into that better world which she so much longed after often professing that there was nothing that could tempt her to wish for life but the breeding up of her little ones which yet now she was the less solicitous about because she could leave them in the hands of their tender and careful Father not doubting as old dying Jacob said when he was blessing the two Sons of Joseph Gen. 48. 15. 16. That that God which had fed her all her life long untill that day and the Angel which had redeemed her from all evil would bless them And now finding her self arrested by the messenger of Death and her body like the house of Saul growing weaker and weaker but her soul like the house of David waxed stronger and stronger took higher flights and made nearer approaches to God that gave it When her Husband came to her as he did frequently he continually admonished and minded her of the gracious Promises of mercy in Christ and of faith in him and desired her to be strengthened and comforted in them Her answer was she was comforted in them she found the comfort of Gods Spirit in her and verily believed she should see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living Psal. 45. 13. Ever and anon saying I am comforted Gods Spirit is in me which makes me endure my sickness and more pains than you can think of so comfortably as I do When she knew of none by her usual prayer was Lord look down upon me in thy mercy Lord forgive me my sins Lord assist me with thy holy Spirit Lord thou hast assured me of the forgiveness of my sins Lord assist me still with thy holy Spirit And many times passing the whole night without sleep she spent that time in these and the like heavenly prayers and ejaculations in which her Husband and those which attend her continually still found her when they came to her Never man had a more faithfull dear and loving Wife or more carefull of what concerned him than himself and more tender of any thing said or done against him than if it had been said or done against her self And when he seemed to lament the loss he should have if God took her from him She meekly answered We came not into the world together and therefore may not look to go out together When he replied that it would be much better for their children if he went first as by the course of nature was most likely she said that he could do much better for the children than she could and thanked God for that she could now leave them with him For the space of three weeks she kept her bed and about a fortnight before her death being surprized with a fainting fit in which she was like to depart and thereby perceiving that earth would suddenly return to the earth whence it came that her soul might be the better winged and prepared for a return to God that gave it she deâ—ired that all the Family might be called up and joyn in prayers with and for her At which time observing the grief and passion of her Husband and those that were present expressed plentifully by tears from their eyes she besought him and them not to grieve and lament for her happiness About that time a Reverend person coming to visit her Husband he solicited him to enlarge that great act of favour unto him by a greater act of charity to his wife by visiting her also whom God now visited with sickness as also to pray with and administer some comfort unto her which he most willingly condescended unto and having taken a strict account of her faith in Christ and hopes of a better life he left her with his Fatherly benediction top full of comfort and when she was afterwards told that he came out of respect and kindness to visit her Husband she said No but God had sent him for her comfort often acknowledging the consolations which she had found by him When any came to visit her in the time of her sickness at the parting she desired them to pray for her and often sent Messengers and caused Letters to be directed to her friends in London to pray for her for that she was now preparing for another world When she was sometimes desired for her childrens sake to chear up her self her answer was that to leave them did not trouble her because she was assured that God would provide for them adding that she would willingly leave Husband Children and all to go to Christ which was just the minde of that blessed Martyr Ignatius Befall me said he what will or can so I may enjoy Jesus Christ my Love my Life that was crucified for me or rather St. Pauls case expressed in that most elegant Barbarisme Phil. 1. 23. Desiring to be with Christ which is multo magis melius much more better And now finding the day of her life wasted to the evening and ready to dye into night on the Lords day before her death she desired the prayers of the Congregation in the Parish where she lived being well assured as she said that many good people would pray heartily for her After which some coming to visit her and exhorting her to patience and to remember the afflictions of Job she answered that she had had her part in his afflictions God having given her Luctuosam foecunditatem as St. Jerom said of Laeta a sad and sorrowfull fruitfulness taking away seven of her children in their minority so that she as Hanna spake in her song 1 Sam. 2. 5. that had born seven waxed feeble yet she comforted her self with this hope that they were in Heaven before her and hoped that they would be Lamps to lead her to heaven for she assured her self that they followed the Lamb whithersoever he goeth and for those two which were yet alive she thanked God for that she saw no ill qualities in them Besides she said that God had taken away her goods from her but had given her patience which to her was of more value and she esteemed it above them all knowing that God was able to restore all when he pleased She often acknowledged Gods goodness to her in sending her a milde sickness and not taking her away with some sudden stroke as he did the wife of Ezekiel Chap. 24. 16. or by some tormenting disease as he is pleased to visit some of his dear ones acknowledging the wonderful mercy of God to her therein A week before her death she called her eldest Daughter to her being to go from her to School at Putney and putting her hand on her shoulder she said to her I give you that blessing which my Mother gave me at her death The God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob bless you and then added the blessing which Aaron by Gods own appointment was to give the children of Israel The Lord bless thee and keep thee
Christ most perfect and comprehensive of all our necessities That you may be the better satisfied concerning his sense and judgement in this matter take this transcript out of his Printed Commentary upon Mat. 6. 9. Where after he hath set forth the excellency and perfection of Christs Prayer he addeth Christ now directs us to the right performance of the Duty of Prayer After this manner pray ye Or as St. Luke sets it down When you pray say Not binding us strictly to use these words always and none other but to use the matter manner and like affections But as for them who cannot so well enlarge their suits in other words or for those also who can and do it and yet remain still unsatisfied as not having done it sufficiently and who can do it sufficiently the Lord Christ hath left this most excellent help to use the very words of this Divine Prayer as the most worthy servants of God have ever used to do And learn we here by the way that an absolute necessity lyeth upon us which ought to be our greatest glory and comfort to pray in these words or in this manner For it is the undispensable Commandment of our Lord Christ After this manner pray He had a special dexterity in comforting afflicted Consciences resolving doubts and answering questions when some came to him not long before he changed this earthly for an heavenly Mansion and told him of the rigour of the Prelates how it grew higher every day how they persecuted conscientious Ministers and Christians Of their Innovations and of the Book for Liberty of Sports on the Sabbath days tending to the fearfull profanation thereof He used these expressions I have had a longing desire to see or hear of the fall of Antichrist But I check my self I shall go to Heaven and there news of it will come thick thick thick When others came to him and pressed him with importunity to tell them his Judgement concerning the future state of the Church saying to him that he had travelled much in the study of the Revelations and they were perswaded that God had revealed something more then ordinary to him What do you think said they shall we have Popery once again or no He answered You shall not need to fear fire and fagot any more but such dreadfull divisions will be amongst God people and Professors as will equalize the greatest persecutions A man meeting him near his house called to him saying Oh Mr. Carter What shall I do My wife is entring into her Travel and I think she will die with very fear Mr. Carter answered Make haste run to your wife and tell her that I am going to my Closet as fast as I can to pray for her therefore bid her not faint but to be of good courage and comfort The man accordingly ran to his wife and told her what had passed between Mr. Carter and him Presently her fears vanished God gave her strength and she was delivered immediately and safely and strait after her Husband went to Mr. Carter even before he came out of his Closet and told him what God had done for him Another time a poor man met him by the way and cryed to him piteously saying Mr. Carter What shall become of me I work hard and fare hard and yet I cannot thrive I continue bare and know not how in the world to live He answered him Yet still you want one thing and I will tell you what you shall do Work hard and fare hard and pray hard and I will warrant you shall thrive There dwelled in that Parish a Tanner that was a very godly man and one that had much familiar society with Mr. Carter This man as he was very busie in Tawing of a Hide with all his might not so much as turning his head aside any way Mr. Carter coming by accidentally came softly behinde him and merrily gave him a little clap on the back the man started and looking behinde him suddenly blushed and said Sir I am ashamed that you should find me thus To whom Mr. Carter replied Let Christ when he comes finde me so doing What said the man doing thus Yes said Mr. Carter to him faithfully performing the Duties of my Calling Being at Dinner at Ipswich at one of the Magistrates Houses divers other Ministers being at the Table also One amongst the rest who was old enough and had learned enough to have taught him more humility was very full of talk bragged much of his parts and skill c. and made a Challenge saying Here are many Learned men if any of you will propound any question in Divinity or Philosophy I will dispute with him resolve his doubt and satisfie him fully All at the Table except himself were silent for a while then said Mr. Carter when he saw that none else would speak to him calling him by his name I will go no further then my Treacher to puzzle you Here is a Sole Now tell me the reason why this Fish that hath lived always in the salt water should come out fresh To this this forward Gentleman could say nothing and so was laughed at and shamed out of his vanity At another time a certain man came to him and made his moan saying I have lost the greatest friend that I had in the world I had in a manner all my livelyhood from him To whom Mr. Carter answered When the Fountain is dryed up in one place God will open it in another To one of his Sons he said Son John God hath always brought water for me out of the hard stinty rock Those covetous hard hearted men who have been enemies to my person and Ministery have many times come in and given me countenance and maintenance His eldest son whom he had bred up to the Ministery and who proved a blessed Instrument in the Church of Christ being dead Mr. Carter took care of his eldest son sent him to Cambridge and walking with him towards the Stable took his last leave of him in these words in Latine Cave mi fili fastum ignaviam Antichristum My son beware of Pride Sloth and Antichrist His usual saying was a Traveller must have a Swines belly an Asses back and a Marchants purse Meaning that he must be content with any fare bear all injuries and provide for vast expences We are Pilgrims and Travellers here and we must prepare for wants wrongs and spoiling of our goods It might well be said of him Semper erat ubi non erat His heart was where his head was and now his soul is to wit in Heaven His whole life was nothing else but a Communion day Old Jacob seemed to live in him and sure the Spirit of God breathed as much in him in his words and writings holiness dropped from his Pen in every ordinary Letter that he wrote in his actions and Soliloquies as in any mans in these latter times He was always
his Family he was very exemplary His house was another Bethel for he did not onely constantly upon conscientious principles use morning and evening Prayer and reading the sacred Scriptures in his Family but also he catechized his children and servants wherein God gave him a singular gift for their edification for in teaching them he used not any set form but so as that he brought them whom he instructed to express the principles taught them in their own words so that his children as Gregory Nazianzen saith of his Father found him as well a spiritual as a natural Father Yea never any servant came to his house but gained a great deal of knowledge therein So likewise did diverse others who at the request of their Parents were instructed by him He was in a special manner a strict and conscionable sanctifier of the Lords day and that not onely in the exercise of publick duties incumbent upon his Office but also in the private sanctification of it in the duties of piety in and with his Family and secret in his Closet and for this end as he did forbear providing of Suppers the Eve before the Sabbath that servants might not be occasioned thereby to sit up late so neither would he suffer any servant to stay at home for dressing any meat upon the Lords day for the entertainment of friends whether they were great or mean few or many On the Sabbaths after his publick labours were ended divers Neighbours wanting helps in their own Families came to his house where he repeated his Sermons after so familiar a manner that many have professed that they were much more benefited by them in that his repetition than they were in the first hearing of them for he did not use word by word to read out of Notes what he had preached but would by Questions and Answers draw from those of his own houshold such points as were delivered and this Exercise being ended his constant course was to visit such of his Parish as were sick or by pain and weakness were dis-inabled to go to the publick Ordinances with each of whom he would discourse of some spiritual and heavenly subject suitable to their condition and after that he prayed with them wherein he had a more than ordinary gift being able in apt words and expressions to commend their several cases unto God and to put up Petitions suitable to their several needs His usual course was to pray eight times in the publick Congregation on the Lords dayes for as he prayed before and after each Sermon so also before and after his reading and expounding the Scriptures which he performed both in the forenoon and afternoon And in his Family his constant course was to pray thrice every Lords day and that in a solemn manner viz. in the morning and evening and after his repetition of the Sermons He was ordained Minister in the two and thirtieth year of his age and about a year after which was in June 1608. he was called to the exercise of his Ministry in the Parish of Black-Friars London where he continued to his dying day which was about five and forty years and six months never accepting of any other Ministerial imployment though he had the proffers of many great places His manner of coming to Black-Friars was thus That Parish being destitute of a preaching Minister Mr. Hildersam a famous pious powerful Preacher being in company with some of the better sort of the Inhabitants of Black-Friars who complained of their want he told them that there was one living in Stratford-Bow who was out of imployment whom he judged very fit for them Hereupon divers of them went thither on the Lords day where he frequently preached gratis to help the Minister that then was there and upon hearing of him they liked him so well that making report thereof to their neighbours he was by an un animous consent nemine contradicente chosen to be their Minister which election being made known to him he accepted of it and ever after shewed a great respect to the Inhabitants of that place Before Mr. Gouge came to them they had not so much as a Church of their own to meet and hear the word of God in nor any place wherein to bury their dead but by such means as he used the Church and Church-porch together with the Ministers house and Church-yard all which they enjoyed before but upon curtesie were bought in so as now they all as their proper Inheritance do belong to the Parish of Black-Friars And five years after his coming thither the old Church being found too little to entertain those multitudes that flocked thither from all parts of the City to hear him he was an instrument of purchasing in certain rooms adjoyning whereby the Church was enlarged almost as big again as it was before The sum of purchasing new building and beautifying of which Church amounted to above one thousand five hundred pounds all which was procured partly by Collections at his Lectures and partly by the voluntaâ—y contributions of his Parishoners without any publick Collections in other places After this there being divers rooms under the said Church belonging to several Land-lords he used such means as to purchase them also for the benefit of the Parish which he did the rather to prevent all dangers that by wicked minded persons might have befaln Gods people in that Church by any contrivance in the rooms under the same Thus they who had nothing of their own at his first coming have now through his procurement the whole Church the Church-porch a Church-yard a Vault to bury their dead in a very fair Vestry with other adjacent rooms besides the house wherein he himself dwelt so long as he lived all which they hold as a perpetual Inheritance They have also a Lease of certain Tenements of a considerable value for three hundred years all which were procured by his Prudence Interest and Industry Such was his love and respect to this Parish as though he was oft proffered places of far greater value yet he refused them all oft saying That the height of his ambition was to go from Black-Friers to Heaven At his first coming to Black-Friers being in the thirty third year of his age he preached constantly besides twice every Lords day a weekly Lecture viz. on the Wednesdayes in the forenoon which for the space of about thirty five years was very much frequented and that not only by his Parishioners but by divers City Ministers and by sundry pious and judicious Gentlemen of the Innes of Court besides many other well-disposed Citizens who in multitudes flocked to hear his heavenly Doctrine yea such was the fame of Dr. Gouge his Ministry that when any Country Ministers and godly Christians came to London about their affairs they thought not their business fully ended unless they had been at Black-Friers Lecture And it pleased God to give such a
his death besides very considerable summes extraordinary All that knew him found him very communicative not onely of his studies for the advantage of their mindes but of part of his stipend for the relief of their bodies and indeed in works of charity he more needed a bridle than a spur He was not so severe in his judgement about Episcopacy as to disown other Reformed Churches but declared that he loved and honoured them as true members of the Church universal and was ready for the Ministers of Holland France â— to testifie his Communion with them He was a man of a most exemplary moderation meekness humility and ingenuity Anno 1641 he drew up an Expedient to accommodate some of our differences in Ecclesiastical Affairs which some moderate men of both parties were ready to subscribe But in matters of Doctrine for the substantials it was often his charge that Ministers should not preach any thing as to please men but God who hath put them in trust 1 Thess. 2. 4. For such as seek to please men are not the servants of Christ Gal. 1. 10. And in defence of those truths no man was more resolute and constant than he not giving place by way of subjection no not for an hour Gal. 2. 5. but in circumstantials he thought it to be our duty with St. Paul to please all men and not our in all such things 1 Cor. 10. 31. to edification and concord He was in these things alwayes the same holding fast the form of sound words in Doctrine and practice to the last The night before he left London Oh! the humble expressions he used of his own unworthiness demeaning himself as if he had been the least of Saints which he uttered with many tears He wished those about him to prepare for afflictions and trials which he was perswaded were not far from them Having abode at London one and fifty dayes for so it was punctually noted by himself in a Book it being his custome with David so to number his dayes both for the place where and the manner how he spent them he returned to Rygate Feb. 13. 1655 to the Countess of Peterboroughs March the 20 following was the first day of his sickness upon which day as every day he had been well busied Most part of it as long as he had light he had spent at his study proceeding in his Chronologia sacra clearing all the doubts in his Annals of the Bible in which he had gone as far as to the Book of Judges where the last words he wrote were these Hic praeterea notandum but returned not to make any further progress From his study he went to visit a sick Gentlewoman in that Family and prescribed to her most excellent preparatives for death with other most holy advice in practical matters in which he spent three quarters of an hour but in such an heavenly manner as if like Moses upon Mount Nebo his eyes had been strengthened to take a prospect of the heavenly Canaan That night about eight a clock he first complained of his hip judging it to be a spice of the Sciatica which he had been troubled with about five and thirty years before contracted by sitting up late in the College Library at Dublin but by the application of an ointment he was presently eased of that pain so that he took some rest that night In the morning he complained of a great pain in his side whereupon a Physitian was sent for who used such means as he judged fit for him but the pain continuing and his spirits decaying he wholly addicted himself to prayer only upon the abating of the torment he advised those about him in health to prepare for sickness and death that then they might have nothing else to do but to dye and after a short settlement of the things of this world he took great content in his approaching death A Minister there present assisted him with his prayers but afterwards he desired to be left to his own private The last words he was heard to utter which was about one a clock in the afternoon and a little before his death were these praying for the forgiveness of his sins he added But Lord in special forgive my sins of Omission Herein he had his wish which he often used that he might dye as holy Mr. Perkins did which expired with crying for mercy and forgiveness But did he pray for pardon of his sins of Omission and yet he was a person that was never known to omit an hour but was alwayes imployed in his Masters business either in preaching reading writing or hearing others as of late to read to him either resolving doubts or exhorting instructing and counselling such as came to visit him yet did he dye with this humble expression Lord forgive my sins of Omission A speech that may give us all matter of solemn meditation and imitation March the 21. Anno Christi 1655 this glorious Sun set and from earth was translated to Heaven having been Primate of Ireland just one and thirty years and a Preacher five and fifty years and having lived about seventy five years What he had to leave was only his Library and divers imperfect Copies of his intended Works which death prevented his finishing of The Lord Protector as he was then called gave him an honourable burial at the publick charge in the Chappel of Henry the seventh at Westminster and extended to his what was before intended for himself in the grant of some of the Lands belonging to the Primacy of Armagh for the terme of one and twenty years He was highly admired and much honoured by all the famous Lights of his time through the Christian world Spanhemius Divinity-Professor at Geneva Anno Christi 1639 in his Epistle Dedicatory to him before his third Part Dubiorum Evangelicorum spends above two leaves in extolling him Some of his expressions are Your very great parts Most excellent Usher are known not onely within your own Country but in ours and wheresoever else there is honour given to Piety or price set upon learning c. He speaks much of his Charity to strangers his Humility Piety Works his Library of which he made such use for the publick good that it was not so much his own as the Library of all learned men In a word saith he the name of Usher with us is a name of Piety and Vertue it is of great Renowne at our Geneva c. Gerard Vossius frequently admires him as a man of vast learning worthy of an everlasting Monument The high merits saith he of this most excellent and throughout most learned man both of the Church and of the whole Commonwealth of Learning deserve an everlasting grateful memory A man so excelling in the knowledge both of Humane and Divine things that I cannot speak any thing so high of him but his worth doth surpass it Bochartus and Simplicius call
out of it And the next day being November 8. Anno Christi 1520 not by legal trial but in a way of Butchery he murthered near a hundred of the Nobles and chief men of Sueden and Citizens of Stockholm and then letting loose the Souldiers upon the City and Country all sorts of persons Ecclesiastical Civil Great Mean Men and Women and Children suffered all manner of violences and deaths that Cruelty could devise their rage extending not onely to the living but to the dead towards whom they used all the opprobrious indignities that could be the lively Character whereof may be described better by some Dane that saw it or some that were interessed in the Scicilian Vespers or the Parisian Nuptials or Irish Massacre than by my pen. After these horrid Murders and outrages Covetousness began to ascend the Stage the King seizing upon all the estates both of the dead and living and to make all sure the Liberties of Sueden being thus brought into the state of a dead man they thought to buy them also so as they might never rise again To which end they set Guards in all places published Edicts and did not onely deprive the Suedes of their Armour but of their Arms and Legs also saying in scorn That a Swede could plow his ground well enough with one arm and a wodden leg But the last and worst of evils was abominable Hypocrisie For this Christian Kings conscience forsooth is pretended for what he did He was touched with much compassion and would not have done it but that his conscience tyed him thereto in zeal to the Church and obedience to the Popes sentence of Excommunication and thus Religion is made the Patron of all these Villanies Yet all this quieted not the Kings conscience but he hastes out of uecden possibly fearing lest the ground should open her mouth and swallow him up or lest the fame of his cruelty should arrive before him in Denmark and make that Nation abhor and vomit him out But behold how vengeance follows him Now is he gone home King of the three Kingdomes of the Baltick Sea and to secure Sueden he had left Guards in every place But cruelty never conquered mens spirits A Tyrant may be feared of all but is hated of all and his own conscience so pursues him that he can be quiet no where And so it fell out with this King for within three years he lost all his three Kingdomes without adventuring one drop of blood or striking one blow for them The manner shall be after glanced upon but my present work is to shew how Sueden now under water comes to lift up its head again This sad news at Stockholme coming to the ears of Gustavus now at Rafsness and in particular the murther of his own Father Ericas amongst the rest of the Nobles he was not at all discouraged but rather provoked with a desire of revenge and to rescue his Country from such barbarous Tyranny yet what with grief and detestation of such execrable cruelty and doubt that many would be affrighted thereby from appearing in their Countries cause his spirit was much troubled and rendred less able at the present to determine upon the manner of his proceeding and therefore in all haste away he goes to the Mountain-people with this news but they scarce civillized are little sensible of their Countries cause Gustavus therefore makes no stay there but away he goes to a Castle in those parts commanded by one Aaron Peter a Noble man whom once he knew to be well affected to the Liberties of his Country and to him he discovered himself what he was and what were his intentions desiring his counsel but he found the man and others in those parts so amazed at the news of Stockholme as that they forgat both themselves and the publick and were rather willing to couch under any burden than to make opposition against it yea so fearful they were of being suspected by the Danes that they rather desired to be esteemed wholly at their service and especially Aaron Peter who though he pretended pity and compassion to Gustavus in this condition and promised not onely security to his person if he would abide with him but his best assistance in compassing the ends propounded by him yet having drawn from him the utmost of his resolutions after a few dayes wherein he had carryed himself fairly to avoid suspicion he gets himself abroad and away he went to the Danish Lieutenant Bruno and discovers to him the whole matter as well concerning Gustavus his intentions as what counsel himself had given him But Aaron forgat one point of policy which was to let none know his intentions but his own heart for he told his wife whither and what he went about who being more true to her Country and regardful of the Laws of common honesty and hospitality than her Lord was when he was gone told Gustavus whither her Lord was gone and to what purpose and therefore advised him forthwith to shift for himself furnishing him with her own horse to go to Suertso to one that had been Gustavus his Colleague in the University The day following came Bruno the Dan◠with twenty Souldiers to apprehend Gustavus at Aaron Peters house but his Lady told him that Gustavus was secretly departed the day before and so the prey being lost Bruno returns without sport Thus God made a woman a great instrument in saving Sueden from miserable ruine Gustavus being come to Suertso found kinde entertainment but consideration being had to the restless 〈◊〉 pursuit of the Danes it was thought convenient that he should not stay long there for now the enemy hunted upon hot sent and therefore he departed privately beyond the Dallcarls unto Retwick These Dallcarls are a people of Sueden strong and hardy men of resolution and being inured to work hard in the Mines were fit for action whence as some Writers note they have their name of Dallcarls or Carles or robustious men of the Dales having by reason of their priviledges this advantage that they are numerous and rich To these Gustavus applies himself and relates to them the particulars of the Massacre at Stockholme whereby the Suedes had lost much of their best blood he told them also what further danger the Nation was in which he in good language set forth to the life for he could no less skifully manage his tongue than his arms The Dallcarls pitying the state of their Country and having respect to themselves and their friends they told Gustavus that they would adventure all that was dear to them to be revenged on the Danes and to vindicate their Nation from bondage onely they desired him that he would engage their Brethren of the Eastern Dales with them This Gustavus willingly undertook and forthwith departed to Mora the chief City of those Dales whither coming about the latter end of December the next day he obtained audience
the Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace And bid her serve God and pray duly to him both morning and evening and fear his Name and then said she I doubt not but God will bless you as he hath blessed me In the evening of the same day she commanded her younger Daughter to be brought her and to be put upon the bed in a kneeling posture and then putting her hand on her shoulder she gave her also the same blessing as she had given to her sister Four dayes before her death she grew a little better which put her Friends in some hope of her recovery but the day following her sickness seized on her again and so continued upon her that she slept no more till she slept the sleep of death and together with her sickness her Piety Devotions and comforts encreased in her In the last night of her life presently after midnight feeling death now approaching she sent for her Husband and Family out of their beds and told him when he came to her that she was now leaving the world and him and expressed in many words her great devotion faith and assurance of that everlasting life which she now was shortly to enjoy and desired that they might now all pray together which they did she still expressing much devotion and comfort and after an hour spent in those passages she desired that the Bell might be tolled for her and some Gentlewomen of her neighbours coming to her before them she expressed her comforts and assurances of everlasting life as before and with increase and therein and in prayers they continued till near the rising of the Sun After this she seemed for a wh'le willing to slumber and closed her eyes and so lay for a little while but then turned her head to the other side of the Pillow and after a few restless turnings she said what the Prophet Micha had said before her Mich. 2. 10. There is no rest in this world and then opening her eyes after some expressions of the comfort which she felt distinctly knowing all that were present and speaking to them all she seemed to slumber again and after a little time spake these words Come let us go let us go repeating those words several times which she spake not in a slumber but being awake and as perfect in her understanding and memory as at any time in her life And it is a comforttable opinion that Divines teach from Luke 16. 22. that the Angels do attend on Gods children especially at the time of their dissolution to conduct their souls from earth to heaven which opinion she sometimes in her sickness related to her Husband and added that she had heard it from the Pulpit and had read it in some Books and she believed it to be true and comforted her self with it After a little time she called for some drink and having taken it it began to alter her as it seems she felt in her self for she presently laid her self back on her Pillow and lifting up her eyes towards Heaven she said Lord have mercy upon me Lord Jesus receive my soul and so continued moving her lips and her tongue but her words were not heard and then held up one hand and then joyned both her hands together holding them up with her eyes still heaven-ward till her strength failing her she laid down her hands by her and stretched her self in the bed without any help and sweetly fell asleep about seven a clock in the morning August the 15. Anno Christi 1646. And August the 24. she was decently and solemnly laid in her bed of rest the house as Job saith appointed for all the living Job 30. 23. where the weary are at rest where the wicked cease from troubling and hear not the voyce of the oppressor Job 3. 17 18. The Life and Death of Mrs. Margaret Corbet who dyed Anno Christi 1656. IF we enquire into the Relations of this Gentlewoman either by Affinity or Consanguinity or both sides the Families are ancient of renown and good reputation Concerning the Family from whence she was descended her Father was Sir Nathaniel Brent late Warden of Merton College a learned Knight whose great pains and dangerous adventures to procure the History of the Councel of Trent which he translated into English are to be remembred with an honourable mention and for his faithful discovery of Jesuitical juglings his name will be had in honour when the names of the Popish party will rot Her Mother the Lady Martha Brent was a Lady of a Gracious spirit abounding in love meekness humility love to Gods Ordinances and Gods Children Her delight with David was in the society of Saints She imitated her worthy Father in the sweetness of disposition who was Dr. Robert Abbot that learned and godly Bishop of Sarum who was Malleus Baptismi Armianismi the Hammer of Popery and Arminianisme His excellent Works or Monuments of his Honourable memory To be born of a godly Family and to be well descended is a mercy not to be neglected Mr. Philpot a zealous Martyr being a Kings Son and an Archdeacon told his adversaries that he was a Gentleman Anabapâ—istical parity and Levelling designs are worthily to be abhorred and looked upon as a ready way to confusion rapine and violence So then we see that she was a Gentlewoman every way well descended Her Ancestors were persons of Honour and from them she had the benefit of an ingenuous and liberal Education This is much but it s more when I say that she came of a godly stock and of praying Relations and indeed this is that which ennobles Nobility it self God in mercy began with this Gentlewoman betimes even about the fourteenth year of her age Then God gave her a willing minde and purpose of heart to serve him in the dayes of her youth Insomuch as she was swift to hear the word of God she waited diligently at the posts of Wisdomes Gate She wrote the Sermons which she heard a practice used by King Edward the sixth that rare English Josiah and she left many volumes of Sermons of her own hand-writing taken with great dexterity and these are as so many choise Monuments of her Industry She was much conversant in reading of the holy Scriptures which can make us wise unto salvation and she joyned with her reading prayer and meditation Her delight was in the word of God It was as with Jeremy the joy and rejoycing of her soul and with the reading of Scriptures she searched Expositors and Practical Divines and attained thereby to such a measure of Divine knowledge as enabled her to state some Questions of controversie for her better use and help of her memory and to discourse very soundly upon the most material points of Religion and even above her age and sexe to maintain the truth as occasion