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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89689	The life and death of Mr. Ignatius Jurdain, one of the aldermen of the city of Exeter; who departed this life July 15th. 1640. Drawn up and published by Ferd. Nicolls, minister of the Gospel at Mary Arches, Exon.	Nicolls, Ferdinando, 1598?-1662.	1655 (1655)	Wing N1139; Thomason E730_9; ESTC R206858	29,189	39

upon him nay accounted it his honour to suffer shame for the name of Christ as the Apostles did (ſ) Act. 5.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 5. But some brought shame upon themselves that thought to cast contempt and scorn upon him Among other instances this one was remarkable That being chosen Burgesse for the Parliament not without much opposition and going up to London to clear his Election at which time there was an accusation sent up against him by a man of no mean place and power That he was the * Hospes Schismaticorum The very expression in the Letter host of the Schismaticks It was presumed by some that he would be sent back with disgrace And therefore there was a Sermon prepared by one to jeer him at his return this being the text (t) Psal 114.5 Psal 114.5 What ailed thee thou Jordan that thou wast driven back Thus men of profane spirits will dare to make the Sacred Word of God to serve their own base ends and lusts but Mr. Jurdain was confirmed in his place to which he was chosen and so shame was cast into the face of the prophane scorner and the Sermon or invective rather became abortive God standing by him in his troubles And as he stood up for God so God did stand by him and assist him and carry him through many troubles and dangers that did threaten and even compasse him about One act of Gods Providence among others was most notable in delivering him out of his troubles He having done an act of Justice in punishing an unclean Person whose offence was aggravated by some heinous circumstances being moved with indignation against the offence he went it seems besides the Letter of the Law in some circumstance And thereupon some friends of the Person punished being stirred up with indignation for the disgrace that reflected upon them more then for the dishonour done to God and the foul blot that was cast upon Religion did resolve to prosecute him to the uttermost for it and they put him to great charge and trouble When the matter came to a final decision in the Star-Chamber it was much feared by many of his friends and through the boasting of his Adversaries that some heavy censure should have been passed upon him to his crushing and undoing and when friends failed him on earth he flees to heaven for succour and defence he cryed to God in Davids words (u) Psal 22.11 Vers 19. Psal 22. Be not far from me O Lord for trouble is neer for there is none to help and O my strength haste thou to help me And he set apart an Evening and a great part of the night for fasting and Prayer that he might engage God on his side who had the hearts of all men even the greatest in his hand to turn them as he pleased (w) Prov. 21.1 Prov. 21. And behold the next morning a real and gracious answer from heaven he was acquitted and commended by the Lord Keeper and God stirred up the hearts of divers of that high Arbitrary Court to speak in his behalf Thus the Lord was a very present help in trouble to him (x) Psal 46.1 Psal 46. And after that he was freed and came home he piled up the books and papers of all the proceedings in that vexatious businesse under his Cupboard in his Parlour which was the place to which he did usually resort and where he had that daily sweet heavenly Communion with God forementioned And being asked the reason why he left so many papers and books to lye in that manner his answer was These I keep in my sight as memorials and Monuments of Gods mercy in freeing me from my troubles These are the principal things that came within mine observation or notice from others that well knew this Saint of God so eminent for Piety Justice and Charity and zealous in all in the general course of his conversation Many particulars have been omitted but by that little which hath been said you may (y) Ex pede Herculem A. Gell. Noct. Att. l. 1. c. 1. His Sicknesse ghesse at the great worth of this holy man I come now to the last act of his life his sicknesse and the period of that his death In his sicknesse which was very painful he being sorely afflicted with the Stone and the Cholick he manifested more then ordinary Patience His patience not opening his mouth in any word that might savour of any repining or discontent at his present condition but meekly and patiently submitting to Gods afflicting hand and waiting for his long expected and desired dissolution His Faith and Assurance 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 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 and no doubt he had will enough to do it but God who had him in his chain would not permit him to do it but he went out of the world as a Conquerour out of the field being victorious through Christ over all his spiritual enemies I may not omit one particular in his sicknesse which was his taking all occasions of exhorting and encouraging others to constancy in the faith His Exhortations to others zeal for God and making sure of heaven and his spirits beginning to fail him he would say I cannot speak much more to you now remember what you have heard from me in my health And he was willing to incite others that were absent to the discharge of their duties He instance onely one particular that the Major of the City that then was sending to visit him he called the Messenger unto him and said Remember me to Mr. Major 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 sicknesse were many and more then I can or were fit here to expresse His Death 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 15th On the Sabbath 1640. being the Christian Sabbath 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 that glorious rest in heaven (z) Heb. 4.11 Heb. 4. His departure hence was in the 79. His Age. year of his age and according to his account for the new birth in the 65th year for so long he reckoned since the time of his effectual Calling His Funeral His Funeral being kept some few daies after there hath not been any man known to be more lamented then he the losse being so great not to the City alone but to all these Western parts the influence of his example as a zealous Magistrate and Christian reaching far and neer I will conclude this Story of his Life and Death with that which was the text of his Funeral Sermon (a) Act. 13.36 Omitting only the name of David Act. 13. After he had served his own generation by the will of God he fell on sleep He sleeps in the Lord and will rise gloriously in the Morning of the Resurrection (b) Psal 17. ult Psal 17. and (c) Psal 49.14 Psal 49. * Being dead he yet speaketh But though he sleeps the sleep of death yet being dead with Abel he yet speaketh (d) Heb. 11.1 Heb. 11. His zealous conversation speaketh zeal and fervency to this Laodicean and luke-warm generation and bespeaks all Christian Magistrates especially those of that City where he lived and all the Saints in all places to imitate his Piety Justice Charity and all those graces which did shine forth in his holy and gracious conversation I le shut up all with that voyce from Heaven Revel 14.13 Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them FINIS

and saying Be of good chear thou art the man upon which he had presently such inward joyes and ravishings of Spirit as were unexpressible And as he obtained so he carefully kept his assurance by free trial of himself and his spiritual estate towards God His keeping his Assurance he had wont to try himself by all the marks of sincerity which he found in the Scriptures heard in the Ministry of the Word or read in the writings of godly Divines and thereby he did clear up his evidences for heaven and he did not only daily try his estate by some marks but he kept a narrow watch over his heart and wayes and so his assurance was preserved And he kept it a long time together for 30. years or more And being asked whether he never met with any temptations of doubting of his estate towards God he gave this answer That he had been and often was sorely assaulted by Satans temptations which were set against his faith and assurance and that he had been foiled in respect of the application of some particular promises but he was not driven from his holdfast of Christ or from the assurance of his interest in the Covenant of grace but still he acknowledged that his assurance and all his ability in spiritual things was through Christ that strengthened him (d) Phil. 4.13 Phil. 4. His exciting others to get Assurance As he had this assurance in himself so he was very forward to stir up others to get this assurance there were scarce any that he met with if he supposed that their faces were heavenward but he would be questioning with them about their assurance blaming them if they did not labor for it encouraging them to seek for it And when some did ask him how they should get it he gave this answer That they should importunately seek it of God and not give him any rest untill be granted it unto them I would said he lock or bolt my door and beg it of God and I would never give him rest untill I had obtained it and then that they should daily try themselves by some marks and three he did often mention as trying himself thereby 1. A sincere desire to fear the name of God as (e) Nehem. 1. ult Nehem. 1. 2. A sincere endeavour to do the will of God in all things required (f) Psal 119.6 Psal 119. 3. A full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord (g) Act. 11.23 Act. 11. And these he did not onely speak of but presse with much earnestnesse as longing that others should partake of that high priviledge and heavenly gift with himself He feared not Death From this assurance it was that he was so fearlesse of death he knew that death was an enemy as the Apostle saith (h) 1 Cor. 15.26 1 Cor. 15. but that through Christ it was a friend to open the gate to heaven Whereas death is as Bildad saith (i) Job 18.14 N. Annot. in loc Job 18. the King of terrours to flesh and blood and as (k) Arist Ethic. lib. 3. cap. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on that was led by the light of Nature said That it was the most terrible of all terrible things yet he being assured of his interest in Christ it was not so to him for he (l) Vid. Gryn Disp Theol. de Mortis metu looked upon it as having lost its sting in Christ He made it so familiar to him by his continual meditating of it that he was so far from fearing it that he did delight in the speaking of it earnestly desired it and with joy expected it whereby he discovered his great (m) Calvin Instit l. 3. c. 9. § 5. proficiency in the School of Christ It was his usual saying That if death were offered on the one hand and the Kings Crown on the other he would take the Crown and throw it into the Kennel and chuse death far above the (n) The same spirit breathed in him as in Ignatius the Martyr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Epist ad Rom. crown for he knew he should be a gainer by it for he should obtain the crown of life and glory (o) He had a desire to have dyed for Christ as Ignatius of old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Epist ad Rom. Jam. 1. 1 Pet. 5. And that he feared not but rather (p) Jam. 1.12 1 Pet. 5.4 hoped for death It appears by this that when the Plague was very hot in the City and he being in the highest place of Authority there at that time and the poor flocked about his house for relief though he would not causelesly expose himself to danger yet being in the discharge of his duty he feared not the plague but he often professed That if the Plague should by Gods disposing seize upon him he would have kissed and welcom'd it as the Messenger of death Nor was the meditation of death then in his mind onely in times of danger but at all times there was not a day when he did not speak of it and not onely when there was occasion offered of such discourse but he would take occasion to speak of it as if he were invited to a Feast he would tell the Messenger That he would come if he did live so long And when he went out of his house upon publick or private businesse he would as it were take a solemn leave of his wife telling her That he knew not whether he should return to his house again His Meditation of heaven But his mind was not so much upon death as upon heaven to which he was assured that death would be a passage for him sure his heart was much in heaven or heaven was much in his heart as appears by his frequent discourse of it both day and night for (q) Matth. 12.34 Matth. 12. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh (r) As Ignatius of old had the name of Jesus so deeply engraven in his heart that he could not but make frequent mention of it H. Magd. Cent. 2. c. 10. All that knew him and looked upon him with an unprejudic'd eye would say that he was a most heavenly minded man a man that lived as much in heaven as most that ever lived upon the earth When in the night he looked upon those bright lights of heaven (ſ) Ezek. 32.8 Ezek. 32. the firmament adorned with those stars of light (t) Psal 148 3. Psal 148. he had wont to raise up his thoughts and his speech much higher to the glory of the highest heaven saying If this heaven be so glorious how doth the heaven above exceed in glory where God alone shall be the light and yet the righteous shall shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father (u) Matth. 13.43 Matth. 13. These are but some few heads of his Piety to which much more may be added