Comforts â—aith and Joy His love to the Saints His Charity His Sympathy He was much beloved His delight in Preaching Hiâ— Sickness His holy Speeches His tormenting pains His Death His Birth and Parentage The College at Dublin founded His Education A special Providence His timely Conversion Satans malice Prayer powerfull Satans subtilty Gods mercy His admission into the College His great proficiency His admission to the Sacrament His preparation thereto His skill in Chronology His study of the Fathers He is designed to the study of the Law His study of Divinity His contempt of the world His Disputâ— with a Jesus He is Master of Arts and Catechist His Oâ—dination His first Sermon after it Tentation resisted A great Reformation Popery encreaseth His Zeal A Prediction His Body of Divinity Souldiers favourers of Learning His great diligence His Correspondents His first preferment His constant preaching His prevalency in prayer He is Bachelor in Divinity and Professor His strong memory His Self-denial Episcopal subtilty A special Providence A holy practice His Speech in the Assembly The success of his Speech He is Dr. of Divinity The Articles of Ireland His enemies He is made Bishop by the King He preaches to the Parliament His constant preaching His success in his Ministry His answer a Jesuit He is made Primate of Ireland His disputation with a Jesuit The Lord Mordant converted His fruitfull conference His Humility Examples of it Psal. 16. 3. 119. 63. His frequenâ— Prayers His Industâ— A Toleratiâ— of Popery dâ—sired The Bishops judgements against it Lord Falklands esteem of him His incessant pains His care of 〈◊〉 Ministry His constanâ— preaching at catechizing His expences in Books and Manuscripts A Prediâ—â—â— Jer. 2â— 9. His zeal against Popery Predictions He lame our Diviâ— His Humility His Labours successful His Pruâ— Prayer powerful His Dispâ—â—â—tions witâ—â—hree Jesuâ— They are foyled Another Disputation A special Providence The success of his Ministry A specialâ—â—vidence His Suffâ— A scandal cleaâ—ed Offers 〈◊〉 to him 〈◊〉 abroad He goes to Oxford And into Wales He is abused by Souldiers His Sicknâ— He is chosâ— Lincolns 〈◊〉 His last Sermon His Chaâ—â— He owns â—â—ther Refoâ— Churches A Peace â—â—ker His Zeal His Humility His last Sickness His Deaâ— His Funeral His learning admired His Character His learning â—cknowledged â—y Papists His Birth and â—arentage His Education His Preferment at Oxford His attendance at Couâ—t His Temâ—â—â—tions His excel◠〈◊〉 Hâ—s knowledge of the times A universal Schollar His-Modesty Hiâ— excellent Preaching Hâ—s communiâ—iveness His plain preaching Note His â—ervent Prayers Set forms of Prayer lawful His sound judgement His constancy The danger of inconstancy in Religion How to be constant therein His single-heartedness Hypocrisie complained of His Usefulness His frequent preaching He leaves the Minâ—stry at Pitâ—â—combe He practiseth Physick His fruitful discourses An excellent Counselor He preached freely Tithes asserted His holy life His Self-denial His contempt of the world His Humility His Moderation His Patience His Death His Birth His going to â—xford His Convers Woful ignorance His first Sermon His return 〈◊〉 Oxford A special Pâ—â—â—vidence Ministers suspended His remove to Hanwell Mr. Whately aâ— Banbury He is setled at Hanwell His Marriage His Affliction Mr. Lancaster a learned and humble man Life of Faith Mr. Dods Character How Mr. Dod prized him His invitatioâ— to London His Labouâ— at Hanwell His frequent preaching and success His Lectur at Stratford upon â—von Relâ—gion flourisheth Gods blessing upon his outward estate The Battel at Edgebill His Troublâ— His Courage He is chosen one of the Assembly His remove to London He is setled at Buttolphs Bishopsgate He is sent to Oxford He is chosen to Petersfield He leaves Petersfield He is traduced His several afflictions A Disputation at Oxford He commenced Doctor He is made Head of Trinity College He refused New College He is chosen to preach a Lectuâ—e in Oxford His wives sore temptations Mercies mixâ— with trials His last Sickness His Humility Hâ—s secret imployments How he spent his time His counsel to his friends His strict observation of the Sabbath His divine speeches His death His timely Conversion His Charity His Humility His pithy â—p eches His Temperance Mr. R. M. His Patience Family Government His adviceâ— his children Gods blessing upon his children His servants Gods servants His good Government in the College His great Learning A good Disputant His fervent Prayers An excellent Preacher His method in preaching His strong Memory His pithy speeches What Sermons are best His advice to young Preacâ—ers His advice about Books His judgement of Mr. Calvin And of other Writers His judgement of our times About Indpendencye About Ordination of Ministers His excellent Speeches An Introduction His parentage His Educatioâ— His imprisonment His escape He comes to Lubeck He is remanded by hâ—s Keeper Pleads for himself Defended by the Consul Protected bâ— Lubeck His escape Calmar His Danger His removeâ— to his own Country The King admitted into Sockholme Plots to destroy the Suedish Lords The Suedish Lords surprâ—sed and murdered and murdered Danish Cruelty Covetousness Hypocrisie What Gustavâ—s then did Treachery A special providence He goes to the Dallcaâ—â—es His speech to them Their answer He meets with new difficulties Sir Laurence Olai assists him He Arms. Gods providence to the Suedes He raiseth an Army Seizeth on the Kings Treasure He divides his Army He advanceth into Helsiâ—g From thence into Gestrict The Danes are infatuated He marches to Westerass The Danes are beaâ—en Westerass taken Upsal taken Gustavus quits Vpsal His danger and delivery Gods providence The Danes again are beaten His Army much encreased The King of Denmark hated at home A Convention of the Estates in Sueden They proffer him the Kingdome Which he refuseth Many joyn with him Abbo besieged Steckburgh surrendred Stockholme relieved by the Nicopen yeelded to the Suedes Tineslor and Westerass surrendred The Lubeckers assist him The Danes beaten at Sea Stockholme straitly besieged He begins a War in Norway The King of Denmark flyes into Germany Then into Flanders A good Wife Calmar surrendred A Parliament called A Senate established They choose Gustavus King which he refuses They press him again He submits His Piety The Lubeckers required The Articles of agreement Stockholme surrendred Finland reduced Peace settled Peace with the Muscovite The Duke of Holst chosen King of Denmark The two new Kings meet The King of Denmarks speech The King of Suedens answer Peace concluded Gospel light in Germany Envied by the Devil Anabaptists trouble all Two of them come into Sueden and cause much trouble Gustavus banisheth them Their infection spreadeth The Pope justifies the massacre at Stockholme The King visits the Kingdome A Convention of the Estates They leave the Church-revenues to the disposall of the King Popish lies and slanders The Dallcarles rebell Religion reformed And are quieted Traytors executed A Famine causeth new stirs Which are soon quieted Convention of Estates caled The Kings Speech to them
intending chiefly Sir Robert Cottons Library and conversing with learned men amongst whom even in those his younger years he was in great esteem In his after-years he was acquainted with the rarities in other Nations There was scarce a choice Book in any eminent persons Library in France Italy Germany or Rome it self but he had his way to procure it or what he desired transcribed out of it so that he was better acquainted with the Popes Vatican than some that daily visited it The Puteani fratres two learned men in Paris holp him much with many Transcripts out of Thuanus and others between whom and him many Letters passed Now though the reading of the Fathers all over was a vast work yet the pains he took out of the common road of learning in searching of Records and all the Manuscripts he could get throughout Christendome together with the knotty study of Chronology and Antiquity was equal with if it did not exceed the other Many Volumes he also read onely to attain to the knowledge of the use of words in several ages as Galen Hipocrates c. and most of the Records in the Tower of London Besides there was scarce the meanest book in his own Library but he remembred it even to admiration and had in his head readily whatsoever he had read The first Church-preferment which he had was given him by Archbishop Loftus a little before his death which was the Chancellorship of St. Patricks Dublin unto which he took no other Benefice In that place Mr. Camden found him when he was writing his Britannia Anno Christi 1607 and in his observations concerning Dublin saith of him Most of these I acknowledge to owe to the diligence and labours of James Usher Chancellor of the Church of St. Patricks who in various learning and judgement far exceeds his years In this preferment though the Law required not his preaching but onely in his course before the State yet would he not omit it in the place from whence he received his profits and though he endowed it with a Vicaridge yet went he thither in person viz. to Finglas a mile from Dublin and preached there every Lords day unless he were detained upon some extraordinary occasions and the remembrance that he had been a constant Preacher was a greater comfort to him in his old age than all his other labours and writings His experiments in Prayer were many and very observable God ofen answering his desires in kinde and that immediately when he was in some distresses and Gods Providence in taking care and providing for him in his younger years as he often spake of it so it wrought in him a firm resolution to depend upon God in his latter dayes what ever extremity he might be brought into Anno Christi 1607 when he was twenty seven years old he commenced batchelor of Divinity and immediately after be was chosen Professor of Divinity in the University of Dublin At first he read twice a week and afterwards once a week without intermission throughout the year going through a great part of Bellarmines Controversies In this employment he continued thirteen or fourteen years and was a great ornament to his place Three Volumes of those his Lectures written with his own hand he hath left behinde him and it would be a great honour to that University where they were read and benefit to many others if they were published When he performed his Acts for his degree Latine Sermon Lectures Position and answered the Divinity Act he wrote nothing but only the heads of the several Subjects putting all upon the strength of his memory and present expressions as also he did his English Sermons His readiness in the Latine Tongue was inferiour to none in these latter times which after seventeen years disuse from the time that he left his Professors place appeared when he moderated the Divinity Act and created Doctors to all mens admiration The Provostship of the College of Dublin falling void he was unanimously elected thereto by all the Fellows he being then about thirty years of age but foreseeing that upon the settlement of Lands belonging to it and the establishing of other matters he should be much impeded and distracted in his studies he refused it and so another was sent out of England to fill it The revenues of it were very considerable whereby we may see how mean and little the things of the world seemed in his eyes even in those his younger years About this time the Irish Prelates especially Dr. Hampton his predecessor in the Sea of Armagh had obtained King James his grant for reducing Ireland to the same Ecclesiastical Government of the Church of England the principal occasion whereof was this The English Prelates a little before had used a great deal of severity against the Non-conformists their High Commission and other Courts and Canons had driven many worthy and learned men into other Countries and some of them went into Ireland the Irish Bishops being weary of this resort are desirous to advance their power to the same height with the English Hierarchy combined together and obtained King James his Commission to Sir Arthur Chichester Earle of Belfast a famous Souldier and prudent Governour who was at this time Lord Deputy and bore the Sword there eleven years together with very much honour and esteem in that Nation For the effecting of this a great Assembly of the whole Nation was convened In the Commission the King required them to consult with Mr. Usher whose learning judgement and esteem would much conduce to the promoting of that work But if he approved it not the King required that they should proceed no further for that he would not be the author of any Innovation amongst them This reserve troubled the Prelates exceedingly and therefore they resolved to carry it closely the Kings Letters to them they transmitted from one to another but acquainted not Mr. Usher with them intending to surprize him when the Assembly was met they should come prepared and fortified he would be taken on the sudden Howbeit God that intended him for so great a good at that time in crossing their design that many faithful labourers in his Vineyard might not by this their power be displaced by a special Providence gave him some light though but very little into the matter and the manner was thus Mr. Usher going to visit one of them found him perusing the Kings Letter but upon his coming he laid it down in his window closed at both ends onely there was an open place in the middle and as they were discoursing together Mr. Usher glancing his eye upon it espied his own name and some other vvords about himself of which he could not pick out the meaning but yet he judged them to be of importance as Discipline Ireland England c. Mr. Usher thought it not prudence for him to take notice of those hints neither could
Protestants also must have born some share To consider hereof a great Assembly of Papists and Protestants of the whole Nation was appointed in the Lord Deputy Faulklands time The place of their meeting was in the Hall of the Castle in Dublin At which time the Bishops by our Lord Primates invitation met at his house where he and they drew up and unanimously subscribed a Protestation against the Toleration of Popery A Copy whereof because it deserves perpetual remembrance is here inserted The Judgement of the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland concerning the Toleration of Popery which is applicable also against the Toleration of other Heresies The Religion of the Papists is Superstitious and Idolatrous their Faith and Doctrine erroneous and Heretical their Church in respect of both Apostatical To give them therefore a Toleration or to consent that they may freely exercise their Religion and profess their Faith and Doctrine is a grievous sin and that in two respects For 1. It is to make our selves accessary not onely to their Superstitions Idolatries Heresies and in a word to all the abominations of Popery but also which is a consequent of the former to the perdition of the seduced people which perish in the Deluge of the Catholick Apostacy 2. To grant them a Toleration in respect of any money to be given or contribution to be made by them is to set Religion to sale and with it the souls of the People whom Christ our Saviour hath redeemed with his most precious blood And as it is a great sin so also a matter of most dangerous consequence the consideration whereof we commend to the Wise and Juditious Beseeching the Zealous God of Truth to make them who are in Authority zealous or Gods glory and of the advancement of true Religion zealous resolute and couragious against all Popery Superstition and Idolatry Amen Ja. Armachanus Mal. Cashlen Anth. Medensis Tho. Hernes Laghlin Ro. Dunensis c. Georg. Derens. Rich. Cork Cloyne Rosses Andr. Alachadens Tho. Kilmore Ardagh Theo. Dromore Mic. Waterford Lysm Fran. Lymerick This Judgement of the Bishops Dr. George Downham Bishop of Derry at the next meeting of the Assembly which was April the 23 1627 published at Christ Church before the Lord Deputy and Council in the middest of his Sermon with this preamble viz. Are not many amongst us for gain and outward respects willing and ready to consent to a Toleration of false Religions thereby making themselves guilty of a great offence in putting to sale not onely their own souls but also the souls of others But what is to be thought of Toleration of Religion I will not deliver my own private opinion but the judgement of the Archbishops and Bishops of this Kingdome which I think good to publish unto you that whasoever shall happen the world may know that we were far from consenting to those favours which the Papists expect After he had published it the people gave their votes with a generall acclamation crying Amen The judgements of the Bishops prevailed so much with the Protestants that now the Proposals drove on very heavily and after much debate of things the L. Deputy finding the discontents of both parties encreasing desired our Lord Primate as the fittest person both in regard of his esteem in the Assembly and being a member of the Council and therefore concerned in promoting of the Kings business to sum up the state of things and to move them to an absolute grant of some competency that might comply with the Kings necessities without any such conditions with which upon their answer he would cease moving any further which upon very little warning he did with much prudence according to his double capacity of a Privy Counsellour and a Bishop A copy of which Speech desired of him by the Lord Deputy was immediately transmitted into England But it not being prevalent with the Assembly to induce them to supply the Kings wants it was dissolved Not long after the Lord Deputy Falkland being called back into England when he was to take Boat at the water side he reserved our Lord Primate as the last person to take his leave of and fell upon his knees on the sands and begged his blessing which reverend respect shewed to him gained a greater reputation to himself both in Ireland and England and indeed from his younger years the several Lord Deputies had alwayes a great esteem of him It was no small labour to him to answer those many Letters which came to him from forreign parts and our own Nations upon several occasions some for resolution of difficulties in Divinity others about Cases of Conscience and practical subjects Twelve of the most eminent Divines in London who at his being here were wont to apply themselves to him as to a Father as Dr. Sibbs Dr. Preston c. between whom and him there were most entire affections wrote to him for his directions about a Body of practical Divinity which he returned them accordingly He much endeavoured the augmentation of the maintenance of the Ministery in Ireland and for that end he had obtained a Patent for Impropriations to be passed in his name for their use as they should fall but it was too much neglected by themselves whereby his desires were frustrated He preached every Lords day in the forenoon never failing unless he was disabled by sickness in which he spent himself very much In the afternoons his directions to Dr. Bernard his assistant were that before publick Prayers he should Catechize the youth and that after the first and second Lesson he should spend half an hour in a brief and plain opening the Principles of Religion in the publick Catichisme and therein he directed him to go first through the Creed at once giving but the sum of each Article the next time to go through it at thrice and afterwards to take each time one Article as they might be more able to bear it and to observe the like proportionably in the Ten Commandements the Lords Prayer and the Doctrine of the Sacraments The good fruit of which was apparent in the common people upon their coming to the Communion at which time by ordeâ— the receivers were to send in their names and some account was constantly taken of their fitness for it His order throughout his Diocess to the Ministers was that they should go through the Body of Divinity once a year which he had accordingly drawn out into fifty heads When any publick Fast was enjoyned he kept it very strictly preaching alwayes first himself and therein continuing at least two hours in a more than ordinary manner enlarging himself in prayer the like was done by those that assisted him in the duty His expences for Books was very great especially whilst he enjoyed the revenues of his Archbishoprick a certain part whereof he laid aside yearly for that end but especially for the purchasing of Manuscripts and other Rarities
as well from remote parts of the world as near at hand He was the first that procured the Samaritan Bible which is onely the Pentateuch to the view of these Western parts of the world It was sent him from Syria by the way of Aâ—eppo Anno Christi 1625. He had four of them sent him by a Fâ—ctor whom he imployed to search for things of that nature and these were thought to be all that could there be had One of these he gave to the Library of Oxford A second to Leyden for which Ludevicus de Dieu returns him publick thanks in a Book that he dedicated to him A third he gave to Sir Robert Cottons Library And the fourth after he had compared it with the other he kept himself The Old Testament in Syriack an other Rarity also was sent him from those parts not long after It might happily seem incredible unto some to relate how many years agone he confidently foretold the changes which since are come to pass both in Ireland and England both in Church and State and of the poverty which himself should fall into which he oft spake of in his greatest plenty Some took much notice of that Text which he preached of in St. Maries in Cambridge Anno Christi 1625 upon the late Kings Coronation day and the first annual solemnity of it out of 1 Sam. 12. 25. If you still do wickedly you shall be consumed both you and your King Others of the last Text that he preached on at the Court immediately before his return into Ireland 1 Cor. 14. 33. God is not the Author of confusion but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saints In his application he spake of the confusions and divisions which he was confident were then at the doors In his Book called Ecclesiarum Britannicarum Antiquitates p. 556 â—he hath this remarkable passage after he had largely related the manner of the utter destruction of the British Church and State by the Saxons about the year 550 as he found it in Gildas he gives two reasons why he was so prolixe in setting it down 1. That the Divine Justice might the rather from thence appear to us the sins of persons of all sorts and degrees being then come to the heigth which occasioned not onely shaking of the foundations of the British Church and State but the very destruction and almost utterly overturning of them 2. That even we now might be in the greater fear that our turn also is coming and may be minded of that of the Apostle Rom. 11. 22. Behold the goodness and severity of God On them which fell severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness Otherwise thou also shalt be cut off He often acknowledged that sometimes in his Sermons he hath resolved to forbear speaking of some things but it proved like Jeremiahs fire shut up in his bones that when he came to it he could not forbear unless he would have stood mute and proceeded no further He was very bold and free in the exercise of his Ministry sparing sin in none yea even before Kings he was not ashamed to do it He often to his utmost stood in the gap to oppose Errours and false Doctrines he withstood to the face any Toleration of Popery and Superstition by whomsoever attempted He was so fervent in his preaching that that of the Psalmist might be applied to him The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up Anno Christi 1624 he spake before many witnesses and often repeated it afterwards that he was perswaded that the greatest stroak to the Reformed Churches was yet to come and that the time of the utter ruine of the Roman Antichrist should be when he thought himself most secure according to that Text Revel 18. 7. When she shall say I sit as a Queen and shall see no sorrow c. His farewell Sermon in or very near the place where he had lived in England was then much observed upon Jam. 1. 25. Sin when it is finished brings forth death wherein he spake of the fulnes of the sins of this Nation which certainly would bring great destruction Adding that the Harvest of the earth was ripe and the Angel was putting in his sickle Rev. 14. 18. applying also that of the Epha in the Vision Zach. 5. when it was filled with wickedness and that of the Amorites who when their iniquities were come to the full were destroyed He often also hinted the same in his private discourses and many that heard them laid these his sayings up in their hearts and by what hath already fallen out do measure their expectations for the future At the last time of his being in London he much lamented with great thoughts of heart the wofull dis-unions and the deadly hatred which he saw kindled in the hearts of Christians one against another by reason of their several opinions in matters of Religion and observing how some opposed the Ministry both to Office and maintenance Others contemned the Sacraments Others raised and spread abroad Damnable Dectrines Heresies and Blasphemies Upon which considerations he was confident that the enemies which had sown these up and down the Nation were Priests Friers and Jesuits and such like Popish Agents sent out of their Seminaries from beyond the Seas in sundry disguises who increasing in number here in London and elsewhere do expect a great harvest of their labours and he was perswaded that if they were not timely prevented by a severe suppressing of them the issue would be either an inundation of Popery or a Massacre or both adding withall how willing he was if the Lord so pleased to be taken away from that evil to come which he confidently expected unless there were some speedy Reformation of these things An. Christi 1634 A little before the Parliament began in Ireland there was a Letter sent over from the late King to the Lord Deputy and Council for determining the question of the precedency between the Primate and Archbishop of Dublin the question was nothing as to their persons but in relation to their Sees This good man out of his great-humility was hardly drawn to speak to that Argument but being commanded he shewed in it a great deal of learning and rare observations in matters of Antiquity so that the business was deâ—ermined on his side who afterwards by another Letter procured without his seeking had the precedency given him of the Lord Chancellor These things took little with him but were rather burdens to him who was not in the least elated or puffed up thereby ' At that Parliament he preached the first day of it before the Lord Deputy and the Lords and Commons in St. Patricks Dublin His Text was Gen. 49. 10. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet till Shiloh come and to him shall the gathering of the people be At the beginning also of the
Parliament Anno Christi 1639 he preached before the same Auditory on Deut. 33. 4 5. And Moses commanded us a Law even the Inheritance of the Congregation of Jacob and he was a King in Jesurun when the heads of the people and the Tribes of Israel were gathered together Both which Texts as they were pertiment so were they handled with rare Judgement and eminent Learning The Lord was pleased to make his Labours very successfull some few instances whereof I shall here set down some of which I had from my Reverend Friend Mr. Stanly Gower the last from my own knowledge A Lords eldest son who from his cradle had been trained up in Popery but was of excellent parts and learning was at last prevailed with by his Father to sojourn for a while with this learned Prelate in Drogheda The prudent Prelate studied nothing more than how he might take him by craft as the Apostle did the Corinthians 2 Cor. 12. 16. and therefore did not presently fall into discourse with him about his Religion but recreated himself for a time in discoursing with him about some Philosophical questions and Schol-points in which studies he perceived the Gentleman was well versed and took much delight in them This he continued till at last he gained so far upon his affections that of his own accord he moved some discourse about matters of Religion and then finding him studious he did not presently go about to instruct him in the Truth but sought to puzzle him with doubts about his own Religion By this means the Gentlemans conscience began to be awakened nor were his scruples removed though he had recourse to a Monastery hard by where they were debated so that at last he came with tears to the Learned Primate for satisfaction and he promised to deal faithfully with him but saith he those whom you trust do not so for they will not suffer you to see with your own eyes nor to understand the Scripture but according to their Churches Commentaries Then did he advise him to go amongst them and to ask them whether he that understood the Originals might examine their Interpretations and to bring him word what they said Accordingly he did so and brought him word that they were divided in their judgements Then did the learned Prelate wish him no longer to trust to their implicit Faith and he would demonstrate to him how much they perverted the sense of the Scriptures and abused the writings of the Antient Fathers whilst they sought to make the world believe that the Fathers and Councils were wholly for them and against us And if saith he you distrust your own learâ—ing and reading and will make choice of anyother who you think can say more I will make this good which I have said before the best of them all This was an introduction to much confidence which the Gentleman had in him and it pleased God after much temptation which he had to the contrary as he confessed to direct him to betake himself to prayer after which time he acknowledged that he understood more of the way of truth both when he conferred with the Primate and when he meditated apart than ever he could attain to before and the issue was that he came into the Church unlooked for of the Primate and after Sermon made a confession of his Faith offering to seal the truth of it if they pleased to admit him by receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which was then to be administred The Papists especially the Priests were so enraged hereat for losing such an one of whom they conceived so great hopes that they made much disturbance insomuch as the Gentleman for safety was sent over into England to Oxford that he might decline their fury and the forces of the City were raised to prevent the present danger and the Lord Deputy hearing of it sent a Troop of Horse and as it was said thereupon dissolved one of their Monasteries Another was this The Lady Falkland about the time of the late Queens coming out of France to be married to King Charles turned Recusant and on a time was gotten into the company of Father Fisher Father Sweet and Father Swetnam in Drury Lane and by some means or other Dr. Featly and Mr. Gataker were procured to meet them there the Lord Savil brother to this Lady as he also was going that way accidentally met with Dr. Usher and intreated him to go along with him to this meeting the Bishop consented and by the way requested the Lord Savil at their first entrance privately to give notice to his Sister the Lady Falkland that she should take no notice of him and saith he I will do the like to the Ministers and as for the Jesuits I beleeve they know me not at all At their first entrance they found them engaged about Image-worship the Jesuits denied that they gave them Divine worship the Ministers were proving that they were no fit mediums to worship God by After they had tugged at it and were wearied and ready to give over that Question Bishop Usher said But Gentlemen pray you tell me do not you give them Divine worship they answered no How then said he will you be tryed they answered By the Council of Trent Indeed said the Bishop that Council doth require the giving of worship to them but who shall expound what that honour and worship is and assure us that it is not Divine Will you be determined by Thomas Aquinas they said Yes Then was the Book sent for and he turned presently to that place where he concludes that the same reverence is to be given to the Image of Christ as to Christ himself and by consequence seeing Christ is adored with the worship of Latria his Image also is to be adored with the same worship Now said the Bishop have you any higher worship than the Latria that you give to God Upon this one of the Jesuits whispered to the Lady Falkland to know his name that thus disputed she answered that he was a Country Minister No quoth the Jesuit there is more in him than in both the other Try him said she further That Question being laid aside that of Free-will was taken up the Bishop sate silent as before whilst the state of the Question was canvassed between the Ministers and Jesuits and much ado there was about it so that they had like to have broken off without coming to any issue the Bishop seeing that said Gentlemen if you will give me leave I will bring you to the point in difference presently by this similitude If you make Free-will to be the Horse I will make Grace to be his Rider Now true it is my Horse can go of himself but he knows not whither I intend to go Besides he is dull and tyred and I spur him on my spur doth not properly go but it makes my Horse to go You may easily apply it But the Jesuits had enough
Doctrine of Luther and upon this account they sent Letters to Small and to stir them up to take Arms who were easily perswaded thereto and seized upon such as would not joyn with them and amongst others upon the Countess of Hoy the Kings own sister They wrote also to those in the Dales and other neighbouring Provinces to send their Deputies to a meeting appointed by them at Larva so uncertain is the love of the people Thus the Scene of War is changed and though Tyranny was in the Van and Prelacy in the main Battel yet Popery brought up the Rear and all tended to bring the Nation into its old condition rather than to suffer such a change So unsensible are men of their present happiness This storm the King might rationally foresee by what he found in the case of Prelacy yet his courage leads him on even to astonishment having nothing to back him but a good cause and a good conscience and truly though Polititians might condemn him yet the issue justified him For the Inhabitants of West-Gothland considering that the generality of the people had sworn Allegiance to the King thereupon demurred upon the business as also the Kings merits their enjoyment of their Laws and Liberties and that as to the point of Heresie objected against the King they were no competent Judges and that considering the Kings piety they had no cause to beleeve it but rather to judge it a scandal raised by his enemies Hereupon the confederate Lords grew into differences amongst themselves and the Bishop and one other of them fled into Denmark whither the Kings Letter pursued them alleging that it was contrary to their agreement that either King should harbour the others enemies so that they were feign to flye from thence into Mecklemburgh and the other Lords forgetting what they had done stood upon their justification alledging that they were forced to it by the heads that were absent in Forrein parts and that they never promoted or encouraged the Rebellion either by advice letters or instructions and therefore would stand to their trial at Law The King and his Council wondered at their confidence advising them rather to stand to the Kings mercy and to crave his pardon but they refused any mercy but what the Law would allow At last the King produced their own Letters wherein they had written to the Provinces to take Arms and so being self-condemned two of them suffered death one was ransomed and the rest begging pardon were received to mercy which excellent temperature in the execution of Justice commended and confirmed the King in his new-begun Kingdome making the people both to fear and love him And thus was this stir for Warre I cannot call it about Popish Religion quieted not with the Kings sweat and labour but by God alone whose cause it was The King taking into his consideration that the King of Denmarks carriage in this matter suited not with the former agreement made betwixt them and being unwilling that the same should be invalidated in the least point wise men who will preserve friendship must stop the breach whilst it is small he prevailed for an other interview that they might understand each others minde more fully and hereby the former agreement was explained enlarged and confirmed and so parting in love they returned with joy The King of Sueden after so many storms now hoped for peace and a settled Government and having been three years a Crowned King he purposed to build up his Family by Marriage which he solemnized with the Lady Katherine Daughter to the Duke of Saxony at Stockholme and now he must abide the issues and events of the affairs of the Kingdome to be theirs for better and worse and what he was formerly bound to do meerly for the Nations-sake he must now do for the sake of his own Family and Relations And thus having laid the foundation of his own house he proceeds to the further building up of the house of God for though he had before seized upon the Temporalties of the Prelates yet their places so far as they concerned Church Government he took not away nor that maintenance which was appointed for the Ministry The States also settled Pensions upon such as should be Overseers or Bishops to have care of the Churches and to these places as was said before the King had sent choise men for gravity learning and holiness of life and now he advanced two brethren Dr. Laurentius and Dr. Olaus the one to be Archbishop of Upsal the other to be Bishop of Stockholme through whose care and industry together with other reformed Bishops the Reformation of Religion much prospered in the Kingdome during their lives which was for the space of about thirty years and through their study and diligence it was principally that the Bible was translated into the Suedish Language and being printed was dispersed into every Town through the Nation But the time of the Kings rest was not yet come A strange apparition proceeds from the Belgick shore unto the Coast of Norway Christian the deposed King of Denmark now long since reputed as buried in Brabant had at last by the help of the Empeperour and some adventurers in Holland and the adjacent Countries who hoped for large priviledges in Denmark or Norwey if they could be regained to the King gathered Souldiers and Ammunition and with twenty five Ships sailed from Enchusen to the Coast of Norwey but by the way having lost ten of them they arrived only with the rest and before they were aware they were imprisoned by the Ice all that Winter Yet was Christian at liberty all that while to work his designs upon that Country of Norwey the Danes being at that season wholly disinabled to oppose him As many therefore of the great men of Norwey as pleased had free correspondence with Christian Only the Governour of Agger-house Castle dealt subtilly with him refusing to surrender it to Christian but upon such terms as might stand with his honour For said he though I acknowledge Christian to be King of these three Northern Kingdomes yet for the honour of my Family I desire leave to write to Frederick the now King of Denmark for present relief which in common reason he cannot send during Winter otherwise I will tell him that I must surrender the Castle to King Christian and by this means your Majesty will be no loser and my honour shall be saved Christian was contented herewith and the Governour dispatched his messenger into Denmark and notwithstanding the Frost he had such supply sent him as enabled him to stand upon his own defence Upon this Christian prepared for a siege during the continuance whereof as the besieged were relieved by the Danes so were the besiegers not onely by the Normans but by many Runegadoes out of Sueden such was their old love to Christian and their hatred to Gustavus
God he afterwards found not only to be beneficiall unto him in preparing his heart for his work but also that it became an effectual means of his more peaceable and comfortable settlement in that place where the people were divided amongst themselves by reason of a potent man in the Town who adhered to another Cambridge man whom he would faign have brought in But when he saw Mr. Cotton wholly taken up with his own exercises of spirit he was free from all suspition of his being Pragmatical or addicted to siding with this or that party and so both he and his party began to close more fully with him Secondly Whereas there was an Arminian party in that Town some of whom were witty and troubled others with Disputes about those points by Gods blessing upon his Labours in holding forth positively such truths as undermined the foundations of Arminianism those Disputes ceased and the Tenets of Arminianism were no more pleaded for Thus God disposeth of the hearts of hearers as that generally they are all open and loving to their Preachers at their first entrance For three or four years he lived and preached amongst them without opposition They accounted themselves happy as well they might in the enjoyment of him both the Town and Country thereabouts being much bettered and reformed by his Labours But after he was not able to bear the Ceremonies imposed his Non-Conformity occasioned his trouble in the Bishops Court at Lincoln from whence he was advised to appeal to an higher Court and imploying Mr. Leveret who afterwards was one of the Ruling Elders of the Church of Boston in New England to deal in that business and he like Jacob being a plain man yet piously subtile to get such a spiritual blessing so far insinuated himself into one of the Proctors of that high-Court that Mr. Cotton was treated by them as if he were a Conformable man and so was restored unto Boston After this time he was blessed with a successfull Ministry unto the end of twenty years In which space he on the Lords Dayes in the afternoons went over the whole Body of Divinity in a Catechistical way thrice and gave the heads of his Discourse to those that were yong Scholars others in the Town to answer his questions in publick in that great congregation and after their Answers he opened those heads of Divinity and finally applied all to the edification of his people and of such strangers as came to hear him In the morning of the Lords Dayes he preached over the first six Chapters of the Gospel of St. John the whole Book of Ecclesiastes the Prophesie of Zachariah and many other Scriptures and when the Lords Supper was administred which was usual every monâ—th he preached upon 1 Corinth 11. 2 Chron. 30. the whole Chapter besides some other Scriptures concerning that subject On his Lecture days he preached through the whole first and second Epistles of John the whole Book of Solomons Song the Parables of our Saviour set forth in Matthews Gospel to the end of Chapter the 16th comparing them with Mark and Luke He took much pains in private and read to sundry young Scholars that were in his House and to some that came out of Germany and had his house full of Auditors Afterwards seeing some inconvenience in the Peoples flocking to his House besides his ordinary Lecture on the Thursdays he preached thrice more in publick on the week days viz. on Wednesdays and Thursdays early in the morning and on Saturdays at three a clock in the afternoon Only these three last Lectures were performed by him but some few years before he had another famous Colleague He was frequent in Duties of Humiliation and Thanksgiving Sometimes he continued five or six hours in Prayer and opening the Word So indefatigable was he in the Lords Work so willing to spend and be spent therein Besides he answered many Letters that were sent him far and near wherein were handled many difficult Cases of Conscience and many doubts cleared to great satisfaction He was a man exceedingly beloved and admired of the best and reverenced of the worst of his Hearers He was in great favour with Dr. Williams the then Bishop of Lincoln who much esteemed him for his Learning and when he was Lord Keeper of the Great Seal he went to King James and speaking of Mr. Cottons great Learning and worth the King was willing notwithstanding his Non-conformity to give way that he should have his Liberty in his Ministry without interruption which was the more remarkable considering how that Kings Spirit was carried out against such wayes Also the Earl of Dorchester being at Old Boston and hearing Mr. Cotton preaching about Civil Government he was so affected with the wisdom of his words and spirit that he did ever after highly account of him and put himself forth what he could in the time of Mr. Cottons troubles to deliver him out of them that so his Boston might still enjoy him as formerly but his desires were too strongly opposed to be accomplished About this time he married his second Wife Mistriss Sarah Story then a Widow He was blessed above many in his Marriages both his Wives being pious Matâ—ons grave sober and faithfull By the first he had no children the last God made a fruitfull Vine unto him His first-born was brought forth far off upon the Sea in his passage to New England So that he being childless when he left Europe arrived a joyfull Father in America In memorial whereof he called his name Sea-born to keep alive said he in me and to teach my Son if he live a remembrance of Sea-mercies from the hand of a gracious God He is yet living and entred into the Work of the Ministry A Son of many Prayers and of great expectation The corruption of the times being now such that he could not continue in the exercise of his Ministery without sin and the envy of his maligners having now procured Letters Missive to convent him before the High Commission Court which Letters a debauched Inhabitant of that Town undertook to serve upon him who shortly after died of the Plague Mr. Cotton having intelligence thereof and well-knowing that nothing but scorns and imprisonment were to be expected from them according to the advice of many able heads and upright hearts amongst whom that holy man of God Mr. Dod of blessed memory had a singular influence he kept himself close for a time in and about London as Luther sometime did at Wittenberg and Paraeus since at Anvilla Yet was not that season of his recess unprofitable For addresses during that time were made unto him privately by divers persons of worth and piety who received satisfaction from him in their Cases of Conscience of greatest concernment And when he went into New England it was not a flight from duty but from evident danger and unto duty Not from the
been made happy in the enjoyment of two such Husbands as few women in our times have attained to Whilst he was labouring as aforesaid in the work of the Lord for more publick service he was chosen by the Parliament for one of that County to attend and assist in the Assembly of Divines called together by their Authority at Westminster where being of very good use he was often ordered by the Parliament to preach before them at their publick Fasts and upon other their more solemn occasions He was also chosen by them to be one of their Morning week-dayes Preachers in the Abbey at Westminster besides his constant Sabbath-dayes labours in another great Congregation St. Martins in the Fields where he was a blessing to many thousands From thence he was ordered to be Master of Emanuel Colledge in the University of Cambridge which being not a sphere large enough for his activity he was after a while removed to the Mastership of Trinity Colledge where what great good he did many that lived under him can give an ample Testimony and that happy change proclaimed from that confusion by reason of those distracted times in which he found it to that orderly composure and frame in which through Gods blessing he left it How sollicitous he was for their best welfare his frequent preaching in their Chappel to them all and his writing to their Seniors speaks out fully and many can bear witness how humble and loving he was to them in his carriage how studious to keep up College-Exercises how zealous to advance Piety and Learning and for that purpose to countenance and prefer such as he observed to be eminent in either As he was a University-man he was zealously carefull 1. Of its Honour which the Parliament can witness in an unkindly contest about it and also his care in collecting the decayed Antiquities of that University whose pains in that Argument it is pity but that they were communicated to the world 2. Of its Priviledges as alwayes so especially in those two years together in which he was Vice-Chancellor for which he suffered in some mens reputes unjustly 3. Of its Profit and Emolument being a special means of procuring to it from the Parliament the Lambeth Library which of right as it was judged fell to that University as also from a worthy Knight Sir John Wollaston Alderman of the City of London a yearly stipend for a Mathematick Lecturer and also large summes of money for the fitting of the Publick Library that it might be of general use for the accomplishment whereof the University is more wayes than one his Debtor 4. Lastly Of the general good and well-ordering of it Surely it was his careful thought in private with himself as appeared by his making it the subject of his discourse with others scarce was there a time wherein he met with his intimate and judicious friends but he would be asking or proposing something that way By this it appeared that his care was to keep up those Universities which some in those times would have ruined upon which occasion Gâ—â—tius pronounceth many Christians to be worse than the Philistines for they 1 Sam. 10. 5. would let the company of Prophets alone even where they kept a Garrison As he was a Divine he was sound in the Faith orthodox in his judgement firmly adhering to the good old Doctrine of the Church of England even that which in that University was taught and maintained by famous Whitaker Perkins Daunant Ward and many others in their times and in the other University amongst other great Names there he was a great admirer of the Right Reverend and Judicious Dr. Robert Abbot Bishop of Salisbury and well were it if there he had many more such Admirers The Doctrines of Gods Sovereignty in his Decrees Of his In-conditionate Free-electing-love Of his Free-grace against Free-will and the power of Nature in Spirituals Of justification by the imputed Righteousness of Christ against the perfection of inherent Righteousness now attainable by us in this life Of perseverance in Grace against the Apostacy of the Saints and the like were not with this pious and learned man as they are now called by some Sects and Notions matters onely of learning and curiosity and of the Presbyterian Faction But of the life-blood of Faith which at his death as he expressed to a Friend of his he had singular comfort from and in his life firmly beleeved constantly preached and by his Pen endeavoured to maintain and defend and that against the great daring Champion of the contrary errors whom the abusive wits in the University with 〈◊〉 impudent boldness could say none there durst adventure upon whose immodest scurrility his learned ananswer to that daring adversary which he had made so fair a progress in had shortly consuted had not he by his more sudden death been therein prevented As a Minister of the Gospel In his preaching he was plain powerful spiritual frequent and laborious For besides what in that kinde he did as to the University in St. Maries and in the Colledge Chappel which was very happy in his often pains there In the Town he set up one Lecture every Sabbath morning in the Parish Church of St. Michael performed only by himself and cheerfully frequented by a great confluence both of Schollars and Townsmen and another in the Church of All-Hallows every Lords day in the afternoon in which he did bear at least the fourth part of the burden and both of them Gratis as there were many more such Lectures there performed much about the same rate weekly by other pious learned men and more indeed than are in any Town or City upon those tearms in all England or are like to be there again which is mentioned that God may have the glory in the first place and then for the honour of that Reformation which so many do traduce and spit at as also of those more noble spirited Preachers who so freely offered unto God that which did cost them so much for which of men they received nothing But that place of Cambridge did not bound the course of this our laborious Preachers Ministry but as it is said of our Saviour Matth. 9. 35. That he went about all Cities and Villages teaching and preaching and of St. Paul Rom. 15. 17. That from Jerusalem and round about and that to Illyricum which was in right line three hundred and thirty German miles as Pareus upon the place computes it he did fully preach the Gospel imitating herein as Jerom observes his Lord and Master that Sun of Righteousness whose going forth is from the ends of the Heaven and his circuit unto the ends of it Psa. 19. 6. In these their blessed steps our Brother trod and followed them in his painful Ministry diligently preaching when he had occasion to be abroad in remoter parts but especially in many Towns and Villages nearer hand round about the
thereupon presumed that the time was approaching wherein his soul should be married to the Lamb he would not endure to listen to the motion of some who would have advised him to a new entanglement in the world Having thus related his several Marriages in a continued Narrative let us now step back to take notice of some passages in time that went before the last of them Anno Christi 1620 having a justifiable curiosity to see our neighbour Churches in the United Provinces and something of the Spanish Provinces in the Netherlands he took advantage of the Truce between the King of Spain and the Hollanders for a free passage between both Countries Thereupon with his entire friend Captain Joshua Downing and an old acquaintance Mr. Roger Hughs his Mnason whose house he frequented at London he took his voyage taking also along with him a Nephew of his who was a young Student to be a partner with him in his Travels His mother being then alive had some fears lest he being a known and noted adversary to the Popish cause which he had mortally wounded with many and sharp weapons should suffer inconvenience from that generation of Vipers whose violent and virulent malice often prompts them to base course of secret revenge but God was his guide his Sun and his Shield and so prospered his journey that within a months space for they took Boat July the 13 and returned safe August the 14 he had viewed the most considerable places in the Low-Countries In this his travel he gave better satisfaction to the English Church in Middleburgh where he gave way to the importunity of friends who were desirous to hear him as well as glad to see him than he did to the English Papists in Flanders with whom he had divers debates wherein he drove some to a confusion whom he could not draw to a conversion Anno Christi 1642. A violent fit of the Colick assaulted him and brought him to the very brink of the Grave but it pleased God to bring him back again that he might do him further service For the year ensuing before he had well recovered his strength he was called by the Parliament to sit as one of the Assembly which was summoned to be consulted with about Religion where his endeavours for promoting truth and suppressing errour were sincere and serious And his study of peace with modesty was in this remarkable that when his Reasons delivered concerning Christs obedience in order to our Justification wherein he differed from his Brethren could not obtain assent from the major part which determined the Question contrary to his sense his great love of unity imposed upon him silence and wrought likewise upon him resolutions not to publish his discourses upon that subject from Rom. 3. 28. that so he might not publickly discover dissent from the Votes of that Reverend Assembly I wish there had been the like prudence and modesty in some others who profess themselves to differ but in circumstantials During his attendance upon the work of that Convention the Earle of Manchester being acquainted with his great worth and fitness in regard of his Learning of all kindes for Academical transactions offered him the Mastership of Trinity College in Cambridge which is the greatest preferment in that University For that Noble Lord being intrusted by the Parlament with the Reformation of that Academy was not passionately transported with a blinde partiality of mens persons upon any sinister respects but desired to prefer them whom he judged most worthy and most hopeful to do Christ service in that place and therefore being perswaded that Mr. Gataker might both in regard of his gravity and vast Scholastical abilities be a choise ornament to that University and fair copy for others to write by he was very desirous to place him there But this good man though often importuned by many friends to accept of the motion according to his accustomed modesty with many thanks to the Noble Earle refused to undertake that place though of much honour service and outward advantage pleading together with his unworthiness the weakness of his body by reason of age and thereupon his inability to take journies and because he looked upon himself as having one foot in the Grave he humbly desired that a younger man might be thought upon more likely to be longer serviceable than himself in a place of so great eminency and trust And indeed the sense of his own weakness was not a vain presage of his decayes for not long after he was again surprised by the Colick which before had shaken him and made his crazie body less able to endure new conflicts and these were so sharp that his recovery appeared desperate not only to his other friends but even to his Physitians also Yet it pleased God though he chastened him sore not to give him over unto death For his studies which seemed to be his meat and drink in his health were his physick also when he was sick For whilst he was confined to his chamber he prepared for the Press his Dissertation de Tetragrammato and a Grammatical discourse de Bivocalibus and though this for the subject be not comparable to the other yet it may be averred that what he did by the by and for the refreshment of his languishing body and minde was of more worth than the main work of many Students After a long time that he had been a Prisoner in his own house he by Gods assistance recovered so much strength as that he was able to go to Gods house and now he believed himself bound to imploy his Ministerial Gifts in Gods service and therefore he again adventured into the Pulpit where he spent himself so far that he strained a veyn in his lungs for which being then about Seventy three years old he was let blood by which and other good means God was pleased to carry him through that danger When he had recruited his veyns and sinews with fresh abilities he being unwilling to fall under that Woe 1 Cor. 9. 16. for not preaching the Gospel acted more according to the willingness of his spirit than was proportionable to the weakness of the flesh whereupon he fell into a relapse of spitting blood for which he again permitted a veyn to be opened which laid on him a necessity of forbeâ—ring the Pulpit yet would he never forgoe the administration of the Sacraments nor his usual short discourse at Funerals suitable to the present whensoever he was sollicited thereunto though even those shorter exercises of his lungs were painful to him wasted that oil which like a burning light he spent for the enlightning of others The main of his time was now spent in his study and that was not designed as a meer entertainment of himself in a quiet privacy but to the publick benefit of the Church for the present and for posterity as appears amongst other works by those exquisite Annotations upon the
he handsomely fish out the business from the Bishop wherefore he went another way to work and indeed the surest way by seeking counsel from God communicating the matter to Dean Hill a very godly man whom he requested that with some others they would seek unto God for his assistance for he believed that something was in brewing that he might not know of Herein imitating the practise of wise Daniel Chap. 2. 17 18. This done he studied the Rights of the Irish Church some fruits whereof we have in that Learned Piece of his called The Religion professed by the ancient Irish and Britains Yet he heard nothing till the Assembly was summoned and himself the next day was to be present at it then went he to the Lord Deputy to know the occasion of their meeting The Lord Deputy would not believe at first that he could be a stranger to it but afterwards when Mr. Usher had assured him that he had no information from the Bishops about it he was much displeased and told him that without him all the the rest were but Cyphers for that the King had referred the whole business to his judgement whether the power of the Hierarchy should be established there as it was in England The next day the Kings Commission and Letters were read in the Assembly and Speeches were made concerning the excellency of the Kings intention to reduce that Kingdome to one uniformity with England in Ecclesiastical Government they also told him what honour the King had put upon him whose esteem learning and judgement the King so much depended upon for the promoting so great and good a work Mr. Usher replied that he believed that in a business of so great concernment wherein he was so far interested the Kings intentions were that he should have convenient time to consider of it before he delivered his opinion which he also humbly desired The Bishops answered that his judgement was sufficiently known by his practise and that they expected no more from him but his consent and concurrence with them He replied that the matter concerned more than himself For said he if I had all mens consciences in my keeping I could in these disputable cases give Laws unto them as well as unto my self but it s one thing what I can do and another thing what all other men must do Then they asked of him if he had any thing to say why they should not satisfie the Kings desire He after a short pause wherein he lifted up his heart unto God for direction told them that if they would grant him no longer time he would as well as he was able give them his judgement if that Honourable Assembly would grant him three Requests 1. A free hearing without interruption 2. Liberty for him to answer any man that should be unsatisfied 3. That there might be a final determination of the business at that meeting These being all granted Mr. Usher undertook to prove that such a Jurisdiction could not be introduced into that Kingdome neither by the Laws of God nor by the Civil or Ecclesiastical Constitutions of that Kingdome nor yet without the violation of the Kings Prerogative in that Nation All which he performed to admiration But before he descended to particulars he shewed the difference between Conformity as it was set up in England and as it would be if it were set up in Ireland The Kings saith he and Queen of England imposed those Ceremonies that thereby they might decline the charge of Schismaticks wherewith the Church of Rome laboured to brand them seeing it did appear hereby that they left them only in such Doctrinal points wherein they left the truth Again hereby they would testifie how far they would willingly stoop to win and gain them by yeelding to meet them as far as they might in their own way But saith he the experience of many years hath shewed that this condescention hath rather hardened them in their errours than brought them to a liking of our Religion This being their usual saying If our Flesh be not good why doe you drinke of our Broth As for Ireland wherein the English Canons were never yet received and the generality of the Inabitans were Popish Recusants and even in Popish Kings times there was no receptions of the Popes Ecclesiastical Constitutions because he encroached upon their temporals if such Laws now should be set up under so Religious a Protestant King this would be to set the Pope on Horse-back amongst them which needed not The Lord Deputy when he had finished his Speech and answered what was objected against it told him that he was much affected with every part of his learned speech but that he was more especially concerned in that which touched upon the Kings Prerogative part wherein he had discovered such hidden flowers of the Crown as he thought the King himself knew not and therefore he said as he would endeavour to preserve his Majesties right therein whilst he was his Deputy so he would present them to the King and take care that it should be very hard for any that came after him to rob him of them By this we may easily see that he was then so far from a Prelatical spirit that on the contrary he was an Advocate for and Patione of godly and conscientious Non-Conformists Anno Christi 1612 he proceeded Dr. of Divinity being created by Archbishop Hampton his Predecessor one of his Lectures for his Degree was upon the seventy weeks to the slaying of the Messias mentioned Dan. 9. 24. the other out of Rev. 20. 4. concerning the meaning of the Prophesie that the Saints should reign with Crist a thousand years which in these times would be very seasonable but it s lost Dr. Hoyle who died Professor of Divinity in Oxford after he had many years been the like in Dublin said that when he went out Dr. of Divinity he thought Tully himself could not have excelled him in Eloquence had he been alive not only in his composed speeches but in those which occasionally fell from him upon the by Anno Christi 1613 He published his Book De Ecclesiaram Christianarum successione statu magnified so much by Causabon and Scultetus in their Greek and Latine verses before it It was solemnly presented by Archbishop Abbot to King James as the eminent first fruits of that College at Dublin Indeed its imperfect for about three hundred years from Gregory the 11 to Leo the 10 viz. from the year 1371 to 1513 and from thence to this last Century which he intended after the finishing of a Book which he was now about to have compleated But the Lord prevented him Anno Christi 1615 there was a Parliament in Dublin and consequently a Convocation of the Clergy at which time those learned Articles of Ireland were composed and published and Dr. Usher being a member of that Synod was appointed to draw them up they were highly approved of the
and listed not to encounter him any farther pretending a necessity to be gone and so left the place So mightily it pleased God by him to convince them Another was this A Protestant Knight in Ireland had prevailed so far with his Lady who was then a Papist as to admit of a Parley about their Religion and she made choice of one for her that was called amongst them the Rock of Learning The Knight made choice of this our Primate to encounter him and upon the day appointed many persons of note were there assembled the learned and prudent Primate before the Disputation began spake thus to the Lady Madam said he let us know the end of our meeting Is it that this Gentleman and I should try our strength before you If so then it is like that we can speak Languages and quote Authors which you do not understand how then will you know who gets the better Therefore this is not our end If this Gentleman desires to shew his learning and reading that way if he please to come to the College of Dublin where there are men that will understand us both and can judge between us I shall willingly deal with him at those weapons but now our business is something else It is supposed that we two whom your Husband and you have chosen can speak more for the defence of our Religion than you that chose us and your desire is to know by hearing our discourse in your own Language how to rectifie your judgements Now therefore I will give you a rule which if you please to remember you shall be able to discern which of us two have the truth on our side and it is this The Points we will discourse of shall be such without some knowledge whereof no man may in an ordinary way attain to the end of his Faith the salvation of his soul. In these you may easily lose your selves not onely by Heresie which is a flat denying of them but by Ignorance also by a bare not know of them The word of truth contained in the Scriptures is the rule both of Faith and Life common to small and great concerning these things Now whilst we keep to the true sense of the Scriptures in these points you may understand us both but when we shall fly to subtle distinctions to evade plain Texts or flye from the Scriptures to take sanctuary in Authors which you know not assure your selves that we are at a loss and seek victory rather than truth Keep this Rule Madam in you minde for this Gentleman dares not deny it to be a true one and then you will be the better for our meeting And now Sir said he to the Jesuit her Champion I am ready to engage with you in any such points The Dispute was begun and after a short encounter the Jesuit was driven to those shifts whereupon the Primate said Madam do you understand my Argument that I propounded to this Gentleman She answered Yes and do you said he understand this Gentlemans answer She answered No indeed It is too high for me But said the Primate I do and can answer him in his own way but then you would not understand me neither Therefore Sir said he to the Jesuit I pray you help the Lady to understand your answer as she doth my Argument then I will further reply But it pleased God within a while so to disable the Jesuit from proceeding that he left the place with shame and the Lady by this and some further endeavours became not only a good Protestant but a very gracious woman The last instance I shall give of the successfulness of his labors is this About twelve or thirteen years ago we had an Ordination of Ministers in our seventh Classis at which time according to our custome we called in the young men that were to be Ordained one after an other and examining of them about the work of Gods Grace in their hearts three of them acknowledged that they were converted by Gods blessing upon the labours of this our Lord Primate whilst he preached at Oxford where they then were Students about the beginning of the long Parliament Anno Christi 1640 He came out of Ireland into England being invited thereto by some eminent persons wherein the special providence of God did manifest it self for his preservation it being the year before the Rebellion brake out in Ireland as if according to the Angels speech to Lot nothing could be done there till he was come hither and escaped to this his Zoar. His Library which was very great in the first year of the Rebellion viz. 1641 was in Drogheda which place was besieged four moneths by the Irish Rebels and they made no question of taking it and some of their Priests and Friers talked much what a prize they should gain by that Library but the barbarous multitude spake of burning it But it pleased God to hear the Fastings and Prayers of his people within and in a wonderful manner to deliver them and so all his Books and Manuscripts were sent him that Summer to Chester and from thence were brought safe to London The sufferings he now lay under were many and great All his personal estate was lost and that which belonged to his Primacy in Ireland was destroyed only for the present he was preacher in Covent Garden Anno Christi 1641 The great business of the Earle of Strafford came in agitation upon which a scandal was raised of him by a rash if not a malicious Pen in his Vocal Forrest as if he had made use of a pretended distinction of a personal and Political conscience to satisfie the late King that he might consent to the beheading of the said Earle telling him that though the first resisted yet he might do it by the second but to clear him of this a person of quality affirmed under his hand that some years agone a rumour being spread of the death of this Reverend Prelate whose loss was much lamented at Oxford when this concerning the Earle was then by one objected against him the late King answered that person in very great passion and with an oath Protested his innocency therein Besides he left under his owne hand a relation of that whole business a true Copy whereof followeth That Sunday morning wherein the King consulted with the four Bishops viz. of London Durham Lincoln and Carlisle the Archbishop of Armagh was not present being then preaching as he then accustomed to do every Sabbath in the Church of Covent Garden where a message coming to him from his Majesty he descended from the Pulpit and told the Messenger that he was then as he saw imployed in Gods business which as soon as he had done he would attend upon the King to understand his pleasure But the King spending the whole afternoon in the serious debate of the Lord Straffords Case with the Lords of his Council and the Judges
of the Land he could not before evening be admitted to the Kings presence There the Question was again agitatated Whether the King in justice might pass the Bill of Attainder against the Earle of Strafford For that he might shew mercy to him was no Question at all no man doubting but that the King without any scruple of conscience might have granted him a pardon if other reasons of State in which the Bishops were made neither Judges nor Advisers did not hinder him The whole result therefore of the Bishops determination was to this effect That herein the matter of Fact and the matter of Law were to be distinguished that of the matter of Fact he himself might make a Judgement having been present at all the proceedings against the said Lord where if upon hearing all the allegations on either side he did not conceive him guilty of the Crimes wherewith he was charged he could not in justice condemn him But for the matter in Law what was Treason and what was not he was to rest in the opinion of the Judges whose office it was to declare the Law and who were sworn therein to carry themselves indifferently betwixt him and his subjects c. Upon his losses in Ireland and the straits he was brought into here two Offers were made unto him from Forreign Nations the one from Cardinal Riâ—hlieu onely in relation to his eminent learning with a promise of large maintenance and liberty to live where he pleased in France amongst the Protestants The other from the States of Holland who proffered him the place of being Honorarius Professor at Leiden which had an ample stipend belonging to it but he refused both And now by reason of the disturbance of the times he was perpetually removing having with St. Paul no certain dwelling place and some of those evidences mentioned by that great Doctor of the Gentiles to prove himself to be the Minister of Christ were applicable to him 2 Cor. 6. 3 c. In much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in tumults or tossings to and fro in labours in watchings and fastings By honour and dishonour by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true as unknown and yet well known as dying and behold we live as chastened and not killed as sorrowful and yet alwayes rejoycing as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things c. Anno Christi 1642 He obtained leave of both Houses of Parliament to go to Oxford for his study in that Library Anno Christi 1644 the late King coming thither he preached before him on the fifth of November His Text was Nehem. 4. 11. And our Adversaries said they shall not know neither see till we come in the middest amongst them and stay them and cause their work to cease In his Sermon he advised his hearers to put no repose in the Papists who saith he upon the first opportunity will serve us here as they have done the poor Protestants in Ireland which much offended some that were there present In March following he went from thence into Wales to Cardiff in Glamorganshire where for a time he abode with his Daughter But Septem 16. Anno Christi 1645 he removed from thence to St. Donnets the Lady Stradlings and by the way meeting with some Souldiers they used him barbarously plucked him off his horse and brake open two of his Trunks full of Books taking them all away amongst these he lost two Manuscripts of the History of the Waldenses most of his Books he recovered again but these Manuscripts though the meanliest clad he could never hear of which gave suspicion that some Priest or Jesuit had lighted upon them The loss of them grieved him much they being of use to him for the finishing of that Book De Ecclesiarum Christianarum successione statu Not long after he fell into a painful sickness wherein he bled four dayes together so that he swoonded and all hope of life was past and a rumour was spread abroad that he was dead which occasioned grief to many and it was so far believed at Court that a Letter came over for a successor in his Primacy in Ireland But it pleased God that he recovered and June 11 Anno Christi 1646 he came to London where the Countess of Peterborough gladly received him After a while he was chosen to be preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inne where he continued divers years with great honour and respect from them till at the last losing his sight so that he could not read his Text and his strength decaying he was advised by his friends to forbear and to reserve himself and the remainder of his strength for the writing of Books which were yet expected from him No spectacles could help his sight onely when the Sun shone he could see at a window which he hourly followed from room to room in the house of his abode In Winter the casement was often set open for him to write at This Summer he conceived would be the last wherein he should make use of his eyes the Winter following he intended to have an Amanuensis to write for him and a competent salary was intended for him whom he should choose to that work But the Lord was pleased to prevent it by taking him to the sight of himself After he had left Lincolns Inne he was prevailed with to preach in several places as in Graies Inne Nov. 5. Anno 1654 which he then thought might have been his last Sermon and it was taken as an honour by that Honourable Society whereof he had been admitted a member at a Reading above thirty years before He preached also at the Temple at Mr. Seldens Funeral and at two other places in the City both which the Lord was pleased to make very effectual in the conversion of divers that were his hearers And indeed seldome did the Sword drawn by him return empty The last Sermon which he preached was about Michelmas Anno 1655 at Hammersmith He complained that he was much troubled finding himself unable to continue his Ministry his thoughts were on it in the day and his dreams in the night and though he had been a preacher about fifty and five years and so like the Levites might well be excused from this service of the Sanctuary and have imployed himself as his manner was in directing of others yet he resolved if God continued his life the Summer following to return to it again in some small Church or Chappel He sought not great things for himself In the time of his distress by reason of his losses in Ireland the Parliament for some years was bountiful to him but the two last years of their sitting it fell out to be suspended But after they were dissolved the care of him was renewed by the Lord Protector by whose Order a constant competent allowance was given him which was continued till
if he should go out of Denmark he might lose all there and get nothing but blows abroad he commands his Governour in the Isle of Gothland to relieve the Danes in Sueden as occasion should require in pursuance whereof he repairs thither and after one repulse suffered he relieved the Castle of Steckburg besieged by Arvidus and then changing the Garrison he committed the keeping of it to one Bernard de Milen Gustavus considering that the siege of that place would prove dangerous to Arvidus if the Country and neighbourhood were not assured to him he sent to the Bishop of Hincopen and having prevailed with him by his advice he summoned a meeting of all the States of East and West Gothland Smalland Vermeland and of the Dales and when they were assembled he prayed them to take into consideration the condition of their Country that the misery thereof was occasioned onely through their divisions and variety of interests and the Government having been of late in the hands of Forreigners the Publick weal hath thereby been much endamaged He said he should not need to enlarge upon the particular burdens which they felt and groaned under The great business which he desires them to take into consideration was to advise and conclude upon the means of redress As for himself he would deliver his opinion freely and cleerly viz. That no means on earth could cure these evils but a speedy and effectual unanimity and joynt endeavour to restore the old principles of Government by one supreme Governour and a free Parliament of the States as formerly had been used But if they had any further advice therein he earnestly desired to be informed by them assuring them that whatsoever they should judge meet to be done in order to a settlement he would endeavour the accomplishment of the same though to the sacrificing of his life and all that was dear to him This Speech being ended there was a joynt acclamation and assurance given that they all fully and freely assented to his opinion and were ready to assist him therein to the utmost withall giving him great thanks for his undertaking their rescue out of the Tyrants hands earnestly requesting him to proceed till he had perfected the same whereunto they would constantly contribute their prayers to God for his gracious assistance and for the protection of his person and for his further assurance they do not only acknowledge and promise submission to him as their lawful Governour but they pray that it may not seem grievous to him to take upon him the place and title of their lawful Lord and King To this Gustavus answered That he took up Arms against the common enemy of his Country not aiming at Rule but at the peoples liberty from the iron yoke of the Danish Tyranny under which themselves their wives and children lay bound day and night That he called not himself to the work but onely offered his assistance therein That he was invited to command by the Transilvanian Suedes of the Dales That his detestation of that abhorred Butchery at Stockholme wherein not onely many Personages fit to do their Country service but many of his own blood lost their lives and estates did enrage his spirit to it so that he thought nothing dangerous for him to adventure so that he might take vengeance for it which made him yeeld to the invitation of the men of the Dales and if you also said he will joyn your aid in this work and can conside in my command I will not refuse to be your Captain and Governour untill the enemy be fully vanquished and our Country cleared from them But as touching the making of a King you may take that into consideration when the War shall be fully finished For then whomsoever the States of Sueden shall elect to be King or Governour his will I be to serve in any condition This Speech was received with joyful acclamations and an unanimous vote that Gustavus should be accepted for their Lord and Governour and accordingly all that were present sware Fealty to him and faithful obedience next under God This was a little Parliament of part of the Nation and chiefly intended to assure those places where the War was and to unite them in a more vigorous prosecution thereof and the success was answerable For hereupon many Towns and Castles of West-Gothland and Small and readily surrendred and submitted to Gustavus whose Deputies being sent to the Council and convinced in their judgements of the justness of the cause the people had obliged themselves to stand to what their Deputies should conclude Hereupon Gustavus finding less need of imploying so many Souldiers in these neighbouring parts he sends a party into Finland to which many of the people joyned Amongst whom was one Grabb a valiant man and skilful Sea-Captain who having armed a few ships with them assaulted such places upon the Coast as held for the Dane sometimes in one part sometimes in another surprising Towns slaying many doing all by night and before the next morning he was gone no body knew whither nor which way This caused the Enemies to divide their Forces to guard so many places at once and in the mean time the Suedes sat down before Abbo though they were there hard matched and sometimes overmatched by the Danes for as yet that part of the Country had not felt the Danish cruelty though if they had prospered they should not long have escaped the same The Castle of Steckburg after above half an years siege was taken by Arvidus the Governour whereof being committed to Prison after he had lain there two moneths he submitted to Gustavus and sware Fealty to him The Governour of the Isle of Gothland being ignorant of these passages came with a Fleet well provided to relieve the Castle but when he came to the Promontory he was suddenly assailed by the Suedish ships which lay behinde the same and after the loss of six hundred of his men he was glad to betake him to his wings Shortly after Arvidus was sent with part of his Army to block up Calmar the rest being sent to the Camp before Stockholme For the Danish Admiral after the late defeat having repaired his losses with a new supply of men and ships came to the relief of them in Stockholme and the Danes being strengthened by this recruit sallied out of the City and beat up one of the Suedish Quarters so that for a moneths space the City remained disingaged Gustavus now finding by experience that Stockholme was a morsel too big for him to swallow without further strength he bent his principal industry for the recovery of other places Garrisoned by the Danes and amongst other places the City of Nicopen was at length yeelded up to him by the Governour Henry Canzow with whom Letters were found from the Danish Tyrant which required him to put to death all the Suedes that came into his power especially those of
major part of the other States overswayed by the Bishops did not so readily and resolutely appear for the King as they ought to have done fearing the Popes Thunderbolt more than the Kings displeasure The King being offended hereat said He would never adventure one drop of Suedish bloud more to maintain his Government by a Civil Warre wherein the conquered must be miserable and the Conqueror unjust and wherein friends must destroy one another and forthwith coming into the Convention of States he resigned up his Kingdome and Government asking nothing but a recompence for his service and that they would take his Inheritance at a moderate valew and so he departed into the Castle This may seem a strange example Octavius only debated with the Senate about laying down his Government but did it not Gustavus did it and debated it not They that make Government their work will be glad of rest but they that make it their sport the people will sooner be weary of them than they of it It seems Gustavus missed of those encouragements which were promised from the Convention of States when he undertook the Government and for him to continue therein without them in order to maintain the peoples liberty was vain and therefore if he herein followed the examples of some of his Ancestors he may the rather be excused though hereby the Kingdome was left in a confused condition The next day the States met again and in cold blood and upon second thoughts told the Bishops that the Kingdome must not be ruined to satisfie their lusts and that if they would not be equal judges between themselves and the people others must yet said they you shall be once more heard what you can say for your selves And hereupon a Conference was appointed wherein Dr. Olaus appeared for the King and Dr. Gallen for the Bishops and the point about Ecclesiastical power was largely debated which Conference the longer it lasted the more it touched the quick so that many of the hearers saw cause to alter their opinions about Prelacy insomuch as upon the third day the Voters for the people urged the Bishops positively to submit to the King But if they meant otherwise to expose the Nation to extremity and mischief should come thereby they vowed to be revenged upon the Authours thereof and to this the greater part of the Nobles agreed At length the plurality of Votes prevailed and a message was sent into the Castle to Gustavus by a person of quality to beseech him to return into the Convention of States but prevailed not and a second message prevailed as little till a third message presented by persons of near Relation to him prevailed to bring him to the Convention where he was received by all the States with the greatest observancy that could be all making it their humble request that he would not reject the Government in such a juncture of affairs withall promising their utmost and faithful assistance The King considering with himself that though it was an ill condition with him to be alwayes labouring and yet never to do the work yet it was much worse to grow weary before he had attained to the shore for that was the next door to drowning whereupon he took up a resolution to neglect mens opinions and censures and to see to what issue he could bring the Counsels of the Conventions of Estates At last it was concluded that the Bishops should render up their Castles and Temporalties to the Kings disposal and submit to live upon such Pensions as should be allowed them by the States saving evermore the titles interests and right of the Nobility and others to any part of the said Temporalities which by the distemper of the times had been encroached upon But the execution hereof proved more difficult many being unwilling to disrobe themselves before they went to bed Such as were worst affected were soonest at the issue as desperate persons through conscience of their guilt conclude that no mercy is to be had and therefore they had as good pass the Pikes at first as at last Only the Bishop of Hincopen was loth to part with his Castle of Monkbed about which he held some debate but in conclusion was ordered to deliver possession at a day prefixed and in the mean time to put in security for the performance thereof and not to disturb the publick peace The King would not discharge his Army till all was done and at the time appointed he marched with it to the Castle of Monkbed where he was sumptuously feasted by the Bishop who gave so great content to the King that he discharged the Bishops Sureties and at his request allowed him to visit the Churches of Gothland where having gotten much Treasure without taking leave of the King he took shipping and sailed to Dantzick where after some years he dyed And thus Sueden gave a leading example to the Eastern Nations of regulating and restoring the Church-revenues to the right ends for which they were intended Gustavus having now reigned five years since his first election and having thus far prevailed to pare the nails and clip the wings of the Lordly Clergy he thought that now he might hearken to the advice of his States and give them satisfaction by being Crowned and thereupon he appointed a day to solemnize his Coronation at Upsal which accordingly was performed after he had served at the helm of Government seven years Gustavus his spirit which was alwayes daring grew yet more brave His aims are yet higher viz. at a reformation in Doctrine Worship and holiness of life for which end he first placed in all the Cathedrals men eminent for learning holiness and eloquence to preach the word of God enjoyning the Bishops out of the Church-revenues to provide them such Pensions as might encourage them in the work The King also kept set times every week to hear them in his own person before he sent them forth this he did as well to satisfie his own conscience as to encourage others to attend upon publick Ordinances But now comes the trial the States had agreed and the Prelates had in shew submitted as to their Temporalties but when the Reformation in Doctrine Worship and conversation was promoted the Devil roars and will not so easily be cast out of the whole Nation of Suedon The Minister that was sent to preach at Scaren was so entertained by the Bishop and his party that he was forced to flye to Upland to save his life and the Rector of the College undertaking to expound St. Matthews Gospel was in danger of being stoned by the Schollars who were encouraged thereto by the Lords and great men that joyned with the Bishop in this undertaking Some also both of the great men and Commons of West-Gothland hearing hereof bestirred themselves not for the Bishops sake say they but because our Religion is invaded by this new Germaine
of Mr. Thomas Manton who knew him well who speaks thus of him Mr. Ignatius Jurdaine may in some sense be stiled the wonder and Phoenix of his age and place of abode concerning whose piety and frequent communion with God his constant heavenliness his charity in giving lending and entertaining his doing justice with impartiality and diligence we have already heard and therefore give me leave only to suggest a few other passages and observations 1. That for his temper he was a man of a raised zeal and heroicall spirit one of those rare examples which the Lord giveth the world now and then and therefore his actions are not to be measured by an ordinary standard 2. Seldome or never did any come into his company but he would discourse with them about holy things asking the younger sort how they did hope to be saved The more grown if they professed Religion whether they had any assurance which if they denied he would tell them that he was even ashamed of them In good earnest would he say I would study the Promises and go into my Closet and lock the door and there plead them to God and say that I would not go forth till he gave me some sense of his love 3. His entertainment at his Table was free and sufficient but frugall and sober If his Wife at any time excused the slenderness of it he would say Brown bread and Kennel water is good fare with the Gospel I have oft heard him say so There is somewhat a like saying of Mr. Greenhams and possibly Mr. Jurdaine might borrow it thence it suiting so well with the temper of his spirit 4. A formall man had once preached a Sermon at the Cathedrall about Heaven the discourse was for the most part frothy and beneath the dignity and worth of such an Argument Mr. Jurdaine was present as well as my self After Sermon I went to his house being to receive a Letter from him to Oxford and after many good instructions he asked me if I had been at the Sermon that morning I told him yea And did you said he hear those wonderfull things which God hath provided for them that love him And so he readily picked out all those passages which were any way subservient to use and profit It was wonderfull to me to see how an holy heart could draw comfort out of any thing The Sermon as Mr. Jurdaine repeated to me was another kind of Sermon and seemed to be savoury and spirituall I remember with what warmth and vigour he spake of it even till this day and hope that I shall never forget it 5. This is not to be forgotten his sending a Letter to the late King and expostulating with him about setting forth the Book concerning sports and recreations on the Lords dayes which was inclosed in another to the Bishop of Exeter to desire him to convey it and notice being given to the Bishop that Copies of it were divulged possibly by the Transcriber he thought he could not conceal it with safety and therefore carried it to the King who when he had read it in a great anger said He would hang him But the Bishop a pious man fell upon his knees and besought his Majesties pardon alleadging That God had not a better servant nor his Majesty a better Subject in the whole Land When the Bishop returned from his moneths attendance Mr. Jurdaine went to visit him and after civilities past the Bishop said Ah Mr. Jurdaine would you put me upon so hot a service You know there are many eyes upon me meaning the Archbishops party who suspected him as a favourer of Puritans Yea my Lord said Mr. Jurdaine there are eyes upon you the eyes of God and his holy Angels to see how you discharge your duty and office as the Kings Chaplain and Bishop of the Church 6. Now and then when he had leasure he would usually go to his neighbours shops and admonish them to take heed that the cares of the world did not deaden their spirits to heavenly things telling them if they had many thousands it would not still the cry of conscience purchase the least favour from God nor so much as ease the pain of the teeth or keep off one fit of an Ague yea if money were thrown to the Dogs they would not so much as smell at it 7. He would often perswade his Fellow-Magistrates to a liberal provision for the poor and when they would ask him where they should have money He would answer God will provide rather than the poor shall want let us sell our Gowns 8. When he did distribute money to the poor with his own hands in a time of great infection and some asked him if he were not afraid of the Plague What said he afraid of Gods Visitation Let us fear rather the Plague-sore of our owne hearts 9. In his troubles in the Star-chamber when one told him he was sorry that the Lord Keeper was against him He answered I have a greater Lord Keeper than him The Lord is my Keeper I shall not be afraid 10. It is not amiss to set down what others thought of him I remember a godly man observed him that in every business though he advenfar the Lord carried him through with reputation and so compared him with another of great parts who though godly was alwayes toiled in every undertaking Drunkards and frequenters of Ale-houses were afraid of him He was their usual Bugbear their memento in the middle of their excess was Its time to be gone Mr. Jurdaine will come by and by The ordinary sort of men were convinced of his integrity insomuch as carnal and vicious men at a time of election of Burgesses for Parliament would say one to another If you choose any choose Jurdaine he will be right for the Commenwealth and will do the City service He was twice chosen Burgess for the Parliament and once Mayor of the City and once Deputy Mayor in a time of great Infection by the Pestilence The Reverend Minister that preached his Funeral Sermon amongst others had this expression Look upon his Will and you will think him the richest man in the City Though many exceeded him in estate but few or none in making provision for the poor Delinquents seldome went from him without conviction A Noble mans servant that had scorned him being brought before him and convicted for having sworn rashly three times Mr. Jurdaine demanded his Fine and shewed him the hainousness of the sin with which the man was calmed and though he came from his companions braving yet he returned with the acknowledgement that he was a good Justicer and when they asked him what Jurdaine did to him he answered He gave me good Law and fair words I have heard above thirty years ago that some godly persons in Exeter were convented before the Bishops Court for keeping some private dayes of Humiliation whereupon Mr. Jurdaine went to the Bishop who was a godly man to
intercede for them The Bishop told him that such Conventicles were forbidden by the Law the State being jealous lest the seeds of Sedition or Heresie might be sown in them To whom Mr. Jurdaine replied My Lord Do you think that the Lord Jesus Christ when he comes to Judgement will say concerning these and such like poor Christians Take them Devil take them because though they sought me by fasting and prayer yet they did not observe every circumstance with so much prudence as they might have done Whereupon the Bishop dismissed them I am now come to the last act of his Life his sickness and the period of that his Death In his sickness which was very painfull he being sorely afflicted with the Stone and Cholick yet did he manifest more than ordinary patience not opening his mouth in any word that might savour of repining or discontent at his present condition but meekly and patiently submitting to Gods afflicting hand and waiting for his long-expected and much desired dissolution He did then much act faith in Jesus Christ and his gracious Promises and his assurance remained unshaken though Satan was then busie with him by his temptations But being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might he did resist him Some of his nearest Friends that observed his confident Assurance in the course of his life and of his happy estate in heaven after death did suppose that Satan would have set upon him with so much violence as to have shaken his Assurance as no doubt he had will enough to do but God who had him in chains would not permit him to do it But he went out of the world as a Conquerour out of the Field being through Christ victorious over all his spiritual enemies One particular in his sickness may not be omitted which was his taking all occasions of exhorting and encouraging others to constancy in the faith zeal for God and making sure of Heaven and when his spirits began to fail him he would say I cannot speak much more to you now Râ—member what you have heard from me in my health He was willing also to incite others that were absent to the discharge of their Duties The Mayor of the City that then was sending to see how he did he called the messenger unto him and said Remember me to Mr. Mayor and tell him from me that he have a special care of these three things To do Justice To provide carefully for the poor and to make sure of Heaven His gracious speeches in the time of his sickness were many and more than can be here expressed Having fought the good fight of Faith and finished his course he sweetly and quietly resigned up his soul into the hands of his blessed Saviour and Redeemer He departed this Life July the 15. Anno Christi 1640. being the Sabbath day The Sabbath was his delight on earth and on that day God gave him to enjoy an eternal Sabbath with him in Heaven As he had sweet communion with God in the use of Ordinances for many years on that day so he went to enjoy an immediate communion with God on that holy day and after all his labours he entred into rest even that glorious Rest in Heaven Heb. 4. 11. His departure hence was in the Seventy ninth year of his age and according to his account for the New-birth in the Sixty fifth year For so long he reckoned since the time of his effectual Calling At the celebration of his Funerals there hath not been known any man to be more lamented than was he the loss being so great not to the City alone but to all those Western parts the influence of his example as a zealous Magistrate and Christian reaching far and near After he had served his own Generation by the will of God he fell on sleep Act. 13. 36. The Life and Death of Mrs. Margaret Ducke who dyed Anno Christi 1646. THe Father of Mrs. Margaret Ducke was Mr. Henry Southworth a Gentleman of a good Family Her Mother was a vertuous and Religious Matron He was a Merchant and Customer of London by which means having acquired a plentiful estate he contented himself with it and withdrew from thence to a more quiet and retired that is a more happy life at Wells where he lived plentifully and having onely two Daughters his Co-heirs he gave them liberal and pious education in all those wayes which commend and accomplish well-bred Gentlewomen This Gentlewoman who was the younger of his Daughters was deservedly dear to both her Parents and lived with them till their deaths which fell out to be shortly one after another For as they were lovely and pleasant in their lives if I may so use the words of Davids lamentation over Saul and Jonathan 2 Sam. 1. so in their Deaths they were not divided She was then about the one and twentieth year of her age at which time she was desired in marriage by many younger in years and higher in means and lands than the Gentleman was unto whom with her great contentment even to her dying day she yeelded her self and her affections resolving as the vertuous Marcella in St. Jerom answered her young Woer Cerealis who was of a Noble and Consular race Si nubere vellem utique maritum quaererem non haereditatem that when she married she would marry an Husband not an estate though yet God had blessed her Husband with a competency of these outward things Their Marriage was celebrated by that incomparable and even in this age famous Prelate Bishop Lake in the City of Wells who never married any persons besides themselves where for some years they lived together and the Town to this day gives an ample testimony to their piety and charity For her part they say as Gregory Nyssen said of Placilla that if she prevented him not in any work of charity yet she was sure to concur with him therein and when she departed from thence they soon complained and lamented the want of her charity The blinde complained that they wanted an eye the lame a staffe the mourners one to comfort them the languishing one to visit them as St. Jerom said of Nepotian For indeed she was eyes to the blinde feet to the lame she was a mother to the poor and distressed and to those who had nothing to help them The blessing of those as Job saith of himself that were ready to perish came upon her and she caused the widows heart to sing for joy From Wells they removed to Blackfriers in London where she lived long under the powerful Ministry of the thrice worthy and learned Dr. Gouge a man famous for his pains in the Church of Christ. What her Life Faith Charity Patience was during her abode there was well known to all in general and particularly observed by that Reverend Doctor and abundantly testified at her Funerals by him so that nothing needs to be added to