Time made no furrowes in the face you see He died young yet few did more then he He spent himselfe for God and now is blesst After hard labour with Eternal Rest Invisibles Realities Demonstrated in the HOLY LIFE AND Triumphant Death OF M r. JOHN JANEWAY Fellow of Kings Collegde in CAMBRIDGE By JAMES JANEWAY Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst and are to be sold at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside neer Mercers Chappel and at the Bible on London Bridge under the Gate 1674. Christian Reader THE Love of Christ in his holy ones and the great usefulness of such History command me to take it as a pleasing office to commend this real description of a Saint to thy serious perusal and imitation The good acceptance and success of the late published Life and Death of Mr. Joseph Alleine the more encourageth me to serve thee in this As to the credit of the Narrative let it be enough to tell thee that his worthy Brother Mr. James Janeway intimately acquainted with his most secret life is the writer of it I have no hand in it my self And if thou live in or neer London where he is now well known I will not be beholden to thee to believe it especially if you also know the other most credible attestors I know that many such Histories shew more what the writer could say than what the Person was or did But here both He and his Relations and those whom he lived with were all so neer us and are many of them yet so intimately known to me and others that there is no place for doubting left us I confess such instances are very sad to my thoughts while I am desiring the welfare of mankind on earth To hear of the death of an Infant who might have proved we know not what or of an useless person or of an aged Christian who hath profitably run out the course of nature is nothing so sad to me as to hear of the removal of such excellent young men when they are prepared for their work and just beginning it But God is infinitely Wise and Just and more Merciful too than we can be He knoweth what he doth and why and is accountable to none about the measure of his benefits nor the reasons of his various disposals But the great Judgments which since his death have befallen these Kingdomss do partly tell us that it is no wonder if such men were taken from the evil to come of whom the world hath so notoriously declared it self unworthy It is fitter for such lights to shine in Heaven than to be put under a bushel here on earth And for himself he hath run long enough who hath toucht the prize He hath sailed long enough who is come safe to the harbour And he hath lived long enough who is readiest to die Though I wonder at the lengthning of my own life which hath been threatned by God and Man these thirty three years or more yet alas how much less have I lived than this man did who am yet far short of his heavenly preparations I am ashamed to read that any thing of mine was a help to his attainments and to find that at almost sixty years of age I am much below what he was raised to at twenty three O that God would give my frozen age such warm reflections from these his remains that according to my need I may receive more from him that is dead than ever he did from me alive If his own Reverend Father received so much from him why may not I also have some quickning even by the dead through the fruits of the spirit left behind him and the same spirits quickning influx upon me And may I but so Die how harmless how welcome will Death be We think it great pity that he lived to preach but two Sermons in the world That same poor ignorant dull Congregation had not been instructed and awakened by his Doctrine and his spiritual servour had not by dispersed writings enflamed the souls of thousands with the same Heavenly Love and Zeal But who knoweth yet but that this one Narrative of his Holy exemplary Life and Death may do as much as more numerous or Voluminous writings The many Volumes of holy Lives of antient Docters Martyrs and later Divines Philosophers and others in Germany England and other Lands have done much good and are still very useful and a pleasant and profittable recreation O how much better than play-Books and Romances But experience tells us that God still poureth forth as large measures of his spirit as heretofore he did If holy Augustines life after so much pollution and holy Hieroms life qui fatetur se non fuisse virginem were so laudible and examplary O how much praise do I owe to God for his grace upon his Servants who am yet acquainted with so great a number of holy laborious faithful ministers who I have great reason to believe not only to have all their lives been free from all gross heynous sins but also to have laid out their zeal their time their labours so sincerely and self-denyingly for God and the good of souls as that I cannot but hope that if those who are against their Preaching of the Gospel were but as well acquainted with them as I am they would be their friend and forward to promote their work I know one Temptation the Reader is like to meet with to hinder his profiting by this example Even to think that Mr. Alleine and Mr. Janeway by Overdoing did but cut short their own Lives and that their excessive lobours in meditation prayer and other duties did deprive the Church of the benefit of much more which they might have lived to do and therefore that such examples are not to be imitated but stand as warnings to us not to over do and destroy our bodies as they did To which I answer 1. I am one my self that wish both of them had done somewhot less in that part of duty which hurt the body and overmatched their strength And I am not perswading you that every man must needs Preach as oft as Mr. Allen or study aud meditate as long as Mr. Janeway and he did Men have their various capacities and oportunities and works 2. But yet I dare not charge either of them with sin because I know not their particular motives 3. And perhaps their lives had been as short if they had done less as are the lives of many hundred Students who favour themselves more than any wise men would wish And it was Gods mercy that they who had but a short life to live should do more than any that live to the period of natures course And Methusalems life and theirs is equalled now Whom have you known that by longer living hath got more holy readiness to die 4. But I beseech you distinguish well between that part of their work which was really like to overthrow their
himself He was an excellent Example to his younger brethren and his wise instructions and holy practices did not a little influence them He was a prudent Counsellor and an assistant that could not well be spared to his eldest Brother who was not a little sensible of that personal worth that was in his younger Brother whom he would prefer before himself as one whom he judged God had honoured with far greater parts graces and experiences than himself The younger also did as humbly and heartily respect and honour him as a serious Christian a Minister and his elder Brother who had obliged him with more than ordinary kindness When he was but young yet he began to be taken notice of by antient Ministers and Christians though his modesty was so great that his huge parts were not a little obscured thereby and his vast worth was so ballasted with humility that he made no great noise in the world and most were ignorant of his singular worth A wise man that was intimately acquainted with him would say of him that he was like deep waters that were most still a man of hidden excellency There were few that knew how close he walked with God and at what a high rate he lived and how great a trade he drave for the riches of that other world All which he laboured as much as might be to conceal CHAP. VII His return to Kings Colledge after his Fathers Death His holy projects for Christ and Souls WHen his Father was dead he returned again to Kings Colledge and was a member of a secret Cabal which began to carry on notable projects for Christ and souls and to plot how they might best improve their gifts and graces so as that they might be most serviceable to God and their generation Their custom was frequently to meet together to pray and to communicate studies and experiences and to handle some question of Divinity or in some Scholastick way to exercise the gifts which God had given them Some of this company did degenerate but others lived to let the world understand that what they did was from a vital principal Amongst whom this young man was none of the least who had a design upon some of the juniors to ingage them if possible before they were insnared by wicked company when they came fresh from School After some time most of his dear companions were transplanted either into Gentlemens families or Livings and this Mr. Janeway being one of the youngest was for a while left alone in the Colledge But he wanting the comfortable diversion of suitable godly society fixed so intensely upon his studies that he soon gave such a wound to his Bodily-constitution that it could never be throughly healed CHAP. VIII His departure from the Colledge to live in Dr. Cox's Family AFter a while Dr. Cox wanting a Tutor for his Son in his house sent to the Provost of the Colledge to make choiâ—e of a man of true worth for him In answer to whose request the Provost was pleased to send Mr. Janeway who did neither shame him that preferred him nor disappointed the expectations of him that entertained him but by his diligence profound learning and success in his undertakeing did not a little obligâ— the relations of his Pupil But his pains were so great and his body so weak that it could not long bear up under such work so that he was forced to ask leave of the Doctor to try whether the change of the Air might not contribute somewhat to the mending the temper of his Body which now began sensibly to decay Whilest he was in that family his carriage was so sweet and obliging and his conversation so spiritual that it did not a little endear his presence to them so that I question not but some of that Family will carry a sweet remembrance of him along with them to their Graves and I oft heard him owning the goodness of God to him in the benefit that he got by the graces and experiences of some Christians in and relating to that Family whose tender love to him he did gratefully resent upon his Death-bed CHAP. IX His Retire into the Country and His first Sickness HE now leaves the Doctors house and retires himself into the Country to his Mother and eldest Brother who did not spare to use their utmost diligence and tenderness to recruit the decays of nature but hard study frequent and earnest prayers and long and intense meditations had so ruinated this frail Tabernacle that it could not be fully repaired yet by Gods blessing upon care and art it was under-propped for some time Whilst he was in this declining condition in which he could have little hopes of life he was so far from being affrighted that he received the sentence of death in himself with great joy and wrote to his dearest relations to dispose them to a patient compliance with such a dispensation as might separate him and them for a while And to wean their affections from him he solemnly professed that as for himself he was ashamed to desire and pray for life O saith he Is there any thing here more desirable than the injoyment of Christ Can I expect any thing below comparable to that blessed Vision O that Crown that Rest which remains for the people of God! and blessed be God I can say I know it is mine I know that when this Tabernacle of Clay shall be dissolved that I have a house not made with hands and therefore I groan not to be uncloathed but to be cloathed upon with Christ To me to live is Christ and to die is gain I can now through infinite Mercy speak in the Apostles Language I have fought the good fight henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown incorruptible that fadeth not away When he perceived one of his nearest Relations distressed at the apprehensions of his Death he charged him not to pray for his Life except it were purely with a respect to the Glory of God I wish said he I beg you to keep your minds in a submissive frame to the will of God concerning me The Lord take you nearer to himself that you may walk with Him to Whom if I go before I hope you will follow after Yet after this he was through mercy finely recovered and his friends were not without some hopes of his living to be eminently instrumental for Gods glory in his generation After he was recovered in some measure he fell again to his former practice of ingaging deeply in the secret great duties of Religion which he constantly practised except when God discharged him by sickness secret prayer at least three times a day somtimes seven times yeamore besides family and Colledge-duties which were before hinted he set a part an hour every day for set and solemn meditation which duty he found unspeakably to improve his graces to make no small addition to his comforts His time for that duty was most commonly in
in them To instance in a particular or two One time perceiving one of his Brothers asleep at Prayer in the Family he presently took occasion to show him what a high contempt it was of God what a little sense such a man must have of his own danger what dreadful hypocrisie what a Miracle of Patience that he was not awakened in flames After he had been a while affectionately pleading with him it pleased the Lord to strike in with some power and to melt and soften his Brothers heart when he was about eleven years old so that it was to be hoped that then the Lord began savingly to work upon the heart of that Child For from that time forward a considerable alteration might be discerned in him When he perceived it he was not a little pleased This put him upon carrying on the work that Conviction might not wear off till it ended in Conversion To this end he wrote to him to put him in mind of what God had done for his Soul begging of him not to rest satisfied till he knew what a thorow change and effectual calling meant I hope said he that God hath a good work to do in you for you and by you yea I hope he hath already begun it But O take not up with some beginnings faint desires lazy seekings O remember your former tears one may weep a little for sin and yet go to Hell for sin many that are under some such work shake of the sense of sin murder their Convictions and return again to folly O! take heed if any draw back the Lord will take no pleasure in them but I hope better things of you He would also observe how his Brethren carried it after Duty whether they seemed to run presently to the World with greediness as if Duty were a task or whether there seemed to be an abiding impression of God and the things of God upon them His vehement love and compassion to Souls may be further judged of by these following expressions which he used to one of his Relations After he had been speaking how infinitely it was below a Christian to pursue with greediness the things which will be but as gravel in the teeth if we mind not the rich provision which is in our Fathers House O what folly is it to trifle in the things of God! but I hope better things of you did I not hope why should I not mourn in secret for you as one cast out among the dead O what should I do for you but pour out my Soul like water and give my God no rest till he should graciously visit you with his Salvation till he cast you down and raise you up till he wound you and heal you again Thus what with his holy example warm and wise exhortations prayers tears and secret groans somewhat of the beauty of Religion was to be seen in the Family where he lived CHAP. V. His great love to and frequency in the duty of Prayers with remarkable success HE was mighty in Prayer and his spirit was oftentimes so transported in it that he forgot the weakness of his own body and of others spirits Indeed the acquaintance that he had with God was so sweet and his converse with him so frequent that when he was ingaged in duty he scarce knew how to leave that which was so delightful and suited to his spirit His constant course for some years was this He prayed at least three times a day in secret sometimes seven times twice a day in the Family or Colledge And he found the sweetness of it beyond imagination and enjoyed wonderful Communion with God and tasted much of the pleasantness of a Heavenly Life And he could say by experience that the ways of wisdom were ways of pleasantness and all her paths peace He knew what it was to wrestle with God and was come to that pass that he could scarce come off his knees without his Fathers blessing He was used to converse with God with a holy familiarity as a Friend and would upon all occasions run to him for advice and had many strange and immediate Answers of Prayer One of which I think it not altogether impertinent to give the World an account of His Honoured Father Mr. William Janeway Minister of Kelshall in Hartfordshire being sick and being under somewhat dark apprehensions as to the state of his Soul he would often say to his Son John O Son this passing upon Eternity is a great thing this dying is a solemn business and enough to make any ones heart ake that hath not his Pardon sealed and his Evidences for Heaven clear And truly Son I am under no small fears as to my own estate for another world O that God would clear his love O that I could say chearfully I can die and upon good grounds be able to look Death in the face and venture upon Eternity with well-grounded peace and comfort His sweet and dutiful Son made a suitable reply at present but seeing his dear Father continuing under despondings of spirit though no Christians that knew him but had a high esteem of him for his uprightness he got by himself and spent some time in wrestling with God upon his Fathers account earnestly begging of God that he would fill him with joy unspeakable in believing and that he would speedily give him some token for good that he might joyfully and honourably leave this world to go to a better After he was risen from his knees he came down to his sick Father and asked him how he felt himself His Father made no answer for some time but wept exceedingly a passion that he was not subject to and continued for some considerable time in an extraordinary passion of weeping so that he was not able to speak But at last having recovered himself with unspeakable joy he burst out into such expressions as these O Son now it is come it is come it is come I bless God I can die The Spirit of God hath witnessed with my spirit that I am his Child Now I can look up to God as my dear Father and Christ as my Redeemer I can now say this is my Friend and this is my Beloved My heart is full it is brim full I can hold no more I know now what that sentence means the Peace of God which passeth understanding I know now what that white stone is wherein a new name is written which none know but they which have it And that fit of weeping which you saw me in was a fit of over-powring love and joy so great that I could not for my heart contain my self neither can I express what glorious discoveries God hath made of himself unto me And had that joy been greater I question whether I could have born it and whether it would not have separated soul and body Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name that hath pardoned all my sins
perceive what it was that swallowed up his heart and where his delight treasure and life was O How much do most of us who go for Christians fall short of these things and How vast a distance between his experience and ours and what reason have we to read these lines with blushing and to blot the paper with tears and to lay aside this book a while and to fall upon our faces before the Lord bemoan the cursed unsuitableness of our hearts unto God and to bewail that we do so little understand what this walking with God living by faith means O at what a rate do some Christians live and how low flat and dull are others His love to Christ and souls made him very desirous to spend and be spent in the work of the Ministry accordingly he did comply with the first loud and clear Call to preach the everlasting Gospel and though he was but about two and twenty years old yet he came to that work like one that understood what kind of employment Preaching was He was a workman that needed not to be ashamed that was throughly furnished for every good word and work one that was able to answer gainsayers one in whom the Word of God dwelt richly one full of the spirit and power one that hated sin with a perfect hatred and loved holiness with all his soul in whom Religion in its beauty did shine one that knew the terrors of the Lord and knew how to beseech sinners in Christs stead to be reconciled unto God One that was a Son of thunder and a Son of consolation In a word I may speak that of him which Paul spake of Timothy that I know none like-minded that did naturally care for souls And had he lived to have preached often O what use might such a man have been of in his generation one in whom learning and holiness did as it were strive which should excel He never preached publickly but twice and then he came to it as if he had been used to that work forty years delivering the Word of God with that power and Majesty with that tenderness and compassion with that readiness and freedom that it made his hearers almost amazed He was led into the Mysterie of the Gospel and he spoke nothing to others but what was the language of his heart and the fruit of great experience and which one might easily perceive had no small impression first upon his own spirit His first and last Sermons they were upon Communion and intimate converse with God out of Job 22. 21. A subject that few Christians under Heaven were better able to manage than himself and that scarce any could handle so feelingly as he for he did for some considerable time maintain such an intimate familiarity with God that he seemed to converse with Him as one friend doth converse with another This text he made some entrance into whilst he was here but the perfecting of his acquaintance with God was a work fitter for another world He was one that kept an exact watch over his thoughts words and actions and made a review of all that passed him at least once a day in a solemn manner He kept a Diary in which he did write down every evening what the frame of his spirit had been all the day long especially in every duty He took notice what incomes and profit he received in his spiritual traffique what returns from that far-country what answers of prayer what deadness and flatness and what observable providences did present themselves and the substance of what he had been doing and any wandrings of thoughts inordinancy in any passion which though the world could not discern he could It cannot be conceived by them which do not practise the same to what a good account did this return This made him to retain a grateful remembrance of mercy and to live in a constant admiring adoring of divine goodness this brought him to a very intimate acquaintance with his own heart this kept his spirit low and fitted him for freer communications from God this made him more lively and active this helped him to walk humbly with God this made him speak more affectionately experimentally to others of the things of God and in a word this left a sweet calm upon his spirits because he every night made even his accounts and if his sheets should prove his widing-sheet it had been all one for he could say his work was done so that death could not surprize him Could this book of his experiences and register of his actions have been read it might have contributed much to the compleating of this discourse the quickning of some and the comforting of others But these things being written in characters the world hath lost that jewel He studied the Scriptures much and they were sweeter to him than his food and he had an excellent faculty in opening the mind of God in dark places In the latter part of his life he seemed quite swallowed up with the thoughts of Christ Heaven and eternity and the neerer he came to this the more swift his motion was to it and the more unmixed his designs for it and he would much perswade others to an universal free respect to the glory of God in all things and making Religion ones business and not to mind these great things by the by CHAP. XII Ministers are not to carry on low designs HE was not a little concerned about Ministers that above all men They should take heed lest they carried on poor low designs instead of wholly-eying of the interest of God and souls He judged that to take up Preaching as a trade was altogether inconsistent with the high spirit of a true Gospel-Minister He desired that those which seemed to be devoted to the Ministry would be such first heartily to devote their All to God and then that they should indeavour to have a dear love to immortal souls He was very ready to debase himself and humbly to acknowledge what he found amiss in himself and laboured to amend himself and others This saith he I must seriously confess that I must needs reproach my self for deficiency in a Christian spiritual remembrance of you speaking to a dear friend and for a decay in a quick tender touch as of other things so of what relates to your self in the spirituality of it Not that I think not of you or of God but that my thoughts of you and spiritual things are not so frequent savoury and affectionate as they ought to be By this reflection you may easily perceive that I see further in duty than I do in practice The truth of it is I grudge that thoughts and affections should run out any whither freely but to God And what I now desire for my self I desire for you likewise that God would sweeten the fountain our natures I mean that every drop flowing from thence may savour of something of God within
Hell it self in as much as the cause doth eminently contain all and more evil than the effect This is the spiritual death whereby we are dead in sin the fruit of the first curse Thou shalt die the death The souls life in this world is its being in God and living to God and injoyment of God and the souls eternal life will be so to know God as to be formed into his likeness and to be received into a full participation of and communion with God The souls death here is its being fallen off from God and its being carried into its self and its eternal death will be an utter separation from him Now mankind being thus fallen from God Christ is sent for this very end to bring man back again to God and then man is brought unto God when he is brought out of that state of self-love into that state whereby he gives up himself wholly to God Thus the soul being quickened by the spirit of God leaveth off living to its self which was its death and lives to God which is its life Here comes in the great duty of denying of our selves for Christs sake which indeed were no duty if there were nothing in us contrary to God This then is our duty not to seek our own things before the things of God to lay Gods glory as the foundation of all our actions and if there be any thing in us contrary to that to give it no leave to stand in competition with God Now were this deeply rooted in our hearts how would contention anger wrath and heart-burning and all things of this nature cease Such influence would the taking Gods part against self have into the quiet and peace of men that it cannot be without it We see how wisely God hath ordered things that the very act of mans being off from God should be the cause of confusion war and misery and what can be more just and equal than this that God who is the author of our being should be the end of our being O then that once our minds were again reduced to this frame To live wholly to God! O that we were wrought into a through prejudice against self which stands between us and true peace I beg of you to spare some time from the world and retire into privacie where you may apply this to your own soul My prayer to God for you out of the strong yearnings of my soul towards you is that he would make this effectual to its intended end for the inward peace of your soul for your comfortable walking with God in this life and that condition wherein the wisdom of God hath placed you I writ these lines with the strength of affection I feel fear grief compassion working strongly O pity me in the midst of all these whilest I cannot call to remembrance the cause of these without a flood of tears Fulfill therefore my joy in being of one mind yea if there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort in love if any-fellowship of the spirit if any bowels of mercy fulfill ye my joy and be like-minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Phil. 2. 1 2. I leave you to the love and mercy of God and to the working of his spirit which alone is able to put life and power into these words Which that he would do is the earnest request and servent prayer of yours John Janeway Now upon a faithful perusal of this Letter it pleased the Lord to give a meek and more complying spirit and in a great measure it wrought its intended effect The noble design of this sweet peace-maker took so far as to produce an ingenious acknowledgement and sorrowful bewailing of the want of that self-denial humility meekness and love which doth so much become our sacred profession Upon the hearing of this good news how strangely was this good man transported Upon the receipt of a letter from the former friend which gave no small satisfaction hopes that his former indeavours were not in vain And that he might drive the nail to the head he speedily backs his for former Letter with a second which speaks these words Dear Friend MY soul is inlarged towards you and my affections work within me and yet give me leave now to lay aside those weak flames of natural affection and to kindle my soul with divine love Here there is no fear of running out too far while all is in Christ and for Christ O that now I could let out the strength of my soul not as to your self but as to God! O that my heart were more inlarged that it may be comprehensive of a more full true Christian love God is altogether lovely and to be loved for himself and we are so far dark ignorant and blind as we do not see and account him most amiable O let me have such discoveries of his excellency that my heart may pant thirst and break for its earnest longings after the richest participations of him that I may for ever be swallowed up of his love O that I may love him a thousand times more than I do That I may rejoyce in him and take the sweetest complacencie delight in him alone that I could let out my affections most where I see any thing of himself any beams of the image of his holiness and that beareth the impression of his spirit Had you visited me from the dead could my affections have moved more strongly or my rejoycings have been greater than they were at the receipt of those lines which I had from you wherein so much of Christ in you and the goodness of Christ to me did appear Fulfil my joy in the Lord refresh my bowels and let not my rejoycing be in vain If it hath pleased the Lord to make the imperfect weak indeavours of his unworthy servant any way subservient to his own glory in you it is that which I account my self unworthy of desire to receive it from him as a manifestation of the riches of his free goodness to my self knowing my self to be unworthy to be his instrument in the meanest service much more in so great a one as this is Hoping and perswading my self of the effectual vvork of my former letter I am incouraged to write again both because of my promise and your expectation and the vveighty nature of the subject that I vvas then upon vvhich vvas Love True Christian love which is a thing so comly so beautiful and sweet and of such vveighty power in all actions to make them divine excellent that there is no labour lost in indeavouring to get more of it even in those in vvhom it most aboundeth The Apostle 1 Thes 4. 9 10. Though he knew that they vvere taught of God to love one another and that they did it towards all the Brethren yet even them he beseeched to abound more and more in that grace of love The former principal
another because they were of different judgments and perswasions There where he saw most holiness humility and love there he let out most of his affections And he was of that holy mans mind that it were pity that the very name of division were not buried and that the time would come that we might all dearly pay for our unbrotherly nay unchristian Animosities CHAP. XVI An account of the latter part of his Life FOR the latter part of his Life he lived liked a man that was quite weary of the world and that looked upon himself as a stranger here and that lived in the constant sight of a better world He plainly declared himself but a Pilgrim that looked for a better Country a City that had foundations whose builder and maker was God His habit his language his deportment all spoke him one of another world His meditations were so intense long and frequent that they ripened him apace for Heaven but somewhat weakned his body Few Christians attain to such a holy contempt of the world and to such clear believing joyful constant apprehensions of the transcendent glories of the unseen world He made it his whole business to keep up sensible communion with God and to grow into a humble familiarity with God and to maintain it And if by reason of company or any necessary diversions this was in any measure interrupted he would complain like one out of his element till his spirit was recovered into a delightful more unmixed free intercourse with God He was never so well satisfied as when he was more immediately ingaged in what brought him nearer to God and by this he injoyed those comforts frequently which other Christians rarely meet with His graces and experiences toward his end grew to astonishment His faith got up to a full assurance his desires into a kind of injoyment and delight He was oft brought into the banqueting house and there Christs Banner over him was love and he sate down under his shadow with great delight and his Fruit was pleasant unto his tast His Eyes beheld the King in his Beauty and while he sate at his Table his spicknard did spend forth its pleasant smell he had frequent visions of Glory and this John lay in the bosom of his Master and was sure a very beloved Disciple and highly favored His Lord oft called him up to the Mount to him and let him see his excellent Glory O the sweet foretasts that he had of those pleasures that are at the right Hand of God How oft was he feasted with the feast of fat things those wines on the lees well refined and sometimes he was like a Giant refresht with new wine rejoycing to run the race that was set before him whether of doing or of suffering He was even sick of love and he could say to the poor unexperienced World O tast and see and to Christians come and I well tell you what God hath done for my Soul O what do Christians mean that they do no more labour to get their sences spiritually exercised O why do they not make Religion the very business of their lives O why is the Soul Christ and Glory thus dispised Is there nothing in communion with God Are all those comforts of Christians that follow hard after him worth nothing Is it not worth the while to make ones calling and Election sure O why do men and women jest and dally in the great matters of Eternity Little do people think what they slight when they are seldom and formal in secret duties and when they neglect that great duty of Meditation which I have through rich mercy found so sweet and refreshing O what do Christians mean that they keep at such a distance from Christ Did they but know the thousandth part of that sweetness that is in him they could not choose but follow him hard they would run and not be weary and walk and not be faint He could sensibly and experimentally commend the ways of God to the poor unexperienced world and say His ways are pleasantness and justifie wisdom and say her paths were peace He could take off those aspersions which the Devil and the atheistical frantick sots do cast upon Godliness in the power of it Here is one that could challenge all the Atheists in the world to dispute here is one could bring sensible demonstrations to prove a deity the reality and excellency of invisibles which these ignorant fools and mad men make the subject of their scorn Here is one that would not change delights with the greatest epicures living and vie pleasure with all the sensual rich gallants of the world Which of them all could in the midst of their jollity say This is the pleasure that shall last for ever Which of them can say among their Cups and Whores I can now look Death in the Face and this very Moment I can be content yea glad to leave these delights as knowing I shall injoy better And this he could do when he fared deliciously in spiritual banquets every day He could upon better reason than he did say Soul thou hast goods laid up for many years He knew full well that what he did here injoy was but a little to what he should have shortly In his presence there is fulness of joy at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore Where is the Belshazzar that would not quake in the midst of his Cups whilst he is quaffing and carouzing in bowls of the richest Wine if he should see a hand upon the Wall writing bitter things against him telling him that his joys are at an end and that this night his soul must be required of him that now he must come away and give an account of all his ungodly pleasures before the mighty God Where is the sinner that could be contented to hear the Lord roaring out of Zion whilest he is roaring in the Tavern Which of them would be glad to hear the trumpet sound and to hear that voice Arise you dead and come to judgment Which of them would rejoyce to see the Mountains quaking the Elements melting with fervent heat and the Earth consumed with flames the Lord Christ whom they despised coming in the clouds with Millions of his Saints and Angels to be avenged upon those that knew not God and obeyed not his Gospel Is not that a blessed state when a man can lift up his head with joy when others tremble with fear and sink with sorrow And this was the condition of this holy young man In the midst of all worldly comforts he longed for death the thought of the day of Judgment made all his injoyments sweeter O how did he long for the coming of Christ Whilst some have been discoursing by him of that great and terrible day of the Lord he would smile and humbly express his delight in the forethought of that approaching hour I remember once there was a great talk that one had
and desired that she might be in travail to see Christ formed in the souls of the rest of her Children and see of the travail of her soul and meet them with joy in that great day Then He charged all his Brethren and Sisters in general as they would answer it before God that they should carry it dutiful to their dear Mother As for his eldest Brother William at whose house he lay sick his prayer vvas that he might be swallowed up of Christ and Love to souls and be more and more exemplary in his life and successful in his Ministry and finish his course vvith joy His next Brothers name vvas Andrew a Citizen of London who was with him and saw him in this triumphing state but his necessary business calling him away he could not then be by yet he vvas not forgot but he was thus blessed The God of Heaven remember my poor Brother at London The Lord make him truly rich in giving him the Pearl of great price and make him a Fellow-Citizen with the Saints and of the House-hold of God the Lord deliver him from the sins of that City may the world be kept out of his heart and Christ dwell there O that he may be as his name is a strong man and that I may meet him with Joy Then he called his next Brother whose name was James whom he hoped God had made him a spiritual Father to to whom he thus addressed himself Brother James I hope the Lord hath given thee a goodly heritage the lines are fallen to thee in pleasant places the Lord is thy portion I hope the Lord hath shewed thee the worth of a Christ Hold on dear Brother Christ Heaven and Glory are worth striving for The Lord give thee more abundance of his grace Then His next Brother Abraham was called to whom he spake to this purpose The blessing of the God of Abraham rest upon thee the Lord make thee a Father of many spiritual Children His fifth Brother was Joseph whom he blessed in this manner Let him bless thee O Joseph that blessed him that was separated from his Brothren O that his everlasting Arms may take hold on thee It is enough if yet thou mayest live in his sight My heart hath been working towards thee poor Joseph and I am not without hopes that the Arms of the Almighty will mbrace thee The God of thy Father bless thee with the blessings of Heaven above The next was his Sister Mary to whom he spoke thus Poor Sister Mary thy body is weak and thy daies will be filled with bitterness thy name is Marah the Lord sweeten all with his Grace and Peace and give thee health in thy Soul Be patient and make sure of Christ and all is well Then His other Sister whose name was Sarah was called whom he thus blessed Sister Sarah thy body is strong and healthful O that thy Soul may be so too The Lord make thee first a wise Virgin and then a Mother in Israel a pattren of Modesty Humility and Holiness Then another Brother Jacob was called whom he blessed after this manner The Lord make thee an Israelite indeed in whom there in no guile O that thou maist learn to wrestle with God and like a Prince maist prevail and not go without the blessing Then he prayed for his youngest Brother Benjamin who was then but an Infant Poor little Benjamin O that the Father of the Fatherless would take care of thee poor Child that thou which never sawest thy Father upon Earth maiest see him with joy in Heaven the Lord be thy Father and Portion maist thou prove the Son of thy Mothers right Hand and the joy of her Age O that none of us all may be found amongst the unconverted in the day of Judgment O that every one of us may appear with our Honoured Father and dear Mother before Christ with joy that they may say Lord here are we and the Children which thou hast gratiously given us O that we may live to God here and live with him hereafter And now my dear Mother Brethren and Sisters Farewel I leave you for a while and I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified And now dear Lord my work is done I have finished my Course I have fought the good Fight and henceforth there remaineth for me a Crown of Righteousness Now come dear Lord Jesus come quickly Then that Godly Minister came to give him his last visit and to do the office of an inferiour Angel to help to convey this blessed soul to Glory who was now even upon Mount Pisga and had a full sight of that goodly Land at a little distance When this Minister spake to him his heart was in a mighty flame of Love and Joy which drew tears of Joy from that pretious Minister being almost amazed to hear a man just a dying talk as if he had been with Jesus and came from the immediate presence of God ` O the smiles that were then in his Face and the unspeakable Joy that was in his Heart one might have read Grace and Glory in such a mans Countenance O the praise the triumphant praises that he put up And every one must speak praise about him or else they did make some jar in his Harmony And indeed most did as well as they could help him in praise So that I never heard nor knew more praises given to God in one Room than in his Chamber A little before he died in the Prayer or rather Praises he was so wrapped up with admiration and joy that he could scarce forbear shouting for joy In the conclusion of the Duty with abundance of Faith and fervency he said aloud Amen Amen! And now his desires shall soon be satisfied He seeth Death coming apace to do his office his jaws are loosened more and more and quiver greatly his Hands and Feet are as cold as clay and a cold sweat is upon him but O how glad was he when he felt his Spirit just agoing Never was Death more welcom to any mortal I think Though the pangs of Death where strong yet that far-more-exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory made him indure those bitter paines with much patience and courage In the extremity of his pains he desired his eldest Brother to lay him a little lower and to take away one Pillow from him that he might die with the more ease His Brother replied that he durst not for a world do any thing that might hasten his Death a moment Then he was vvell satisfied and did sweetly resign himself up vvholly to Gods disposal and after a few minutes vvith a sudden motion gathering up all his strength he gave himself a little turne on one side and in the twinkling of an eye departed to the Lord sleeping in Jesus And now blessed soul thy longings are satisfied and thou
seest and feelest a thousand times more than thou didst upon Earth and yet thou canst bear it vvith delight thou art now vvelcomed to thy Fathers house by Christ the beloved of thy Soul now thou hast heard him say Come thou blessed of my Father and Well done good and faithful servant enter thou into the joy of the Lord and vvear that Crown vvhich vvas prepared for thee before the foundation of the World O that all the Relations vvhich thou hast left behind thee may live thy Life and die thy Death and live vvith Christ and thee for ever and ever Amen Amen He Dyed June 1657. Aged 23. 24. and was Buried in Kelshall Church in Hartfordshire FINIS Books printed for and are to be sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside SERMONS on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Colossians by Mr. J. Daille translated into English by F. S. with Dr. Tho. Goodwin's and Dr. John Owens Epistles Recommendatory An Exposition of Christs Temptation on Matth. 4. and Peters Sermon to Cornelius and circumspect walking By Dr. Tho. Taylor A practical Exposition on the 3d Chapter of the first Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians with the Godly mans choice on Psalm 4. v. 6 7 8. by Anthony Burgess Christianographia or a description of the multitudes and sundry sorts of Christians in the world not subject to the Pope by Eph. Pagit Dr. Donns 4 to Sermons being his 3 Volumes Pareus Exposition on the Revelations Choice and practical Expositions on 4 select Psalms viz. The fourth Psalm in eight Sermons The forty second Psalm in ten Sermons The fifty first Psalm in twenty Sermons The sixty third Psalm in seven Sermons Forty six Sermons npon the whole eighth Chapter of the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans Both by Tho. Horton D. D. late Minister of Saint Hellens An Analytical Exposition of Genesis and of twenty three Chapters of Exodus by George Hughes D. D. Books 4to The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration by George Swinnock M. A. An Antidote against Quakerism by Steph. Scandret An Exposition on the five first Chapters of Ezekiel with useful observations thereupon by William Greenhil The Gospel Covenant opened by Pet. Bulkley Gods holy-Mind touching matters moral which he uttered in ten Commandments Also an Exposition on the Lords Prayer by Edward Eston B. D. The Fiery-Jesuit or an Historical-Collection of the rise encrease doctrines and deeds of the Jesuits exposed to view for the sake of London Horologiographia optica Dyaling universal and particular speculative and practical together with a description of the Court of Arts by a new Method by Sylvanus Morgan Regimen sanitatis salemi or the Regiment of Health containing directions and instructions for the guide and government of mans life A seasonable Apology for Religion by Matthew Pool Separation no Schism in answer to a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor by J. S. The practical Divinity of the Papist discovered to be destructive to true Religion and Mens souls by J. Clarkson An Exercitation on a question in Divinity and Case of Conscience viz. Whether it be lawful for any person to act contrary to the opinion of his own Conscience formed from arguments that to him appears very probable though not necessary or demonstrative The Creatures goodness as they came out of Gods hand and the good-mans mercy to the bruit-creatures in two Sermons by Tho. Hodges B. D Certain considerations tending to promote Peace and Unity amongst Protestants Mediocria or the most plain and natural apprehensions which the Scripture offers concerning the great Doctrines of the Christian Religion of Election Redemption the Covenant the Law and Gospel and Perfection The Saints triumph over the last enemy in a Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. James Janeway by Nath. Vincent The vanity of man in his best estate in a discourse on Psal 39. 5. at the Funeral of the Lady Susanna Keate by Richard Kidder M. A. The Morning-Lecture against Popery or the principal errors of the Church of Rome detected and confuted in a Morning-Lecture preached by several Ministers of the Gospel in or near London Four useful discourses 1 The art of improving a full and prosperous condition for the glory of God being an appendix to the art of Contentment in three Sermons on Philip. 4. 12. 2 Christian submission on 1 Sam. 3. 18. 3 Christ a Christians life and death is gain on Philip. 1. 21. 4 The Gospel of peace sent to the sons of peace in six Sermons on Luke 10. 5 6. by Jeremiah Barroughs Dr. Wilds Letter of Thanks and Poems A new Copy-Book of all sorts of useful hands The Saints priviledg by dying by Mr. Scot. The new World or new-reformed Church by Doctor Homes The Vertuous Daughter a Funeral-Sermon by Mr. Brian The Miracle of Miracles or Christ in our Nature by Dr. Rich. Sibbs The unity and essence of the Catholick Church-visible by Mr. Hudson Dr. Prideaux ' s Fasciculus controversiarum Theologicum Brightman on Revelations Canticles and Daniel Seamans-Companion Canaans Calamity The intercourse of Divine Love between Christ and the Church or the particular Believing soul in several Lectures on the whole second Chap. of Cant. by John Collins D. D. Large 8vo Heart-Treasure or a Treatise tending to fill and furnish the head and heart of every Christian with Soul-enriching-treasure of truths graces experiences and comforts The sure mercies of David or a second part of Heart-treasure Heaven or Hell here in a Good or Bad Conscience by Nath. Vincent Closet-prayer a Christians duty all three by O. Hâ—yword A practical discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the nature and duty of Prayer by Tho. Cobbet Of quenching the Spirit the evil of it in respect both of its causes and effects discovered by Theophilus Polwheile The re-building of London encouraged and improved in everal meditations by Samuel Rolls The sure way to Salvation or a Treatise of the Saints mystical Union with Christ by Richard Stedman M. A. Sober Singularity by the same Author Heaven taken by Storm The mischief of sin both by Tho. Watson The Childs Delight together with an English Grammar Reading and Spelling made easie both by Tho. Lye Aesop's Fables with morals thereupon in English-Verse The Young-mans Instructor and the Old-mans Remembrancer being an Explanation of the Assemblies Catechism Captives bound in Chains made free by Christ their Surety both by Tho. Doolittle Eighteen Sermons preached upon several Texts of Scripture by William Whitaker The Saints care for Church-Communion declared in sundry Sermons preached at St. James Dukes-place by Zech. Crofton The life and death of Edmund Stanton D. D. To which is added a Treatise of Christian-conference and a Dialogue between a Minister and a Stranger Sin the Plague of plagues or sinful sin the worst of Evils by Ralph Venning M. A. Cases of Conscience practically resolved by J. Norman The faithfulness of God considered and cleared in the