certainly there was in this our old Doctor such warmth of affections as is seldom seen in so antient a man and yet was it mannaged with such Christian Prudence that he exercised it not about light and trivial matters but about the greater and more substantial points of Religion and that through the whole course of his Life Whether he Preached Prayed or discoursed about Divine things all was performed with much zeal and heat of affections He was fervent in spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12.11 How glad was he of an opportunity of Preaching and if his liberty could have been purchased with money what would he not have given for it He was very affectionate in Prayer His Prudence and yet were his affections so tempered with Prudence and Judgement that though upon extraordinary occasions he would dâ—â—â—large himself therein yet in his Family Prayers he was usually short that so he might not make Religious duties a burthen to those that joyned with him And as his Prayers were fervent so he had this honour from God that he had many signal returns and answers to his Prayers as we shall hear afterwards and as can be attested by many who received benefit by them both for Soul and Bodily distempers and affections He was conscienciously strict in the observation of the Lords Daies The Sabbath Sanctified not permitting any discourses in his presence but such as were suitable to the Day and to the Duties thereof Rebuking and reproving such as would take liberty to discourse about their worldly businesses upon Gods Day Fourthly His liberality and bounty were as eminent His bounty and charity and exemplary as any of his other Graces God gave him a good Estate so a large heart which was a double mercy He was rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate Laying up in store for himself a good Foundation against the time to come 1 Tim. 6.18 19. He hath been often heard to say That he could fare hardly and go meanly that he might be the better enabled thereby to be charitable unto others that were in want And it is believed that few of his estate and rank exceeded him herein Seldom did any necessitous Persons come to him seldom did he hear of the necessitiâ—s of others though at a distance from him but they tasted of his Bounty He gave large summs of money every year for divers years together to pious and charitable uses as his Wife can testifie who kept an account in writing of the several summs so disbursed by him Towards the relief of the poor persecuted Protestants in Piâ—mont he gave thirty pounds and as much the same year to another charitable use He gave also several considerable summs yearly for the support and encouragement of some poor Schollars in the University of Dublin besides a large summ of money disbursed out of his own purse towards furnishing the Library there with Books And as he had thus sundry waies exercised his Bounty whilst he lived so at his Death he gave large Legacies to pious and charitable uses and God made good that Promise to him Isa 58.10 If thou draw out thy Soul to the hungry and satisfie the afflicted Soul Then shall thy Light rise in obscurity and thy darkness be as the Noon-day 5. To this Grace of Charity may be added his Candour His Candour and courteous deportment which gave a lustre to his Bounty according to that of the Poet Dat benè dat multum Qui dat cum munere vultum He was not apt to be offended with others much less apt to offend others His Meekness He alwaies interpreted to the best sense that which might seemingly have ministred occasion of offence by which excellent temper he drew love and respect to himself wheresoever he came and with whomsoever he conversed whether in private Families or in his more publick imployments Sixthly In the last place his Faith His Faith and Patience and Patience calls for our consideration of which as he had given good proof in the whole course of his Life so they eminently shon forth when he came to die In the time of his sickness he shewed an holy humble and chearful resignation of himself to the wife and merciful disposal of God his Heavenly Father Not one repining word was heard to proceed out of his mouth He was dumb and opened not his mouth because it was the Lord that did it Psalm 39.9 There was not any impatient or uncomly motion seen in him but being full of Faith of Christian Patience and courage he feared not Death but was well prepared and resolved against that stroke of it And would often say O how happy a thing is it by Death to be about a possibility of Sinning The Heathen Philosophers called Death The most terrible of all terribles and the Sacred Scripture calls it The King of terrours It is Storied that one hearing a person highly commended for his excellent Virtues said Let us stay till his Death and then we shall be the better able to judge of all these things which make such a glittering shew in him for the present And certainly to be able to look the King of Terrouâ—s in the Face without consternation and to meet the last enemy Death with Joy and consolation His Perseverance is no small evidence of a true and strong Faith and this was evidently seen and discerned in this worthy Doctor at the time of his Death He often declared in his health that in his younger daies he had been sorely vexed and pestered with Satans Temptations but at last meeting with a plain honest Christian such an other probably as the Shepherd was with whom Junius met to whom complaining of his fears he first rebuked him and then instructed him Good Counsel saying You look at the reward without minding and intending the Work in that you desire and expect Assurance before you have well resolved upon doing your Duty My advice therefore is to mind what God requires of you in your present station and be serious and diligent therein and the other will come in Gods due time This advice he professed was of great use to him all his Life after so that after that time he was not troubled with such perplexing thoughts as formerly he had been but lived and dyed in Peace both with God and man in the great Climacterical year of his Age October 22. 1666. Examples of his power and prevalency in Prayer The wise Solomon tells us Prov. 12.2 That a good man obtaineth favour of the Lord That is He hath what he will of God Id quod vult à Domino impetrat quia eius voluntas est ipsissima Dei voluntas nec aliud vult As Mercer hath it out of Rabâ—i Levi. It is written of Luther â—â—e vir potuit à Deo quicquid voluit That by his Prayers he could prevail with God at his pleasure Melancthon and Myconius being sick of desperate
THE LIFE AND DEATH Of the Eminently Learned Pious and Painful Minister of the Gospel Dr. SAMVEL WINTER Sometime Provest of Trinity Colledge near Dublin in Ireland Together with some Rare Examples of Gods gracious Answer to his Prayers upon several Occasions Prov. 10.7 The memory of the Just is blessed But the Name of the Wicked shall rot â—sal 34.15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous and his eares are open to their Cry LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the sign of the Bible and three Crowns at the loweâ— end of Cheapside 1671. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Reader THou hast here a true Narrative of the Life and Death of that eminent Servant of Jesus Christ Samuel Winter Doctor in Divinity who was for several years Provest or Master of Trinity Colledge near Dublin in Ireland published at the desire of his sorrowful Widdow by a Person who had familiar acquaintance with him for about twenty years as well whilst he was Minister of Cottingham hereafter mentioned as whilst he was in Ireland and since his coming over into England and was present with him in the time of his Sickness and at his Death who by reason of his long and familiar Conversation with him is able and doth testifie to the Truth of most of the latter passages in the ensuing Discourse from his own knowledge which is thought fit to be Published not so much to adorn the Name or to perfume the memory of the Deceased as to provoke others especially Ministers of the Gospel to a serious imitation of him to the Glory of God edification of others and the comfort of their own Souls here and at the appearing of Jesus Christ which effect that it may produce is the earnest Prayer of the publisher J. W. Courteous Reader HOwever I can have no confidence that my commendation or attestation to the ensuing Narrative of the Life and Death of so eminent a Servant of God can contribute any thing to a work that indeed needs it not being so exactly performed by a friend of approved faithfulness and endeared affection and so throughly acquainted with him who is the Subject of it Yet the desire of the pious and sorrowful Widdow and the entire love I had to her dear Husband now with God hath occasioned the following lines Which Justice to the dead I heartily desire may be beneficial to the living as being not only what I had from persons of integrity but of the â—â—ost part my own certain knowledge â—â—rely the Doctor was a pattern not unworthy his Brethrens imitation and there is no cause to doubt but that the ensuing Relation may glad the hearts of Gods people and stir them up to follow the faith of such lights He was an other Apollos mighty in the Scriptures having made them his particular study above forty years together upon which is the read many Expositors so he chiefly studyed the famous Comentaâ—ies of judicious and blessed Calvin whom of all others he most admired and I may truly say his labour was not in vain for that he attained to a more than ordinary dexterity not only of knowing the mind of God in his Word in the general but particularly in the most difficult which he made sufficient proof of in his opening of the Types and Prophesies especially the Revelations having expounded a great part thereof in his Divinity Lecture in the Colledge of Dublin whereof also he was Provest I have often heard him Preach excellently of the Types which he admired for their great usefulness in opening many difficulties in the New Testament And for the profitable part of Critical learning so far as concerneâ— the Hebrew and Creek text of the Bible he was very well verst in themâ— especially the latter insomuch thaâ— howsoever his Sermons were for thâ— most part very plain for in them he sought not his own glory but his Masters and the profit of his hearers The learned and judicious by his excellent faculty in opening difficult Scriptures found that in them wherewith they were benefited and delighted And some to my knowledge have heartily wished that his Expositions upon select Scriptures which were not ordinary had been collected digested and published by himself But his Geâ—ius being more for the Pulpit than â—he Press dashed such expectations â—e was a most affectionate Preacher such was his zeal and fervency that I may safely allude to that of the Apostle 1 Thess 2.8 Being affectionatly desirous of you we were willing to have imparted to you not the Gospel of God only but also our Souls because ye were dear unto us Such was his longing after the Salvation of poor Sinners I have heard him often with trouble complain of the cold Preaching of some Ministers as if Christ were still in his Grave Nor was the Lord wanting to recompence this his labour of Love with a plentiful Harvest making him a very happy Instrument in the conversion of very many and in the building up of many also And as his Sermons breathed of his affection as is said so they were with power for he was a Boenarges so that notorious Sinners as not able to resist the spirit by which he spake have been compelled to yield and to come unto Christ He made if his first work whereever he came to humble sinners therein following the examples of the servants of God in Scripture and the grave advice given him by Mr. Dod or Mr. Thomas Hooker when he was to enter upon a charge where the people were generally Rude and profane On the other hand he was of an exceeding tender spirit towards such aâ— were coming on to Christ or under spiritual trouble for loss of communion with him that he would even weep over them an Argument of much grace thus kindly to bleed in the wounds of grieved Saints And so good was God to him that as he sound his assistance wonderful in Preaching what he had afore prepared so even in very considerable digressions which he would purposely â—all into I doubt not from the motion of the spirit of God and his quickness to observe the frame and need of his hearers which made him often say that somtimes a digression was no Transgression And I may say to the glory of God that however he hath not left many Books to perpetuate his memory yet he hath left many living Saints whom he did beget unto Christ by the Gospel the most lively Images of the grace of God in him and in whom though dead he yet speaketh His dear love to the people and places where God was pleased most signally to seal to his Ministry deserves to be remembred whom I have known him to mention with tears of Joy And indeed he was so set upon the fulfilling of his Ministry that nothing rejoyced him more than an opportunity of Preaching the Gospel He would of ten say that his opportunities were his riches and that his heart has been often exceedingly lifted up at the ringing of
the Sermon Bell. Nor was he thus desirous to Preach but as desirous that the word Preached might not slip out of the hearts or memories of such of the hearers as he conversed with turning all discourses to what was lately Preached saying that as the Bell when it was done ringing leaves a humming behind it so should Sermons after they are Preached He was a man mighty in Prayer he would often say a man of much Prayer was a man of much grace and a man of little Prayer was a a man of little grace As he was of a melted spirit in Prayer so he was another Jacob a great wrestler with God His Prayers were not only affectionate but very argumentative He had a very great excellency in pleading with God from Scripture Topicks which he would wonderfully improve And as his communion with God was great so the Lord did to admiration let out himself 〈◊〉 him not only eminently answering his prayers but revealing many secrets to him in and after prayer some of which for the encouragement and comfort of the Godly Reader I shall here take the liberty to relate In his younger years he had a Law-Sute with one about a Living he was possessed of of good value at last he was about to resign it as being unable to withstand so potent an adversary The people hearing of his resolution came to him and besought him that he would not but consider their precious Souls His tenderness was such that he held on the Sute to the expending of a very great summ of money and in the end was overcome His then Wife was much cast down for that so great a part of their estate was spent in that Sute whereupon being abroad one day hâ— besought the Lord exceeding earnestly to quiet his and her spirit with hiâ— providence whereupon he said hâ— saw the Skie open and heard a voicâ— which said to him that seeing hâ— was willing to spend his estate for his Glory neither he nor his should ever want which when he came home he told his Wife with great Joy saying he would not for 〈◊〉 he was worth want that comfortable answer to his prayers At an other time being without his knowledge noâ— minâ—ted in Parliament to go with their Commissioners for Ireland his wife was unwilling he having a precious people and great living where he was Some also of his Wives nearest Relations coming upon that occasion to visit them disswaded him from going himself also was fearful of the Sea in this Streight as his usual manner was he retired to his Closet where having spread the matter before the Lord and with much earnestness begging Counsel of God the Lord so satisfied him that he told his Wife he must go for he was assured he should be carried thither in safety and should be an Instrument to convert many Souls there In both the Lord was pleased to fulfill his word after a wonderful manner as there are other Instances at hand were it needful to multiply as that of his perswasion of the recovery of Mr. J. Mrs. M. and Mr. J. W. Even when sick in an other Land and his perswasion of Gods great care over these Nations for the sake of the many thousands of the Righteous in them Touching which in the close of a day of prayer he said he had an assurance by an audible voice and a glorious brightness that shined before him It is not unknown to some how great an encourager he was of godliness in all especially in such as under his Government in the Colledge were designed for the Ministry whom he would prefer in fellowships or other places before others And the like tenderness he showed his Brethren in the Ministry when under any discouragement because of their own weakness biding them to look up and telling them that the way to have legs was to use legs He was very communicative for he loved to be asked questions especially touching the sense of difficult Scriptures to which even upon the Sudden he would answer admirably His great humility he showed in his delightful Converse with the meanest Saints What he was in other Relations needs not my recital As he was a loving Father so a Husband of many which leaves the deeper impression upon the heart of his Relict Surely he was a true friend an useful Neighbour But that I may draw to a Conclusion having already exceeded the bounds of an Epistle what I have here spoken I desire may provoke imitation and that Ministers may thereby be excited to do all the good they can in their day seeing the Prophets do not live for ever that their words may live when they are dead that having so served Gods providence in their generation they may enjoy that Crown of which he is in full possession and I desire all may seriously consider why the Lord continues to remove our Lots and to pluck up our stakes and to fear lest it may be in Judgement to us of these sinful times as it is in mercy doubtless to them And I do heartily wish that these loud Voices of Gods providence might put us upon our Watch that keeping Faith and a good Conscience we may be in a readiness to enter into the Joy of our Lord when we shall be Called off the Stage of this miserable world Which the great God graciously vouchsafe in and through our Lord Jesus Christ Amen The Life and Death of the Reverend Learned and holy Doctor Samuel Winter sometime Provest of Trinity Colledge by Dublin DOctor Samuel Winter was born in the year of our Lord 1603. at Balsal His Birth and education in the wood-land part of Warwickshire about seven miles from the City of Coventry of Religious Parents About the twelfth year of his age it pleased God by the Ministry of one Mr. Slader then Preacher at the Chappel of Knowl near unto Balsal The Doctors Father having a great hand in bringing him thither to awaken his conscience and to make him serious about the things that concerned his everlasting Salvation His Conversion as also to stir up in him earnest desires of doing good to the souls of others for which end one day as he came from School about a mile from his Fathers house he retired himself under an hedge to pray and among other Petitions he begged of God that he would quallify him for the work of the Ministry and make his labour effectual and successful therein At which time he thought that he heard a voice saying God hath heard thy Prayer Prayer Answered and hath designed thee for that Work and thou shalt be an Instrument of Converting many Souls to God This exceedingly cheared up his heart insomuch as coming home he applyed himself to his Father requesting of him that he might be trained up for the work of the Ministry His Father asked him the reason of his desires He told him what Prayer he had made and what return he had from God to it
His Father being much affected herewith sent him to the Free-School in Coventry where through his extraordinary diligence and industry he made so good a progress in Learning that though at near fourteen years of Age he understood nothing or very little of the first rudiments of Grammer yet within a few years he became fit for the University and accordingly he was sent to Cambridge He goes to the University and placed in L. Colledge and had for some time that famous Doctor Preston for his Tutor At the feet of this Gamaliel those natural and gracious abilities which he brought along with him were much improved and partly by the help and directions of so excellent a Guide and partly by Gods blessing upon his unwearied labours His proficiency there he attained to a great measure of knowledge both in the Tongues and Arts and also in Divinity When he had Commenced Master of Arts being as yet unwilling to enter upon that great and dreadful work of the Ministry he left Cambridge and went to Boston in Lincolnshire He goes to Boston where he lived under the Ministry of Holy and learned Mr. John Cotton out of whose Family after some time he married a Wife one Mrs. Anne Beeston a Gentlewoman of a good extraction His first Mariage and one that had a considerable Portion the match being of Mr. Cottons contrivance After his marriage and some time continuance with his Wife in Mr. Cottons 〈◊〉 sickness Family he fell into a very violent Feavour which in the Judgement of his Physitians was desperate and left no hopes of his recovery His Wife being much affected and afflicted herewith he would oft comfort her telling her that he should not die at this time for that God had not yet fulfilled his Promise made to him in his youth wherein he had assured him that he should be an Instrument of converting many Souls unto him His recovery And accordingly he recovered and then resolved to apply himself to the Work of the Ministry He enters upon the Ministry and being more ambitious to do God and his Church service than to advance himself in the World he removed from Boston to a small living near Nottingham called Woodborow where by his painful and powerful Preaching many out of neighbouring Towns flocking to his Ministry as the Doves to their windows the seeds of Grace through Gods blessing were sown in the hearts of many which sprang up and some of them remain unto this day This place he alwaies highly esteemed and would often call it His First-born From Woodborow he was removed to York where His remove to York in that great and populous City he continued a Lecturer for some time and as there he had great opportunities for service so had he great success receiving there a manifest Seal to his Ministry in the Conversion and Confirmation of many But our Civil Wars coming on about that time he could not stay long at York Yet though the door was shut up against him in that place another large and effectual door was opened for him elsewhere For Cottingham a great Town within three miles of Hull His remove to Cottinghamâ— being then destitute of a Pastor thither he was by a more than ordinary Providence brought and in that place for about the space of eight years he continued to be a burning and shining Light as it was said of John the Baptist burning in his Zeal and Doctrine and shining in his Life and holy Conversation His activity for God He was exceeding active and industrious for God He thought no pains too great whereby the peoples Souls might be edified He Preached to them in publick twice every Lords Day He expounded the Chapters which he read and Catechised the Youth In the evening he repeated his Sermons to his own Family many of the neighbours also resorting to him On the week daies he took occasion to go from House to House instructing the Ignorant and endeavouring to build up his Parishioners in their most holy Faith And God was pleased so to bless his labours The success of his â—â—inistry that he became instrumental to the Conversion and Confirmation of many who attained partly by his publick Ministry and partly by his private pains a great measure of Grace and Gifts so that they made Conscience of the strict observation of the Lords Day of Closet and Family duties and other spiritual services required by God as fruits of their Faith So meek and affable he was in his carriage towards all men that his company was pleasing and delightful even to many of those who had no relish of his Doctrine At Cottingham he buried his loving His 〈◊〉 dâ—es and dearly beloved Wife who left him five Sons which loss was yet through Gods merciful Providence abundantly repaired in his second marriage about three years after with Mrs. Elizabeth Weaver His second marriage the Daughter of Christopher Weaver Esq with whom he had a good Portion and she proved excellently quallified for the good and comfort both of him and his children and God was pleased so to bless her prudent management of his outward affairs that when he dyed he left a plentiful estate to his Children besides all those Acts of more than ordinary bounty which both in his Life and at the time of his Death he testified his Faith by In the year 1650. the Powers that were then in being resolved to send over four Commissioners into Ireland for the settlement of that distracted and almost ruined Kingdom and judgeing it necessary to send along with them a godly able and Orthodoxe Divine His call to Ireland they ordered that Mr. Winter should attend these Commissioners thither Which Order of theirs being sent to him to Cottingham where he then lived he looked upon it as a clear Call from God Yet for his better satisfaction he advised with his Friends and begged direction from God in a business of so weighty concernment after which he chearfully embraced this Call hoping that God would bring some Glory to his own Name by the labours of him his unworthy servant in that Kingdom And so not consulting with flesh and blood which might have suggested unto him that it would be an unadvised act and disadvantagious to him to part with so tractable and loving a People and with so good a Rectory it being above four hundred pound a year and to cast himself upon Strangers neither knowing nor capitulating with them what his Salary should be for the maintenance of himself and Family And so resigning up his Living he prepared for his Journey At his coming over into Ireland His remove to Ireland the Commissioners allowed him but one 100. l. for the first year which yet he chearfully accepted though it did not defray the charges of their Transportation with such necessaries as he provided for the accommodation of himself and Family much less did it
repair the losses which he sustained shortly after his Landing His losses when the Irish Army took from his divers Horses of good value which he carried over with him A great part of his worldly delight consisting in keeping good Horses In this his first year His great pains he attended the Commissioners in several Journies which they made into the four Provinces of Ireland was their Houshold Chaplain performed Family duties and Preached in Publick every Lords Day wheresoever they came And in the City of Dublin where they continued the greatest part of their time he Preached sometimes twice every Lords Day in Christ-Church before the Commissioners the Lord Major and Aldermen of that City many Gentlemen and others resorting to his Ministry Not long after some other Ministers coming thither from England the Commissioners for the ease of Mr. Winter used to request one or other of them to Preach in the morning reserving Mr. Winter for the afternoon at which time was the greatest Auditory But he not being willing to be out of imployment set up a Lecture He sets up a Lecture which he Preached every Sabbath morning at seven a clock in the Church of St. Nicholas within the said City And this Lecture was frequented by the Commissioners City-Magistrates and many others so that he had a very frequent Congregation and to encouragepoor people to come to Church His prudence he caused some wite Loaves to be distributed among them alwaies when the Sermon was ended About this time the Commissioners finding that Trinity Colledge by Dublin through the iniquity of the times and distractions of the Kingdom was left destitute by the Fellows and Students and thereby brought almost to ruine they thought it their duty for the advancement of Religion and Learning to endeavour the repair of the same And for the end they appointed the said Mr. Winter to be the Provest He is made Provest of the Colledge or Master of it and where after a time he Commenced Doctor in Divinity having with singular applause and approbation performed all Acts and Exercises requisite thereunto He also out of his care and zeal to promote so pious a work in a short time encouraged and procured the return of divers Fellows It prospered under him and Students to the Colledge as also the coming over from England of several hopeful young Schollars whereby the Colledge was suddenly replenished with many Religious and hopeful young men likely to prove instruments of Gods Glory in the work of the Ministry and otherwaies And by the great pains which he took with them instructing them both in Humane and Divine learning Preaching and expounding the Sacred Scriptures to them and often praying with them both in the Colledge Chappel and sometimes in his own Lodgings he gave as great hopes of the flourishing of that Seminary in Learning and Piety as in any Colledge in Christendom And they to retaliate his care and pains gave him an honourable Testimonial under the Colledge Seal which I have thought fit here to insert OMNIBVS Christi fidelibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint Salutem in Christo Domino sempiternam Nos Vicecancellarius Vniversitatis Socii seniores Collegii Sanctae individuae Trinitatis juxta Dublin Testamur virum venerabilem Dominum Samuclem Winter Anglum verbi Divini praedicatorem fidelem verae religionis vindicem acerrimum de Collegio S. S. Trinitan in Illustri Academia Cantabrigiensi Liâ— beralium artium S. Theologiae oliâ— studiosum adductum fuisse ad nos cuâ— uberrimis testimoniis ingenuitatis probitatis doctrinae scientiae Theologicaeâ— quorum meritorum suorum studioruâ— luculentissimum documentum jamprideâ— tam publice quam privatim in celeberrimâ— civitate Dubliniensi laudabiliter egregie dederit ad capessendum graduâ— Doctoratus in Theologia illorum plurimorumque doctissimorum de meliori notâ— virorum optime habilem idoneum dignum testimoniis judicatum fuisse muâ— nere officio dignitate honore Doctoratus in Theologia Nos itaque quibâ— ejus virtutum excellentia meritorum copia diuturna studia pervigilesque labores innotuerunt habita rati ne scientiae eloquentiae doctrinae facultaetis Theolâ— gicae peritiae disputandi interpretandiâ— concionandi aliarum virtutum morum ejusdem Samuelis Winter quoruâ— omnium certissimum specimen laudabiliter egregie magistraliter more Doctoreâ— dederit publice è suggesto per tres dies in Collegii sacello Nos igitur in venerandâ—Vniversitatis nostrae Confessu eundém Samuelem Winter unanimiter omniumque suffragiis in Christi nomine approbatus sic approbatum Doctorem in Vniversa Theologia solenniter pronunciaâ—imus declaravimus ac fecimus Quod nostrum Testimonium ut omnibus innotescat subscriptis singulorum nominibus publico Collegii nostri Sigillo corroborari muniri curavimus Decimo septimo die Augusti anno Domini Millesimo sexcenteâ—imo quinguagesimo quarto Hen. Jones Pro-Cancellarius Miles Symner Williamson Nath. Hoyle Johannes Stearne Adam Cusacke Whilst Doctor Winter continued Provest of that Colledge he had occasion to go to a place called Monouth He Preaches at Monouth a populous Town about ten miles from Dublin where according to his custom in most places where he came he Preached and found the People very attentive to his Ministry and desirous to be instructed in the way to Heaven Whereupon at the earnest request both of the Minister and divers others of the Inhabitants he rode over to their every three weeks and Preached which he continued for some years Gods blesses his labours and God was pleased to bless his labours for the Conversion of many English and Irish which flocked to hear him The reason of his leaving that University and Kingdom is well known to many and he came away to his great outward prejudice the Colledge being indebted to him in a considerable sumâ— of monies which he had disbursed for the use thereof some part whereoâ— they have since his decease payed tâ— his Son After his return into England His return into England He with his Wife sojourned with some Friends sometimes in and about West-Chester sometimes at Coventry and other sometimes with his Wives Relations in Hertfordshire and Rutlandshire In all which places he became through Gods blessing an Instrument of much good not only in the Families with whom he aboad but also to several Neighbours with whom he conversed Thus we have a brief account of the most considerable passages of this Doctors Life we are now come to the last Scene wherein we shall find that saying made good Vita qualis finis talis His holy and humble Life being concluded with a comfortable and glorious Death His Sun did not set in a Cloud but shon out with a more bright and greater lustre than is ordinarily seen It was his work and business to glorifie God in his Life and God did highly honour him at his Death as will appear
by that which follows Whilst he was in Rutlandshire His last sickness on Thursday October the thirteenth in the year 1666. he rode to a Neighbouring Town to assist in carrying on a Day of Humiliation wherein having wearied his Body and spent his spirits he was fain to defer his return home till the next day On the Lords Day following he exercised twice for the instruction of the Family with which he then aboad and at his going to bed he found himself not well On Munday he continued ill yet arose came down and performed Family Duties At dinner he could eat but little and at night went ill to bed yet slept pretty well His sickness encreases only both those nights he complained of a pain on his right side and he had frâ—quent provocations to vomit but without effect Oft he found himself cold yet when he came a little to the fire he was too hot in his own senses insomuch as his friends about him judged that it would turn to an Ague Wednesday and Thursday has distemper continued and on Friday finding himself to grow weaker he desired that his Will might be fairly engrossed which lay by him under his own hand â—â—â—ting and withall he laboured to perswade his Wife to be content to part with him saying That it would nâ— be long before they should meet againâ—â— and then he put up earnest Prayers unto God for her and some other of his Relations Upon Friday he sat up all the day but still continued under his Bodily distempers and finding his strength to decay he would often repeat that of the Psalmist The Zeal of thine House hath eaten me up On Saturday he sealed and Published his Will He Publishes his Will all the day complaining of the Cramp that was in his left lâ—g In the evening he went to bed and to the apprehension of those about him slept well that night About six a clock on the Sabbath morning he raised himself up in his bed and with a chearful and loud voice called to his Wife who lay in a bed by him A foreâ—iâ—â— of Heave saying Sweet-Heart I have been this night conversing with Spirits and as in a Rapture he cryed out O ye Glories that are prepared for the Saints of God The Lord hath been pleased to shew me this night the exceeding weight of Glory which is laid up in Heaven for his Chosen ones Adding farther That he had studied and thought that he knew as much what the Glory of Heaven was as another man But he now saw that all the Divines on Earth were but Children in the knowledge of that great Mystery of Heavenly Glory which the Lord had that night given him a clearer sight of than ever formerly he had That it was such a Mystery as could not be comprehended by the wit of man with many other such like expressions having his Soul so wonderfully elevated that he could not declare what he found and felt therein Then did he desire that his Relations and the rest of the Family might be called up that so he might make known unto them that immense weight of Glory which that night had been revealed unto him When they were assembled he did with vehemency and intention of spirit endeavour to discover the same unto them in expressions as aforesaid Jov unspeakable But he was so swallowed up in the Contemplations thereof that he could not utter what he desired And so he continued all that day and even till he dyed in very high Raptures and great acclamations by way of thankfulness unto God for the Lord Jesus Christ the Fountain of that Glory and for those evident discoveries of the same unto him Towards the evening of that Lâ—rd Day an Honourable Person together with his Lady and some other Friends came to visit him with whom he discoursed about Heaven Heavenly discourse and the thing of God as understandingly fervently and fluently as if he had enjoyed hiâ— best health His understanding and memory continuing as strong and vigorous as ever in his discourse quoting several places of Scripture citing the very Chapter Verse and words of the Texts and explaining the meaning from the Hebrew and Greek Originals After this discourse which continued about the space of two hours finding himself weary he betook himself to bed all the company withdrawing into another Chamber After an hours repose he desired that the said Honourable Person with his Lady and other Friends might be called in again that he might speak something more unto them and when they with the rest of the Family were come into his Chamber he told them that he thought he had but a short time to live That he was going to Jesus Christ with him to enjoy the fulness of Joy and those Rivers of pleasure which God had lately discovered unto him and which he had laid up in Heaven for such as love him and keep his Commandments O said he If you had but a thorow sight thereof it would make you all to love Jesus Christ and holiness which is the only way prescribed by God to attain to this Happiness And then he went on to magnifie the riches of free Grace through which alone the Saints do come to enjoy that exceeding exceeding eternal weight of Glory which neither eye hath seen nor eat hath heard nor can enter into the heart of man to conceive of He exhorteth them not to trouble themselves so much in labouring to geâ— assurance of Salvation Good Counsel as to examâ—â—â— themselves carefully and diligently whether they were in the way of Sanctification And for this â—nd he commended two things to their serious meditations about which he advised them daily to ask their Souls these two Questions What am I And Where am I What am I Am I a New Creature Am I born again Iâ— so then New Thoughts New Words New Company and a New Conversation will appear All old Thoughts Words and Actions will be done away Secondly Where am I Am I in that narrow way that leads to Life Eternal or in that broad way that leads to Death and Damnation He told them that if any there present were still in the broad way it had been better that they had never been born And said he If you will make this your continual meditation you cannot miscarry And if you find yourself to be in the narrow way the Way of Sanctification let God aâ—â—ne with the Rest to give you an assurance of your future happiness which he will do in his own time He farther declared to them His Perseverance that as by 〈◊〉 his Preaching through the whole course of his Ministry he had discovered and published this way of holiness through Christ to be the only way to Heaven so could he now at his death set forth no other way And that if he were now again to begin his Ministry he could hold forth no other way to attain unto Glory And