Augmentation added of 50 l. a year by Queen Elizabeth upon an Itinerant Preacher which had been long fixed upon the Minister of that place There were four of them in Lancashire this was one and 200 l. per An. was paid out of the Revenues to those four this was paid by several Trustees at the Audit At the return of King Charles II. one Mr. Stanninghaugh Parson of Augham worth 140 l. a year about two Miles from Ormskirk rode up to London and by the help of Friends surreptitiously obtained this 50 l. a year to be setled upon himself which gave occasion to some persons to reflect upon a Sermon Mr. Heywood preached at Ormskirk upon a day of Thanksgiving for the King's Restoration upon 2 Sam. 19. 30. And Mephibosheth said unto the king Yea let him take all forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house Which was indeed an excellent Discourse greatly approved and highly applauded by all especially the Gentry who earnestly sollicited him to print it but he refused not out of disloyalty but modesty not because he durst not own his Sovereign but he was not willing to be much taken notice of in the world Mr. Heywood digested this disingenuous carriage of his Neighbour and pretended Friend with great aequanimity and calmness and it proved a Worm to the one and at Blessing to the other for though this Mr. Stanninghaugh's Parsonage was 148 l. a year and his Tenement was 30 l. a year and this 50 l. yearly and he had no Child yet he left nothing at his death but Debt and his Wife in a poor condition But it pleased God from that time to bless Mr. Heywood's small Incomes incredibly and 't is next to a Miracle to consider what great things he did when shortly after he was turn'd out of all he paid some Debts and maintained his numerous Family in a good decorum for he had nine Children whereof six are yet living took a Lease for Three Lives of an House and Land paid 60 l. built a good part of it paid 30 l. for buying but a Lease elsewhere maintained his two Sons at School at Holland which cost him 14 l. a year sent one to Mr. Frankland to be educated in University-learning besides many sore Sicknesses in his Family Yet such was the blessing of God that he waded through all without contracting any Debt but rather increasing his Estate out of his small Incomes This Holy Man was very sensible of this strange Providence and often expressed it with admiring thankfulness In the year 1662 Aug. 24. that fatal day struck him civilly dead with the rest of his Brethren how beit he continu'd his publick Preaching in the Church after that day without disturbance till the place was filled up with a new Vicar on Mr. Ashworth a Schoolmaster who lived six or eight Miles from thence taught his School rode thither or Saturday and back on Monday morning was absent all the week for several years so that Mr. Heywood still seemed to have the sole charge of that Town and Parish visiting the Sick instructing them praying with them preaching privately to them as occasion was offered He was abundant in the work of the Lord not only in his own Parish but at Wigan Warrington Leverpool Preston Eccleston and upon a call in more remote places But in his own Parish and amongst his old Hearers he was in Labours more abundant he usually preach'd twice on a Lords day sometimes several times in Week-days ordering his Labours in several parts of the Parish both in the day and night Yea in times of great danger he hath preach'd at one house the beginning of the night and then gone two Miles a-foot over Mosses and preach'd toward morning to another Company at another house Nor was he scant and short in his Sermons but usually very long two hours at least often three yea sometimes he would have continued four or five hours praying and preaching his heart was so fully set upon his Master's work that he forgot his own strength and his Hearers patience Nor did he tediously dream over his work but was full of zeal vigour tenderness and affection often straining his voice beyond what his natural strength could well bear which occasioned torturing and mortal Diseases like a Candle he spent himself to give others light Neither was he vox praeterea nihil a meer voice and no more like some Preachers that like Thunder give a loud crack without a distinct sound or significancy no his Sermons were stuffed with solid Divinity Scripture Arguments alluring Similies heart melting Passages He was an excellent Text man producing solid Interpretations An experienc'd Casuist resolving Cases of Conscience with great satisfaction A clear Disputant stating Controversies solidly and substantially answering Objections learnedly and distinctly and proving the Truth demonstratively He was a pathetical Preacher driving the Nail home in close Convictions of Conscience warm Exhortations to Conversion or to particular Duties plain and undeniable Directions still laying open and obviating Satan's wiles the deceits of a bad heart and insnaring insinuations of a wicked world rifling the Conscience by a thorough Examination comforting God's Children with sweet Gospel-Promises This this indeed was his Master-piece and main Scope in his Preaching to lay open the Beauties and Excellencies of the Blessed Jesus and Sinners great necessity of him displaying in lively colours the love of God in sending his Son the love of Christ in the unparallel'd work of Redemption the Offices Purchases and Undertakings of the Son of God unfolding the Covenant of Grace the Operations of the Spirit in applying the Merits of Christ c. The truth of this appears in two excellent Discourses printed since his Death transcribed out of his own Notes as he preached them the same year he died The one called Christ the Best Gift which was grounded on John 4. 10. The other entituled Christ the Best Master grounded upon John 13. 13. Two excelent Treatises bound up together Printed after his death for he would never be persuaded to publish any thing though doubtless they would have been more Acurate if he had imagined they should have seen the light But such as they are they have proved very acceptable and profitable to the Church of God Many have read them with pleasure and some good Divines have quoted passages out of them His labours in the Ministry were so exceedingly welcome that the loss of him in publick work was greatly bewailed by the whole Town and Parish he was beloved of all good and bad A poor ignorant man came to him when he was turned out saying Ah! Mr Heywood we would gladly have you Preach again in the Church Yes said he I would as gladly Preach as you desire it if I could do it with a safe Conscience in Conforming The man replied Oh Sir many a man now-a-days makes a great gash in his Conscience cannot you make a little
nick in yours That was a remarkable passage which fell out at Ormskirk on July 30 1662. which Mr. Heywood thus describes in a Letter to a Friend About four a Clock that day in the Afternoon was a dreadful Thunder and Lightning for a long time together and in the Town of Ormskirk and about it fell a great shower of Hail in a terrible Tempest Hailstones were as big as ordinary Apples some say Nine Inches compass one Stone that I took up was above Four Inches after it had thawed in my hand the Hail broke all our Glass Windows Westward we have not one quarril whole on our backside so it is with most of the houses in and about the Town it hath cut off all the Ears of our standing Corn so that most Fields that were full of excellent Barley and other Grain are not worth Reaping It hath shaken the Apple-trees and in some places bruised the Apples in pieces the Hail cut Boughs from Trees and some say there are strange Apparitions in the Air of which I shall give you a further account All especially the ignorant were much terrified thinking it had been the day of Judgment certainly it was a sad sign and effect of God's heavy displeasure with us and I wish it be not a presage of more abiding Judgments They tell me that my small share of loss will amount to 10 l. at least in half an hour all this hurt was done The Lord sanctify this sudden stroke to me and my poor people Mr. Clark in his Examples hath this Story and mentions Mr. Heywood his attestation of it which yet I thought fit to relate here partly because this is fuller than he relates it partly to shew how observant this holy man was of the remarkable Providences of God It was his observation That this natural storm was a sad presage of a moral storm on Ministers and Churches which fell the very month after that rooted up so many useful fruit-bearing trees marred so much good fruit and shattered the glass by which the light of saving-truth is conveyed into the house of God This good man was so endeared to this People that he was resolved never to part from them till death made the divorce of whom thus he writes I have a loving though poor docible though ignorant People they flock in very great numbers to the Ordinances and I have hopes of doing some good it may be already begun amongst them I had some motion to Conform but I will not change upon any account whatsoever let me have your prayers help me for this poor people which I love as my own Child and long after in the bowels of Christ He had frequent distempers upon his body which much promoted God's work upon his heart In the year 1667. he had a violent distemper which in a fortnights time brought his body very low and by that time he was recovered his dear Wife fell into a sad languishing disease which threatned death besides grievous afflictions in her Spirit and sad apprehensions of death for above a month together a Swelling in her Throat which increased to a hard Tumour in the hollow of her Throat which inevitably in the eye of Reason threatned Death but beyond all expectation God did graciously remove that and raised her up again in mercy to the Family In the year 1670. his Son Nathanael was strangely taken with Convulsion Fits which tortured and distorted his Face Limbs every part of his Body in a prodigious manner but God also at last raised him up upon the Prayers of his People But these Providences found him work for and quickned his Spirit in Prayer In October 1671. Mr. Heywood fell into a malignant Feaver which as his two Doctors Dr. Fife and Dr. Grundy said had seized the Nerves and Spirits and Brain he was not in extremity of pain because as the Physitians said the disease lay not so much in the Blood Upon the 13th day after he begun he was judged to be a gone man Dr. Fife a boysterous man and Justice of the Peace in the Fild-countrey near Garstand called for a Candle and bade him open his mouth which when he had looked into he swore a great Oath and said his Tongue is as black as a Thrash call the Mistress of the house said he let him set all things in order and make his Will for he 's a gone man these words astonished his Family but his own and only surviving Sister being present and hearing these confident Expressions gathered encouragement and thought within herself This is but a man and may be deceived God is God and can confute him Thus Dr. Fife left him as hopeless and said it was in vain to give him any thing But before he came to his own house at Houghton Tower a Feaver seized violently upon the Doctor himself and in a few days made an end of him so he never returned home alive But from that very day Mr. Heywood began to amend the Feaver abateing It is likely that was a Crisis when the disease was at its height for it was a dreadful day and night he had all the symptoms of death upon him but God had mercy upon him as upon sick Epaphroditus Phil. 2. 27. God had much work for him to do But he continued under weakness and some disorder in his Head for he could not be persuaded that he was at home confidently affirming he was at Bickerstaff where indeed he was immediately before he begun his distemper to visit Sir Edward Stanly who was begun in a Feaver and died shortly after Mr. Heywood would needs be helped to the Window to see the Funeral pass by to the Church This sore sickness was in the year 1671. and the King 's Licenses came out in the year following 1672. and indeed hitherto he had very little or no disturbance in his preaching-work God was preparing him both for service and suffering This sickness preceded service God laid the foundation low designing to build high and often God thinks fit to lay the fairest colours upon a sable bottom so God passed the sentence of death upon him immediately before this petty resurrection for in the Spring following came out the Liberty to Preach Mr. Heywood cordially embraced it and had two Chappels Licensed viz. Bickerstaff adjoining to Lady Stanly's house two Miles South from Ormskirk the other was Scaresbrick two Miles North from the Parish-Church both in Ormskirk Parish these he supplied constantly preaching at the one Chappel one day at the other the next Lord's day of which he thus writes I bless God my Congregation is numerous and attentive Oh! that they were as fruitful my Family is healthful Oh! that they were more holy He continued two years in these two Chappels but about April 9 1674. he thus writes I have had more trouble and opposition in my Ministerial employment these four Months last past than ever I had in all my life yet am not taken off
or Gravel certainly it was exceeding acute and painful yet it is disputable whether his loss of Gospel-Liberties or his violent Bodily Distemper was the greater Affliction to him His Riding about Six or Seven Miles in the year 1675. rendered his pain in making Water scarce tolerable thus he writes I have now this last ill fit discovered more of the cause of it than ever before I am very confident it is not the Stone but Flegm or a Salt Humour or both that stops the Urine c. It 's not properly the Strangury saith he in another but a Coagulation of Humours through overmuch Acidity that sharpens and sometimes stops my Urine Want of Health and Liberty believe me are two sore evils I hope you will particularly help me with your Prayers for direction as to Health but more especially as to restoration of Liberty in my beloved work the loss of which is a greater grief than the want of Health and Ease In another Letter dated July 15. 1676. he saith I have endured extreame pain and torment a Month together all which time excepting two or three days I never make Water and that I was forced to do very often but the last drop came out with so much difficulty and excessive pain about the neck of the Bladder that it made me roar and tremble and had so shrunk my Flesh and weakened my Body that I did apprehend Death to be approaching The good Lord fit and prepare me for it and account me worthy to find Mercy in that time of need My pain was occasioned by the great heat and preaching that hot weather oftener and longer than I was well able I am sure I have greatest reason to submit to his holy Will yea and be thankful also that though he hath afflicted me very sore yet he hath not given me over to death whereas I hear of many that are dead of late of my distemper Bishop Wilkins Cousin John Crompton and several hereabouts within these two months I beg your prayers that if God spare my Life he would also give Health and Liberty to improve it in his service more publickly and fruitfully or if it be death which will be less unwelcome because of my restraints pangs and troubles in this world only my Wife and Children make the thoughts of it burthensome may God be glorified I hope it will be my advantage I wish neither you nor any faithful Minister that minds and loves his work may ever know what I have felt in the want of People and Work Other Afflictions are light compared to a dumb Mouth and silent Sabbaths c. Yet notwithstanding all this Affliction he had a wonderful great desire once again if it were the Will of God to visit his friends in Yorkshire and God was pleased to grant his request for he gave him some mitigation of his Pain which was an encouragement to undertake that Journey so himself his Wife and his Two Sons Travelled into Yorkshire April 20. 1677. there he preach'd the Sermons that are since Printed and another most excellent and pathetical Sermon upon Rom. 5. 8. From thence he sent his Eldest Son to be trained up in Academical Learning with Mr. Frankland at Natland in Westmorland But Oh! what affectionate parting was there as if they must never see one another's faces again and indeed so it proved they could not speak to each other for weeping and sobbing he desired another to pray for he could not refrain In that Journey he was carried out beyond himself in praying preaching discoursing to the admiration and edification of all his ancient Friends in those Parts though he had frequent returns of his wonted Pain He was as a man coming down from Heaven to tell what 's done there or as one ripe for Heaven too big for Earth upon the wing to take his flight into those Mansions above as indeed it proved After he had done his work in those Parts which he designed he left Yorkshire on May 1. 1677. but could reach that day but Ten Miles the next morning he went to Ratchdal he was forcibly detained by the importunity of Christian Friends and preached there that evening tho greatly to his prejudice as to Health the day following he reached Bolton yet saith he with great difficulty and hard hewing they got home on Friday night and it would have been great inconvenience to have staid one day longer upon several necessary accounts which he mentions Thus God carried him abroad in Mercy and brought him seasonably back to his own house in safety How much he was satisfied with this Journey though his pains were extreme several days after his return home his Letter May 14. 1677. doth testifie The great Mercy saith he in my late Journey to you comforts with you and safe return home where we found all well I hope I shall never forget pray help me to be thankful for them I do heartily thank you for all your Pulpit Table House and Countrey-kindness I am sorry and ashamed I made no better improvement of them not knowing that ever I shall enjoy such opportunities again of doing my self and others good in your parts but an indisposed Body and a bad heart marr Duties and waste Mercies His distemper still continued and prevailed upon him all that Summer in a Letter dated September 20. 1677. he saith I am far from being well and as the Church once complained she forgat prosperity so I health and am ready sometimes to add as She my strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. This day Five Weeks I came from the Exercise at Toxtoth-Park where I had preached twice and oftener then I was well able a little before Since that day I never came on Horse-back nor preached but once near home but all this time God hath been preaching to me with a terrible thundring Voice Oh! that I could hear the Rod and who hath appointed it So sharp and so long a fit of Pain I never had since this distemper begun God alone knows what may be the issue of it but for my part though I find it no easy matter to look death in the face and to conquer the difficulties that precede and attend it yet I have no great reason to love life or to desire my long stay in this wicked weary world my pained days and wearisome nights make thoughts of death and grave less terrible and apprehensions of Rest with Christ most welcome and pleasant But I feel natural inclinations working towards life and to loving themselves with the fair glass of doing God more and better Service in his Church I am best resolved and most at Anchor when I can but oh how seldom how coldly do I say The Will of the Lord be done Dear Brother Pray for me as I would do for my self that to me to live may be Christ and to die gain Yesterday for some hours I was in extreme torment but am much easier I bless God to day
inamour'd with the love of God in sending Christ as appeared to the content profit and wonder of many by a Sermon he preached the same year he died upon Rom. 5. 8. This was the proper Element in which he moved And few dived that depth into that Eph. 3. 19. unfathomable Ocean of this Love that passeth knowledge as he did 15. He was a zealous Defender of Truth and Impugner of Errors he did strenuously contend for the Jude 3. faith once delivered to the saints He much delighted in the form of wholesome words and loved not new-coin'd phrases which are apt to amuse mens minds and instil into them poisonous Principles He loved and used sound speech that cannot be condemned as well as sound and orthodox Truth standing at an equal distance from Arminians on one hand and Antinomians on the other He had a strange sagacity in discerning Persons Things and Doctrines that swerved from or suited not the Scripture dialect He kept close to the Analogy of Faith yet was not against proficiency or a modest improvement of knowledge Yea he had well studied the Arminian Controversy and told some Friends That if the Lord should recover him and lengthen out his Life he had a design to write something upon that Subject which might perhaps have given further light into that Controversie For as his Genius led him that way so he had the advantage of many years intimate converse with that Ancient and Learned Divine Mr. Tho. Johnson Parson of Halsall a man of vast Parts and unwearied Studies and a non such Person in those points but told Mr. Heywood his intimate Friend that it much repented him that he had spent so much time in reading Books and studying Controversies that might have been more profitably improved in conversing with and instructing his ignorant and carnal Neighbours Let Ministers think of this for one Soul won to God by personal Conference will tend more to God's Glory and a Minister's Comfort than a thousand Notions got by reading Howbeit a due mixture of a contemplative and active Life must needs be the best 16. He was good in his Relative Condition He was an obedient Child an exceeding kind Husband an indulgent tender-hearted Father an affectionate Master a faithful Friend He maintained a Paternal awe authority gravity mixed with Fatherly Bowels of gentleness and lenity and both with incredible prudence that they had not occasion either to slight him or be discouraged by him He instructed them with faithfulness admonished them with tenderness prayed for them with faith and fervency and walkt before them with an holy exemplariness and sincerity As God had made him a Nathanael God-wards so a Joshuah resolving that Josh 24. 15. he and his house should serve the Lord. It 's a true Maxim That he who is not relatively good is not really good But he stood square for every Duty in every Relation He kept his Children much at home being very jealous lest they should meet with temptations abroad which occasioned many Cares and Prayers about their disposal 17. He had attained to a considerable measure of Assurance Tho Isa 50. 10. he had walked in darkness and saw no light in his first Convictions yet staying himself on the Lord his God at last shined upon his Soul with the light of his countenance and he walked many days with the Candle of God shining upon his head through much darkness How Job 29. 3. frequently in Prayer did he express his joy and gratitude for the everlasting consolation and good hopes through grace of his own salvation But the infinitely wise God after many sweet days he had enjoyed thought fit to withdraw his wonted Incomes and left him under some doubts and dissatisfaction For about two months before he died one Lord's day as he and his Family sate together he told his Wife with tears in his eyes that he had great troubles concerning his Spiritual State and some doubts about his Condition desiring her to pray for him Yet the Lord dispelled those dark Clouds and in due time did sweetly shine into his Soul with the sense of his Love Thus God is a free Agent and doth not always intail comfort upon sincerity but sometimes the best of God's Children suffer Eclipses but such sad days tend to self-searching and deeper humiliation and such shakings tend to better settlement Yea such discouragements are often attended with more inlargement such blots in a Christian's Evidences produce more clearing them up However God hereby hath more glory and Heaven will be sweeter 18. He had a strong persuasion of God's care of his numerous Family both in point of Education and Provision As God had graciously lookt after them in his life-time so he had conceived great hopes of their supply after his decease It 's true he had some temptations and sad thoughts of heart concerning them but at last Faith got the victory over Unbelief and having left his sad Widow with her better Husband and his fatherless Children with their heavenly Father he was quiet and these thoughts did not hinder his hearty welcome of his dearest Lord when he summoned him by death And therefore after he had by faith and prayer devolved the care of them upon the Lord he freely acquiesced in his good Providence about himself and them On Tuesday before he died getting into his Bed his Wind being very short his Wife broke out into sore weeping to whom he said Be not troubled God will provide necessaries for thee and thy Posterity for ever Which brings to mind the passage of Bucer who dying stretched out three Fingers with his eyes lift up to Heaven saying Ille ille regit moderatur omnia He he alone rules and governs all things And the Event hath abundantly answered this good man's Prediction and Expectation 19. It is very considerable that he had his desire in a leisurely lingring death He had often expressed his willingness if that were God's will that death might come on gradually and not surprize him yea he prayed that he might be long in his sickness and also that he might be sensible till the last the Lord did condescend to him in both these He had been long habitually prepared but he desired to be actually ready For it is an important concern to dye and go into another world a world of Spirits This good man had frequent warnings and continued strong in his Intellectuals all the time of his illness Upon Friday night his Brother-in-law coming to him asked him if he had made his Will he answered no he desired to have his Son Nathanael at home when he did that But he perceiving that he was weakning apace and that his time would not be long being urged again he willingly consented and sent for a Clerk and dispatcht that worldly concern that night then he was in perfect composedness of mind being but one night besides that till his death 20. As he was highly qualified
to this day Archers have sorely griev'd us and shot at us 34 Arrows I mean Warrants but our Bow abides in strength by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob Officers have come Eighteen Lord's days together but have not as yet scattered us how easy is it for God to save us while we serve him if we could believe I am encouraged to hope that some good is done or may be done by my poor labours in this season and 't is no ill sign when Satan rageth so violently against us God can work without or against means and can work by improbable means to accomplish great ends I was never more inwardly born up under storms nor strengthened against difficulties in all my life it may be my time is but short and my work near an end Oh! that I may live and die in God's work and way and be faithful unto death Dear Brother let my condition have a deeper impression on your heart than ordinary Two Warrants one for 20 l. the other for 40 l. have been out against me these Seven Weeks but we keep our doors fast Barred and the Officers are very Civil to us Oh! that I could see you I have no Horse but go all my Journeys on foot November 13 1674. He thus writes I bless God my Liberty notwithstanding all my troubles is not wholly lost but sometimes disturbed we meet in fear yet we meet in both Chappels No Warrant is sent for a Month or more and my Auditory increaseth again Oh! that I had an heart to improve late experiences and present opportunities and do my duty leaving the issue to him that judgeth righteously But his excessive Pains though refreshing to his Spirit yet were wasting to his Body for about that time thus he writes I am still at work in both Chappels but I am much cast down with pains and weakness of Body having overgone my strength and wasted my self in these intervals of Liberty God hath given us But I have no reason to repent any thing I could ever do for so good a Master Oh! that I had done more and better About the same time he Writes thus Some assaults Satan hath made upon me with a right-hand Temptation the whole Parish of Aughton have been importunate with me to put my self into a capacity for their Parsonage worth Seven or Eightscore Pond per Annum the Bishop i. e. Dr. Wilkins promiseth favour to me in it but God did not leave me so much as to have any serious thoughts to yeild to that Temptation I do preach still but not so constantly nor in so full a Congregration as formerly Dear Brother I beseech you for the Lord's sake and for the love of the Spirit strive together with me in your Prayers to God for me you know for what c. At last after many struglings threatnings affrightings peoples withdrawings and rallying again a stratagem was contrived to knock all dead at a blow some Deputy-Lieutenants sent some Soldiers to take Mr. Heywood in the Pulpit and though it was known yet they met in Bickerstaff Chappel Lady Stanly came out of her Gallery and placed herself near the Pulpit-door hoping to over-aw their Spirits and obstruct their designs the Soldiers stood without while Mr. Heywood was at prayer but when he had prayed they rushed in and required him to come down and go along with them he mildly desired the favour of them that they would give him leave to preach and he would go along with them but they rudely run towards the Pulpit the Lady would have stopp'd them but they pressed forward opened the Pulpit door got hold of his Coat and tore it and in a sort pull'd him out and took him away with them straight to Holland nor could the Lady's mediation prevail to procure him a little refreshment only in the road he grew saint and desired them to call with him at an Ale-house which they did and the Landlady though he had no acquaintance with her was exceeding kind to him and said he should have any thing she had in the house but those Rogues said she shall not have a morsel that took him so they carried him away to an Alehouse in Holland where he lodged that night and from whence thus writ to his Wife I am very well I bless God and never in greater honour or so highly advanced in all my life I was pulled out of the Pulpit with a Pistol lifted up at my head and a God-dam-me in mine ears but the man repents his rashness and wishes he had let me preach for he never heard a better prayer c. But be not troubled God hath shewed me more mercy than I can be thankful for Oh! help me to praise him Oh! what cause have we to rejoice in suffering upon this account God will have Glory and his Church the benefit c. but I fear it must be an Imprisonment or promise not to preach which is my very life But God in his gracious Providence did also scatter this cloud for the day after when it was noised abroad that Mr. Heywood was taken abundance of People and many considerable Gentlemen and some that were no friends to his Cause yet out of respect to his Person mediated for him yea several of good report and intimate with the Justices offered to be bound for his appearance and to give any security that should be required The Justices then tendred him the Oxford Oath he was in a strait for if he peremptorily refused it they had some advantage against him he told them that persons must swear in judgment and therefore he desired some time to consider of it which was consented to And seeing such an appearance of persons of all ranks for him they gave him respite and liberty to go home till the next Quarter-Sessions which was to be at Wigan a Month after but they bound him to appear at the Sessions Thus he was delivered out of that snare and went home and writ a Letter that day dated Jan. 28. 1674. Pray help me to praise God and remember a poor sufferer for the Gospel in your prayers People do so throng in to see me now I am come home again that I have not time to write fully to you but commit you to God and his protection that you may long enjoy and fruitfully improve that sweet Liberty in God's Vineyard which I doubt I have lost and indeed so it proved The Sessions at Wigan came on he attended there according to his Bonds several Justices appeared for him and his friends came to see the issue and to mediate for him Old Lady Stanly came herself and her Husband Mr. Henry Hoghton a Justice of Peace yea Mr. Christopher Banister of Bank and several others spoke much on his behalf another Justice then upon the Bench said If Mr. Heywood was sent to Lancaster Goal he should be as comfortably maintained and as honourably released as ever any Prisoner was some of his
but my pain is not in the same manner as formerly but liker an Ulcer in the Bladder which makes my disease more dangerous as well as painful it is the Lord's mercy I am not utterly consumed that I can sit thus long to write to you which many times I cannot but I am now weary with it The last Letter so far as I can find was by him dated Octob. 23. 1677. which I shall mostly transcribe My dear Brother this evening I received yours for which I thank you it breathes nothing but love and comfort to me Oh! how sweet how seasonable love in you Oh! how tender Especially I thank you for your prayers and the prayers of others by your means I account them a precious treasure and the surest and speediest remedy in all troubles Oh! pray again who knows but that may prevail when nothing else can I have been sensibly better since that day of your tears and groans But who am I that any should be concerned for me A poor weak useless wretch nothing and less than nothing I have been long in regard of work in God's Vineyard a withered branch a dry stick and now my body is withered like the grass my skin parched my moisture dried up through extremity of pain which hath continued nine or ten weeks day and night About a Month ago friends seeing death in my face and looks they prevailed with me to send for Dr. Grundy who found me in a languishing condition yet not without some hope He told me my distemper was not the Stone nor Ulcer in the Bladder which I feared because of my sharp pains and soreness but a Dysuria my Blood was vitiated my moisture sowre and there wanted due separation of the Serum from the Blood that it would require much time and patience to bring the Body to a good state c. For since I have been taking one sort or other of Physick and am now taking a Diet-drink for the Scurvey which I think hath done me most good but still my pain continues though not altogether so acute as at the first but I have very weary restless nights many times I am constrained to get up and walk two or three hours but God supports his word comforts in all and over all his ways are mercy and truth it is his mercy that I am not consumed yea 't is mercy and faithfulness that I am afflicted I have reason to say I could not have been without nay I would not have been without this trial for an earthly kingdom if God please to spare my life and restore strength I hope others will find that I have gained considerably by this Sea-adventure I am your indebted and endeared Brother N. Heywood His distempers growing thus upon him gradually wore away and weaken'd his body and took out the pins and pluck'd down the stakes of his frail tabernacle he wore away insensibly his friends seeing he had strength to walk did not apprehend his end so near as indeed it proved On Thursday Decemb. 13. 1677. they perceived him to alter and grow something worse than he had been not so much in the violence of pain as in the decay of Spirits and falling into drowziness and slumbering that very day he said with tears runing down his face that he could willingly die if it were the next hour but for the good of the Church and his poor Wife and Children and with them he could be content to live were it in Prison That night being ready to go to Bed he sate down in his Chair and looking up towards Heaven moved his eyes very much his Wife asked him How he did but he could not answer as she supposed but soon after he said he would go to Bed being got to Bed he fell into the like Trance and lay for a while speechless being better he looked about him and saw them weeping and said if you knew Christ better this carnal affection would cease and natural would be sanctified and run in a spiritual channel Oh! learn to know Christ more for my own part I have preached Christ all my Life and I bless God with good success It 's common with many now-a-days to have base and low thoughts of Christ and his imputed righteousness but if I had twenty lives to live I would spend them all in that work On Friday a Kinsman that was come from London visited him but he was so weak and listless that he was very unfit for converse and indeed at the best he was sparing in discourse he used to speak little but what he spake was very pithy pertinent and sententious On Saturday night Mr. Starky a Reverend and Godly Minister visited him he asked him Whether it was any trouble to him that he did not Conform He answered No it 's a great comfort to me this he spake with much chearfulness adding some more words to evidence his satisfaction in what he had done and suffered Mr. Starky asked him What Promises he could now rely upon or what Scripture-passages supported him He answered For to me to live is Christ Phil. 1. 21. and to die gain Christ hath loved me and given himself for me He Gal. 2. 20. was frequently repeating those words Come Lord Jesus come quickly About four hours before he died being asked how he did he answered very well His last words that he was heard to utter were Come away Lord come come and so he breathed out his blessed Soul on the Lord's-day morning Dec. 6. 1677. about nine a Clock so God made the day of his hard and sore labour the day of his entrance into his Eternal Rest And 't is worthy observation that God hath drawn off many eminent Ministers and choice Christians from the stage of this World near or upon that day This Holy day of heavenly Rest hath commenced upon them the everlasting day of Rest in Heaven Christ's Resurrection-day hath been their Ascention day They parted with this jarring Musick on Earth to be joined to that coelestial Choire above This our Brother often made melody in his heart though he was not very tunable in his voice below now the high Praises of God are sounded by him and at the Great day Soul and Body shall make a melodious Consort in that Blessed Harmony And now this Holy Learned Industrious Man of God is advanced above guilt corruption temptation and persecution pains of Body fears of Spirit disturbances in God's Worship Imprisonments Confiscations Banishments Oh what a blessed State have they above taken possession of happy Souls that are safely lodged in the Arms of their Dear Redeemer It were worth the while to stand still and take a view of the Spirits made perfect Heb. 12. 23. in the other World Let us only glance a little on their privative and positive Happiness from Rev. 22. 3 4 5. 1. There shall be no more curse i. e. no more fruits of God's displeasure upon man for Adam's sin nor causeless
their repentance and pardon of their sin against God oft saying If this or that be the worst they can do we shall shift well enough He had in some considerable degree learned that hard lesson our Lord teacheth Mat. 5. 44. But I say unto you love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you This this is a great height of true Christianity to do good and hear evil bear our Cross and follow Christ with patience and self-denial 6. He was very faithful to his Friends and look'd upon the bond of friendship as sacred and not to be violated whether in the business of counselling and keeping secrets or preserving and performing the trust reposed in him and this was not small nor from persons inconsiderable and this upon several accounts putting himself to much cost many troubles and some inconveniences rather than seem by negligence to falsify his word or in any respect to fail of his duty as many instances might manifest It was Conscience of his duty God-wards that awed his spirit in those cases wherein no mortal could detect or punish him for neglect He was marvellous obliging in his deportment very taking in his discourse with such as he could be free with instructing the ignorant indulging the impotent by words or carriage manifesting his dislike of sin but encouraging any that discovered any sparks of true Piety however they might differ from him in some things for he was of a Catholick Spirit 7. He was very humble and self-denying which was the brave ornament of all his other graces and eminent qualifications this indeed was his Master-piece he had always very mean thoughts of himself and his own undertakings disgusting others commendations of him which indeed were to him instar fulminis like a thunderbolt as that German Divine said of mens praises yea he would even cover his face with shame and modestly blush when any spoke well of him his maxim was rather to be than seem good not affecting triumphs as Pompey did but approving his heart to God being more pleased with God's gracious acceptance and the conscience of his own integrity than affecting the favour of great ones or the applause of the vulgar tho there was scare any had such general approbation or flocking after them yet his Spirit was not elated or lifted up therewith In him was verified that observation That honour is like a shadow which being pursued it flies away and the more a man flies from it the more it follows him He could never be persuaded to Print any of his labours though he was often solicited thereto for he judged nothing that he did worth exposing to publick view he so far disliked the humour of ostentation that he abstained from doing that which might have been profitable to the Church Though his Sermons were elaborate and acurate yet very pathetical which he desired to be conveyed only to the ears and hearts of his hearers Yea his modesty lock'd up his lips in company unless he had a just call to speak and he spake with great judgment and as much humility and submission to better judgments but always with great advantage to his hearers He was mild in his censure and spake well of others mean and well-meaning undertakings he commended all that in any thing were praise-worthy and envied them not that honour that was due to them 8. He was much and mighty in Prayer he had an excellent gift in confessing sin petitioning for mercy and thankfulness to God for mercies received He did with pat and proper Scripture-expressions wrestle with God in Prayer Oh! how frequently and fervently did he pour out his Soul to the Lord with sighs and groans strong cries and tears He had a large measure of the Spirit of Adoption and was usually large and much enlarged in that duty especially upon extraordinary occasions Though he had long used to go to God alone yet in his last sickness he was more abundant in Closet-Prayer His Wife and Children coming to him have often found him upon his knees And the Lord gave in many signal impressions upon his Spirit and remarkable returns of his prayers Many years ago when his Wife was dangerously sick at Godley in Yorkshire nigh to death he told her she must not die at that time she demanded of him Why he thought so He answered because my heart is much enlarged in prayer to beg for thy life accordingly God raised her up at that time And he hath oft taken notice of the frame of his Spirit in prayer for several sick persons and hath taken his measures from his straitness or his enlargedness and it hath often proved suitable to his presages 9. He had a great measure of Faith both as to Soul-concerns and temporal affairs As to the former God had helped in Soul-troubles to trust God in the way of a promise and at last buoyed up his Faith into a Plerophery or full Assurance As to the latter he was trained up in the life of Faith many years a Wife and nine small Children being turned out of all having nothing before-hand and knew not in an ordinary rational way where his subsistence must arise this put his Faith hard to it yet committing his all into God's hands he was strangely supplied as if he had been fed by Ravens or as Israel in the Wilderness O man great was thy faith O Lord great was thy bounty It 's true he was often afraid of discontent and murmuring but pluck'd up his spirit saying to his Wife Let us pray and wait on God he never failed us yet come let us trust him this he spake with great alacrity and he oft took notice that at a pinch God sent in seasonable supply by unexpected means help came in so strangely that he resolved to set down punctually what he received and of whom He said once to a Friend I cannot but wonder how God sends in Money just as I need it he drops it into my hand by Sixpences and Shillings most seasonably and the review of these experiments much strengthens my Faith and engageth me to thankfulness This course he had taken for above twelve years and advised his Friend to the same course From his multiplied experiments he gathered great encouragements he often wondered at the unaccountable provision God made for him and his 10. He was of a loving peaceable frame much addicted to peace both in Sacreds and Civils He was not willing to fall out with any and it was strange if any fell out with him for he gave not any just occasion at any time Testimonies and instances might be produced wherein he complied to the utmost extent of what he judged lawful to avoid giving any offence and sometimes receded from his right for peace sake It is true he was a man of contention as the Prophet Jeremiah was but it was his grief and made him cry Wo
is me and besides it was rather passively than actively that he was so men contended with him rather than he with them and it was in the matters of his God and Conscience and he was resolved rather to obey and please God than men In this he was as a sturdy Oak in other matters a bending Ozier If any time he was angry at others yet anger did not ferment into malice or long rest in his bosome he sought reconciliation with them and if any had taken offence at him he sought to win them by loving means and methods of kindness yea he was not only a peace-keeper but a peace-maker to his power reconciling Neighbours that were at distance not by sitting with them in the Ale-house as the manner of some is but by Christian Advice Counsel Prayers healing differences in God's way He preached an excellent Sermon upon mutual Love from Ephes 5. 2. an excellent duty from an excellent pattern excellently managed discovering a savoury spirit full of gentleness sobriety moderation he sought to calm mens minds and lay the wind of passion that the word might take place for the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace James 3. 18. 11. But tho he was of a peaceable spirit to condescend to any thing lawful for peace sake yet not so facile flexible and wire-drawn as to recede an hairs breadth from truth or well fixed principles he was Magnes Adamas an attractive Loadstone yet an inflectible Adamant in the cause of God He well understood his own latitude and as he would not groundlessly withdraw by wanton curiosity so he would not be led aside into sin to please a friend or prostitute his Conscience to mens fancy Others might perhaps judge it a needless preciseness perverseness or obstinacy but he could not turn his sails to their wind or dance after their pipes though he had manifold temptations on all hands from great and small but he was of blessed Paul's mind and practice Gal. 2. 5. To whom we gave place by subjection no not for an hour that the truth of the Gospel might continue with you And if he died not a Martyr for yet a Confessor of and Witness to the truths that concern Christs Kingly Office over his Church to appoint what Laws Orders Officers Ordinances he pleaseth as one of his last Sermons abundantly doth demonstrate He was Faithful unto death and now receives a Crown life It might be said of this man of God as was said of Erasmus Sarcerius Lucebat in hoc viro Melch Ad. Vit. Sarc p. 326. commemorabilis gravitas constantia non minas non exilia non ullam ullius hominis potentiam aut vim pertimescebat Pene dixerim solem facilius de cursa dimoveri potuisse quam Erasmum à veritatis professione 12. He made great proficiency daily both in Learning Grace and Holiness having laid a low foundation he built a stately visible superstructure It might be said of him as the Apostle of the Thessalonians That his faith did grow exceeding 2 Thes 1. 3. and his love to christians abounded The Pearl grew too big for the shell his head soared above the Clouds and his heart mounted Heavenwards And as he grew in Faith Love Meekness Zeal for God Endearedness to Souls so above all in Humility Self-denial and Contempt of the World as he travelled up and down to do good so he travelled in birth over poor necessitous sinners Possibly some may think Mr. Heywood took too much upon him and was too sedulous in his indefatigable pains both in the face of danger and to the hazard of his health but as to the one Calvin's Apology was his Would you have me found idle when my Lord cometh As to the former his Answer and Actings were justifiable by a like instance in the life of Olevian who asked them Whether he must suspend or supercede his Preaching at that time for fear of danger Or Whether they desired to hear him as formerly The People all with hands lifted up and loud voices cryed out Imo hoc imo hoc per Deum Melch Ad. Vit. Olev p. 600. te oramus ut pergas concionari We beseech thee to Preach Thus the necessities and importunity of the People extorted work from this poor man His heart was upon it and being engaged he regarded not any carnal arguments from flesh and blood or self-preservation The last Sermon he preached at a Friends house in the Parish was as a Swan-like Song pithy and sententious ardent and affectionate that as before he exceeded others so then he exceeded himself as if he knew before hand that it was the last Thus his last was more than his first and the nearer the center the quicker was his motion He was so full of matter as if he were at a loss for time to do the remainder of his work in that he might dispatch it all and be at Rest 13. He was very Charitable to the Poor and such as were in real Necessity And though his small Revenue and constant Charge did somewhat bind his hands yet could not restrain his Spirit he drew out his Soul to the Hungry And indeed 2 Cor. 8. 12. true Charity is seated rather in a large heart than liberal hand the Imprimis of a willing mind finds acceptance when the Items of Alms run but shallow And to his power v. 3. many will bear him record yea beyond his power he was willing freely welcoming objects of pitty stirring up his hearers to free Contributions especially in the behalf of Godly Poor whereby the bowels of many were refreshed by this Brother And hence it was that he that sowed 2 Cor. 9. 6. bountifully did then and much more doth now reap bountifully For the liberal soul shall be Prov. 11. 25. made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself 14. He was a great admirer and a profound Preacher of the glorious Gospel-design especially in the giving of Christ And indeed this he made his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the main scope of all his preaching It 's true he did oft preach Law and Terror to awaken mens Consciences and drive them out of themselves to Christ He did often press duty in a circumspect exact and holy walking and urged a spiritual and diligent worshipping of God But still demonstrating that Christ is the end of the Law Rom. 10. 4. for righteousness to every one that believeth It was his proper genius and most suitable to his Evangelical Spirit to know and preach nothing but a crucified and glorified Redeemer He much inlarged himself 1 Cor. 2. 2. upon the Gospel-way of the justification of a Sinner by the imputation of Christ's perfect Righteousness by faith His working thoughts run still upon this Theam sleeping and waking so that once many years ago he was heard in his Dream to say there are vast heaps of Free-grace His heart was greatly