ever saw a Person drunk Nay it was often said That every Inhabitant of Kerton should be distinguished from others not only by the more savouriness of their Discourse but also by the universal Strictness and Piety of their Lives See his Life CHAP. LXV Remarkable Devotion on the Lord's Day THE first Observation of the Christian Sabbath was more by the Providence and Design of God then the Apostles own Inclination Joh. 20.19 the second was performed voluntarily Job 20.26 So afterwards upon the day of Pentecost being the first day they were all with one accord in one place Acts 2.1 And again Acts 20.7 On the first day of the week the Disciples came together to break bread and Paul preached unto them Rev. 1.10 St. John was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day And thus the Observation of the Lord's-Day-Sabbath being commenced it hath been continued by all good Christians to the present Age. 1. Pliny tells the Emperour Trajan that it was the use of the Christians in his time on a stated Day before it was light to meet together to sing a Hymn to Christ as to God secum invicem among themselves by turns and to bind themselves by a Sacrament not to do any Wickedness but that they commit not Thefts Robberies Adulteries that they break not their Word that they deny not the Pledge which being ended they used to depart and to come again together to take Meat but promiscuous and harmless Plin. Epist. 97. p. 306 307. 2. Constantine the Great made Laws for the strict Observation of the Lord's Days commanding That through all the Roman Empire all servile Employment should cease on those Days He prescribed also a Form for the Legions of his Soldiers to be used both on the Sabbaths and other Days And himself used to shew much Reverence and Attention to the Word of God Preached so that many times he would stand up all the Sermon-while and when some of his Courtiers told him that it would tend to his Disparagement he answered That it was in the Service of the great God who was no respecter of Persons Clarmar in vit Constantin p. 11. 5. Bede speaking of Bishop Tuda saith On the Lord's Days the People flock'd by Crouds together either to the Church or to the Monasteries not to refresh their Bodies but to learn the Word of God and if any Priest happened to come into any Village the People presently gathered together and took care to seek from him the Word of Life Bede Eccl. Hist l. 3. c. 26. 4. The Bohemians sanctified the Lord's Day in this manner First by resting from outward Labours from Carrying c. from Dealing in any thing that belongs to outward Works and Negotiation that their Servants and Beasts might have a Breathing-time Exod. 20.10 But much more by abstaining from the Works of the Flesh Drunkenness Dancing Dice idle Walkings and Trifles as also from nuptial Feasts Fairs Markets This also was out Custom especially under a Magistrate favouring the Church that on the Saturday betimes before the Sun set all should desâ—â—t from external Labours and with the Evening begin the sanctification of the Day consecrated to God Secondly by dealing in Divine and Spiritual things by singing Psalms and reading Scriptures on the Evening of the Sabbath but in the Morning and the whole Lord's Day by frequenting the Assemblys meditating on and practising Holy things not once only or twice but four or five times for because c. therefore we dehort from reviewing and looking over Tables of Receipts and Expences that all forgetting things Temporary may learn to meditate on things Eternal Comoenius de Fratrib Bohem. p. 55 56. 5. Mr. Elliot of New England had such an exact Remembrance of the Lord's Day that the Sun did not set the Evening before the Sabbath 'till he had begun his Preparation for it and when the Lord's Day came you might have seen John in the Spirit upon the Lord's Day Every day was a sort of Sabbath to him but the sabbath-Sabbath-day was a Sign a Type a Fore-tast of Heaven with him He Laboured that on this day he might have to Words or Thoughts but such as were agreeable thereunto he then allowed in himself no Actions but those of a Raised Soul If he beheld in any Person old or young any Profanation of this Day he would be sure to bestow lively Rebutes upon it And hence also to the general Engagements of a Covenant with God which 't was his desire to bring the Indians into he added a particular Article wherein they bound themselves Mequontamouat Sabbath packeteaunat tohschke pomantamog i. e. To remember the Sabbath-day to keep it Holy as long as they lived See his Life 6. Bishop Jos Hall speaking of this Day saith Prayer Meditation Reading Hearing Preaching Singing good Conference are the Businesses of this Day which I dare not bestow on any Work or Pleasure but Heavenly I find it hard to offend in too much Devotion easie in Profaneness 7. Before I went to the University from the Month of August till the latter end of February following I was a Boarder in the House of one Mr. Philip Henry where I had the opportunity of observing his manner of Life and Conversation He was formerly Student of Christ Church in Oxford Junior of the Act Chaplain to Judge Puleston and Minister of Warthenbury But afterwards not conforming he married an Heiress and lived at Broad-Oke in Hanmer Parish in Flint-shire Bishop Wilkins sent twice for him in my time with a design to draw him over to Conformity as he had done many of his Brethren before in his own Diocess Dr. Bridgeman Bishop of Man and his Successor at Worthenbury spoke very honourably of him to Major Trevers and me at is own Table at Chester Bishop Fell of Oxford lamented his going off from the Communion of the Church of England as by Law established and the present learned and ingenious Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry is ready to give an honourable Testimony to his Sincerity I doubt not having some Knowledge of the Correspondence between them This Man ever since I knew him and whilst I was his Neighbour was careful to rise early on the Sunday Mornings to spend a considerable portion of time in his Private Devotions and Preparations then to come down and call his Family together and after some short preparatory Prayer to sing a Psalm commonly the 100 and then read some part of the Sacred Scripture and expound it very largely and particularly and at last kneel down with all his Family and pray devoutly with particular references to the day and the Duties of it and the Minister that was to Officiate After which and a short refection for Break-fast he made hast to Church and took care that all his Family that could be spared should go in due time likewise Sometime he was before the Preacher and often before the rest of the Congregation as once particularly when I gave them a
and Books and Collections I can rest my Soul on nothing but the Scriptures and above all that Passage lies most upon my Spirit Titus 2.11 12. The Grace of God that brings Salvation c. 76. Dr. Donn on his Dying-bed told his Friends I Repent of all my Life but that part I spent in Communion with God and doing good 77. Sir Walter Rawleigh in a Letter to his Wife after his Condemnation hath these words If you can live free from Want care for no more for the rest is but a Vanity Love God and begin betimes in him shall ye find True Everlasting and Endless Comfort My dear Wife Farewel Bless my Boy Pray for me and let my True God hold you both in his Arms. 78. Mr. Herbert the Divine Poet to one going about to Comfort him with the Remembrance of a good Work he had done in Repairing a ruinous Church belonging to his Ecclesiastical Dignity made answer 'T is a good Work if sprinkled with the Blood of Christ In the Preface before his Poems 79. Mr. Tho. Cartwright the last Sermon that he made was Dec. 25. on Eccl. 12.7 Then shall the dust return to the earth c. On the Tuesday following the Day before his Death he was two Hours on his Knees in private Prayer in which as he told his Wife he found wonderful and unutterable Joy and Comfort and within a few Hours after he quietly resigned up his Spirit to God Dec. 27. 1603. Mr. Clark 's Martyrol p. 21. 80. Mr. Paul Baines in his last Sickness had many Fears and Doubts God letting Satan loose upon him so that he went away with far less Comfort than many weaker Christians enjoy Ibid. p. 24. 81. Mr. William Bradshaw exhorted all that came to him to lay a good Foundation for a comfortable Death in time of Life and Health assuring them that their utmost Addresses and Endeavours would be little enough when they came to that Work Ibid. p. 51. 81. Mr. Richard Rothwel foretold his own Death I am well and shall be well shortly said he to some that sent to enquire how he did And afterwards whispering one in the Ear there present said Do you know my meaning I shall be with Christ e're long but do not tell them so And after Prayer smiling said he Now I am well Happy is he that hath not bow'd a knee to Baal He called upon the Company to sing Psal 120. And in the singing of it he died An. 1627. Aged 64. Ibid. p. 71. 83. Dr. Preston the Night before he died being Saturday he went to Bed and lay about three Hours desirous to sleep but slept not Then said My Dissolution is near let me go to my Home and to Jesus Christ who hath bought me with his most precious Blood About Four of the Clock the next Morning he said I feel Death coming to my Heart my Pain shall now be quickly turned into Joy And after Prayer made by a Friend he look'd on the Company turned away his Head and at Five a Clock on the Lord's-Day in the Morning gave up the Ghost An. 1628. Aged 41. or near it Ibid. p. 113. 84. Mr. Hildersam sickening with the Scurvy in the midst of Winter on March 4. being the Lord's-Day was prayed for in the Congregation of Ashby His Son also prayed with him divers times that Day and in the last Prayer he departed March 4. 1631. Had I time to pause upon it methinks the Death of many worthy Persons happening upon the Christian Sabbath is worthy of a special Remark Mr. Hildersam had given order in his Will that no Funeral Sermon should be preached at his Burial Ibid. p. 123. 85. Dr. Tho. Tailour of Aldermanbury expressed himself thus O said he we serve a good Lord who covers all our Imperfections and gives us great Wages for little Work And on the lord's-Lord's-Day he was dismissed hence to keep a perpetual Sabbath in Heaven in the Climacterical Year of his Age 56. Ibid. p. 127. 86. Mr. John Carter likewise Feb. 21. 1635. being the Lord's-Day ended his Life with a Doxology The Lord be thanked Ibid. p. 140. 87. Dr. Sibs died Anno 1631. Aged 58. Ibid. Dr. Chaderton Anno 1640. Aged 94. Ibid. 88. Mr. Ball being ask'd in his last Sickness whether he thought he should live or die answered I do not trouble my self about that matter And afterwards how he did replied Going to Heaven apace He died 1640. Aged 55. Ibid. 89. Dr. Potter died about the great Climacterical Year of his Age being suspected to have laid to Heart the Reproaches of some thrown upon him for a Sermon preached a little before at Westminster as too sharp against Innovations in the Church Ibid. 90. Mr. Julines Herrings the Night before his Departure was observed to rise upon his Knees and with Hands lifted up to Heaven to use these Words He is overcome overcome through the Strength of my Lord and only Saviour Jesus unto whom I am now going to keep a Sabbath in Glory And accordingly next Morning March 28. 1644. Aged 62. on the sabbath-Sabbath-Day he departed Ibid. 168. 91. Mr. John Dod was tried with most bitter and sharp Pains of the Strangury and great Wrestlings with Satan but was Victorious To one watching with him he said That he had been wrestling with Satan all Night who accused him That he had neither preached nor prayed nor performed any Duty well for manner or end but saith he I have answer'd him from the Example of the Prodigal and the Publican One of his last Speeches was with Eyes and Hands lift up to Heaven I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Which desire was granted him Anno 1645. aged 96. Ibid. p. 178. 92. Mr. Herbert Palmer after Isa 38 Chap. being read prayed himself to this purpose First for himself That God would heal the sinfulness of his Nature pardon all his Transgressions deliver him from Temptation accept him in Christ c. Then for the Publick the Nation King and Parliament Ministers c. For Scotland and the Churches in France New-England c. Queen's College Westminster the Country his Benefactors c. He departed December 25. 1647. aged 46. He desired his Friends not to Pray for his Life but Pray God saith he for Faith for Patience for Repentance for Joy in the Holy Ghost Lord saith he cast me down as low as Hell in Repentance and lift me up by Faith to the highest Heavens in confidence of thy Salvation The Tuesday before he departed This day Seven-night said he is the Day on which we have used to remember Christ's Nativity and on which I have preached Christ I shall scarce live to see it but for me was that Child born unto me was that Son given c. Ibid. p. 201. 93. Mr. John Cotton to Mr. Wilson taking his last leave of him and praying that God would lift up the Light of his Countenance upon him and shed his Love into his Soul presently answered
to Truant and Loiter here at that rare as usually we do Let no Temptation soften our Spirits into an unnecessary Repose nothing provoke us unduly to depart our Orbs to run back or start aside Let us never be weary of well-doing Particularly 1. Let us never be weary of the Duty of Prayer 'T is an excellent Exercise and such as we ought continually to be intent upon Our Saviour spoke a Parable Luke 18.1 2. unto his Disciples That Men ought always to pray and not to faint And the Apostle Col. 4.2 Continue in Prayer and watch in the same with Thanksgiving c. And 1 Thes 5.17 Pray without ceasing And let this amongst many others be one Argument to perswade us to assiduity in this kind of Devotion viz. That God Almighty is continually from Day to Day from Night to Night serving and supplying our Necessities by the Ministry of the lower Heavens all the Hosts of the Etherial Regions are in continual employment for our Good why then should we disdain to bestow some few Minutes upon warm and serious Addresses to the God of Heaven Let neither the Day or Night go away without a Testimony of or Devotion Let not God hereafter ever cite the Sun Moon or Stars for to bear Witness to our Ingratitude You know the Story of Daniel recorded to the Honour of his Memory ' That three times every Day he open'd his Windows and set his Face towards Jerusalem and prayed to the God of Heaven Even then when pinch'd with the close Temptations of the Court under a Heathen Emperour Let us at least twice a Day do Obeisance to Heaven Offer as God appointed to the Jews a Morning and Evening Sacrifice continually Let our Altars burn with Incense at least so often and this shall not only perfume our Days and Nights and make our Conversations smell sweeter to our selves and Neighbours but a fragrant Odour in the Nostrils of the Almighty And please the Lord better than a Bullock c. Job 1.5 2. Let us praise God continually as long as we live let us praise the Lord yea let us sing praises to him whilst we have any being Psal 34.1 His Praises continue in my Mouth Psal 36.9 3. Let us be continually employed in doing Good to others And let us remember this that our God causeth his Sun to shine and Rain to descend on the just and unjust Let us try what we can to be like him like our Heavenly Father diffusing our Rays to as wide a Circuit as possibly we can not limiting our Goodness to a few individual Persons or a single Party or a narrow bound but as our Faculties will extend to the Church Catholick and the wide World in general This is to be in truth like the God of Heaven And let our Charity never be discouraged never tired To do good and to distribute forget not c. To make it plainer yet God hath given us a Copy of his Infinite Goodness in general to the whole World in the Face of the outward Heavens as of his special Goodness to the Church in the Revelation of the Gospel If we contemplate seriously the Structure and Properties and several Vertues of the Heavenly Bodies we may read there in legible Characters not only the Greatnes and Glory but the infinite Goodness also of him that made them and that to the whole Race of Mankind and that not for a Spurt a short Fit of two or three Ages but of continual Duration his Patience is indefatigable and his Beneficence reacheth to the end of Time Let us then if we will aim at Perfection and try to tread in our Father's Steps Do good unto all Men without weariness and communicate the Light of our Graces to a whole Nation a whole World if possible and never grudge to lend our Candles to the assistance of those that are about us And as for those narrow Souls that confine their Goodness to a Canton or whose Light is like that of a flaming Meteor or an Ignis Fatuâ—s or a falling Star they deserve to lie down in Darkness and never more to rise up again to Light or Glory Levit. 24.2 Cause the Lamps to burn continually 2. Let us consider a little the Employment of the Saints and Angels in Heaven 'T is pretty hard to conceive with our present Apprehensions the Business of Eternity and reconcile the Notion of a Compleat Happiness to the Exercise of a continual Devotion and yet this is handsomely represented to us in the Scheme of the heavenly Bodies the Sun Moon and Stars are never weary never decay never wander out of their place but still are exercised in a continual Motion and keep still their Brightness and Glory and yet they are inanimate sensless Creatures Why should we think it strange or absurd that the belssed Spirits in the other World should be still employed in the Offices of Devotion and yet still possess'd of Ease and Bliss And which I drive at why should we not strike up and mend our Pace at present Why do we often mutter and complain as if it were a weariness to serve the Lord And cry out When will the Sabbath be over that may return to our worldly Cares and Pleasures again Is there so much Difference indeed between Grace and Glory between the Apprentice-ship and the Profession between the Church here and hereafter Or is it possible think ye to make so quick a return from one Extream to another To be all Earth and Flesh and Sin here and Heaven and Spirit and Holiness there Or must we not a little at least be Heaven'd in our Minds now and be in a continual Motion to the End of our Happiness Having these things always in remembrance 2 Pet. 1.15 Or as Psal 119.112 Inclined to perform the Statutes of the Lord always Or Psal 1.2 Exercising our selves in his Law Day and Night And when we can do this and do it with delight we are upon the Brink of a blessed Eternity upon the Skirts of the Holy Land Upon the Borders of Heaven When our Light shines without Darkness thô it do twinkle now and then and shines continually when our Devotion doth not die with the Day but glimmers through the darkest Night then and not 'till then we are in a fair way to the Life of Angels and the Spirits of Just Men made perfect 3. Learn we hence to look for that which is lasting In this World we have no continuing City nothing durable no lasting Motion unless it be that of Changes and Vicissitudes Summer and Winter Day and Night Peace and War Health and Sickness Life and Death even the Earth changes its Face according to the Seasons and the Seas thô they flow continually they are supplied from the Clouds above and both Earth and Sea and every thing here depend upon the heavenly Bodies for that Motion and Continuance which they have In Heaven only is to be found the perpetual Motion everlasting Life
alibi 11. Bishop Vsher's Custom was to pray Four times a Day in and with his Family in the Morning at Six a Clock in the Evening at Eight and before Dinner and Supper in his Chappel at each of which he was always present On Fryday in the Afternoons there was constantly an Hour spent in his Chappel in Catechizing upon the Principles of Religion for the Instructing of his Family and on Sabbaths in the Evening the Sermon which he had preached in the Afternoon was repeated in his Chappel by one of his Chaplains See his Life 12. It is recorded to the everlasting Praise of the young Lord Harrington so famous for Piety that it was his constant use to pray twice every Day in secret twice with some choice Friends and Servants besides his Family-Duties See his Life 13. It was the Practice of Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston to pour out his Soul before the Lord in secret thrice every Day and sometimes oftner if he could gain opportunity besides his Family-Duties and Days of extraordinary Humiliation which he importunately embraced upon every occasion This I can testifie saith Mr. Fairclough upon mine own Experience that for many Years together when I was first acquainted with him I seldom visited him but if any convenient Place could be found we might not part except we had prayed together Nor was he more frequent in secret Prayer than constant in secret Reading the Scriptures See his Life 14. Mr. Samuel Fairclough upon the escape of his Child after a dangerous Fall made a solemn Vow in the Publick Congregation to give all the Tithe-Wool of the Parish to the Poor The Vow was Registred and Subscribed by his Hand and piously observed See his Life 15. Mr. Cotton Mather tells us Such was the Piety of Mr. Eliot that like another Moses he had upon his Face a continual Shine arising from his uninterrupted Communion with the Father of Spirits Indeed I cannot give a fuller Description of him than what was in a Paraphrase that I have heard himself to make upon that Scripture Our Conversation is in Heaven I writ from him as he uttered it Behold said he the Ancient and Excellent Character of a true Christian 't is that which Peter calls Holiness in all manner of Conversation you shall not find a Christian out of the way of Godly Conversation For First A Seventh part of our time is all spent in Heaven when we are duly zealous for and zealous on the Sabbath of God Besides God has written on the Head of the Sabbath Remember which looks both forwards and backwards and thus a good part of the Week will be spent in Sabbatizing Well but for the rest of our time Why we shall have that spent in Heaven e're we have done For Secondly We have have many Days for both Fasting and Thanksgiving in our Pilgrimage and here are so many Sabbaths more Moreover Thirdly we have our Lectures every Week and pious People won't miss them if they can help it Furthermore Fourthly We have our private Meetings wherein we Pray and Sing and repeat Sermons and confer together about the Things of God and being now come thus far we are in Heaven almost every day But a little farther Fifthly We perform Family Duties every Day we have our Morning and Evening Sacrifices wherein having read the Scriptures to our Families we call upon the Name of God and ever now and then carefully Catechise those that are under our Charge Sixthly We shall also have our daily Devotions in our Closets wherein unto Supplication before the Lord we shall add some serious Meditation upon his Word a David will be at this Work no less than thrice a Day Seventhly We have likewise many Scores of Ejaculations in a Day and these we have like Nehemiah in whatever place we come into Eighthly We have our occasional Thoughts and our occasional Talks upon Spiritual Matters and we have our occasional Acts of Charity wherein we do like the Inhabitants of Heaven every Day Ninthly In our Callings in our Civil Callings we keep up heavenly Frames we Buy and Sell and Toil yea we Eat and Drink with some Eye both to the Command and the Honour of God in all Behold I have not now left an Inch of Time to be carnal it is all engrossed for Heaven And yet lest here should not be enough Lastly We have our Spiritual Warfare We are always encountring the Enemies of our Souls which continually raises our Hearts unto our Helper and Leader in the Heavens Let no Man say 'T is impossible to live at this rate for we have known some live thus and others that have written of such a Life have but spun a Web out of their own blessed Experiences New-England has Examples of this Life thô alas 't is to be lamented that the Distractions of the World in too many Professors do becloud the Beauty of an Heavenly Conversation In fine our Employment lies in Heaven In the Morning if we ask Where am I to be to Day Our Souls must answer In Heaven In the Evening if we ask Where have I been to Day Our Souls may answer In Heaven If thou art a Believer thou art no Stranger to Heaven while thou livest and when thou diest Heaven will be no strange place to thee no thou hast been there a thousand times before In this Language have I heard him express himself and he did what he said he was a Boniface as well as a Benedict and he was one of those Qui faciendo docert quae facienda docent Thus far Mr. Cotton Mather 15. Mr. Henry Gearing's Covenant with GOD As I find it in his Life Published by Mr. John Shower O Most Dreadful GOD for the Passion of Thy Son I beseech Thee accept of Thy poor Prodigal now prostrating himself at Thy Door I have fallen from Thee by mine Iniquity and am by Nature a Son of Death and a Thousand-fold more the Child of Hell by my wicked Practice but of Thine Infinite Grace Thou hast promised Mercy to me in Christ if I will but turn to Thee with all my Heart Therefore upon the Call of thy Gospel I am now come in and throwing down my Weapons submit myself to thy Mercy And because Thou requirest as the Condition of my Peace with Thee that I should put away mine Idols and be at Defiance with all Thine Enemies which I acknowledge I have wickedly sided with against Thee I here from the bottom of my Heart renounce them all firmly Covenanting with Thee not to allow myself in any known Sin but to use Conscientiously all the Means that I know Thou hast prescribed for the Death and utter Destruction of all my Corruptions And whereas I have formerly inordinately and idolatrously let out my Affections upon the World I do here resign my Heart to Thee that madest it humbly protesting before Thy Glorious Majesty That it is the firm Resolution of my Heart and that I do unfeignedly desire Grace
All the Pastors of Caen and a good number of other Protestant Refugees belonging to the Town being in the Low Countreys Anno 1687 offered their unanimous and uniform Testimony to the Truth of this marvellous matter 16. There is likewise an undoubted Relation of a poor but a good Woman belonging to the Congregation of Mr. Daniel Burgess in London She had for many Years laboured under a Fistula in her Hip which had proceeded so far that the very Bone was tainted and she was turned out of the Hospital as Incurable This Person reading with Prayer over it that Passage in Mat. 15.28 Jesus said unto her O Woman Great is thy Faith be it unto thee as thou wilt And feeling her Soul by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ carried forth unto a great Faith in him she found herself immediately and miraculously Cured of all her Malady I have not now the Relation of this matter at hand but this is as far as I can remember the Substance of what I received concerning it It was about the beginning of December 1694. 17. In a Letter from the Reverend Mr. John How I find the ensuing Passages which I take the leave to expose unto the Publick It gives among us writes that wort by Man some Reviving to the Languishing Interest of Christianity and some Check to the Infidel Spirit that under the falsely assumed name of Deism would turn all Revealed Religion and indeed all Religion into Ridicule that God is pleased to own it by some late miraculous Cures wrought upon the Acting of Faith in Christ 18. That excellent Person proceeding then to recite some of the Instances which we have already mentioned he adds A fourth I have late certain Knowledge of but the thing was done six Years ago a Blackamooryouth Servant unto a religious Baroner He lately dining at my House assured me That his Servant having a great Aversion to Christianity and refusing Instruction was struck with universal Pains in all his Limbs which continued upon him a Year and half like Rheumatical but relieved by none of the apt usual Means that are wont to give Relief in such cases At length in his Torments which were great he grew serious instructible penitent and by the frequent Endeavours of the Parochial Minister a good man known to me brought to an understanding Acknowledement of Christ upon which Baptism being promised to him he consented but pressed to be carried unto the Assembly that he might own Christ publickly Upon the doing whereof he was immediately Cured and hath continued well ever since These are great Things Hallelujah Preparatives I hope to the Revival of Christianity and I fear to terrible Acts of Vengance upon obstinate persevering Infidels 19. Susanna Arch was a miserable Widow for divers Years overwhelmed with an horrid Leprosie which the Physicians that saw it pronounced incurable but from that very time that they told her so a strange perswasion came into her Mind that the Lord Jesus Christ would Cure her That Scripture came frequently into her Mind Mat. 8.2 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean and she found herself enabled to plead this before him with some degree of Confidence that at last she should prevail She resolved that she would rely on the Lord Jesus Christ who in the Days of his Flesh when on Earth cured all Diseases and Sicknesses among the People and who had still as much Power now that he is glorified in Heaven She felt many Temptations to weaken her Confidence but still there came in seasonable and agreeable Scriptures with a mighty force upon her to strengthen it as at one time that in Mark 11.22 Have Faith in God At another time that in Job 11.40 Said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest believe thou shouldst see the Glory of God At another time that in Heb. 10.35 Cast not away your Confidence which hath great Recompence of Reward Her Leprosie had been complicated with a Phtisick which for many Years afflicted her but in the Month of Novemb 1694. she had her Phtisick removed without any Humane Power and she took that as a Token for Good that she should also be cured of her Leprosie and the late Miracles upon others enlivened this her Hope exceedingly In December the Distemper of this Godly Woman grew worse and worse upon her and when her Mind was uneasie those passages came to mind I know O Lord that thou canst do every thing and Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us On December 26. at Night she was buffeted with some Temptations that her Faith for her Cure having proved but a Fancy her Faith for her Soul must be so too but she cried out unto the Lord Lord I have cast my Soul upon thee and my Body upon thee and I am resolved now to cast all my Diseases upon thee Her Mind was hereupon composed and the next Night putting up her Hand unto her Head first on the one side and then on the other she felt a new Skin on both sides which very much amazed her whereupon she cried out Lord Jesus hast thou begun Thou wilt carry it on She then taking off her Head-Cloaths found the Scurf gone off her Head and a firm Skin appearing there and her Distemper which had extended itself all over her Body from Head to Foot in putrifying Sores was in like manner suddenly taken away to the admiration of all that were Beholders Reader Do not now encourage thy self in a vain Expectation of Miracles to relieve thy particular Afflictions but improve these Miracles as Intimations of what the Lord Jesus Christ can and will quickly do for his afflicted Church in the World These Four last Accounts were Extracted from Mr. Cotton Mather in his Sermon called Things for a Distress'd People Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey Esq 20. OUR English Chronicles do Record That in the Reign of King Henry the Third a Child was born in Kent that at Two Years old cured all Diseases Several Persons have been cured of the King's-Evil by the Touching or Handling of a Seventh Son 21. Samuel Scot Seventh Son of Mr. William Scot of Hedington in Wilt-shire did when a Child wonderful Cures by Touching only viz. as to the King's-Evil Wenns c. but as he grew to be a Man the Vertue did decrease and had he lived longer perhaps might have been spent 22. 'T is certain the Touch of a Dead Hand hath wrought wonderful Effects e. g. One a Painter of Stowel in Somerset-shire near Bridgewater had a Wenn in the inside of his Cheek as big as a Pullet's Egg which by the Advice of one was cur'd by once or twice Touching or Rubbing with a Dead Woman's Hand 23. Mr. Davys Mell the famous Violinist and Clock-maker had a Child Crook-back'd that was cured after the manner aforesaid 24. In Somerset-shire 't is confidently reported That some were cured of the King's-Evil by the Touch of the Duke of Monmouth The Lord
to carry my Soul to the Bosom of Jesus and I shall be for ever with the Lord in Glory And who can chuse but rejoyce in all this And now my dear Mother Brethren and Sisters Farewel I leave you for a while and I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified And now dear Lord my Work is done I have finished my course I have fought the good Fight and henceforth there remaineth for me a Crown of Righteousness Now come dear Lord Jesus come quickly Then a Godly Minister came to give him his last Visit and to do the Office of an inferiour Angel to help to convey his blessed Soul to Glory who was now even upon Mount Pisgah and had a full sight of that goodly Land at a little distance When this Minister spake to him his heart was in a mighty flame of Love and Joy which drew Tears of Joy from that precious Minister being almost amazed to hear a Man just a dying talk as if he had been with Jesus He died June 1657. Aged between 23 and 24 and was buried in Kelshall-Church in Hartfordshire For a larger Account of this Extraordinaay Person see his Life written by his Brother Mr. James Janeway 102. Mrs. Allein in the History of the Life and Death of Mr. Joseph Allein writes thus concerning his Death viz. About Three in the Afternoon he had as we perceived some Conflict with Satan for he uttered these words Away thou foul Fiend thou Enemy of all Mankind thou subtil Sophister art thou come now to molest me Now I am just going Now I am so weak and Death upon me Trouble me not for I am none of thine I am the Lord 's Christ is mine and I am his His by Covenant I have sworn my self to be the Lord's and his I will be Therefore be gone These last words he repeated often which I took much notice of That his Covenanting with God was the means he used to expel the Devil and all his Temptations The time we were in Bath I had very few hours alone with him by reason of his constant using the Bath and Visits of Friends from all Parts thereabouts and sometimes from Taunton and when they were gone he would be either retiring to GOD or to his Rest But what time I had with him he always spent in Heavenly and Profitable Discourse speaking much of the Place he was going to and his Desires to be gone One Morning as I was Dressing him he looked up to Heaven and smiled and I urging him to know why he answered me thus Ah my Love I was thinking of my marriage-Marriage-Day it will be shortly O what a joyful Day will that be Will it not thinkest thou my dear heart Another time bringing him some Broth he said Blessed be the Lord for these Refreshments in the way home but O how sweet will Heaven be Another time I hope to be shortly where I shall need no Meat nor Drink nor Cloaths When he looked on his weak consumed hands he would say These shall be changed This vile Body shall be made like to Christ's Glorious Body O what a Glorious Day will the Day of the Resurrection be Methinks I see it by Faith How will the Saints lift up their heads and rejoyce and how sadly will the wicked World look then O come let us make haste our Lord will come shortly let us prepare If we long to be in Heaven let us hasten with our Work for when that is done away we shall be fetch'd O this vain foolish dirty World I wonder how reasonable Creatures can so dote upon it What is in it worth the looking after I care not to be in it longer than while my Master hath either doing or suffering Work for me were that done farewel to Earth Thus far Mrs. Allein 103. Dr. Peter du Moulin Professor of Divinity at Sedan at his last Hour pronounced these Words I shall be satisfied when I awake c. and twice or thrice Come Lord Jesus come Come Lord Jesus come and the last time that Text which he loved so much He that believeth in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life and a little after Lord Jesu receive my Spirit It being said to him You shall see your Redeemer with your eyes laying his Hand on his Heart he answered with an Effort I believe it and so departed 1658. aged 90. Out of the French Copy of his Death 104. Arminius in his Sickness was so far from doubting any whit of that Confession he had publish'd that he stedfastly judged it to agree in all things with the Holy Scriptures and therefore he did persist therein That he was ready at that very moment to appear with that same Belief before the Tribunal of Jesus Christ the Son of God the Judge of the Quick and Dead He died of a Disease in the Bowels which caused Fevers Cough Extension of the Hypochondria Atrophy Gout Iliack Passion Obstruction of the Left Optick Nerve Dimness of the same Eye c. which gave occasion to some Censures He died Oct. 19. In his Life by an unknown Hand 105. Simon Episcopius An. 1643. falling sick of an Ischuria for Eleven Days not being able to make a drop of Water continued ill two Months or more and at last for some Weeks was deprived of his Sight which Loss had been more grievous to him had not his deep and almost continual Sleeping lessened the same For he complained of it to his Friends that he should not be able to serve the Church of Christ any more He died April 4 at Eight of the Clock in the Morning the Moon being then eclipsed saith the Author of his Life p. 26. 106. Gustavus Ericson King of Sweden having lived 70 Years and reigned 38. gave in Charge to his Children to endeavour the Peace and maintain the Liberties of their Country but especially to preserve the Purity of Religion without the Mixture of Human Inventions and to live in Unity as Brethren among themselves and so sealing up his Will he resigned his Spirit to God An. 1562. Clark's Martyrol p. 370. 107. Edward the Sixth King of England in the Time of his Sickness hearing Bishop Ridley preach upon Charity gave him many Thanks for it and thereupon ordered Gray-Friars Church to be a House for Orphans St. Bartholomew's to be an Hospital and his own House at Bridewel to be a Place of Correction And when he had set his Hand to that Work he thank'd God that he had prolong'd his Life till he had finished that good Design About three Hours before his Death having his Eyes clos'd and thinking none near him he prayed thus with himself Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wretched Life and take me among thy Chosen howbeit not my Will but thine be done Lord I commend my Spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest
his Creation nor attend his Master's Will nor pursue diligently his own Happiness Tho' our Feet are upon the Earth our Heads reach above the Clouds and we are near a-kin to the other World and have very great Concernments beyond the Stars and yet that we should let our Affections sink into the Earth and our Souls incline so strongly towards Hell For shame Sirs let us set forth the Glory of God a little better in our Generations than commonly we do Let us vie here upon the Earth by the Excellency of our Conversations with those twinkling Lamps that shine over our Heads let it never be said to our Disgrace that these sensless Creatures glorifie God better in their place than we Let our Faces our Graces outshine the Sun Let Men look on the Humility Honesty Sobriety Charity Piety and Patience of our Lives and give Glory to Him that hath given such Graces unto Men. And let these Graces never be darkned with any unworthy uncristian Practices let us appear glorious to the World and no Hypocrisie or Apostacy ever pull down our Professions or lay our Glory in the Dust It 's possible we may meet with strong with close Temptations O let not our shining Stars fall from Heaven nor Let our Moon be turned into Blood and then we shall be shortly removed from Grace to Glory and shortly shine like Stars in the highest Heavens yea as the Sun in the Firmament for ever 1 Cor. 15.41 As we shine in Grace now so in Glory hereafter 6. Of the Continuation of the Heavenly Bodies DAY unto Day uttereth Speech and Night unto Night sheweth Knowledge q. d. one Day informeth another and one Night gives in fresh evidence to another to prove the truth of it Not a Day nor a Night passeth over our Heads but the Heavens preach this Sermon to us We have a continual Rehearsal of this Doctrine from Age to Age from One Year to another from the beginning of the World to this present time This Preacher is never silent this Exercise never over All that I can think necessary to be said upon this particular may be referred to two Heads I. The Wonderfulness of this Continuation II. The Practical Lessons we should learn from it I. Wherein the Wonder of it lies 1. In the multitude of the Bodies concerned We observe of Mechanical Instruments made by the Hands of Men that an Engine consisting of very many Wheels or very many Motions or other Parts are the most difficult to be kept in order An Orchard with many Trees or Gardens with may Herbs and Flowers require more Culture and Dressing or some will decay A Society of many Members is apt to disorder 'T is a harder Task to manage a Nation than a Family The Hosts of Heaven are Thousands and the Appurtenances relating to them more and yet all keep still their appointed Courses We have lost none of the Stars out of their Orbs since their first coming there Some People tell us of some new ones as that in Cassiopea which was first discovered in the Heavens about the beginning of the Reformation what Salvo to give for that I know not it may be it was there before but not discovered But however 't was a Case extraordinary and no prejudice to the Order of the rest we have lost none of our Seasons Day and Night Summer and Winter have kept their times the Sun its Revolutions the Moon its due Changes the Stars their proper Periods and exact Motions the standing still of the Sun in Joshua's time and the going back of it on Ahaz Dial are miraculous Instances and not to be parallel'd other Ages 2. The Greatness of them Small Bodies are easily managed and apt to motion but great ones move slowly according to the course of sublunary Nature But they in the Aetherial Orbs are of so vast a bigness that that Consideration doth mightily accumulate and greaten the Wonder That the Sun Moon and Stars all of them so big should move continually without disorder or period is an Accent upon the Miracle 3. The various Qualities they are of and the different Motions they make do yet raise the Wonder to a higher strain to keep all one Motion especially if all of one Nature were not so very much But to move from East to West from West to East from North to South from south to North again as some of them do and this continually is an augmentation of the Wonder 4. Without Period Flowers wither Trees rot Stones decay Man dies the very Face of Things below will shortly cease to be and another succeed The Day dies and so doth the Year and Stones and Castles here decay every thing here is weary of Motion The Apostle tells us The whole Creation groans But here is groans and dies only what is a-kin more nearly to Heaven and borders upon that Court is of a more lasting Constitution or a more constant Motion of a more perpetual Duration Since the Fathers fell asleep all things of that kind relating to the upper Regions continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation 2 Pet. 3.4 7. For the Heavens are by the same Word of God by which they were created kept in store reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment 5. Without Interruption No faulter in their Courses no breach of Continuity in this long space of time Nothing hath been able to stop these great Bodies in the progress of their Motion or intermit the Exercise of their Vertues and Operation 6. Without Error or Mistake or Deviation Tho' great and many and various in their Qualities and incredibly swift in their Motions yet have they committed no remarkable Fault in all this Tract of Years and Revolutions They have all kept close to the Path chalk'd out for them by their Creator and have never leapt out of their Orbs. Nothing hath been able to tempt them from the faithful Execution of their Offices and Employments Who hath ever beckâ—n'd the Sun out of the Firmament or pusht the Moon out of its place Or made the Stars wander into strange Courses Or amidst all their divers Motions mingled them into Confusion or Disorder When was ever Day and Night jumbled together or the Seasons of the Year reversed or the Order of the Coelestial Bodies turn'd backward Illic justo foedere rerum verterem servant sidera pacem II. Practical Inferences Learn we then 1. To hold on from Day to Day from Night to Night in the excellent Offices of a Christian Life let Day to Day utter Speech and Night to Night shew Knowledge of our continual Goodness Mankind is born with his Eyes higher set than all the rest of the Creation besides his Looks are by Nature more sublime and lofty Let us look up earnestly towards those lucid Spangles those sparkling Globes over our Heads and use our Eyes to some good purpose Let us make thence some Practial Deductions for our Imitation at least Emulation and scorn
an House eternal durable Riches and Righteousness Rivers of Pleasure for evermore there only is a continual Day a Light that suffers no Darkness a Sun always shining an everlasting Summer a long Eternity Bliss and Happiness This is easily demonstrable to any one that knows the present World and can but see the Skirts of the Holy Land the very Borders of Heaven Were it not Wisdom for us them to leave off Building with so much Anxiety here to take down our Scaffolds and get a Jacob's Ladder and climb up to that place of Angels to send our Hearts before us and cast our Anchor safe within the Veil and choose that other World for our Portion and think and speak of it and provide for it and account it as our own and pack up all our last Cares and Passions for it that whilst we live upon Earth we may have our Conversations above and then we shall be eternally safe from Hell beneath But especially at the approach of any unkindly stop or period in our worldly Comforts whether it be a black Night or a cloudy stormy Day or an ill Winter or Poverty or Shame or Sickness or Death let us then take the advantage of the opportunity and look up as high as the Firmament and further even beyond the Starry Orbs and say with our selves In those Countries in that World is no Night or Darkness or Sickness or Sea or Hell let us scorn to grovel here as we have done Let us pack hence our best Goods and be gone let that be our Home and the Lord of that Country our Father and let us live heavenly holily humbly as becomes Citizens of that heavenly Jerusalem the Metropolis of both Worlds 4. Let us live by Rule as those Coelestial Bodies all do even the Rule prescribed us by our Maker and fitted to our Natures and conducive to the Ends of our Being And this without stragling aside deviation or error on the one hand or the other without intermission or passion or weariness or any thing that may disturb our Motion I know as our Natures are more excellent than the Stars so we are upon greater Disadvantages upon the score of Sin that hath so enfeebled our Spirits and emasculated the Courage and Vigour of our Piety that as long as we live we shall be apt to flag but then let it be considered that our God hath offered to accommodate us with all the excellent Helps of the Gospel and the Assistance of his Spirit and therefore in the strength of these let us go on from Day to Day in the exactest Course of a Religious Piety making no considerable Blot or Faulter if possible in the whole Series of our Life or if that through the fraility of Human Nature may not be done let the Blot be presently washed off by the Tears of a sound Repentance and then by that means all the crookedness of our former ways being made streight let us take care for the time to come to move upright steady and streight according to the excellent Rules prescribed us in the Laws of God and Life of our Saviour Let us try not only to keep pace with the Sun but to out-vie all the Stars of the Firmament and let it be accounted no Disgrace to be thus watchful and curious about the keeping of our Orbs and observe our due Postures and modelling our Actions but rather our greatest Excellency and Glory Slight those who say amidst their sickly Healths Thou liv'st by Rule What doth not so but Man Houses are built by Rule and Common-wealths Entice the trusty Sun if that you can From his Ecliptick Line becken the Sky Who lives by Rule then keeps good Company 7. Of the Extensiveness of the Heavens The Stars and Firmament the expanded Sky and all the Hosts of the Aetherial Orbs speak expresly unto all the Nations of the Earth that there is a God to be worshipped and with such a Worship as becomes his Infinite Excellency Their words are so loud they may be heard to all the Ends of the World Then let us consider 1. WHether the most dark and distant Nations of the Earth have taken Notice of this Rule heard this Voice 2. What they have understood by it 3. What they might understand 4. What Inferences we may deduce from the whole for our own Vse 1. Whether the darkest Nations have heard this Voice Answ Yes Their Sound hath gone out to all the Ends of the World And it is very easily made out For 1. They had no other Bible to read in than that of Nature and this of the Heavens was the most legible Page in the whole Book They were without the Written Law but they were not without this Natural Light They had neither Moses nor the Prophets nor Evangelists nor Apostles and therefore whither else should they go but to the Word writ upon the Book of the Creation the Divine Handy-works in the Make of the World Rom. 1.20 2. We find them confessing it making use of this Book reading studiously amongst the Stars poring with an inquisitive Eye upon the Heavens and Firmament to gather some Scraps of a Religious Philosophy and trace the Principles of a Spiritual Divinity Seneca when he hath placed the Wise Man walking to and fro by the Contemplation of his Mind amongst the Stars Illic demum descit saith he quod diu quaesivit illic incipit Deum nosse And in the beginning of his Book of Natural Questions having undertaken some Philosophical Account of the Heavenly Bodies we find him no where in such a Rapture of Divinity as upon that Thesis Nisi ad haec the Study of Divine Things the Contemplations of the Heavenly Bodies c. admitterer non fuerat operae pretium nasci O quam contempta res est Homo nisi supra humana se erexerit Nay more than this they had generally the Original of all their Theology from the Firmament Their Gods were amongst the Stars nay the Stars were their only Gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Even the Egyptians themselves are accounted to have lead the way to this Superstition And for this Reason it was chiefly that their several Priests Prophets and Magi amongst the Egyptians Chaldeans Assyrians Persians c. were so well skilled commonly in the Curious Arts of Astrology and Divination which have been since derived and diffused from them to us and the rest of the World Their Hermes Tresmegistus Ptolomy and Haly being Authors of great Request still with our Astrologers and Prognosticators 2. What did they learn from hence Truly a great deal more than some Christians learn from Nature and Revelation both I speak not of all the poor dark Heathen World but of some who were more serious and contemplative amongst them who took more Pains than their Fellows And I dare safely say that tho' their Eyes were dim and the Light they saw by but like the obscure Twilight or the first Dawning of the Morning
that they might well School and Catechise some of our old Professors Grey-hair'd Christians for Seven Years together It would be too large a Task now to tell you what Lessons they learn'd from the Contemplation and Study of these Things Their Books of Moral Philosophy writ by Aristotle Plato Cicero Seneca Isocrates c. where they preach'd in our Pulpits were enough to fill some Number of Years with Sermons strong enough for our Auditors of the Lower Form And convictive enough to shame the Major part of Christians among us into Blushing and Confusion Read over but the Roman Twelve Tables Plato's Republic the Laws of the several Heathen Nations about Religion Sobriety Justice c. And you 'll find Reason to fear lest the Queen of the South and the Inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon the Greek Scythian and Barbarian will escape better some of them at the Day of Judgment than many of Christendom that have both the Books wide open before them all the Days of their Life Rom. 2.14 15. 3. What might they learn Answ All the Articles of our Christian Creed and all the Precepts of our Christian Religion except those which refer to the Cause and Cure of our Misery viz. The Fall of Adam and the Intercession of the Second Adam That there was a God one only Supreme Maker of Heaven and Earth Infinite in the Attributes of Wisdom Power Truth Justice Mercy worthy to be worshipped with a Holy Life Prayer Praise Obedience and a pure Heart and Affection one that had a Good Will to save us one that would reward us with excellent Rewards or Punishments according to our Actions in the other World All this and more than this they might have discerned by their Glimmering Light of Nature in only the Frontispiece of Heaven if they had but used their Eyes And so much many of them did not only learn but teach and make a publick and stout Profession of it to the World The Existence of One Supreme God the Divine Governance of the World the Immortality of the Soul a Mediation between God and us and almost all the Moral Duties of the Law in Substance the Distribution of Rewards and Punishments after this Life distinct Places and Times of Worship Priests and Priestly Maintenance and Attonements and Purifications and something like the Dedicating of their Infants to God by Baptism with secret Devotions and Family-Worship as well as that which was publick in the Temples All these and much more were adopted into the Body of the Heathen Religion and excepting only some few Articles of our Creed referring to the Trinity and especially the Business of our Redemption and the true Notion of our Two Sacraments and it may be the Resurrection of our Bodies it were not very hard to make out all the rest of our Religion demonstrable by the meer Light of Reason The invisible Things of GOD from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the Things that are made 4. What Practical Deductions may be made from hence How great is God A Contemplation of the Heavenly Fabrick will directly lead us to this Point viz. an admiration of the Divine Eternal Power of the Godhead For Rom. 1.19 That which may be known of God is manifest to all the World for God hath shewed it to them He hath shewed his Face in the Glass of his Works and his Features there appear so glorious that 't is a Wonder it doth not fill our Apprehensions with a pregnant and awful Conceit of his Infinite Majesty and Power The Splendour of the Divine Attributes gives Shine to all the World So that now all the Inhabitants of the round World have Scope enough for Spiritual Contemplation and the Exercise of their Rational Faculties and the Turk and Pagan both have a Book large and voluminous enough being wide open before them to employ all their Studies in all the Days of their Life Who that considers a while the Nature of that God that made the Heavens how he must stretch his Compass over the whole Vniverse how he must mete out the Heavens with a Span and comprehend the Dust of the Earth in a Measure and weigh the Mountains in Scales and the Hills in a Ballance and take up the Isles as a very little thing and measure the Waters in the Hollow of his Hand and make the Clouds his Chariot and ride upon the Wings of the Wind and climb up to the highest Orbs and extend every Globe with the present Thought and hang not only the Earth but the Heavens upon nothing and this in the exactest Order and Perfection that no remarkable Fault shall appear in 6000 Years in any part of all this magnificent Building Who that considers a little the Nature of the Supreme Architect shall not be ready to cry out with the Psalmist Psal 8.1 9. O Lord our Lird how excellent is thy Name in all the Earth who hast set thy Glory above the Heavens O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy Name in all the Earth 2. What little low worthless Creatures are we That God who is the Author of such excellent Handy-work that dwells in that inaccessible Light in such a glorious Palace who can make Heavens at his pleasure and garnish them in a moment and fill the whole World with the Beams of his Glory should yet place his Affections so much on such little silly things as we are Psal 8.3 When I consider thy Heavens the Work of thy Fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained What is Man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of Man that thou visitest him Shall I speak my Opinion freely in this Matter I do conceive that one great Reason why God hath laid out so much of his Excellency and bestowed so much of his Infinite Wisdom and Power upon the Creation of the Things that are above us especially the Heavens over our Heads was on purpose to astonish proud Man into a Religious Admiration of his God and an humble Detestation of himself For that 's the very Frame and Temper which disposeth Man for the Impressions of Religion and the Exercise of a devout Affection Isa 66.1 2. Thus saith the Lord The Heaven is my Throne 3. A due Consideration of the Creation of the World and especially of the Heavens belongs unto us all Os homini sublime c. If God doth preach to us by these Things that are seen and thereby reveal to the World the invisible Properties of the Divinity then we ought to hearken to this Voice and make some good use of their Language The Curious Spectator looks up to the Heavens and examines every particular there Quidni quaerat Scit illa ad se pertinere Tunc contemnit domicilii prioris angustias Seneca And as he goes on what is all the distance from the utmost Coasts of Spain to the Indies But a Voyage of a very few Days if thou sail with a good
forgiven the same loveth much The Forgiveness of our Sins will be an Endearment of our Affections and provoke us to love God better and delight more in our blessed Sight and Enjoyment of him 'T is true our Natures by our Apostasie are soyl'd and deformed 't is the Work of Grace to smooth and imbellish them This is the World the School the Stage where we are dressing our selves and putting on the Wedding-Garment of Holiness that at the Marriage of the Lamb and his Bride the Church we may be qualified for Happiness Christ is now washing our Souls clean by the Waters of Repentance the Graces of his Spirit and the Blood of his Cross that when we come into that heavenly Jerusalem that pure City we may be found clean all over If I wash thee not thou hast no part in me John 13.8 And Eph. 5.25 26 27. Christ loved the Church and gave himself that he might sanctifie and cleanse it And believe it that 's no light matter but it puts the God of Heaven upon infinite Charges and costs him not only many a Mercy many a Check Rod and Judgment upon us but the Graces of his Spirit the Blood of his Son the Calls of his Ministry and a continual Providence and Care for us Look over all this and say when there is such Hacking and Hewing so much Care and Concernment with Compass and Chizzel to carve the Stones of the Building what a mighty Glory is the Structure design'd for The Walls of Babylon they say were a Work of many Years I need not tell you how great or stately they were you may guess the Greatness of the Work by the Labour about it they say Three hundred thousand Men were continually employed in it for many Years From the Preparation made for Solomon's Temple the Stock left in Banco by David to that end the Gold from Ophir the Cedars from Lebanon the Thousands of Workmen about it you may guess the Glory of the Building These are but Shadows but poor Emblems to the New Jerusalem 2. The Place The very Name of it is sweet and glorious Where it lies I take not upon me to tell you 't is enough to me 't is somewhere not in Hell not on Earth but above them both therefore above the Evils of them both The Scripture gives us a large Account of the Excellency of that place above this World by excluding all the Evils Inconveniences and Disadvantages we are subject to here out of it Where-ever 't is 't is in no part of the Elementary World no not in any of the visible Orbs of the Heavens over our Heads The whole Universe is but a Scaffold to the Building to be taken down at the Last Day in order to the Commencement of that glory The Heavens themselves shall submit to the common Fate of the Universal Conflagration the Sun and Moon and all the apparent material Host of Heaven shall be dissolved and burn'd up like a Scroll into Ashes Vanity and Nothing The Elements themselves shall all melt with fervent Heat whole Nature shall stoop and a final Period be put to the Transactions of Things here and then a vast Space will be made void and empty to erect the Eternal Kingdom in What some Men guess of a Local Heaven above the Firmament I presume they have it all without Book For of the Place as well as Day knows no Man on Earth Behold the Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain the Majesty of the Great God and the Glory of his court and therefore I humbly conceive with deference to wiser Heads that one reason of taking down the Fabrick of this World then is to let the Glory of the Infinite God have free Scope and full Liberty not for his sake for nothing can obstruct his Power especially no Bars Bolts or Paper-walls and thin Enclosures of his own making but for our sakes whose Sence is finite and Faculties limited Psal 148.13 His Name is exalted his Glory is above the Earth and Heaven 'T is true we are told Psal 115.16 The Heaven even the Heavens are the Lords but the Earth he hath given to the Children of Men. But I suppose that means no more than that the Spheres above the Clouds especially the Firmament where the Sun Moon and Stars are do in especial manner shew forth the Power Goodness and Wisdom of God whereas the Earth is more immediately and directly made subservient to our use When the Scripture speaks of the last Glory it expresses it by the Name of New Heavens and a New Earth wherein dwells Righteousness i. e. If I mistake not a new World instead of both And thô we find still in Holy Writ the Throne of God and the Seat of the Blessed placed in Heaven that is but a lisping Phrase a condescending Figure that God useth to express himself to Man by such means as he is aptest to understand because we look upon those higher Parts the most Noble and Glorious of the World and withal to take off our Eyes Thoughts and Affections from the drossy Sediment of this Earth that lies below to teach us that our Happiness lies not here but we must look for it out of this World 3. The Riches of the Place Which are very great And if you ask how we may know that I answer by observing what comes thence How know we the Riches of the East and West-Indies but by taking Notice of the Wealth and Commodities that are carried out of those Countries and the Reports of them that have been there 1. The Riches that come thence What is there here that hath the Name of Goodness writ upon it which came not first from that Fountain The Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Every Beast of the Forest is his and the Cattle upon a Thousand Hills 'T is his Sun that shines upon our Heads and his Earth that is under our Feet and his Air that we draw with our Health and his Rain that makes our Fields fruitful the very Essence Existence and Excellence of this World and all Things in it are derived from that Original Whatever Things are beautiful strong wise good pleasant desirable these all are but Drops from that Ocean Every good Gift comes from above our Health Wealth Life and Learning are but lesser Tokens sent us out of that Country What have we here that is delightful or of any Account with us which is not there in a much more eminent manner In short here 's a Dungeon there 's a Paradise here we live we sin we die like Children of Men there we shall be as the Children of God like Angels glorified Creatures Here 's a World of Confusion Disorder and Discomfort there 's a Kingdom and Crowns for every Head Crowns incorruptible and full of Glory You may guess the Fruits of Canaan by the Eshcol the Cluster of Grapes that comes thence the Glory of Heaven by the little Beams that are darted hither
his own great Abilities after Courtesies of Courage had passed between them My Lord says the Duke I know your Lordship hath very worthily good Accesses unto the King our Soveraign let me pray you to put His Majesty in Mind to be good as I no way distrust to my poor Wife and Children at which Words or at his Countenance in the Delivery or at both my Lord Bishop being somewhat troubled took the freedom to ask him whether he had never any secret Abodement in his Mind No reply'd the Duke but I think some Adventure way kill me as well as another Man The very day before he was slain feeling some indisposition of Body the King was pleased to give him the Honour of a visit and found him in his Bed where and after much serious and private Discourse the Duke at his Majesty's departing embraced him in a very unusual and passionate Manner and in like sort to his Friend the Earl of Holland as if his Soul divined he should see them no more which infusions towards fatal End had been observed by some Authors of no Light Authority On the very day of his Death the Countess of Denbigh receiv'd a Letter from him whereupon all the while she was writing her Answer she bedew'd the Paper with her Tears And after a most bitter Passion whereof she could yield no Reason but that her dearest Brother was to be gone she fell down in a Swoon Her said Letter endeth thus I will pray for your happy Return which I look at with a great Cloud over my Head too heavy for my poor Heart to bear without torment but I hope the great God of Heaven will bless you The day following the Bishop of Ely her devoted Friend who was thought the fittest Preparer of her Mind to receive such a doleful Accident came to visit her but hearing she was at rest he attended till she should awake of her self which she did with the Affrightments of a Dream her Brother seeming to pass thorough a Field with her in her Coach where hearing of a sudden Shout of the People and asking the reason it was answer'd to have been for Joy that the Duke of Buckingham was sick Which natural Impression she source had related unto her Gentlewoman before the Bishop was entred into her Bed-Chamber for a chosen Messenger of the Duke's Death This is all I dare present of that Nature or any of Judgment not unwillingly omitting certain Prognostick Anagrams and such strains of Fancy Sir Henry Wooton 's Short View of the Life and Death of George Villiers Duke of Buckingham p. 25 26. 2. When Alexander went by Water to Babylon a sudden Wind arising blew off the Regal Ornament of his Head and the Diadem fixt to it This was lookt upon as a Presage of Alexander's Death which happen'd soon after 3. In the year of Christ 1185. the last and most fatal end of Andronicus Commenus being at Hand the Statute of St. Paul which the Emperor had caused to be set up in the great Church of Constantinople abundantly wept Nor were these Tears in vain which the Emperor washt off with his own Blood 4. Barbara Princess of Bavaria having shut her self up in a Nunnery among other things allow'd her for her peculiar Recreation she had a Marjoram-Tree of an extraordinary bigness a small Aviary and a Gold Chain which she wore about her Neck But 14 Days before she died the Marjoram-Tree dried up the Birds the next Night were all found dead and after that the Chain broke in two in the middle Then Barbara calling for the Abbess told her that all those Warnings were for her and in a few Days after died in the Seventeenth year of her Age After her Death above twenty other Virgins died out of the same Nunnery Several other Presages there are that foretold the death of Princes and great Men As the unwonted Howlings of Dogs the unseasonable Noise of Bells the Roaring of Lions c. Concerning Dead Mens Lights seen often in Wales take this following Story 5. A Man and his Family being all in Bed about Midnight and awake he could perceive a Light entring a little Room where he lay and one after another of some Dozen in the shape of Men and two or three Women with small Children in their Arms entring in and they seemed to dance and the Room to be far wider and lighter than formerly they did seem to eat Bread and Cheese all about a kind of a Stick upon the Ground they offer'd him Meat and would smile upon him he could perceive no Voice but he once calling upon God to bless him he could perceive the Whisper of a Voice in Welsh bidding him hold his Peace being about four Hours thus he did what he could to awake his Wife and could not they went out into another Room and after some dancing departed and then he arose yet being but a very small Room he could not find the Door nor the way to Bed until crying out his Wife and Family awaked Being within about two Miles of me I sent for the Man who is an honest poor Husbandman and of good Report And I made him believe I would put him to his Oath for the Truth of this Relation who was ready to take it Attested by Mr. John Lewis a learned Justice of Peace in Cardigan-shire Hist Discourse of Appar and Witches p. 130. 6. Mr. Flavel in his Treatise of the Soul says I have with good Assurance this Account of a Minister who being alone in a Journey and willing to make the best Improvement he could of the Days Solitude set himself upon a close Examination of the State of his Soul and then of the Life to come and the manner of its being and living in Heaven in the Views of all those things which are now pure Objects of Faith and Hope after a while he perceiv'd his Thoughts begin to fix and come closer to these great astonishing things than was usual and as his Mind settled upon them his Affections began to rise with answerable Liveliness and Vigour He therefore whilst he was yet Master of his own Thoughts lift up his Heart to God in a short Ejaculation that God would so order it in his Providence that he might meet with no Interruption from Company or any other Accident in that Journey which was granted him For in all the Days Journey he neither met overtook or was overtaken by any Thus going on his way his Thoughts began to rise and swell higher and higher like the Waters in Ezekiel's vision till at last they became an overflowing Flood Such was the Intention of his Mind such the ravishing Tastes of Heavenly Joys and such the full Assurance of his Interest therein that he utterly lost the Sight and Sense of this World and all the concerns thereof and for some hours knew no more where he was than if he had been in a deep sleep upon his Bed At last he began to perceive
himself very faint and almost choaked with Blood which running in abundance from his Nose had discoloured his Cloaths and his Horse from the Shoulder to the Hoof. He found himself almost spent and nature to faint under the pressure of Joy unspeakable and unsupportable and at last perceiving a Spring of Water in his way he with some difficulty alighted to cleanse and cool his Face and Hands which were drenched in Blood Tears and Sweat By that Spring he sate down and washed earnestly desiring if it were the pleasure of God that might be his parting place from this World He said Death had the most aimable Face in his Eye that ever he beheld except the Face of Jesus Christ which made it so and that he could not remember tho he believed he should die there that he had one thought of his Dear Wife or Children or any other Earthly concernment But having drank of that Spring his Spirits revived the Blood stenched and he Mounted his Horse again and on he went in the same Fame of Spirit till he had finished a Journey of near Thirty Miles and came at Night to his Inn. Where being come he greatly admired how he came thither and that he fell not all that day which past not without several Trances of considerable continuance Being alighted the Inn-Keeper came to him with some astonishment being acquainted with him formerly O Sir said he what is the matter with you You look like a Dead Man Friend replied he I was never better in my Life Shew me my Chamber cause my Cloak to be cleansed burn me a little Wine and that is all I desire of you for the present Accordingly it was done and a Supper sent up which he could not touch but requested of the People they would not trouble or disturb him for that Night All this Night passed without one wink of sleep tho he never had a sweetr Nights rest in all his Life still still the joy of the Lord over-flowed him and he seemed to be an Inhabitant of the other World The next Morning being come he was early on Horse-back again fearing the Divertisements in the Inn might bereave him of his joy for he said it was now with him as with a Man that carries a Rich Treasure about him who suspects every Passenger to be a Theif but within a few hours he was sensible of the ebbing of the Tydes and before Night tho there was an Heavenly Serenity and sweet Peace upon his Spirit which continued long with him yet the Transports of Joy were over and the fine edge of his delight blunted He many years after called that day one of the Days of Heaven and professed he understood more of the Life of Heaven by it than by all the Books he ever Read or Discourses he ever entertained about it 7. Thus Mr. Knox predicted the very place and manner of the Laird of Grange You have sometimes seen the courage and constancy of the Laird of Grange in the cause of God and now that unhappy Man is casting himself away I pray yopu go to him from me said Mr. Knox and tell him unless he forsake the Wicked course he is in the Rock wherein he confideth shall not defend him nor the Carnal Wisdom of that Man meaning the young Leshington whom he counteth half a God shall help him But he shall be shamefully pull'd out of the Nest and his Carcase hung before the Sun And even so it fell out the following year when the Castle was taken and his Body hang'd out before the Sun Thus God exactly fulfilled the prediction of his Death Clark's Lives p. 277. 8. The same Mr. Knox in the Year 1566. Being in the Pulpit a Edenburgh upon the Lords Day a Paper was given up to him among many others wherein these words were scoffingly Written concerning the Earl of Murray who was slain before Take up the Man whom ye accounted another God At the end of the Sermon Mr. Knox bewailed the loss that the Church and State had by the Death of the Virtuous Man and then added There is one in this company that makes this horrible Muther the subject of his mirth for which all good Men should be sorry but I tell him he shall die where there shall be none to lament him The Man that wrote the Paper was one Thomas Metellan a young Gentleman who shortly after in his Travels Died in Italy having none to assist or lament him 9. Sir Anthony Wingfield who was slain at Brest Anno. 1594. At his undertaking of that expedition he was strongly perswaded it would be his Death and therefore so settled and disposed of his Estate as one that never reckoned to return again And the day before he died he took order for the Payment of his Debts as one that strongly presaged the time was now at hand which accordingly fell out the next day Sir Jophn Norris his Expedition p. 46. 10. The Learned and Judicious Amiraldus gives us this well attested Relation of Lewis of Bourbon That a little before his Journey from Dreux he Dreamed that he had fought three successful Battels wherein his three great Enemies were slain but that at last he himself was mortally wounded and that after they were laid one upon another he also was laid upon the Dead Bodys The event was Remarkable for the Mareschal of St. Andree was killed at Dreux the Duke of Guise at Orleans the Constable of Montmorency at St. Denis And this was the Triumvirate which had Sworn the ruin of those of the Protestant Religion and the Destruction of that Prince At last he himself was slain at Basack as if there had been a continuation of Deaths and Funerals Amiraldus of Divne Dreams p. 122 123. 11. Suetonius in the Life of Julius Caesar tells us that the Night before he was slain he had Divers Premonitions thereof for that Night all the Doors and Windows of his Chamber flew open his Wife also Dreamed that Caesar was slain and that she had him in her Arms. The next day he was slain in Pompey's Court having received three and twenty wounds in his Body 12. Pamelius in the Life of Cyprian tells us for a most certain and well attested truth that upon his first entrance into Carubis the place of his Banishment it was revealed to him in a Dream or Vision that upon that very day Twelve-Month he should be consummate Which accordingly fell out for a little before the time prefixed there came suddainly two Apparators to bring him before the New Proconsul Galeius by whom he was Condemned as having been a Standard-Bearer of his Sect and an Enemy of the Gods Whereupon he was Condemned to be Beheaded a Multitude of Christians following him crying Let us die together with him 13. And as Remarkable is that recorded by the Learned and Ingenious Doctor Stern of Mr. Vsher of Ireland a Man saith he of great Integrity Dear to others by his Merits and my Kinsman in Blood
or more some big some small together then so many and such Corpses together If two Candles come from divers places and be seen to meet the Corpses will the like if any of these Candles are seen to turn sometimes a little out of the way or path that leadeth to the Church the following Corps will be forced to turn in that very place for the avoiding some dirty Lane or plash c. Now let us fall to evidence Being about the Age of Fifteen dwelling at Lanylar late at Night some Neighbours saw one of these Candles hovering up and down along the River-Bank until they were weary in beholding it at last they left it so and went to Bed A few Weeks after came a proper Damsel from Montgomery-shire to see her Friends who dwelt on the other side of that River Istwith and thought to Ford the River at that very place where the Light was seen being dissuaded by some Lookers on some it is most likely of those that saw the Light to adventure on the Water which was high by reason of a Flood She walked up and down along the River-Bank even where and even as the aforesaid Candle did waiting for the falling of the Water which at last she took but too soon for her for she was drowned therein Of late my Sexton's Wife an aged understanding Woman saw from her Bed a little bluish Candle on her Tables end within two or three Days after came a Fellow enquiring for her Husband and taking something from under his Cloak clap'd it down upon the Tables-end it was a dead-born Child Another time the same Woman saw such another Candle upon the end of the self-same Table within a few Days after a weak Child newly Christend by me was brought to the Sexton's House where presently it died ' And when the Sexton's Wife who was then abroad came home she found the Child on the other end of the Table where she had seen the Candle Some thirty or forty Years since my Wife's Sister being Nurse to Baronet Rudd's three eldest Children and the Lady Mistress being dead the Lady Comptroller of the House going late into the Chamber where the Maid-Servants lay saw no less than Five of those Lights together It happen'd a while after that the Chamber being newly Plaister'd and a Grate of Coal-fire therein kindled to hasten the drying of the Praister that five of the Maid-servants went to Bed as they were wont but as it fell out too soon for in the Morning they were all dead being Soffocated in their Sleep with the steem of the new-temper'd Lime and Coal This was at Langathen in Carmarthenshire Jo. Davis See more Generglyn March 1656. To this Account of Mr. Davis I will subjoyn what my worthy Friend and Neighbour Randal Caldicot D. D. hath affirmed to me many Years since viz When any Christian is drowned in the River Dee there will appear over the Water where the Corps is a Light by which means they do find the Body Thus far Mr. Aubrey Ominous Presages taken notice of as relating to the Troubles and Death of King Charles I. in a Printed Relation 1655. 68. When he was in Spain treating and prosecuting the Match with the Infanta Jun. 30. 1623. a great Clap of Thunder struck away the Flag and Flag-staff from the Main-top-mast-head of a Ship then riding at Black-wall and bound for Spain with Provision of fresh Victuals to fetch the Prince home it also split the Main-top-mast and threw one part on one side and the other part on the other side of the Ship and raized the Main-mast down to the Ship it killed two Men and one Woman at Croydon This was two Days after the Prince wrote to the Pope Thursday next there were many great Claps of Thunder abundance of Rain and so great a Pillar of Fire from Heaven out of the South that it reach'd from the Heavens to the Farth not as a Flash of Lightning gone in the very sight but a very firm Pillar of Fire The Crown and Vane from the top of the Gate-House of St. James whereon the Clock stood was struck down a piece of the Bell where the Priuce kept his Court melted a Gardiner near Westminster kill'd and his Wife hurt another at Croyden kill'd c. Old Tho. Earl of Arundel having sent for the King's Statue out of Italy viewing it at Greenwich where it was landed and commending the Workmanship whilst they were discoursing of it there fell three drops of Blood on the top of it no Man knowing how they should come there A. 1623. A Buckinghamshire Taylor came from Alisbury aged 41 and a sober Man went along London Streets pronouncing Woe to Rome Woe to the Pope Woe to all Papists and all that did adhere to Popery Dukes Marquesses Earls c. This three or four Days in the Week praying earnestly at White-Hall-Gate for the Continuance of the Gospel in England till he was sent to the New-Bridewell near Clerken-well where he continued three Weeks After which he proceeded again to the same Execrations One of the Crowns and Vanes of the Tower was turned over the Top of the Spindle with a very small Gale of Wind and so hung for three quarters of a Year or more the Crown and Vane weigh'd 100 weight His Hand and Scepter broke off from his Statue at the Exchange and fell down to the Ground even at Change-time to the admiration of all Beholders and the next day it was set up again One Mrs. Cary of Bristol a Woollen-Draper's Widow on the Back of the Town having seen many strange Apparitions of the late King at several times as his Crown all bloody himself in Black and his Head off by means of the Earl of Dorset was admitted to the King who dismissed her with only this Reflection Take her away she is a merry Woman The VVoman returns home to Bristol where the like Visions appear'd to her again she could not contain but away she makes for London a second time and the King gone to York by the help of a Lady at Court she follows in a Coach thither and with much Importunity of Speech beseecheth him to consider what she had seen and said but was not credited At Caussam near Reading the King playing at Chess with White Men the Head of the VVhite King fell off VVhen the Lord Fairfax was at St. Albans and the General Council of the Army drawing up the grand Rdmonstrance against the King the Sign of the Kings-Head beneath the Hill from the Cross that part of the Board between the Head and Shoulders was broken out of the Sign so that the Head and Shoulders seem'd parted VVhen the King was at the High Court of Justice as it was then called on his Tryal the Head of his Cane fell off he stooped to take it up himself looked upon it as an ominous Presage 69. William Writtle condemn'd at Maidston Assizes for a double Murder mention'd hereafter told a Minister
Soul in thy Heavenly Kingdom 42. Nehemiah this very hopeful young Man going out to hunt with a Companion who fell out with him and stabbed him mortally and kill'd him A little was gather'd up spoke by him as followeth I am ready to die now but knew not of it even now when I went out of my door I was only going to hunt but a wicked Man hath killed me I see that word is true He that is well to day may be dead to morrow He that laughed yesterday may sorrow to day My Misery overtook me in the Woods No Man knoweth the day and time when his Misery cometh Now I desire patiently to take up my Cross and Misery I am but a Man and must feel the Cross Oh Christ Jesus help me thou art my Redeemer my Saviour and my Deliverer I confess my self a Sinner Lord Jesus pardon all my Sins by thy own Blood when thou diedst for us O Christ Jesus save me from Hell Save my Soul in Heaven Oh help me help me So he died The wicked Murderer is fled 43. John Owussumug sen He was a Young Man when they began to pray to God he did not at the present joyn with them he would say to me I will first see into it and when I understand it I will answer you he did after a while enter into the Civil Covenant but was not entered into the Church-Covenant before he dyed he was propounded to joyn to the Church but was delayed he being of a quick passionate temper some witty littigations prolonged it I till his Sickness but had he recovered the Church was satisfied to have received him he sinished well His Speech as followeth Now I must shortly die I desired that I might live I sought for Medicines to cure me I went to every English Doctor at Dadham Medfield Concord but none could cure me in this World But Oh Jesus Christ do thou heal my Soul now I am in great pain I have no hope of living in this VVorld a whole Year I have been afflicted I could not go to the publick Sabbath worship to hear God's VVord I did greatly love to go to the Sabbath VVorship Therefore I now say to all you Men Women and Children Love much and greatly to keep the Sabbath I have been now long hindred from it and therefore now I find the worth of it I say unto you all my Sons and Children do not go into the Woods among non-praying People abide constantly at Natick You my Children and all my Kindred strongly pray to God Love and Obey the Rulers and submit unto their Judgment hear diligently your Ministers Be obedient to Major Gookins and to Mr. Eliot and Daniel I am now almost dead and I exhort you strongly to Love each other be at peace and be ready to forgive each other I desire now rightly to prepare my self to dye for God hath given me warning a whole year by my Sickness I confess I am a Sinner My heart was proud and thereby all Sins were in my heart I knew that by Birth I was a Sechim I got Oxen and Cart and Plough like an English Man and by all these things my heart was Proud Now God calleth me to Repentance by my Sickness this whole Year Oh Christ Jesus help me that according as I make my confession so through thy grace I may obtain a pardon of all my Sins For thou Lord Jesus didst dye 〈◊〉 us to deliver us from Sin I hear and believe that thou hast dyed for many Therefore I desire to cast away all Worldly hindrances my Lands and Goods I cast them by they cannot help me now I desire truely to prepare to dye My Sons I hope Christ will help me to dye well Now I call you my Sons but in Heaven we shall all be Brethren this I Learned in the Sabbath Worship all miseries in this World upon Believers shall have only Joy and Blessing in Jesus Christ Therefore Oh Christ Jesus help me in all my miseries and deliver me for I trust in thee and save my Soul in thy Heavenly Kingdom now behold me and look upon me who am dying So he dyed 44. John Speen he was among the first that prayed to God he was a diligent Reader he became a Teacher and carried well for Divers years until the Sin of strong drink did infect us and then he was so far infected with it that he was deservedly laid aside from Teaching His last Speeches were as followeth Now I dye I defire you all my Friends forgive him that hurt me for the word of God saith in Mat. 6.3 4. Forgive them that have done you wrong and your Heavenly Father will forgive you but if you do not forgive them your Heavenly Father will not forgive you Therefore I intreat you all my Friends forgive him that did me wrong for John Nunusquanit beat him and hurt him much a little before his Sickness now I desire to dye well now I confess all my Sins I am a Sinner especially I loved strong Drink too well and sometimes I was mad drunk tho I was a Teacher I did offend against praying to God and spoiled my Teaching all these my Sins and Drunkeness Oh I pray you all forgive me Oh Jesus Christ help me now and deliver my Soul and help me that I may not go to Hell for thou O Christ art my Deliver and Saviour Oh God help me Lord tho I am a Sinner Oh Lord do not forget me And so he dyed 45. Black James He was in former times reputed by the English to be a Pawaw but I cannot tell this I know he renounced and repented of all his former ways and desired to come to Christ and pray to God and died well as appears in what followeth Now I say I almost dye but you all my Sons and all you that pray at Chabanukong komu◠take heed that you leave not off to pray to God for praying to God is exceeding good for praying to God is the way that will bring you to the Heavenly Kingdom I believe in Christ and we must follow his Steps Especially you my Sons beware of Drunkenness I desire you may stand fast in my room and Rule well I am almost now dead and I desire to dye well Oh Lord Jesus Christ help me and deliver my Soul to die well So he died CHAP. XIX Strange ways of Restraining Persons from Sin THE Doctrine of the Irresistibleness of Gods Decrees was so far ventilated in the last Age that the Letters of Accord between the Judicious Bishop Sanderson and the Learned Dr. Hammond sufficed to confirm me and I think they may be sufficient for others in this Opinion viz. That those whom God hath Elected to everlasting Life shall be so far taken care of that such means shall be allowed them and such methods used towards them that they shall not fail of Inheriting Everlasting Life For whom God Loves he Loves unto the end And all things shall work
his Judgment and Piety that notwithstanding the Opposition made by some great ones without his own seeking he was made Bishop of Meath in Ireland which just then fell void while he was in England and the King often boasted That he was a Bishop of his own making Clark in his Life 12. The Papists very rashly and hastily had Publish'd a Libel against Luther supposing he was deâ—d because he was constrained for his own safety to use caution in appearing abroad by râ—â—on of his many Enemies that laid wait for him signifying How the Devils had carried away his Body c. Which Libel came to Luther's hands two Years before he died and he reading of it thank'd God that the Devil and his Instruments were such Tools that they could not stay till his Death Pref. to Luther 's Sermons I pass over the Story of Queen Emma Mother to King Edward the Confessor who is said by our Historians to be causlesly suspected of too much Familiarity with Alwinus Bishop of Winchester of which Suspicion she purged herself and him by the Fire-Ordeal walking bare foot over nine red-hot Plough-shares without any hurt in thankfulness for which 't is said they gave each of them nine Manours to the Church of Winchester Dugdale Monast. Angl. Vol. 1. inter Addenda p. 980. 13. A. C. 1650. Anne Green a Servant-Maid to Sir Tho. Read of Duns-Tew in Oxfordshire being with Child by some one of the Family through over-working her self in turning of Malt fell in Travail about the fourth Month of her time but being but a young Wench and not knowing how it might be repairs to the House of Easement where after some Straining the Child scarce above a Span long and of what Sex not to be distinguished fell from her unawares She was three Days after conveyed to the Castle of Oxford and there Sentenc'd to be Hang'd She hung half an Hour was pulled by the Legs and struck on the Breast by divers of her Friends and after all had several Stroaks given her on the Stomach with the But-end of a Soldier 's Musket Afterwards being cut down and put in a Cossin and brought away to a House to be dissected though the Rope still remained strait about her Neck they perceived her Breast to rise whereupon one Mason a Taylor in Charity to her set his Foot upon her Breast and Belly and as some say one Orum a Soldier struck her again with the But-end of his Musket After a while they perceived a small Rattling in her Throat and then they used means for her Recovery by opening a Vein laying her in a warm Bed and causing another to go into Bed to her and using other Remedies with respect to her Senselesness Head Throat and Breast insomuch that within 14 Hours she began to speak and the next Day Talk'd and Prayed very heartily In the mean time her Pardon was sued out from the Powers then in being and Thousands of People came to see her magnifying the just Providence of God in thus asserting her Innocency of Murder She affirmed that she neither remembred how the Fetters were knock'd off how she went out of the Prison when she was turn'd off the Ladder whether any Psalm was sung or not nor was she sensible of any Pains that she could remember but which is most observable she came to her self as if she had awakened out of her Sleep not recovering the use of her Speech by slow degrees but in a manner altogether beginning to speak just where she left off on the Gallows She lived afterwards and was Married and had three Children not dying till 1659. Dionysius Petavius takes notice of it in his Continuation of the Hist of the World so doth Mr. Heath and Dr. Plot in his Natural Hist of Oxfordsh p. 193. 14. I shall only take notice further of an awful Example mentioned by A. B. Spotswood in his History of Scotland p. 449. His Words are these This Summer viz. Anno 1597. there was a great Business for the Tryal of Witches amongst others one Margaret Atkin being apprehended on Suspicion and threatned with Torture did confess her self Guilty being Examined touching her Associates in that Trade she named a few and perceiving her Delations find Credit made offer to detect all of that sort and to purge the Country of them so she might have her Life granted For the reason of her Knowledge she said That they had a secret mark all of that sort in their Eyes whereby she could surely tell how soon she looked upon any whether they were Witches or not And in this she was so readily believed that for the space of three or four Months she was carried from Town to Town to make Discoveries in that kind many were brought in question by her Delations especially at Glasgow where divers Innocent Women through the Credulity of the Minister Mr. John Cowper were condemned and put to Death In the end she was found to be a meer Deceiver and sent back to Fife where she was first Apprehended At her Tryal she affirmed all to be false that she had Confessed of her self or others and persisted in this to her Death which made many fore-think their to great forwardness that way and moved the King to re-call his Commission given out against such Persons discharging all Proceedings against them 15. There was in the Year 1649. in a Town called Lauder in Scotland a certain Woman accused and imprisoned on Suspicion of Witchcraft when others in the same Prison with her were Convicted and their Execution ordered to be on the Monday following she desired to speak with a Minister to whom she declared freely that she was guilty of Witchcraft acknowledging also many other Crimes committed by her desiring that she might die with the rest She said particularly that she had Covenanted with the Devil and was become his Servant about Twenty Years before and that he kissed her and gave her a Name but that since he had never owned her Several Ministers who were jeasous that she accused her self untruly charged it on her Conscience telling her That they doubted she was under a Temptation of the Devil to destroy her own Body and Soul and adjuring her in the Name of God to declare the Truth Notwithstanding all this she stiffly adhered to what she had said and was on Monday Morning Condemned and ordered to be Executed that Day When she came to the place of Execution she was silent until the Prayers were ended then going to the Stake where she was to be burnt she thus expressed her self All you that see me this Day know ye that I am to die as a Witch by my own Confession and I free all Men especially the Ministers and Magistrates from the guilt of my Blood I take it wholly on my self and as I must make answer to the God of Heaven I declare I am as free from Witchcraft as any Child but being accused by a Malicious Woman and
be paid by 40 shillings apiece 13. For the Marriages of poor Maids in Reading in the same manner 100 l. 14. For the Marriages of poor Maids in Newbery that have served 7 years the same Master or Mistress 50 l. 15. To set on work idle vagrant Boys in Bridewel 200 l. 16. Towards Finishing the Pinacles of the Steeple of S. Marys in Reading 50 l. 17. To be lent upon Bond with Sureties to several honest industrious poor Clothiers in Reading first for 7 years then for 3 years to others and so on gratis for ever 500 l. viz. 50 l. apiece 18. To the Clothiers of Newbery the same Sum for the like use viz. 500 l. 19. To poor industrious Merchant-Adventurers in London to be lent by 300 l. in a parcel gratis from 3 years to 3 years in like manner as before 300 l. 20. To his Brother William Kendrick and Children 2000 l. and a Gold-Ring 21. To his Sister Anna Newman of Reading 1000 Marks 22. To her Children 2000 Marks c. 23. To his Sister Alice Vigures of Exeter 500 l. 24. To her Children 1000 l. 25. To his Brother James Winch of Purley in the County of Berks and Children 1000 l. 26. To old Elizab. Kendrick his Uncle's Daughter 50 l. 27. To Tho. Newman at Delf in Holland Servant to his Partner 1000 l. 28. To his Kinsman and late Servant Sim. Gaudy 1000 l. 29. To Arth. Aynscomb Merchant then at Antwerp Shearer with him in Trade 500 l. 30. To Barney Reymes Merchant at Delf another Shearer 500 l. 31. To Mr. John Quarles who was his Master and then kept his Accompts 500 l. forgiving him also a Debt of 300 l. 32. To Mr. George Lowe Merchant and former Partner 300 l. 33. To Tho. Billingslie Son of Sir H. B. 200 l. forgiving him also a Debt of 200 l. more 34. To the Executors of Tho. Jackson Merchant 300 l. 35. To Luces van Punon of Middleburgh 50 l. 36. To Jeremiah Poets of Middleburgh 20 l. 37. To William Powle his Covenant-Servant 200 l. 38. To And Kendrick his Apprentice 300 l. and in lieu of what he had received with him 100 l. 39. To another Apprentice Chr. Packe 100 l. 40. To his House-keeper 20 l. To two of his Maids 20 l. apiece To his Drawer 50 l. to another Drawer 25 l. To his Drawers Servants 25 l. To his twelve Clothworkers Rowers and Shearers 130 l. To Bigge and Salisbury that pressed and folded his Cloth 25 l. To his Porters at the Water-side 10 l. To Packers 10 l. To his Water-bearer 3 l. To the Washer 5 l. To W. Bealde of Reading Clothier 50 l. to another Clothier 50 l. To another Clothier Tho. Newman 100 l. To John Skegmere Secretary to the Merchant-Adventurers 100 l. To R. B. a Partner 300 l. To Mr. W. T. 5 l. To Officers of the Company 15 l. For Service at 6 a Clock in Reading 250 l. the like at Newbery 250 l. to another 100 l. For a Dinner for the Drapers at his Funeral 40 l. Extracted out of the Copy printed A. C. 1625. 23. The Lady Alice Dutchess Dudley gave many hundred pounds toward the Building of St. Giles's Church the Church being finished she gave Hangings of Watchid Taffety to cover the upper-end of the Chancel and those bordered with a silk and silver Fringe Item For the back of the Altar a rich green Velvet Cloth with these three Letters in Gold IHS embroidered on it Two Service-Books in Folio embossed with Gold A gree Velvet Cloth with a rich deep Gold Fringe to cover the Altar on Sundays A Cambrick-Altar Cloth with a deep Bonelace round about another fine Damask-Altar Cloth Two Cusâ—ins for the Altar rickly embroidred with Gold A large Turkey Carpet to be spread on the Week-days over it A beautiful Skreen of Carved Work which was placed where the former in the old Church stood Moreover she gave a neat Pair of Organs with a Case richly Gilded Item Ver costly handsom Rails to guard the Lord's Table from prophane uses It. The Communion-Plate of all sorts in Silver and gilt for that sacred use she was at the Charge of Paving the upper-end of the Church wih Marble-stones She gave the great Bell and was at the Charge of Casting and Hanging the other five Bells She gave to the Church of Stonelay in Warwickshire as also to the Churches of Mancester Leke-Wotton Ashow Kenelworth and Monks-Kirby Twenty pounds per Annum apiece for a perpetual Augmentation to the poor Vicaridges of those respective Churches for ever She bestowed on the same Churches as also upon the Churches of Bedford Acton St. Albans Patshill divers pieces of costly Plate for the Celebration of the Holy Communion in each of them And she purchased a fair house and Garden near the said Church of St. Giles's and gave it for a perperual Mansion to the Incumbents after three Lives She also allowed a yearly Stipend to the Sexton of that Churchâ—â— Tole the great Bell when the Prisoners condemned to die were passing by and to Ring out after they were executed She likewise gave great Sums of Money for the Repairing the Cathedral Church of Litchfield and for the Re-edifying of St. Sepulchres in London All these with many more were the Product of her great Charity whilst she lived and thereby made her own Eyes her Overseers and her own Hand her Executors At her Death she gave for Redemption of Christian Captives from the Hands of Infidels One hundred pounds per Annum for ever To the Hospital in St. Giles's Four hundred pounds for Twenty pounds a year for ever For the placing out for ever of poor Parish-Children of St. Giles's Apprentices Two hundred pounds to purchase 10. l. per Annum To the Poor of the Parishes of Stoneley Kenilworth Leke-Wotton Ashow Bedford and Passhill aforesaid and also of Lichborow and Blakesley One hundred pounds per Annum And upon the Day of her Funeral Fifty pounds to be distributed among the Poor She gave to Fourscore and ten Widows according to the number of the years she had lived to each one a Gown and fair white Handkerchief to attend the Hearse wherein her Body was carried and One shilling apiece for their Dinner after that Solemnity was performed which was on the 16th of March 1668. She gave to every place where her Corps should rest in its passage from London unto Stoneley aforesaid in Warwickshire where she had a Noble Monument prepared by her self She ordered that Six pence should be given to every poor Body that should meet her Corps on the Road. She gave to Blakesley Lichborow and Patshill Ten pounds apiece to be distributed among the Poor the same day her Corps was interred to Stoneley Fifty pounds distributed the same day Thus this Illustrious Dutchess did in her Life and at her Death and doubtless for all her good Deeds she has her Reward in Heaven by God's Mercy and Christ's Merits See the Narrative of her Life
prospect of Peace or Help and yet God hath revived me thro' his Soveraign Grace and Mercy and there have been several heretofore forely perplex'd with great inward and outward trouble whom God aftr that wonderfully refreshed Mr. Robert Bruce some time ago Minister at Edinburgh was Twenty years in Terrors of Conscience and yet delivered afterwards You may also direct them to the Lives of Mrs. Brettergh Mrs. Drake Mr. Peacock and Mrs. Wight where they will see a very chearful day returning after a black and stormy night and that the Issue from their Afflictions was more glorious than their Conflict was troublesome They went forth weeping they sowed in Tears but they reaped an Harvest of wonderful Joys afterwards You have in the Book of Martyrs written by Mr. Fox an instance of Mr. Glover who was worn and consumed with inward Trouble for the space of Five years that he neither had any Comfort in his Meat nor any Quietness of Sleep nor any Pleasure of Life he was so perplexed as if he had been in the deepest Pit of Hell yet at last this good Servant of God after so sharp Tempetations and the strong Buffetings of Satan was freed from all his trouble and was thereby framed to great Mortification and was like one already placed in Heaven and led a Life altogether Celestial abhorring in his Mind all propahen things and you have a remarkable instance of mighty Joy in Mr. Holland a Minister who having the day before he died meditated upon the 8th of the Romans he cried on a sudden Stay your Reading What Brightness is it that I see They told him it was the Sun-shine Nay saith he my Saviour's shine Now farewell World and welcome Heaven the day-star from an high hath visited my Heart O speak it when I am gone and let it be Preached at my Funeral God dealeth familiarly with Man I feel his Mercy I see his Majesty whether in the Body or out of the Body God he knoweth but I see things unutterale And in the Morning following he shut up his blessed Life with these blessed words O! what an happy Change shall I make from Night to Day from Darkness to Light from Death to Life from Sorrow to Solace from a factious World to an Heavenly Being O! my dear Friends it pitieth me to leave you behind yet remember what I now feel I hope you shall find e're you die That God doth and will deal familiarly with Men. And now thou fiery Chariot that came down to fetch up Eliah carry me to my happy hold and all the blessed Angels who attended the Soul of Lazarus to bring it up to Heaven bear me O bear me into the Bosom of my best Beloved Amen Amen Come Lord Jesus come quickly And so he fell asleep See this and several other Instances in Mr. Robert Bolton's Instructions for Afflicted Consciences p. 87. and 235 c. Thus far Mr. Rogers I shall next add what dreadful Apprehensions a Soul has that is under Desertion from Mr. Rogers's own Experience and I shall give it you in his own words viz. The time of God's Forsaking of a Soul is a very dark and mournful time 't is not only night but a weeping stormy Night and it may not be unuseful to you who have it may be hitherto lived in the Beams and chearful Light of Day to know what passes in this sorrowful and doleful Night and in this Matter I will not borrow Information from others but give you my own Experience 1. In this Night the deserted Soul in overwhelmed with continual Thoughts of the Holiness and Majesty and Glory of the Lord not does in think of him with any manner of Delight acording to that of Asaph Psal 77.3 I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my Spirit was over-whelmed And in how deplorable a case is such a Soul that cannot think of its God and its Creator but with Grief and Sorrow 2. The Deserted Soul in this mournful Night does look upon God as its Enemy and as intending its Hurt and Ruin by the Sharpness of his Dispensations and this makes it to be incapable of receiving any Consolation from the Creatures for will it say to them Alas if God be my Enemy as I apprehend him to be which of you can be my Friend He is with his People ut he has forsaken me he has east me into a fiery Furnace where I am daily burnt and scorcht and he is not with me there I dare not says the mourning Person look up to Heaven for there I see how great a God I have against me I dare not look into his Word for there I see all his Threats as so many barbed Arrows to strike me to the Heart I dare not look into the Grave because thence I am like to have a doleful Resurection and what can a poor Creature do that apprehends the Almighty to be his Enemy It is a common thing to say Why do you so lament and mourn you have many Mercies left many Friends that pray for you and that pity you Alas what help is there in all this if God himself be gone Nothing is then lookt upon as a Mercy and as for the Prayers of others will the distressed Person say They can do me no good unless I have Faith and I find I have none at all for that wou'd purify and cleanse my Heart and I do nothing else but sin 3. In this doleful Night the Soul hath no evidence at all of its former Grace so that in this Night the Sun is not only set but there is not one Star appears such an one look upon himself as altogether void of the Grace of God he looks upon all his former Duties to have been Insincere or Hypocrital he feels his Heart hardned at present and concludes that it was never tender I am an Apostate if I had any share in the Intercession of the great Redeemer he wou'd not leave me thus sad and desolate O! how greatly have I been deceived that imagined my self to be an Heir of Heaven and am now seized with the Pangs of Hell 4. During this Sadness the Soul cannot think of Christ himself with any Comfort For thus it argues he will be a Saviour to none but those that believe I have no Faith and therefore he will be no Saviour to me he that is to his Servants as the Lamb of God will be to me as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah he that deals gently with them will tear me to pieces He seems to be angry and enraged against me for my Disobedience and though I have cried sometimes Have Mercy on me thou Son of David he passes away and does not regard my Cries and O what shall I do when he comes in the Clouds of Heaven when I am to stand at his Bar and to be punished as an Unbeliever 5. In this Night the Soul is full of Terror and how can it be otherwise when every
Thought of God and of Christ overwhelms it The Terrors of the Lord we may feel indeed but we cannot express them they are so very terrible that they wound our most sensible and tender part they cause our very Souls to pine and languish away they fix our Minds to the Contemplation of every thing that is sad and doleful they fill us with Confusion and Heman says Ps 88.15 They are Terrors that compass us round about they seize upon every Faculty and distress us in every part to have God against us his Holiness to dazle us his Power to overthrow us his Law to condemn us our Consciences to accuse us is the Sum of Terrors 6. Fear is another occasion of Sorrow We are frighted with the view of our innumerable Sins and with the Dangers that attend them the Thoughts of Heaven fright us because we think we have lost that blessed Place and the Thoughts of Hell are no less frightful because we think we shall soon be there the Thoughts of Life are frightful because 't is with Anguish and Horror that we live nor can we bear the Thoughts of Death because we dare not die 7. 'T is a Night of Weeping to deserted Souls because they find no heart to pray and no life to pray they fall upon their Knees and cover the Altar of the Lord with Tears but he seems not to regard them The Thoughts of such poor People are in a continual hurry and so are very full of Wandrings in the Performance of their Duty Sorrows damp our Faith our Love and our Hope and so spoil our Duties for without these they are without Life and without Acceptance and sometimes our Grief is so violent that it finds no vent it strangles us and we are overcome I am so troubled that I cannot speak Ps 77.4 8. Such have no Patience wherewith to bear their Evils Who is he that can bear the Wrath of God The sight of Heaven inspires our Hearts with vital heat and makes us quiet and submissive under every Dispensation but the daily Sight and Fear of Hell fills us with Tumult and Disorder 9. They usually see no prospect of Relief or Deliverance and that encreases the Sorrows of their doleful Night They have indeed now and then some Intermissions but they are like the small Breathings and Refreshments of a Person that is newly taken off the Rack to be carried to the Rack again 10. This Night of Weeping is the more sorrowful because it is the time of Satan's Cruelty When God is departed then the Devil comes insults and says Where is now your God What think you now of Sin What is now become of all your Hearing your Reading and your many Prayers You thought to have escaped my Power and now I have you within my reach Now remember that at such a time or such a time you sinned and therefore God has forsaken you you weep and your Tears are just for you are miserable and are like to be with me for ever 11. Sometimes this Sorrow is mixed with deep Despair It is a tempestuous and stormy Night and as St. Paul said in another case All hope of their being saved is taken away I shall surely perish saith the Mourning Soul I am damned I am lost for ever I am already as in Hell the Lord will be favourable no more he is gone he is gone from me and he is for ever gone No more shall I behold his shining Face he is my Judge and my Enemity and I am afraid he will be so for ever I am never like to see that Heaven where I once hoped to go and these unbelieving Conclusions produce hard and strange Thoughts of God and an Enemy to him in our Minds 12. Looking upon their present Troubles as an Introduction to more and that these are but the beginning of Sorrows How often do we hear such Saying O! if I cannot bear these Pains and this Wrath what shall I do to bear an eternal Hell If I tremble so now what shall I do when the blow is given and the final Sentence past God knows I dare neither live nor die O what shall I do whether shall I go The Shadows of the Evening are stretched out and what shall I do if it prove an eternal Night For as it is the Glory of Faith to shew us future things as if actually present and to give us JOY from them so considered so it is the TORMENT of Despair to make poor distressed Souls believe they are even as in Hell whilst they are on Earth and that they are actually scorched with that Wrath that is to come in greater measures 13. From all these flow strange Discourses and Expressions of Sorrow they scarce care what they say of God or of themselves My Soul is meary of my Life I will leave my Complaint upon my self I will speak in the Bitterness of my Soul Job 10. c. 3. They frequently proceed to wish they had never been born nay they may proceed so far as to wish even to be destroyed that they may know the worst And there are two things that make their Sorrows more sorrowful 1. As comparing their State with that of others 2. As with their own former State 1. It makes them more sad when they consider the Case of others with that Peace and Joy they have With what Hope and Comfort whilst they are drown'd in Sorrows others says that deserted Soul can sing the Praises of God with Delight whilst I am overwhelmed and my Harp is hung upon the Willows Others can go into the solemn Assemblies and hear his Word but I am confined in my thick Darkness and dare not go thither 2. When the deserted Soul compares its present with its former State To a Person in Misery 't is a great encrease of Misery to have been once happy It was to David an occasion of new Tears when he remembred his former Joys Psal 42.3 4. Time was says the poor Soul when I cou'd read the Bible and treasure up the Promises and Survey of the Land of Canaan as my own Inheritance but now I dare not look into the Word least I read my own Condemnation there The Sabbath was formerly to me as one of the days of Heaven but now it is as well as the rest a sad and mournful day How fair was I once for Heaven and now am like to come short of it These are some of the Sorrows that deserted Souls often meet withal and indeed but a small part of what they feel in this dark and stormy Night Thus far I have given you some of Mr. Rogers 's own Words and have been the larger as thinking his an EXTRAORDINARY CASE and well-deserves the Consideration of every serious Christian but for a more particular Account of it I refer the Reader to his Book intituled A Discourse concerning Trouble of Mind CHAP. XLVII Remarkable Gratitude THankful Returns for Kindnesses and Favours received are but the just
door therefore we should be watching for we know not what hour he will come My Brother John and Cousin Deb. thank you for your kind Letters I remain April 1663. Caleb Vernon After some time falling sick he earnestly desired to be Baptized I suppose being born of Anabaptist-Parents saying Father pray have you come to any Conclusion to day about my being baptized I pray Father do for indeed I cannot be satisfied and I would fain be in Christ's Fold After which being admonished and many gracious Expressions uttered he died comfortably See his Life printed An. 1665. 17. A Child of one Master Maxey of Lime when it was but Two years old would use to kneel down often and with his Eyes and Hands lift up towards Heaven seemed to be very serious in Prayer and as it grew older would often be at Prayer by it self and ask very strange Questions of its Mother concerning Spiritual Matters much beyond its Age The Mother expounded all these things as proceeding rather from childish Imitation than from any Relish or Understanding that it had of those things At last when the Child was Five years old in the midst of his Sports as he was Whipping-top on a sudden he cast away all and went to his Mother saying to her with much Joy Mother I must go to Heaven will you go with me asking her the same Question the second time His Mother answered Yes dear Child when God shall please But how dost thou know that thou shalt go to Heaven The Child answered God hath told me so I must go to Heaven for I love God and God loves me After which time he never played more About three Weeks or a Month after he sickned and died speaking much during his Sickness of his going to Heaven still asking his Mother whether she would not go with him And when his Mother asked him whether he would not stay with her here he refused rather desiring that she should go with him Master White 18. A nameless Person J. B. gives this Relation concerning her self About seventeen years since a Child of mine about six years of age when I have bid him go forth to play he hath come in again very solitary and other Children would swear and be very debaucht I would ask him Robert what aileth you why do you not go to play He would answer That he had no Fellows to play withal but such as would swear and the like and they could not be said he God's Children I would say why not Child then he would say No Mother though I am but a little way in my Book yet I have learnt that God will not pardon such Sins as Swearing I have sometimes said yes Child I hope God will pardon them else God help thy Father and God help us all Then he hath replied Mother with great Repentance God can forgive for his Mercies are great but good Mother let us forbear that which is evil And many times I had such conference with that Child who seeing me troubled about it he hath said Good Mother be content their Parents are such and they must needs learn after them I thought upon my Child's words and having before often offended God about gathering of Flowers in my Garden on the Lord's-days and the Thoughts of other Failings in my Conversation it wrought great trouble upon my Heart so that I was much afflicted in Soul considering that my Child so young should give me such Instructions which hath proved a Blessing to me to bring me home to him I did make then some doubt whether God would forgive me those Sins and about that time hearing Dr. V. preach several Sermons at O. and particularly upon that Text That we are but Sojourners and Travellers here and shewing That we are not at home therefore we must keep on the straight-way to Heaven and take heed of the broad-way which leadeth to Hell which then as also other means since did much throw me down low under the sense of Sin yet not without sometimes some Refreshments Believers Experiences p. 54. 19. Bishop Vsher at Fourteen years old was judged fit and admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's-Supper and his usual Custom was the Afternoon before to retire himself in private and to spend it in a strict Self-Examination and deep Humiliation for all his Sins wherein he had such Enlargements of Heart that a Stream of Tears flowed from his Eyes which afterwards he oft recalled to mind both as a Provocation and Censure of himself When he was elder of years there was a certain place by a Water-side whither he oft resorted sorrowfully to surveigh his Sins and with Floods of Tears to confess and bewaile them wherein he found so much Sweetness and Communion with God that he thirsted for such comfortable Opportunities and it was his usual Custom to spend Saturdays in the Afternoon in these Duties Amongst other Sins he much bewailed his too much love to Humane Learning which made him as glad when Munday came that he might renew 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. See his Life 20. Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Winchester from his Youth declared an extraordinary worth that he was made up of Learning and Vertue in both of them so eminent that it was hard to judge which had the Precedency and greatest Interest though it was truly asserted from his Comtemporaries that there was not any kind of Learning that he was a stranger to but in his Profession admirable which was as well if not better known abroad than admired at home England's Worthies by Will. Winstanley p. 366 367. 21. Mr. Bernard Gilpin being yet a very Child gave Testimony of a future Holiness upon this Occasion A begging Frier lodging at his Father's House one Saturday Night in order to preach the next day but eating at Supper like a Glutton and drinking like a Beast in the Morning as if he had been some young Saint lately dropped from Heaven he caused the Bell to tole to the Sermon and in the midst there of blustering out certain good words he presumed to grow hot against some Sinners of the time and amongst the rest to thunder boldly against Drunkenness Young Gilpin who had but newly got the use of his Tongue having observed as it seemed the hateful Baseness of the Man by his Oversight the Night before and now hearing the Beast cry out so loud against these Crimes which himself had so lately been guilty of as he was sitting in his Mother's Lap in the Church suddainly cryeth out in these words O Mother do you hear how this Fellow dates speak against Drunkenness who was drunk himself yester-night at our House The Mother made speed to stop the Child's Mouth with her Hand that he might speak no further Mr. Gilpin 's Life by Bp. Carleton p. 2. 22. Mr.
suitable to his Capacity the Child prevented him saying I think it is thus God knows all things he knows which of those Children had they lived would have served him them he takes to Heaven and he knows which would not have served him them he casts into Hell I set not this down as a true Answer to the Question but it argued more than ordinary consideration in a Child For his Affections 1. Some years since his Mother found him crying His Mother taking him into her Lap ask'd him why he cried he answered with many Tears he feared he should go to Hell yet he served God as well as he could 2. Another time being found weeping upon a lord's-Lord's-day his Mother asked him why he cried he said Because he remembred no more of the Sermon 3. Other times he had wept lest he should not go to Heaven For his Practices I bless God his Practices were not unequal to his Affections and Knowledge he was often found in Corners at Prayer When my Wife sent him upon an Errand she would ask him why he staid he would answer with much ado that he thought there was no great haste so he stayed a little at Prayers he spent a quarter of an hour daily in secret Prayer he got his Brother to keep a Diary but he bid that we should not know of it till his Death-bed wherein he set down many of his Sins but none of his Duties for them he said were so few that he could easily remember them Some of which Sins were these 1st He whetted his Knife upon a Lord's-day 2d He did not reprove one that he heard swear 3d. He once omitted Prayer to go to play 4th He found his Heart dead and therefore omitted Prayer He one day hearing the Bell toll said He would not have any Rings given at his Burial but a good Book that may do them good 2. There was a little Child which frequented that excellent Duty of Secret Prayer and would ask the Mother strange Questions concerning Heaven and God and the Mother thought the Child had heard some discoursing of those Questions and so had taken them from their Conferences He once ran to his Mother and said O Mother I must go to God will you go with me His Mother said I must go when it pleaseth God but my Child how knowest thou that thou must go to God The Child answered God told me so for I love God and God loves me and after that cared no more to play but about a month after fell sick and died always saying in his Sickness that he must go to God and asking his Mother whether she would go with him 3. I know also a Minister who told me That one of his Children when but four years old said to him that he had seen God and his Angels and that he must go to them 4. This fourth History I have out of the Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. John Langham eldest Son to Mr. James Langham being but five years and a half old and it 's thus This sweet Child had arrived to that in five years and a little more that some which are here I am afraid have not arrived to in ten times that space He was a very dutiful Child to his Parents and would exceedingly rejoyce when he had done any thing or had carried himself so as to please them He was taken with the Book called the Practice of Piety and delighted to be reading in it His Father speaking to him one day about the Devil and Hell and things of that Nature he asked him if he were not afraid to be alone he answered No for God would defend him His Father asked him why he thought so he replied that he loved God and that he hoped God loved him The day before he died he desired me to pray for him I told him if he would have me to pray for him he must tell me what I should pray for and what he would have God to do for him He answered To pardon my Sins Oft upon his Sick-bed he would be repeating to himself the fifty fifth Chapter of Isaiah and other pieces of Scripture which in the time of his Health he had learned by heart 5. I shall next set down several Passages in a Letter written by one that went to School a rare Example for Children of that Age to follow I find he was to get time from his Sleep to write I shall not set down the whole Letter but leave out things of business and that are introductory The Letter BRother pray let me intreat you to fit and prepare your self for Death for it knocks at the door of young ones as well as the old there are as many young Souls in Golgotha as old the Sythe of Mortality mows down Lillies as well as Grass One thing I beg of you and I hope you will not deny me which is this seeing you have Knowledge Will Mind take heed you be not drawn away by hypocritical Deceivers for the Scripture saith That in the latter days many false Prophets shall arise who would deceive the very Elect themselves if it were possible but it is not possible for God will reserve some for himself Thus far Mr. White 6. Mrs. Sarah Howley at eight years old gave her self much to attending upon the Word preached and still continued very tender under it greatly savouring what she heard She was much in Secret Prayer as might easily be perceived by those who listened at the Chamber-door and was usually very importunate full of tears She was exceeding dutiful to her Parents very loath to grieve them in the least and if she had at any time which was very rare offended them she would weep bitterly She abhorred Lying and allowed her self in no known Sin The Lord's-day before that in which she died a Kinsman of hers came to see her and asking of her Whether she knew him she answered Yes I know you and I desire you would learn to know Christ you are young but you know not how soon you may die Now and then she dropt these words How long sweet Jesus Finish thy work sweet Jesus come away sweet Jesus come quickly sweet Lord help come away now now dear Jesus come quickly Good Lord give patience to me to wait thy appointed time Lord Jesus help me help me She oft commended her Spirit into the Lord's Hands and the last words which she was heard to speak were these Lord help Lord Jesus help Dear Jesus Blessed Jesus And thus upon the Lord's Day between Nine and Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon she slept sweetly in Jesus and began an everlasting Sabbath February 19. 1670. 7. Of a Child that was admirably affected with the Things of God when he was between Two and Three Years old A certain little Child whose Mother had Dedicated him to the Lord in her Womb when he could not speak plain would be crying after God and was greatly desirous to be taught good
living in the same Family with David Wright we were Eye and Ear-witnesses of the Truth of the foregoing Particulars concerning him and in confirmation of the Verity thereof we have hereto put our Hands both Sons to Wright 's Mistress Slape Drever Thomas Drever Thomas Child Joseph Morgan Ibid. See more in the Chapters of The Existence of Good Angels and Present Retribution to the Devout and Praying c. 13. We have this Account from a credible Hand viz. That about two Years ago the Apprentice of Mr. Welby in East-Smithfield was taken Dumb but recovered by the help of a neighbouring Doctor After a few days he lost his Speech again but by the direction of a second Doctor recovered it once more but falling into a third Relapse the Physicians could give him no help About two Months the young Man had a Vision in his Dream of a Man that advised him to take the Fat of a Lamb and anoint himself therewith and apply the Heart hot to his Throat he had the same Apparition a second time upon which Physicians and Divines were consulted who thought it a Delusion of the Devil and disswaded him from it The Apparition coming the third time told him 'T was no Delusion and as a Token that it was not he should lose the Vse of his left Arm which fell out accordingly and he advised him to use the Remedy upon the â—4th of August and to take the Air for a Month or it would be worse for him Upon which he went to High-Gate and applying the Remedy recovered his Speech next day and had the Use of his Arm restored Postscript to the Flying-Post Aug. 22. 1696. 14. Sozomen tells us That the Queen of Iberia being taken with an incurable Disease was miraculously restored to perfect Health by a Christian Woman at the Invocation of the Name of Christ I shall give my Reader the Story at length out of Socrates Scholasticus There was saith he a certain Godly and Devout Woman taken Captive of the Iberians a People dwelling nigh the Euxine Sea this Woman being a Captive and having her Conversation with Barbarians gave herself wholly to Godliness for she exercised very much the Discipline of Continency using a severe kind of Abstinence and applying herself wholly to fervent Prayer which when the Barbarians perceived they wondered at the strangeness of the Act. It fell out that the King's Son of very tender Years fell into a dangerous Disease the Queen after that Countrey-manner sent the Child to other Women for Physick to try if Experience had taught them any Medicine that might Cure that Malady But when the Nurse had carried the Child about to every Woman I suppose he means every neighbouring Woman that made any Profession of Skill that way and could procure Remedy of none at length he is brought to this Captive Woman who in the presence of many more Women who without the Application of any other Salve or Medicine took the Child laid her Sack-cloth upon him and said only these Words Christ which healed many will also heal this Infant When she had uttered these Words and prayed unto God for his Aid and Assistance the Child forthwith recovered and from that time enjoyed perfect Health The fame of this Act was bruted abroad among all the Barbarian Wives and at length came to the Queen's Ear so that the Captive Woman was much talked of A while after the Queen herself fell sick and this simple Woman was sent for she refused to go lest peradventure some Violence contrary to the Modesty of her Nature should be offered to her the Queen then was conveyed to her she practised the like as she had done before unto the Child the Queen is rid of her Disease thanks the Woman for the Cure but the Woman answered 'T is not my doing but Christ's the Son of God and Maker of Heaven and Earth She exhorts the Queen to call upon him and acknowledge him for the True God The King marveling at this strange Cure commanded that the Woman should be bountifully rewarded Who made Answer That she wanted no Riches but esteemed Godliness a great Treasure and that the King should receive a precious Jewel if he would acknowledge that God whom she professed with these Words she returned back the Rewards The King laid up all these sayings in his Breast the next day as the King went a Hunting the Hills and Forest where his Game lay were over-cast with dark Clouds and a thick Mist the Game was uncertain and doubtful the way stop'd and intricate the King being at his Wits end not knowing what was best to do calls upon the Gods whom he accustomed to serve but they stood him in no stead it came to his mind to think upon the God of the Captive Woman unto him he turns and cries for Help as soon as he had Prayed unto him the Cloud was dissolved and the Mist scattered and the King wondring returns home to his Wife and told what had happened Immediately he fends for the Captive Woman and after some Instructions from her turns Christian erects a House of Prayer and makes a Proclamation to his People to receive the same Faith Sozom. l. 2. c. 6. Socrat. Schol. l. 5. c. 16. Ruffin l. 1. c. 10. Theodorat l. 1. c. 23. Centur. Magd. cent 4. c. 13. Ruffinus saith The King of the Iberian 's Name was Bacurius In the Preface of a French Treatise Entituled Harmonie des Propheties anciennes avec les Modernes which was Printed at Cologn in the Year 1687 I find this very wonderful Passage which I choose to mention in this place as contributing to the Explication of them that are to follow Madam Mingot the Widow of a Chyrurgion of the City of Caen in Normandy had several unaccountable Revelations made unto her that she kept wholly secret but there was one which by a Miracle that accompanied it was put beyond the possibility of Secrecy She was afflicted with a Palsey eight or ten Years together in her Limbs which rendred her altogether Impotent and her Impotency was not the less for her being fourscore Years of Age. But one Day when she was at Prayer before the God of Heaven for the Deliverance of his Church from the Confusions then upon it in the heat and heighth of the French Persecution it was audibly said unto her Thy Prayers are heard the afflicted Church shall be speedily and gloriously delivered but it has yet something more to suffer She was commanded herewithal to make this Revelation known unto her Brethren and that they might give credit unto her Words it was added The Lord has restored thy Health and Strength unto thee She was immediately and miraculously Healed of her Malady and she walked her self and carried unto her Pastors the Account of this Revelation They wondered at the Miracle and would fain have concealed the Prophecy but the Prophecy could not possibly be hid because of the famous Miracle that attended it
over-looked by their Creator with more Contempt as being more Vile than their Neighbours Our Savioar gave a Check to this Humour when he vindicated the Blind Man in the Gospel and told his Auditory the Cause was neither his Sins nor his Parents 1. Martial who was a notable Scoffer makes a Mockery at Coelius in his Epigrams who counterfeiting to be Gouty anointed himself with Oils and other things wrapping and binding up his Joints because he would have nothing to do at the Court either by Night or by Day or attend as Courtiers do upon any Great Person But in the end his Fortune so fell out that he happened to have the Gout indeed Treasur of Anc. and Mod. Times 2. Appianus Alexandrinus reporteth also of another Roman who to escape the Proscriptions of the Roman Triumviri and not to be known for what he was by such as might take notice of him kept himself close and wore an Emplaster of Velvet upon one of his Eyes which he continued for a long time After all such Search and Pursuit was passed over the Man took off his Plaister and found the utter Loss of the Eye indeed Ibid. p. 272. 3. During those Troubles of the Union or League in France it chanced that near unto a Castle certain honest Men were set upon by Thieves and robb'd in such sort that they had nothing left them but their Shirts When they perceived the Castle they went presently thither and entreated the Lord thereof that he would lend them some Assistance for the Apprehension of the Thieves in regard that he had a certain Knowledge of them and was armed with such Authority as might at least help them to their Garments again But the uncharitable Gentleman would afford them no Favour no not so much as to see them but feign'd that he had the Cholick and was unable to stir out of his Bed or to attend upon any Business whatsoever It was then the coldest Season of the Year and the Servants albeit unknown to their Master lodged these despised poor Men for that Night in a Stable whence they departed homeward the next Morning without drawing the least Courtesie that could be from that ungenteel Gentleman Now I know not whether it happened by just Vengeance of Heaven or by some natural Occasion thereto leading but he fell into the Cholick indeed and was forced to keep his Chamber for the space of Twenty Days and at last died by the violent Extremity thereof Ibid. p. 273. 4. An Abbot of Guyenne and Archdeacon in a Bishoprick was cited by the Bishop and Chapter to appear at a Visitation for Assessing of each Benefice in the Diocess according to their Faculties for the Relief of poor Parishes from whence they derived Demesnes and Rents The Abbot made Excuse saying he had a Pleurisie which was meerly false and therefore he could not be there present But within few Days after he was taken with such a grievous Pain in his Side that he kept his Bed a whole Year together and was glad to have his Side cauterized in two Places Notwithstanding which he could not recover Health while he lived Ibid. c. 14. p. 273. 5. Suibdager King of Swecia being very Covetous counterscited Deafness to the end be might hear to Requests made to him for bestowing of any Gifts For in that Country he negotiated his whole Reign by Conference with the People and not by Writing or Petition as they do to this Day But in a short time the King became both Deaf and Blind indeed Ibid. 6. I knew a young Scholar descended of good Parentage in the Franche-Comtè who was a very facetious Scoffer and Mocker and continually used to counterfeit the Gate Gesture and Behaviour of his Sister the Wife of his elder Brother descended of a very Worthy and Vertuous Family and who had brought great Estates and Means for her Portion who was Lame and as she halted so in scorn he would do the like But undoubtly by God's Judgments he chanced to break one of his Legs which could never after be recovered or brought to any Form so that he halted downright to his dying-Dying-day Ibid. CHAP. CIII Divine Judgments upon Atheism ATheism and the Effects of it are bidding an open Defiance to all the Powers of Heaven so that 't is no Wonder if the Almighty who resides there and governs here resents the Crime with a mere than ordinary Indignation The most Renowned for Professed Ungodliness saith Bishop Fotherby are these In Holy Writings King Pharach and Antiâ—â—hus the King of Tyre and the Two Herâ—ds in Ecclesiastical History Caligula Domitian Maximinus and Julian in Profane History Prâ—tagoras Diagoras Theodoras Socrates Epicurus Bion Pherecides and Dionysius Of all whom there was not one that cited in his Nest of a fair and kindly Death saving only this last whose Damnation yet slept not but all the rest of them ended their Lives by the Stroke of God's Justice 1. Julius Caesar suffered as an Atheist Dr. Tenison 2. There are a Sect of Atheists in Turkey sprung up of late Years called Muserin i. e. The True Secrâ—t is with us Which Secret is no other than the absolute Denial of a Deity that Nature or the Intrinsical Principle in every individual Thing directs the ordinary Course which we see and admire and that the Heavens Sun Moon and Stars have thence their Original and Motion and that Man himself riseth and fades like the Grass and Flower It is strange to consider what Quantities there are of Men that maintain this Principle in Constantinople most of which are Cadi's and Learned Men in the Arabian Legends and others are Renegado's from the Christian Faith who conscious of their Sin of Apostacy and therefore desirous all Things may conclude with this World are the more apt to entertain those Opinions which come nearest to their Wishes One of this Sect called Mahomet Effendi a Rich Man educated in the Knowledge of the Eastern Learning I remember was in my Time executed for impudently proclaiming his Blasphemies against the Being of a Deity making it in his ordinary Discourse an Argument against the Being of a God for that either there was none at all or else not so wise as the Doctors preached he was in suffering Him to live that was the greatest Enemy and Scorner of a Divine Essence that ever came into the World And it is observable saith my Author That this Man might notwithstanding his Accusation have saved his Life would he but have confessed his Error and promised for the future an Assent to the Principles of a better But he persisted still in his Blasphemies saying That tho' there were no Reward yet the Love of Truth obliged him to die a Martyr Mr. Ricaut's History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire Book II. c. 12. p. 246. A great Raja a Gentile a notorious Atheist glorying to profess That he knew no other God than the King nor believing nor fearing any other Deity fitting
the Crowd and murmur'd out â—uâ—l â—â—ords as these That seeing there had been frequent Brawls betwixt the Merchant and his Wife there was no doubt but he was the Author of that Tragedy in his House and said he were he in mine Hands I would soon extort as much from him By these and the like Words it came to pass that the Merchant was cast into Prison and being in a most cruel manner tormented by his Executioner though Innocent confessed himself the Murtherer and so was condemned to a horrible Death which he suffered accordingly Now was the Executioner secure and seemed to be free of all Danger till the wakeful Justice of God discovered his Villainy For the wanting Money had pawn'd a Silver Bowl to a Jew who finding upon it the Coat of Arms of the Merchant newly executed sent it to the Magistrate with notice that the Merchant's Coat of Arms was upon it Whereupon the Executioner was immediately cast into Prison and examined by Torture how he came by that Cup. He there confessed all as it had been done by him and that he was the only Manderer Thus the Innocency of the Merchant was discovered and the Executioner had the due Punishment of his Wickedness 16. Dr. Merie Causabon in his Preface to the Relation of Dr. Dee's Actions with Spirits tells us this Story following out of his Father 's Adversaria which he had from Bishop Andrews viz. Kalend. August This Day the most Reverend Prelate the Lord Bishop of Ely heard this strange Relation which he believed to be very true having received it from the Author an Eye-witness There is a Street in London called Lombard-street in which Street there is a Parish a Parish-Church wherein there was a Minister of very great Fidelity and noted Piety A. C. 1563. at which time there was a great Plague in London This Minister of the Parish told as unto others so also to the Lord Bishop himself that this thing befell him He had a noted Friend in his Parish a Man esteemed by all Honest and Pious This Man being taken with the Plague sent for the Minister who came to him in his Sickness and did not depart from him till he died and then he returned home Several Hours after he had been left for Dead in his Chamber his Wife entred into the same Chamber to take a Sheet or some Linen out of a Chest to wind him up in as the manner is Being entred and intent uppon her Business she hears this Voice Who is there She was affrighted and would have gone out but hearing the same Voice again Who is there and finding it to be the Voice of her Husband she goes to him What saith she Husband then you are not Dead and yet we had left you and given you up for Dead He answered I was truly dead but it seemed good to God that my Soul again should return to my Body But you Wife quoth he if you have any Meat ready give me some for I am hungry She said that she had some Mutton a Pullet and I know not what else but all unboiled but she could get them ready presently I cannot stay quoth he Hast thou any Bread and Cheese When she had told him that she had and he asked for some to be fetched he eat it his Wife looking on Then sending for the Minister of the Parish and commanding all that were present to go out of the Chamber he tells him this Quoth he I was really Dead but my Soul was commanded to return again to its Body that I might discover a Wickedness with my own Mouth done with my own Hands of which never any one yet had any Suspicion for I killed my former Wife with my own Hands with so much cunning that the Matter was never discovered to any one And having declared the manner how he perpetrated the Villainâ— not long after he expired and died then in good earnest There is no Necessity addeth my Author that any Body should make of this Relation an Article of his Faith yet I thought it very probable because believed by such a Man 17. About Fifteen or Sixteen Years agoe on the Lord's-Day a Stranger came to the Parish-Church of Woorvil near Bridgnorth in Shropshire where after Service ended he declared publickly in the hearing of the Congregation That whereas about Twenty Years past there had been in that Neighbourhood a certain Murder committed and the Murderer had not been discovered there was such a one naming the Person at that time in Worcestershire as I remember near the City of Worcester on his Death-bed who had sent him with all speed to make this publick Declaration That he the aforesaid Person having first committed a Robbery upon the Man did afterwards murder him and now could not die till he had made such Confession And I think the Messenger added this withal That some Restitution or Satisfaction should be made to the surviving Friends of the Party murdered if any such were to be found This I had from my Brother-in-Law Samuel Chaloner now of Lemster in Herefordshire who was at Church at the same time and both an Eye and Ear-witness 18. Anno 1690. April the 14th about Two in the Afternoon William Barwick having drill'd his wife along till he came to a certain Close within sight of Cawood-Castle where he found the Conveniency of a Pond he threw he by force into the Water and when she was drowned and drawn forth again by himself upon the Bank of the Pond he had the Cruelty to behold the Motion of the Infant yet warm in her womb This done he conceal'd the Body as it may readily be suppos'd among the Bushes that usually encompass a Pond and the next Night when it grew duskish fetching a Hay-spade from a Rick that stood in the Close he made a Hole by the side of the Pond and there slightly buried the Woman in her Cloaths Having thus dispatched Two at once and thinking himself secure because unseen he went the same Day to his Brother-in-Law one Thomas Lofthouse of Rufforth within Three Miles of York who had married his drown'd Wife's Sister and told him he ha carried his Wife to one Richard Harrison's House in Selby who was his Unkle and would take care of her But Heaven would not be so deluded but rais'd up the Ghost of the murder'd Woman to make his Discovery And therefore it was that upon the Easter-Tuesday following about Two of the Clock in the Afternoon the foremention'd Lofthouse having occasion to water the Quickset-Hedge not far from his House as he was going for the second Pailfull an Apparition went before him in the Shape of a Woman and soon after sate down upon a rising green Grass-plat right over-against the Pond He walked by her as he went to the Pond and as he returned with his Pail from the Pond looking sideways to see whether she continued in the same place he found she did and that she seemed to dandle
the King's Absence these Penalties were inflicted upon the chief Officer whose manifest Corruptions the Hatred of the People to Men of that Profession who are apt to abuse their Science and Authority procured in Parliament to be thus punished Sir Ralph Hengham Chief Justice of the King's-Bench was Fined 7000 Marks Sir John Loveton Justice of the Lower Bench 3000 Sir William Brompton Justice 6000 Sir Solomon Rochester 4000 All Itenerant Justices Sir Richard Boyland 4000 All Itenerant Justices Sir Tho. Sadington 2000 All Itenerant Justices Sir Walter Hopton 2000 All Itenerant Justices Sir W. Sakam 3000 Robert Lithbury Master of the Rolls 1000 Roger Leicester 1000 Henry Bray Escheator and Judge for the Jews 1000 Sir Adam Stratton Chief Baron of the Exchequer was Fined 34000 Marks See the Relation of that memorable Parliament begun An. Regni 10. Richard II. p. 36 37. 2. Sir Francis Bacon Baron Verulam and Viscount St. Albans that Atlas of Learning suffer'd for but his Connivance at the Bribery and Corruption of his Servants and was by the Parliament put out of the Office of Lord Chancellor Ibid. 3. Judge Morgan who gave the Sentence of Death upon the Lady Jane Grey presently after fell and and in all his distracted Fits cried out continually Take away the Lady Jane Take away the Lady Jane from me and in this extream Distemper ended his Life Fox's Martyrol 4. June 24. 1678. Mr. Daniel Bachelor Minister told me of a Citizen of London to whom he was sent for in his Sickness whâ—n God had let loose Conscience upon him The Man repeated over all the Commandments and confessed the Sins be was guilty of against each Command such as Incest and Adultery lived in many Years The Chastity of his Servant he sollicited but was repulsed But his Master-Sin was Perjury taking false Oaths and hiring Met Knights of the Post as they are called frequently to do so The Devil led him into that Sin first as he said thus He wanted Proof for a Debt that was a just Debt and hired one of those who procured his Debt that was just in this unjust way By this he contracted Hardness of Heart and plunged himself in Villainies of that nature There were above an Hundred Actions against him when he died He fell sick on a Friday lay about ten Days under the horrid gnawings of the Worm that dieth not upon his Bed not in Distraction but Desperation crying out once in his presence I am damned for ever and added most fearful to hear Amen Amen Amen and had an Expression so blasphemous of the Holy and Ever-blessed God that for Horror I shall draw a Veil over it Yet some have Robb'd hard by the Gallows And this poor Wretch thus hung up in Chains by the Lord did not awaken sufficiently one of his Knights of the Post that came to see him while the Minister my Friend was present O take heed said he by my Example now I smart for what I have done and put you upon doing The Man in Health told him he was melancholick and was not moved He had a Charge to relate this woful Death of his to his Sister with whom he had been incestuously Wicked She gave a seemingly courteous Reception to him and seemed sensible of it The Minister my Friend when he had done his Errand coming down from her Chamber at the Door of which he had left his Galosho's missing them went up again and over-heard her say to a Companion of hers there The Fool thought I had been in earnest The Man though he had unjustly ravish'd Thousands out of Men died miserably poor This Relation was sent me by the Reverend Mr. Singleton now living in Hoxdon-Square near the City of London and is printed in the same Words I received it 5. It may not be altogether impertinent to take notice here what King Charles the I. applied to himself on the Scaffold that for one unjust Sentence which he had suffer'd to pass meaning the Earl of Strafford God had suffered the like unjust Judgment to be passed on him â—ee his Speech on the Scaffold 6. Sir P. P. in Letter to the Bishop of Lincoln saith That in the famous Marriage-Cause between Mrs. Isabella Jones and Sir Robert Carr in the Arches where Sir Robert Carr was claimed by her for her Husband though for want of full Proof of the Marriage Sir Giles Sweit the Dean of the Arches pronounced Sentence against the Marriage yet condemning Sir Robert Carr in 1500 Pound Costs to Mrs. Jones Which the Judge did because he was in Conscience convinced that Sir Robert Carr and Mrs. Jones were really married To this Sir Peter Pett in the aforesaid Letter adds I can saith he at any time acquaint you with the Circumstances of that Cause and give you an Account of the Remarkable Judgments of God inflicted on the Persons who tampered with the Witness in that Cause whereby the Marriage failed of Sentence Remains of Dr. Barlow Bishop of Lincoln p. 368. 7. The Emperor of Muscovy sent for a Judge who had taken a Bribe viz. a Goose with its Belly full of Gold commanded him and the other Judges to appear before him not discovering the least Displeasure They all appeared chearful he commanded the Hangman to be brought in and ask'd him if he knew how to cut up a Goose Answer being made very well Then said the Emperor take away that Judge and cut him up after the same manner which was forthwith done accordingly Smythy's Treatise of Restitution p. 19. who says he had the Relation from a Minister whose Brother was an Eye-witness CHAP. CXXXV Divine Judgments upon Lying and Slandering OVR Tongues are the Indexes of our Mind to signifie the Thoughts and Meanings thereof to the World if the one agree not to the other the Motions are false and the Wheels out of order What is a Clâ—â—k good for if it doth not tell the true Hour of the Day Lyars are shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven and deserve but little Favour upon Earth and some times meet with just Punishments Prov. 19.5 1. Alexander the Great having read a History out of Aristobulus wherein the Author had intermingled certain counterfeit Praises flung the Book into the River saying the said Writer deserved to be flung there himself Coguet's Polit. Disc p. 130. 2. The Emperor Trajan sirnamed the Good Prince took away from the Son of Cabalus the Kingdom of Dacia that is Transilvania and Valachia only because he caught him in a Lye and told him That Rome the Mother of Truth could not permit a Lyar to possess a Kingdom Ibid. 3. Cyrus told the King of Armenia That a Lye was not capable of Pardon Ibid. 4. Monstrelet writes That Popiel King of Poland who had ever in his Mouth these Words If it be not true I would the Rats might cat me that he was so assailed by Rats in a Banquet that neither his Guards nor Fire nor Water could preserve him from them Ibid.
thee to Morrow Sigismund the Second King of Poland because of his perpetual delay and heaviness in weighty Affairs was called the King of to-morrow Such are we certainly Men of to-morrow we delay all things most willingly also if we could to put off Death it self but the business of dying admits of no delay suffers no put-offs Francis the First King of France being taken by Charles the Fifth when he had read at Madrid Charles's Impress upon the Wall Plus ultra Farther yet added thereto To day for me to morrow for thee The Victor took it not ill but to shew that he understood it wrote underneath I am a Man there is no Humane Accident but may befal me Barlaam the Hermit an Old Man of Seventy Years when Jehosaphat the King asked him how Old he was Answered Forty five at which when the King admired He reply'd that he had been absent rom his Studies Twenty five Years as if those Years which he had spent upon the Vanity of the World had been quite lost Sir Tho. Moor that no Age might delude a Person with the hopes of a longer Life gives this Admonition As he that is carried out of a Prison to the Gallows though the way be longer yet fears not the Gallows the less because he comes to it a little the later and though his Limbs are firm his Eyes quick his Lungs sound and that he relish his Meat and Drink yet this is still his Affliction that he is upon his Journey Thus are we all carried to the Gibbet of Death we are all upon the way only parted by some little Intervals The Elector of Brandenburg came to Visit Charles the Fifth being Sick of the Gout and advised him to make use of his Physicians To whom Charles replied The best Remedy in this Disease is Patience The compleat Armour of a Sick Man is Patience being so guarded he need fear neither Sickness Pain nor Death He is Proof against the blows of his Enemies and shall certainly overcome for Patience overcomes all things St. Austin Bishop of Hippo went to visit another Bishop of his Familiar Acquaintance lying in Extremity to whom as he was lifting up his Hands to Heaven to signifie his Departure St. Austin replyed That he was a great support of the Church and worthy of a longer Life To whom the sick Person made this Answer If never 't were another thing but if at any time why not now Thus Sitenus being taken by Midas and asked what was the best thing could happen to Man For a while stood silent At length being urg'd to speak he answer'd That the best thing was never to be born the next to die the soonest that might be This I must not omit very wonderful unheard-of and pleasant in the Relation Lodowick Cortusius a Lawyer of Padua forbid to his Relations all Tears and Lamentations by his Will And desir'd that he might have Harpers Pipers and all sorts of Musick at his Funeral who should partly go before partly follow the Corps leaving to every one of them a small Sum of Money His Bier he ordered to be carry'd by Twelve Virgins that being clad in green were to sing all the way such Songs as Mirth brought to their remembrance leaving to each a certain Sum of Money instead of a Dowry Thus was he buried in the Church of St. Sophia in Padua accompanied with a Hundred Attendants together with all the Clergy of the City excepting those that wore black for such by his Will he forbid his Funeral as it were turning his Funeral-Rites into a Marriage-Ceremony He died the 17th of July 1418. Admirable was the saying of St. Bernard Let them bewail their Dead who deny the Resurrection They are to be deplor'd who after Death are buried in Hell by the Devils not they who are plac'd in Heaven by the Angels Cyrus being about to die My Son said he when I am dead close up my Body neither in Silver nor in any other Metal but return its own Earth to the Earth again His last words were Be grateful to your Friends and you will never want the Power to punish your Enemies Farewel my dear Son and tell these my Words to your Mother also Wisely said Theophrastus upon his Death-Bed Many fine and pleasant things doth Life impose upon us under the pretence of Glory than the love of which there is nothing more vain Hither may be referred the saying of Severus the Emperor I was all things but nothing avails Alexander after many and great Victories overcome at length he fell not only into his Bed but into his Tomb contented with a small Coffin Peter Alphonsus reports That several Philosophers flock'd together and variously descanted upon the King's Death One there was that said Behold now four Yards of Ground is enough for him whom the spacious Earth could not comprehend before Another added Yesterday could Alexander save whom he pleas'd from Death to Day he cannot free himself Another viewing the Golden Coffin of the deceased Yesterday said he Alexander heaped up a Treasure of Gold now Gold makes a Treasure of Alexander This was their Learned Contention yet all ended in this Then he fell sick and died Lewis King of France gave these his last Admonitions to his Son Beware my Son that thou never commit any deadly Sin rather suffer all manner of Torments First chuse such about thee as will not be afraid to tell thee what thou art to do and what to beware To thy Parents give all Obedience Love and Reverence Ferdinand the Great King of Castile falling sick of his last Sickness caused himself to be carried to the great Church in all his Royal Robes where putting off all his Royal Ornaments and as it were restoring God his own he put on a Hair-Clâ—â— and casting himself upon the Ground with Tears in his Eyes Lord said he the Kingdom which thou gavest me I return to thee again seat me I beseach thee in Eternal Light Charles King of Sicily spoke these words Oh the Vain Thoughts of Men Miserable Creatures we are delighted with Honour heap up Treasure and neglect Heaven O the happy Fate of the Poor who content with little sleep in Tranquility What does now my Kingdom what do all my Guards avail me I might have been miserable without all this Pomp. Where is now the power and strength of my Empire The same necessity involves me as hampers the meanest Beggar Of so many Thousands of Clients Servants and Flatterers there is not one that will or can accompany me to the Tribunal of God Go Mortals go and swell your Breasts with great Thoughts to Day or to Morrow ye must die Farewel Earth would I could say welcom Heaven Dionysius the Areopagite being condemned to lose his Head with a Christian Generosity contemning the Reproaches of the Spectators Let the last words of my Lord upon the Cross said he be mine in this World Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit
the Chapel of Lambeth House where he received his Archiepiscopal Consecration His chief Motto painted on the Walls of his House and in his Windows was that of St. John The World passeth away and the lust thereof Ibid. p. 529. 60. Archbishop Abbot preached upon this his last Text John 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that may abide with you for ever Upon the first Proposal whereof as many of his Hearers presaged his departure from them so it proved his last Farewel-Sermon For soon after he came out of the Pulpit he fell into grievous Fits of the Stone which first stopped the Passages of Nature and within a few days shut up all the Offices of his Senses To those that came to visit him who were not a few and among others the Judges being then at Sarum in their Circuit he comunicated most Christian and grave Advice insisting very much upon the Benefit of a good Conscience the Comfort whereof he felt now in his Extremity admonishing all that heard him so to carry themselves in their most private and secret Actions as well as publick that they might obtain that at the last which would stand them in more stead than what all the World could afford them besides At last with Hands and Eyes lift up to Heaven he gave up the Ghost with these Words Come Lord Jesus come quickly finish in me the Work that thou hast begun Into thy hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me Save me for thy Mercy 's sake for I put my whole trust in thee Let thy mercy be shewed upon me for my sure trust is in thee O let me not be confounded for ever Ibid. p. 550. 61. William Cooper born at Edinburgh used these amongst other Meditations in his last Sickness Now my Soul be glad for of all parts of this Prison the Lord hath set to his Pioneers to loose thee Head Feet Milt and Liver are fast failing yea the middle Strength of the whole Body the Stomach is weaken'd long agoe Arise make ready shake off thy Fetters mount up from the Body and go thy way I saw not my Children when they were in the Womb yet there the Lord fed them without my knowledge I shall not see them when I go out of the Body yet shall they not want a Father Death is somewhat dreary and the Streams of that Jordan between us and our Canaan run furiously but they stand still when the Ark comes Let your Anchor be cast within the Veil and fastened on the Rock Jesus Let the end of the three-fold Cord be buckled to the Heart so shall ye go through He expressed a great Willingness to Exchange this Life for a better which he did Anno 1619. Ibid. p. 563. 62. Andrew Willet in a Journey from London homewards had his Leg broken by a Fall from a Horse and was God's Prisoner for 9 Days together being so long confined to his Bed where his Time he spent in meditating upon the Song of Ezekiel Isa 38. his Contemplations being taken down in Writing by his Son who then attended upon him Two sabbath-Sabbath-Days which happen'd in that time he spent in Conscionatory Exhortations to those who waited upon him Upon the tenth Day on occasion of a Bell tolling for one near Death he discoursed with his Wife touching the Joys of Heaven and then they both sang an Hymn composed by himself which they usually every Morning praised God with Their Spirits being thus raised they continued their Melody and sang the 146 Psalm sometimes stopping a little and glossing upon the Words by way of Self-application till on a sudden fetching a deep Sigh or Groan he sunk down in his Bed but being raised up a little he said Let me alone I shall do well Lord Jesus And with that Word gave up the Ghost ibid. p. 575. 63. Mr. Bolton falling sick of a Quartan-Ague and finding his Distemper get strength revised his Will and having preached upon Death Judgment and Hell he promised next to preach upon Heaven the only fourth and last Thing that remained but never preached more He often breathed forth these Speeches O when will this good Hour come When shall I be dissolved When shall I be with Christ Tho' Life be a great Blessing yet I infinitely more desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ He thanked God for his wonderful Mercy in pulling him out of Hell in sealing his Ministry by the Conversion of Souls which he wholly ascribed to his Glory He called for his Wife and desired her to bear his Dissolution with a Christian Fortitude and turning to his Children told them they should not now expect from him in his Weakness to say any thing to them he had told them enough formerly and hoped they would remember it and verily believed that none of them durst think to meet him at the great Tribunal in an unregenerate State Some of his Neighbours moved to him that he would tell them what he felt in his Soul Alas said he do ye look for that now from me who want Breath and Power to speak I have told ye enough in my Ministry Yet to satisfie you I am by the wonderful Mercies of God as full of Comfort as my Heart can hold and feel nothing in my Soul but Christ with whom I heartily desire to be And seeing some weeping he said Oh what a deal of Doe there is before one can die The very Pags of Death being upon him after a few gapings for Breath he said I am now drawing on apace to my Dissolution Hold out Faith and Patience your Work will quickly be at an end Then shaking them by the Hand he desired them to make sure of Heaven and remember what he had formerly taught them protesting that it was the Truth of God as he should answer it at the Tribunal of Christ before whom he should shortly appear And a dear Friend taking him by the Hand ask'd him if he did not feel much pain Truly no said he the greatest that I feel is your cold Hand And then being laid down again not long after he yielded up his Spirit unto God Anno 1631. Aged 60. Ibid. p. 591. 64. Mr. Will Whately in his Sickness gave heavenly and wholsome Counsel to his People exhorting them to Redemption of Time Reading Hearing and Meditating on the Word of God to be much in Prayer Brotherly Love and Communion of Saints c. A Minister praying with him That if his time were not expired God would restore him or put an end to his Pains c. he lifting up his Eyes stedfastly towards Heavne and one of his Hands in the close of that Prayer gave up the Ghost shutting his Eyes himself as if he were fallen into a Sleep Anno 1639. Aged 56. a little before the Civil Wars began and before the sad Desolations that befel the Town of Banbury in particular Ibid. p. 599. 65. Dr. Robert Harris when
He hath done it already Brother And to one that had been helpful to him in his Sickness The God that made you and bought you with a great Price Redeem your Body and Soul unto himself Which were his last words Decemb. 23. 1652. aged 68. Ibid. p. 229. 94. Dr. Will. Gouge after three days illness complained Alas I have lost three days And to a Friend visiting him I am willing to die having I bless God nothing to do but to die And to his Sister being afraid to leave him alone Why Sister said he I shall I am sure be with Christ when I die Which he did Decemb. 12. 1653. aged 79. Ibid. p. 246. 95. Mr. Tho. Gataker gave this his last Charge to his Relations Sister Son Daughter c. My heart fails and my strength fails but God is my Fortress and the strong Rock of my Salvation into thy hands therefore I commend my Soul for thou hast redeemed me O God of Truth Son you have a great Charge look to it Instruct your Wife and Family in the fear of God and discharge your Ministry conscientiously To his Sister two Years older than himself he said Sister I thought you might have gone before me but God calls for me first I hope we shall meet in Heaven I pray God to bless you He admonished his Daughter to mind the World less and God more for that all things without Piety and the true fear of God are nothing worth Advising his Son Draper to Entertain some Pious Minister in his House to teach his Children and instruct his Family exhorting them all to Love and Unity And then commanded them all to withdraw He died July 27. 1654. aged near 80. Ibid. p. 259. 96. Mr. Bolton dying told his Children That none of them should dare think to meet him at God's Tribunal in an unregenerate Estate And when some of his Parish desired him to express what he felt in his Soul of the exceeding Comforts that are in Christ answered I am by the wonderful Mercy of God as full of Comfort as my heart can hold and feel nothing in my Soul but Christ with whom I heartily desire to be And looking upon some that were weeping said Oh what a deal of do there is ere one can die Chetwind's Collections 97. Mr. Whitaker Do not complain but bless God for me and entreat him to open the Prison-door He died 1654. aged 55. Ibid. p. 272. 98. Mr. Rich. Capel Sept. 21. 1656. preached twice taking his leave of the World by pressing Faith in God That Evening he repeated both his Sermons in his Family read his Chapter went to Prayer and so to Bed and died immediately Sept. 21. 1656. He often said That if God saw fit one had better die of a quick than lingring Death Ibid. p. 313. 99. Mr. Jessey the last Night he lived cried out Oh the unspeakable Love of God! Oh the vilest Oh the vilest that he should reach me when I could not reach him And then rehearsing over and over Blessed be that ever ever ever Blessed and Glorious Majesty And when a Cordial appointed for him was brought Trouble me not upon your own Peril trouble me not Then shewing his care for the Poor Widows and Fatherless and desiring Prayers and afterwards repeating Acts 2.27 and calling for more Julip more Julip meaning more Scriptures by and by he sang this Hymn Jerusalem my heart's Delight I come I come to thee Then shall my sorrows have an end When I thy Joys shall see Then often repeating those words Praises for ever Amen Amen Praises to the Amen for ever and ever Amen After a while he fell asleep Sept. 4. 1663. aged 63. Mr. Collier in his Life and Death p. 94. 100. Mr. Brand thus Oh! my God my God what is sinful Man Worm-man what manner of Love is this Love indeed O I cannot express it Oh! let me be with thee with thee O my God! Oh! I long for Heaven Oh! welcome Death Oh! happy Death that will put an end to all my Troubles and Afflictions one Moment in Abraham's Bosom will make amends for all turn Sorrow to Joy What a dreadful Appearance will there be at the Great Day what a sad thing to be disappointed and come short of Heaven O my Redeemer liveth I have served a good Master I would not desire Life for a Moment unless to promote the Interest of Christ If God would give me my choice what I would ask I would not ask Life Nay I have prayed to God that I might die Why so said a by-stander That I may be said he with God! O my God I would come to thee Let me live with Thee As he was going to Bed with much concernedness of Mind he said There will be a Cry at Midnight Prepare Prepare Which came to pass accordingly for after going to Bed he was taken with a Vomiting of Blood and after that died Dr. Annesly in his Life 101. Mr. John Janeway for the latter part of his Life he lived like a Man that was quite weary of the World and that looked upon himself as a stranger here and that lived in the constant sight of a better World He plainly declared himself but a Pilgrim that looked for a better Country a City that had Foundations whose builder and maker was God His Habit his Language his Deportment all spoke him one of another World His Meditations were so intense long and frequent that they ripened him apace for Heaven but somewhat weakned his Body Few Christians attain to such a holy contempt of the World and to such clear believing joyful constant Apprehensions of the transcendent Glories of the unseen World On his Death-bed he thus express'd himself O help me to Praise God I have now nothing else to do I have done with Prayer and all other Ordinances I have almost done conversing with Mortals I shall presently be beholding Christ himself that died for me and loved me and washed me in his Blood I shall before a few hours are over be in Eternity singing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb. I shall presently stand upon Mount Zion with an innumerable company of Angels and the Spirits of the Just made perfect and Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant I shall hear the voice of much People and be one amongst them which shall say Hallelujah Salvation Glory Honour and Power unto the Lord our God and again we shall say Hallelujah And yet a very little while and I shall sing unto the Lamb a Song of Praise saying Worthy art thou to receive Praise who wert slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign with thee for ever and ever Methinks I stand as it were with one Foot in Heaven and the other upon Earth methinks I hear the Melody of Heaven and by Faith I see the Angels waiting
Shepherd swears he was tho' not a Syllable of it appears He had been there several times Shepherd says but was not of their Consult knew nothing of their Business nor can he be positive whether 't was the Duke of Monmouth he came to speak with that Evening But supposing in two or three Years time and on so little Recollection Cornish's Memory had slipt in that Circumstance what 's that to Shepherd's Evidence against the very Root of Rumsey's which hang'd the Prisoners In spight of all he was found Guilty and Condemn'd and even that Christian serenity of Mind and Countenance wherewith 't was visible he bore his Sentence turn'd to his Reproach by the Bench. He continued in the same excellent Temper whilst in Newgate and gave the World a glaring Instance of the Happiness of such Persons as live a pious Life when they come to make an end onâ—â— let the way thereof be never so violent His Carriage and Behaviour at his leaving Newgate was as follows Some Passages of Henry Cornish Esq before his Sufferings COming into the Press-yard and seeing the Halter in the Officer's Hand he said Is this for me the Officer answered Yes he replyed Blessed be God and kissed it and after said O blessed be God for Newgate I have enjoyed God ever since I came within these Walls and blessed be God who hath made me fit to die I am now going to that God that will not be mocked to that God that will not be imposed upon to that God that knows the Innocency of his poor Creature And a little after he said Never did any poor Creature come unto God with greater Confidence in his Mercy and Assurance of Acceptation with him through Jesus Christ than I do but it is through Jesus Christ for there is no other way of coming to God but by him to find Acceptance with him There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Jesus Then speaking to the Officers he said Labour every one of you to be fit to die for I tell you you are not fit to die I was not fit to die my self till I came in hither but O blessed be God! he hath made me fit to die and hath made me willing to die In a few Moments I shall have the Fruition of the Blessed Jesus and that not for a day but for Ever I am going to the Kingdom of God to the Kingdom of God! where I shall enjoy the Presence of God the Father and of God the Son and of God the Holy Spirit and of all the Holy Angels I am going to the general Assembly of the First-born and of the Spirits of Just Men made perfect O that God should ever do so much for me O that God should concern himself so much for poor Creatures for their Salvation Blessed be his Name For this was the Design of God from all Eternity to give his only Son to die for poor miserable Sinners Then the Officers going to tie his Hands he said What must I be tied then Well a brown Thred might have served the turn You need not tye me at all I shall not stir from you for I thank God I am not afraid to die As he was going out he said Farewel Newgate Farewel all my Fellow Prisoners here the Lord comfort you the Lord be with you all Thus much for his Behaviour in the way to his Martyrdom The Place of it was most spitefully and ignominiously ordered almost before his own Door and near Guildhall to scare any good Citizen from appearing vigorously in the Discharge of his Duty for his Countrey 's Service by his Example If any thing was wanting in his Trial from the hast of it for the clearing his Innocency he sufficiently made it up in solemn Asseverations thereof on the Scaffold God is my Witness says he the Crimes laid to my Charge were falsly and maliciously sworn against me by the Witnesses For I never was at any Consult nor any Meeting where Matters against the Government were discoursed of He adds I never heard or read any Declaration tending that way Again As to the Crimes for which I suffer upon the Words of a dying Man I 'm altogether Innocent Lower he adds He died as he had liv'd in the Communion of the Church of England in whose Ordinances he had been often a Partaker and now felt the blessed Effects thereof in these his Agonies He was observ'd by those who stood near the Sledge to have solemnly several times averr'd his absolute Innocence of any Design against the Government and particularly that which he died for There was such a terrible Storm the Day of his Death as has scarce been known in the Memory of Man and will never be forgot by those who were in it ten or a dozen Ships being founder'd or stranded in one Road and a vast many more in other Places And as Heaven then did him Justice and vindicated his Innocence so Earth also has done it the Judgment against him being Reverst by that Honourable Ever-memorable Parliament which under God and our King has settled the Happiness both of this Age and Posterity His CHARACTER HE was a Person of as known Prudence as Intregrity a good Christian a compleat Citizen a worthy Magistrate and a zealous Church of England Man He was so cautious and wise that he was noted for it all thro' those worst of times and often propos'd as an Example to others of hotter and more imprudent Tempers nor could the least Imputation be fix'd on him of hearing or concealing any unlawful or dangerous Discourses any other ways than by plain force of Perjury being known to have shunn'd some Persons whom he as well as some other prudent Men suspected to have no good Designs and to be indu'd with no more Honesty than Discretion as it afterwards prov'd But he was design'd to glorifie God by such an End aâ— all his Care could not avoid which he submitted to with Bravery rarely to be met with unless among those who suffered for the same Cause in the same Age or their Predecessors Queen Mary's Martyrs There was seen the same Tenour of Prudence and Piety thro' all the Actions of his Life tho' most conspicuous in the last glorious Scene of it There was such a firmness in his Soul such vigour and almost extatick Joy and yet so well regulated that it shin'd thro' his Face almost with as visible Rays as those in which we use to dress Saints and Martyrs with which both at his Sentence and Execution he refresh'd all his Friends and at once dazled and confounded his most bitter Enemies 12. Mr. CHARLES BATEMAN THE next and last was Mr. Bateman the Chirurgeon a Man of good Sense good Courage and good Company and a very large and generous Temper of considerable Repute and Practice in his Calling A great Lover and Vindicator of the Liberties of the City and Kingdom and of more
prevent all of you from such ignominious Deaths and I advise you all that you never take any great thing in hand but what you have a Warrant for from the Lord I assure you I had no satisfaction in this but this I am sure that if I have done any thing amiss in it it is pardoned I bless God I have that satisfaction I die a Professor of the Church of England I desire Pardon of all those I have any ways wronged or abused as I freely forgive all those that have wronged or abused me I am in Charity with all Men. Lord have Mercy upon me and give me strength to go through these Pains and give me full Assurance now at this last moment Come Lord Jesus come quickly 10. SAMVEL ROBBINS SAmuel Robbins of Charmouth in the County of Dorset was Executed or rather Murthered at Warham in the said County He received his Sentence of Death with great Courage and not at all dismayed saying very often in Prison before If it pleased God to call him now to glorifie his Name by this Providence of his to Death he should be ready but said he I am as Innocent of any thing I have done against any man that may deserve this Punishment as the Child now unborn When he came to the Place of Execution he very chearfully declared his Innocency to the Spectators as before and so Praying very devoutly for some time he was Executed 11. Mr. CHARLES SPEAK HE happened to be at Illminster at the time of the Duke's being there which was the greatest Crime he was guilty of the Validity of his Evidence I leave to those in the West which know how far it was carried that way He was a fine Courteous loving Gentleman and notwithstanding his Youth he acted the part of an Old Christian Soldier at his Death preparing himself to undergo those Pains saying very often They were nothing to his Deserts from God Almighty but as for what I am accused of and sentenced for I hope you will believe I am not so guilty as my Judge and Accusers have endeavoured to make me If it had pleased God I should have been willing to have lived some time longer but God's time being come I am willing I will be contented to drink this bitter Cup off Being at the Place of Execution the Croud was so great that I suppose he was shorter than otherwise he would have been but alas how could it be For on every side of him as well as up and down the Town the Inhabitants were weeping and bewailing him Oh 't is the worst day that ever we saw in this Town Must this good Gentleman die here Oh! yet save his Life I am ready to die for him and the like He prayed very heartily for near an hour and sung a Psalm and so we hope was translated to Heaven there to sing everlasting Praises and Hallelujahs 12. Mr. PARRET MR. Parret was executed at Taunton if I mistake not he said he was a Londoner and a Brewer When he came to the Place of Execution he seemed a Man almost unconcerned at Death After some time he began to deliver himself somewhat low in Voice to the People and after rising by degrees he seemed more like a Minister in a Pulpit Preaching devoutly than a Prisoner just going to Execution but I being then not well could not tarry to see his End But the Character I had was That he desired all not to be faint-hearted because of their fall and to think that there was no hopes remaining He said He verily believed God would yet work out Deliverance for them and at the time they were in the greatest Extremity that would be God's Opportunity Put your whole trust and confidence and dependance on the Lord and he will never leave you nor forsake you 13. The Last Speech of Henry Boddy Executed at Bath WHile he was in Prison especially after Sentence he behaved himself mighty humble meek and was much in Meditation which was observed by several Divines especially one who attended him to his last his Name Mr. Simpson His poor Wife coming to see him at Wells and to make her Interest with some Friends if possible to save his Life but finding it lost Labour and that she could by no means prevail she died there for grief before her Husband was Executed to his great grief When he came to the Place of Execution he delivered himself to the People in these Words GOod People I am come here to pay a Debt due to Nature which every one one time or another must pay though not in this manner or nature I am condemned as a Traytor and Rebel against my King which were things I always hated and abhorred and therefore give me so much time as to deliver my self to you and what I say I hope you will believe me at this time being just going to give an Account not only for every idle word but for all things I have done since I have had a Being I was Born in Lyme-Regis in the County of Dorses and bred up a Seaman from my Infancy I have had the Honour to serve His Majesty King Charles the Second in his Wars with the Dutch and French divers times I always thought it to be the Duty of every true English-man to stand up in his Country's Quarrel with Foreigners to maintain our Ancient Privileges and Honour of our Nation I served him faithfully And as for my Undertaking now with the late Duke of Monmouth for which I am now come to suffer Death As for my Designs I am sure they were good for I did believe him to be my Soveraign's Son and Heir but if otherwise I have done amiss and am sorry and hope the Lord hath pardoned it While I was in Arms I am sure there 's none can say I have personally wronged them I desire all your Prayers for me to the last I am no Orator therefore if you please speaking to the Minister do these last Spiritual Services for me as for to Pray with me and for me The Minister being much taken with him desired leave of the Sheriff to ask him some Questions which being granted the Minister said unto him I must make bold with you but not to hold you too long before I Pray but to satisfie my self and the People on what ground you stand I mean as concerning your everlasting state Now pray resolve me a few things First Whether you do own that Doctrine of Non-resistance owned by the Church That it is not Lawful on any Account whatsoever to take up Arms against the King O Sir as to that I answer Could I have been satisfied he had been my Lawful Prince I should not have done it But said the Minister he is and you are not to be Judge except you own those things some People will hardly have Charity for you after you are dead What matters that said he would you have me now you put me so close to
16. Ben. Johnson bestowed this as part of an Epitaph on his eldest Son dying an Infant Rest in soft Peace and asked say Here doth lie Ben Johnson his best piece of Poetry He died himself Anno Domini 1638. and was buried about the Belfry in the Abby-Church at Westminster having only upon a Pavement over his Grave this written O Rare Ben Johnson 17. Mr. William Shakespear was buried at Stratford upon Avon The Town of his Nativity upon whom one hath bestowed this Epitaph Renowned Spencer lie a thought more nigh To learned Chaucer and a rare Beaumont lie A little nearer Spencer to make room For Shakespear in your threefold fourfold Tomb To lodge all Four in one Bed make a shift Until Dooms-day for hardly will a Fifth Betwixt this Day and that by Fates be slain For whom your Curtains may be drawn again If your precedency in Death do bar A Fourth place in your sacred Sepulcher Under this sacred Marble of thine own Sleep rare Tragedìan Shakespear sleep alone Thy unmolested Peace in an unshared Cave Possess as Land not Tenant of the Grave That unto us and others it may be Honour hereafter to be laid by thee 18. Sir John Mandevile who died at Liege in Germany the 17th Day of November Anno 1372. had this Inscription upon his Tomb. Hic jacet vir nobilis Dr. Joannes de Mandevile Al. D. and Barbam Miles Dominus de Campdi Natus de Anglia Medicine Professor devotissimus Orator bonorum Largissimus pauperibus erogator qui toto quasi orbe Instracto Leodii diem vitae suae clausit extremum Anno Dom. M. CCC LXXI Mens Novemb. die 16. c. But the Town of St. Albans will not allow of this but claim the Honour of his Interment as well as that of his Birth and to this end they have a Rhiming Epitaph for him upon a Pillar near to which they suppose his Body to have been buried Which Epitaph saith Mr. Weaver being set to some lofty Tune as to the Hunting of Antichrist or the like it will be well worth the singing Thus it runs All you that pass by on this Pillar cast eye This Epitaph read if you can I will tell you a Tomb once stood in this Room Of a brave spirited Man John Mandevill by Name a Knight of great Fame Born in this honoured Town Before him was none that ever was known For Travel of so high Renown As the Knights in the Temple cross-legg'd in Marble In Armour with Sword and with Shield So was this Knight grac'd which Time hath defac'd That nothing but Ruins doth yield His Travels being done he shine like the Sun In Heavenly Canaan To which blessed Place O Lord of his Grace Bring us all Man after Man 19. Palmer of Orford within the Diocess of Rochester had this Epitaph Palmers all ouer Faders were I a Palmer lived here And Travyld still till worn wyth Age I ended this World's Pilgrimage On the blyst Assention Day In the cherful Month of May A Thowsand wyth fowre hundred seven And took my Jorney hense to Heaven 20. Rich. Davy Master of the Jewel-House and Mawd his Wife had this Epitaph Pray for the Sowl of Mawd Davy Whose Corps hereunder do lay She was Dawter of William Davy On whose Soul Jesu hae mercy I pray yow all for Cherite Say a Peter Noster and an Ave. 21. Rich. Bonevant laid interred in the Stone Church in the Diocess of Rochester had this Epitaph Preyeth for the Sowl in wey of Cherite Of Richard Bonevant late Mercer of London For the Brethren and Sisters of this Fraternite Owner of this Place called Castle of the Ston Remember him that is laid under Ston For hys Sowl and al Christian to prey To the merciful Jesew a Pater Noster anon And Ave to hys Moder and make no deley In March which decessyd the xix dey In the Year of our Lord God who keep him from pyne A Thousand four hundred fifty and nyne 22. And Sir John Dew Priest this O merciful Jesew Have Mercy on the Sowl of Sir John Dew 23. Another thus Here lies William Banknot and Anne his Wyff Swete Jesew grant to them and us everlasting Liff Pray yow hertely for Cherite Say a Pater Noster and an Ave. 1400. 24. Another with Arms upon the Monument thus Non hominem aspiciam ultra Olivio 25. Another thus Vixi peccavi penitui Naturae cessi Which was as Christian saith Mr. Cambden as that was Profane of the Roman Amici Dum vivimus Vivamus 26. In St. Leonard's Foster-lane is this Epitaph When the Bells be merely roung And Mass devoutly soung And the meat merely eaten Then sall Robert Trappis his Wiffs and his Chyldren be forgetten 27. The Pictures of Robert Agnes and Joan inlaid in Brass seem thus to speak Sancta Trinitas Unus Deus miserete nobis Et Ancillis tuis sperantibus in te O Mater Dei memento mei Jesu mercy Lady help 28. John Brokitwell an especial Founder or new Builder of Leonard's Foster-lane had this All yat will gud warks wurch Prey for them yat help thys Church Geuyng Almys for Cherite Pater Noster and Ave. 29. Vpon Michael Forlace c. this Prey for the Sowlygs of Michael Forlace and his Wyf and in the Worschypp of God and our Lady for theyr Faders and Moders wyth the Sowlygs of all Christen of yowr Cherite sey a Pater Noster and an Ave Maria. Body I Mary Pawson ly below sleepying Soul I Mary Pawson sit aboue weaking Both. We hope to meet again wyth Glory clothed Then Mary Pawson for ever blessed 30. Vpon Sir John Woodcock Lord Mayor this Hic jacet in requie Woodcock Jon vir generosus Major Londonie Mercerus valde morosus Miles qui fuerat ......... M. Domini mille centum quater ruit ille Cum X bis This John Woodcock was Lord Mayor Anno Dom. 1405. in which his Office he caused all the Werers in the River of Thames from Stanes to the River of Medway to be destroyed and the Trinks to be burned 31. Tho. Knowles Lord Mayor and John his Wife of St. Anthonies had this Epitaph Here lyth grauyn under this Ston Thomas Knowles both flesh and bon Grocer and Alderman Yeres forty Sheriff and twis Mayor truly And for he should not ly alone Here lyth wyth him his good Wyff Joane They were togeder Sixty yere And nineteen Children they had in fear Now ben they gon wee them miss Christ have there Sowlys to Heaven bliss Amen Ob. Ann. 14 32. The Epitaph of Walter Lempster Doctor of Physick Under this black Marbl ston lyeth the Body of Master Walter Lempster Doctor of Physick and also Phisition to the High and Mighty Prince Henry VII which Master Lempster gayve unto this Chyrch too Cheynes of fine Gold weying 14 Ounces and a quarter for to make certeyn Ornament to put on the blessyd Body of our Saviour Jesus He died the 9th of March M. CCCC 87. whose Soul God
His honour or profane this ground Let no black-mouth'd breath'd rank Curr Peaceful James his Ashes stur Princes are Gods O do not then Rake in their Graves to prove them Men. 56. Vpon the King of Sweden Upon this Place the great Gustavus died While Victory lay weeping by his side 57. Vpon Sir Francis Vere When Vere sought Death arm'd with his Sword and Shield Death was afraid to meet him in the Field But when his Weapons he had laid aside Death like a Coward struck him and he died 58. Another Here lieth Richard A Preene One Thousand Five Hundred Eighty Nine Of March the xx day And he that will die after him may 59. Another Here lieth he who was born and cryed Told Threescore Years fell sick and dyed 60. At Farlam on the West Marches toward Scotland near Naworth-Castle John Bell broken brow Ligs under this stean Fovr of mine een Sons Laid it on my weam I was a Man of my Meat Master of my Wife I lived on my own Land With mickle strife 61. In St. Paul 's was this Here lies John Dod a Servant of God to whom he is gone Father or Mother Sister or Brother he never knew none A Headborough and a Constable a Man of Fame The first of his House and last of his Name Died buryed and deceas'd the Fifteenth of May One Thousand Five Hundred and Fifteen being Whitson-Monday 62. On Mr. Burbidge the Tragedian Exit Burbidge 63. On Mr. Weymark a constant Walker in Paul ' s. Defessus sum ambulando 64. In St. Mary Saviours this Here lies William Emerson Who lived and died an honest Man 65. In the North-Country this Here ligs John Hubberton And there ligs his Wife Here ligs his Dagger And there ligs his Knife Here ligs his Daughter And there ligs his Son Heigh for brave John Hubberton 66. Vpon JOhn Death Here lies John Death the very same That went away with a Cousin of his Name 67. Vpon Mr. Parsons Organist at Westminster Death passing by and hearing Parsons play Stood much amazed at his depth of Skill And said this Artist must with me away For Death bereaves us of the better still But let the Quire while he keeps time sing on For Parsons rests his Service being done 68. On Mr. Charles Wray When I in Court had spent my tender Prime And done my best to please an Earthly Prince Even sick to see how I had lost my Time Death pitying mine Estate removed me thence And sent me mounted upon Angels Wings To serve my Saviour and the King of Kings 69. Many and sundry Opinions were conceived of Joan of Arck some judging her miraculously raised up by God for the good of France others that she was but a meer Impostor We will suspend our Judgment herein and referr you to the Epitaph which we find thus written on her Here lies Joan of Arck the which Some count Saint and some count Witch Some count Man and something more Some count Maid and some a Whore Her Life 's in question wrong or right Her Death 's in doubt by Laws or might Oh Innocence take heed of it How thou too near to Guilt dost sit Mean time France a Wonder saw A Woman Rule ' gainst Salique Law But Reader be content to stay Thy censure till the judgment-Judgment-day Then shalt thou know and not before Whether Saint Witch Man Maid or Whore 70. An Epitaph upon Sir Philip Sidney England Netherland the Heavens and the Arts All Soldiers and the World have made six Parts Of the Noble Sidney for none will suppose That a small heap of Stones can Sidney inclose England hath his Body for she it bred Netherland his Blood in her Defence shed The Heavens his Soul the Arts his Fame All Soldiers his Grief the World his Good Name 71. The following Epitaph was written upon the Tomb-stone of JOHN WHITE Esq a Member of the House of Commons in the Year 1640. and Father to Dr. Annesley's Wife lately deceased Here lies a John a burning shining Light Whose Name Life Actions all alike were WHITE 72. Mrs. Wilkinson with her Child went to Heaven from her Childbed on whose Tomb-stone a learned Doctor wrote the following Lines viz. Here lies Mother and Babe both without sins Next Birth will make her and her Infant Twins See Mr. Adams 's Sermon in the Continuation of Morning Exercise Questions and Cases of Conscience 73. Vpon Richard Howkins Here lies Richard Howkins who out of his store Gave Twenty good Shillings for the use of the Poor Upon condition his Body shoul'd ne'er be removed Until the appearing of our dearly Beloved 74. On the Tomb-stone of a great Scold was written Her Husband prays if by her Grave you walk You gently tread for if she 's wak'd she 'll talk 75. Vpon Mr. West Here lies Ned West of Men the best Well loved by his Wife But Oh he 's gone his Thread is spun And cut off by the Knife Of cruel Atropos Oh Jade Rokcy and flinty hearted Maid To kill so good a Man Take from my Wooff two Inches off And let him live again 76. On the Tomb of the Electeress Dowager of Saxony are to be seen the following Devices and Motto's I. Piety with an Heart in which some Beams from the Name Jehovah are centered with this Motto From him and to him II. Clemency with a Cloud of Dew hanging over the Land with this Motto Water is common to all III. Friendliness with a Sun piercing a dark Cloud over-against a Rainbow and this Motto He enlightens and makes glad IV. Magnanimity with a Rock upon which some Thunderbolts are darted with this Motto They don't terrifie V. Liberality with a Fountain from whence some Hands were taking out Water with this Motto So much the more plentiful VI. Patience with a Crucible full of Gold standing in the Fire with this Motto I burn but I am cleansed from my Dross or I shall come out more pure VII Pity or Compassion with a Silk-Worm beginning to Spin with this Motto I will serve you with my Bowels And VIII Humility with a Violet Flower growing in the Grass with this Motto The more humble the more fragrant Flying Post Nov. 21. 1696. 77. I find I have inserted in my Paper-book an Epitaph upon the Tomb of the Earl of Warwick in whose Death the Family was extinct Within this Marble doth Entombed lie Not one but all a Noble Family A Pearl of such a price that soon about Possession of it Heaven and Earth fell out Both could not have it so they did devise This fatal Salvo to divide the Prize Heaven shares the Soul and Earth his Body takes Thus we lose all while Earth and Heaven part stakes But Heaven not brooking that the Earth should share In the least Atom of a Piece so rare Intends to sue out by a new revize His Habeas Corpus at the Grand Assize Mr. Barker's Flores 78. I have read of a certain Prince who would have
this to be written upon his Tomb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was able to do all things Monstrous Ambition Mr. Baker 's Flores 79. Similius being buried in the Cares of the Court and living rather for his Emperor's sake than for his own caused this Inscription to be put upon his Tomb. Here lies Similius an Old Man of Seven Years of Age. 80. Adrian appointed this to be his Epitaph Adrianus Sixtus hic situs est qui nihil sibi infoelicius in vitâ duxit quam quod regnaverat Here lies Adrianus Sixtus who never thought any thing so unhappy to him in his Life as his Reigning Mr. Barker 's Flores 81. I have read of the People called Sicyonians that they would have no Epitaph written upon the Tombs of their Kings but only their Names that they might have no Honour but what did result from their Merits Mr. Barker 's Flores 82. Earl Morton put this Epitaph upon John Knox his Tomb. Here lieth the Body of that Man who in his life-time never feared the Face of any Man Mr. Barker's Flores 83. Semiramis ordered this to be written upon her Tomb. If any King stand in need of Money let him break open this Monument Hereupon Darius ransack'd the Tomb and found within another Writing Hadst thou not been unsatiably Covetous thou wouldst never have invaded thus the Monument of the Dead And so went away ashamed Mr. Barker 's Flores 84. On Sardanapalus's Tomb by his own appointment was written So much I had as I eat and drank Chetwind 's Hist Collections 85. A Monk bestows this Epitaph on Wickliff The Devil's Instrument Churches Enemy Peoples Confusion Hereticks Idol Hypocrites Mirror Schismes Broacher Hatred's Sower Lyes Forger Flattery 's Sink who at his Death despaired like Cain and stricken by the horrible Judgment of God breathed forth his wicked Soul to the dark Mansions of the black Devil-Whereby God's Children may learn not to regard while they live the Malice nor to expect after their Death ought else but the slanderous rancour of the wicked Speed's Hist p. 622. 86. One John Child a Gentleman Hunting in the depth of Winter in Dartmore Forest in Devonshire lost both his Company and his Way in a bitter Snow and to preserve himself from perishing with extream Cold he killed his Horse and crept into his Bowels for warmth and wrote the following Verses with the Blood He that finds and brings me to my Tomb The Land of Plinistock shall be his doom That Night he was frozen to Death and being soon after found by some Monks of Tavestock Abbey the Abbot of Tavestock having caused him to be decently buried got that Rich Manor See a Book called Mankind displayed Some Remarkable Epitaphs now to be found in Westminster Abbey Stepney Churchyard and the New Burying-Place in Bunhill-Fields the last of which was inclosed with a Brick-Wall at the sole Charge of the City of London in the Mayoralty of Sir John Lawrence Knight Anno Dom. 1665. And afterwards the Gates thereof were built and finished in the Mayoralty of Sir Thomas Bloudworth Anno Dom. 1666. Here lies waiting for the Resurrection of the Just Mary late Wife of John Merrion who died Nov. 25th 1693. in the 26th Year of her Age. From my sad Cradle to my Sable Chest I found few Days of Joy or Months of Rest My Race was short yet tedious ending soon For suddenly my Sun did set at Noon I groan'd for Rest and fell asleep at Even So when I wak'd behold I was in Heaven Weep not dear Husband do not weep no more Because I am not lost but sent before Here lieth the Body of Mrs. Dorcas Bentley the Faithful tender Wife of Johathan Bentley Citizen and Watch-maker of London who lived much desired and died much lamented Aug. 3. 1693. My Dear Thy zealous care to serve thy God And constant Love to Husband dear Thy harmless Heart to every one Remains still tho' thy Corps lie here J. B. Mary Morris died Novemb. 13th Aged Three Quarters of a Year and Nine Days 1695. If I cou'd ever write a lasting Verse It shou'd be laid Dear Saint upon thy Herse Ah beauteous Blossom too untimely dead Whither Oh whither is thy sweetness fled Where are the Charms that always did arise From the prevailing Language of thy Eyes Here lies Interred the Body of Mr. Edward Bagshaw Minister of the Gospel who received from God Faith to embrace it Courage to defend it And Patience to suffer for it When by the most despised and by many persecuted esteeming the Advantage of Birth Education and Learning all Emiaâ—â—t in him as things of worth to be accounted loss for the Knowledge of Christ from the Reproaches of pretended Friends and Prosecutions of professed Adversaries he took Sanctuary by the Will of God in Eternal Rest 28th of December 1671. Here also lies the Body of Mrs. Margaret Wife of Mr. Edward Bagshaw who departed this Life 20th of February 1692. Here the Wicked cease from troubling and here the weary be at rest Here the Prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the Oppressor Upon a Stone adjoyning to Stepney Church is writ Of Carthage great I was a stone Oh Mortals read with pity Time levels all and spareth none Man Mountain Town nor City Therefore Oh Mortals all bethink You whereunto you must Since now such stately Buildings lie Buried in the Dust An Odd Epitaph on Will. Wheatly Whoever treadeth on this stone Pray now tread most neatly For underneath this stone here lies Your honest Friend Will. Wheatly Here lieth Interred the Body of Mary Wife of Captain Malachy Simons Mariner who departed this Life the 29th of June Anno Dom. 1677. Aged 50. Rest thou whose Rest gives me a restless Life Because I 've lost a kind and vertuous Wife I 'll visit thee and when I leave this Light Come spend my time in the same Cell at Night Till then farewel farewel I cannot take A final leave until thy Ashes wake Here lieth Interred the Body of Dame Rebecca Berry the Wife of Thomas Elton of Stratford Bow Gent. who departed this Life April 26. 1696. Aged 52. Come Ladies ye that wou'd appear Like Angels fair come dress ye here Come dress you at this Marble stone And make that humble Grace your own Which once adorn'd as fair a Mind As ere yet lodg'd in Womankind So she was dress'd whose humble Life Was free from Pride was free from Strife Free from all envious Brawls and Jars Of Humane Life the Civil Wars These ne'er disturb'd her Peaceful Mind Which still was gentle still was kind Her very looks her garb her meen Disclos'd the humble Soul within Trace her through every Scene of Life View her as Widow Virgin Wife Still the same humble she appears The same in Youth the same in Years The same in low in high estate Ne'er vex'd with this ne'er mov'd with that Go Ladies now and if you 'd be As fair as great as good as
to reduce 'em from their Sins to a Holy and Religious Life that so their Souls may be saved in the great Day of the Lord is the earnest Desire of their Languishing and Sorrowful Friend DUNCOMB COLCHESTER Who desires this may be read in the Parish-Churches of Michel Dean and Westbury and shewn to such Gentlemen Friends and others as may bring God most Glory Nov. 1693. Signed and Delivered in the presence of several of his Friends 6. The Remarkable Penitence of J. H. The next Letter is written by a Woman and one of inferior Quality in the World but not at all inferior in her Repentance It was that and the Grace of God in her Heart which moved her to do it long before it was done and it was the pure effect of that when at last it was done and all her own Composure we are assured by Mr. Stephens an ancient Divine now living in London who gave her Absolution approved her Purpose in it and perused it when she had done it and hath seen other Letters of her Writing by which he could easily discern the Composure of this if there had been any other hand in it or any Reason to suspect it It is published with her Consent who is very ready to embrace any Motion tending to the Honour and Service of God or her own Humiliation Her Letter was directed to Mr. Minister in Portsmouth and is as follows viz. Reverend Sir I Have put Pen to Paper humbly beseeching you to hear me of your Charity a few Words The Enemy of my Soul hath raised many Objections to hinder my intended purpose and I have been almost perswaded to give it over but now having the Advice of a Pious Holy Minister of God who says it may be of great use I desire to take Shame to my self and to give Glory to the Majesty of Heaven who in great Love and Pity hath pluck'd me as a Firebrand out of the Fire and I am this Day a Living Monument of Mercy I cannot but be grieved at the many sad Examples I have given at Portsmouth My Sins have encreased the heap of the publick Impieties and made them cry the louder to Heaven for Vengeance both there and here too It is very meet right and my Duty to confess to the Glory of God and Praise of his Grace my crying Sins committed in that Place that some of my Companions in Evil may hear and fear and do no more such Wickedness About Nine or Ten Years agone I came a young Woman if I deserve that Name to P my Husband Cook of a Ship in that Harbour a very ill Husband no Excuse for me Almighty God did suffer two Sinners to come together in plague one another and whilst he acted the Part of a Drunkard with Shame and Confusion of Face be it spoken I acted the part of a Harlot giving my self over to work all Vncleanness with greediness insomuch that my very Name was a Proverb of Reproach to all Civil Women Two or Three Years I lived openly Scandalous and then it pleased the Almighty to visit me with a sore Fit of Sickness even to the Loss of my Limbs for a Season at which time I did beg of God to restore me to my Health and did faithfully promise never more to defile my Marriage Bed and the Lord was entreated at that time also and hath added to my Life these remaining Years Some time after it pleased the All-wise Providence to make me a Mother I was very thankful for the Mercy and was much reclaimed and I was in some measure convinced of the great Evil of sin and did put Pen to Paper with intent it should come to the Ministers hand but the Enemies of my Soul prevented and hindred that reasonable Design and I was again lull'd to sleep in the Bed of Carnal Security where I continued three or four Years with little Interruption in which time I buried my Husband and two Children After this I was in danger of being as bad as ever living at Service in the very midst of Temptation at Portbridge I continued there but a short space for the good Hand of Providence brought me to London where I had Time and Opportunity to reflect upon my ill-spent Life O that I might improve the Mercy O that I could tell you what God hath done for my Soul He hath brought me out of Darkness into his marvellous Light O that I could prevail with my Companions in Evil to seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near Some of them are old Sinners grey hairs are upon them and they know it not I could be content to stand in a white sheet in your Church if I might but prevail with any one Soul to see the heinousness of my sin Nay I could be content to be stoned without the Walls of the Garrison so I might but be a means of the Conversion of any one Sinner O that I could write these Lines with my purest Blood I am grieved for the Dishonour I have done to God by my abominable sin and heartily wish my Head were Waters and mine Eyes were a Fountain of Tears that I might weep day and night for abusing Mercy O Sir you live in a place relating to Sodom cry aloud spare not to tell the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseer their Sins and my Companions in Evil their Sins The Lord is coming to reckon with the Nations and with you God grant you may be found among the Faithful Shepherds watching them and giving them their Meat in due Season I humbly beg your Blessing desiring to be remembred in your Prayers and I humbly beseech the Almighty that this poor Paper may have its designed Effect that God may be glorified and our Souls saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Amen and Amen J. H. Jan. 22. 1693 4. 7. Sir Alan Broderick who was a Gentleman of Extraordinary Learning and Accomplishments did own with much Contrition that a long Scene of his Life had been acted in the Sports and Follies of Sin that he had sometime pursued a Pagan and abandon'd way Scepticism it self not excepted wherein the poignancy of his Wit and the strength of his Reasoning even in that very Argument the using of which proclaims a Man in the Language of the Holy Scriptures a Fool may have been the occasion of a great deal of Mischief towards some that are already gone to their Accounts Yet some Years before his Death the bent and tendency of his Life and Actions was Devout and Religious and in his Private Conversation with his Minister he would always be Discoursing some Cases of Conscience about retir'd Closet-Prayer or the Nature and Necessity of True Religion and in his last Sickness he thought himself under a mighty Incumbency to Pray but was much harassed and anxious what to do because of his fear of not performing it with all becoming Reverence and Seriousness
of the Provincial Presidents have written heretofore unto Our Father of Famous Memory whom he answered in Writing again That they were not to be longer molested unless they had practised Treason against the Roman Empire And many have given Notice unto Us of the same Matter whom We answered as Our Father did before Us. If any therefore hereafter be found thus busied in other Mens Affairs We Command that the accused be absolute and free though he be found such a one I mean faulty and that the Accuser be grievously punished This Edict was proclaimed at Ephesus in the hearing of the great Assembly of Asia Euseb l. 4. c. 13. 6. Dr. Heylin in his Cosmography tells us That some of the Natives of America would say to some of the English at their first going over to those Foreign Plantations That King James was a good King and his God a good God but their Tauto naught 7. In the City of Aleppo a handsome French Slave a Young Man of Eighteen Years Old being tempted to Sodomy by his Master's Steward and upon his denial being threatned with immediate Death if he disputed any longer The vertuous Slave finding himself destitute of all other Remedies nimbly seized upon a Scymetar which hung upon the Wall of the Chamber and at one blow with it smote off the Turk's Head To escape Death for this Fact which was the lightest Punishment he could expect he takes an Arabian Horse out of his Master 's Stable with a design to make for Scandaroon to the English Factory there But unhappily meeting his Master upon the way he was stop'd brought back again and upon discovery of the Murther brought before the Basha by whom upon the Importunity of the Turks he was condemned to be beheaded The Slave then as brought to the Place of Execution which is a Field without the City where being come he appeared though very modest yet undaunted and fearless of Death And having prayed with much Fervour and Devotion and having particularly acknowledged his Fault and begged Almighty God's Pardon for telling his Master that his House was robbed when he met him upon the Road he was strip'd stark naked according to the Custom of that Place and discovered a lovely Body in which inhabited a more lovely Soul And immediately before his Death he did aver that he died a Christian depending wholly for his Salvation upon the Merits of our Saviour and that he killed the Steward for no other reason but to avoid being polluted by him and that he hoped God would shew some sign upon his Body to attest his Innocency and the Truth of what he said After having said this his Head was struck off from his Body and both left unburied according to Custom Many rebellious Turks were executed at the same time in the same place whose Bodies were quickly torn in pieces and devoured by a certain sort of great Dogs kept at Aleppo who were allowed no other Sustenance almost but the Carcasses of Malefactors But it was observed that none of those Dogs would touch the Body or Head of this Martyr of Chastity And which is more strange yet though this Young Man's Body lay in the Field unburied Ten or Twelve days and no other Execution in all that time and the Dogs so extreamly pinched with Hunger that they were ready to devour living Men yet they would not touch this Body And which is more Remarkable yet though it lay exposed all this time to the heat of the Sun in that very intemperate Climate yet did it not stink corrupt or change colour And this Circumstance moreover is affirmed as Remarkable that after Ten days there being another Execution in the same Place that Carcass was immediately devoured in the sight of the People But the Turks to bury their own shame were necessitated at last to dig a Grave and entomb this chaste Martyr See the Narrative Printed with License at London Anno Christi 1676. 8. The Testimony of Cublay the Emperor of the Tartars concerning Christ upon occasion of a Victory obtained by him over the Great Province of Mangi A. C. 1286. THis Day I cannot deny but that the Victory which I have obtained over mine Enemies is by especial Grace from my great God the Sun Moon and Stars abiding in this Glorious Vault of Heaven To whom I purpose to render Thanks to Morrow even in this open Field to which purpose I give Order that the Places be avoided of Humane Bodies here slain as also of the dead Beasts and decent Altars purposely erected As for the Prisoners being most part of them Christians whom I behold despoiled of their Arms shouted at mocked despised and jested at by the Jews Mahometists and others upbraiding them with their God Jesus Christ who was sometime fastened to a Cross by the said Jews for not aiding and helping them to the Victory as wanting such Power because so many of their Ensigns are here prostrated at my feet From this present hour forward I forbid all manner of Persons of what Quality or Religion soever they be to use any more such Derisions of themm on pain to be deprived of their Arms and well whipped with Rods at two several times yea on the very greatest pain beside that can be imagined And so much the rather because their God Jesus Christ is esteemed of Us to be one of the very greatest Coelestial Deities full of all Right Equity and Justice For he knowing these Christians to make War against Us unjustly being Our Subjects that never gave them occasion but revolted of themselves and adhered with Our Enemies therefore hath he permitted that I should win the Day albeit I have heard him to be called the God of Battels Over and besides this I Pardon all them that have followed my unkind Nephews Naiam and Caydve as being meerly deceived by them in making them believe they were levied for my Service and therefore I receive them again into my Protection Giving further to understand that all such as have any Prisoners they are not to offer the least harm whatsoever but immediately to set them at Liberty delivering them their Arms and all other Equipages to them belonging on pain to pass through the danger of the Army even he the proudest that shall make denial Our Charge imposed on the Christians is to Pray unto their God for Our Prosperity and to do Us Nine Months Service by taking Wages of Us in Our Instant War against the King of Nixamora who denieth to pay Us Our Tribute and strives to equal himself with Our Greatness Treasur of Ancient and Modern Times l. 2. p. 130. 9. The Testimony of Sidan King of Morocco concerning Jesus Christ in a Letter to James the First King of England WHen these Our Letters shall be so happy as to come to Your Majesty's sight I wish the Spirit of the Righteous God may so direct your Mind that you may joyfully embrace the Message I send presenting to you the means
the Mountains which made them apprehensive of Fire but thanks be to God no ill event hath yet succeeded We have a further Account from the Parish of Vere in that Island some Leagues from Pâ—rt-Royal dated the 30th of June 1692. On Tuesday the 7th of June about 11 in the morning it pleased the Just God to visit us with a Terrible Earthquake which continued with much Violence and Terrour for about a quarter of an hour as most say in which it overthrew all the Brick and Stone-Buildings in the Country whereof several in this Parish of Vere are levelled with the Ground or standing Monuments of the Wrath of God so shattered and torn that they are irreparable whilst these were tumbling the Earth opened in this place in multitudes of Places and through their dire Charms spewed out Water to a considerable height above-ground in such quantities in some places that it made our Gullies run on a suddain though before exceeding dry insomuch that some were afraid of being over-whelmed at once by the River and Sea joyning together to swallow up the Country these gaping Mounths being no less than 12 20 or more foot deep under the Earth and above two miles up in the Country especially nigh the River in the purest mould which had no Clay nor other Consolidating matter beneath where that was we do not find any cracks of the Earth at all Our noted Town of St. John de la Vega or the Spanish-Town is utterly down to the Ground and its Church devoured in the same Ruins Our Magazine and only Store-House of Port-Royal is 3 parts swallowed up in the Sea A whole Street called the Wharf where most of the noted Merchants lived sunk at once from one end to the other with a general Crack at the beginning of the Earthquake together with two Forts and Guns c. thereon and all that were upon or nigh it perished in an instant without any warning Soon after 2 or 3 more Streets in their whole length tottered and fell and were immediately sunk Ground and all together deep into the Sea as far as the Jews-street All the Upper part of the Town with the Church and all above the Palissadoes is under Water even the very Palissado's it self where their Burying place was is now no longer Earth but Sea and the Dead Corps floated from them to all parts of the Harbour The Houses that yet remain are many of them so rent and torn and others so deeply sunk into the Wavers even up to their Balconies that they are unserviceable The Wall at the Palissadoes is utterly ruined with the Port belonging and tho' Morgan's Line and Walker's Fort yet stand they are sorely shaken and rent and so sunk that they are not Tenable the whole place that is yet above Water sinking daily by those Earthquakes we have ever since had sometimes 4 5 6 times more or less in 24 hours The reputed number of the Dead for perhaps there will never be an exact account is reckoned about 1500 Persens besides Negroes who are said to be 6 or 700 more a multitude of whose black Corps floated many days from one side of the Water to the other which caused such an intolerable stench that the Dead were like to destroy the Living till at last some were sunk and others dispersed by the Sea-Breeze Likewise Ligania the first and principal Town for Planting and imitating if not exceeding the stately Building of Port-Royal is now brought to terrible Desolation and its fine new-built and yet unfinished Church buried in the same Ruines with the Houses By the fall of a Mountain into the Channel of the River which supplies both this Town and Port-Royal the River became dry for 16 hours together to the terrour of the Inhabitants Other Letters aâ—d these particulars That this terrible Earthquake came from the North and attack'd Port-Royal on the Harbour-side on which was the Wharf the whole length of the place where stood the King's-House a Bastion of 207 Guns Carlisle Battery of 119 Guns and the Houses of the greatest Merchants all those sunk in a moment from 3 to 5 Fathom Water some were sunk in their Houses others Buried in the Rubbish some who were got into clear Water and could Swim were carried away with drifts of Timber nothing else was seen but the dead and dying nothing heard but Shreiks and Cries the living were covered with Wounds Bruises and Blood the Thunder roared over their heads the Earth trembled under their feet the Rocks and Mountains were rent in sunder and Fire-Balls day and night fell from Heaven it is impossible for Tongue to speak or Pen to write the Sorrows and Terrors of that day 35. In the same year 1692. on the 8th of September an Earthquake was felt in London and in several parts of Essex Kent Sussex Hamshire c. as Sheerness Sandwich Deal Maidstone Portsmouth c. the People leaving their Houses in many places It shook Leeds Castle in Yorkshire so violently that all in the Castle even the Lady her self went out of it and expected its falling A Person being in the Field hard by the Ground shook so under him that he could not stand and being forced to lie down on the ground was so tossed up and down that he received several Bruises At Maidstone in Kent the People generally got out of their Houses feraing they would fall It happened at London about 4 Minutes past two and was felt in most parts of the Dutch and Spanish Netherlands as also in Germany and France c. We have this Account from Holland That on the 8th of September between 2 and 3 a Clock in the afternoon all Holland was sensible of a trembling of the Earth which lasted about 3 Minutes At Middleburg in Zealand it continued some time and caused the Earth to move so much that the People were forced to hold by what was next them in the Street It caused the Bells in the great Church there and at the Hague to jangle and the Ships at Sea were sensible of it The Gazette relates That our Gracious Soveraign King William being encamp'd at Grammon in Flanders at the same time there happened an Earthquake which lasted near a Minute and was very sensible to the whole Camp The King being at Dinner in an old decay'd House which shaking very much and every one apprehending it was ready to fall His Majesty was prevailed with to rise from Table to go out of the House but the surprise was soon over 36. On the 7th of January 1692. about 10 at night Mount Aetna in Sicily began to roar in a most horrible manner which usually presages some dismal calamity to ensue It continued for two days and about an hour after the People of Catania which was nearest to the Mountain felt a trembling under them for near 3 minutes during which no noise was heard from Mount Aetna but within a Minute after the roaring of the Mountain was redoubled with
Nature and Art the World is furnish'd with and we set as the principal Spectators of them in order to be High-Priests to offer the Sacrifices of Praise for the Rest of the visible Creation methinks I am ready to complain that our Lives are contracted to so short a Span that we can hardly have time to look about us and admire and give due Praise but we must be gone off the Stage Oh! think I if we might but live now to a Mathusalem's Age or at least a Nestor's or John of the Times or but so long as my Country-man Part what brave Schemes might we draw of Architecture What high Scaffolds might we raise What wonderful Projects might we contrive What ingenious and subtle Ideas might we form The Quadrature of the Circle the perpetual Motion the scaling of the Skies and a perfect Discovery of the Lunar World the Philosopher's Stone Flying Diving Any thing Every thing would be but mean and ordinary to imploy our Wits upon But God hath wisely prevented our Projection of these Babels by reducing our Time to a short Scantling of but a Span long and confounding our Thoughts with a Thousand Cares and Abbreviating our Necessities to a little Compendium of Fearing God and heeping his Commandments as the whole of Man Notwithstanding we have all of us almost some spare Minutes left from our necessary Offices which we might if we would spend in a more noble way upon more generous Exercises either of Veiwing or Doing of Speculation or Action or which were much better both I am not so fond as to conceit that I have given here a due Account of all or most of the Wonders and strange Improvements of Art 't is enough to my purpose if tanquam canis ad Nilum I have exhibited a short Specimen enough to beget Admiration and Emulation Let my Reader read and wonder and fall into an honest Indignation with himself that he hath suffer'd his Sands of Time to run so fast in his Glass and his Blood stagnate in his Veins and his Brains gather Flegm and Water whilst himself doth nothing or nothing to purpose or next door to nothing in comparison with those brave Intellectuals he is endowed with I am not for Domitian's pricking Flies with a Pin nor the Hungarian 's wooden Coat of Mail the work of fifteen Years nor Myrmerides 's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coach with four Horses so little you might hide them under a Flie's Wing nor Collicrates 's Elegies writ so small that a Cherry-stone might hold them nor Mark Scaliot 's Lock spoken of hereafter c. These are all certainly but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a laborious Loss of Time an Ingenious Profusion of one of the best Talents we are intrusted with and more than that perhaps of Two viz. Our Time and Wit Let People know their Strength what they can do and consider the Price of Time they have allowed to act in and act accordingly with a due Aim and direct Tendancy to the Divine Honour their Neighbour's Benefit and their own Happiness and I do not doubt but Men will find better Work and at last receive a Better a more Comfortable and Satisfactory Reward Curiosities of Art PART III. CHAP. I. The English Tongue Improved THE Art of Speaking is none of the least Extellencies of Humane Nature the Confusion of Tongues introduced a great Obscurity in delivering the Sense of our Minds and Men were many Ages blundering and unskilful in expressing themselves properly Where Learning prevailed the Languages were sooner ripen'd to a Perfection and Purity The English Tongue by occasion of frequent Intermixtures with other People lay a long time corrupted with a variety of Dialects How it hath been improved of late Ages we may guess by comparing the Old Dialect with the New Of the old take these few Parcels out of Richard a Religious Hermit in the Earl of Exeter 's Library for a Specimen 1. His Te Deum begins thus We heryen ye God we knowlecnen ye Lord Alle ye erie worschips ye everlasting Fader Alle Aungels in Hevens and alle ye poures in yis VVarld Cherebin and Seraphin cryen by be voice to ye unstinting 2. His Benedictus thus Blessyd be ye Louerd God of Israel for he has visityd maad buying of his puple 3. The Magnificat thus My Soul worschips ye Louerd and my gost ioyed in God my hele for he lokyd ye mekeness of hys honde mayden So for i â—en of yat blissefulle Schal sey me all generaciouns For he has don to me grete yingis yat myrty is and his Nome hely 4. Nunc dimittis Louerd you leuest nowe yi Servaunt in pees astir yi word yat you hast seyde byfore for now I am ripe to die for mine eghen hau seen yin owen Son Christ yat is yin owen he le to Men. 5. Mat. Cap. 1. The Bok of ye Generacoun of Jhu Crist Sone of Dauid Sone of Abraham Abraham gendryde Isaac Isaac forsoye gendride Jacob Jacob forsoye gendride Judas and hys breyren 6. Acts 1. Ye dedis of ye Apostlis Theofile fyrst I maad a Sermon of all yingis yat ittu began to do and to teche into the day of his assencioun in whych he commandide in ye hoolst to his Apostlis whyche he hadde chosen to whyche he schewide hymselfe alyve aftyr his passioun by many Argumentys appering to hem fourti dais 7. Rem 1. Paul ye Servaunt of Jhu Crist clepid an Apostle depromptyd into the Gospel of God whyche he hadde behote tofore by hise Profetis in hooli Scriptur of his Sone Apoc. 1. Apocalipis of Jhu Crist whyche God 3 as to him to maak open to hys Servauntis whyche yingis hit behouey to be maad soone c. 8. Pater Noster thus Ure Fadir in Hevene riche Thy nome be haliid everliche Thou bring us to thy michilblisse Thi wil to wirche thu us wisse Al 's it is in Hevene ido Euer in Erth ben hit also That heli bred yat lastyth ay Thou send hious yis ilke day Forgive ous all yat we haueth don Al 's we forgive ych oder mon He let ous falle in no founding Alt scilde ous fro ye foul thing Amen 9. The Creed thus I beleive in God Fadir Almighty Shipper of Heven and Erth and in Jhesus Crist his onle thi Son ure Louerd that is iuange church the hooli gost bore of Mary maiden tholedepine undyr Pounce Pilat picht on rode tre dead and yburiid licht into helle the thrid day fro death arose steich into Heuene sit on his Fadir richt honde God Almichty then is comminde to deme the quikke and the dede I beleue in the hooli Gost alle hooli Chirche mone of Allehallwen forgiuenis of sine fleiss uprising lif withuten end Amen Wevers Fun. Men. p. 152. Of the New or Modern Dialect there is no necessity of giving any Specimen at all CHAP. II. Blind Persons Improved by Art and Industry WHere Nature is defective there the Assistance of Art