lascivious gestures and actions framed in number and measure to please a wanton eye and provoke one anothers lust or to serve the humour of some wicked Herod hath ever beene held both of the ancient Fathers within the Church and of the best Authors that ever wrote amongst the Heathen without to bee utterly unlawfull sinfull shamefull carnall sensuall and divellish as hatefull unto God as hurtfull unto men The greater was Gods mercy to preserve this young Gentleman Aug. de decem cho cap. 3. contra lit Petil. cap. 6. Arnob. l. 7. Chrysâ—hom 48. in Gen. in Mat. 14. inter tot illecebras peccandi a contagione peccati amidst so many allurements and provocations to wantonnesse from the staine and pollution of grosse uncleannesse and that having now both feet as it were in the river of such pleasures already he was not violently carried away in the current and streame of them And the greater is the misery of many hundreds young men and young women Hieron in Zach. 8. Pro. 14.13 Eccl. 2.12 Luc. 16.25 that run and rush into the danger of lascivious and wanton dalliance and dancing with such as have their hearts set on fire with burning lust and never consider that the beginning of such mirth is foolishnesse the continuing madnesse and the end bastardy and beggary and without repentance the very curse of God which is the greatest misery Prona potestas in vitium ferebatur more pecudum vaga seselibidine polluebat Ambr. de obitu Theod. The principall occasion of his parents errour and his owne vanity taking such and so great pleasure in these pleasures of sinne was as he himselfe hath since observed and acknowledged under his hand the popish and prophane estate and condition of the people and countrey round about them in those dayes for at that time saith hee The holy Sabbaths of the Lord were wholly spent in all places about us in May-poles and May-games Pipings and Dancings for it was a rare thing to heare of a Preacher or to have one Sermon in a yeare all living prophanely in ignorance and in errour A lamentable time Asperam nobis insuavem virtutum viam nimia facit vitiorum consuetudo Hier. ad Cleantiam and a miserable people of such a time when men being without Guide or Governour without Magistrate or Minister were left unto their owne lusts to do what seemed good in their owne eyes Such as were those dayes of the children of Israel when Micah may have his house of Gods his Ephod and Teraphim if he will be at the cost of them and may consecrate a Priest also for his purpose to maintaine all his idolatry and vanity that he will set up When the Levites wife may be abused as a whore Iudg. 19.2 25. Iudg. 20. the men of Gibeah the sons of Belial breaking out into outragious villanies and the children of Benjamin arise to maintaine them all in all their wickednesse which they have committed Our eyes God be blessed have seene better dayes because of the day of Grace and our eares have heard of better things by the Gospel of Grace And shall wee then that are called to bee children of the light 1 Thes 5.5 Ephes 5.8 11. Ioh. 3.19 Hos 14.8 bee yet in league or fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of darknesse as if wee still did love darknesse more than light God forbid Let Ephraim now say What have I to doe any more with idols I have heard him and observed him I am like a greene Firr-tree from me is thy fruit found And let us take up that of the Apostle also Rom. 6.2 How shall we that are dead to such sins live yet therein CHAPTER IV. IN a common contagion where every place is infected and every person may bee indangered if Pomanders and Preservatives will not serve the turne men are wont to provide for their health by removall from such places and betaking themselvs to some better and fresher aire If our Vineyards be overgrowne with Brambles and Bryars though we cannot rid them out or remove them yet will wee remove the best plants to some better soyle from them So did the Lord put it into the heart of the Parents of this young Gentleman to deale with him who having spent his childhood and some part of his youth at and about home according to the custome and course of the countrey for his better preservation from the sins of the time and his more Christian education in the grounds of Learning and Religion His going to Oxford about 1577. His fathers care and cost like S. Augustines fathers for him was thence removed and transplanted into Oxford that Vineyard of the Lord and famous University where so farre as I can finde hee first received the love of the truth with any knowledge and understanding S. Augustine being sixteene yeares old was sent unto Carthage by his father whom he much commends for his care and cost in sending him so farre and maintaining him there at his charge Vltra vires rei familiaris suae beyond and above the ability of his estate Aug. confes lib. 2. cap. 3 and all for the furtherance of his learning and studies and that because there were many Citizens much wealthier than his father that would not bestow any such labour Hee went up about 17. yeares old or cost upon their children for that end This Gentleman was much about the same age which Augustine when his father sent him and his brother Thomas with him to the University who being of better meanes than Augustines father was maintained them both for the space of two yeares in Albane Hall as Gentlemen Commoners very orderly and sufficiently A thing as much to be commended in him Few Gentlemen like minded as in Augustines father inasmuch as very few Gentlemen then and not many now though of greater meanes by much than he do take that care to bring up one much lesse will bee at the cost to breed up two in the University for any love of learning or desire of their childrens ingenuous and religious education A speciall cause hereof I conceive to be this The cause hereof in many Gentlemen in these parts because being for University learning of the Arts and Tongues Oratory and History Logick Philosophy very ignorant themselves they cannot esteem nor affect so much that which they know not nor will ever bee induced to purchase that at any great price which they so much undervalue and disregard Their own ignorance by reason of the ignorande that is in them concerning these things And so it comes to passe that they are well contented that their children proove no wiser nor better than themselves nor have any more tongues than their mothers taught them nor any skill in any arts but of Gaming and Gaying Dicing and Carding bowzing and drinking renting and racking and other such faculties for pleasure or profit
he would not confesse but onely told them in generall with great tendernesse of heart 2 Cor. 11 14. and many teares in his eyes teares of joy and teares of sorrow Pati timetis exire non vultis quid facium vobis Possid de vita Aug. c. 37. For now he had a strong perswasion that he should not live long and that within a while he should make a glorious change of this life with a better of earth for heaven of this world for another and of an estate of misery for an estate of glory And hereunto hee did very carefully addresse himselfe 3. Head His confidence of a happy exchange labouring for a gracious confidence of this blessed and happy exchange whensoever he should come unto it And this hee did by clearing his evidence and confirming his assurance of it His evidence he cleared by informing his judgment aright in the all-sufficiency and perpetuity of that blessed estate His evidence of it His assurance he confirmed by such faithfull records covenants grants gifts pledges earnests witnesses signes oaths seales His assurance for it fruits and marks of his interest unto that estate that neither sinne nor Satan law nor conscience death nor hell could infringe it nor finde any flaw therein to give either them any just occasion to except against it or him any cause once to doubt of it This his confidence was his comfort in all his sicknesse His confidence cause of his comfort which drew many comfortable and heavenly speeches from him Such as these and the like O how great is thy goodnes O Lord which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sonnes of men O how precious are thy thoughts unto me Psal 31.19 O God! O how great is the summe of them Psal 139.17 18. If I should count them they are moe in number than the sand when I awake I am ever with thee I trusted in the Lord Psal 31. I said thou art my god My times are in thy hand I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by my right hand Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell Psal 31.23 24 25 26 and afterwards receive me to glory Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever I know whom I have beleeved and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I have committed unto him against that day Psal 31. O love the Lord all yee his Saints for the Lord preserveth the faithfull and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God for the living god O when shall I come and appeare before God O let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth Cant. 1.1 2. for thy love is better than wine Because of the savour of thy good ointment Thy name is as an oyntment powred forth therefore do the virgins love thee Draw me and I will run after thee God is not unrighteous Heb. 6.10 to forget our worke and labour of love which we have shewed unto his name Faithfull is he that promiseth and calleth us 1 Thes 5.24 Neh. 5.15 and 13. v. 14.22 who will also do it Remember me O my God for good according to all that I have done for thy people and wipe not out my kindnesse that I have done for the house of my God for the Offices thereof Remember me O my God and spare me according to the greatnes of thy mercy Some of these holy and heavenly Speeches hee uttered at his first awaking in the morning some in Prayer with his Family some in his short Ejaculations some as the issue of his secret and silent Meditations some in conference and speech with such of his Christian friends as did come to visit him and to minister either other counsell or comfort unto him Yea and many hundred more than these which would be a matter of great difficulty if not of impossibility to call to mind and to record them His heart was as a fountaine full of the waters of life Iohn 4.141 full of the heavenly knowledge of the holy Scriptures and now being as it were broken open by affliction the riverets of grace and truth did issue out amayne He was full of matter like Elihu Iob 32. â—9 and the Spirit within him did constraine him Behold his belly was as new wine which hath no vent It is ready to burst like new bottles Psa 45.15 His heart was ever inditing some good matter and his tongue became the pen of a ready writer CHAP. LXIII His diligence and conscience in frequenting Gods house NOw although his bodily infirmities did increase and grow upon him yet would he not by any meanes bee kept from the house of God on the Lords day so long as either he could go or ride which was some eight or nine weekes before his death and departure out of this world His house was distant about a myle from the Church His cheerfull going to Church the way faire and large so that hee usually went afoot calling all his family about him leaving neither Cooke nor Butler behinde him nor any of his servants but two or three to make the doores and tend the house untill their returne Psal 122. 1 2. And then taking his Tenants and neighbours as they lay in the way along with him hee marched on with a joyfull and cheerefull heart as a leaden of the Lords host towards the house of God according to that of the Psalmist Psal 42.3 I went with the multitude to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with a multitude that kept Holy-day And so it was indeed his ordinary manner to call his company neare about him Singing of Psalms by the way and to joyne together with one heart and voice to sing Psalmes as they went along and that Psalme especially How pleasant is thy dwelling place Psal 84. which they performed with such a melodious harmony that the like may be said of them as was of the Jewes God made them to rejoyce with great joy the wives also and the children rejoyced so that the joy of Ierusalem was heard even afarre off Neh. 12.43 For although I cannot say as Augustine did that by such sweet singing of Psalmes divers were converted to the faith of Christ that were strangers to it Yet am I well assured by that which I have heard that many that heard but afarre off Some much delighted and some much bettered by this melody the pleasant sound onely of their delicate and sweet voices according so well together in Gods praises were much refreshed and delighted therewit hall and
some as they drew nearer unto them brought to a greater liking and love of the company and societie of Gods children and of these and such other duties of Gods worship His early comming to Church as they did exercise themselves withall His comming to the Church with all his Family attendants and followers was constantly before the beginning of prayers or any part of divine Service that so hee might more comfortably joyne with Gods Minister and people in confession of sins in prayer and praise His reverent and holy carriage in it reading and hearing of the Word singing of Psalmes and partaking of the Sacraments all which hee did performe with such a reverent attention and gracious affection with so holy a carriage and so good conscience that as hereby hee did much increase his owne comfort so was his godly example no doubt a great encouragement to many others yea a very spurre and goade unto them to bee more religious and conscionable in Gods worship and service After prayers and Sermon were ended hee seldome went to dinner His dinner time hee bestowed well in the Church but abode in the Church to bestow himselfe and this interim in Gods Service with such good people as were willing to stay with him And this hee did by repeating the Sermon which hee had taken very exactly as usually hée did with his owne hand and by singing of Psalmes and by wholy and wholesome conference in and about good things The Evenin Sacrifice he performed in like manner And so waiting for the Evening Sacrifice after hee had with like care and conscience performed the publique duties of the Sabbath in the same hee returned homewards with his company with much comfort and joy in their hearts endeavouring as they went along to increase their Knowledge Faith and Obedience by repeating and conferring of the Evening Sermon and to inlarge their hearts in Gods praises ◠Sam. 12.24 by singing of Psalmes a fresh considering what great things hee had done for them Their returne homewards and mutuall care to do good And if any amongst them were afflicted they would bee ready to counsell him comfort him and pray for him And he himselfe especially if he heard of any such as were troubled in Conscience upon the hearing of the Word would be ever mostready and willing like the good Samaritane Luc. 10.34 Gal. 6.1 to powre wine and oyle into that wounded spirit wine that he might search and scoure it and oyle that he might supple and heale it After this manner did he frequent the House of God sanctifie the Lords day rejoyce in the Assembly of the Saints and refresh his own Soule with Heavenly Manna and other spirituall repast so long as hee could either goe or ride unto it CHAP. LXIIII. His private Evening exercise full of life ANd then in his Evening Exercise he was so full of life and zeale that besides his own family many of his Tenants and Neighbours did much desire and delight to heare him repeat the Sermons presse the speciall points urge the Conscience and powre cut his prayers unto God with so tender and sweet affections for them all that the heat of his spirit did cause their hearts as it were to melt within them The great joy he had in the Sabbath and Fasts The joy and comfort which he found in these holy duties both in publike and in private on the Lords day and in their Fasts was so exceeding great that he would often and earnestly wish O that every day were either a Sabbath-day or a Fast day for then I should be well His thankefulnesse for one Sabbath more And when the Sabbath was past it was his usual manner to blesse God with a thankefull and chearefull heart for that hee had given him one Sabbath more than he did looke for amongst his people The weeke dayes were somewhat more tedious and grievous unto him his bodily infirmities much increasing and his strength decaying and yet would he never be dejected but endevoured to quicken his own soule and raise up his heart by Faith and Hope speaking to his Family and Friends about him much after this manner The time is not long I must shortly lay down this my tabernacle and then I shall get the start of you all 2 Pet. 1.14 Heb. 4.9 11. and shall celebrate an everlasting Sabbath before the Lord with all his holy Angels and blessed Saints in the highest Heavens This he spake rejoycingly and yet with teares Weary of the world Hee grew every day more and more weary of the world and was then best contented when he could dispatch worldly businesses with fewest words He makes his Will Isay 38.1 It was his provident and godly care to set his house in order as good Ezekiah did to make his will and to leave all things in good tearms of peace and love Which he did with good successe accordingly And so by this meanes his mind and heart were disburdened and cased of many worldly thoughts and cares So hee was more free and more fit for Heavenly things Gal. 6.10 and he brought to a greater freedome and liberty both to think and speake of spirituall and of heavenly things Which in no sort he did omit but as he could stir abroad in the House either to the Fall Parlour or Kitchen He would drop some wholesome words of counsell or comfort amongst such as he met withall and never cease speaking of holy or of heavenly things amongst the rest of his Family When many came to visit him he would often say Alas good Soules what are yee come to see Iob. 7.13 19. a poore wretch a worme and no man or a poore dying man I may now say with Iob. If I waite the grave is my house I have made my bed in the darknesse I have said to corruption thou art my father to the worme thou art my mother and my sister Iob 19.15 16. And yet I know that my Redeemer liveth that he shal stand at the latter day upon the earth And though after my skin 2 Cor. 4.16 wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Therefore wee faint not but though the outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed daily And so our conversation is in heaven from whence also wee looke for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body Phil. 3.20.21 that it may bee fashioned like his glorious body according to the working whereby hee is able to subdue all things to himselfe Some that came unto him would out of their common kindnesse comfort him with some hope of health and recovery Si nunquā bene si aliquando quare non modo Posidon in vita Aug. Cap. 27. to whom hee would make this answer My time is in the Lords hand and it is not likely it can bee long my dayes are past my purposes are broken
plerunque forvescit suis horrattbus duplicante Hieron adver ViglaÌ„t His childhood The greater must needs be both the sinne and shame of many of our Gentlemen who are so far from repressing such corruptions or restrayning such lusts and lewd courses in their children that they do not only lead and draw them by their countenance and example but hale and force them by their commands and threats into the base fellowship of such sinnes and sinners Bis peccat qui exemple peccat his offence is double that offends himselfe and by his bad example causeth others to offend also When he was about the age of six or seven yeares his Father for some offence or fault did rebuke him sharpely and correct him soundly and being then in much griefe of heart for his Fathers displeasure and desiring to see some meanes of comfort and reliefe tooke unto him a little prayer book which at that time he had learned and went apart into his Fathers Chappell and there by reading and praying aswel as he could was comforted with unexpressible joys His Prayers These be his own words and he addeth But being but a child I knew not what they meant And the next day I went to the same place using the like means but found not the like comfort What I should think upon a childs Prayers and such unexpressible joyes upon the same I cannot well tell yet do I remember what Austine reporteth of himselfe being but a child that observing others to pray unto God he learned to thinke and conceive of God as some great and mighty one Like Austins who though he were not known by sight Aug. confes lib. 1â— 9 lib. 3.4 yet could both heare us and helpe us at his pleasure Nam puer coepi rogare te auxilium refugium meum rogabam te parvus non parvo affectâ—… ne in Scholâ vápularem For being but a child saith hee I began to pray unto thee my help and my refuge and I prayed a little one with no little affection that I might not be beaten at Schoole Hee that out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hath ordained himselfe praise may also put some good motions of his Spirit even upon the hearts of children and cause them to open their lips in prayer which hee that worketh in them knoweth how to accept from them what answer to make unto them according to his wisdom and good pleasure And if we acknowledge that the elect of God in the Sacrament of their new birth being but infants may and do receive the seale of Gods Spirit in their soules which worketh in them though secretly and strangely yet effectually and truly some measure of saving Grace and Faith in Christ Jesus Why may we not thinke that some sparkles of this holy and heavenly fire Children may have good motions may upon occasion no wand then break out from the hearts and lips of young children being the elect of God though by reason of their weaknesse of understanding and wanâ— of judgment they neither know whence they are nor what they meane Samuel being but a childe ministred unto the Lord before Eli when as yet hee knew not the Lord 1 Sam. 3.1.7 neither was the Word of the Lord revealed unto him Yea hee had communion and conference with the Lord when the Lord called Samuel Samuel and he answered Speak Lord for thy servant heareth Wee are not I know to look for such revelations in these dayes yet seeing the Lord is Liberrimum Agens not bound himself though he bind us to the use of his ordinary means hee may at his pleasure make sweet impressions of his Spirit and Truth even upon the mindes and hearts of young children As I make no doubt but he might doe upon the heart of this his servant being yet a childe when first he was so sensible of his fault before his father that he was much displeased with himselfe because he had displeased him Secondly in filiall obedience and patience submitted himselfe quietly to his fathers sharpe rebuke and severe correction And lastly when he had recourse unto the Lord by such meanes and helps of prayer as he had both for pardon of his sinne and comfort of his soule in that affliction Some seedes of grace in his childhood Which now I am the rather induced to thinke of him because it is well knowne that being often asked in his riper age of the time of his calling and of his conversion when it first began his usuall answer was Even of a child little Aug. Confes l. 3. c. 4. Hoc nomen Chri. c. The seeds of grace in some measure might then be sowne which untill they were farther increased by knowledge and judgement watered by the Word and warmed by the Spirit lay hid under the corruptions of nature and lusts of youth as under clods of earth for a time but afterwards brake out in the fruits of an effectuall Calling and Conversion in due season CHAPTER III. ANd so indeed or not much otherwise it fared His youth and fell out with this Gentleman in his tender years who for want of a Schoole-master at home was sent by his parents to his Vncle Dutton of Dutton there to be taught and trained up under one James Roe who kept Schoole there at that time where he continued a Scholler and Tabler for the space of three yeares A great family and of great liberty Something he got for Grammar learning a little it may be for civill education but nothing at all for nurture and information in true Religion There His dancing and then by occasion of Musitians and a chest of Viols kept in the house he was drawn by desire and delight into the Dancing-schoole where he profited so well in that kinde of youthfull activity that he did not only please himselfe too much but his parents also much more than was meet with those tricks of vanity Isucrat Oral Areopag Hieron ad Laetam So he termeth those exercises himself and yet saith hee they were held commendable in those dayes of ignorance Venena non dantur nisi melle circumlita vitia non decipiunt nisi sub specie umbr áque virtutum Poysons are not given but sweetned with honey and vices doe not deceive but under the shew and shadow of vertue Sober and single dancing of men apart and women apart hath had his use and praise also not only among the Heathen but amongst the people of God when by the nimble motions and gestures of the body Ambr. in Luc. lib. 6. cap. 7. Tertul de Spectac cap. 21. Origen in cap. 14. Matth. in cap. 12. ad Rom. Amb. in 1 Cor. cap. 10. in Luc. lib. 6. cap. 7. de Virgin lib. 3. they have expressed the great joyes of their hearts for some good of their owne or to set forth Gods glory But mixt dancing of men and women with light and
hodie quare non hac hora finis turpitudinis meae How long how long To morrow and to morrow Why not to day why not this houre is there not an end of my former filthinesse O happy Austin and holy man of God that was first thus humbled that he might be exalted And yet more happy that having the Lord to seeke him as a lost sheep he finding himselfe to go astray began presently to seek the Shepheard that sought him and happy most of all in this that in so seeking the Lord he did both finde him and was found of him In many particulars I will not compare this Gentleman for measure of grace with S. Austin but for the nature manner meanes and time and truth of their conversion he may well go hand in hand with him 1. Austin was about 32 yeares of age when he was effectually called and converted and so was he 2. Austin had at that time many combats betwixt Reason and Religion the flesh and the spirit and so had he 3. Austin had his heart full of prayers and his eyes full of teares when he sought after God and so had he 4. Austin had and held sweet communion with God by Colloquies Soliloquies holy and heavenly meditations and so did he 5. Austin having once tasted the sweetnesse of the Lord thought nothing so pleasant as to forgoe the pleasures of his former vanities Aug. Cons lib. 9. cap. 1. Quam suave mihi subitò factum est carere suavitatibus nugarum And held it now a joy to renounce those joyes and toyes which before he was afraid to lose Et quas amittere metus fuerat eas jam dimittere gaudium erat And such for all the world were this Gentlemans desires and delights such his disposition and affection when once he had tasted how sweet the Lord was and had drunk of the pleasures of his house somwhat more freely and fully than formerly he had done Whereof Austin gives the reason for them both Tu enim Domine qui vera es summa suavitas ejiciebas eas à me ejiciebas intrabas pro eâ—s omni voluptate dulcior omni luce clarior c. For thou O Lord who art the true and chief sweetnesse it selfe didst cast out of me those pleasures of vanities thou didst cast them out and didst enter in thy selfe in stead of them being unto me more delicious than any delight more cleare than any light whatsoever 6. Austins conversion was so blest of God that it was an occasion of the conversion of others of his friends as of Alipius Nebridius and Evodius neare about the same time And so was this Gentlemans conversion blest of God also being attended and accompanied with the conversion of diverse of his friends brothers and sisters and neighbours who being brought on by his good meanes and Gods blessing unto a love and liking of the truth of the Gospell were also effectually called to the profession and practice of the same 7. Austin being converted did not onely cease from the practice of his former vanities and old sinnes of his youth but he renounced the heresie of the Manichees wherewith he was tainted and did for go his Rhetoricke Lecture at Millan fearing to doe hurt unto his Schollars any longer by poysoning their mindes with errors and lies and corrupting their hearts with words of vanity And so did this Gentleman utterly renounce the pleasure and practice of his former vanities and purge out of his heart the poyson of Popish errours wherewith formerly he had been infected and would never any more either read or heare such Lectures of vanity as formerly he was wont to do 8. Lastly Austin upon his conversion began to seeke and serve the Lord with great power and zeale both in his person and calling standing and striving for the truth against a lie yea every lie that durst confront it or assaile it And so did this Gentleman for his calling and standing according to the gifts and graces which God had given him though herein much inferiour to Augustine I confesse who is gone before him yet superiour by much to many if not the most of his rank that either lived with him or shall follow after him The truth of all which specialties shall God willing be seene in divers and sundry particulars more plainly in the course of his life and sequele of this story CHAP. XIV SOme of the first though not the fairest fruits of his change and conversion The fruits of his conversion First as heire of the family in civill matters Secondly cap. 18. His reformation began then to appeare when first of an heire he became an inheritor of his Fathers state and took possession of his house and lands For being of himselfe unfit as many young heires are either to undertake such a charge or manage such an estate as by the fall of their parents is fallen unto them he notwithstanding by the mercy and grace of God at his first entrance began to cut off and cast out all lets and impediments which might hinder him and to use and embrace all helpes that might further him in running the race which the Lord had now set before him for whereas there were two speciall matters of importance that might now perplex him first how upon so small beginnings he might sufficiently provide for his owne family Removing impediments and secondly how his father having charged him and the land with the portions of twelve children sonnes and daughters which hee left behind him hee might faithfully discharge that trust which his father reposed in him hee both wisely and conscionably first of all laid away Hawkes and Hounds and cast off for ever his wide mouth'd Dogs and utterly ceased any longer to follow them or their followers And which is yet more Renouncing his pleasures to cut off all occasions of wastefull and riotous expence both of time and other things having a goodly Parke left him on the backeside of his house well stored and furnished with fallow Deere hee presently killed up the game and disparked the Parke and drawing himselfe to as narrow a compasse as well hee could lived so frugally and contentedly and yet for his place very competently and orderly that he provided sufficiently for his owne family His Frugality and faithfully discharged himselfe of his fathers charge paying his brethren and sisters all their portions and placing them in marriage and otherwise very comfortably as his owne words will beare me testimony This charge through Gods assistance saith he I well discharged His fidelity And married well all my sisters and preferred all my brothers and none of them offended A rare example I confesse considering the young heires that come to their lands in our time for as commonly they are sick of the father as Esau was before his day looking for his death so when they come on a sudden to so greate an estate A rebuke to
the profession of the Gospel and practice of true religion He that had done so worthily in Ephrata became famous in Bethlehem He grew more famous His name being perfumed with such and so great variety of Gods graces did send forth a most fragrant and sweet smell and savour into all the families of the countrey round about him insomuch Many desite to sojournwith him that now divers Gentlemen of the best ranck did much desire to sojourne under his roofe and to table with him for their better information in the way of God and more effectuall reclaiming of themselves and their families That honourable and worthy Knight Sir Richard Grosvenor Baronet when he was young and tender was by his parents godly and gracious care and desire of his religious education Sir R. G. in his tender yeares brought up in his house transplanted as it were into this family where for the space of three yeares he was trained up and nurtured in the knowledge and feare of God and that with so good successe and fruit of this Gentlemans labours and endeavours through the blessing of God upon him that both the University in his youth and the countrey in his reper age may and will seale him a worthy testimony for a Gentleman of an amiable and sweet disposition and of a studious and religious carriage and conversation amongst them The seed that was then sowen and the plants that were then set in this soyle are yet still increasing and bringing forth more fruit both in his person and calling whereof as wee have seene a faire increase already in some of his more eminent imployments so doe we yet looke for a more plentifull harvest of his holy and wholesome fruits in their season as hee may have further calling thereunto Much about this time also his brother in Law Master Hardware of the Peile M. Hard. and his family also tabled with him was very desirous to draw nearer unto him and so with his good liking and allowance brought himselfe and his whole family wife children and servants to be tabled with him This Master Hardware at the first seeing this Gentleman in the government of his family so full and free for wholesome admonitions and reproofes could no better abide a rebuke than sore eyes can endure the Sun Which when Master Bruen had once and againe observed knowing that Patient to be very sicke that is impatient of the meanes and medicine which might cure him He began to cast about how he might best deale with him and most effectually worke upon him for his good What he did to this end and with what effect and fruit His wise and gracious dealing with him and his he shall himselfe tell you in his own words I remember saith hee my brother Hardware when hee was tabler with us at first would not bee reproved but after a while having the 141. Psalme for our Evenings exercise and then divers of my family did usually give Notes being godly and well affected all concluded together that all should speake of the fifth verse Let the righteous reprove mee c. And my selfe gave the last note after which time he never resisted any more Yea more than all this And the good effect and fruit ther of he gives him yet a better testimony of his growth and proficiency in religion under his own hand in these words It pleased God saith hee so to worke upon his and their hearts that they went home with new hearts converted unto God and professed religion in holy sincerity untill their death My brother Hardware then at Peile Both in his family and set up religion in his family with great power and comfort So that the very first evening after their comming home they began to sing Psalms to read the Scriptures to Pray and to Catechise all which being ended his wife ran unto him and kissed him with great rejoycing saying O husband I thank God and blesse his name that ever you came to Staplefoord And so afterwards being Major of Chester In the city he that year shewed his religion very graciously in his government all praise to God c. These things he hath thus set downe as he hath done also many more as certaine memorials of Gods mercies Thus to season others in blessing his desires and endeavours for the seasoning of others both persons and families with the salt of true religion by his hand that so they might bee better able to offer themselves and their services as holy living and spirituall sacrifices acceptable unto God in Christ Jesus This was his labour of love And to build up Gods house in his owne was his labour of love And joy of his heart to build up the house of God even in his owne house and taking some out of other families as rough stones out of the Quarries to hew and square them smooth and polish them to be as lively and precious stones of and for the Lords Temple And this was the very joy of his heart to see the word of the Lord prosper in his hand according to that saying of Saint Iohn I have no greater joy than to heare that my children walke in the truth I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soule prospereth CHAP. XXXII THis comfort and contentment which hee tooke in laying the foundation The good successe whereof and building up the walles of Gods house in this manner did give him great encouragement to furnish himselfe better and to make his provision greater for this worke both by his private studies and also by his publike travels and endeavours being herein not much unlike to holy David who having it in the purpose of his heart 1 Chr. 29 1 2. to build Gods house provided abundantly all manner of materials wood and stone iron and brasse gold and silver marble and precious stones Made him like David to make greater provision as hee could procure them farre or neare besides all the treasure that he offered of his owne proper goods even three thousand talents of the gold of Ophir and seven thousand talents of refined silver to the furthering and finishing of the Lords house For whereas in those dayes it seemed good unto the Lord having compassion on his people to raise up and establish many holy exercises of religion By publike exercises both in Cheshire and in Lancashire which were kept constantly every moneth and maintained worthily by the godly labours of the faithfull Ministers and Messengers of God in those parts and that with great and comfortable successe and fruit for the edifying of the Churches of God in knowledge faith and obedience to the Gospell This worthy Gentleman Which hee frequented taking hold of this faire opportunity did frequent these assemblies and partake of the labours of the Lords Builders with great diligence care and conscience storing himselfe with their treasures
And became better furnished and lighting his Candle at their Torches and so became both better furnished and more enabled to set forwards the building of the Lords House himselfe in his owne family and other where 's also as hee had calling thereunto In this his course which he tooke In which his course divers things to be commended for his owne proficiency and growth both in knowledge and in grace I find divers things worthy not only to be mentioned but to be much commended some and some to be admired also As first his cheerfulnesse to goe up to the mountaine of the Lord and joy of heart to joyne with such holy assemblies in so holy duties saying with David 1 His cheerfulnes I was glad when they said unto me let us goe up into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand in thy gates O Jerusalem Ierusalem is builded as a city that is compact together Whither the Tribes goe up the Tribes of the Lord unto the testimony of Israel to give thankes unto the name of the Lord. Secondly his painfulnesse in taking many long and sore journies 2 His painfulnesse 1 In seeking 2 In gathering Manna and other provision with much toyle and travell of his body and no small cost and charge of his purse riding early and late in heate and cold short dayes and foule waies sometimes ten sometimes twenty and sometimes thirty miles as the distance of the place and season of the yeare required and all this to this end that he might gather Manna where he knew it would be rained downe and gleane after the Reapers in the Lords Harvest and buy Gold and white Raiment Wine and Milk without money of the Lords Merchants upon such of the Lords Mart and Market dayes Thirdly his conscionable diligence in hearing and observing 3 His diligence writing and recording from the mouth of the Ministers whatsoever they taught and preached unto edification and that with such eagernesse of mind and readinesse of hand and pen that usually he tooke the whole substance and matter of their Notes Observations and Sermons in his booke 1 In hearing 2 In writing 3 In repeating home with him which he would carefully repeate in his journey to the refreshing of the minds and hearts of such good people as went along with him and when he came home did write over againe in a more legible hand all that hee had gathered and so made better use of it for himself and his family and set all as it were upon record for the benefit of his friends and his owne posterity This his double diligence he continued for the space of five or six and thirty yeares together 4 In recording the summe and substance of all such exercises in writing and writing over againe all such Exercises as hâ— could come unto and all Lectures and Sermons in City or Countrey and all publike Fasts and thanksgivings as hee could heare of them Insomuch that hee hath left unto the heires of his family so many volumes of Manuscripts under his owne hand set up in a comely order in his owne Study as is scarce credible to report being yet there to be seene as so many worthy monuments of his conscionable diligence and faithfulnesse in the Lords service In many manuse All which hee hath so earnestly and carefully commended to the heires of his body that hee would have them upon his request to read over if it were but once in all their life the bookes that he hath thus written and committed to their hands Which his charge and request I wish they may ever be so mindfull of that they may never faile nor faint in the faithfull discharge of it that so the blessing of the Recabites for obeying Ionadab their father Commended to the heires of his family in all that hee commanded them may come upon them also This man shall not want a man to stand before mee for ever Fourthly Ier. 35 1â— â—9 his marvellous kinde usage of the Ministers in all their meetings commending their paines rejoycing in their labours 4 His kind usage of Gods Ministers and many times defraying all their charges alwayes encouraging them in the worke of the Lord with gracious and sweet words sometimes of comfort sometimes of counsell sometimes of admonition Love unto their persons Reverence to their callings Psal 110. His good affection to professors Numb 24 5 6. and milde reproofe sometimes of kind invitation to his house and all this with such love unto their persons and reverence to their callings that whatsoever he did or said he found good acceptance and allowance amongst them Lastly his love and tender affection to the best professors and proficients in Religion yea even to the weakest and poorest Christian As hee was to them the crowne of their assembly and conductor of the Lords army so were they to him the crowne of his joy when hee saw them a willing people in the day of Assembly like an Army in holy beauty O how goodly are thy Tents O Jacob and thy Tabernacles O Israel As the Vallies are they spread forth as Gardens by the rivers side as the trees of Lignum-Aloes Which the Lord hath planted and as Cedar Trees beside the waters CHAP. XXXIII THese were the vertues and holy duties wherin this gracious Gentleman by frequenting these holy exercises did so worthily exercise himselfe unto godlinesse The exercises of Religion great helps unto godlinesse and whereby he did still grow in sound knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse to the praise of Gods glorious grace And these would I willingly commend in the example of this Gentleman to bee duely considered A motion for exchange with other exercises of profannesse and diligently followed unto many of our Gentlemen and to many of inferiour ranck also that they would make an exchange of their vaine and profane exercises of May-games and Summer-greenes of their Foot-racts and Horse-races of their weekely and almost daily meetings Asserant necesse est singuli quique quod faciunt nec voliâ—…t victi facilè succumbere quamvic sciant id quod faciunt non â—icere Cypr. ad Magn. lib. 1. Ex. 6. and matches on their Bowling Greenes of their lavish betting of great wagers in such sorry trifles and of their stout and strong abetting of so sillie vanities amongst hundreds and sometimes thousands of rude and vile persons to whom they should give better and not so bad example and encouragement as to be idle in neglecting their callings wastefull in gameing and spending their meanes wicked in cursing and swearing and dangerously profane in their brawling and quarrelling O how great is the difference betwixt those holy exercises of Religion in Gods house and these prophane exercises of corruption and lust in the forrest or in the field Difference great How great is the opposition betwixt that assembly and this company How doth the mighty God Company contrary
cause the light of his countenance to shine upon leaders and followers comming into his Sanctuary Holy exercises acceptable to God And how doe you thinke doth hee looke upon them that forsaking the fountaine of Living Waters digge unto themselves such broken Ciâ—ernes as these are which can hold no water What is there in those exercises but that which is warrantable commendable profitable and comfortable And what in these that hath any sent or savour of such things Profitable to men If these men were truly changed themselves they would bee easily induced to make an exchange also of baser company Yet will none make an exchange but such as are changed themselves for a better society of fading and false joyes for durable and true comforts of worldly profits and filthy lucre for spirituall gaine and the true treasure and of the vaine applause and praise of men for the true honour and praise which comes from God only CHAP. XXXIV IN the middst of these sweet comforts and refreshings He was otherwise exercised also â—y affliction which hee thus received and enjoyed by these publike exercises of Religion It pleased the Lord otherwise also to exercise his servant with a grievous affliction in the taking away with a stroke his deare wife the desire of his eyes and faithfull Yoke-fellow In the death of his wife who being well in the morning began to bee ill and sicke at Supper and departed this life the same evening Sudden death a fearefull judgment to some Suddaine death is held to bee a fearefull judgement as though it were a testimony of the wrath of God And so indeed it hath beene and may bee to some who being wicked persons and continuing in their sinnes without any feare of God any repentâ—nce or faith in Christ are suddenly arrested by the LOrds hand and cut off by death in his sore displeasure So it was to Err and Onan the sonnes of Judah to Nadab and Abihu the sonnes of Aaron Gen. 38 7 10. to Corah a Levite and Dathan and Abiram Lev. 10.1 2. two of the Princes of the Assembly And so it is likely it was also to Nabal that churlish foole Num. 16.1 2 30 31 32. of whom it is said that after ten dayes the Lord smote him that hee dyed The Scripture also seemeth to make it the ordinary portion and condition of the wicked that God will shoote at them with his arrow Psal 64.7 and suddenly shall they be wounded that spending their dayes in wealth Iob 21.13 in a moment they goe downe into the grave and that flourishing for a wile they fuddenly perish and come to a fearefull end Ps 73.19 Sudden Death upon a wicked lif fearfull True it is that a sudden death attending upon and following a wicked life is a fearefull judgement and a dreadfull signe so far as we can judge of the wrath of God and yet we will not limit nor confine the Lords mercies for inter Pontem Fontem ferrum jugulum Dei misericordia Betwixt the Bridge and the Brook the Knife and the Throat the mercy of God may appeare But as all that live wickedly do not dye suddenly Yet all that dye suddenly do not dye fearefully so neither all that dye suddenly are to bee thought to dye fearefully as though they were deprived of Gods favour and fallen under his heavy wrath and displeasure for ever more No we may not censure so severely nor judge so rashly neither of our Brethren nor of the wayes and works of God 1 Sam. 4.18 Old Ely dyed suddenly when hee fell backwards from his chaire and brake his neck and yet I dare not say but that as he lived so he dyed the servant of the Lord. Josiah was suddenly slaine with an arrow going against Pharaoh Necho in the field 2 Chro 35 33. and yet I dare not say but that as he lived so hee dyed the servant of the Lord. Gen. 35.19 Jacob had his wife Rachel to dye suddenly in his journey on his hand and so dyed the wife of Phineas 1 Sam. 4.19 20. when she heard that the Arke of God was taken and yet wee may not otherwise conceive but that as they lived so they dyed the servants of the Lord. And so we are to judge of this Gentlemans wife being a gracious and holy woman As this Gentlewoman very hope-fully that albeit the Messenger that was sent for her seemed to be angry and too hasty to take away her life yet hee brought her no worse news than of a joyfull and a blessed death which was indeed a passage to a better life Possid in invit Aug. It was the saying of S. Ambrose upon his death bed which might have been hers also I have not so lived that I am ashamed to live any longer or affraid to dye if it had been sooner The life of the righteous findes never any worse end than the death of the righteous Num. 33.10 Rev. 14.13 2 Con 5 6 7 8 9. Rom. 14.8 and they that have the grace to live unto the Lord shall never fayle of this mercy to dye in the Lord and so they enjoy a double blessing whether they live or dye they are the Lords Besides all this No Death suddeine to a sound Christian Iob 14.14 the reckoning and account of a true Professor and sound Christian is not to seeke nor to make at the houre of their death All the dayes of their appointed time they wayte when their change shall come Their wholle life a Meditation of death and a preparation for it Every day they stand in readinesse Eph. 6.14 Mat. 25.4 10. Gen. 5.2 2. Mic 6.8 Psa 4.8 having oyle in their lamps and their lights burning wayting for the Bridgroome and their Masters comming In the morning they awake with God all the day long they walke with him and before him and in the evening and night season they lye down in peace Ma. 24.44 Heb. 13.5 and rest with him So that what time or houresoever their Master shall come and call upon them they shall not through his mercy and grace Mat. 7.4 44 45 45. who will never take them at the worst bee unprovided or unprepared for their meeting of him And albeit this were a suddeine stroke unto her worthy husband Ezek 24.16 18. as that was to Ezekiell when his wife the desire of his eyes being well in the morning dyed in the evening Thi Affliction sanctified yet did the Lord in mercy so sanctifie this affliction unto his servant that by the power of grace and Christian wisdome hee did moderate his affections and subdue his passions mourning for her death as sensible of his own losse And passions moderated As Abrah did for Sarah Gen. 23.2 1 Thes 4.13 yet neither wayling nor weeping as a man without hope For Grandis in suos pietas impiet as in Deum est
established him and his for and in the government of their Family again according to their former exercises of Religion and other civill and domesticall duties required in the same Divers Gent. desire to sojourne with him There were many Gent. of the best rank in the Countrey that desired made much great fute some for their children and some for themselves and some for their friends to so journe with him as we have already heard some others had in like manner done before them And all to this end that being partakers of so good meanes of grace under his godly government and gracious example of a holy life the ignorant might be instructed the unruly reclaimed the superstitious reformed the profane converted or restrained His family a famous Nursery for Religion Babes in Christ might bee nursed and grow up by the sincere milke of the Word and such as were of riper age might bee fed and strengthened with other wholesome Doctrin as with stronger meat Thus his house and Family became yet more famous as a Seminary of true Religion a Nursery for the plants of grace 2 Kin. 2.3 5. 2 Sam. 17.18 1 Sam. 25. a field or Vineyard which the Lord had blessed to beare trees of righteousnesse and fruits of holinesse Not much unlike to one of the Schooles of the Prophets by the river of Jorden or Jericho or on the top of Mount Carmel or like to Samuels house at Ramah whether many went to seek the Seer and to have counsell and comfort him 1 Sam. 19.19 Iud. 21.2 2 Kin. 22.14 Act. 19.9 10. 2 Kin. 2.7 15 18 2 3. Gen. 28.17 18 19 M. Wilbraham placeth his son in law and his daughter with him Like to the Hill of the Teacher the Colledge at Jerusalem the Schoole of Tyrannus yea a very Bethell and a little Church of God 1 Cor. 6.19 a true house of God and the very gate of Heaven One of the first and best and best worthy to bee first of those Gentlemen which dealt with him in this kind and to this end was that thrice worthy truly honored and accomplished Gentleman Tho. Wilbraham of Woodhey Esquire the very beauty and glory of that house and perelesse pillar of the Countrey who having married his eldest daughter to a young Gentleman the heire of the house of Vtkinton of great place for his birth and bloud and of good parts for his naturall endowments and civill disposition yet much addicted to the pleasures of the World and the lusts of youth was very desirous to place them both as so journers for a season in this Gentlemans house and under his Government for their good that so they might be the better wained from such occasions of evill as happily else where they might meet withall and better acquainted with the meanes and substance of true Religion together with the power and practice of it which in all likely hood here they might find and attaine unto in this Family CHAP. XXXVII His desire to give him contentment THis godly motion of Master Wilbrahams for his sonne in Law and his daughter to so good an end M. Bruen did very willingly entertaine and so received the young couple into his family together with such as they brought along with them to attend upon them His desire herein was to give contentment to that worthy Gentleman whom he much esteemed and intirely affected for his parts and place And to do them good and to do what good he could to the young couple being neere a kin unto him and now commended to his trust Which trust reposed in him hee did so carefully and conscionably discharge that as hee saw the hand of the Lord leading him unto it so found hee the helpe of the same hand prospering his endeavours for their good The course which he held with them as he did also with others at their first comming was to try their dispositions and inclinations affections and conditions how teachable they were and how tractable they were like to be unto good duties and good things To try their dispositions To which end hee did very carefully looke into their wayes see much and say little beare and forbeare He observed their words and workes as occasion did require taking speciall notice of any good they did or said and passing over many other lesser faults and slips untill he had some fitter opportunity to admonish them And this he hath recorded himselfe to their just praise and commendation that being neither perverse in their own wayes nor averse from good duties they shewed themselves very plyable unto the orders They were teachable and tractable and government of the family in all their carriage and conversation amongst them One or two speciall testimonies hereof I will not spare to relate seeing hee hath thought it meet to leave them upon record under his owne hand Touching the Lords day This Master Done being young and youthly yet very tractable could not well away with the strict observation of the Lords day whereupon wee did all conspire to doe him good ten of my family speaking one after another and my self last for the sanctifying of the Lords day After which he did very cheerfully yeeld himself Blessed be God And concerning card-play Another instance he addeth to the same purpose I comming once into his chamber saith hee and finding over the Mantletree a paire of new cards no body being there I opened them and tooke out the foure knaves and burnt them and so laid them together againe and so for want of such knaves his gaming was marred and never did he play in my house for ought that ever I heard any more Here I cannot but commend both the Phisycian and the Patient also the Physitian that gave him a gentle purg so wisely and the patient that took it so well that it wrought so kindly with him for his good A third testimony he gives them both after this manner His wife converted Himselfe conâ—â—â—â—ed The said John Done being now Knight was then young and youthly yet very tractable his wife wee feared inclining to popery but I hope shee got true saving grace and hee being convinced in judgement I expect the stampe of grace in Gods good time This was no small joy unto him in his life that he saw such holy fruit of his godly labours in these his neare and deare Cosins before his death Their children gracious and religious which was yet more increased and inlarged by the blessing of God upon the branches of their vines their heire of good hope their daughter in Law and foure daughters all of them ripe in knowledge and rich in grace the humble and holy handmaides of the Lord Jesus O how greatly did he rejoyce in their comely order their gracious conference when he heard it or heard of it their holy affections in religious duties All witnesses of his faithfulnesse their godly carriage and
and place himselfe who knew right well what was worthy true praise and what it was that did make a mans face to shine in the mids of his own house and in the Congregation For as Laudari ab illaudato viro vituperiumest Vide Aul. Gell de Istaudate liâ—… 2. cap. 6. To bee praised of a man utterly unworthy of any praise himselfe is a dispraise So to be praised or a good man a messenger of God one of a thousand as he was and that with such ardent affection and heavenly rejoycing For the power of Religion and fruits of grace in that Family must needs advance the praise of this worthy Gentleman to a higher straine and pitch of his due and true commendation Thus it pleased the Lord every day more and more to crown this Gentleman and his house his desires and endevours with honor and favor beauty and glory Many Gentleme desire to so journe with him Insomuch that the eyes and hearts of many were towards him divers of the best ranck in the Country did much desire to have accesse and acceptance as some others had before to so journ with him His house being herein me thinks not much unlike unto a goodly Tower upon a hill Aspicis us veniunt adcandida recta collibae Accipior nullas sordida Turris 〈◊〉 faire built and richly beautified which doth easily invite and allure the Doves of the vallies to fly and flock unto it and for their better refreshing and repose to build their nests in it And so upon the sollicitation and importunity of his Cousins and Friends he entertained againe divers Families and personages of great place to partake of Gods meanes and mercies with him in his Family Who they were what successe they had what fruits they found what comforts and refreshings they reaped and enjoyed in their cohabitation and Communion one with another in holy duties he shall himselfe relate unto you in his owne words which he hath left upon record under his own hand to this purpose Afterwards saith he many more desired to table with me His owne Relation The Lady Egerton widow daughter in law to the Lord Chauncelour then being with her company And my consen Tho Dutton of Dutton with his wift son and daughter that now is the Lord Gerrards Wife being 10 of his Family And 4 Gentlewomen of Hatton being sisters and one maid attending on them Which maid was froward at the first against Religion and religious dutyes But God in his mercy began first with her For being in grievous affliction of conscience she was humbled soundly had a most comfortable conversion blessed be God Mary Sherington I think was her name And they 2 of the sisters had a more easie conversion but I believe true grace And the other 2 sisters convineed and very honest modest maids And for my cosen Dutton his condition with me was to keep the Lords Sabbath with my Family as well afternoon is forenoone which he and all his did in the publike Congregation All of us having then great help from a learned godly Minister M. Rob. Wats a Reverend Worthy man of God whom we called Old Eli for his gravity and faithfulnesse above many and being continually with us in my Family Observing this order for our Family exercises hee and I to pray in the family he one morning and evening and I another and both of us every evening to give a note upon a chapter and between nine and ten of the clock in the forenoone we agreed to have prayer again for the Tablers At the same time my cosen Dutton being pressed and charged by some of great place to mainteine his Royalty of Minstrelsey for Piping and Daunsing on the Sabbath day my Minister my selfe and my family were earnest against it and prevailed so far with my cosen Dutton that he promised that all Piping and Dauncing should cease on the Sabbath day both forenoone and afternoon and so his Licences were made and do continue so untill this day And so wee had great peace and comfort together blessed be God By all this we may easily see and perceive how graciously the Lord dealt with this Gentleman from time to time not only to blesse him and his family every day more and more but to make him a blessing also to many others of his kindred and friends which came but for a season to so journe with him CHAP. XLII NOW as sometimes it commeth to passe that in the fairest calme there may arise a violent and suddene storme to scatter A sudden storme and disperse such vessels as have laine for a while at quiet rode in the harbor So did it fall out by the Lords disposing hand in the mids of all these their sweet comforts to send amongst them a tempest of griefe Vpon the death of his deare wife and sorrow by the death of this Gent-gracious wife yokefellow which occasioned not long after a dissolving of his family and a dispersing of the whole Company The losse of this Gentlewoman was so much the more grievous both to her husband and the whole family because of the great help and comfort they had all by her She lived 10 yeares with this Gentleman her husband a faithfull helper and a fruitfull Vyne bearing unto him 9 Children sons and daughters and continuing with her husband in great peace and love a prudent wife and wise fellow-governor within his house much respected and beloved A great affliction to the whole family Prov. 31.10 11 12 Pro. v 31.26.27 28 29. Her vertues not only of her owne but of all these Gentlemen and Gentlewomen which did Table with them Who can find a vertuous woman for her price is far above Rubyes The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have not need of poyle She will do him good and not evill all the dayes of her life She openeth her mouth in wisdome and the Law of grace is in her lips She looketh well to the wayes of her houshold and eateth not the bread of idlenesse Her children arise up and call her blessed her husband also and he praiseth her many daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all A man may truly say without either fraud or flattery that in some good measure Such a woman such a wife such a mother such a governour was this Gentlewoman in her owne house and family Her due prâ—ises Fâ—â—ctum est prâ—cvâ—sissimum Margaritum Virens smaragdi gemma contrita est Hieron ad Para. deobitu Paulme uxoris She was also in her selfe of a gracious and amiable disposition having an humble heart and holy affections beautified and decked with that ornament of the hid man of the heart a meek quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price Yea she was one that was ripe in knowledg rich in grace full of Faith good Works One that held communion with God
the poore and entertaining of good people yet his estate was not impaired but increased the blessing of God inlarging his substance and his store according as it is written Godlinesse is profitable for all things having the promise both of this life and of that which is to come 7 Seventhly that in all blessings and comforts whether corporall or spirituall upon himselfe or upon others by his meanes his heart tasting and relishing the love of God in them was marvelously enlarged in rendering and returning all thanks and praise unto God alone even for the least of them Thus farre hath this worthy Gentleman holpen us to spin out the thread of his owne life with his owne fingers and to make up as it were the web thereof with his owne hands But as the cunning and curious workmanship of a cloth of Arras is but little seene and discerned while it is in the Loomes or when it lyeth folded and rolled up together but when it is opened in a faire light displayed at large and exposed to the view of the beholders then the art and skill of the work man doth more evidently appeare in great beauty and variety of knots and flowers Pomegranets and Lillies pictures and pourtraitures of princes and great personages and the like Even so the story of this Gentlemans life thus woven and wrapped up together though it containe many excellent things of great value and worth in it yet cannot the beautie and glory of his particular gifts and graces duties and services bee so well discerned and observed unlesse it be yet a little farther opened and unfolded and set forth to the view of such men as desire and delight to look into such things CHAP. LXIV IT will be therefore very requisite and no lesse pertinent to the present businesse wee have in hand to take a more strict view of some speciall parts and passages of his life wherein the gifts of Gods grace the vertues of Christ and the fruits of the spirit did more evidently and eminently appear to the farther beautifying and adorning of his person and profession of the Gospel of Christ Jesus Now to this end for our better and more orderly proceeding herein All to bee said drawn to 3. heads we will draw into a narrow compasse and reduce unto three generall heads all such specialties or particulars as may be worthy our observation in the same 1. As first His Conversing with God 1 His conversing with God 2. His Conversation in the World 2 His conversation in the world 3. His Deputure out of the World 3 His departure out of the world Exod 31.1 2.3 4 5. When the Lord called Bezaliel by name to worke in the building of the Tabernacle it is recorded that he filled him with the Spirit of God in wisedome and in understanding and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship to work in gold and in silver and in brasse in cutting and setting of stones and carving of timber c. It was even so or not much otherwise with this worthy Gentleman when the Lord did as it were call him out by name to worke for the building of a spirituall tabernacle in himselfe and in others He filled him in good measure with the Spirit of grace in spirituall wisedome holy understanding and heavenly knowledge God gave him wisedome and Vnderstanding 1 Tim. 12 14 1 Cor. 15.10 Ier. 23.22.28 Also courage and strength Eph. 6.10 11 12 13 14. to worke cunning and curious workes by faith in love whether it were in Christians of better rancke as in gold and silver or in such as were of meaner place as in brasse and timber So doth the Lord ever furnish those whom he will set a worke and imploy in his service with all sufficient gifts and graces for the accomplishing of the worke whereunto he sets or sends them And as he gave him wisdome and knowledge so did he also courage and strength to mannage a Christian life and to fight valiantly the battels of the Lord against all the assaults of Satan and of sinfull men of the flesh and of the world and to breake through all difficulties and dangers that might stand or rise up against him in his way The Lord dealing herein as mercifully with him as hee did with Ioshua Iosh 1.5.6 9. As he did to Ioshua when he sent him to fight against the Canaanites and to put his people in possession of the holy land speaking unto him in these words of comfort and encouragement Have not I commanded thee be strong and of a good courage be not affraid neither be thou dismaied for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest I will not faile thee nor forsake thee And now having found this acceptance Ro 5.1 2.1 Pet. 2.3 1 His conversing with God Gen. 5.22 Num 12.8 1 loh. 1.3 and acquaintance with God and tasted how sweete and gracious the Lord was in all his mercies It was the desire and delight of his soule to walke with God and to converse with him more frequently and as it were more familiarly that so he might the better nourish and maintaine that holy and heavenly communion whereunto hee had called him in his son Christ Jesus And this hee did most carefully and diligently endeavour In 4 speciall duties and labour to effect by the conscionable performance of foure spirituall and speciall duties every day and his more abundant offering of these and other his holy services and sacrifices unto the Lord upon the Lords day His daily duties were these 1. Meditation First Meditation for increase of knowledge and good affections towards God and good things 2. Observation Secondly Observation of Gods wayes and workes his mercies and judgements to gather and gaine experience for himselfe and others 3. Invocation of his mercifull and rightetous dealing with us The third invocation of Gods name in prayer and praise for continuance and increase of mercy and grace and this for his constant perseverance in the profession of the Gospel in uprightnesse and sincerity The fourth 4 Imitation imitation of his heavenly father because we are commanded to be followers of God as deare children and this to renew his obedience by his conformity to Gods image and to his Fathers will Now for the first CHAP. LXV IT hath ever beene the practice of godly and good men Gen 5.22 Gen. 6.9 Gen. 17.1 Gen. 24.63 His meditation to exercise themselves unto godlinesse by holy and heavenly meditation So did Enoch and Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob David and Hezekiah Paul and many others ever walke with God keepe their hearts in Gods presence seeke his face and the light of his countenance study his word and consider his workes And so did this Gentleman set his head and heart a worke every day more or lesse by serious Meditation to draw nearer unto God so to grow in knowledge and in grace and to increase
in spirituall strength the better to encounter all sad and sharpe occurrents which either in doing or in suffering the will of God he might meet withall This hee knew was the speciall meanes prescribed by God himselfe unto Joshua Josh 1.78 The necessity and excellency of Mâ—ditation that hee might make his way prosperous and have good successe namely to meditate in the word of God day and night and not to turne aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left This hee knew was the mark and character of a blessed man Psal 1.2 Da mihi magistrum Gen. 24.63 to delight in the law of the Lord an in that law to meditate day and night And therefore for the better practice of this holy duty he did usually carry about him some part of the Bible Means and helpes which hee used or his Sermon Note booke if he went abroad into the field to meditate as Isaac did in the evening or were upon a journey as the Eunuch was when he was reading and meditating in his chariot on the prophecy of Isaiah concerning Christ Jesus Acts 8.28 Or if he were within doores he gave himselfe much to the reading of the Word and to make collections of promises Reading of the word precepts comforts prohibitions mercies judgements marks of Gods children brands of wicked men and many other good things as he found them in the way And these he made the matter or ground of his meditation and the means to inlarge himself in this exercise And of godly mens writings His Cammon-place book To which end also he did very diligently reade and peruse the workes of divers learned and godly men and drew unto certaine heads and Common-places what he thought most worthy observation and of best use in them Amongst the rest hee was much delighted and refreshed with D. Hals Contemplations and Meditations M. Greenhams workes M. Rogers his Seven Treatises which for his better helpe and greater comfort he had abridged and drawn into an Epitome almost all untill he was informed that another godly man a worthy Divine had already done it to his hand M. Baine His following of the rules of direction Afterwards when M. Egertons practice of Christianity containing the summe and substance of that booke came forth he addressed himself to make his best use of that part of it touching the art and exercise of this divine Meditation wherein he profitted so well that he was very able according to those places and rules of direction to enlarge his meditations upon any subject that did usually fall within his reach and compasse So that now hee might say after a sort with holy David Psal 119.97.54 O how love I thy law O Lord It is my meditation all the day I have made thy statutes my song and my meditation in the dayes of my pilgrimage The gaine of godlines 1 Tim. 6.6 The gain which he got by this exercise of holy meditation was an increase of godlines and godlinesse we know is great gaine having all sufficiency in it self for true comfort and contentment The fruits which he reaped of this his planting Many benefits and fruits of it and watering were very gracious and precious As 1. the killing or quelling of many noysome lusts 1 Killing of lusts which like caterpillars or cancker-worms are wont to breed in the best trees 2. The dislodging and driving out many unsavoury and worldly cares and thought 2 Driving out evill thoughts which bring nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit with them 3. This bred in him a godly watchfulnes over his words 3. Watchfulnesse and works heart and life 4. It wrought in him a gracious aptnesse 4. Aptnesse to good duties and chearefulnesse unto all good duties wherin he might be either serviceable unto God or profitable unto men 5. It ministered unto him counsell and strength for the spirituall war 5 Counsel strength that he might stand fast in the evill day against all his and Gods enemies 6. It brought him to a heaven upon earth 6 Conversation in heaven teaching him so to have his conversation in heaven that he might go about earthly affaires with a heavenly mind as he saw hee had calling thereunto 7. It kept his heart in possession of his integrity and sincerity 7 Possesing of his integrity ever calling upon him to keep faith and a good conscience alwayes and in all things 8. It wrought his soul to a gracious tendernes lowlines and meeknes 8 Sensiblenesse of sins and sorrowes to be very sensible of other mens sins and sorrows as wel as of his own 9. It was unto him as a sweet perfume composed of many delicate and costly spices 9 A perfume to all his actions which made all his thoughts words and works more sweet and savoury so that where ever he came he left no ill sent but a sweet savour of his graces and vertues behind him 10. And lastly 10 A preservative against secret and open sins this exercise of meditation was unto him a soveraign preservative not only against secret and open lesser and grosser sins but against all the inticements and allurements of the pleasures and profits honors and favors of this present evil world so that he was neither intangled in them nor inveagled by them O how great is the difference betwixt this Gent Great difference and many others of his rancke and of greater and meaner estate also I which professing themselves to be Christians Many enemies to it Psal 2.1.2 Psal 36.4 Zac 8.17 Ge. 27.41 1 Sam. 18.1.23.25 2 Sam. 17.23 2 Sam. 16.3 Ps 52.1 2 Ioh. 13.2 Acts 5.1 2 3. Many of the better sort fail in it are yet either enemies or strangers to this Christian duty required at their hands Some there be so empty of grace and goodnesse and so full of malice lust pride covetousnes and voluptuousnes that they cannot fix their minds nor settle their hearts upon any good thing to any good end but if they meditate it is but upon vaine or vile things devising mischief upon their beds and imagiving evill in their hearts against their brethren Such were Esau Saul Achitophel Ziba Doeg Indas Ananias and Saphira all of which had their musings and meditations their severall imaginations and consultations but never a good man nor any good matter of meditation amongst them all Some other there are of better minds and hearts who yet for want of good acquaintance with this holy and heavenly exercise of meditation for the nature and manner helps and meanes end and use of it have little experience of the benefit which comes by it and so deprive themselvs of many sweet comforts and refreshings which otherwise they migh enjoy by the practise of it Who is wise and he shall understand these things Hos 14 9. prudent and he shall know them for the wayes of the Lord are
right and the just shall walke in them but the transgressors shall fall therein Thus much of his first dayly duty namely his holy and religious Meditation CHAP. XLVI THe second followeth which was his diligent His observation of Gods works Psa 64.7 8 9 10. Psa 66.3.5 and carefull observation of the ways works mercies and judgments of the Lord. It was the antient profession and practise of the people of God to waite upon the Lord and to observe his dealing with the just and with the wicked in the world The way of the Just is uprightnesse thou most upright doest weigh the path of the just Is 26.7 8. Yea in the way of thy judgments O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our soule is to thy Name Ver. 9. and to the remembrance of thee With my soule have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me wil I seek thee early for when thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learne righteousnesse Let favour be shewed to the wicked Ver. 10. yet will he not learne righteousnes in the land of uprightnesse will hee deale unjustly and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. See the memorable judgment of God against Vigetius Saâ—â—…niâ—us Claud. Herminianus observed by Tertullians Scapul A book of Rememb lob 35.24 25. Much after this manner did this faithfull Servant of Christ raise up his thoughts and quicken his soule to a diligent and due observation of the ways and works of God both in his mercies towards the godly and in his judgements against the wicked To which end and purpose he hath observed and recorded divers and sundry of the workes of the Lord which he calleth a declaration of some of the works of the Lord to the praise of his glorious Name power and mercy adding and annexing that admonition and exhortation out of Iob Remember that thou magnifie his works which men behòld Every man may see it man may behold in a far off To set down all such works of God as he hath observed See some examp of Gods mercies to Christians observed by Tertull. ad Sca c. 4. Some mercies of God observed I now cannot to passe over all in silence I may not I meane not And therefore to give a taste of some for the clearing of this point and the farther satisfaction of such as delight therein I think it very meet and convenient at this present To observe Gods mercies faith he with all humble praise and thanksgiving to God only Some few yeares before my brother Hardware dyed he had R.K. to his servant who is now an In-holder in Chester The said R. was as many thought bewitched and waxed weaker and weaker So as my Brother Hardware sent unto mee and my family to spend a day with him in prayer and fasting At that time I had good M. Wats the Preacher with me To R. K. his sick neighbourâ— whom I brought with me and others of my family to the Peele and there we found the said R.K. exceeding sick and weake and like an Anatomy of death nothing to look to but skin and bones and not likely to live a day all hope of life being gone He was brought and laid in a bed in the chamber where we prayed And in the same evening hee began to amend and the next morning did walke abroad and the third day began to be so strong that he fel to his work and labour with much rejoycing to the Family All laud and praise to God therefore To his Setvant Anno Domini 1601 and in the Summer time John Robinson my servant going with his teame the cart loaden and he falling by some occasion the wheele went over his legge being iron bound yet hurt him not any thing at all Laus Deo Anno Domini 1602 and in Iuly my son Iohn To his Son in danger being in Peaksmoore took up a seith to see how he could mow and the scith entered in at his stocking upon the shin bone and followed his leg shaving the haire and came out at the backside of his leg and toucht no flesh nor skinne Laus Deo The same Month and in the same Medow To a Labourer One casting a pikell up and down before him and behind him one being behind him the two greins of the pikell ran on both sides of his leg and hurt him not Hallelujah Memorand in Anno 1613 and in the Hey-Harvest One Richard Rogers Some Iudgments of Godremarkable that dwelt in my farme at Wimble Strafford under Master Thomas Puleston my tenant there seeing two godly persons going in the way said to one with him Now will I dance and swagger and sweare to anger and make mad yonder two Puritans Nö sint inulta esse diu DivinuÌ„ Numen scelera vid Herb. departioda popelo à mâ—ribus devorato Hist Pol. lib. 1 cap. 11. Vide simile de Hatto E. Mog apud O. a mag lib. 17. c 21. And did so to the great grievance of those two godly persons And presently the revenging hand of God was upon him so that this wicked fellow fell so sick that he was carried home in a Cart and within three dayes died most fearefully All glory to God These are some of those Memorable mercies and Iudgments of the Lord which he hath carefully observed and recorded I will let all the rest alone saving one which being the most remarkable of all other hee hath taken greatest paines to observe and set down in all the parts and passages of it The hand of God upon the Boy at Northwich This was concerning the boy of Northwich his name Thomas Harrison about 11 or 12 yeares old who was so strangely and wonderfully afflicted and tormented that many held him to bee really possessed with a Devill Others thought he was bewitched Some ascribed all to naturall causes few did endevour to see and acknowledge as this Gentleman did that though Satan might have a finger Satans Malice Gods Mercy yet the Lord had a chiefe hand in this Iudgment and that where Satan would shew himselfe cruell and malicious to vex and destroy a poore child there the Lord was pleased to manifest and declare himselfe to be mercifull and gracious in susteining and preserving of him CHAP. XLVII IT would be too tedious to set down one quarter of that which he hath written of this child partly from that which he himselfe saw and partly from that which he heard and received under sufficient and faithfull witnesses having spent above 14 leaves in 4 0 in recording of these things All that he hath observed of him may be drawn to these 3 heads 1 0 his violent and wonderfull fits and passions 2 0 his strange and horrible gestures and actions 3 0 his admirable and almost incredible sayings and speeches and all these without any naturall understanding sense or feeling for the most
life from me Well these drunkards whoremasters do not think upon their sins well how then There is no drunkard that doth drink one spoonefulor drop of drink more than doth suffice nature but the Devill doth pen it down in his book Well it is a great book and he doth keep it close untill the day of Indgement And then he will lay it to their faces At which time the hils will tremble and quake and the Devill will quake yea he doth quake for feare now Well some would think it a great while to be bound with the Devill as I am a 12 month or 2 yeares but it is better to bee so than to wallow in drunkennesse swearing and whoring for the Divell doth worke in their soules Well some will say how can the Devilly in so little a room Well the Devill is as the wind for when he did take a man away out of a chamber be came in at the little hole but how did he take him away even out at the top of the chimney Well there are some Papists and some Atheists and some of no Religion woe be to those that dye suddenly for they have no time to repent and especially those that live in drunkennesse or whoring or swearing Iesus saith they say hee shall not out of me but when God comes he will strike home Many and many other more of his strange speeches I passe over contenting my selfe with these few which were taken from his own mouth by the hand under the testimony of faithfull witnesses some at one time and some at another as he himself did then deliver them and as this worthy Gentleman hath in his diligent Observation of this amongst other of Gods Iudgements made mention of them and recorded them This therefore that hath been spoken shall suffice concerning the second daily duty which this Gent performed namely his carefull observation of Gods ways and works mercies and judgements amongst the sons of men CHAP. XLVIII His private invocation THe third followeth viz. His Religious invocation of the Name of God every day Now although it be true that he did very constantly performe this duty every day morning and evening with his Family as formerly wee have heard yet did he not hold that sufficient for himselfe unlesse he did open his heart and poure out his soule in private before the Lord making his requests known unto him Phil. 4.6 in all manner of supplications with Thanksgiving And this he desired and endevored to perform according to the Apostles direction 1 Tim. 2.8 In every place lifting up pure hands without wrath or doubting that is in faith and love For hee did not confine himselfe for his private Prayers unto any one place Not confined to one place neither within doores nor without but ever tooke his fittest opportunity as time and place might best move him or leade him unto this Duty Following herein the holy example of Christ and of other holy men setting themselves a part for this service sometimes in and upon the higher roomes of the house with Peter sometimes in the field with Isaac Acts 10.9 Gen. 24.63 Luc. 22 39 40. Eph. 3.13 14. Nehem. 2.4 sometimes in the mount and sometimes in the garden with Christ Iesus sometimes in the Prison with Paul and sometimes in the Palace with Nehemiale sometimes upon his journey with Iacob sometimes at the end of it Gen. 28.20 Gen. 24.12 Psal 6.6.9 Act. 10.30 with Eliezer somtimes on his bed with David and somtimes in his closet with Cornelius If he were in his own house or about home he had divers places which he interchangeably used for this purpose because hee would not bee too much observed to frequent one place lest he should draw himself into some suspition of vanity or hypocrisie Hee had variety of Closets Studies Chambers and other convenient roomes if hee were within and if he went abroad he had his Gardens Orchards Arbors Groves Woods and Fields Walkes and Shades where he did delight to speak and commune with his best friend and to seek the face and favor help and succour of his heavenly Father in and through the mediation of his Son Christ Iesus And as he was choice of the place so was hee carefull of the time which he constantly set apart every day for his private prayer His time for private praver Fsal 119.164 Seven times a day and praise 7 times a day did hee reverently and conscionably performe this duty causing his prayers to ascend as incense and the lifting up of his hands to be as an Evening Sacrifice The severall seasons and times he tooke were these The first in the morning before any of his family were stirring being usually first up in the house Psa 55.27.7 and that both Summer and Winter The second was before his breake-fast after prayer in his family The third was immediatly before dinner The fourth a little while after dinner The fist a little before supper The sixt not long after supper And the seventh a little before hee tooke his Chamber to go to his rest Neither was he only so plentifull for the number of his spirituall Devotions as he was by the grace of God powerfull in the manner measure end and issue of them Powerful in prayer Rom. 8.26 27.1 Iohn 5.14 I am 5.16 2 Cor. 12.7 For being full of Faith and of the holy Ghost he could speake unto God by his own spirit in his owne words according to his owne Will and in the name of his own Son And so we know he could not but speake wel and speede well either finding that which hee craved and sought for at Gods hands or obtaining more than all that he could desire or deserve My grace is sufficient for thee And herein we are the rather induced thus to thinke because usually his prayer was fortified by Faith supported by Hope inflamed with Zeale beautified with Humility purified by Sincerity and established by Constancy Now unto his Private Praying he did usually upon some extraordinary occasion his own or others adjoyne private Fasting His private Fasting which hee was very frequent and fervent in and that with so great austerity that he did much weaken his body as well as afflict his soule thereby as sometimes Timothy did in the like case 1 Tim. 5.23 Eusebius hath reported recorded it Euseb c Hist lib. 2. cap. 23. of Iames the Iust that with often and continuall bowing of his knees before the Lord for himselfe and the people in earnest fervent prayer for remission of their sins he hath so lost the sense and feeling of his knees that they were as hard and so as sensles as the knees of a Camell I will not compare this Iohn with that Iames neither for sanctity of heart nor for austerity of life Tender prayers and hard knees But for their Affections and Actions Prayers and knees tendernesse of the one
charme he never so wisely Thus have we made it manifest that this gracious and Godly Gentleman was in his holy conversation full of mercy and full of good fruits All of which do taste and relish so much the better because they were seasoned with two other gracious qualities of that wisedome which is from above namely Equity and Syncerity for hee was without partiality and without hypocrisie According to that of the Prophet Micha He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to doe justlie and to love mercy and to walk humbly and uprightly with thy God And thus have we according to our purpose and promise taken a more speciall view of some parts and passages of this Gentlemans life wherein the gifts of Gods grace the vertues of Christ and the fruits of the Spirit did more eminently appear As first in his conversing with God and secondly in his conversation in the world And so wee come from the course of his life in the world and draw towards the end of his life namely his departure out of the world which was the third and last of those 3. generall heads which were proposed to be handled CHAP. LX. COncerning his departure out of this world 3. General Head His departure out of the world 1. Prepar 2. His Resol 3 His confidence 4. His const Psa 90.12 we propole divers things to be considered and observed First his preparation for it Secondly his patient resolution to Beare all the sharpe occurrents of it Thirdly his gracious confidence of a blessed and happy exchange after it Fourthly his happy constancy in the faith of Christ unto the end and in the end untill hee was put in possession of it and so obtained the end of his faith the salvation of his lonle in Christ Jesus Now for the first as his whole life was a meditation of death so was it also a continuall preparation for it For the Lord had taught him so to number his dayes that he did apply his heart unto wisdome I say both to be wise unto salvation and so wise also as to consider Wisedom Deut. 32.29 Iob. 14.14 and often think too upon his latter end So that all the dayes of his appointed time he did wait as Iob did till his change should come Al his studies and labours all his holy duties and services all his prayers and tears all his watchings and fastings all his desires and endeavors were especially bent and directed unto this end next unto Gods glory that he might so run that he might obtaine and so fight His preparation for death that he might overcome and in the end be more than a conquerour in him that loved him that is in Christ Jesus It was therefore his care and confidence ever so to live that he might never be affraid to dye yea so to live that he might desire to dye and to bee with Christ which is best of all even where he is and as he is for over Phil 1.23 Paulm in vita Amb. Possidon in vita Aug. As Paulinus hath recorded of Ambrose that being ready to dye he uttered these comfortable words unto his friends about him Non sic vivi ut pude no me inter vos vivere nec mori timeo quiu bonum habemus Dominum I have not so lived that I am ashamed to live amongst you neither am I affraid to dye because we have a good Lord. His more especiall preparation for his latter end His more speciall preparation in ten speciall duties consisted in these holy duties and heavenly exercises 1. To deny himself his wit his will his reason and affection 2. To renounee the world and to we are himselfe from the love of it and from all the pleasures profits honours and favours of the fame 3. To set and settle his affections on the things which are above placing his heart where his head Christ is 4. To take all his decayes of nature his bodily infirmities want of vigour and strength abatement of naturall heate and moisture to be certeyne Impressions of his mortality and evident Summons to a dissolution 5. To make all his spirituall rejoycings and refreshings in the estate of grace to bee pledges and earnests as it were of heavenly and everlasting joy and happinesse in the estate of glory 6. To consider that unto the godly death is but a passage unto life a dissolution of soule and body for a season which afterwards shall bee restored again in greater beauty and glory at the resurrection 7. To observe that death puts an end to all sins and sorrows to all temptations and afflictions and brings us into the possession of an heavenly inheritance where the true treasure is in abundance where also there are rivers of pleasures and fulnesse of joy for ever more 8. To meditate that here we are but strangers and pilgrims having here no continuing city but seeking one to come that heaven is our home and that whiles we are present in the body we are absent from the Lord and that Ierusalem which is above is the city of the Saints and mother of us all 9. To conferre and talke with his godly friends of the day of death and time of his departure out of this world even in the middest of all other comforts as Christ himself did with Moses and Elias in the holy Mount of his departure that is of his death at Ierusalem and as Austin had much holy and heavenly communication with his mother Monica Aug Cons l. 9. t. 10. and shee with him to the like purpose 10. Lastly to watch and pray with oyle in our Lamps and our lights burning taking every day for our last day Mat. 25.4 2 Tim. 2.21 Mat. 25.23 and so bee ready and prepared for our Masters worke for our Masters comming and for our owne reckoning Thus much of the means which he used and duties which he performed to prepare himself for his departure out of this world Now for his patient resolution to beare all the sharp occurrents of it As hee had obtained mercy of the Lord to bee faithfull in doing his will So had he also to be patient and resolute in suffering and abiding his good pleasure both in life and death To which end the Lord had given him a great measure of spirituall strength Phil. 4.13 Eph. 6.13 that he was able to doe in a manner all things in Christ which strengthened him and hee had furnished him also with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole armour of God whereby he might be able to stand fast in the evill day whether of tentation or affliction against all adverse power that might assaile him We read of that faithfull servant of Christ Chrysostome when hee was grievously persecuted by Eudoxia the Empresse that the Lord did give him such courage and resolution that he feared nothing which she could doe unto him though shee did threaten never
so much against him Si vult Regina me exulem agat in exilium Domini est terra plenitudo ejust si vult secare secet Chrys Ep. Cyriace Epise Tom. 5. idem passus est Isairs si vult in pelagus mittere Ionoe recordabor c. If the Queene will have me banished let her banish me the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof If she will cut me in peeces let her doe so The Prophet Isaiah suffered the same death If she will cast me into the sea I will then remember Jonah if she will throw me into a burning fornace the three children suffered as much before me Such like courage and resolution had this Gentleman against his naturall afflictions as Chrysostome had against violent persecution So that now he was able with valiant David to goe forth in the name of the Lord even against Goliah of the Philistims And grew resolute with Paul not to reckon his life deare unto him whatsoever afflictions might befall him so that he might fulfill his course with joy Act. 20.24 Ro. 8.18 Accounting all the afflictions of this world to be unworthy of the glory that shall be revealed and never fainting for any sorrow because although the outward man did perish and decay yet was his inward man renewed daily 2 Cor. 4.16.17 and all the afflictions of this life were but light and momentany to him that had an eye to the eternall vveight of glory laid up in heaven for him CHAP. LXI IT was observed by many of his friends His graces much increased in his old age both at home and abroad that in his declining dayes when he faw he was drawing on towards his journeyes end his faith was exceedingly increased his hope and rejoycing in God much enlarged his love and zeale wonderfully inflamed his affections towards God and the godly Theodosius senior aetate sed valìdius fide Amb. de Obit Theod. more holy and heavenly and his motions towards heaven more quicke and lively Much like the Elements and other such naturall bodies which the nearer they draw to their proper places are ever more violent and speedy in their motions till they come unto them So was it with this Gentleman for his spirituall estate the nearer he drew to wards his proper place his mansion house 2 Cor. 5. 1 Ioh 14. 2. Phil 3.13 Act. 20.24 Heb. 12.1 prepared for him in the heavens the more eager his desires were and his motions more vehement to dispatch his journey with all good speed to finish his course with joy and to runne out the race with patience vvhich vvas set before him Those that hee planted in the house of the Lord Psal 92.14.15 shall flourish in the courts of our God They shall bring forth fruit in old age and they shall bee fat and flourishing His laft dayes his best days Their last dayes shall bee their best dayes and their last vvorkes their best vvorkes and their fruit shall bee more and better at the last than at the first Isay 61.3 Such a tree of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord vvas this godly Gentleman whose fruit did not faile whose leafe did not fade no not in the winter of his age Psal 1. Ier. 17.8 Psa 92.13 14. Phil. 3.13 but did ever flourish in the courts of our God He was of Saint Pauls resolution forgetting those things which were behinde and reaching forth unto those things which are before he pressed towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus His Resolution and courage against all assaults And casting out as it were his gantlet of defiance against all the most sharpe and dangerous assaults that might encounter him and be made against him he challengeth them all as Paul did Who shall separate me from the love of Christ Shall tribulation on distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword Shall sicknesse or sorrowes feares or terrors pains or aches fores or swellings miseries of life or pangs of death so prevaile against me Nay in all these things I shall be more than a conquerour through him that loveth me And so from Pauls resolution he grew unto Pauls perswasion J am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. His hope and expectation Phil. 1.20 21. And from this perswasion to an earnest hope and expectation That in nothing hee should bee ashamed but that with all boldnesse as alwayes so now also Christ should bee magnified in his body whether it bee by life or by death For to him to live was Christ and to die was gaine Being now thus setled and resolved in patience and confidence to beare all afflictions and indure all grievances which might be either as fore-runners or attendants on his departure and dissolution It seemed good unto the Lord to visit him with sicknesse and that after this manner as his faithfull yoke-fellow hath reported and fent me in writing from her owne hand Her words be these CHAP. LXII His first sicknesse and visitation I Call to mind some words which he spake unto me alone at that time when it pleased the Lord to visit him which was upon the day after the Sabbath That morning he arose exceeding early and having beene in private prayer with God as his usuall manner was he performed afterwards this duty in the whole family This being done he went as he was accustomed into his Studie untill dinner time And having dined he went into his Study again And then it pleased God about an houre or two after to visit him as it were with an Ague after the manner of a shaking and so withdrawing himselfe thence into his little parlour he laid him down upon his bed Then said I unto him Sir I feare your early rising hath done you hurt Then he replied If you had seene wife such glorious things as I saw this morning being in private prayer with God â—ide Posâ—d de vita Aug. c. 27. you would not have said so For they were so wonderfull and unspeakable that whether I was in the body or out of the body with Paul I cannot tell Thus it hath pleased the Lord least I should be too much exalted by this glorious sight to give mee with Paul a buffet in the flesh All which things he spake with exceeding great joy unto me Non probo quod â—esero vix fas est credere visis Saepe Satan tali in lumine lucc nocet The like report of the like ravishing in spirit and such glorious sights which he saw not long before he himselfe made unto some of his friends after he had beene one day in private prayer with God in his grove The particulars
off even the thoughts of my heart my taske is ended the Lord hath no more worke for me to doe my warfare is accomplished my race is run out and finished I now only hope for and wait for that crowne of righteousnesse which Christ hath purchased for mee and God hath promised unto mee CHAP. LXV Milke for babes that came to visite him OF those which came to visite him he observed that some were young professors and babes in Christ others were of riper age and better growth in Christianity and therefore he did apply himselfe unto them both To the babes hee would minister the sincere milke of the Word in wholesome and easie instructions in mild and gentle exhortations all sweetned with tearmes of tendernesse and love To them that were of riper age in Christ Stronger meat for strong men H. b. 5. ult His godly admonitions unto both hee gave as occasion required stronger meate as to stronger men even such as by reason of use had their senses exercised to discerne both good and evill Vnto them both he gave these and the like godly admonitions To hold on and hold out to bee stedfast in their profession and never to be weary of weldoing to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ to increase in faith and abound in love never to be discouraged by taunts and mocks railings and revilings and other persecutions for the name of Christ but as they have given their names unto him so to give their hearts also And then to be faithfull unto the death that they may receive the crowne of life And that these and other such like Instructions and admonitions might make a deeper impression in their hearts and bee a stronger provocation to Christian obedience in their lives Hee did very gravely and wisely He commends unto them his own experience and example as a Father commend unto their due consideration his own experience and example from the time that he first began to embrace and professe the Gospel His words were these or much to this effect When first I began to professe Religion there was almost none in the whole Shire that were acquainted with the power and practise of it I was Psa 102.6 8. as the Prophet speaketh like a Pelicane of the wildernesse I was like an owle of the desert Mine enemies did reproach me all the day and were mad against me I was a wonder of the world yea a monster of men Isai 8. and many did bend their tongues like bows for lyes and shoote out their arrowes even bitter words against me And yet for all this that came upon me I did not forget the Name of my God neither did I deale falsly in his Covenant Psa 44. My heart was not turned back neither did my steps decline from his way But being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might I found his Grace was sufficient for me both to confirm mee in the truth and to preserve me blamelesse and harmelesse without rebuke in the mids of a crooked and perverse generation And so through the good hand of my God which was upon me I did overcome For the Work of God did prosper in my hand and mine Adversaries did not prevaile against me But now Isay 54.1 that may be said to this Countrey which the Prophet spake unto the Gentiles Sing O Barren thou that didst not beare breake forth into singing and cry alowd thou that didst not travail with child for more are the children of the desolate than of the married Wife saith the Lord. O how goodly are thy Tents O Jacob Num. 24.5 6. and thy Tabernacles O Israel As the valleyes are they spread forth as gardens by the river side as the trees of Lign-Aloes which the Lord hath planted and as Cedar trees beside the waters Now the borders of the Church are much enlarged the number of Belecvers wonderfully increased and blessed be God every quarter and corner of the Country is now filled with the sweet savour of the Gospell O how it doth refresh my spirit Rev. 2.10 1 Cor. 16.13 1 Cor 15.58 and rejoyce my Soule to see or to thinke upon their sweet faces standing before the Lord in the day of Assembly as an Army in holy beauty Wherefore my beloved Brethren so are none of those things which you shall suffer Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quite you like men be strong be ye stedfast also and unmoveable always abounding in the worke of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. With such gracious Speeches of Counsell and Comfort of Admonition and encouragement did he stir up the godly minds of many Professors younger or elder as they came to visit him CHAP. LXVI BY all this wee may see 4. Head His constancy in Religion and observe an evident proofe of his constancy in the profession and practice of true religion being never wearie of well doing nor discouraged in suffering any ill that did befall him Hee was never unsetled in his course nor diverted from it 1 King 7.21 no not by the strongest oppositions and assaults that were made against it For this his constancy hee had obtained of the Lord two speciall pillars of support Boaz i. In it is strength Jachin i. he shall establish 2 Chron. 20 20. Isa 30.15 Heb. 10.35.36 like those in the Temple Boaz and Iachin namely confidence and patience knowing right well that by believing in the Lord hee should be established and that in quietnesse and confidence should bee his strength and that hee had neede of patience to keepe possession of his soule that having done and suffered the will of God he might receive the promise that is the recompense of reward according to the riches of his mercy and bounty in Christ Jesus And this may yet more evidently appeare Even unto the end by the last passages of his life being now growne very feeble and weake and much like a dying Lampe Great strength in great weaknesse the oyle wasting and the light decaying For though his afflictions were increased yet were not his consolations diminished though hee were weake in body yet was hee of perfect minde and memory feeble in the flesh but strong in the Spirit Yea his spirit did continually breath out such savoury and sweet words as his speech would serve him words of grace and peace words of joy and comfort His comfortable and savory speeches like a sweet perfume or some sweet odours out of a precious boxe newly broken up that all that stood by were much refreshed and comforted therewithall and were well assured that no paines of his body nor pangs of death drawing on did halfe so much trouble him or annoy him as his inward spirituall holy His consolations exceeded his afflictions and heavenly refreshings and rejoycings in his God and from his Christ and by
him that prayed could not containe himselfe but oftentimes with a cheerefull consent said Amen Amen unto the requests and supplications that were made for his good and comfort in Christ Jesus After this M. L. spake a word unto him to comfort him in the midst of all his sorrowes that hee knew that shortly hee should bee released and freed from all sinne and sorrow from Satan and this present evill world wherunto he answered most cheerfully and graciously I know I shall and bee with Christ which is best of all And now the messenger of death is upon me which he spoke of the hickock which had taken hold of him M. L. replyed I hope Sir that death is no scare nor terror unto you No indeed it is not I thanke God saith he for it is my way to life and I am now called of God unto it And thus he continued in great paine of body but yet in great peace of mind increasing still in consolations and enduring all his sicknesse with admirable patience not shewing any distemper nor discontent neither in word nor deed all the while in the troubles and sorrow of the same His care for prayer in the Family After this the same night he put it upon me to call his Family to Prayer and to performe the evening Sacrifice in the great parlour commading them to set open his little parlour doore adjoyning to it that he might heare us and joyne with us and partake of such mercies and meanes as the Lord should be pleased either to offer unto us or to accept at our hands The next morning though he did weare a way very much yet he called upon M. L. to pray with him Mindfull of M. L. being up very early to go a long journey to preach his ordinary Tewsday Lecture Of whom he was so very carefull that he caused some provision to be made for him especially a Posset that hee himselfe at their parting might drinke with him The same day I staid with him untill the afternoone A heavy Parting ministring such help and comfort as I could unto him And then mine owne occasions calling me home my wife being his former wives own sister and my selfe came to take leave with him which when hee heard and saw his very soule seemed to melt within him for both his and our hearts were full of griefe and our eyes full of teares and so mingling our sorrowes our teares and our prayers together be commended us to the grace and blessing of God as wee also did him And then falling upon his face and kissing his cheek we tooke our long leave with him leaving him yet in the hands of his heavenly Father that would never leave him CHAP. LXVIII Some ever ready to pray with him THe same afternoone he called for M. Lan. and M. Clerk his own Pastor to pray with him and was never at quiet unlesse hee were either Meditating and Praying himselfe or had some godly man or good Minister to pray with him and for him Divers desire a blessing from him Vpon Wednesday morning divers of those that were with him suspecting his death and dissolution to be neare tooke leave with him desiring at their parting a blessing from him Which he did willingly expresse by lifting up his hands and his heart unto Heaven for them Vttering also some words which they could not so well understand In the afternoone he overheard some making motion of blacks I wil have no blacks saith he I love not any proud or pompous Funerals neither is there any cause of mourning but of rejoycing rather in my particular After this he entreated a good Christian to pray with him which he did very willingly again and again to his good contentment And while they were in prayer in the Family they that were with him did imagine that he prayed himself silently and secretly He prayeth secretly himselfe by the pulling of his armes out of the bed and lifting up his hands and his eyes towards Heaven whence only he did looke for hearing and helping at Gods hands And now growing so weak that he was scarce able to speak a word those gracious people that were about him prayed him to lift up his hand if he understood them and would have them to pray for him Other gracious people pray with him which he did very willingly and readily and so he joyned with them and was heard to say Amen to the prayers that they made for him Afterward they perceived that he prayed himselfe again lifting up his hands and uttering these words with many other to the like effect The Lord is my portion His last Prayer my help and my trust his blessed son Jesus is my Saviour and Redeemer Amen Even so saith the Spirit unto my spirit Therefore come Lord Jesus and kisse me with the kisses of thy mouth and embrace me with the armes of thy love Into thy hands do I commend my spirit O come now and take me to thine own selfe O come Lord Jesus come quickly O come O come O come And so his spirit fainting His last end and his speech failing he lay quiet and still for a little season And then he meekly and graciously yeelded up his pretious soule into the hands of God his Father that gave it and into the armes of his Saviour that had bought it and redeemed it with his pretious bloud And thus having finished his course and run out his race the night of his death shutting up the dayes of his life Snaviter in Domino obdormivit He sweetly slept in the Lord. All Glory Thanksgiving and Praise bee unto our gracious God in and through his Son Christ lesus for ever and ever Amen Vae etiam laudabili vitae si remota misericordia discutias eam Aug. Conf. lib. 9. c. 19. Aug. Quisguis tibi enumerat vera merita sua Aug ibid. cap. 13. Quid tibi enumerat nisi muneratua FINIS Imprimatur JOH HANSLEY Jan. 16. 1640.