the Spirit did make his consolations to abound for increase of his joy and peace in Christ Jesus About the fifteenth of Ianuary his strength was much abated and his weaknesse increated by reason of a sore stopping in his breast and throate which did so trouble him that hee could take no food nor refreshing no not so much as a Spoone-full of any Syrup or broth or any other liquid thing but he was ready to faint and to be gone upon it It was much about this time Sir H. B. came to visit him that a worthy Knight his neare and deare Cosen came to see him one whom hee loved most intirely for his faithfulnesse in his place zeale unto Gods house and love unto Gods people Who when hee saw him in so great weaknesse could not refraine from teares but wept over him abundantly which when hee was aware of hee began to speake comfortably unto him saying Good Sir weepe not for mee for there is no cause of weeping His gracious words and exhortations unto him but of much rejoycing in my behalfe Turne your teares into prayers and let mee enjoy that fruit of your love Let them weepe that have no other hope but in this life only Let them weep that have no portion in the Lord nor any part in Christ Iesus But as for you and me let us in every estate and condition while we live together rejoyce in the Lord together You are in your way I am at my journeys end walke on still as you have well both begune Iosh 1.7 8 Heb. 13. and continued a long season And the Lord will bee with you hee will never sayle you nor forsake you And with many other words did hee exhort him and others that were with him to be Faithfull in keeping Covenant with God to continue in the grace of God whereunto they were cald in Christ Iesus His son and heire came unto him Vpon Monday being the 16 of Ian. his son and heire came unto him whom he rejoyced to see unto whom hee gave many wholsome instructions and gracious exhortations praying for him and blessing his children encouraging him to be constant in Religion and commending unto him the excellency His good counsel unto him and reward of the same Exhorting him also to uphold the worship and service of God both in the Assembly and in his Family When Theoà osius that good Emperour was dead and gone Ambâ—in Funere Theod Saint Ambrose at his Funerall went about to comfort himselfe and the people that they had not wholly lost him because hee did yet live in his good and godly sons Arcadius and Honorius whom as a part of himselfe hee had left behind him It was the godly desire wee may see of this gracious Gentleman His desire to have his heires to follow his steps that when hee should bee dead and gone he might yet live in his children especially in the heires of his body and Family that they might bee followers of his Faith and Religion both for the power and practise of it as well as Inheritors of his lands and possessions for the fruits and profits of the same This was their Fathers charge That being dead he might as it were live in them again the discharge whereof would bee their comfort and their crowne if the Lord give them grace thus to fulfill the desire of the dead and the joy of the living For so this gracious Gentleman should still live in his Posterity and Religion should neither dye nor decay in that Family And that Religion might never dye nor decay in that Family Liquefacta hac nive multum erit luti Soc lib. 3. c. 19. where it was maintained not only in life and strength but in beauty and glory full of all good fruits as we have heard already and free from all rootes of bitternesse and from all soure grapes of grosse Sins springing and arising from such roots CHAP. LXVII M.L. and my selfe came to visit him Ian. 16.1625 UPon the same day Ianuary 16. Master L. and my selfe came unto him And here what shall I say Recrudescit doloris vulnus My sorrow bleeds afresh I can now rather weepe than write mine eyes drop downe teares as my pen doth words and my writing rejoyceth as it were to mingle it selfe with my weeping to blurre and blot my paper that no more be said of these things Curae loquuntur leves Senec. ingentes stupent But I will indeavour to refraine and containe my selfe Juvat tanli viriobituÌ„ destendo scribere scribendo deflere Linthprand l. 1. cap. uâ—to and tell you as I can some few things of many which I saw and heard from him at that instant Vpon my comming unto him so soone as he saw me hee seemed to bee much cheered and comforted even in his very soule and so spake in such broken and short speeches as then he could to this effect unto me Oh brother H. you are a welcome man unto me I am here you see the Lords prisoner His patient waiting for release cast upon the bed of my sicknes and in great affliction yet waiting upon the mercies of my God for a comfortable release in due season And when he was asked of the estate of his faith and hope in Christ and whether his consolations did not abound in the middest of all his afflictions His con solations still abound Yes I thank God saith he they doe and farre doe exceed them Yea and that which is more remarkable the Lord of his mercy hath given me so strong evidence of his favour and love in Christ Without all trouble of mind or conscience that I am not troubled in mind nor conscience with any doubts or feares nor aâ—… other Satanicall molestations or tentations but rest and wait in patience for the accomplishing of his mercies upon mee according to his good pleasure towards me Hereupon We rejoyced in his joy although we were sorrowfull in his sorrow yet were we joyfull also in his joy and finding him so graciously setled and resolved concerning his peace and reconciliation with God in Christ and touching his assurance of his heavenly inheritance we resolved not to trouble him much with many words in his great weaknesse but demanded of him whether hee would not have us to commend him unto God in our prayers At which motion hee seemed to rejoyce in his spirit and answered yes he would and did much desire it Prayed with him and for him Egredere anima quid times Egredere anima quid dubitas septuaginta propè annis servisti Christo mortem times In haec verba exhalavit spiritum Hieron in vita Hilaâ—ionis And so he raised up himselfe in his bed and lifting up his heart with his hands to God in the heavens did as it were reach after the petitions that were put up to God for him and joyning in heart and spirit with
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
A Faithfull Remonstrance OF The Holy Life and Happy Death OF IOHN BRUEN of Bruen-Stapleford in the County of Chester Esquire Brother to that Mirrour of Piety Mistris Katherin BRETTERGH Exhibiting variety of many Memorable and Exemplary passages of his Life and at his Death usefull for all sorts and Sexes but principally intended as a Path and President of Piety and Charity for the Inhabitants of the Famous County PALATINE of CHESTER By the late reverend Divine WILLIAM HINDE sometimes fellow of Queenes Colledge in Oxon and Preacher of Gods Word at Bunb in Cheshire Published since his Death The Memory of the Iust shall be blessed but the name of the Wicked shall rot LONDON Printed by R. B. for Philemon Stephens and Christopher Meredith and are to be sold at their Shop at the Golden Lyon in Saint Pauls Church yard 1641. To the Right Honourable Sir Iames Stanley of the honourable order of the Bath Knight Lord Stanley and Strange Lord of Man and of the Isles Lord Lievtenant of the County of Palatines of Lancaster and Chester of the City Chester and County of the same Chamberlaine of the County Palatine of Chester aforesaid Son and Heire apparant of the Right Honorable William Earle of DERBIE And my very Honourable good Lord and Patron Honour and Glory Right Honourable HE that was both an a Eccl. 1.1 Ecclesiastes and a King Salomon both in the Pulpet and the Throne as Preacher and a King preferres b Eccl. 7.1 a good name to pretious Oyntment and holds it c Pro. 22.1 rather to be Chosen then the greatest riches the foundation of which structure as appeares by severall Histories both Holy and Humane is not laid in greatnesse but in goodnesse For by this the d He. 11.2.39 Elders both of former and latter times obtained a good report hence came e 1 Chro. 49.8 9 labez to be more honorable than his brethren because he called upon the God of Israel The Bereans to be more noble than those of Thessalonica Acts 17.11 because they were more ready in hearing more diligent in examining the Scriptures than the others were And from hence was this of the g Agesilaus Spartan King to one that extold the magnificence of the Persian wherein says he is he greater than I except hee be more just than I But there are too many that like h 1 Sam. 15 24 Saul and i 2 Sam 15.6 Absolon do float upon another k Rev. 4.6 glassie Sea and fill their sailes with the wind of vanity and being regardlesse of true honour hunt too eagerly after popular applause to make their names great only in the eyes and mouths of men forgetting that precept and principle of our Saviour to l Luke 10.20 Rejoyce rather that their names are written in Heaven where onely both names and Honours are out of danger of defacing but m 1 Sam. 15 28. these like those what they least feare they soonest feel and which they most seeke they seldom'st finde For as their Fraught is but Folly and their TRAFICKE in this Voyage is but n 2 Sam. 18 14. Pride and Vanity So is their gaine nothing but shame sorrow and infamy a Returne in Saint Pauls o Ro. 2.8 0 Rom. 6.23 Heb. 2.2 opinion very sutable to such an adventure wages and recompences very answerable to such services The way amongst the Ancient p Plutarch Romans to the Temple of Honour was through the Temple of Vertue and that hangs upon the File of q 1 Sam. 2.30 Eternity would be remembred in every House as well as in Elies House that those that honour God God will honour them when such as doe despise Him by preferring the r Iohn 12.43 praise of men before the praise of God shall be despised And now who knoweth said Mordecay to Esther f Esther 4.7 nay who knoweth not my much honoured Lord that knowes your Lordship But that you have come to this height of Honour and have advanced your name and Family that you have as the Prophet of t â—say â—2 23 Eliakim beene for a glorious Throne to the house of your Fathers and all this and more then this by the better more excellent way by adding goodnes to Greatnesse to Highnesse Holinesse by adding knowledge to your yeares Grace to your knowledge Practise to both by u 1 chr 17.8 25. building and beautifying of Gods House who both hath and will build and beautifie yours For the furtherance of which I shall not only with x Zach. 4.7 Zacharies Angel Bring forth the head * Wherein is engraven in golden Charactors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ego Tibi tu mihi DomuÌ„ Stone and crie Grace Grace unto it But as that other to Gideon shall wish you the wishes of your dedication and say y Iudg. 6.12 Iehova est tecum valentissime robore The Lord be with thee thou mighty man of Valour And for the continuance of which Exemplary acts and fruites of Piety and honour I do offer here to your Lordships protection and acceptance these following Lines and Labours which containe the Holy Life and happy Death of One who in his time was one of the z vid. title page Lords worthies one who had attaind to this honour to bee a blessing to himselfe and to others also to bee a good man and to have a a Psa 32.10 prov 10.7 good name well worthy that honourable mention and Elogie wherewith the Iewish Rabbins were wont to speake of their best and chiefest Authors b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A man of blessed memorie whole blessed and Sacred memoriall I humbly crave right Honourable may finde a Shield and shelter under your Wings so shall it bee borne from the Egypt of detraction and calumnie as once was Gods Israel quasi sub alis aquilarum as upon c Exo. 19.4 Eagles wings My Lord he is in some sort d Luk. 7 4.5 worthy for whom you should doe this for hee hath loved while he lived our nation and hath built though not a materiall yet a Spirituall House of God amongst them with whom he lived and that in such a way as may multiply honour to your Lordship by manifesting your good affection to his vertues and your resolution to preserve his memory The booke hath need of a high Patronage and flies to e Alterius sic altera poscitopem Hor yours Vouchsafe it then Right Honourable though you need not it yet as the Reverend Bishop f Histeward complaining of extraordinary expnces occasion'd through multitude of servants he cals for a catalogue of their names and seeing who were serviceable who uselesse said these I will keepe because Inced them and those because they need me Alonso Cartilio to his servant because it needs you I know ther 's no analogie in state or place in imployments or indowments betwixt your Lordship and this
Gentleman who was Inferioris Subsellij of a farre inferiour rancke and quality yet may your Honour if you please to stoope so g 1 Sam 25 30 31 32 33 34 2 King 5.13.14 Iob 31.13 14 low as to looke to his example find many things worthy of your observation and not a few worthy of imitation also But I feare that like the Ambassadors of Samos I shall offend in Prolixitie I will therefore now with Plutarchs Cranes in their flight over mount h In Sicily where they stop their mouths with stones V.M.A.p. H O. Taurus stop my mouth lest by too much noyse I awaken and disturbe the Eagle I flye to and so become a prey to prevent which I love onely the posture and Language of the Getulian captive to the Lyon Indigna sum ejus gloria i Apuila hon capit muscas praeda I am not worthy of your anger yet feare to provoke it but shall not neede while I become as best becomes me an k Corporamagna nimo fatis est protrasse Leoni humble suppliant to your Lordship as well for pardon as for Patronage and to the Protector of Princes for his l Pro. 3.16 right and left hand blessings to bee ever multiplyed upon you and yours that your honour may long continue like Eliakim Velut m Esa 22.23 Paxillum in loco firmo that you may live in your selfe your illustrious Lady your numerous and their honoured off-spring and in all that have relation to your Lordship in the direct line or collaterall to emulate and outstrip the best and bravest of your glorious Ancestors that succeeding Ages may never close the Annalls of your Princely Family with a n Hift. chro Degeneremque Neoptolemum But with that rather wherewith the Delphick o Pl. cher O racle honored that King of Sparta Ultimus heroum Cleomenes Astypalaeus The God of all happinesse and blessing multiply all 38 graces and honours to you and yours o Ios 19.15 in this life by guiding you with his counsell and in the next by receiving you all into His Glory which shall bee the continued prayer of him who by many Obligations stands bound to acknowledge and subscribe himselfe in all humility and observance My Lord Your Lordships most humble and thankefull Servant and Chaplaine S. HINDE The Epistle to the Reader THe Booke I here present unto thy view is Opus posthumum an Orphane Hosea 14.3 long since left fatherlesse and kept under Hatches but now by his assistance in whom the Fatherlesse finde mercy is brought to open view It was the rule of Pythagoras to have his Schollers five yeares in his Schoole before they should bee suffered to speake But this worke hath lyen above twice five suffering more then an Ostracisme before it could be admitted to speake in the Language of the Presse In so much that if I should have said to thee as he in leremy Read this I pray thee Iâ—r 29.11 thou mightest have answered as he in the same verse I cannot for it is Sealed Gen. 29.3 But the stone that made the stoppage at the Well of Haran is now removed and the Flockes of Laban may drinke freely I dare not recommend it to thy view with that confidence that Antiphon did those statua's to Dionysius who demanding of him what was the best Brasse he ever saw Replyed that whereof were made the Statua's of Armodius and Aristogiton But this booke aere perennior as that Brasse presents to thy view and represents to thy memory though not the Effigie yet the Lively and fresh memoriall of such a one as makes even the Paper more pretious for such imployment Now that both the Author and the Subject of this booke may like the Statua's of Demetrius remaine free from the sullage of Envie and detraction I desire thus to informe and satisfie thee concerning both and first for the Subject he was a man so famous for Piety that even the mouths of the most Learned Pious and Prudent men in their times have blessed him and God for him Famous Master Perkins * Heb. 11.4 vid. cap. 41. being dead yet speaketh of him in the following tract that surely his house was none other but the very house of God and for Religion he carried the Top sayle of England To this I adde the Testimony of the now living and Learned the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Primate of all Ireland his Grace A man equally Eminent for Learning and Piety from whose mouth speaking of this Gentleman in my hearing did fall this great and gracious Testimony that there was in him the very Beauty of holinesse and that he was of so amiable and cheerefull a countenance that when he lookt on him he was put in mind of Moses whose very face shined Exo 34.29 Index animi vultus As honouring some more then ordinary eminency of grace in his heart which was discoverable in the sweetnesse and cheerefulnesse of his Countenance And to this I may adde his often encouragements to mee in the publication of this Booke were sufficient I thought both to provoke my paines and to prevent the Readers envy unlesse they be such as are of the nature of the Basiliske that would blast or kill all they breath on and if any such I wish rather they would learne of the Scorpions of Mesopotamia Plin nat Hist. not to bite or harme Strangers and when their owne reaches not to subscribe to better judgements Now for the Author the neerenesse of relation forbids me to say much I shall leave his owne workes and amongst many this to publish his abilities as the Shield of * Idem quod Minerva Pallas did the effigie of Phydias who was the Author and maker of it I have seene some workes of this nature of which it might be said materiam superabat opus the worke exceeded the subject but here it cannot for as the subject is grave and gracious so is the method Stile and Language of the Author Expect not here Verba Phalaris nitentia a Pompe of words or Rhetoricke that were with the Suitors of Penelope to forsake the Mistris Tiro 30 23 and to court the handmaid or as Salomon saies to make the Handmaid heire to her mistris I dare be bold to say and produce many evidences that it was neither that Insanabile scribendi cacoethes nor ad Ostentationem eruditionis Bucan in lo. as Bucan observes of some nor that effascination of popular applause Baronius as Baronius observes of others that engaged the Author to undertake it But onely to perpetuate the memoriall of this worthy Gentleman in such a way as may make best for thy Example and the Creators glory Math. 5.16 Distemper and prejudice being then laid aside read it and be pleased throughly to peruse it before in part thou censure it and if any with Praxiteles viewing their face and deformities in this glasse
and the godly in all duties of Piety and Charity And so continuing as she did faithfull unto death shee obtained what she desired and expected the crown of life What were the heavy consequents of this affliction in his Family hee hath himselfe set down and that in so patheticall a maner that I know some that could yet never read the words but their heart was full of sorrow and their eyes full of teares in the reading of them His own words be these But when it pleased God to take away my wife from me then all mourned for her losse As also in respect that all my tablers must now part being about the number of 21. my son John and his being then with me But we did still so accord and so loth wee were to depart a sunder The heavy parting of his Tablers that I requested them to stay with me that quarter more from January to Aprill which was very thankfully accepted which quarter we had much comfort together but mourning oftentimes to think of the quarters end And the last day sitting at dinner together all so full of heavines that in effect there was no meat eaten So as I was forced to hide my selfe All full of griefe and could not take leave with them all being so full of griefe c. When Jonathan and David whose hearts were linked together in holy love were orced to part and were now ready to take leave one with another It is said in the story that they kissed one anther 1 Sam. 20.41 and wept one with another untill David exceeded It was not much otherwise with this Company that had lived under one roof in so great love and peace together when now they must part and take leave one of another they kissed one another and wept one with another untill M. Bruen himselfe exceeded M. Bruen himselfe exceeded And so exceeded that he was glad then to hide himselfe to conceale the extremity of his griefe and since in recording of it to draw a vaile over it with an c. as the Painter did over Agamemnons face when hee knew that his pensill could not expresse the heavy sorrows of a fathers heart in the losse of Iphigenia so deare a daughter Pectoris vulaus tepore ratione curatur Hieron ad Pammach Time and reason strengthened by grace will moderate passions That which men say will avayle much with a naturall man for allaying the heate and repressing the violence of griefe and sorrow time and reason being now more strengthened by grace and well qualified by Christian wisdome and moderation brought this Gentleman to a good measure of patience and contentment in bearing and breaking through this affliction which hee saw the hand of the Lord had laid upon him For now he began to frame his affections for a single life and to draw his Family into a narrower compasse resolving to retire himselfe and to live more privatly if it were but for a season for the benefit of his children which the Lord had given him CHAP. XLIII WHat hee did herein upon what advise to what end and with what successe to others and himselfe both for soule and body I think it not amisse to tell you at large in his own words Then I continued saith hee a single life five yeares and a halfe or thereabouts Two yeares in mine own house In which time that man of God good M.D. came unto me who enquiring of my estate I told him I did owe about an hundred pounds and had 4 daughters and divers sons He therefore advised me to give over my house and to go to Chester and to live there a season which I yeelded unto M. Bifeild then being there a godly Preacher and very powerfull in his Ministery And there I lived 3 yeares having the company of M. Bifeild and his wife every Wedensday and Fryday to dinner which were his Lecture dayes with some other good company besides In which 3 yeares it pleased God to stir up the hearts of many neighbours to come every evening to prayer with us and some every morning My sister Hardware and her Family shee being a widow came constantly having a convenient way through her garden and often with her many friends and neighbours These our meetings were traduced by some and excepted against by others and yet after a while being well known what they were no fault was found In this time It pleased the Lord Almighthy to give a great blessing All praise unto his holy Name only Many converted and many confirmed and many convinced And many could I name but I spare Let God alone be glorified magnified for ever that by such weake instruments doth manifest such great power grace and mercy In these 3 yeares God gave me also a great earthly blessing 1 I paid all my debt 2 I marryed my two daughters that were marriageable and paid their marriage portions 3 I preferted a son or two 4 I maintained the poore in my own Parish in the Countrey allowing all the increase of my 2 mils in Stapl. for that end 5 I mainteined the poore in Chest both at my gates and otherwise weekly as I was rated All humble and hearty praise and thanks be given to God Father Sonne and Holy Ghost for evermore Amen Then I returned home and built my Study And tooke to wise Margaret through Gods blessing and by her one daughter dead one son living Al praise to God There are divers things in this relation very remarkable which may not well be passed over in silence tending so much both to his just commendation and to our information and edification in the Faith and feare of God 1 As first that Although the Lord was pleased sundry times to exchaunge his comforts with crosses yet was he never changed nor moved from his steadfastnesse 2 Secondly in all his afflictions he was willing to be humbled but never dejected nor discouraged having learned in what estate so ever he was therewith to be content 3 Thirdly that where ever he was at home or abroad in city or countrey his desires and endeavours were ever bent to doe good remembring the words of our Lord Jesus that it is a more blessed thing to give than to receive 4 Fourthly that where ever he went whatsoever he did the presence of the Lord Jesus was with him and his good hand upon him to prosper him in all his wayes and to strengthen his hand and heart in well doing 5 Fifthly that in every place he became a nursing father to the children of God Esay 22.23.24 whether they were babes or such as were of riper age in Christ yea he was as a naile of the Sanctuary fastened in a sure place upon which men did hang all vessels of small quantitie from the vessels of cups even to all the vessels of flaggons as the Prophet speaketh 6 Sixthly that notwithstanding all his great expenses both in city and countrey in maintaining
given us these Pearles and dare any so play the swine as to trample them under feet and contemne them Doth the Lord reckon all holy persons Psal 13 5.4 pure and precise professors as his chiefe treasure the Church esteeme them as her holy children Gal. 4.26 and the true children of the Church take them as Christ himselfe doth for holy brethren Heb. 3.1 Heb. 2.11 12. Phil. 3.2 Gal. 5.15 And dare any be so vile as to fly upon these like dogs and that not only to bark against them but even to bite and to devoure them Are not all such persons and things as wee have named perfumed with the sweet odours of Christs offerings Rev. 8.3.4 1 Ioh. 2.20 and sufferings Are they not all annointed with the holy oyle of the Spirit as vessels and instruments of the Sanctuary from their head that holy one Christ Jesus If so they be as without all doubt they are Then who is he that bears the name of a Christian as if he were a partaker of this annointing dare cast any foule aspersions Act. 11.26 as of Singularity Schisme Puritanisme Precisenesse Hypocrisie and such like upon such persons because they frame their lives to bee pure and holy by exercising themselves unto godlinesse in these things Such may complaine with Tertullian Pro tanta innocentia pro tanta probitate pro justitia pro pudicitia pro fide pro veritate pro Deo vivo cremamur Tertullian lib. ad Scap. Cap. 4. Now because there bee some both in Court and Countrey City and Sanctuary that pretend greater wisdome and moderation they will not bee so prophane on the left hand as Esau neither will they bee so preciseon the right hand with Iacob but either just of Gallio his humour they care little for these things or of the Laodicean temper Act. 18.14.17 Rev. 3.16.17.18 Rom. 2.20 2 Tim. 3.5 neither hot nor cold yet thinke all is well and nothing amisse among them And these pretend that they have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a forme of knowledge and a forme of Godlinesse but wanting the fruit of the one and the power of the other they are no friends to sincerity and purity of religion in themselves and shew themselves great adversaries to the holy profession and practice of it in others that desire to conforme themselves to the tenour and truth of it Now because I say there are some such See the booke of Common prayer I would willingly demand of these so great opposites to a godly and holy conversation when they come before the Lord in the publike assembly and offer up their solemne prayers unto God with Gods Minister after confession of their sinnes that hereafter they may live a godly righteous and sober life and pray in another place that the rest of their life may bee pure and holy I would demand what their meaning is thus to pray unto the Lord If they pray in sincerity for a godly righteous and sober life why doe they reprove that in others which they would begge of God for themselves Why are they so great adversaries to the pure and holy profession of religion When they pray themselves that the rest of their owne lives may bee pure and holy Or if they pray otherwise in Hypocrisie they doe then but mocke God and dissemble with him in their double hearts and so deale wickedly and deceitfully both with God and men O yee formall Hypocrites pull out first the beame that is in your owne eye Mat. 7.5 2. Tim. 3.5 and then looke to the mote which is in your brothers eye You catch after a forme and shadow of Religion and content your selves with it Bee neither envious nor malicious against such of Gods children as being your brethren by Profession have gotten hold not of the shadow but of the substance of it and in a holy conversation otherwise than you doe shew forth the power and fruit of it Hee which is unjust let him bee unjust still and hee which is filthy Rev. 22.11 let him bee filthy still And hee that is righteous let him bee righteous still and hee that is holy let him bee holy still CHAP. LII THus have wee heard that this Gentlemans conversation in the profession of Religion according to that wisdome which God had given him from above I am 3.17 was first pure and so stands accepted of God and approved of all good men howsoever maligned and reproached by the wicked and prophane whose wisedome is from below only First Pure I am 3.15 and then Peaceable To be pure in heart and life breeds and brings forth true peace in both Rom. 5.1 1 Thess 5.13 for being so at peace with God we have peace with our selves and seeke for it with others and one for another also Heb. 12.14 This was a second grace which did beautifie this godly Gentlemans conversation Rom. 12.18 He was by grace of a very quiet and peaceable disposition which he did very graciously manifest in these particulars 2 Peaceable 1 He desired to keep peace with all men Heb. 12.14 and not to be at any difference or variance with any if by any meanes he could prevent it Gen. 13.8 1 Cor. 13.5 2 He would not be easily provoked by indignities nor injuries 3 He had rather forgive twenty wrongs than revenge one Num. 12.3 Rom. 12.19 4 He would very willingly purchase and buy out his peace sometimes with his owne losse Mat. 5.39 Gen. 13.8 9. and by parting with his owne right if otherwise he could not well procure it 5 He would shut his eares against tale-bearers having beene sometimes abused by them being the very seed-men of strife Pro. 26.20 21. and fire-brands of contention 6 He would ordinarily recompence evill with good frowardnesse with kindnesse Rom. 12.21 and fruits of passion and bitternesse with fruits of moderation and good affection To make all these or the most of them more evident by one instance in his own practice There was a Gentleman one of his neighbours A hard message who conceiving some great displeasure against him upon a very small occasion in his heat and ruffe sent his man to this Gentleman M. Bruen with this message That his Master did inhibit and forbid him to come upon any foot of his land or any of his servants or family whosoever upon their perill To whom he presently made this reply Tell your master A soft answer and wise for answer to your message only thus much That if it please your Master to come upon any part of my land or any of his servants o◠family to come into my fields at his or their pleasure they shall bee all very kindly welcome And that if he himselfe will come unto my house he shall be much more welcome also This answer savouring so well of grace and peace and being so wifely seasoned with discretion and good affection did