of the mouth that first spake them Psal 27.14 And say in faith as you may in his own language Psal 138.8 It is to me a great sign of what the Lord hath done for you that you are so willing to part with your I know dear Husband for the Lords sake and his works sake but He is and It is worthy Think still it is to the Lord and should a Husband be between a gracious heart and Christ our Lord God forbid we should think so who have had already in hand for every step word and thought for him from him more weight and worth than a wedge of Ophirs Gold besides those thousands of years in glory that are yet in reversion and wherein I cannot thank you or him my Lord shall my Lord shall my Lord shall else his word failes and I le complain Heb. 6.18 2 Chron. 25.9 After two years spent at Ashburne he sayes he saw nothing to contradict his resolutions to part from them and that the Lord cut out work for him elsewherere judging his reasons sufficient for removal he proceeds I was called thence to Atherston in Warwickshhire where I spent one year in a Lecturers place and the Lord did abundantly crown my poor pains on a sudden with conversion-work which made me say Cant. 6.12 Or ever I was aware my soule made me like the Chariots of Amminadib But I saw not the Lords mind and will to continue me there in which I saw the Lords hand and for the time was content for I wanted nothing having a Seabridge-home for supply And I had my hearts desire in opportunities to extend my labours to Staffordshire and otherwise some Lords-dayes and many week-dayes no one gainsaying which I saw was for the destruction of the Devils work and an aking-tooth he carried against me but two things stay'd my thoughts in my travels from place to place and house to house My Saviours leading the way Acts 10.38 And this The more the Devil hates me the more my God loves me This year was his time to have Commenced Mr. in Arts which he inclined to doe chiefly to give testimony of his respect to Learning and the Schools thereof in a time when too many were bent against them but his Estate being enough to make him a Compounder whereby some extraordinary charges would be expected from him more than he could well spare he sate down with this consideration that he thought he might lay out that money more to the Honour of the Gospel than to part with it for the Honour of a Degree though the single charge he could willingly have born upon the other account His removal thence to Astbury he thus records himself I was ordered and called to Astbury in Cheshire about Novem. 17. 1652. but exprest not my full consent until the Spring following Then I left Atherston About this time his Father dyed of which he saith thus He dyed on March 12. 1652. being the Sabbath day about ten of the clock at night about the 55th year of his Age with these words in his mouth Psal 39.5 Behold thou hast made my days as an hand breadth and mine age is as nothing before thee Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity And said to his Mother and Sisters standing by weeping why do you so you have a God that will be better than ten thousand Husbands and Fathers He wisely observed when such an unthought of loss befel him how he was imployed at that instant saying At the time he dyed I was at prayer and that with the most remarkable impressions that I ever had both in pleading for mercy for him and on a sudden submitted to the Lords determination Many observable warnings he had from the Lord of this Event before it came to pass His serious and solemn exposition and application of Job 21.23 24. in the Family before any sickness appeared March 9.2 His earnestness to know his Fathers Soul-estate before they parted the next morning and also to thank his love and care in his behalfe and to understand his mind and will concerning himself and outward estate while he yet continued in perfect health 3. The day following having occasion to send home he recommended by the messenger that Scripture Isa 38.1 2 3. to his Father These with several other notable passages and pious improvements he made hereof gave him hope that this sad providence was in love to him and in mercy to his Father whom he could not reach to see in the land of the living Not long after he removed to Astbury and changed his condition whereof he saith thus himself The good hand of my everliving Father so disposing I had some Christian acquaintance in Darbyshire especially I observed one forward in the Profession at Mickleover neer Darby who might be to me as Rebecca to Isaac by name Jane Butler Daughter to John Butler on whom my thoughts much setled with submission to my heavenly Fathers will and she became my Wife Sept. 29. 1653. at Vttoxeter whom God gave to me and with her what I expected in an humble and gracious woman Prov. 31.11 12. 29.30 31. her price was above Rubies her Portion of outward Estate very considerable His managing that affaire was in such an holy and heavenly manner that all their meetings on that account were improveed to the utmost advantage of both their soules and their very marriage fixt on one of his Lecture-dayes where two of his Brethren preached and joyn'd in the Solemnization thereof and after two dayes stay with his Wife went a long journey to the work of the Lord for many dayes following whereby he made it evident how much the greatest worldly comforts were made subordinate to the joy of the Lord and wore so far from hindring that they rather inlarged and fitted him up in the wayes of God His first contrivance of a Lecture was some moneths before his Fathers death and no sooner was the Estate his own but he resolves a share of it for God and will not serve the Lord with that which costs him nothing Take his intentions in his own words out of his own papers thus I intend a monethly Lecture to be preached at these following towns of greatest concourse viZ. Newcastle Leeke Vttoxeter Lichfield Tamworth Walsall Wolverhampton Penkridge Stafford Eccleshall Stone Muckleston in the County of Stafford the last Friday in each month allowing of the Lords fulness in my hands thirteen shillings and four pence to the Ministers that preach to convert soules and one Shilling to be given to twelve of the poorest people in the Church In all Eight pounds and twelve shillings in the year This was the resolution of an heart ingaged to him one that would honour the Lord with his Substance is J.M. July 31. 1652. And presently after his Fathers Burial he wrote this following Paper about this thing I believed the Lord could give more dayes but yet do will that 8 l.
February Pray and prevaile for us what a conjunction of prayers there was in several places on that day and the rich crop and harvest reaped afterwards we think it worthy the reflection of those Ministers who never wonne a soule to Christ from what principle in what manner and for what ends they first ingaged in this sacred Function Though he was not at present dispoesd to settle at any place yet he was loath to go about his work without Ordination and that which induced him to continue unfixed for a space was his large desire after soules not only of his friends and kindred but of all his neighbours as far as he could see or know or goe he even travelled in birth for such as had not seen his face that Christ might be formed in them And the largeness of his heart herein was frequently expressed in his most earnest prayers unto God for the inlarging of his Kingdome in Families Towns and Counties which he would name with the greatest affection both in his prayers and letters crying out O that whole Staffordshire and Cheshire might be saved And by this time he had acquaintance and intimacy with all that were eminent for Piety in all the parts adjacent and greatly did he stirre up the grace of God in them And he was extraordinarily qualified and prepared by the Lord for this work in an especial juncture of time the heat of controversies mannaged by Sword Pen and Pulpit having sadly prevailed to the justling out the lively sense of the main things wherein all were agreed And divers Ministers were so taken off these great matters by other work which the Enemy had found them the tares he had sown in the fiield that to preach of Death and Judgement of Christ Conversion were almost new things to many people And this good man was singularly fitted to retrieve the Great work back again into the hearts and hands of his Brethren having never intermedled with the controversies either in Church or State but setting out with all his might upon the main things and driving on the work of conversion where-ever he came And his success was great In his Fathers house at Seabridge the Lord made him eminently instrumental for his three Sisters conversion His Parents greatly favoured the wayes of God much furthered him in his work and were cheerful entertainers of well-disposed people upon solemn occasions And there was such an habituated course of gracious converse set up in the family by his staying there the first year that an eminent Minister at his first coming thither and beholding their order zeal and forwardness in Christ could not forbear insisting the next day on those words of Moses Numb 11.29 Enviest thou for my sake being the result of that dealing he was forc'd to with his own heart upon that occasion And this Ointment on Aarons head ran down to the skirts of his Cloathing for he was a precious savour to the very poor servants of the house with whom he was unweariedly importunate to be holy and prevailed much A notable pledge of the future success of his Ministry upon others In reference hereunto he takes occasion himselfe to say thus of his Father My Father John Machin did more for our family than his progenitors building both House and Barns from the ground c. But most of all he may be remembred for bringing up me his Son to and at the University who was through Grace instrumental to bring the Gospel in its power into our Family which was more glory to the same than if the materials of the house had been all turned into pure Gold whereof let those Scriptures upon the Chimney-stone in the Parlour be witness Gen. 28.15 22. 2 Chron. 6.7 42. 2 Sam. 7.18 25. 1 Chron. 29.10 20. Psal 116.1.12 19. Psal 118.17 Gen. 32.10 Jer. 30.21 Ezek. 48.35 1 Sam. 7.12 Exod. 17.14 15 20.24 1 Cor. 15.34 1 Chron. 28.9 when it may be said blessed be he and they who brought His Name hither to record it To God aolne be the whole Glory His usual way after preaching was to repeat and to assemble together as many as he could to the place where he lodged and there to spend as much time as he was able in pressing things further upon them and in holy and pertinent discourse with unspeakable heat and vigour which made one of his Kinred say that he liked his Cousen Machin well but that he made his house a Chapel when he came to him And during this time he was unfixed as he expresseth himself in a Letter to a Friend of his in Cambridge I am yet placeless Charities servant desired to many places but in part resolved to fix at Ashburne for every other Sabbath reserving the other for the service of Necessity and Charity which may be found in these parts And accordingly he did as himself records At the beginning of An. 1650. I was called co Ashburne in Derbyshire where God was with me two years and though my labours were not in that Towne so successful as I desired yet I had Gods presence much comforting my soule and the soules of many Christian friends thereabout About this time he was with a Quaker on his death-bed presently after the first springing of that Sect in Staffordshire and the more earnestly he prayed with the sick person the more raging he was which was an argument to him as also to several of the company then present that Quakerisme was a degree of Possession Whist he was at Ashburne he was a laborious preacher and very useful and his spare dayes he laid out to the utmost advantage of the Gospel by forecasting heavenly work in the Morelands and darke corners of Staffordshire where the power of the Gospel had scarce ever come before so that he might truly say that he gloried not in another mans line he sowed where few had effectually sowed before nor then save by his procurement There was no man like-minded in the parts he lived in that did so naturally care for the state of soules for indeed he sought not his own but the things of Jesus Christ He would prevaile with his Brethren that were intimate with him and knew the sincerity of his heart and design herein to meet him in those parts and to preach at several places neer together sometimes three or four dayes together And the people were ordinarily so far made willing that they would flock to his great joy from place to place after the means of Grace and he had the comfortable testimony of Gods approving his wrok in the good that many soules received thereby Take a taste of his heavenly spirit in a Letter of his sent to a Ministers wife that thought her husband long from her then with him in the Lords Worke July 9. 1652. Dear Friend I do heartily bless our God for what he hath done for you and especially for your soule I pray believe you heard these following words as coming out
every point that became a Learned Preacher 3. He had an extraordinary measure of Holiness and Heavenliness according to the Observation that a Judicious Divine long since made of him That he had more than ordinary degrees of Sanctification He was of a quick understanding in the fear of the Lord and had the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season to the state of all Souls This was his Master-piece and was naturalized to him He had a singular ingenuity in improving Scripture Similitudes and every Occurrence with unimaginable dexterity each Tree and Bird and Stone would be a Text whereon he would aptly inlarge having a mighty wit for the Spiritualizing of every thing and gathering occasion of good Converse in every Company and almost upon every matter and it was apparent That out of the abundance of his heart his mouth spake His holy jealousie and fear of himself was very great A dear friend that well knew him writes thus of him Never man more watchful against Relapses nor more jealous to maintain his first love to the height I have sometimes told him that it was not usual for Converts to retain that Land flood of comfort that intention of zeal and extension of affection which flourished in him and was preserved to the height he must expect an abatement in time and the Current thereof to be contracted and setled in a narrower Channel He often reflected on these words Ore tenus and in his Letters intimating he was what he was heretofore not without an admiration of supporting Grace Thereunto he ascribed all he was And indeed he was so habituated unto Spiritual Communion with his God that he could not patiently bear his withdrawings and was far more sensibly and sooner aware of it than many others are that can to their great loss admit of other delights instead of his face and favour but this Holy Man did most eagerly seek for him upon all occasions till he found Him whom his Soul loved He was a great Observer of the frame and bent of his heart at all times a worthy Minister writes thus of him I have admired at the constant frame of his Spirit he was not subject to that deadness and indisposedness as other good men seem to be his heart was continually burning with an holy zeal Take a tast of his excellent sweet frame of heart in this short Letter-passage to a Friend My dear dear dear Brother I pray thee I pray thee report the loving kindness of the Lord unexpressible unto a poor vile empty altogether undeserving worm for I have found an answer this day this day more than ever to our Prayers and can say the Lords work will on though hell say no and still Believe Preach Pray and Believe Lam. 3.25 I am constrained to say Isa 63.7 Neither thou nor any of my friends can conceive how good the Lord is to me even to me I pray thee and others think and study how good he is to me to me to me And a constant watch he kept over his thoughts especially of his last thoughts that he slept with and his first thoughts that he waked with and usually they were some precious Scripture or other which he would discourse of to his friends with great alacrity He kept a Diary of his Life wherein every day he wrote in Characters where he was what Scriptures he found any sweetness from what was the state of his Soul towards God and such other remarkable passages that did occurr each day from the year 1650. to the year he dyed His love to the Word of God was superlative it was his Meditation day and night He did constantly in a morning pitch upon some Verse which he would endeavour to infuse into his heart ever unwilling to leave it till he had suck'd some virtue from it He was chewing by Meditation the 119th Psalme at the time of his sickness daily squeezing the virtue of one verse thereof into his Soul as appears by his Diary and this he did not formally as a task but with that effectual seriousness and relish that his family at home and friends at a distance in his Letters might perceive exactly what dainties he had tasted And at every vacant time he would be looking for a word and would find out by the casual turning down a leaf in his Bible which was his usual way such passages as were very remarkable and not observed before A Scripture thus met with was as food to him exceeding sweet to his tast he would make much of it and usually would not leave it till he had improved it to the good of others by speaking or writing that others might see what he saw and feel what he felt in the word of God Another usage he had also which shewed him to be both a good Textuary and a good Christian and that was usually to take leave with his Friends and Relations by leaving some Scripture with them and those most suitable to their condition nay he hardly sent commendations to a friend but it was accompanied with some pertinent Scripture that he seemed to breath no other aire but Scripture His Bible was his constant Companion in the day and usually his Pillow at night and many scores of emphatical lively expressions he had found therein which the constant reading and diligence of others could never light on And wherever he came he was engraving some Scripture or other on the Mantle-posts and Walls and Trees which was so constant and peculiar a course with him that his acquaintance oft knew he had been in such a place by the marks he usually left His design therein being the advantage of all mens Souls that the very novelty of seeing such things might set people upon enquiring and looking those those Scriptures in their Bibles not knowing what good one Verse of the Scripture thus met with might do upon a Soul if God set it on At least he found this advantage to himself that when he came to a review of them he was put in mind of that frame of heart he had when he was there before and might tast over again what he had before felt in that passage of the Word of God He seldome wrote a Note or Letter but he made it up with some suitable Scripture the word of God dwelling plentifully in him and in the Memorials forementioned he inserts Scriptures upon every occasion saying in the conclusion The Texts of Scripture herein mention'd are best worth thy finding and noting in thy life as they were in mine His moderation was remarkable to all sorts of godly people though of differing judgements his heart and heat being wholly taken up with the great and necessary parts of Religion that all true Christians agreed in and making the substance of Religion his work and business he never had leisure to trouble himself with controverted circumstances nor would put his Soul out of tune with such things as had caused so much jarring
were unconcern'd in the solemn things he hath treated on Some that have travelled with him a journey which usually were upon some religious account have been even ravished in their souls with his heavenly expressions to prayer he would immediately go either publickly in the Family or privately in his Chamber in every house where he came He had an undaunted boldness in the reproving of a sinner How have some of us seen him in an Inne upon his journey Thunder-striking a Swearer in this manner Who was it there that durst abuse the Name of the God of Heaven And he would ever on purpose when talking with his friends on the way choose some weighty word to speak as he met with people that passed by that so it might stick and this bread of his that was cast on the waters would some times return to him after many dayes He had a singular presence of heart and matter to speak to whomsoever he met and great condescention to explain himself wherein any did not understand him as once in a Snowy day meeting suddenly with a man driving his horses that saluted him and said well met Sir I but sayes he we shall be better met if we meet in Heaven and such like Few poor ever went from his door without a most powerful spiritual almes and he would order them a larger allow aâ—â—e that would admit of his caelestial reliefe But especially his faculty excelled in Discoursing with people on the way with whom he would very handsomly insinuate into very material and yet familiar discourse of Eternal things find out their ignorance mightily amaze and convince them and lay thereby the happy foundation of future acquaintance upon this best count which practises of his may shame and teach us for alas what through the earthlyness and vanity and what through the bashfulness of our hearts Christ and Heaven are generally excepted out of our discourse We can speak of any thing but the soule of any person but of Jesus and of any place but of Heaven and it is almost a crime for a Christian to talk of Christianiâ—â— What an unreasonable thing is it that we who pretend for Heaven should not as readily ordinarily and cheerfully fall into discourse concernig Gods word and our Salvation as the worldlings and wicked ones can of their Lands and Lusts No other talk but what leads towards God shall be worth talking over again in the Kingdom of Heaven Divers Dialogues that were on such occasions framed by him are dispersed in the hands of friends that would if published shew his excellent Genius this way and perhaps stir us all up to be more fruitful in such discourse One Instance hereof is remarkable Riding one morning to a Lecture he met with some young men carrying their Cocks to a Cock-fight he overtaking them dropt this word to one of them Friend our Lord and Master Jesus Christ never came into the world to set up such sports as these These words some further discourses though the young man went on to his sport that day stuck like an arrow in his liver and he could not be at quiet till he had learned who this Minister was and after gain'd acquaintance with him and thereupon laid these and his other sins to heart and made an happy change of his courses He was a zealous improver of good society His ordinary visits were seldome finish'd without prayer with his friends before they parted And when divers good people were all night together he would be tying them as it were end to end and engaging them to pray one after another often to midnight or else to produce their several evidences for Heaven and would sometimes raise the company an hour before day in the morning to wrestle and weepe together that the fire might not go out upon the hearth of their soules being so constantly blown up yea the very crumbs of piety that fell from him at his table were most refreshing and heavenly and a plain argument that it was his meat and drink to do his Fathers will and finish his work He had most ingenious devices and witty artifices flowing from his rooted affection to God whereby after some Solemn dayes he would ingage his Christian friends to a closer conversation Take an Instance or two hereof as we finde them left on record Articles betwixt Christ and two soules 1. That we be his willing loving and obedient Spouses 2. That we labour by all means to know more of his mind and then to tell it one to another and draw to the practise of it 3. That we be alwayes jealous left each other take his room and to be indifferent and moderate in everything and every one but to Him and His. 4. That whatever creatures are betwixt us they be improved to highest advantage betwixt Christ and our soules 5. That we connive not at sin in each other but be tender of one anothers soules and bodies 6. That we love and live each day as the last 7. That we faithfully indeavour performance of each others will while living and when dead so far as Reason and Religion may bind 8. That we be in every condition more willing to go live with Christ our Husband than stay here one with another for pleasure sake 9. That we endeavour seasonableness and suitablenesâ— in every duty c. And another to this effect Seabridge Oct. 8. where His name was that day recorded Before the Lord in his strength I promise to draw neer to God believing he will draw neer to me I pass away and part with my own power to Him that I may be His not anothers Subscribing with heart and hand praying and believing the Lord will undertake for me that I never go back in a thought Or else this will stand in full force against me at that great day to come Phil. 4.13 H. N. Cant. 8.5 J. M. Psal 119.106 J. M. Zach. 8.21 M. M. Psal 119.80 N.B. Isa 38.10 E. H. 2 Cor. 3.5 c. He was one that set great store by the prayers of his Friends and was a very faithful remembrancer of them that desired his prayers which he used to do with that heartiness and sympathy and inlargedness of heart that it would much work upon their hearts and ingage them to more seriousness in their own business and in affection to him that so kindly concerned himself in their affairs And with great fervour would he plead with God in their absence not only to satisfie his conscience promise of remembring them but with strong cryes to prevail for them Besides that frequent course he held of putting on persons to tell him before prayer began what they would have chiefly begg'd for them at the Throne of Grace by which they were sent into their own soules to study their inward and present condition A dear friend upon this account saith thus He gave this Rule touching praying for friends which I have endeavoured since to
I know not but its motion was directly towards his face coming up the steps in the Garden-walk and the visible means of prevention in Gods hand was another stone that turn'd it out of the Path-way within a few steps of him This was an awakening Providence to me and my Wife that day and sent us to our God on our knees partly for Humiliation partly for Gratulation And this stone he kept in his Study and without Superstition made it his remembrancer to continue his thankfulness to God for this great Deliverance And O that Parents would in this sort transmit to their Children an account of Gods dealings with them when they knew him not what obligations would it lay upon them to love and serve the Lord when grown to age and understanding That the Generation to come might know them even the Children that should be born who should arise and declare them to their Children That they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his Commandements Psal 78.6 7. Of his second Child he thus saith My Daughter Lydia so called for that good womans sake Acts 16.14 was born at Astbury March 29. 1656. and there baptized Apr. 6. c. My second Son John was born Sept. 1. 1658. about six in the morning at which time Mr. R.M. a dear Brother and Fellow-labourer and J might be at Prayer for my wife as I understood at my return And he was no less a Son of Prayers The Lord make him a Son of his blessings taking him with the rest into that Everlasting Covenant Jerem. 32.40 John was baptized at Astbury Sept. 12. when I gave him this name John and prayed The Lord be gracious to him Our second Daughter Sarah was born Octob. 8. 1660. and I baptized her at Astbury Octob. 23. by the token of that word then and there Joh. 3.5 c. When this Winter was past this Holy man removed to Whitley May 17. 1661. of whose success there he himself gives this account After some time I found that God was with me in Ordinances to make Conversion work and in Providences to prevent evils and to reach good things to us Let it be remembred to his praise that Octob. 23. 1661. my Son John was within a step of drowning and Providence ordered me within fight at that time though I had been from home the fortnight before And not an hour after my Daughter Sarah was almost choaked with a thread to our great affrightment but we saw the Lords hand very notable in her preservation as we had done the Spring before from sickness in answer to Prayers Psal 103.4 Another merciful preservation of his Son John he subjoyns in these words Memorandum That our Son John had a notable escape and preservation from drowning as he and his Brother were coming from School Jun. 18. 1664. but blessed be God who is present when Parents are absent Here he continued labouring in the Lords Vineyard unto Aug. 24. 1662. at which time he took his Civil Death with many of his Brethren being unsatisfied to Conform as the Act of Uniformity then required But no man took his Death with less reflection upon Superiours or more grief for that affliction But yet there he continued labouring for the peoples advantage with all his strength and was a singular blessing to the Neighbourhood round about having his heart uncessantly bent towards the good of Souls And the Neighbouring Gentry though of a different Perswasion yet offered him not the least molestation in his honest indeavours as being convinced of the Innocence and Peaceableness of his Spirit and uprightness of his ends therein After this his youngest Child was born which he thus records My Daughter Esther was born Jan. 28. 1663. and baptized at Whitley Jan. 31. and called Esther because hidden Hidden as to Conception until time of life and hid as to the time of Travel It was then prayed Lord give her the hid treasure of his fear Isa 33.6 and make her a hid treasure to his house and ours also And having thus made use of these his Memorials we shall add what himself said of the writing of them in these words The occasion of making and writing this Book was a thought I had what was become of all my Fore-fathers and what price I should set upon one of their Manuscripts concerning the State of our Family Nation or Church of God in it 500 years since Whereupon I resolved this Work for my Sons sake and Posterities imitation when it may be said of us in this Generation as of Israel once in that Exod. 1.6 And Joseph dyed and all his Brethren and all that Generation I John Machin called by him who separated me from the Womb Gal. 1.15 to the hope of having my name in the Book of Life and likewise to be an Embassador of my Lord Christ Jesus was in my great Masters work at Astbury in Cheshire Anno 1655. when I first set Pen hereunto And so he continued it observing things remarkable towards him and his Family to the last year of his life which we have made use of in divers places of this Narrative And now having brought him within the view of his Fathers house before we give an account of the last part wherein he took possession of his expected Crown we shall give you his just Character 1. In his Personal 2. his Relative Capacity I. In himself 1 he was of an excellent Spirit in the sense of Pro. 17.27 as dispassionate as most we ever knew One that lived with him for some time sayes truly of him That he knew not that ever he saw him transported with passion but angry he would be at Sin yet still exactly after his Lord and Masters passion being grieved for the hardness of their hearts Mark 3.5 yet his Reproofs were alwayes so moderated with Love and Compassion that the Offendor could not but see that he intended them for his good 2. He had good natural Parts and was no Novice in all that learning which was necessary for his work For though he was more abundant in publick Preaching than most others which must needs hinder his Studies yet what time of vacancy he had from this work he diligently redeemed for his Book and took in Philosophy the Tongues History Positive and Practical Divinity in his course of Study being never well unless in Study or in immediate Duties or holy Conference though as it was once said of Plato's Houshold-stuff it was truly said of all his Studies There was nihil in pompam omne in usum And like one of the Architects in Plutarch who when the other had made an artificial discourse of his skill to contrive a new building before those that were to make their choice of them He only said All that this man hath said I can do So this Holy Man had the Knowledge of Doing what others could learnedly Dispute and Discourse of he could learnedly live in
12 s. per Annum be for ever set apart for the Gospel of my own estate that immortal souls may be won and Gods portion in the world increased To be disposed as abovesaid or as my Brethren Mr. N. and Mr. S. my dearest fellow labourers shall judge and find most abundantly and effectually to accomplish Christs ends and mine saying Rom. 10.1 my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved This Lecture he set on foot this Summer The first day was at Newcastle Aug. 4. 1653. where his two foresaid friends did preach as also the third course which was at Vttoxeter Sep. 29. following being the day of his marriage And this business was so much in his heart and purpose that when some scruple was made about it in the settlement of his Land at marriage he hath these words in a Letter Whether I change my condition or not I have cause and call to respect my promise to the Lord and his Gospel in the thing I intended which I think will now be preferred before the change of my condition And that you may discerne the undissembled holiness of his heart and bent of soule also to this good work we shall transcribe some passages of the Will he made Nov. 16. 1653. not two moneths after his marriage I commit my soule to God my God and my Saviour that created and redeemed it even into the bosome of the Father of Spirits my body to my Father Corruption and to the Worms my Mother and Sister Job 17.14 In hopes he will make good to me who with them some time have endeavoured to serve him his promise of Eternal Life Rom. 2.7 As for my dear beloved Wife I freely return and I pray it may be with advantage to him that hath lent her to whom I leave Joh. 17.24 Revel 21. last Jude 24. Psal 84.10 11. hopeing that I leave them heirs together with me or rather with Jesus Christ of a Kingdome that cannot be removed If the Lord should graciously give me Issue I pray it may be of his Heritage and prepared for a Room in Heaven to it I would leave 1 Chron. 28.9 and I pray God see it executed according to my will And it is my will concerning my Heir if the Lord give one that he may be a Samuel lent to the Lord and his Service in the Ministry for I can say he is an asking of the Lord as was Samuel And that he may have my inheritance performing his Fathers and my will concerning my Lecture As for my Personal Substance c. ending thus Praying whoever rules here may keep open house for God and his and all I leave may be his to whom I would in faith say Psal 31.5 hereunto subscribing with my heart and hand J. M. And in a Schedule dated herewith as followeth Some particulars concerning the thing that hath long been in my heart to do for God written as my last will as an occasion of some standing Service when I am not Motives Gods Glory Christs Kingdomes increase and poor Souls Salvation an expression of my thankfulness for what he hath done for our family and for me the least and last of it And the rather because I am here in my own apprehension so little serviceable in speaking doing and suffering for him and nothing at all advantageous in writing as others have been and I could have desired Those Motives together with that blessed experience I have had of its advantage already through Gods sealing work with it makes me to think my self favoured the more of God if I may do this for him and I doubt not but he can and will if need be give me and mine much more than this as is said 2 Chro. 52.9 and if I could say as David 1 Chron. 29.23 I would think it little betwixt him and me who hath said That whosoever shall give you a cup of cold water to drink in my name because ye belong to Christ verily I say unto you he shall not lose his reward and my Prayer is that those that come after me whose it might have been think it's better bestowed than the rest The Thing A double Lecture viz. of two Sermons once a month chiefly intending Souls Conversion The Ministers The most Orthodox able and powerful that can be procured for love to Jesus Christ and his Service or the will of the dead chosen by my Trustees successively The Trustees Four Ministers and four Lay-men The Ministers I leave in trust and question not their faithfulness herein for Christ sake are my dearest fellow-labourers in our Lords work Mr. N. Mr. S. Mr. B. and Mr. J. with whom I only leave for their direction and incouragement 1 Cor. 15.58 Mat. 28.20 The Laymen whom I put in joynt trust are Mr. B. Mr. M. Mr. B. and plain-hearted T. H. all whose faces I hope to see in Heaven with them I leave for their refreshment when taking some steps about it Mat. 25.39 40. for Eternity is the place I would be for to which when gone I am but a little before and you a little behind This Lecture he kept up by his constant cost and care from Aug. 4 1653. monthly until Jan. 2. 1659. whereof he kept an exact account in a Catalogue wherein he took notice of the day of the month the place the persons that Preached and their Texts some hints of the Congregation both number and seriousness 〈◊〉 continued it until the times would neither incourage nor bear it and thereupon it not only fell but also wanting publick liberty for such an Exercise according to the purpose of his heart he suspended his intentions and disposed this Land otherwise It seems to be like the pious intention of David upon the most holy and affectionate motives 2 Sam. 7.2 and such as we read not that Solomon had that after did it to build an house to the Lord. But the Lord accepted his desire blessed him for his pious design but would have his Son do it So God may revive this design on the hearts of his Son or Successors who finding the blessing of their Fathers Prayers Piety and Promises descending upon them may arise to build and finish what he began We find him now setled at Astbury whether he came to keep house in May 1654. where he saith himself I was entertained without exception or interruption And though for some years we met with troubles yet did the Lord stand betwixt me and all my trouble so that many times I was as a man wholly free and was made amends for all my Sufferings of that nature by the Lords presence sweet and powerful in his Ordinances especially in that of the Lords Supper there set on foot in March 1654. and continued without interruption monthly or once in six weeks till Anno 1660. And the Lord did mightily strengthen his hands and incourage his heart in this ordinance and great care he took in preparation for it spending
the Friday before the Sacrament in publick prayers and preaching Gods Word and the day after the Sacrament in thanksgiving at his own or some other neighbour-family especially where there fell out in any Communicants family any occasion of special thanksgiving as recovery from sickness or the like A faithful account he hath taken and left hereof noting the Text preached upon by himself or his Brethren on those dayes and according to his observation giving a general character of Gods dealing with them in his Ordinance in such words as these The Lords supper was Sep. 21. 1656. a day of breaking bread indeed for Christ was broken to the breaking of some hearts that thought they could never be broken The Thanksgiving was at whereby many it was said Psal 103. 1 Sam. 7.20 Again Sâ—p 1660. His last Sacrament there thus A good and great day as formerly the Lords presence and Communion with his Blood made it so And as much cause of thanksgiving for all the Ordinances that day especially I c. By Mr. Ms. coming to Astbury he had only opportunity of preaching there each other Lords day and had liberty on the other for his Charity-service which he heartily rejoyced in and was ready freely to help any of his Brethren so that he was seldome a day at ease And now he had opportunity to be acquainted with the Ministers and Congregations in Cheshire where the Lord blessed his indeavours to many soules For his labours here were much inlarged by the many Fast-dayes which he kept upon occasions offered unto which he was very ready and would gather up such special things as any in or out of his family desired to be recommended unto God in prayer on such days and at other times and press them to particularize some special thing lest they should come unto God on a sleeveless errand which things he would frequently write down in a paper for that purpose that those who were imployed might read it and so be inabled pertinently to pray for one another And he did much desire to make these dayes and indeed all Ordinances very serious and to rescue them from that formality that ordinarily accompanies them being little content with the work done unless he found something done thereby upon his own and others hearts Great benefit and comfort he knew was to be had in these ordinances and he would not rest contentedly without it but diligently observed the success of them and upon Gods withdrawing from him made it his business to seek his God untill he found him again and the Cause also of his withdrawing The strength of affection which he had in Gods worship was discernable to all that joyned with him so that he seem'd Deum toto ictu animae tetigisse and particularly in singing of Psalms which he did with such an apparent intention of mind and heart as is not ordinary and divers yet living shal never forget with what faith and fervency he would pronounce Amen Amen at the end of a prayer And after holy duties his heart was commonly greatly lifted up in the wayes of the Lord and though he far'd never so well in it yet he had not done with an Ordinance when it was over but had the heart unto and the art of improving an inlarged heart and would then with a Dexterity and Sincerity of his own put on to holy discourse as not only publickly urging things pro forma but would follow it after with all his might as if being the Lords Embassador he waited for an answer to him that had sent him A most unwearied man he was in Religious Duties and was never observed to give our though sometimes on special occasions they continued all night therein After one of these dayes of special Communion with God he retired with two or three beloved friends in private and there moved each of them to name some one thing they would chiefly desire of the Lord and so each of them pray'd over all those particulars that were cast in And the impressions and affections raised in their hearts by this occasion will not easily be forgotten by such as yet survive And for the increase of Knowledge and Holiness he held up a Conference to his own and peoples great benefit and that no time might be lost nor any ones Mite neglected he would take the answers of those that were absent at the stated times when he occasionally and opportunely met them and sometimes before the whole Assembly were gathered together at dayes of Prayer so that he was alwayes doing and designing the best advantage of the peoples Souls upon all occasions Whilst he was Minister at Astbury it pleased the Lord to give him four of the five Children which the Lord made him Father of concerning whose births he thus spakes in the faithful Memorials which he left The first Will I made was suddenly after Marriage he means the first formed Sealed Will and in it spoke of a Son Samuel as if I had seen him by faith though he was not then in being and it was a full quarter of a year before we had sensible hopes of a Child which was given us about March 9. 1653. at which time the Orchard was planting In May following we came to set up house-keeping at Astbury where God gave us the birth of our asking of God 1 Sam. 1.20 Samuel born Nov. 13. about eleven of Clock at night Baptized the Sabbath day following chiefly called Samuel because asked of God by Father Mother by both and many Christian friends there and elsewhere with great ends propounded at such times of Prayer viz. that he might be one to bear Gods Name here in his Church on Earth and one to take up a Room prepared for him in glory The Lord be Surety for thee my Son The Lord forbid thou should'st come short of these ends prayed thy Father Thus did he set upon his head the Remembrance of the Mercy of God in his Birth as the Servants of God of old did make the very names of their Children the means of remembring Gods signal mercies to them and so constant occasions and provocations to Gods praise which this gracious Man abounded in Again In the first year of his life he was by sickness twice under the sentence of death but Prayer that obtained him kept him Another great Deliverance to this Child he recorded which if it affect his heart when he is able to consider it as it did his Fathers who would make large Narratives thereof and beg the serious praises of his friends for it with extraordinary affections it will be of no small advantage to his Soul to in dear him to the God of his life Thus he records it Memorandum That July 10. 1656. the Lord prevented the death of my Son Samuel which in all probability might have been with my own hand bowling a stone with all my might towards the Child whether I saw him before it went out of my hands or no