet Micha had said before her Mich. 2. 10. There is no rest in this world and then opening her eyes after some expressions of the comfort which she felt distinctly knowing all that were present and speaking to them all she seemed to slumber again and after a little time spake these words Come let us go let us go repeating those words several times which she spake not in a slumber but being awake and as perfect in her understanding and memory as at any time in her life And it is a comforttable opinion that Divines teach from Luke 16. 22. that the Angels do attend on Gods children especially at the time of their dissolution to conduct their souls from earth to heaven which opinion she sometimes in her sickness related to her Husband and added that she had heard it from the Pulpit and had read it in some Books and she believed it to be true and comforted her self with it After a little time she called for some drink and having taken it it began to alter her as it seems she felt in her self for she presently laid her self back on her Pillow and lifting up her eyes towards Heaven she said Lord have mercy upon me Lord Jesus receive my soul and so continued moving her lips and her tongue but her words were not heard and then held up one hand and then joyned both her hands together holding them up with her eyes still heaven-ward till her strength failing her she laid down her hands by her and stretched her self in the bed without any help and sweetly fell asleep about seven a clock in the morning August the 15. Anno Christi 1646. And August the 24. she was decently and solemnly laid in her bed of rest the house as Job saith appointed for all the living Job 30. 23. where the weary are at rest where the wicked cease from troubling and hear not the voyce of the oppressor Job 3. 17 18. The Life and Death of Mrs. Margaret Corbet who dyed Anno Christi 1656. IF we enquire into the Relations of this Gentlewoman either by Affinity or Consanguinity or both sides the Families are ancient of renown and good reputation Concerning the Family from whence she was descended her Father was Sir Nathaniel Brent late Warden of Merton College a learned Knight whose great pains and dangerous adventures to procure the History of the Councel of Trent which he translated into English are to be remembred with an honourable mention and for his faithful discovery of Jesuitical juglings his name will be had in honour when the names of the Popish party will rot Her Mother the Lady Martha Brent was a Lady of a Gracious spirit abounding in love meekness humility love to Gods Ordinances and Gods Children Her delight with David was in the society of Saints She imitated her worthy Father in the sweetness of disposition who was Dr. Robert Abbot that learned and godly Bishop of Sarum who was Malleus Baptismi Armianismi the Hammer of Popery and Arminianisme His excellent Works or Monuments of his Honourable memory To be born of a godly Family and to be well descended is a mercy not to be neglected Mr. Philpot a zealous Martyr being a Kings Son and an Archdeacon told his adversaries that he was a Gentleman Anabapâ—istical parity and Levelling designs are worthily to be abhorred and looked upon as a ready way to confusion rapine and violence So then we see that she was a Gentlewoman every way well descended Her Ancestors were persons of Honour and from them she had the benefit of an ingenuous and liberal Education This is much but it s more when I say that she came of a godly stock and of praying Relations and indeed this is that which ennobles Nobility it self God in mercy began with this Gentlewoman betimes even about the fourteenth year of her age Then God gave her a willing minde and purpose of heart to serve him in the dayes of her youth Insomuch as she was swift to hear the word of God she waited diligently at the posts of Wisdomes Gate She wrote the Sermons which she heard a practice used by King Edward the sixth that rare English Josiah and she left many volumes of Sermons of her own hand-writing taken with great dexterity and these are as so many choise Monuments of her Industry She was much conversant in reading of the holy Scriptures which can make us wise unto salvation and she joyned with her reading prayer and meditation Her delight was in the word of God It was as with Jeremy the joy and rejoycing of her soul and with the reading of Scriptures she searched Expositors and Practical Divines and attained thereby to such a measure of Divine knowledge as enabled her to state some Questions of controversie for her better use and help of her memory and to discourse very soundly upon the most material points of Religion and even above her age and sexe to maintain the truth as occasion
Sir your head doth not lye right he answered It will lye right in my Coffin July the 25 at one a clock in the morning Death began to seize on his left foot from which the spirits retiring he felt the deadness of that part and a very sharp pain in the part of the leg adjoyning to it Hereupon he called for his Son and told him He feared that he should have a difficult death He then commanded two Surgeons to be sent for to look upon his leg whom he required to tell him whether or no his Foot were any whit discoloured It seems he had conceived some fear of a Gangrene but being satisfied by them that there could not be any ground for such an apprehension he rested with patience In the evening of that day being visited by Mr. Santhil and lying in great anguish by reason of the violence of his heat he prayed for pity and patience support here and a comfortable issue July 26. Early in the morning being full of pain gasping and panting he cryed out How long Lord How long Come speedily But though Death had made an encroachment upon his outward perishing part yet his inward man felt no decay For with a full use of reason he that morning ordered the continuance of a weekly relief to certain poor persons as also ofâ—some small monethly Pensions to some widows for a season He also caused his Physitian to be consulted with about taking something that might procure rest and was erected to a more cheerful disposition He also enquired after News and dicoursed freely yet confessed himself to be in pain About three a clock that afternoon feeling some great change after the putting forth of Nature he called his Sister Son and Daughter to receive his last charge and when they were come he thus spake unto them My heart fails and my strength fails but God is my Fortress and the strong Rock of my salvation Into thy hands therefore I commend my soul for thou hast redeemed me O God of truth Then turning his discourse to his Son he said Son you have a great charge look to it Instruct your wife and family in the fear of God and discharge your Ministry conscientiously To his Sister a Gentlewoman two years elder than himself he said Sister I thought you might have gone before me but God calls for me first I hope we shall meet in Heaven I pray God to bless you His Daughter he admonished to minde the worldless and God more for that all things without Piety and the true fear of God are nothing worth He advised also that his Son Draper being a man of means should entertain some godly Minister into his house to teach his children and instruct his family He exhorted them all to love and concord which he said he hoped the rather because he had cleerly settled his estate so as to prevent differences He inlarged himself in each of these a little wishing them all to lay to heart the words of a dying man After this he desired that all should withdraw and leave him to his rest which he hoped was at hand But all his conflicts were not yet accomplished July the 27 His voice began to be less intelligible the putrid preternatural heat having furred up his mouth as is usual in Feavors yet both his understanding and senses were very quick and active About six of the clock in the evening he called for his Son to recommend his soul unto God by prayer and endeavoured to express what he desired but could not do it so clearly as to be well understood yet by his gestures he gave assurance that he understood perfectly and concurred fervently with the devotions used on his behalf Within an hour after Nature being quite spent he gave up the ghost and was translated into that Rest which he so often and earnestly had desired to finde in another World because he could obtain none in this Thus after forty three years inspection of this pious and diligent Pastor of Redrith he left his Flock returning to the great and chief Shepherd of our souls from his gracious hands to receive an incorruptible Crown of glory having almost compleated fourscore years For his Person the express whereof though he was often importuned by dear Friends he would never allow to be taken either by pencel or sculpture He was of a middle stature of a thin body and of a lively countenance of a fresh complexion that looked young when he came to preach at â—incolns Inne and yet was grey betimes which made him to be thought elder than he was because he had long appeared ancient in the eyes of the world of a choicely temperate diet of a free and cheerful conversation addicted much to study yet not secluding himself from fit company He was of a quick apprehension sharp reason solid judgement vast memory which through Gods mercy continued fresh to the last of his dayes He was Helluo librorum one that did not vainly encrease his Liberary for ostentation but chose books for use which also he made of them so happily that he had conquered a strong portion of learning which he made to serve him upon all occasions He was not so great a treasurer as a free dispenser of those riches of the minde which he did communicate readily expeditely and cleerly He was an ornament to the University and of that Society designed for the study of the Law a Light of the Church the salt of the place where he abode a loving Husband a discreet Parent a faithful Friend a kinde Neighbour a courteous entertainer of strangers a candid encourager of Students a stout Champion for the Truth yet a lover of peace preserving the unity of Charity even where there was difference of judgement an Adversary to novel fancies as well as to antiquated superstitons in Religion of a Christian Magnanimity in despising the world and therefore resolute through bad report as well as good to maintain a clear conscience In brief he was a faithful Shepherd and a fit mirrour for Pastors as well as an exact patern for people who having almost compleated eighty years departed full of 〈◊〉 but being dead yet speaks in his living Monuments of sound Learning His Printed Works are these Of the Nature and use of Lots in 4o. A Just Defence of the same against Mr. Jo. Balmford in 4o. Tho. Gatakeri Londinatis Antithesis partim Guilielmi Amesii partim Gisberti voetii de sorte Thesibus reposita in 4o. A Discourse of Transubstantiation with a Defence thereof in 4o. Davids Instructer The Christian mans care The Spiritual Watch. The gain of Godliness with Self-sufficiency The Just mans joy with signs of Sincerity Jacobs Thankfulness Davids Remembrancer Noahs Obedience A Memorial of Englands Deliverance in 88. Sorrow for Sion Gods Parley with Princes with an appeal from them to him Eleazers Prayer being a Marriage Sermon A good Wife Gods gift A Wife indeed Marriage
blood which extinguisheth the fire of thine anger O that it might allay my burning pains I am in a fiery Furnace Lord be with me as thou wast with the tâ—ree Children and bring me out refined from sin when I have sailed through the Ocean of these pains and look back I see that none of them can be wanting I flye unto thee O God hide me under the shadow of thy wings till these terrible storms be overpast 5. God added Humility as a Crown to all his other Graces which yet shone bright in the eyes of all that were acquainted with him Indeed he was cloathed with Humility And hence it was that he would converse so familiarly with the poorest Christians and with them who were of the lowest parts for knowledge even with babes in Christ. This his ordinary expression of himself before God did clearly demonstrate his great humility Poor worm Sinful wretch O pardon my transgressions for they are very great Hereupon he would weep much when he was told how much he was prayed for wondring at Gods goodness that so sinful a wretch and worthless a creature should have so much interest in the hearts and prayers of the people of God And his language in his Will speaks how little he was in his own eyes the words are these I desire that at my Funeral there may be no pomp but that so poor a worthless wretch may be privately laid in the ground And as his Graces were many so were his Comforts many and great which God vouchsafed as singular manifestations of his love to this his dear Servant and Childe O what Kisses of Christs Mouth and what imbraces from the Arms of his Love were bestowed upon this Saint of the most High He enjoyed all along his afflicted condition an uninterrupted assurance of Gods Fatherly love in Christ. In his addresses unto God he constantly claimed propriety in God calling him my God and my Father His inward peace and joy were the support of his heart under all his grievous and grinding pains he was confident of mercies mixtures with all his greatest distempers not at all doubting of the sanctification of them to him through Grace Thus he spake many times in his applications unto God Consider and save me for I am thine How long how long Lord shall I not be remembred yea I am remembred blessed be thy Name This is a fiery Chariot but it will carry me to Heaven Blessed be God that hath supported me hitherto and he that hath delivered will yet deliver Thou Lord never forgettest them that put their trust in thee Alwayes when the extremity of pain was over he would with smiles speak of Gods mercies Though trembling took hold upon him when his violent pains began yet would he with confidence say Now in the strength of the mighty God I will undergo these pains O my God put under thine everlasting Arms and strengthen me Many times he told a bosome friend of his that notwithstanding all his rentings and roarings from which he expected no deliverance but by death he would not for a thousand worlds change estates with the greatest man on earth whom he looked upon as in a way of sin and enthraled thereto And this much bespeaks Gods Fatherly indulgence towards him that Satan could never shake his confidence nor assault his hopes all the time of his irksome irksome distemper And this was further very remarkable that he counted all these inward cheerings the fruits of Prayers that were made for him though God saw cause to deny that ease and recovery to his body which was so much begged and withall he valued those spiritual cordials and refreshings far beyond deliverance from the Gout and the Stone yea and Death it self These things are the rather mentioned to prevent that discouragement or offence which some may be too apt to take at the violence and continuance of his wasting and tormenting pains notwithstanding his own godliness and the uncessant prayers both ordinary and extraordinary which were made unto God in his behalf for he found the sweet fruits of them in his own bosome even when he felt the continuance and increase of his bodily grief Another thing very remarkable in holy Mr. Whitaker was his love to his fellow Christians he was a man made up as it were of love His delight was in the Saints upon earth whom he esteemed most excellent and their society was a constant cordial to his spirit His frequent visits of them that were in trouble and his stirring up of others to the like practice were testimonies of this his cordial love which indeed was not verbal but real He was also abundant in works of charity few men of his estate did equalize him therein He would often say It is a brave thing when a man together with a full estate hath a charitable heart Sometimes upon special occasions he hath given away all the money that he had in the house It was not unusual with him to give twenty shillings to a poor Saint and he had many experiencences of Gods gracious returns in such cases By his last Will he gave twenty pounds to the godly poor of his own Parish There were two Cases wherein his loves were most enlarged to the people of God whereof you may take these two Instances The one when the sufferings were publick He often told an intimate friend of his that Englands late breach with Scotland and the blood that was shed together with other sad consequences thereof had taken such impression upon his heart that the sorrow would never be removed till his death and the sufferings both in Holland and in England in our late Sea-sights were an heavy burden upon his spirit The other Case was in respect to the inward perplexity of such as were afflicted in minde having moved a special friend of his the week before his death to bestow a visit upon one in that condition the very morning before his death when speech was grievous to him in respect of his great weakness he asked him whether he had remembred the party that was troubled in spirit which was a remarkable evidence of his strong love to such And besides what hath already been mentioned I might here set down his many wrestlings with God to prevent the flood or troubles which he apprehended the Protestant Churches were now in danger to be overflowed withall as also his compassionate respect to Congregations in the Country which were like sheep wandring upon the barren mountains without a Shepherd And as his love sâ—owed forth to the Saints so was theirs no less towards him Not to speak of the many frequent and friendly visits of godly men and women in the Neighbourhood round about him there was scarce ever heard of any man that was so much prayed for both in publick and in private both upon ordinary and extraordinary occasions as he was There was no particular case so frequently so
of Faith Patience Contentment and spiritualness which he had formerly preached to and pressed upon others he was very profitable unto them who visited him and might also prove very advantagious unto others who might be acquainted therewith through Gods grace by Christ. So great was his tender respect to his friends that when his pains were coming with violence he would intreat them to withdraw from him that they might not be grieved with his roariâ—gs and he used often to bless God that his compassionate friends were not necessitated to abide within the reach of his doleful lamentation As his death drew more nigh so his fits of pain were more frequent either every half hour or many times every quarter yea two or three in a quarter of an hour which did exceedingly abate his strength The night before God took him out of this vale of tears Mr. Ash hearing that he was not likely to live another day went early in the morning to take his leave of him whom his soul loved at which time he found his bodily strength much decayed and perceiving that he could not speak without much difficulty Mr. Ash spake the more unto him in reference to the approach of his happy hoped for change and his discourse through Gods mercy was very refreshing his spirit He told him also that many of his friends intended to set apart that day in seeking the Lord for him and asked him in what things eâ—pecially he desired to be remembred before the Throne of Grace His answer was Do not complain but bless God for me and intreat him to open the prison door Then Mr. Ash laying his hand upon his cold hand covered with a clammy sweat took his last farewell of him with an aking heart and upon his departure from him the last words which Mr. Whitaker spake to him were these Brother I thank you I pray God bless you and I bless God for you That day was spent in addresses to God for him at Peters Cornhill where Mr. Newcomen quickned and guided our prayers in his Sermon upon Joh. 11. â— Lord Behold he whom thou lovest is sick and Mr. Jenkin endeavoured to moderate and regulate our sorrows from Luke 23. 28. Weep not for me Thus his friends having by prayers and praises on his behalf given him to God and having prepared their hearts for the loss of him the Lord was pleased that evening to take him to himself June 1654 being above Fifty five years old After his death Mr. Holiard opened his body in the presence of Dr. Cox Dr. Micklethwaite and Dr. Bevoir some other more ancient Doctors would have been there if either their being out of Town or present urgent occasions had not hindred being opened they found both his Kidnies full of ulcers and and one of them was swelled to an extraordinary bigness through the abundance of purulent matter in it Upon the neck of his Bladder they found a stone which was about an inch and an half long and one inch broad weighing about two ounces when it was first taken out and withall they found an ulcer which was gangrenized and this was judged to be the cause of his death All other parts of his body were found firm and sound He was so humble that he feared lest Gods people praying for him should speak too well of him before the Lord. He was a self-denying man never daring to look after great matters in this world whereby he condemned many whose self-seeking in earthly advantages renders them very offensive and unsavoury in the Church of Christ. Mr. Calamy speaking of him saith If I should enter upon his Commendations I might truly say what Nazanien doth of his Sister Gorgonia that I have more cause to fear lest I should speak below than above the truth For he was a burning and a shining light in this our Israel A Messenger and an Interpreter one amongst a thousand A Bazalâ—el in Gods Tabernacle A true Nathaniel that by his integrity humility constancy charity publickness and peaceableness of spirit and by his diligence and fâ—ithfulness in preaching the Gospel made his life both amiable and desirable I will say of him as it was said of Athanasius that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Adamant and a Loadstone To all that conversed with him he was as a Loadstone to draw their hearts to love him But in the cause of God and in reference to the truths of Christ he was as an unconquerable Adamant He was a Jeremy both in mourning for and in witnessing against the sins of the times He was a second Whitaker though not so eminent in Learning as to be what is said o◠〈◊〉 Mundi miraculum Academiae Oraculum the miracle of the world and the Oracle of the University yet he was which is also said of him sound in the Faith one that had no private opinion that did not in veteri viâ novam semitam quaerere seek out new paths of his own but kept the old way and the old path That had a great wit without any mixture of madness He preached no less by the heavenliness of his Doctrine than by the holiness of hâ—s life yea he preached as effectually by his death as by his life or Doctrine for so great was the patience which God measured out to him that though in his extremity of torments he groaned yet he never grumbled Though he often mourned yet he never murmured nay though he often roared by reason of the greatness of his pain yet he alwayes justified and mâ—gnâ—fied God therein and this he did so constantly and in such a measure that as it is said of Job so it wiâ—l be said by the Saints that succeed us for their mutual consolation and encouragement Ye have heard of the Patience of Whitaker He had indeed an ulâ—â—rated flesh but a sound and whole spirit and that inabled him to bear his infirmity he had a stone in the Bladder but a very soft and tender heart he had a gangreene in his body but a sound soul unstained by sin I heard him often say with thankfulness that under all his bodily sufferings he had a blessed calmness and quietness in his spirit that God spâ—ke peace unto him that though he roared for pain yet the Devil was chained up from roaring upon him On the Death of my dear Friend Mr. JEREMIAH WHITAKER IF Death be but a servant sent to call The souls of Saints to their Originall Dear Saint thine was a Noble soul to whom Three Messengers were sent to call thee home A Stone an Ulcer and a Cangreene too Three Deaths to hasten that which one should do ' â—was not because thy soul was deeper set Than ours within its house of clay nor yet Because thou wert unwilling to depart Thither where long before had been thine heart They were not sent to hale by violence A soul that lingred when 't was called hence God shew'd how welcome one Death was to thee
Who did so meekly entertain all three Thus many Deaths Gods Israel did inclose The Sea before behinde a Sea of Foes On either side the jaws of Mountains high No way from Death but unto Death to flye Not to destroy them but to let them see The power of love which then would set them free Thus Jobs four Messengers which did relate The doleful story of his ruin'd state And his three Friends which acted Satans part He on his flesh and these upon his heart Who by disputing him unto a curse Would make his spirits torments the far worse Were by Gods wise disposal sent to show The strength he on his Champion would bestow Thus Painters put dark grounds where they intend To overlay with finest gold and lend By deeper shadows lustre to that face On which they mean their choisest skill to place Thus workmen season much with Sun and wind Those greatest beams which must the building binde Whilst smaller pieces haply are put in When they come bleeding from the wood and green Oft where is greatest grace God's pleas'd to send Great conflicts those great Graces to commend As the six-fingred Giants sword did bring The more renown to little Davids sling The vanquisht Lion and the conquered Bear Prepar'd that holy Head a Crâ—wn to wear The Angel wrestled first and then did bless And made the greater servant to the less Pain was too great for thee Gods grace for pain And made the greater serve the less again Thy pains serv'd thee for glory and did fit The Head on which a Crown of life must sit This is Gods method to fetch joy from grief To turn our sorrows unto our relief To save by killing and to bring to shore By the ships planks which was quite broke before And thus a barren womb first took the seed Which did six hundred thousand people breed That seed too must from knife and Altar rise And be before a fire a Sacrifice Great Preacher of thy Heavenly Fathers will Thy tongue did many ears with Manna fill Thy life out-preach't thy tongue O blessed strife Thy sickness the best Sermon of thy life Before each Doctrine must be prov'd a new Thine end was one great proof that all was true Before thou preach't by weeks but now by hours Each minute taught thy mourning Auditors Each patient groan and each believing eye Was a new Sermon in Brachygraphy When Nature roars without repining words Grace in the mouth when in the Bowels swords In midst of torments to triumph o're Hell To feel Gods Arrows yet his Praises tell Through thickest clouds to see the brightest light In blackest darkness to have cleerest sight And with our Lord to cry My God My God Upon a Cross under the sharpest Rod. This is indeed to preach this is to show Faiths triumph over Natures greatest wo. Then welcome fiery Serpents scorching sting Which did thee thus to th' Brazen Serpent bring Then welcome Whale which though it first devour Renders at last the Prophet to the shore Well might'st thou bear the stone which Death did throw Who had'st the white Stone the new Name to show Well might'st thou be with such an ulcer calm Whose soul was heal'd before with Heavens Balm When spirits wounds are cur'd though Nature groan An heart of flesh can heal a back of stone Let conscience have her feast and let flesh roar This pain shall make the others joy the more As many times those Flowers most fragrant smell Which nearest to some noysome weeds do dwell Thus have you seen the Forge most clearly glow On which the Smith doth drops of water throw Keen Frosts make fire the hotter and deep night Causeth Celestial Lamps to shine more bright And by a dear Antiperistasis The Childs distress sweetens the Fathers kiss A wounded body yeelds to a sound soul The joyes of this do th' others pains controle As in the day that the Sun beams appear All other lesser Stars do disappear When Heaven shines and Divine love doth reign The soul is not at leasure to complain Internal joyes his heart so well composes That they have judg'd their flames a bed of Roses Mr. Gataker Mr. Whitaker But what shall England do from whence are lopt Two if her richest Acres to Heaven dropt By loss of these two Acres she 's more poor Then if sh 'had lost an hundred Lordships more 'T were a good purchase to gain these agen By giving to the Sea all Lincoln Fen. Two little Mines of Gold do far surpass Huge Mannors where th' whole vesture is but grass Learn we by them what all men will once say One Pearch of Heaven 's worth the whole Globe of clay ED. REYNOLDS D. D. The Life and Death of James Vsher Dr. of Divinity Arch-Bishop of Armagh Primate and Metropolitan of all Ireland who dyed Anno Christi 1655. ALexander the Great commanded that no man should draw his Picture but Apelles the most exquisite Painter in the world and that his Statue should not be made in brass by any one but Lysippus the most excellent Work-man in that kinde So truly the Life and Death of this great and good man is fit to be written only by the ablest Pen that can be found Dr. JAMES USHER James Usher was born in Dublin the Metropolis of Ireland in the Parish of St. Nicholas January the 4 Anno Christi 1580. His Father Mr. Arnald Usher was a student in the Law one of the Clerks of the Chanchery in that Nation and a person of excellent parts and endowments His Mother was Mrs. Margaret Stainhurst who in her later time was seduced by some of the Popish Priests to the Roman Religion they taking their opportunity whilst this her Son was upon some occasion in England and they by their subtilty had engaged her in such vows that when her Son came back he could not possibly reclaim her which they have often boasted of in Print yet her Sons hope was at least upon her Death bed to have prevailed for the reducing of her to the Truth But it pleased God that she dyed suddenly at Drogheda when he was absent at Dublin whereby to his no small grief those his hopes were frustrated and disappointed His Grandfather by his Mothers side was James Stainhurst whose Christian name he bore who was chosen three times Speaker of the House of Commons in the Irish Parliaments in the last whereof he made the first motion for the founding and erecting of a College and University in the City of Dublin He was also Recorder of that City one of the Masters of the Chancery and a man of great wisdome and integrity His Uncle was Richard Stainhurst a man famous in France and other Nations for his great learning which he manifested in several Books published by him one of them when he was eighteen years old between whom and this Reverend person there passed many learned Letters His Uncle by his Fathers side was Henry Usher who was trained up at
his death besides very considerable summes extraordinary All that knew him found him very communicative not onely of his studies for the advantage of their mindes but of part of his stipend for the relief of their bodies and indeed in works of charity he more needed a bridle than a spur He was not so severe in his judgement about Episcopacy as to disown other Reformed Churches but declared that he loved and honoured them as true members of the Church universal and was ready for the Ministers of Holland France â— to testifie his Communion with them He was a man of a most exemplary moderation meekness humility and ingenuity Anno 1641 he drew up an Expedient to accommodate some of our differences in Ecclesiastical Affairs which some moderate men of both parties were ready to subscribe But in matters of Doctrine for the substantials it was often his charge that Ministers should not preach any thing as to please men but God who hath put them in trust 1 Thess. 2. 4. For such as seek to please men are not the servants of Christ Gal. 1. 10. And in defence of those truths no man was more resolute and constant than he not giving place by way of subjection no not for an hour Gal. 2. 5. but in circumstantials he thought it to be our duty with St. Paul to please all men and not our in all such things 1 Cor. 10. 31. to edification and concord He was in these things alwayes the same holding fast the form of sound words in Doctrine and practice to the last The night before he left London Oh! the humble expressions he used of his own unworthiness demeaning himself as if he had been the least of Saints which he uttered with many tears He wished those about him to prepare for afflictions and trials which he was perswaded were not far from them Having abode at London one and fifty dayes for so it was punctually noted by himself in a Book it being his custome with David so to number his dayes both for the place where and the manner how he spent them he returned to Rygate Feb. 13. 1655 to the Countess of Peterboroughs March the 20 following was the first day of his sickness upon which day as every day he had been well busied Most part of it as long as he had light he had spent at his study proceeding in his Chronologia sacra clearing all the doubts in his Annals of the Bible in which he had gone as far as to the Book of Judges where the last words he wrote were these Hic praeterea notandum but returned not to make any further progress From his study he went to visit a sick Gentlewoman in that Family and prescribed to her most excellent preparatives for death with other most holy advice in practical matters in which he spent three quarters of an hour but in such an heavenly manner as if like Moses upon Mount Nebo his eyes had been strengthened to take a prospect of the heavenly Canaan That night about eight a clock he first complained of his hip judging it to be a spice of the Sciatica which he had been troubled with about five and thirty years before contracted by sitting up late in the College Library at Dublin but by the application of an ointment he was presently eased of that pain so that he took some rest that night In the morning he complained of a great pain in his side whereupon a Physitian was sent for who used such means as he judged fit for him but the pain continuing and his spirits decaying he wholly addicted himself to prayer only upon the abating of the torment he advised those about him in health to prepare for sickness and death that then they might have nothing else to do but to dye and after a short settlement of the things of this world he took great content in his approaching death A Minister there present assisted him with his prayers but afterwards he desired to be left to his own private The last words he was heard to utter which was about one a clock in the afternoon and a little before his death were these praying for the forgiveness of his sins he added But Lord in special forgive my sins of Omission Herein he had his wish which he often used that he might dye as holy Mr. Perkins did which expired with crying for mercy and forgiveness But did he pray for pardon of his sins of Omission and yet he was a person that was never known to omit an hour but was alwayes imployed in his Masters business either in preaching reading writing or hearing others as of late to read to him either resolving doubts or exhorting instructing and counselling such as came to visit him yet did he dye with this humble expression Lord forgive my sins of Omission A speech that may give us all matter of solemn meditation and imitation March the 21. Anno Christi 1655 this glorious Sun set and from earth was translated to Heaven having been Primate of Ireland just one and thirty years and a Preacher five and fifty years and having lived about seventy five years What he had to leave was only his Library and divers imperfect Copies of his intended Works which death prevented his finishing of The Lord Protector as he was then called gave him an honourable burial at the publick charge in the Chappel of Henry the seventh at Westminster and extended to his what was before intended for himself in the grant of some of the Lands belonging to the Primacy of Armagh for the terme of one and twenty years He was highly admired and much honoured by all the famous Lights of his time through the Christian world Spanhemius Divinity-Professor at Geneva Anno Christi 1639 in his Epistle Dedicatory to him before his third Part Dubiorum Evangelicorum spends above two leaves in extolling him Some of his expressions are Your very great parts Most excellent Usher are known not onely within your own Country but in ours and wheresoever else there is honour given to Piety or price set upon learning c. He speaks much of his Charity to strangers his Humility Piety Works his Library of which he made such use for the publick good that it was not so much his own as the Library of all learned men In a word saith he the name of Usher with us is a name of Piety and Vertue it is of great Renowne at our Geneva c. Gerard Vossius frequently admires him as a man of vast learning worthy of an everlasting Monument The high merits saith he of this most excellent and throughout most learned man both of the Church and of the whole Commonwealth of Learning deserve an everlasting grateful memory A man so excelling in the knowledge both of Humane and Divine things that I cannot speak any thing so high of him but his worth doth surpass it Bochartus and Simplicius call
words Ruth 4 4. 6. but when it came to the point he would not mar his Inheritance Self hath too great a stroke in the best of us all both Preachers and Professors both in Church and Commonwealth It began to work betimes St. Paul tells us in his dayes that all sought their own things Phil. 2. 21. and it is now grown to a greater head in our age when we neither eat nor drink nor fast nor pray nor do any thing to speak of but too too apparently we seek our selves therein How much then was this brave man to be admired seeing all that knew him can bear him witness how far he excelled in this rare Grace he could deny himself in his own understanding and go after God in a way that he knew not as Abraham Heb. 11. 8. he could deny himself in his own will when he that is above would lead him in a way that he would not as Joh. 2â— 18. He could deny himself in his own affections also when he came to be crossed in what he could have most desired ever ruling them by reason and Religion as a wise man should do subjecting himself to bear with quietness what could not be holp without raising too much dust It is strange to see how far he could deny himself in apparel diet attendance and what not He was very exemplary for his contempt of the world He had gotten the start of most men in that particular He used to be beating upon this point mainly both in his publick preaching and in his private conference and shewed the reality of what he pressed when he came to act himself Indeed he could not say as Luther did that he never had been tempted unto covetousness but he kept himself from any noted taint in that kinde nay from the least suspicion of that foul crime with famous Dr. Whitaker When he had things under his hand he still charged his servants to do what few men practice that they should never set up Corn nor bring home Cattel but take as the Market would afford All that knew him knew that he was far enough from encreasing his estate by any indirect means and never was there any man more willing to part with money upon a just and fit occasion It is well known that he gave over a Living of good value one of the best in those parts above twenty years before his death and betook himself to a poor little corner from which he would never be withdrawn no more than Musculus from his Berne And even there he might have picked mens purses if he had been that way given But many and many a time he put back money and took but a small matter from those that were able and would have been willing to have given him more they sought to force him to take it but he would utterly refuse it He was no less exemplary fo his great humility This was the Grace that graced all the good that was in him He would be often speaking of what he had heard concerning Dr. John Rainolds that he was as learned a man as any was in the world as godly as learned and as humble as godly Mr. Capel loved and reverenced this Doctor and trod in his steps He could speak with Tongues more than most men yet would he never make use of them in the publick Congregation He used to honour all men to acknowledge the gifts and parts of those that were far below him and to rejoyce in them as Hooper did in the blinde Boy He would not meddle in things that were too high for him nor intrench upon that that was beyond his sphere He would not stand in the place of great men He could refuse honours as Musculus did and contented himself with plain and mean things It s observed by Cajetan the Flower of the Cardinals that he would never be in his silks and braveries but kept his old fashions to his lives end Melancthon would not disdain to do that which his meanest servant would scarcely have put his hand to So was it with Mr. Capel and he would bear things that went awry without distempering himself about them Moderation he pressed and moderation he practised Staupicius told Luther concerning his behaviour that in the first three years he did all things according to the utmost rigour and that would not do In the next three years he did all according to the Laws and Counsels of the Antients and that would not hit And in the last three years he did all according to the will of God and yet neither would that succeed and then he was fain to be content with what he could have Thus you have a taste and but a little taste in this that hath been said of the precious Liquor that was powred into this earthen vesssel To which might be added the quickness of his apprehension the strength of his Memory his sense of the publick evils his passing by of wrongs and offences his special regard to such as loved their Wives and Ministers and the like but where should I make an end These and his other eminent parts vertues and graces deserve to be laid in oyl-colours by the most skilful Pencil Towards his latter end he met with some pinching griefs which he did bear with invincible patience and fortitude He willingly submitted because it was Gods will to have him so exercised All of us must expect to drink of the self-same cup our last dayes usually are our worst dayes as Mollâ—rus observes the clouds will then be returning after the rain We must be taught to know and speak it out that we are but Pilgrims we must be more truly and thoroughly taken off from the world more ripened and mellowed and seasoned for God and be made more serious in all our undertakings Melancthon used to say That if he had no cares he should have no Prayers Our comfort is our time is but short the most and best of our treasure is gone before Our hope is laid up in Heaven Get we more communion with God more faith more patience and let us put on the whole Armour of God and then we shall be able to stand and to withstand in the evil day and in the end shall be more than Conquerours through him that hath loved us This clear-sighted and understanding man foresaw storms approaching and rejoyced that he should be in his grave before they sell whither also he came as a shock of Corn gathered into the Barn in due season The Sabbath day was the last day of his life the strict observation whereof he often pressed He would say that we should go to sleep that night as it were with meat in our mouthes That Sabbath day being September the 21. 1656 he preached twice taking his leave of the world by pressing faith in God That evening he repeated both his Sermons in his Family somewhat more largely than ordinary He read his Chapter
of the world how she may please her Husband 2. She had so chosen God for her portion and set up her rest in the riches of his love that she had but little minde of the worlds riches She knew that riches may be had and well used of the Religious and that poverty alone commends no man unto God as St. Jerom speaks yet did she not dote upon them but though she was competently careful and frugal as Christ prescribeth Joh. 6. 12. Gather up the broken meat that nothing be lost and though she was provident as the Apostle requires 1 Tim. 5. 8. If any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own hosue he hath denyed the faith and is worse than an Infidel yet withall beleeving that of the Prophet David Psal. 37. 16. A little that the righteous hath is better than the riches of many wicked and as conforming her self to that of St. John Love not the world nor the things of the world 1 Joh. 2. 15. She often besought of Almighty God rather to make and keep her poor than to suffer her heart in any sort to sink down from her Maker to dote upon Mammon She was one that could very well finde in her heart to honour God with her substance as Prov. 3. 9. She was as cheerful in her layings out for him as any Miser could be in his layings up for himself and when she heard of the irreligious Parsimony of some towards the maintenanance of the publick Ministry in that City of Chester she hath professed that she had rather be at all the charge of all the common contributions her self if her estate would bear it than that God should be grumbled at or his service poorly prized or the wages of his work unwillingly paid Another undoubted testimony of her true love to God was in that she so much desired to dye out of a fervent affection to him insomuch that she feared a long life would keep her too long from the enjoyment of him being therein like unto David in those ardent aspirations of his As the Hart panteth after the water Brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God my soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before him Psal 42. 1 2. That which worldlings are most afraid of that she so much wished for that her friends were fain to plead with her to be pleased with life though she not being contented with their Arguments contended against them by contrary reason shewing first why she did desire to dye Secondly why she was not afraid of Death and hoping that it would not tarry long she had in readiness some special matters to be remembred at her Death which she left in writing under her own hand and are as followeth First Why I desire to dye I desire to dye because I want while I live here the glorious presence of God which I love and long for and that sweet fellowship of the Angels and Saints who would be glad of me as I am of them and would entertaine me with unwearied delight I desire to dye because while I live I shall want the perfection of my nature and be as an estranged and banished person from my Fathers house I desire to dye because I would not live to offend so good a God nor to grieve his holy Spirit For his loving kindness is better than life it self And he is abundant in mercy to me and it doth lye as an heavy load upon my heart many times to think of dipleasing him I desire to dye because this world is generally infected with the plague of sin and some have this Plague-sore running upon them and I my self â—m tainted with the same disease so as whilst I live here I can be in no place nor in any company but I am still in danger of being infected or to infect others and if this world doth hate me because I endeavour to follow goodness how will it rejoyce if my foot do but slip Therefore how woful would my life be unto me if I should give occasion to the world to triumph or blaspheme in respect of me I cannot choose but desire to dye when I consider that sin like a leprosie hath so corrupted me that there is no soundness in me my minde my memory my will and affections yea my very conscience is still impure in every faculty of my soul there is a miserable mixture of vile infection which makes me aweary of my life and all this is the worse because it is incurable and inseparable companion of my life so that I can go no whither to avoid it there is no business that I can dispatch that concerns my happiness without a muteny in mine heart though Gods works be all fair works yet there are in my nature many defects insufficiencies mistakings and transgressions so that I may say with David Innumerable evils have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold on me so that I am not able to look up Psal. 40. 12. I therefore desire Heaven for holiness rather than for happiness that I might sin no more I desire that condition wherein I may most glorifie God I desire to dye because of the Devils malignant and uncessant assaults I can stand no where before the Lord on earth but one Devil or other is at my right hand and must of necessity enter into conflict with them and their temptations and be buffeted and gored by them which is a thousand fold worse than Death More easie it is to wrestle with Flesh and Blood than with those Principalities and Powers and spiritual wickednesses and great Rulers of the world For they are subtle and cruel and and like roaring Lions they go about seeking whom they may devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. I desire to dye because by Death I shall rest from the hard labours of this life I desire to dye because nothing in this world can give me solid and durable contentment I am less in liking of life and have more desire of death when I consider the misery that may come both on my body and estate and fearful alterations may come and wars may come and all the desolations and terrours which accompany them and I may be left in the hands of the sons of violence Besides I daily suffer the loss of my friends who were the companions of my life and means of much contentment unto me and those whom I lose by my life I shall finde by my death and enjoy in another world unto all eternity And for my children it doth not trouble me for that God which hath given life and breath and all they have while I am living can without me provide for them when I am dead my God will be their God if they be his if they be not what comfort would it be for me to live my life would be exceeding bitter unto me if I should see them dishonour God whom
intercede for them The Bishop told him that such Conventicles were forbidden by the Law the State being jealous lest the seeds of Sedition or Heresie might be sown in them To whom Mr. Jurdaine replied My Lord Do you think that the Lord Jesus Christ when he comes to Judgement will say concerning these and such like poor Christians Take them Devil take them because though they sought me by fasting and prayer yet they did not observe every circumstance with so much prudence as they might have done Whereupon the Bishop dismissed them I am now come to the last act of his Life his sickness and the period of that his Death In his sickness which was very painfull he being sorely afflicted with the Stone and Cholick yet did he manifest more than ordinary patience not opening his mouth in any word that might savour of repining or discontent at his present condition but meekly and patiently submitting to Gods afflicting hand and waiting for his long-expected and much desired dissolution He did then much act faith in Jesus Christ and his gracious Promises and his assurance remained unshaken though Satan was then busie with him by his temptations But being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might he did resist him Some of his nearest Friends that observed his confident Assurance in the course of his life and of his happy estate in heaven after death did suppose that Satan would have set upon him with so much violence as to have shaken his Assurance as no doubt he had will enough to do but God who had him in chains would not permit him to do it But he went out of the world as a Conquerour out of the Field being through Christ victorious over all his spiritual enemies One particular in his sickness may not be omitted which was his taking all occasions of exhorting and encouraging others to constancy in the faith zeal for God and making sure of Heaven and when his spirits began to fail him he would say I cannot speak much more to you now Râ—member what you have heard from me in my health He was willing also to incite others that were absent to the discharge of their Duties The Mayor of the City that then was sending to see how he did he called the messenger unto him and said Remember me to Mr. Mayor and tell him from me that he have a special care of these three things To do Justice To provide carefully for the poor and to make sure of Heaven His gracious speeches in the time of his sickness were many and more than can be here expressed Having fought the good fight of Faith and finished his course he sweetly and quietly resigned up his soul into the hands of his blessed Saviour and Redeemer He departed this Life July the 15. Anno Christi 1640. being the Sabbath day The Sabbath was his delight on earth and on that day God gave him to enjoy an eternal Sabbath with him in Heaven As he had sweet communion with God in the use of Ordinances for many years on that day so he went to enjoy an immediate communion with God on that holy day and after all his labours he entred into rest even that glorious Rest in Heaven Heb. 4. 11. His departure hence was in the Seventy ninth year of his age and according to his account for the New-birth in the Sixty fifth year For so long he reckoned since the time of his effectual Calling At the celebration of his Funerals there hath not been known any man to be more lamented than was he the loss being so great not to the City alone but to all those Western parts the influence of his example as a zealous Magistrate and Christian reaching far and near After he had served his own Generation by the will of God he fell on sleep Act. 13. 36. The Life and Death of Mrs. Margaret Ducke who dyed Anno Christi 1646. THe Father of Mrs. Margaret Ducke was Mr. Henry Southworth a Gentleman of a good Family Her Mother was a vertuous and Religious Matron He was a Merchant and Customer of London by which means having acquired a plentiful estate he contented himself with it and withdrew from thence to a more quiet and retired that is a more happy life at Wells where he lived plentifully and having onely two Daughters his Co-heirs he gave them liberal and pious education in all those wayes which commend and accomplish well-bred Gentlewomen This Gentlewoman who was the younger of his Daughters was deservedly dear to both her Parents and lived with them till their deaths which fell out to be shortly one after another For as they were lovely and pleasant in their lives if I may so use the words of Davids lamentation over Saul and Jonathan 2 Sam. 1. so in their Deaths they were not divided She was then about the one and twentieth year of her age at which time she was desired in marriage by many younger in years and higher in means and lands than the Gentleman was unto whom with her great contentment even to her dying day she yeelded her self and her affections resolving as the vertuous Marcella in St. Jerom answered her young Woer Cerealis who was of a Noble and Consular race Si nubere vellem utique maritum quaererem non haereditatem that when she married she would marry an Husband not an estate though yet God had blessed her Husband with a competency of these outward things Their Marriage was celebrated by that incomparable and even in this age famous Prelate Bishop Lake in the City of Wells who never married any persons besides themselves where for some years they lived together and the Town to this day gives an ample testimony to their piety and charity For her part they say as Gregory Nyssen said of Placilla that if she prevented him not in any work of charity yet she was sure to concur with him therein and when she departed from thence they soon complained and lamented the want of her charity The blinde complained that they wanted an eye the lame a staffe the mourners one to comfort them the languishing one to visit them as St. Jerom said of Nepotian For indeed she was eyes to the blinde feet to the lame she was a mother to the poor and distressed and to those who had nothing to help them The blessing of those as Job saith of himself that were ready to perish came upon her and she caused the widows heart to sing for joy From Wells they removed to Blackfriers in London where she lived long under the powerful Ministry of the thrice worthy and learned Dr. Gouge a man famous for his pains in the Church of Christ. What her Life Faith Charity Patience was during her abode there was well known to all in general and particularly observed by that Reverend Doctor and abundantly testified at her Funerals by him so that nothing needs to be added to
into that better world which she so much longed after often professing that there was nothing that could tempt her to wish for life but the breeding up of her little ones which yet now she was the less solicitous about because she could leave them in the hands of their tender and careful Father not doubting as old dying Jacob said when he was blessing the two Sons of Joseph Gen. 48. 15. 16. That that God which had fed her all her life long untill that day and the Angel which had redeemed her from all evil would bless them And now finding her self arrested by the messenger of Death and her body like the house of Saul growing weaker and weaker but her soul like the house of David waxed stronger and stronger took higher flights and made nearer approaches to God that gave it When her Husband came to her as he did frequently he continually admonished and minded her of the gracious Promises of mercy in Christ and of faith in him and desired her to be strengthened and comforted in them Her answer was she was comforted in them she found the comfort of Gods Spirit in her and verily believed she should see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living Psal. 45. 13. Ever and anon saying I am comforted Gods Spirit is in me which makes me endure my sickness and more pains than you can think of so comfortably as I do When she knew of none by her usual prayer was Lord look down upon me in thy mercy Lord forgive me my sins Lord assist me with thy holy Spirit Lord thou hast assured me of the forgiveness of my sins Lord assist me still with thy holy Spirit And many times passing the whole night without sleep she spent that time in these and the like heavenly prayers and ejaculations in which her Husband and those which attend her continually still found her when they came to her Never man had a more faithfull dear and loving Wife or more carefull of what concerned him than himself and more tender of any thing said or done against him than if it had been said or done against her self And when he seemed to lament the loss he should have if God took her from him She meekly answered We came not into the world together and therefore may not look to go out together When he replied that it would be much better for their children if he went first as by the course of nature was most likely she said that he could do much better for the children than she could and thanked God for that she could now leave them with him For the space of three weeks she kept her bed and about a fortnight before her death being surprized with a fainting fit in which she was like to depart and thereby perceiving that earth would suddenly return to the earth whence it came that her soul might be the better winged and prepared for a return to God that gave it she deâ—ired that all the Family might be called up and joyn in prayers with and for her At which time observing the grief and passion of her Husband and those that were present expressed plentifully by tears from their eyes she besought him and them not to grieve and lament for her happiness About that time a Reverend person coming to visit her Husband he solicited him to enlarge that great act of favour unto him by a greater act of charity to his wife by visiting her also whom God now visited with sickness as also to pray with and administer some comfort unto her which he most willingly condescended unto and having taken a strict account of her faith in Christ and hopes of a better life he left her with his Fatherly benediction top full of comfort and when she was afterwards told that he came out of respect and kindness to visit her Husband she said No but God had sent him for her comfort often acknowledging the consolations which she had found by him When any came to visit her in the time of her sickness at the parting she desired them to pray for her and often sent Messengers and caused Letters to be directed to her friends in London to pray for her for that she was now preparing for another world When she was sometimes desired for her childrens sake to chear up her self her answer was that to leave them did not trouble her because she was assured that God would provide for them adding that she would willingly leave Husband Children and all to go to Christ which was just the minde of that blessed Martyr Ignatius Befall me said he what will or can so I may enjoy Jesus Christ my Love my Life that was crucified for me or rather St. Pauls case expressed in that most elegant Barbarisme Phil. 1. 23. Desiring to be with Christ which is multo magis melius much more better And now finding the day of her life wasted to the evening and ready to dye into night on the Lords day before her death she desired the prayers of the Congregation in the Parish where she lived being well assured as she said that many good people would pray heartily for her After which some coming to visit her and exhorting her to patience and to remember the afflictions of Job she answered that she had had her part in his afflictions God having given her Luctuosam foecunditatem as St. Jerom said of Laeta a sad and sorrowfull fruitfulness taking away seven of her children in their minority so that she as Hanna spake in her song 1 Sam. 2. 5. that had born seven waxed feeble yet she comforted her self with this hope that they were in Heaven before her and hoped that they would be Lamps to lead her to heaven for she assured her self that they followed the Lamb whithersoever he goeth and for those two which were yet alive she thanked God for that she saw no ill qualities in them Besides she said that God had taken away her goods from her but had given her patience which to her was of more value and she esteemed it above them all knowing that God was able to restore all when he pleased She often acknowledged Gods goodness to her in sending her a milde sickness and not taking her away with some sudden stroke as he did the wife of Ezekiel Chap. 24. 16. or by some tormenting disease as he is pleased to visit some of his dear ones acknowledging the wonderful mercy of God to her therein A week before her death she called her eldest Daughter to her being to go from her to School at Putney and putting her hand on her shoulder she said to her I give you that blessing which my Mother gave me at her death The God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob bless you and then added the blessing which Aaron by Gods own appointment was to give the children of Israel The Lord bless thee and keep thee
of God against it Thou shalt not take the Name of God in vain And another of them reasoning with his fellows about God and the Devil professed that he had rather be in hell with God than in heaven with the Devil And a third who by reason of her age could not speak distinctly said in some discourse with her Father that God Almighty would not bless them who tell Fibbs meaning Lies and that she had rather dye than tell a Fibb so far had their Mothers instructions prevailed with them She was eminent for a charitable and bountifull spirit she was another Dorcas full of good works and Alms-dâ—eds That high Elogium that Solomon gives a vertuous woman may properly be applied unto her Many Daughters have done vertuously but she excelled them all Prov. 31. 29. Many there are that come far short of her but very few that went beyond her in the acts of Charity God gave her a liberal and plentifull estate and that was a great mercy but it was a far greater mercy that he gave her a liberal heart to do good and to distribute To cast her bread on the waters and to honour God with her substance That protestation which Job makes for his own vindication may fitly be applied unto her Job 31. 16 19. He would not with-hold the poor from their desire nor cause the eyes of the widow to fail He would not see any to perish for want of cloathing nor any poor without covering The whole Country round about where she dwelt will bear her witness that she visited and relieved the sick and cloathed the naked fed the hungry and healed the wounded Her purse her hand her heart were all open for their relief She bought many precious Drugs and cordial waters She made several precious salves and gave them all away to such as were in need of them She spared not her best pains being never aweary of well doing insomuch that in the extremity of her greatest sickness such bowels of compassion yearned in her she compounded several Medicines with her own hands and applied them Thus will her works praise her in the Gate and being dead she yet speaketh Prov. 31. 31. Heb. 11. 4. For her precious name liveth The Lord will have the name of the Righteous to be in everlasting remembrance Psal. 112. 6. and the memory of the just is blessed Prov. 10. 7. And precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal. 116. 15. Now this rare Gentlewoman reaps the fruit of her serving of God and the whole harvest whereof she received onely the first fruits in this present world The usual saying is All is well that ends well Come we therefore to speak of her end Her life was holy and therefore her death must needs be happy It pleased the Lord to exercise her with a long and lingring sickness and amidst the weakness of the outward man God gave her great strength in her inward man though her limbs and outward strength failed her yet God was her strength and portion and he never failed her A few dayes before her distemper waxed high her Husband being from home she sent for all her Family both young and old to come in unto her chamber with whom she prayed near two hours with such pathetical heavenly Scripture-language as drew admiration and tears from those that were present She blessed her children counselled her servants heartily and affectionately commended her Husband unto God she wept and prayed and prayed and wept and could not easily part with the company nor yet leave off praying and weeping Upon the encrease of her distemper her spirit was much disturbed and some impertinent speeches did fall from her yet in the middest of all her impertinences Grace and the Spirit of God did eminently declare their Power and Sovereignty in her by many savoury and choice speeches and sweet breathings of her soul some of which are these that follow I was in the Devils claws but Jesus Christ the sweet Bridegroom of my soul the sweet Bridegroom of my soul these words she often reiterated the sweet Bridegroom of my soul hath delivered me At another time I am safe for Jesus Christ is at my heart and I would not part with him for ten thousand worlds Again Come Lord Jesus the Captain of my salvation ride on gloriously conquering and to conquer for me Satan Sin Hell Death and all mine enemies Afterwards again I was in Hell but now I am in Heaven I am in Heaven indeed indeed I am in Heaven I am in Heaven eternally I am in Heaven the habitation of Gods glory unto all eternity Much of this nature she did speak even when her understanding was so disturbed that she scarce did know her near Relations and those who did attend upon her in her Chamber And now all these things are worthy to be transmitted unto posterity and to be had in perpetual remembrance She was an eminently godly Gentlewoman being but little above Eight and twenty years of age when she dyed which was in the beginning of March Anno Christi 1656. But though she was young in years yet was she old in Grace She had lived long in a little time She was a mirror of her age and a renown of her sexe a pattern worthy of imitation She was the beloved faithfull wife of as an intirely loving and faithfull Husband She was a tender affectionate Mother to her own and no less carefull of those pledges committed to his charge She was a most dear Sister an affectionate Mistress carefull both of the bodies and souls of her servants that they should neither want corporal nor spiritual food Her profession was with Joshua Chap. 24. 15. Choose you this day whom you will serve But as for me I and my house we will serve the Lord. She was not onely a friend to her friends but a friend to her enemies even unto such as despitefully used her All the Country round about could not but look upon her whilst living as a publick gain and when dead as a publick loss She was very usefull whilst she lived and will be much missed now she is dead Two things were very eminent in her Setledness in Religion and holiness of conversation By her death the poor have lost a liberal Almoner the sick 〈…〉 a good Physitian the wounded have lost a 〈◊〉 Chirurgion the Husband hath lost a faithful Wife the children a tender Mother the servants a gracious Mistress and not any that knew her of all her neighbours and friends but they will finde a great loss and miss of her All that knew her loved her but onely such whose love is not worth the having She lived much desired and dyed much lamented For her to live was Christ and to die was gain Phil. 1. 21. She was honoured in her life and she was honoured at her death by a confluence of many persons of quality of the Gentry
also went to prayer and so to bed and dyed immediately by that the words were well out of his mouth being threescore and ten years old Who can desire to dye better than Stephen did calling upon God He would often say That if God saw it fit one had better to dye of a quick than of a lingring Death And God answered his desires His Works A Treatise of Temptations Capels Remains The Life and Death of Dr. Robert Harris who dyed Anno Christi 1658. Robert Harris was born in a dark time and place at Broad-Campden in Glocestershire Anno Christi 1578. His Father had the repute of a very wise and understanding man and his Mother of a very devout and charitable woman under whose wings he spent his childhood but he acknowledged it as a matter of grief to him all his life that he preferred his play before reading the Scriptures to his parents at their call So soon as he was fit for it he was set to a Free-school at Chipping-Cambden where he met with a double discouragement the first was from the often change of his Schoolmasters by reason of the small salary that came to them The second proceeded from the fierce and cruel carriage of others which as he used often to say was the bane of many young Schollars and though for his own part he remembred not that he had smarted under a Rod in any School yet the sight of the severity used to others brought such a trembling and sadness upon his spirit that he could not shake it off to his dying day From thence he was removed to the School at Worcester under the care of Mr. Bright and on the Sabbaths he heard that Reverend and Learned Dr. Robet Abbots and being furnished with School-learning he went from thence to Magdalen-Hall in Oxford being allyed to the Principal Mr. Lyster There he shewed a more than ordinary desire of Learning and having but little help either from the Principal or his Tutor he followed his private studies with the more earnestness yet all this while he enquired little into the wayes and truths of God His Tutor not long after leaving the Hall he earnestly solicited the Principal that he might be committed to the care of one Mr. Goffe of Magdalen College who was noted for a very good Logician and Disputant but withal he was accounted a Puritan which made the Principal who was Popishly affected to disswade his choice but he not out of love to Religion but Learning persisted in his desires and prevailed Mr. Goffe having thus received him into his charge required him that with the rest of his fellow-Pupils he should joyn in reading the Scriptures Repetition of Sermons and Prayer which new course he being unaccustomed to was somewhat troubled at it observing that none of the Seniors imbraced that way and yet it was such as he knew not how to contradict This caused him oft to betake himself to his private Prayers wherein he begged of God either to discover to him the falshood if his Tutor had any design upon him to corrupt him or if this course were pleasing to God that then he would confirm him in it and it pleased God after a while so to resolve him that he bought a Bible and with indefatigable pains he applied himself to the reading of that and other good Authours in Divinity Shortly after Mr. Goffe refuseth to continue his Tutor onely agrees that they would conjoyn their studies together Mr. Goffe reading Philosophy to Mr. Harris and Mr. Harris reading Greek to him and from Greek they proceeded to Hebrew in which study some other of the Fellows joyned with them whereof one afterwards was President and besides these studies his Tutor and he agreed to read Calvins Institutions by turns which course they continued as long as their other occasions and exercises would permit Having for a while been Bachelor of Arts he was willing to try his fitness for the Ministry because otherwise his Father would have him to the study of the Law and having prepared a Sermon he proffered his pains at Chipping-Cambden but such was the wofull ignorance of those times that in the greater Town he knew not where to procure a Bible to carry with him into the Pulpit yet at last being directed to the Vicar there he indeed had a Bible but it could not be â—ound having not been seen of some moneths before yet search being made he was furnished with a Bible and after Prayer made he took for his Text those words Rom. 10. 1. Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved and his Sermon was highly commended and yet himself would say that he was a loser by the bargain 1 Because his heart swelled upon it 2. Because his carnal Friends hereupon called on him to give over University studies and to come amongst them as having learning enough His Father also having many other children to provide for was willing to ease his charge and therefore applied himself to some persons of eminency both in Church and State to get some preferment for him But he being willing to decline publick imployment for the present humbly intreated his Father that what he would hereafter bestow upon him for a Patrimony he would be pleased for the present to allow it him for his maintenance in Oxford that he might perfect his studies there which his Father at last condescending to he returned with joy to Oxford But behold Gods providence He had not been long at Oxford before a fearful Plague brake out in that place which so scattered the University that few were left remaining in which case he was again put to his shifts loath he was to return home and whither else to betake himself he knew not till at last by a special Providence he was invited to the house of one Mr. Doyly five miles from Oxford a Gentleman of a very antient Family in that County and a great Friend to the Gospel whose wife also was eminent for knowledge and piety to them therefore Mr. Harris goes for the present Coming to Mr. Doylyes he there met with one Mr. Prior a prudent godly man and of an excellent spirit who being much weakned by two wracking diseases of the Stone and Gout and overburdened with preaching both on the Sabbaths and Fasts enjoyned upon the occasion of the Plague in meer pity Mr. Harris holp him a turn or two which he performed with so good approbation that presently he was set upon both by Mr. Doyly Mr. Prior and some others that he could not withstand their importunity but was necessitated to preach with them at least during the continuance of those extraordinary Fasts Mr. Harris pleaded that he was not an Ordained Minister and therefore durst not meddle with any thing but preaching neither with that but till he could be Ordained This they assented to and during his abode amongst them he met