acknowledged Having thus preached for a while as a Probationer he refused to continue it any longer having not as yet received Ordination He also scrupled to be as yet Ordained by reason of his defect of years the Canons requiring twenty four and he being yet but twenty one But by some grave and learned men he was told that the Lord had need of his labours and so upon their perswasions and importunity his age being dispensed with according to some former presidents he was ordained at the usual time the Sabbath before Christmas day Anno 1601 by his Uncle Henry Usher Archbishop of Armagh with the assistance of some other Ministers The first Text that he preached publickly upon before the State after his Ordination was Rev. 3. 1. Thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead which fell out to be the same day upon which was fought the Battel of Kinsale which being a day specially set apart by prayer to seek unto God for his blessing and assistance in that engagement and being his first fruits after his entrance into the Office of the Ministry God might in a more than ordinary manner make his labours efficatious and prevailing the rest of that Epistle to the Church of Sardis he finished afterwards It was well known that if the Spaniards had gotten the better that day the Irish Papists had designed to murther the English Protestants both in Dublin and other places but especially the Ministers Hence said he arose a tentation in me to have deferred my Ordination till the event of the Battel had been known that so I might the better have escaped their fury but I repelled that suggestion and resolved the rather upon it that dying a Minister and in that quarrel I might at least be the next door to a Martyr The Spaniards being as was said before overthrown at Kinsale and the hopes of the Irish as to that design being frustrated they began generally to subject themselves to the Statute which was now put in execution in their coming to Church and that it might tend the more to their profit the Lord Lieutenant and his Council desired the Ministers at Dublin so to divide themselves that in imitation of what he had already begun at Christ Church there might be a Sermon on the Lords dayes in the afternoon at every Church upon those Controversies St. Katherines a convenient Church was assigned for Mr. Usher who removed accordingly and duely observed it and his custome was that what he had delivered in one Sermon he drew it up into Questions and Answers and the next Lords day several persons of note voluntary offered themselves to repeat those Answers before the whole Congregation which made them more clear and perspicuous to the Popish party It pleased God by his and the labours of others of his Brethren in the Ministry not only in Dublin but in other parts of the Kingdome that the Papists came so diligently to Church that if they had any occasion to absent themselves they used to send in their excuses to the Church-wardens and there were great hopes in a short time to have reduced the whole Nation to Protestanisme But on a sudden the execution of the Statute was suspended and the power of the High Commission Court then erected and used onely against the Papists was taken away whereupon the Papists presently withdrew themselves from the publick Assembles the Ministry was discouraged all good mens hearts were grieved and Popery from that time forward encreased till like a great Deluge it had overflowed the whole Nation Upon this the spirit of this holy man like Pauls at Athens was exceedingly stirred in him insomuch as preaching before the State at Christ Church upon a special solemnity he did with as much prudence courage and boldness as became his young years give them his opinion of that abominable Toleration of Idolatry making a full and clear application of that passage in Ezekiels Vision Chap. 4. 6. where the Prophet by lying on his side was to bear the iniquity of Judah for forty dayes I have appointed thee saith the Lord each day for a year This said he by the consent of Interpreters signifies the time of forty years to the destruction of Jerusalem and of that Nation for their Idolatry and so said he will I reckon from this year the sin of Ireland and at the end of the time those whom you now imbrace shal be your ruine and you shall bear this iniquity wherein he proved a Prophet For this was delivered by him Anno Christi 1601 and Anno 1641 was the Irish Rebellion and Massacre and what a continued expectation he had of a great judgement upon that his Native Country I saith Dr. Bernard can witness from the year 1624 at which time I had the happiness first to be known to him and the nearer the time approached the more confident he was of the event though as yet nothing that tended towards it was visible to other men The Body of Divinity which is printed in his name is highly commended by Mr. Downam who set it forth and so it is by a stranger Ludovicus Crocius who much desired that some English man would turn it into Latine for the benefit of forreign Churches but it was not intended by him for the Press It was begun by him in publick but finished some years after in private in his Family constantly instructing them twice a week unto which persons of quality and learning resorted and divers of them took Notes whereby several Copies were dispersed abroad some imperfect and mistaken and many passages are in it which were not his neither is the whole so polished as his other Pieces which were published by himself and indeed he was displeased that it came forth without his knowledge yet understanding how much good it had done he connived at it Shortly after the aforementioned defeat given to the Spaniards at Kinsale the Officers of our English Army gave 1800 pounds to buy Books for the College Library at Dublin then Souldiers were advancers of Learning the ordering of which was committed to Dr. Challoner and this Lord Primate who made a journey into England on purpose to buy Books with it He then met with Sir Thomas Bodly who was buying Books for his Library at Oxford and they were very helpful each to other in procuring the rarest Pieces In his journey he visited Mr. Christopher Goodman who had been Professor of Divinity in Oxford in King Edward the sixths dayes then lying on his death-bed at Chester and he would often repeat some grave and wise speeches that he heard from him After this he constantly came over into England once in three years spending one moneth at Oxford another at Cambridge in searching the Books especially the Manuscripts in each University amongst which those of Corpus Christi College in Cambridge he most esteemed the third moneth he spent at London
Pastor which suffered much extremity by reason of the persecution of their then prevailing adversaries forcing them from Bermudas into the Desart Continent The sound of whose distress was no sooner heard of but you might have heard the sounding of his bowels with many others applying themselves to a speedy Collection and sending it to them on purpose for their seasonable relief the sum was about seven hundred pounds two hundred whereof he gathered in the Church of Boston no man in the Contribution exceeding and but one equalling his bounty And it was remarkable that this Contribution arrived there the very day after those poor people were brought to a personal division of that little Meal then remaining in the Barrel and not seeing according to man but that after the eating thereof they must dye a lingring death for want of food and upon the same day their Pastor had preached unto them it being the Lords day upon that Text Psal. 23. The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want At such a time the good hand of the Lord brought this succour to them from afar Whilst he was in Old England his eminent piety the success of his labours and his interest in the hearts both of superiours inferiours equals drew upon him much envy and his Non-conformity added thereunto so that he was delivered in a great measure to the will of his Adversaries who gave him not over till they had bereaved him of much of his livelihood his liberty Country and therewithall of the sweet society of lovers friends and many wayes endeared acquaintance more precious to him than life it self Yet the measure of the afflictions of Christ appointed to be suffered by him was not so fulfilled but lo in the time of his exile some Brethren provoked by the censure of Authority though justly not without tears inflicted upon them singled out Mr. Cotton as the object of their displeasure who though above other men declining irregular and unnecessary interesting himself in the actions of the Magistrate and while opportunity lasted endeavouring their healing yet they requited him evil for good and they at least some of them who were formerly companions with him in the tribulations of that Patmos yea respecters of him had taken sweet counsel together and they had walked in the house of God as friends Hence was he with Tongue and pen blasphemed by them for whom he formerly intreated and for whom he both then and afterwards wept and put on sackcloth As touching any Tenet wherein he may seem singular remember that he was a man and therefore to be heard and read with judgement and happily sometimes with favour St. Hierom makes a difference between reading the writings of the Apostles and other men They saith he alwayes speak the truth these as men sometimes erre But no man did more placidly bear a Dissentient than he It contributes much towards the fuller discovery of truth when men of larger capacities and greater industry than others may be permitted to communicate their Notions onely they should use this liberty by way of disquisition not of Position rather as searchers after Scripture-light than as Dictators of private opinions But now this Western Sun hastens to his setting Being called to preach at a neighbour Church he took wet in his passage over the Ferry and not many hours after he felt the effect of it being seized upon with an extream ilness in his Sermon time This sad providence when others bewailed he comforted himself in that he was found so doing Decet Imperatorem stantem mori It is the honour of a Commander to dye standing St. Austins usual with was that when Christ came he might finde him Aut praecantem aut praedicantem either praying or preaching Calvin would not that when the Lord came he should finde him idle After a short time he complained of the inflamation of his lungs and thereupon found himself Asthmatical and afterward Scorbutical which both meeting in a complicated disease put an end to his dayes insomuch that he was forced to give over those comforting drinks which his stomack could not want If he still used them the inflamation grew unsufferable and threatned a more sharp and speedy death If he left them his stomack forthwith ceased to perform its office leaving him without hope of life By these Messengers he received the sentence of death yet in the use of means he attended the pleasure of him in whose hands our times are his labours continued whilst his strength failed November the 18. he took in course for his Text the four last verses of the second Epistle to Timothy Salute Prisca and Aquila c. Giving the reason why he spake of so many verses together because otherwise he said he should not live to make an end of that Epistle He chiefly insisted upon those words Grace be with you all so ending that Epistle and his Lectures together For upon the Lords day following he preached his last Sermon upon Joh. 1. 14. And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we â—eheld his Glory as of the onely begotten Son of the Father full of Grace and Peace Now he gave himself wholly to prepare for his dissolution making his Will and setting his house in order When he could no more be seen abroad all sorts Magistrates Ministers Neighbours and Friends afar off and those near at hand especially his own people resorted to him daily as to a publick Father When the neighbour Ministers visited him in which duty they were frequent he thanked them affectionately for their love exhorting them also as an Elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ to feed the Flock encouraging them that when the chief Shepherd shall appear they should receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Finding himself to grow weak according to that of James he sent for the Elders of the Church of Boston to pray over him which last solemn duty being performed not without much affection and many tears Then as Polycarp a little before his death said That he had served Christ fourscore and six years neither had he ever offended him in any thing so he told them through Grace he had now served God forty years it being so long since his conversion throughout which time he had ever found him faithful to him and thereupon he took occasion to exhort them to the like effect that Paul sometime did the Elders of Ephesus a little before they were to see his face no more Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the Flock over wâ—ich the Lord hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Particularly he lamented that the love of many yea and some of their own Congregation was grown cold towards the publick Ordinances calling upon them so much the more for their watchfulness in that respect which done he thanked them for their loving and brotherly assistance to
Exercises in the publick Schools which by the Statutes of the University were required And during his first three years he kept the Colledge so close that he lay not one night out of the walls thereof and at the three years end he was admitted Fellow and then went to visit his Friends He was a very hard Student for as he was a lover of Learning so was he very laborious in his studies sitting up late at night and rising early in the morning He continued in the Colledge for the space of nine years and in all that time except he went forth a Town to his friends he was never absent from morning Prayers in the Chappel which used to be about half an hour after five a clock in the morning yea he used to rise so long before he went to the Chappel as that he gained time for his secret devotions and for reading his morning task of the Scriptures For he tyed himself to read every day fifteen Chapters in English out of the Bible five in the morning five after dinner before he fell upon his other studies and five before he went to bed he hath been often heard to say that when he could not sleep in the night time he used in his thoughts to run through divers Chapters of the Scripture in order as if he had heard them read to him and by this means he deceived the tediousness of his waking and deprived himself also sometimes of the sweetness of his sleeping hours though by that which administred to him better rest and greater sweetness for he preferred the meditation upon the word before his necessary food with Job and before sleep with David The like practice he used in the day time when he was alone whether within doors or abroad for which ed as an help he wrote in a little book which he alwayes carried about him the distinct heads of every particular passage in every Chapter of the Bible that so when in any place he meditated on the word of God and was at a loss he presently found help by that little book By this means he made himself so expert in the Text that if he heard any phrase of Scripture he could presently tell where it was to be found Besides he had his set times of study for the more difficult places of Scripture that he might finde out the true meaning of them by which he attained to a great measure of exactness in the understanding of the Scripture During his abode in the University he did not onely ply his own studies but used also to send for others whom he observed to be ingenuous and willing and instructed them in the Arts whereby he was a great help to many and brought them also to be better proficient While he was a Scholler in Kings College there came a Jew to Cambridge who was entertained in sundry Colleges to teach them the Hebrew Tongue and amongst the rest in Kings Colledge and Mr. Gouge took the opportunity of learning of him as many other of the Students also did but most of them grew soon weary and left him onely the said Mr. Gouge kept close to him so long as he tarried But when he was gone those which before had lost their opportunity now seeing their own folly they came to Mr. Gouge and entreated him to instruct them in the grounds of the said Language which he accordingly did and thereby himself became an excellent Hebrician And as he was expert in the learned Languages so was he likewise in the Arts and all other necessary Literature that he might have nothing of these to learn when he should come to make use of them Being chosen a Lecturer both of Logick and Philosophy in the College he made conscience of observing all the times appointed by the Statute for reading and never omitted any of them and his readings were so exactly composed that thereby he profited his Auditors exceedingly and procured much credit and applause from them but withall some envy from his successors who by his example were now provoked to a more painful frequent reading of their Lectures which in former times were performed seldomer and in a more perfunctory manner He was so cautious and strict in the whole course of his life that thereby he got the name of an Arch-Puritan which was the terme then given in scorn to those who were conscientious in their wayes In the first year of his Fellowship he began his Common-place book for Divinity in which he made references of all which he read He had also white paper bound betwixt every leaf of his Bible wherein he wrote such short and pithy interpretations and observations on the Text as could not well be referred to any head in his Common-place book He took such pleasure in and was so addicted to a University life that he was resolved to have spent many more years than he did if not his whole life therein But his Father after he had been two or three years Master of Arts much against his minde took him from the University upon the occasion of a marriage which he prepared for him and God by his providence turned this to the great good of his Church For by this means though it were somewhat late before he entred upon the Ministry yet it is very probable that he entred upon and exercised that sacred calling much sooner than he would have done if he had been left to his own choice His wife was the daughter of Mr. Henry Caulton a Citizen and Mercer of London but an Orphan when he married her Having thus changed his condition and entred into a married estate that he might not be distracted nor impeded in his studies by worldly business he committed the whole care of his Family affairs to the management of his wife and still applied himself wholly to his studies and to the weighty businesses of his heavenly calling He lived with this his wife for the space of two and twenty years in much love and peace and had by her thirteen children seven sons and six daughters whereof eight lived to mens and womens estate and were all of them carefully educated and sufficiently provided for It was his earnest desire and daily prayer to God for his sons that they might all be preachers of the Gospel so highly did he prize the function that is so vilified and contemned by too many others for he himself found such comfort and content in that calling that he thought no greater could be found in any other and he often professed for his own part that the greatest pleasure he took in the world was in the imployments about the work of the Ministry insomuch as he was wont to say to divers Honourable persons of his acquaintance and particularly to the Lord Coventry Keeper of the Great Seal of England that he envied not his great place and imployment In the order and government of
opportunities and it was his usual custome to spend Saturdayes in the afternoon in these duties Amongst other sins he much bewayled his too much love to humane learning which made him as glad when Munday came that he might renue his studies as he was when Sabbath day came wherein he was to apply himself to the service of God and it cost him many tears that he could not be more heavenly-minded at that age At fiftten years old he had made such a progress in the study of Chronology that he drew up in Latine an exact Chronicle of the Bible as far as to the Books of the Kings which did not much differ from that of his late Annals excepting his enlargements by some exquisite observations and the Syncronismes of Heathen story About this time also he was much afflicted with a strong temptation which moved him to question Gods love to him because he was so free from afflictions which was occasioned by some inconsiderate passages which he met with in some Authors and long was he under some trouble before he could get rid of it Before he was Bachelor of Arts he read Stapletons Fortress of the Faith and therein finding how confidently he asserted Antiquity for the Popish Tenets withall branding our Church and Religion with novelty in what we dissented from them he was much troubled at it not knowing but that his quotations might be right and he was convinced that the Ancientest must needs be best as the nearer the Fountain the sweeter and clearer are the streams yet withall he suspected that Stapleton might mis-report the Fathers or wrest them to his own sense and therefore he took up a setled resolution that in due time if God prolonged his life and health he would trust onely his own eyes by reading over all the Fathers for his satisfaction herein which work he afterward began at Twenty years old and finished that vast labour at Thirty eight strictly tying himself to a certain portion every day what occasions soever intervened Whilst he was Batchelor of Arts he read divers of the Works of the Fathers and most Authors which had written the Body of Divinity both Positively and Polemically in consuting the Popish errors and had read many of their Authors also by which means he was so well acquainted with the state of those controversies that he was able to dispute with any of the Popish Priests as he often did with the principal of them Anno Christi 1598 The Earle of Essex newly coming over Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and being chosen Chancellor of the University of Dublin there was a solemn Act appointed for his entertainment and Mr. Usher being then Batchelor of Arts answered the Philosophy Act with great applause and approbation About this time his Fathers intention was to send him over into England to the Innes of Court for the study of the Common Law which was a great trouble to him yet in obedience to his Fathers will he assented and resolved upon it but it pleased God that his Father shortly after dyed viz. August the 12. Anno Christi 1698 so that then he being at liberty to make choice of his studies devoted and applied himself wholly to Divinity and thereupon was chosen Fellow of the College being before uncapable of taking the Oath which was required of all Fellows at their Admission viz. that the present intent of their studies should be for the Profession of Divinity unless God should afterwards otherwise dispose their mindes And here again was an other occasion of disturbance to his mind ministred to him For his Father left him a good estate in land but finding that he must have involved himself in many Suits of Law before he could attain to the quiet enjoyment of it to the interrupting of his other studies he gave up the benefit of it to his brothers and sisters suffering his Uncle to take Letters of Administration for that end resolving to cast himself upon the good Providence of God to whose service in the work of the Ministry he had wholly devoted himself not doubting but he would provide for him yet that he might not be judged weak or inconsiderate in that Act he drew up a note under his hand of the state of all things that concerned it and directions what to doe about it When he was nineteen years old he disputed with Henry Fitz-Simonds a Jesuit in the Castle of Dublin as himself acknowledgeth in his Preface to his Book called Britanno-mochia Ministrorum the occasion of which Dispute was this The Jesuit by way of challenge as it was interpreted gave forth these words That he being a Prisoner was like a Bear tyed to a stake but wanted some to bait him Whereupon this eminent man for so he was though very young was thought fit and able to encounter him though at their first meeting he despised his youth as Goliah did David Mr. Usher proffered to dispute with him about all Bellarmines Controversies for which a meeting was appointed once every week and it fell out that the first subject proposed was De Antichristo about which they had two or three solemne Disputations and Mr. Usher was ready to have proceeded further but the Jesuit was weary of it yet gives him a tolerable commendation and much admired his abillities in such young years concerning which he saith There came once to me a youth of about eighteen years of age one of a too soon ripe wit scarce you would thank that he could have gone through his course of Philosophy or that he was got out of his childe-hood yet was he ready to dispute upon the most abstruce points of Divinity And afterwards the same Jesuit living to understand more of him saith that he was A catholicorum doctissimus the most learned of such as were not Catholicks being as it seems unwilling or ashamed to call him Heretick Anno Christi 1600 when he was about twenty years old he commenced Master of Arts and answered the Philosophy Act and was chosen Catechist of the College in which office he went through a great part of the Body of Divinity in the Chappel by way of Common place and Ministers being scarce at that time there were three young men of the College chosen out and appointed to preach in Christ Church before the State One was Mr. Richardson afterwards Bishop of Ardah who was appointed to preach an Expository Lecture upon the Prophesie of Isaiah every Friday Another was Mr. Welch afterwards Dr. of Divinity who was designed to handle the Body of Divinity on Sabbaths in the forenoon the third was our learned Usher who was to handle the controversies for the satisfaction of the Papists on the Lords dayes in the afternoons which he did fully and cleerly alwayes concluding with some emphatical Exhortation that it tended much to the edification and confirmation of the Protestants in their Principles as many of them in their elder yeares have
Protestants also must have born some share To consider hereof a great Assembly of Papists and Protestants of the whole Nation was appointed in the Lord Deputy Faulklands time The place of their meeting was in the Hall of the Castle in Dublin At which time the Bishops by our Lord Primates invitation met at his house where he and they drew up and unanimously subscribed a Protestation against the Toleration of Popery A Copy whereof because it deserves perpetual remembrance is here inserted The Judgement of the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland concerning the Toleration of Popery which is applicable also against the Toleration of other Heresies The Religion of the Papists is Superstitious and Idolatrous their Faith and Doctrine erroneous and Heretical their Church in respect of both Apostatical To give them therefore a Toleration or to consent that they may freely exercise their Religion and profess their Faith and Doctrine is a grievous sin and that in two respects For 1. It is to make our selves accessary not onely to their Superstitions Idolatries Heresies and in a word to all the abominations of Popery but also which is a consequent of the former to the perdition of the seduced people which perish in the Deluge of the Catholick Apostacy 2. To grant them a Toleration in respect of any money to be given or contribution to be made by them is to set Religion to sale and with it the souls of the People whom Christ our Saviour hath redeemed with his most precious blood And as it is a great sin so also a matter of most dangerous consequence the consideration whereof we commend to the Wise and Juditious Beseeching the Zealous God of Truth to make them who are in Authority zealous or Gods glory and of the advancement of true Religion zealous resolute and couragious against all Popery Superstition and Idolatry Amen Ja. Armachanus Mal. Cashlen Anth. Medensis Tho. Hernes Laghlin Ro. Dunensis c. Georg. Derens. Rich. Cork Cloyne Rosses Andr. Alachadens Tho. Kilmore Ardagh Theo. Dromore Mic. Waterford Lysm Fran. Lymerick This Judgement of the Bishops Dr. George Downham Bishop of Derry at the next meeting of the Assembly which was April the 23 1627 published at Christ Church before the Lord Deputy and Council in the middest of his Sermon with this preamble viz. Are not many amongst us for gain and outward respects willing and ready to consent to a Toleration of false Religions thereby making themselves guilty of a great offence in putting to sale not onely their own souls but also the souls of others But what is to be thought of Toleration of Religion I will not deliver my own private opinion but the judgement of the Archbishops and Bishops of this Kingdome which I think good to publish unto you that whasoever shall happen the world may know that we were far from consenting to those favours which the Papists expect After he had published it the people gave their votes with a generall acclamation crying Amen The judgements of the Bishops prevailed so much with the Protestants that now the Proposals drove on very heavily and after much debate of things the L. Deputy finding the discontents of both parties encreasing desired our Lord Primate as the fittest person both in regard of his esteem in the Assembly and being a member of the Council and therefore concerned in promoting of the Kings business to sum up the state of things and to move them to an absolute grant of some competency that might comply with the Kings necessities without any such conditions with which upon their answer he would cease moving any further which upon very little warning he did with much prudence according to his double capacity of a Privy Counsellour and a Bishop A copy of which Speech desired of him by the Lord Deputy was immediately transmitted into England But it not being prevalent with the Assembly to induce them to supply the Kings wants it was dissolved Not long after the Lord Deputy Falkland being called back into England when he was to take Boat at the water side he reserved our Lord Primate as the last person to take his leave of and fell upon his knees on the sands and begged his blessing which reverend respect shewed to him gained a greater reputation to himself both in Ireland and England and indeed from his younger years the several Lord Deputies had alwayes a great esteem of him It was no small labour to him to answer those many Letters which came to him from forreign parts and our own Nations upon several occasions some for resolution of difficulties in Divinity others about Cases of Conscience and practical subjects Twelve of the most eminent Divines in London who at his being here were wont to apply themselves to him as to a Father as Dr. Sibbs Dr. Preston c. between whom and him there were most entire affections wrote to him for his directions about a Body of practical Divinity which he returned them accordingly He much endeavoured the augmentation of the maintenance of the Ministery in Ireland and for that end he had obtained a Patent for Impropriations to be passed in his name for their use as they should fall but it was too much neglected by themselves whereby his desires were frustrated He preached every Lords day in the forenoon never failing unless he was disabled by sickness in which he spent himself very much In the afternoons his directions to Dr. Bernard his assistant were that before publick Prayers he should Catechize the youth and that after the first and second Lesson he should spend half an hour in a brief and plain opening the Principles of Religion in the publick Catichisme and therein he directed him to go first through the Creed at once giving but the sum of each Article the next time to go through it at thrice and afterwards to take each time one Article as they might be more able to bear it and to observe the like proportionably in the Ten Commandements the Lords Prayer and the Doctrine of the Sacraments The good fruit of which was apparent in the common people upon their coming to the Communion at which time by ordeâ— the receivers were to send in their names and some account was constantly taken of their fitness for it His order throughout his Diocess to the Ministers was that they should go through the Body of Divinity once a year which he had accordingly drawn out into fifty heads When any publick Fast was enjoyned he kept it very strictly preaching alwayes first himself and therein continuing at least two hours in a more than ordinary manner enlarging himself in prayer the like was done by those that assisted him in the duty His expences for Books was very great especially whilst he enjoyed the revenues of his Archbishoprick a certain part whereof he laid aside yearly for that end but especially for the purchasing of Manuscripts and other Rarities
Parliament Anno Christi 1639 he preached before the same Auditory on Deut. 33. 4 5. And Moses commanded us a Law even the Inheritance of the Congregation of Jacob and he was a King in Jesurun when the heads of the people and the Tribes of Israel were gathered together Both which Texts as they were pertiment so were they handled with rare Judgement and eminent Learning The Lord was pleased to make his Labours very successfull some few instances whereof I shall here set down some of which I had from my Reverend Friend Mr. Stanly Gower the last from my own knowledge A Lords eldest son who from his cradle had been trained up in Popery but was of excellent parts and learning was at last prevailed with by his Father to sojourn for a while with this learned Prelate in Drogheda The prudent Prelate studied nothing more than how he might take him by craft as the Apostle did the Corinthians 2 Cor. 12. 16. and therefore did not presently fall into discourse with him about his Religion but recreated himself for a time in discoursing with him about some Philosophical questions and Schol-points in which studies he perceived the Gentleman was well versed and took much delight in them This he continued till at last he gained so far upon his affections that of his own accord he moved some discourse about matters of Religion and then finding him studious he did not presently go about to instruct him in the Truth but sought to puzzle him with doubts about his own Religion By this means the Gentlemans conscience began to be awakened nor were his scruples removed though he had recourse to a Monastery hard by where they were debated so that at last he came with tears to the Learned Primate for satisfaction and he promised to deal faithfully with him but saith he those whom you trust do not so for they will not suffer you to see with your own eyes nor to understand the Scripture but according to their Churches Commentaries Then did he advise him to go amongst them and to ask them whether he that understood the Originals might examine their Interpretations and to bring him word what they said Accordingly he did so and brought him word that they were divided in their judgements Then did the learned Prelate wish him no longer to trust to their implicit Faith and he would demonstrate to him how much they perverted the sense of the Scriptures and abused the writings of the Antient Fathers whilst they sought to make the world believe that the Fathers and Councils were wholly for them and against us And if saith he you distrust your own learâ—ing and reading and will make choice of anyother who you think can say more I will make this good which I have said before the best of them all This was an introduction to much confidence which the Gentleman had in him and it pleased God after much temptation which he had to the contrary as he confessed to direct him to betake himself to prayer after which time he acknowledged that he understood more of the way of truth both when he conferred with the Primate and when he meditated apart than ever he could attain to before and the issue was that he came into the Church unlooked for of the Primate and after Sermon made a confession of his Faith offering to seal the truth of it if they pleased to admit him by receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which was then to be administred The Papists especially the Priests were so enraged hereat for losing such an one of whom they conceived so great hopes that they made much disturbance insomuch as the Gentleman for safety was sent over into England to Oxford that he might decline their fury and the forces of the City were raised to prevent the present danger and the Lord Deputy hearing of it sent a Troop of Horse and as it was said thereupon dissolved one of their Monasteries Another was this The Lady Falkland about the time of the late Queens coming out of France to be married to King Charles turned Recusant and on a time was gotten into the company of Father Fisher Father Sweet and Father Swetnam in Drury Lane and by some means or other Dr. Featly and Mr. Gataker were procured to meet them there the Lord Savil brother to this Lady as he also was going that way accidentally met with Dr. Usher and intreated him to go along with him to this meeting the Bishop consented and by the way requested the Lord Savil at their first entrance privately to give notice to his Sister the Lady Falkland that she should take no notice of him and saith he I will do the like to the Ministers and as for the Jesuits I beleeve they know me not at all At their first entrance they found them engaged about Image-worship the Jesuits denied that they gave them Divine worship the Ministers were proving that they were no fit mediums to worship God by After they had tugged at it and were wearied and ready to give over that Question Bishop Usher said But Gentlemen pray you tell me do not you give them Divine worship they answered no How then said he will you be tryed they answered By the Council of Trent Indeed said the Bishop that Council doth require the giving of worship to them but who shall expound what that honour and worship is and assure us that it is not Divine Will you be determined by Thomas Aquinas they said Yes Then was the Book sent for and he turned presently to that place where he concludes that the same reverence is to be given to the Image of Christ as to Christ himself and by consequence seeing Christ is adored with the worship of Latria his Image also is to be adored with the same worship Now said the Bishop have you any higher worship than the Latria that you give to God Upon this one of the Jesuits whispered to the Lady Falkland to know his name that thus disputed she answered that he was a Country Minister No quoth the Jesuit there is more in him than in both the other Try him said she further That Question being laid aside that of Free-will was taken up the Bishop sate silent as before whilst the state of the Question was canvassed between the Ministers and Jesuits and much ado there was about it so that they had like to have broken off without coming to any issue the Bishop seeing that said Gentlemen if you will give me leave I will bring you to the point in difference presently by this similitude If you make Free-will to be the Horse I will make Grace to be his Rider Now true it is my Horse can go of himself but he knows not whither I intend to go Besides he is dull and tyred and I spur him on my spur doth not properly go but it makes my Horse to go You may easily apply it But the Jesuits had enough
and listed not to encounter him any farther pretending a necessity to be gone and so left the place So mightily it pleased God by him to convince them Another was this A Protestant Knight in Ireland had prevailed so far with his Lady who was then a Papist as to admit of a Parley about their Religion and she made choice of one for her that was called amongst them the Rock of Learning The Knight made choice of this our Primate to encounter him and upon the day appointed many persons of note were there assembled the learned and prudent Primate before the Disputation began spake thus to the Lady Madam said he let us know the end of our meeting Is it that this Gentleman and I should try our strength before you If so then it is like that we can speak Languages and quote Authors which you do not understand how then will you know who gets the better Therefore this is not our end If this Gentleman desires to shew his learning and reading that way if he please to come to the College of Dublin where there are men that will understand us both and can judge between us I shall willingly deal with him at those weapons but now our business is something else It is supposed that we two whom your Husband and you have chosen can speak more for the defence of our Religion than you that chose us and your desire is to know by hearing our discourse in your own Language how to rectifie your judgements Now therefore I will give you a rule which if you please to remember you shall be able to discern which of us two have the truth on our side and it is this The Points we will discourse of shall be such without some knowledge whereof no man may in an ordinary way attain to the end of his Faith the salvation of his soul. In these you may easily lose your selves not onely by Heresie which is a flat denying of them but by Ignorance also by a bare not know of them The word of truth contained in the Scriptures is the rule both of Faith and Life common to small and great concerning these things Now whilst we keep to the true sense of the Scriptures in these points you may understand us both but when we shall fly to subtle distinctions to evade plain Texts or flye from the Scriptures to take sanctuary in Authors which you know not assure your selves that we are at a loss and seek victory rather than truth Keep this Rule Madam in you minde for this Gentleman dares not deny it to be a true one and then you will be the better for our meeting And now Sir said he to the Jesuit her Champion I am ready to engage with you in any such points The Dispute was begun and after a short encounter the Jesuit was driven to those shifts whereupon the Primate said Madam do you understand my Argument that I propounded to this Gentleman She answered Yes and do you said he understand this Gentlemans answer She answered No indeed It is too high for me But said the Primate I do and can answer him in his own way but then you would not understand me neither Therefore Sir said he to the Jesuit I pray you help the Lady to understand your answer as she doth my Argument then I will further reply But it pleased God within a while so to disable the Jesuit from proceeding that he left the place with shame and the Lady by this and some further endeavours became not only a good Protestant but a very gracious woman The last instance I shall give of the successfulness of his labors is this About twelve or thirteen years ago we had an Ordination of Ministers in our seventh Classis at which time according to our custome we called in the young men that were to be Ordained one after an other and examining of them about the work of Gods Grace in their hearts three of them acknowledged that they were converted by Gods blessing upon the labours of this our Lord Primate whilst he preached at Oxford where they then were Students about the beginning of the long Parliament Anno Christi 1640 He came out of Ireland into England being invited thereto by some eminent persons wherein the special providence of God did manifest it self for his preservation it being the year before the Rebellion brake out in Ireland as if according to the Angels speech to Lot nothing could be done there till he was come hither and escaped to this his Zoar. His Library which was very great in the first year of the Rebellion viz. 1641 was in Drogheda which place was besieged four moneths by the Irish Rebels and they made no question of taking it and some of their Priests and Friers talked much what a prize they should gain by that Library but the barbarous multitude spake of burning it But it pleased God to hear the Fastings and Prayers of his people within and in a wonderful manner to deliver them and so all his Books and Manuscripts were sent him that Summer to Chester and from thence were brought safe to London The sufferings he now lay under were many and great All his personal estate was lost and that which belonged to his Primacy in Ireland was destroyed only for the present he was preacher in Covent Garden Anno Christi 1641 The great business of the Earle of Strafford came in agitation upon which a scandal was raised of him by a rash if not a malicious Pen in his Vocal Forrest as if he had made use of a pretended distinction of a personal and Political conscience to satisfie the late King that he might consent to the beheading of the said Earle telling him that though the first resisted yet he might do it by the second but to clear him of this a person of quality affirmed under his hand that some years agone a rumour being spread of the death of this Reverend Prelate whose loss was much lamented at Oxford when this concerning the Earle was then by one objected against him the late King answered that person in very great passion and with an oath Protested his innocency therein Besides he left under his owne hand a relation of that whole business a true Copy whereof followeth That Sunday morning wherein the King consulted with the four Bishops viz. of London Durham Lincoln and Carlisle the Archbishop of Armagh was not present being then preaching as he then accustomed to do every Sabbath in the Church of Covent Garden where a message coming to him from his Majesty he descended from the Pulpit and told the Messenger that he was then as he saw imployed in Gods business which as soon as he had done he would attend upon the King to understand his pleasure But the King spending the whole afternoon in the serious debate of the Lord Straffords Case with the Lords of his Council and the Judges