the next place commend themselves unto God in humble and hearty prayer making their requests knowne unto God 4. His humble and holy prayer with thanksgiving in all manner of supplications with thanksgiving which hee usually performed with that power and feeling fervency and sincerity faith and humility as the spirit of grace gave him understanding and utterance and their severall occasions and other necessities did require that hee was oftentimes much admired of them that heard him and by his holy petitions and gracious affections did much refresh the hearts and cheere the spirits of many of his neighbours and friends which joyned with him Gen. 32.26.27.28 Hos 12.4 Hee would so wrestle with God by prayers and teares like Jacob that hee would not let him go untill like an Israel he had by praying and weeping prevailed with him The fruits of which his holy desires and endeavours were so remarkable in that family whether hee prayed against sinnes or sorrowes or sought unto God for grace and good things that seldome did they meet againe to pray but they had some new and fresh cause of praise and thanksgiving unto him that had heard their prayers Having alwayes matter of praise as well as cause of prayer A godly and an holy course in prayer which I wish were as well performed as it is well worthy to bee observed Namely Not only to consider wisely what we ask in prayer but to observe carefully how wee speed after it for in so doing as we should still be stirred up and provoked to new praises so should wee be quickned and encouraged to seeke unto our God againe by continuing or renewing the same or the like prayers and requests unto him This was the practice of holy David that man after Gods owne heart who having called upon God Psal 41.1 did patiently wait upon him for hearing and diligently observed what successe he had and as hee found the fruit of his prayers did thereupon come againe into Gods presence with new and fresh praises Psal 66.17.19.20 I called unto the Lord saith he with my mouth and he was exalted with my tongue Verily God hath heard me he hath attended to the voice of my prayer Blessed bee God which hath not turned away my prayer nor his mercy from me CHAP. XXIV THus did he exercise himselfe and his family unto godlinesse every morning His evening exercise and after the duties of the day and their naturall refreshing and repast in the end thereof hee called them again to the like service and sacrifice in the evening which hee very religiously and constantly performed much after the same manner saving thaâ— then he tooke some more paines with them having more liberty In opening and applying the word and better opportunity so to doe for then he ordinarily instructed and taught his family out of that portion which hee tooke in the Chapter read at that time unto them propounding and applying some wholesome doctrine profitable for their godly edification as the tenor of the Scripture best served 2 Tim. 3.16.19 whether to convince any errour or to confirme the truth to rebuke any sin and to instruct in the way of righteousnesse to comfort the heart under hope in doing well and settle the soule by faith and patience in suffering ill This was his holy defire and delight to edifie his family in faith and love For the use of his Family and to traine them up in the true knowledge and feare of God so acquainting them with their duties towards God and man Tit. 2.10 11 12. that living soberly righteously and godly in this world they might beautifie their profession and adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour alwayes and in all things All which his godly paines and practices in the instructing of his family out of the Word of God as a pastor and teacher in his owne house Crowned with a blessing from God albeit they were through the blessing of God crowned with good successe at home yet were they much maligned reproached opposed and questioned abroad and that not only by the vulgar fort but even by some of our masters in Israel whose negligence was much rebuked by his diligence their prophannesse checked by his holy duties their government in their families not onely obscured but blemished Opposed much by some men of the world but blemished by the comely order and beautie of his government in his family which was so farre advanced above some of theirs as ever Bethell was above Bethaven Sion above Shilo or the Temple of God above the Temple of Idols Which malignity of the world His fortification against such assaults and enmity of godlesse persons against godly and good duties when he well observed and wisely considered of hee began to fortifie his building both for his judgement and practice as Nehemiah did the wales of Jerusalem against the assaults of Gods enemies which he did very faithfully and effectually by his painefull collections and observations which he made out of the Scriptures For justifying of his judgement and practice in thus teaching of his family and by the expositions testimonies and examples of godly and good men records of antiquity and evidences of worthy Writers and witnesses to the truth of God all sutable to the doctrine of our Church to justifie his course and stop the mouthes of all such as without any just cause did open them so wide against it I have seen and read what hee hath collected and set downe to this end and purpose under his owne hand which I approve of and like so well for his choice and paines in binding up together so many sweet and wholesome flowers of heavenly doctrine By his collections and observations out of godly and good authors for his owne confirmation and other mens satisfaction that I could have been well contented to have set downe these his collections and observations at large concerning this point of the masters duty in teaching and instructing his family in the feare of God and faith of Christ and in opening and applying some portion of the Scriptures to their mindes and hearts for that end but that I much feared lest my labour and paines herein at this time might be held not so needfull and lesse pertinent seeing many godly mens bookes are filled with the same or the like instructions since that time justifying the same point and practice and that the bulk and body of this little booke would swell too bigg if I should bring in another Treatise to stuffe up the bosome and brest of it CHAP. XXV And yet not usurping upon the Ministery Nor by aprivate spirit But by godly and good meanes Homines discunt prius quod doceant ab alâ—o accipiunt quod aliis tradant Amb. Coster us in eins Vita Amb lib. 1. de Offic. c. 1 NOw because some may mistake both him and me in this businesse as imagining
shall therefore breake or blemish it let them know the disadvantage is their owne not the Authors and as he for one fowle face they saw before may see twenty then I would send such to be disciplined by Erasmus Eras Epist. ad Dorp who writes thus to Dorpius concerning the Readers of others writings Siquispiam offendatur et sibi vindicet non habet quod expostulet cum eo qui scripsit ipse si volet secum agat injuriam utpote sui proditor qui declaravit hoc ad se pertinere He that quarrels at others workes betraies his owne folly not their Authors to prevent which if you in this shall meete with any errours of Pen or Presse doe not for those slight all the rest but remember the rule of the Naturallist Hor. in loc Vbi multa nitent in carmine non ego paucis offendor maculis Where many things are good shall I for but some triviall all let flie If the Zeale either of the Author or Subject outgoe thy expectation or Practice blame them not since as there is no ayming at any mans person so there is no favouring of any mans sinne according to the rule of the Poet. It is but just and as hath bin to spare the man and speake his sinne Licuit semperque Licebit Parcere Personis dicere de vitiis If the Style prove not so plausible as thy curiosity may expect or if in the discountenancing or battering downe of any errour in Life or judgement thou thinkst it mingled with too much bitter Hierapicra Remember then the Physitians rule Sharpe sauces best become the meat and move the appetite to eate Acriora Orexim Excitant Embammata But if all this will not doe it like Gallio you care for none of these things yet at least and at last remember the rule of our Saviour Doe to others as you would that others should doe to you Mat. 7.12 Deale not with their good names as Lycurgus did with his Country Coines or as Rehoboam with his Fathers Shields which they found of beaten gold but left of Brasse rather as Augustus did with the walles of Rome Juveni lateritiam reliqui Marmoream which he found of Bricke but left of Marble And whatsoever in them is vertuous Honest Iust Lawfull Laudible and of Good report Phil. 4.8 that follow and the while thy Charity is thus to them the blessing of God be with thee So prayes the Subjects Kinsman the Authors Sonne and thy Servant in CHRIST Samuel Hinde From Prescot this 20th of May. 1641. A Table of the Contents Chapter I. IOhn Bruen His birth and Bloud from Father and Mother well descended Cap. 2. His education free in good measure from Popery and profanesse also His childhood His Prayer Children may have good motions Some seeds of grace in his childhood Cap. 3. His youth His dancing Cap. 4. His going to Oxford about 1577. His Fathers care and cost Like Saint Austines Fathers for him He went up about 17 yeares old Few Gentlemen like minded The cause hereof their owne ignorance and profanesse Cap. 5. At his comming to Oxford somewhat popish But the Lord did reclaime him Meanes of his reclaiming from popish errours By his companion Master Brerewood By the Scripture urged Applied Private persons may sometimes helpe one another for Conversion A worthy example for young Gentlemen Cap. 6. He was much like Galeacius His proficiency at Oxford but small The causes of it Some unfitnesse for learning His sufficiency not great for great employment yet such as God chose to shew his power in as in Galeacius a young Christian and great Champion very like unto him in many things Cap. 7. His comming from Oxford 1459. His Father bestoweth him in marriage-1580 In a godly Family with a godly young Gentlewoman with mutuy all consent otherwise then manr Parents doe where lust and lucre makes the motion and the Fathers dropsie and the Sonnes phrensie make up the match They live together in love Cap. 8. His recreation of Hunting in some abuses reproved Some inconveniences of Hunting Cap. 9. The estate of the Creatures since the fall and before Their enmity a fruit of our sinne Vnlawfull to take pleasure in it Cap. 10. Neither in the emnity nor Cruelty of or towards the Creatures may we take pleasure An example of cruelty to the Creature Cap. 11. A good man is mercifull to his Beast not onely in the taking care for the preservation of his being but of his wel-being also Giving him due allowance of pasture and moderating hiâ— labour Cap. 12. The lawfullnesse or unlawfulnesse of Hunting laid downe in nine particulars Cap. 13. His more effectuall conversion and the fruits thereof upon his Fathers death by Gods good meanes not very violent likeunto Saint Austines in many particulars Cap. 14 The fruits of his conversion First As Heire of the Family in Civill matters His reformation removing impediments Renouncing his pleasures His frugality His fidelity A rebuke to others Prodigality and Infidelity and a check to some others obstinacy in their ould sinnes Secondly other fruites of their conversion in matter of religion as Governour of his Family Cap. 15. In setting up Religion in his Family Laid downe first in the Generalls Cap. 16 And then in the specialties and particulars First In his Family and secondly In the assembly In his Family First in dwelling with his wife as a man of knowledge in peace and love as equall yoke fellowes A good example to husbands and Wives A discovery of the misery of unequall yoak fellowes manifested in 4 instances Secondly In the godly education of their Children first by instruction secondly by correction wherein if his passions exceeded hee was humbled healed and bettered in foure particulars Thirdly In governing of his Servants Cap. 18. First in choosing Secondly In the using of his servants some of speciall note as old Robert Old Robert his Girdle for the helpe of his memory A rebuke to mindelesse and carelesse Persons And to such as use not their skill and other faculties aright Cap. 19 His familiar conversing with old Robert both gainers by it others dealing otherwise are loosers by their statelinesse His kind usage of him in his old age Vntill the day and houre of his death To the reproofe of mercilesse masters Cap. 20. His due regard to the rest of his servants Some attending upon him Some labouring for him His Family a Religious Nursery by disposing or dispersing his servants Cap. 21. His course in Family duties towards God The necessity and excellency of family Duties First His preparation in foure things First In his vigilancy Secondly in his Private prayer Thirdly Meditation Fourthly Industry in writing Cap. 22. Secondly His execution and performance of his Family exercise First A little short prayer in a set forme A set forme of prayer justified by our Saviours institution of the Lords praier and by his owne practice None precisely bound to the
plerunque forvescit suis horrattbus duplicante Hieron adver ViglaÌ„t His childhood The greater must needs be both the sinne and shame of many of our Gentlemen who are so far from repressing such corruptions or restrayning such lusts and lewd courses in their children that they do not only lead and draw them by their countenance and example but hale and force them by their commands and threats into the base fellowship of such sinnes and sinners Bis peccat qui exemple peccat his offence is double that offends himselfe and by his bad example causeth others to offend also When he was about the age of six or seven yeares his Father for some offence or fault did rebuke him sharpely and correct him soundly and being then in much griefe of heart for his Fathers displeasure and desiring to see some meanes of comfort and reliefe tooke unto him a little prayer book which at that time he had learned and went apart into his Fathers Chappell and there by reading and praying aswel as he could was comforted with unexpressible joys His Prayers These be his own words and he addeth But being but a child I knew not what they meant And the next day I went to the same place using the like means but found not the like comfort What I should think upon a childs Prayers and such unexpressible joyes upon the same I cannot well tell yet do I remember what Austine reporteth of himselfe being but a child that observing others to pray unto God he learned to thinke and conceive of God as some great and mighty one Like Austins who though he were not known by sight Aug. confes lib. 1â— 9 lib. 3.4 yet could both heare us and helpe us at his pleasure Nam puer coepi rogare te auxilium refugium meum rogabam te parvus non parvo affectâ—… ne in Scholâ vápularem For being but a child saith hee I began to pray unto thee my help and my refuge and I prayed a little one with no little affection that I might not be beaten at Schoole Hee that out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hath ordained himselfe praise may also put some good motions of his Spirit even upon the hearts of children and cause them to open their lips in prayer which hee that worketh in them knoweth how to accept from them what answer to make unto them according to his wisdom and good pleasure And if we acknowledge that the elect of God in the Sacrament of their new birth being but infants may and do receive the seale of Gods Spirit in their soules which worketh in them though secretly and strangely yet effectually and truly some measure of saving Grace and Faith in Christ Jesus Why may we not thinke that some sparkles of this holy and heavenly fire Children may have good motions may upon occasion no wand then break out from the hearts and lips of young children being the elect of God though by reason of their weaknesse of understanding and wanâ— of judgment they neither know whence they are nor what they meane Samuel being but a childe ministred unto the Lord before Eli when as yet hee knew not the Lord 1 Sam. 3.1.7 neither was the Word of the Lord revealed unto him Yea hee had communion and conference with the Lord when the Lord called Samuel Samuel and he answered Speak Lord for thy servant heareth Wee are not I know to look for such revelations in these dayes yet seeing the Lord is Liberrimum Agens not bound himself though he bind us to the use of his ordinary means hee may at his pleasure make sweet impressions of his Spirit and Truth even upon the mindes and hearts of young children As I make no doubt but he might doe upon the heart of this his servant being yet a childe when first he was so sensible of his fault before his father that he was much displeased with himselfe because he had displeased him Secondly in filiall obedience and patience submitted himselfe quietly to his fathers sharpe rebuke and severe correction And lastly when he had recourse unto the Lord by such meanes and helps of prayer as he had both for pardon of his sinne and comfort of his soule in that affliction Some seedes of grace in his childhood Which now I am the rather induced to thinke of him because it is well knowne that being often asked in his riper age of the time of his calling and of his conversion when it first began his usuall answer was Even of a child little Aug. Confes l. 3. c. 4. Hoc nomen Chri. c. The seeds of grace in some measure might then be sowne which untill they were farther increased by knowledge and judgement watered by the Word and warmed by the Spirit lay hid under the corruptions of nature and lusts of youth as under clods of earth for a time but afterwards brake out in the fruits of an effectuall Calling and Conversion in due season CHAPTER III. ANd so indeed or not much otherwise it fared His youth and fell out with this Gentleman in his tender years who for want of a Schoole-master at home was sent by his parents to his Vncle Dutton of Dutton there to be taught and trained up under one James Roe who kept Schoole there at that time where he continued a Scholler and Tabler for the space of three yeares A great family and of great liberty Something he got for Grammar learning a little it may be for civill education but nothing at all for nurture and information in true Religion There His dancing and then by occasion of Musitians and a chest of Viols kept in the house he was drawn by desire and delight into the Dancing-schoole where he profited so well in that kinde of youthfull activity that he did not only please himselfe too much but his parents also much more than was meet with those tricks of vanity Isucrat Oral Areopag Hieron ad Laetam So he termeth those exercises himself and yet saith hee they were held commendable in those dayes of ignorance Venena non dantur nisi melle circumlita vitia non decipiunt nisi sub specie umbr áque virtutum Poysons are not given but sweetned with honey and vices doe not deceive but under the shew and shadow of vertue Sober and single dancing of men apart and women apart hath had his use and praise also not only among the Heathen but amongst the people of God when by the nimble motions and gestures of the body Ambr. in Luc. lib. 6. cap. 7. Tertul de Spectac cap. 21. Origen in cap. 14. Matth. in cap. 12. ad Rom. Amb. in 1 Cor. cap. 10. in Luc. lib. 6. cap. 7. de Virgin lib. 3. they have expressed the great joyes of their hearts for some good of their owne or to set forth Gods glory But mixt dancing of men and women with light and
And Prophannesse vaine applause or worldly credit which are held in these dayes to make an accomplished Gentleman As if great men did take great delight Egregiè de Caesare Tullius Cum quosdam ait ornare voluit non illos honestavit sed ornamanta ipsa turpavit Hieron ad Pammachium to make their children heires of their ignorance and propnanenesse as well as of their houses and families lands and livings Pudet haec opprobria nobis Et dici potuisse non potuisse reselli We are asham'd that so base things may justly be imputed To Gentlemen and cannot well as justly be refuted CHAPTER V. AT his comming to Oxford it is apparent At his comming to Oxford somwhat Po pish Possid in vita August Cap 1. Omnes nos qui in Christo evedimus de Jdololatriae errore venimus Non eaim nascimur sed renascinur Christiani Hieron adv Vigilant that hee brought up with him some seeds and weeds also of Popish errours which had beene either scattered by others or gathered by himselfe by that which he did heare and see in the countrey before his comming So much hee doth acknowledge himselfe that he was then as Paul said of the men of Athens very superstitious Angustine confesseth of himselfe he was first a Manachy before he was a Preacher or professor of the true Religion And Paul himselfe acknowledgeth he was first a Pharisie before he was called and entrusted in Christs service Every man indeed by nature is a Pharisie and more or lesse a friend to Popery there being no religion so agreeable to carnall reason and fleshly wisedome nor so pleasing and plausible to naturall affection as pharisaicall devotion and hypocrisie and popish superstition and idolatry Which is not spoken to this end to lessen his fault or to blaunch over the errours of his youth but to magnifie the goodnesse and grace of God towards him that finding him wandring and going astray as a lost sheepe But the Lord did reclaime him hee was pleased to reclaime him and reduce him unto the flocke and fold of Christ Jesus And seeing hee was in danger to make but sorry proceedings of such bad beginnings and like enough to reape but a poore harvest after such a spring it seemed good unto the Lord not only to blast those weeds in the bud and to rid up by the roots those Popish errours but to furnish his head and heart with such plants and seeds of grace and truth as did bring forth their fruits of righteousnesse and holinesse in due season The speciall instrument wherewith the Lord did worke Vide Aug. con l. 8. c. 2 De Victorino was his owne Word first opened to his eye and applyed to his eare by a companion of his a towardly young Gentleman and then accompanied by the Spirit unto his minde and heart for his father conviction and conversion The name of this his companion Meanes of his reclaiming from popish errors by his companion master Breerwood was John Breerwood an Aldermans sonne of the City of Chester who being then well grounded in the truth and seeing Master Bruen infected with some popish errours and lyes as the forbearing of meats and drinks for religion and conscience sake upon Fryday and other dayes and the forbidding of Marriage to Ministers as unlawfull by the Popes Canons and Constitutions and divers other erroneous opinions of the like nature was as willing to shew himselfe and adversarie to his errours as a friend unto his person and began to make an assault against his little Bable and mounted Gods great Ordinance against the Popish Canons and taking as it were his Powder and Shot from the Scripture and fire from the Altar he battered and beat down the strong hold of Sathan and laid levell with the ground every popish opinion and every high thing that had exalted tt selfe against the true knowledge of God and so brought every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ By the Scripture urged The Scripture which he principally pressed him withall was that I Tim. 4.1 2 3 4 5. against the Popish doctrine of forbidding of meates and marriage Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the later times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrine of divels and speaking lies through hypocrisie and having their conscience seared with a hot Iron forbidding to marry and commanding to abstaine from meats which God hath created to bee received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth for every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving for it is sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer A blessed Scripture marvellous plentifull for the truth and powerfull against a lye A word spoken in season saith Salomon is like appels of gold with pictures of silver giving great contentment both for profit and delight to those that have the grace to receive it Of such fruit and effect was this portion of Gods Word at that time to this young Gentleman which he doth thus ingenuously acknowledge in his owne words This when I saw Applyed and considered that this was a doctrine of divels taught and delivered by seducing spirits and such as speake lyes through hypocrisie c. I was then inflamed with zeale against that prophane beast of Rome and all Popery both persons and things with all their Monuments Rites and Ceremonies c. This was the Lords doing and it was marvellous in his and so it is in our eyes that of two friends and companions both of them but young and tender one should thus bee stirred up and strengthened by Gods Word and Spirit to draw out his fellow from such blindnesse and darknesse and to bring him into the light and liberty of the Sons of God The ordinary publike meanes of effectuall calling and conversion is I confesse the Ministery of reconciliation in 2 Cor. 5.18.19 Private persons may sometimes help one another for conversion and by the preaching of the Gospell yet can it not I thinke bee denyed but that the Lord doth sometimes furnish and imploy some private persons in this worke of winning soules either by enlightening their mindes or convincing their judgements or smighting their consciences or drawing them from the fellowship of sinne and sinners unto the use of Gods Ordinances and the fellowship of Gods servants The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life Prov. 11.30 Dan. 12.3 and hee that winneth foules is wise saith Salomon Daniel also hath the like saying They that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turne many unto righteousnesse as the starres for ever and ever And Saint James speaketh yet more plainly and effectuall to this purpose Brethren if any of dou doe erre from the truth and one convert him let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the errour of his way shall save
and welfare aswel in matters of religion tending to their salvation as in the affairs of this life to lead and guid them aright for their outward peace and contentment And wives As also for such good women that would be reckoned in the number of gracious and good wives that they be in meeknesse and humility ' so subject unto their husbands that they may bee teachable to learne and tractable to observe and obey whatsoever in and for the Lord they shall require of them This also discovereth the miserable condition of such families A discovery of the misery of unequall yokefellowes Manifested in foure instances where the governours are unequally yoked being diverse both in opinion and affection touching matters of Religion and so much distracted and disordered in the performance of such religious duties as the Lord in their families requires at their hands which I see not how it can possibly bee otherwise when the husband drawes one way and the wife another As first when the husband is an Atheist that calls not upon God no prayer in his family no thanksgiving at his Table for his meate no reading of holy Scripture the wife a Papist contenting her selfe with her blind devotions upon her beads and bookes in her private chamber and her closet to feed and cherish her seduced heart and corrupted humour therewithall Secondly when the husband is a prophane Esau minding only earthly things and embracing like Demas this present world followeth with great eagernesse the profits and pleasures of this life the wife a godly matron like Sarah in her Tent faithfull and painfull carefull of her familie and friends with Mart ha and conscionable of that one thing which is needfull with Mary having chosen the better part which shall not be taken from her Thirdly when one thinkes every little too much or enough at least in Gods service the other thinks againe all that they can doe too little to testifie their thankfullnesse and faithfullnesse to God in the religious duties of their families Fourthly when the one contents himselfe with a forme of godlinesse putting a shag-hared servingman to read a few cold prayers and a simple and silly childe to say grace and so slubber over their morning and evening service being as well pleased as if they had gotten Micha his Levite into their house or one of Jeroboams priests to do them service in worshipping the Calf which is set up amongst them The other is much blamed for that rejecting all pharisaicall formality in religion they desire such effectuall and powerfull meanes of grace as may enable them to shew forth the power and fruit of godlines in a good conversation Alas what distractions and contentions must here needs be what distemper and disorder both in the governors and government of such a family must needs arise where husband and wife who should being yoke-fellows draw equally in one yoke are yet unequally yoked â—oves qui jungit adaratruÌ„ equos ad currum pares eligit ut aetas conveniat forma Amb. lib. 8 Epift. 86. ad Paternum that when the one drawes forwards the other drawes backwards the one puts his shoulder to the burden the other withdrawes himself from it or stands in open opposition against the bearing of it It was far otherwise with this Gentleman and his faithfull yoke-fellow who being both of one mind and one heart in the profession of the Gospel and both well affected and acquainted with the power and practice of religion became as lamps and lights to the rest of their family by their holy example and godly conversation amongst them CHAP. XVII 2 In their godly education of their children THeir children they brought up in the knowledge and feare of God laying the foundation by continuall catechizing of them in the principles and grounds of true Christian Religion and building thereon farther by such sentences and portions of holy Scriptures 1 By instruction as might best fit their tender yeares and make the easiest impressions of grace and truth in their hearts And because he well knew that it was not enough for him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. to put good things upon their minds but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to nurture them by correction as occasion should require 2 By correction and so both by the word and by the rod to bring them up in the information of the Lord He therefore did not spare to use the rod of correction as Gods healing medicine to cure the corruptions of his children and to heale their soules of their sinnes by the same Wherein if at any time his heart were so over-heated by his hatred of their sin Wherein if his passions exceeded He was humbled and zeale for Gods glory that he did either speake unadvisedly with his lips or deale too violently with his hands He was afterwards much troubled at it and much humbled for it that going about to heale others he had so rashly procured a stroke and a wound unto himselfe Healed for which now he found no better remedy than to have recourse unto his heavenly Father by humble and hearty prayer who healeth all the infirmities both of Parents and children and forgiveth all their sinnes And bettered in 4. particulars Optabatur in eo quod in aliis timebatur ut irasceretur Amb. de obit Theod. when they seeke unto him The fruits of which his holy desires and endeavours he found and reaped in due season For first he became hereby more watchfull over his spirit and speech in all such occasions and provocations to passion and distemper Secondly he grew more moderate in correction keeping himselfe within the bounds of it discretion and compassion Thirdly when his passions were most vehement against sinne he much asswaged the heat thereof 3 In the governing of his servants by his love and tender affections towards the sinner Fourthly He lived to see those whom he most sharply corrected effectually converted and reformed CHAP. XVIII I Come now after the branches of his vine to the plants of his vineyard namely his men 1 In chusing and maid-servants amongst whom there was not one idle and unprofitable person Where I hold him worthy great commendation first for his godly care in chusing And secondly for his good conscience in ordering and using of them as he did so well both in their persons and in their callings As for their choice this was wont to be his course As he heard of any that began to set their faces towards Ierusalem or to look towards heaven as if they meant in good earnest to travell that way or of such as had travelled many Sabbath dayes journey that way already his heart was presently towards them so that by good and faire meanes he endeavoured to draw such into his service and if he had place of imployment for them to plant them in his family above any other persons whatsoever So that in a
thy poore children do humbly beseech thee graciously to assist us by thy holy Spirit in this our morning exercise that we may faithfully perform the same to thy praise and our comfort and that for Christ his sake our onely Saviour and Redeemer Amen This set forme of his short prayer before his Morning and evening exercise In a set forme I doe the more willingly set downe that they may see how farre they were deceived and what wrong they did him who held him to bee an utter adversary to all set formes of prayer who might also have received their answer and beene evidently refuted to their faces if they had but observed his ordinary practice every Lords day in the publike assembly where he did reverently accommodate himself to the publike prayers of the Church and religiously joyne together with Minister and people in the celebration of Gods service Certainly hee was not ignorant A set form of prayer justified that when our Saviour Christ taught his Disciples to pray hee gave them liberty to call upon the name of God their Father even in that set forme of prayer which he prescribed and in the same words when you pray say Our Father c. And yet for all that he knew well enough that he gave the Spirit of prayer also unto them and unto all believers children of the same Father that they might enlarge themselves according to those grounds and frame all their sutes after that forme and therefore hee gave this direction unto them After this manner pray ye By our Saviours institution of the Lords prayer and By his owne practice Mat. 26.44 Our Father c. yea Christ hath left us his owne blessed example for the warrant of both when in his Agonyhe praied three times using as the text saith the same words and when after his farewell sermon to his Disciples hee prayed for himselfe his Disciples and all true believers unto the worlds end in great variety of words and for many gifts and graces in particular which yet are not all mentioned but are all for substance contained in that patterne of true prayer None precisely bound to the letter of the Lords prayer but to the matter al. Peter Martyr hath made a collection of holy prayers out of Davids Psalmes and M. Perkins hath gathered together S. Paubs prayers out of his Epistles in both which there is great variety both of matter and words much exceeding the letter of the Lords prayer yet is there no Petition or thanksgiving in either of them which may not fitly be reduced to some parts and heads of the Lords Prayer For my part I shall never blame him that seeketh to help his understanding memory Set prayer a help and affection by such meanes if he bring new affections to renewed petitions and set his heart a worke to seeke more seriously for the best things such as the godly labours of good men have in print set before him But if any man will rest in his booke prayers and never strive to speake unto God out of his owne heart by his owne Spirit which teacheth every true child of God to cry Abba Father Heart prayer best of all Rom. 8. and helpeth our infirmities that wee may stand before him as his children Such a man in my opinion comes farre short of the power and practice comfort and fruit of true prayer and is not much unlike to an impotent and weake man that being lame of his limbes and having meanes of helpe and recovery tendred unto him had yet still rather use a paire of crutches borrowed of his neighbour to goe withall as he can than betake himselfe to his owne legges and feet to walke in his way which the Lord hath appointed for him as he might and ought to doe CHAP. XXIII AFter this short prayer because wee are all commanded to sing Psalmes unto God 2 His singing of Psalmes to testifie our rejoycing in him to instruct our selves in his mercies and judgements words and works and to make melody in our hearts before him as also to quicken our soules to praise and thanksgiving hee therefore did usually call the whole family to sing some of the Psalmes such as hee named unto them with grace in their hearts unto the Lord which they ordinarily performed with such melodious and sweet voices and affections himselfe beginning the tune and the rest in a sweet accord and harmony joyning with him as if they had desired to sing Davids Psalmes His delight in singing of Psalms not onely with Davids Harpe but even with Davids heart also With this exercise of singing of Psalmes hee was much delighted and oftentimes so ravished in his spirit with holy and heavenly joy in singing and sounding forth Gods praises that his heart would even spring and leape in his body as John Baptist did for the joy of Christ in his mothers belly Hieron in Epitaphio Fabiolae yea he was so much affected with the praising of God in this kinde that hee tooke the word Halelu-jah which is the title of nine Psalmes and the song of the Quire of Angles for his Poesie and usually writ it in the first leafe of all his bookes with his owne hand to provoke and draw on others into the fellowship of Gods praises with him and to set it forth as an impresse or character of his chiefe desire and delight Amalaris de officio mâ—ssâ—c 13. to have the praises of the Lord in his heart or in his mouth in his care or in his eye continually When the Psalm was ended 3 His reading of the Scriptures he read a Chapter himselfe out of the Bible keeping an orderly and constant course in his reading to make his family better acquainted with the order and matter of the Scriptures and to season their hearts with some portion of Gods Word in the morning as a preservative against all unfavoury thoughts noysome lusts rotten speeches and ungodly workes all the day after This hee knew was Gods holy Ordinance from which neither Kings in peace nor Commanders in warre were exempted wherewith all Governours of families are expresly charged Deut. 6.6 7 8. Deut. 17.18 19. Ios 1.7.8 Deut. â—1 18 19 20 2 Tim. 3.14 15. Ioh. 5.39 wherein both elder and yonger have beene exercised and whereunto all sorts are by our blessed Saviour exhorted Search the Scriptures c. And this hee duly performed with such reverence and conscience as might to his power best become the solemnity of the action which they had in hand and the majestie of his presence before whom they stood Now because he knew that all planting and watering was in vain unlesse God himself gave the blessing of increase and that the Prayer of faith availeth much for that end if it bee fervent hee therefore with all his family bowing the knees of their hearts as well as the knees of their bodies before the throne of grace did in
the poore and entertaining of good people yet his estate was not impaired but increased the blessing of God inlarging his substance and his store according as it is written Godlinesse is profitable for all things having the promise both of this life and of that which is to come 7 Seventhly that in all blessings and comforts whether corporall or spirituall upon himselfe or upon others by his meanes his heart tasting and relishing the love of God in them was marvelously enlarged in rendering and returning all thanks and praise unto God alone even for the least of them Thus farre hath this worthy Gentleman holpen us to spin out the thread of his owne life with his owne fingers and to make up as it were the web thereof with his owne hands But as the cunning and curious workmanship of a cloth of Arras is but little seene and discerned while it is in the Loomes or when it lyeth folded and rolled up together but when it is opened in a faire light displayed at large and exposed to the view of the beholders then the art and skill of the work man doth more evidently appeare in great beauty and variety of knots and flowers Pomegranets and Lillies pictures and pourtraitures of princes and great personages and the like Even so the story of this Gentlemans life thus woven and wrapped up together though it containe many excellent things of great value and worth in it yet cannot the beautie and glory of his particular gifts and graces duties and services bee so well discerned and observed unlesse it be yet a little farther opened and unfolded and set forth to the view of such men as desire and delight to look into such things CHAP. LXIV IT will be therefore very requisite and no lesse pertinent to the present businesse wee have in hand to take a more strict view of some speciall parts and passages of his life wherein the gifts of Gods grace the vertues of Christ and the fruits of the spirit did more evidently and eminently appear to the farther beautifying and adorning of his person and profession of the Gospel of Christ Jesus Now to this end for our better and more orderly proceeding herein All to bee said drawn to 3. heads we will draw into a narrow compasse and reduce unto three generall heads all such specialties or particulars as may be worthy our observation in the same 1. As first His Conversing with God 1 His conversing with God 2. His Conversation in the World 2 His conversation in the world 3. His Deputure out of the World 3 His departure out of the world Exod 31.1 2.3 4 5. When the Lord called Bezaliel by name to worke in the building of the Tabernacle it is recorded that he filled him with the Spirit of God in wisedome and in understanding and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship to work in gold and in silver and in brasse in cutting and setting of stones and carving of timber c. It was even so or not much otherwise with this worthy Gentleman when the Lord did as it were call him out by name to worke for the building of a spirituall tabernacle in himselfe and in others He filled him in good measure with the Spirit of grace in spirituall wisedome holy understanding and heavenly knowledge God gave him wisedome and Vnderstanding 1 Tim. 12 14 1 Cor. 15.10 Ier. 23.22.28 Also courage and strength Eph. 6.10 11 12 13 14. to worke cunning and curious workes by faith in love whether it were in Christians of better rancke as in gold and silver or in such as were of meaner place as in brasse and timber So doth the Lord ever furnish those whom he will set a worke and imploy in his service with all sufficient gifts and graces for the accomplishing of the worke whereunto he sets or sends them And as he gave him wisdome and knowledge so did he also courage and strength to mannage a Christian life and to fight valiantly the battels of the Lord against all the assaults of Satan and of sinfull men of the flesh and of the world and to breake through all difficulties and dangers that might stand or rise up against him in his way The Lord dealing herein as mercifully with him as hee did with Ioshua Iosh 1.5.6 9. As he did to Ioshua when he sent him to fight against the Canaanites and to put his people in possession of the holy land speaking unto him in these words of comfort and encouragement Have not I commanded thee be strong and of a good courage be not affraid neither be thou dismaied for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest I will not faile thee nor forsake thee And now having found this acceptance Ro 5.1 2.1 Pet. 2.3 1 His conversing with God Gen. 5.22 Num 12.8 1 loh. 1.3 and acquaintance with God and tasted how sweete and gracious the Lord was in all his mercies It was the desire and delight of his soule to walke with God and to converse with him more frequently and as it were more familiarly that so he might the better nourish and maintaine that holy and heavenly communion whereunto hee had called him in his son Christ Jesus And this hee did most carefully and diligently endeavour In 4 speciall duties and labour to effect by the conscionable performance of foure spirituall and speciall duties every day and his more abundant offering of these and other his holy services and sacrifices unto the Lord upon the Lords day His daily duties were these 1. Meditation First Meditation for increase of knowledge and good affections towards God and good things 2. Observation Secondly Observation of Gods wayes and workes his mercies and judgements to gather and gaine experience for himselfe and others 3. Invocation of his mercifull and rightetous dealing with us The third invocation of Gods name in prayer and praise for continuance and increase of mercy and grace and this for his constant perseverance in the profession of the Gospel in uprightnesse and sincerity The fourth 4 Imitation imitation of his heavenly father because we are commanded to be followers of God as deare children and this to renew his obedience by his conformity to Gods image and to his Fathers will Now for the first CHAP. LXV IT hath ever beene the practice of godly and good men Gen 5.22 Gen. 6.9 Gen. 17.1 Gen. 24.63 His meditation to exercise themselves unto godlinesse by holy and heavenly meditation So did Enoch and Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob David and Hezekiah Paul and many others ever walke with God keepe their hearts in Gods presence seeke his face and the light of his countenance study his word and consider his workes And so did this Gentleman set his head and heart a worke every day more or lesse by serious Meditation to draw nearer unto God so to grow in knowledge and in grace and to increase
him that prayed could not containe himselfe but oftentimes with a cheerefull consent said Amen Amen unto the requests and supplications that were made for his good and comfort in Christ Jesus After this M. L. spake a word unto him to comfort him in the midst of all his sorrowes that hee knew that shortly hee should bee released and freed from all sinne and sorrow from Satan and this present evill world wherunto he answered most cheerfully and graciously I know I shall and bee with Christ which is best of all And now the messenger of death is upon me which he spoke of the hickock which had taken hold of him M. L. replyed I hope Sir that death is no scare nor terror unto you No indeed it is not I thanke God saith he for it is my way to life and I am now called of God unto it And thus he continued in great paine of body but yet in great peace of mind increasing still in consolations and enduring all his sicknesse with admirable patience not shewing any distemper nor discontent neither in word nor deed all the while in the troubles and sorrow of the same His care for prayer in the Family After this the same night he put it upon me to call his Family to Prayer and to performe the evening Sacrifice in the great parlour commading them to set open his little parlour doore adjoyning to it that he might heare us and joyne with us and partake of such mercies and meanes as the Lord should be pleased either to offer unto us or to accept at our hands The next morning though he did weare a way very much yet he called upon M. L. to pray with him Mindfull of M. L. being up very early to go a long journey to preach his ordinary Tewsday Lecture Of whom he was so very carefull that he caused some provision to be made for him especially a Posset that hee himselfe at their parting might drinke with him The same day I staid with him untill the afternoone A heavy Parting ministring such help and comfort as I could unto him And then mine owne occasions calling me home my wife being his former wives own sister and my selfe came to take leave with him which when hee heard and saw his very soule seemed to melt within him for both his and our hearts were full of griefe and our eyes full of teares and so mingling our sorrowes our teares and our prayers together be commended us to the grace and blessing of God as wee also did him And then falling upon his face and kissing his cheek we tooke our long leave with him leaving him yet in the hands of his heavenly Father that would never leave him CHAP. LXVIII Some ever ready to pray with him THe same afternoone he called for M. Lan. and M. Clerk his own Pastor to pray with him and was never at quiet unlesse hee were either Meditating and Praying himselfe or had some godly man or good Minister to pray with him and for him Divers desire a blessing from him Vpon Wednesday morning divers of those that were with him suspecting his death and dissolution to be neare tooke leave with him desiring at their parting a blessing from him Which he did willingly expresse by lifting up his hands and his heart unto Heaven for them Vttering also some words which they could not so well understand In the afternoone he overheard some making motion of blacks I wil have no blacks saith he I love not any proud or pompous Funerals neither is there any cause of mourning but of rejoycing rather in my particular After this he entreated a good Christian to pray with him which he did very willingly again and again to his good contentment And while they were in prayer in the Family they that were with him did imagine that he prayed himself silently and secretly He prayeth secretly himselfe by the pulling of his armes out of the bed and lifting up his hands and his eyes towards Heaven whence only he did looke for hearing and helping at Gods hands And now growing so weak that he was scarce able to speak a word those gracious people that were about him prayed him to lift up his hand if he understood them and would have them to pray for him Other gracious people pray with him which he did very willingly and readily and so he joyned with them and was heard to say Amen to the prayers that they made for him Afterward they perceived that he prayed himselfe again lifting up his hands and uttering these words with many other to the like effect The Lord is my portion His last Prayer my help and my trust his blessed son Jesus is my Saviour and Redeemer Amen Even so saith the Spirit unto my spirit Therefore come Lord Jesus and kisse me with the kisses of thy mouth and embrace me with the armes of thy love Into thy hands do I commend my spirit O come now and take me to thine own selfe O come Lord Jesus come quickly O come O come O come And so his spirit fainting His last end and his speech failing he lay quiet and still for a little season And then he meekly and graciously yeelded up his pretious soule into the hands of God his Father that gave it and into the armes of his Saviour that had bought it and redeemed it with his pretious bloud And thus having finished his course and run out his race the night of his death shutting up the dayes of his life Snaviter in Domino obdormivit He sweetly slept in the Lord. All Glory Thanksgiving and Praise bee unto our gracious God in and through his Son Christ lesus for ever and ever Amen Vae etiam laudabili vitae si remota misericordia discutias eam Aug. Conf. lib. 9. c. 19. Aug. Quisguis tibi enumerat vera merita sua Aug ibid. cap. 13. Quid tibi enumerat nisi muneratua FINIS Imprimatur JOH HANSLEY Jan. 16. 1640.