infinite terrour and the top appeared all in Flames this trembling of the 9th was felt in the Cities of Mineo Palaonia Ragosa Licodia and most of the South parts of Sicily at the same instant with that of Catania but the most tremendous shake of all happened on the 11th of January under which dismal Calamity the antient City of Catania pleasantly seated and full of Inhabitants of Quality with an University and about 24000 People in a Minute was sunk out of sight with a noise as loud as if thousands of Cannons had been discharged at once In the place where Catania stood some heaps of Rubbish and a great Lake of Water appear at a distance Under the same dismal Calamity fell the antient City of Syracuse so famous in History that it was formerly reckoned one of the greatest in the World having in it about 16000 Inhabitants By the Earthquake of the 9th many principal Houses and the Castle were torn in divers Night and so escaped the horrible Devastation of the 11th wherein two thirds of the Buildings were thrown down and above 7000 People buried in the rubbish Neither did Noto though built upon a very high Rock almost inaccessible on all sides but one narrow way partake of a less dismal Fate The trembing of the 9th did very much affect it and on the 11th laid it in heaps in a Minute all the Inhabitants except some few who fled from thence on the 9th were Buried in the Ruins of their own Houses being reckon'd about 7000 very little Buildings standing in the whole Town Augusta a City in a Peninsula on the East of Sicily with a large prospect to the Sea Safe-Harbours and considerable Trade was much damaged by the Earthquake of the 9th instant and about 600 People killed by the downfal of the Houses and the following day the rest of the Town and the remaining Inhabitants by another dreadful shake were utterly destroyed and buried in rubbish so that of 6000 People none were left alive Lentini the antient Leontium a Town of about 3000 Families was burnt to the ground on the 11th Calatgirone a Town well-built of Free-Stone by the shake on the 11th had the fifth part of the Buildings and two Monasteries demolished but of 7000 People 5000 made their escape Mineo was shaken both the 9th and the 11th on the former the Heavens were Serene without the least Cloud but on the latter was a terrible Storm of Lightning and Thunder for 6 hours together At both times several Houses and a large Church were overthrown and it was judged about 4000 People perished Pasceni of about 200 Inhabitants was so entirely ruined that not one House or Person was saved The spacious Valley adjoyning which was formerly full of excellent Vines being turned into a new Lake whose Water is of a brackish taste and like Brimstone In Patuzolo a place of about 1000 People all were swallowed up Furla another Town of about the same number of Souls had the like fate Sciorti a bigger Town was totally demolished and the Inhabitants about 2000 so utterly destroyed that none was left to tell the News In Militello where of 6000 People no one is left to give tidings how or when its Calamity happened The Country People who dwell in the Mountains about it affirm that for 3 days before they could not discern the Town by reason of a thick Fog that surrounded but that on the 11th in the morning it was no more seen A great part of the Mountain on the North-side is torn asunder and one half overwhelmed the Town leaving a deep Gulph betwixt that and the other part of the Mountain THE Curiosities of Art PART III. By WILLIAM TVRNER M. A. Vicar of WALBERTON in SUSSEX And Moses said unto the Children of Israel See the Lord hath called by Name Bezaleel the son of Vri the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah And he hath filled him with the spirit of God in wisdom in understanding and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship and to devise curious works to work in gold and in silver and in brass And in the cutting of stones to set them and in carving of wood to make any manner of cunning work Exod. xxxv 30 31 32 33. LONDON Printed for John Dunton at the Raven in Jewen-street MDCXCVII THE PREFACE TO THE Curiosities of Art WHen God made us He instamp'd his own Image upon us which Image is most clearly apparent in those two great Distinguishing Faculties of Humane Nature the Vnderstanding and Will The one disposeth us to a subtilty and sublimity of Knowledge the other to a Goodness of Temperance and Beneficence in our Actions And 't is worthy a sober Remark and pretty to observe how Man hath exercised these Two Faculties in pursuit of these Ends from the first Creation how his Intellectuals have mounted above the Sphere of Sense tranigressed the common Limits and Horizon of the dull unthinking Multitude and peer'd about with a Sagacity of Reason into all the Crevisses and secret Recesses of Nature to find out the utmost Bounds of Humane Power and see how far the Wit of Man might be stretch'd and extended without a Fault or Fracture I have already shew'd somewhat of the Divinity conspicuous in the Great World now I am to shew somewhat of it in the Microcosm in Man the Epitome of the World the Top and Master-piece of the visible Creation and that only in part too viz. his Soul and Mind for I have spoken of his Body elsewhere But the Mind being the more Noble and Excellent part of the Man and of it self so Spiritual and not subject to Sense I have no other way left to give the Anatomy of it but by summing up and presenting to view its Operations and Effects We admire the Industry and Skilfulness of the Bee in gathering Honey out of the Flowers carrying it home and disposing it in several Cells ingeniously contriv'd for the Purpose the Wisdom of the little Ant in a hundred particular Instances of her Polity and Managery of Business the curious Embroidery and Net-work of the busie Spider in making Webs and pursuing her Game for the catching of Flies the strange and almost stupendious Artifice of the poor Silk-worm which by the Impulse of meer Nature works her self out of Breath and spends her self to cloath Nobles Let us sit a while at home and call back our Rambling Thoughts to contract our Meditation and Prospect and view our selves and take notice of a more lofty Design and we shall certainly find the Humane Intellectuals flying at a higher Game pitching upon more Noble Objects propounding more excellent Ends pursuing them with proper Means ingenious and apt Methods And I am confident upon a solid Speculation we shall find our selves astonish'd at our own Powers and admire the wisdom of Him that made us and be provoked to Aemulation by observing how others have out-stript us When I consider how many wonderful Pheanomena of both
after the several Ordinances and Priviledges of a Church-Communion The Churches of New-England have usually been very strict in their Admissions to Church-Fellowship and required very signal Demonstrations of a Repenting and a Believing Soul before they thought Men fit Subjects to be entrusted with the Rights of the Kingdom of Heaven But they seem'd rather to augment than abate their usual Strictness when the Examination of the Indians was to be perform'd A day was therefore set apart which they call'd Natootomeuhtenicusuk or a Day of asking Questions when the Ministers of the adjacent Churches assisted with all the best Inrerpreters that could be had publickly examined a good number of these Indians about their Attainments both in Knowledge and in Virtue And notwithstanding the great satisfaction then received our Churches being willing to proceed surely and therefore slowly in raising them up to a Church-state which might be comprehended in our Consociations the Indians were afterwards called in considerable Assemblies convened for that purpose to make open Confession of their Faith in God and Christ and of the Efficacy which his Word had upon them for their Conversion to him which Confessions being taken in Writing from their Mouths by able Interpreters were scanned by the People of God and found much Acceptance with them I need pass no further Censure upon them than what is given by my Grandfather the well-known Richard Mather in an Epistle of his published on this occasion says he There is so much of Gods Work among them as that I cannot but count it a great Evil yea a great Injury to God and his Goodness for any to make light of it To see and hear Indians open their Months and lifting up their Hands and Eyes in Prayer to the living God calling on him by his Name Jehovah in the Meditation of Jesus Christ and this for a good while together to see and hear them exhorting one another from the Word of God to see and hear them confessing the Name of Christ Jesus and their own Sinfulness sure this is more than usual And tho' they spoke in a Language of which many of us understood but little yet we that were present that day saw and beard them perform the Duties mentioned with such grave and sober Countenances with such comely Reverence in their Gesture and their whole Carriage and with such plenty of Tearâ— trickling down the Cheeks of some of them as did argue to us that they spake with the holy Fear of God and it much affected our Hearts At length was a Church-state settled among them They entred as our Churches do into an Holy Covenant wherein they gave themselves first unto the Lord and then unto one another to attend the Rules and Helps and expect the Blessings of the Everlasting Gospel and Mr. Eliot having a Mission from the Church of Roxbury unto the Work of the Lord Christ among the Indians conceived himself sufficiently authorized unto she performing of all Church work about them grounding it on Acts 13.1 2 3 4. and he accordingly administred first the Baptism and then the Supper of the Lord unto them Thus far Mr. Cotton Mather I shall next insert the Dying Speeches of several of the Converted Indians formerly published by the Reverend Mr. Eliot They are deliver'd to me by a Friend that brought them with him from Boston in New-England and are so great a Rarity that 't was with difficulty he procured them in New-England where they were Printed neither was there a Copy of 'em to be found in London Mr. Eliot begins thus Viz. Here be but a few of the Dying Speeches and Counsels of such Indians as died in the Lord. It is an humbling to me that there be no more it was not in my Heart to gather them but Major Gookins hearing some of them rehearsed he first moved that Daniel should gather them in the Language as they were spoken and that I should Translate them into English and here is presented what was done that way These things are Printed not so much for Publishment as to save Charge of Writing out of Copys for those that did desire them JOHN ELIOT 38. Waban was the first that received the Gospel our first Meeting was at his House the next time we met he had gather'd a great Company of his Friends to hear the Word in which he hath been stedfast When we framed our selves in order in way of Government he was chosen a Ruler of Fifty he hath approved himself to be a good Christian in Church Order and in Civil Order he hath approved himself to be a Zealous Faithful and Stedfast Ruler to his Death His Speech is as followeth I now rejoyce tho' I be now a dying great is my Affliction in this World but I hope that God doth so afflict me only to try my praying to God in this World whether it be true and strong or not but I hope God doth gently call me to Repentance and to prepare to come unto him therefore he layeth on me great pain and affliction tho' my Body be almost broken by Sickness yet I desire to remember thy Name Oh my God untll I die I remember those Words Job 19.23 to 28. Oh that my Words were now written Oh that they were printed in a Book that they were graven with an Iron Pen and Lead in a Rock for ever For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth And though after my Skin Worms destroy this Body yet in my Flesh I shall see God c. I desire not to be troubled about Matters of this World a little I am troubled I desire you all my Brethren and you my Children do not greatly weep and mourn for me in this World I am now almost dying but see that you strongly pray to God and do you also prepare and make ready to die for every one of you must come to dying Therefore confess your Sins every one of you and believe in Jesus Christ I believe that which is written in the Book of God Consider truly and repent and believe then God will pardon all your great and many Sins God can pardon all your Sins as easily as one for God's free Mercy and Glory do fill all the World God will in no wiseâ— forget those that in this World do sincerely repent and believe Verily this is Love oh my God Therefore I desire that God will do this for me tho' in my Body I am full of Pain As for those that died afore we prayed to God I have no hope about them now I believe that God hath call'd us for Heaven and there in Heaven are many Believers Souls abiding Therefore I pray you do not overmuch grieve for me when I die in this world but make your selves ready to die and follow me and there we shall see each other in â—â—â—â—al Glory in this World we live but a little while therefore we must be always
Discourses upon these Subjects and after all told me Sir the Lord hath given me Repentance for this Sin yea and for every other Sin I see the evil of Sin now so as I never saw it before Oh I loath my self I am a very vile Creature in my own Eyes I do also believe Lord help my unbelief I am heartily willing to take Christ upon his own Terms One thing troubles me I doubt this bloody Sin will not be pardoned Will Jesus Christ said he apply his Blood to me that have shed my own I told him Christ shed his Blood even for them that with wicked Hands had shed the Blood of Christ and that was a Sin of deeper Guilt than this Well said he I will cast my self upon Christ let him do by me what he pleases And so I parted with him that Night Next Morning the Wounds were to be open'd and then the Opinion of the Chyrurgeon were he would immediately expire Accordingly at his Desire I came that Morning and found him in a most serious frame I prayed with him and then the Wound in his Stomach was opened but by this time the Ventricle it self was swoln out of the Orifice of the Wound and lay like a live discolour'd Tripe upon his Body and was also cut through so that all concluded it was impossible for him to live however they stitch'd the Wound in the Stomach enlarged the Orifice and fomented it and wrought it again into his Body and so stitching the Skin left him to the Dispose of Providence But so it was that both the deep VVound in his Throat and this in his Stomach healed and the more dangerous VVound Sin had made upon his Soul was I trust effectually healed also I spent many Hours with him in that Sickness and after his return home received this Account from Mr. Samuel Hardy a Minister in that Town Part whereof I shall Transcribe Dear Sir I was much troubled at the sad Providence in your Town but did much rejoyce that he fell into such Hands for his Body and Soul You have taken much Pains with him and I hope to good purpose I think if ever a great and thorough VVork were done such a way it is now and if never the like I am perswaded now it is Never grow weary of such good VVorks One such Instance is methinks enough to make you to abound in the work of the Lord all your days Flavel's Divine Conduct CHAP. XXI Wants strangely supplied JOseph was sold into Egypt by the Envy of his Brethren to make Provision for them and their Father in a time of Famine Elijah is fed by an Angel when he was ready to starve with Hunger under the Juniper-Tree and found to his great Surprizal a Cake baked on the Coals and a Cruise of Water at his Head another time by a Raven who brought him Bread and Flesh Morning and Evening and a third time by the Wisdom of Zarepheth's Barrel of Meal and Cruise of Oyl which failed not so long as there was necessity of it What should I tell of Daniel and the three Children's Pulse and Water our Saviour's Loaves and Fishes of the Money found in the Belly of a Fish of the great Draught of Fishes that astonished St. Peter into Amazement God feedeth the young Ravens c. 1. Origen with his poor Mother and six Children after the Father's Death and the Confiscation of all his Goods to the Emperor procured a Sustenance for himself and them by teaching a Grammar-School and after being weary of that Profession he betook himself to the stndy of Sacred Scripture and Divinity and thus throwing himself upon Divine Providence it pleased God he was entertain'd by a Religious and Rich Matron together with his Mother and Brethren Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 2. Mr. Samuel Clark in the Life of that painful and humble Servant Mr. John Fox records a memorable Instance or Providence and it is thus That towards the end of King Henry the Eighth his Reign he went to London where he quickly spent that little his Friends had given him or he had acquired by his own Diligence and began to be in great want As one day he sat in St. Paul's Church spent with long Fasting his Countenance thin and his Eyes hollow after the ghastful manner of dying Men every one shunning a Spectacle of so much horror There came one to him whom he had never seen before and thrust an untold Sum of Money into his Hand bidding him be of good Cheer and accept that small Gift in good part from his Country-man and that he should make much of himself for that within a few Days new Hopes were at Hand and a more certain Condition of Livelihood Three Days after the Dutchess of Richmond sent for him to live in her House and be Tutor to the Earl of Surrey's Children then under her Care 3. Mr. Isaac Ambrose a worthy Divine whose Labours have made him acceptable to his Generation in his Epistle to the Earl of Bedford prefixed to his last things gives a pregnant Instance in his own Case his Words are these For my own part saith he however the Lord hath seen cause to give me but a poor pittance of outward things for which I bless his Name yet in the Income thereof I have many times observ'd so much of his peculiar Providence that thereby they have been very much sweetned and my Heart hath been raised to admire his Grace When of late under an hard Dispensation which I iudge not mete to mention wherein I suffer'd conscientiously all Streams of wonted Supplys being stopt the VVaters of Relief for my self and Family did run low I went to Bed with some Staggerings and Doubtings of the Fountains letting out it self for our refreshing but e're I did awake in the Morning a Letter was brought to my Bed-side which was signed by a choice Friend Mr. Anthony Ash which reported some unexpected breakings out of God's Goodness for my Comfort These are some of his Lines Your God who hath given you an Heart thankful to record your Experiences of his Goodness doth renew Experiences for your Encouragement Now shall I report one which will raise your Spirit towards-the God of your Mercies VVhereupon he sweetly concludes One Morsel of God's Provision especially when it comes in unexpected and upon Prayer when wants are most will be more sweet to a Spiritual Relish than all former Enjoyments were Flavel's Divine Conduct p. 93. 4. Rochell was strangely relieved by a Shoal of Fish that came into the Harbour when they were ready to perish with Famine such as they never observed before nor after that time Ibid. p. 31. 5. Mr. William Garaway a Gentleman sufficiently known for his excellent Parts and Activeness and Fidelity to both King and Country in several Parliaments during these three last Reigns told me lately of another such a Special and Remarkable Providence as this was which happened to a certain Sea-Port Town in England
A COMPLEAT HISTORY Of the MOST Remarkable Providences BOTH OF Judgment and Mercy Which have Hapned in this PRESENT AGE EXTRACTED From the Best WRITERS the AUTHOR' 's own OBSERVATIONS and the Numerous RELATIONS sent him from divers Parts of the Three KINGDOMS To which is Added Whatever is Curious in the Works of Nature and Art THE Whole Digested into One VOLUME under Proper Heads being a Work set on Foot Thirty Years ago by the Reverend Mr. POOL Author of the SYNOPSIS CRITICORUM And since Undertaken and Finish'd By WILLIAM TVRNER M. A. Vicar of WALBERTON in SUSSEX Recommended as useful to Ministers in Furnishing Topicks of Reproof and Exhortation and to Private Christians for their Closets and Families One Generation shall praise thy Works to another and shall declare thy mighty Acts. Psal 145.4 LONDON Printed for Iohn Dunton at the Raven in Jewen-Street MDCXCVII TO THE Right Reverend FATHER in GOD JOHN Lord Bishop of Chichester My LORD THE Dedication of Books to some Worthy Persons seems to be very natural For tho' Men of Great Abilities and Fame may appear in the World without any such Patrons to make Way for their Admittance yet we that are in a Lower Sphere stand in need of a Person of Figure and Value to give some Countenance to such Undertakings 'T is to you My Lord I therefore make my Application whose Genius according to what I have heard and from that short Conversation I have had with you I judge suitable to the Toyl and Greatness of that Province you are called to Preside over This is a Work I acknowledge if faithfully Discharged may perhaps offend and exasperate some and if not impartially Executed the God of Heaven will be Displeased and your own Conscience be Disobliged But I come not here so much to be your Monitor as with this small Present a Token of my Spiritual Fealty to bid your Lordship Welcome into our Diocess Where I pray you may do much Good and enjoy many Good Days and at last in God's good time may be removed to a better place I am My LORD Your most Humble Obedient and Faithful Son WILLIAM TURNER TO THE Courteous Reader THE Work I have undertaken is so difficult and obnoxious to Doubt and Error so slippery and obscure that it must be confest by any Man of a solid Judgment that I have been bold to make an Adventure upon such a Subject But the Genius of it being so generally acknowledg'd it will admit of much Candour and Alleviation from all Men of an honest Principle and sober Understanding 'T is true I have scaled the Mountains and scrabbled above the Clouds and open'd a little the Curtains that hid and separated the Secrets of Heaven from Common View and sometimes likewise have dived into the profoundest Secrets and Depths of Nature and at a distance look'd into the Divine Councels and made Enquiry into the Affairs of the other World but with so much Modesty and so little Pragmaticalness that it will not be easie for any but a man of a contentious Spirit to find out Matter to accuse me of If there be any that will take upon him to be my Adversary I challenge him to outvy me and if he can as I question not but he may find out new Matter and a better Method I shall thank and commend him for his Industry But if Men can only pick out a single Paragraph or particular Circumstance and nibble at it with their Teeth and bawl loud with their Tongues and proceed no further 't is a poor Game for a Man of good Sence to play at But I hope this Book will not meet with any Reader of this Tribe But if it do I desire and entreat him to go on with my Observations to the end and put all the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and strange Appearances of Providence Nature and Art into one Text and meditate seriously upon them and try to solve all the Difficulties of them and give us one more System of Philosophy that may give a full Satisfaction to Humane Reason in these Things to the World's end What I have done was undertaken with a Probity of Intention and managed with such a Competency or Portion and Pittance of Reason and Prudence as I was endowed with And no Man is answerable for more than he hath receiv'd I have been true and just to all Parties Jews and Gentiles and the Church of God to Protestants Papists Dissenters of all sorts so far as I know never daring wittingly and willingly to tell a Lye in the Cause of God or for Gods ◠Glory And no Body can in Justice tax me for Partiality in that Point for the Discourse must always suit with the Text and a History of Providence must be as extensive as the Subject itself And it is plain that the Divine Care and Government is spread over the whole Creation God commands his Sun to shine and his Rain to fall upon just and unjust and therefore I resolved at the first Enterprize of this Work Tros Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine agentur I 'll make no difference but speak Truth of all Men that the Sun shines upon and the Divine Providence is concern'd with Let those little Narrow-Soul'd Christians that appropriate their Faith and Charity to a Canton live in a little Corner of the World by themselves they are hardly worthy to enjoy the Benefit and Influence of an Universal Sun and Gospel and Government For my part I have long ago challeng'd the Epithet of Catholic so far as 't is lawful and commendable But else I protest against a real Heretic or Schismatic as unworthy of Catholic Favour and Communion As to the Work itself 't is of no dishonourable Original all the Historians that ever writ almost have given a Touch upon it both Ethnic and Christian many Christians have made Essays upon it but none more particularly that I know of than Mexico Camerarius Pontanus Delrio Dr. Beard Dr. Tho. Tailour Mr. Clark Mr. Mather c. And of late in our own Church and Nation Dr. More Mr. Glanvile and Mr. Baxter c. I have tried what I could to comprize the Substance of all in a little room and given my Reader the Extract of my Collections here in one Volume and to them have added my own Observations and other Relations never before in Print For which I stand Indebted and Obliged to several Friends and some worthy Personages who have given in their fresh Informations and Encouragements to this Undertaking from divers Parts of the Three Kingdoms A Work of this Nature was set on Foot about Thirty Years ago by Mr. Pool Author of the Synopsis Criticorum but or what Reason I know not it was laid aside and nothing has since appeared on that Subject but a small Essay written by Mr. Increase Mather Rector of Harvard Colledge in New-England to invite some others to go on with the Work and finding that 't was not attempted by
their own condition and with what difficulty they were rescued from so great a danger And for the most part great Penitents are more free from Pride and Contempt of others the consideration of what themselves once were being enough to keep them humble all their days So that Penitents are many times more throughly and perfectly good and after their recovery do in several respects out-strip and excel those who were never engaged in a vicious course of Life As a broken Bone that is well sett is sometimes stronger than it was before Thus far Arch-Bishop Tillotson I now proceed to give Instances of several strange Convictions and Conversions 1. Upon St. Paul's Sermon Preached upon occasion of the Altar inscribed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at Athens Dionysius the Areopagite with Damaris his Wife was converted 2. Justin Martyr was converted by beholding the Constancy Courage and Patience of the Christians in their Torments and Persecutions and the Instructions of an Old grave Man that met casually with him afterwards and advised him to quit the Philosophers and Study the Prophets Which he presently did tho he had been formerly under the Tutorage of Stoic Peripatetic Pythagorean and Platonist successively Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist. 3. Tertullian was converted by Reading the Scriptures and Writings of other Learned and Holy Men Quicquid agitur saith he speaking of Scripture Prenunciabatur Ibid. 4. Ambrose was converted by Origen Cyprian by the Ministry of Cecilius Presbyter of Carthage whose Name he afterward bore upon occasion of a Sermon he Preached on the History of the Prophet Jonas Ibid. 5. S. Augustine was converted by occasion of a Story related by Pontitian a Lawyer about the Retirement and Devotion of S. Antony the Hermit which so moved his Passions that he presently with-drew into the Garden broke forth into Tears and Cried out to his Dear Companion Alipius who followed him close at the Heels What is this What do we hear Vnlearned People rise and take Heaven by Violence whilst we with all our Learning wallow in Flesh and Blood Is it because we are ashamed to follow them Rather should we not be ashamed that they go before us And with this throwing himself upon the ground at a convenient distance from Alipius he seemed to hear a Voice as of some little child crying Tolle Lege Take up and Read concluding it to be a Voice from Heaven he opens the Book of St. Paul's Epistles which he had with him and hitting immediately upon that Text Rom. 13.12 13 14. Not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness c. He concluded it to be a very proper Lesson to spend his thoughts at that time upon Shewed it to Alipius who reading forward concluded the subsequent Verse to be as proper for him Aug. Conf. l. 8. c. 7.9 S. Augustine on a time forgetting the Argument he was upon made a digression to a point of Difference between the Orthodox and Manichees at which time one Firmus a Rich Merchant and a Manichee being present was so convinced that he came to him afterwards with Tears and on his Knees confessed his Errors and promised reformation Also one Felix a Manichee coming to Hippo to spread his Heresy in a Disputation with Augustine after the third time was so convinced that he recanted his Errors and was joyned to the Church Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist Here it may not be impertinent to remember that Austine going one time out of Curiosity to hear S. Ambrose was so lectured by an occasional Argument delivered in the Assembly by that Holy Man which touch'd his copy-hold that he thought verily Ambrose design'd it for a particular reproof Tho himself tells us in his Book of Confessions that he did afterwards believe S. Ambrose had no such purpose 6. Fulgentius being made the King's Collector and obliged to a Rigorous Exaction of Taxes and Impositions at last was wearied with the Burden and Variety of secular cares and dissatisfied with the vain felicity of the VVorld and in his Affections aspired after a more Spiritual Life and so began to pray and read the Scriptures and often resorted to the Monasteries where tho he perceived they had no VVorldly Solace yet neither had they any weariness in their present condition whereupon he brake out in these words with himself Why Travel I in the World It can yeild me no future or durable Reward answerable to my Pains Tho it be better to VVeep well then Rejoyce ill yet if to rejoyce be our desire how much more excellent is their Joy who have a good Conscience before God who dread nothing but Sin Study to do nothing but to accomplish the Precepts of Christ Now therefore let me change my Trade and as before I endeavour'd amongst my Noble Friends to prove more Noble so now let my Care and Imployment be amongst the Humble and Poor Servants of the Highest to become more Poor and Humble then they and like S. Matthew let me turn from a Publican to a Disciple Upon this he broke off his Old Acquaintance and Conversation and by degrees addicted himself to Fasting and Retirement Reading and Prayer and reading S. Augustine upon p. 36. without any further delay he put himself into a Monastery under Faustus where he became one of his Disciples Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist. p. 90 91. 7. Luther at the Age of One and Twenty was so affrighted at the violent Death of a Dear and Faithful Companion of his whom he mightily Loved that he betook himself into the Augustine Monks College at Erford and Writ to his Parents the occasion of his thus changing his course of Life and this was a good step to a serious Disposition and Religious Temper of Mind Afterwards by Sickness reading of S. Augustin's Works and observing how at Rome they said Masse in such a careless detestable manner that at the Communion-Table he heard the Curtezans laugh and boast of their Wickedness c. others say Bread thou art and Bread thou shalt remain c. And at last being startled with the profuseness of Indulgences sent from the Pope by John Tecelius into Germany with so large a Commission that tho a Man had defloured the Blessed Virgin yet for Money he could pardon his Sin Luther's Zeal took fire and set up for the Reformation Hear him giving an Account of himself Speaking of his own Works he thus Writes Above all things I now request the Pious Reader and beseech him for the Lord Jesus Christs fake that he reads my Books with Judgment yea with much pity and let him remember that I was sometime a Friaer and a Mad Papist and when I first undertcok this cause so Drunken and Drowned in Popish Doctrines that I was ready if I could to have killed all Men or to have assisted others in doing of it who withdrew their obedience from the Pope but in one Syllable Such a Soul was I as there are many at this day neither was I
preparing that we may be ready to die Therefore oh my God I humbly pray receive my Soul by thy free Mercy in Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer for Christ hath died for me and for all my Sins in this World committed My great God hath given me long Life and therefore I am now willing to die Oh Jesus Christ help my Soul and save my Soul I believe that my Sickness doth not arise out of the Dust nor cometh at peradventure but God sendeth it Job 5.6 7. By this Sickness God calleth me to repent of all my Sins and to believe in Christ now I confess my self a great Sinner Oh pardon me and help me for Christ his sake Lord thou callest me with a double Calling sometimes by Prosperity and Mercy sometimes by Affliction And now thou callest me by Sickness but let me not forget thee O my God For those that forget thy Name thou wilt forsake them As Psalm 9.17 All that forget God shall be cast into Hell therefore let me not forget thee Oh my God I give my Soul to thee Oh my Redeemer Jesus Christ pardon all my Sins and deliver me from Hell Oh do thoa help me against Death and then I am willing to die and when I die 〈◊〉 help me and receive me In so saying he died 39. Plaâ—bohon He was the second Man next Waban what received the Gospel he brought with him to the second Meeting at Wabay's House many when we formed them into Government he was chosen Ruler of Ten when the Church at Hassenamessit was gather'd he was called to be a Ruler then in that Church when that was scatter'd by the War they came back to Natick Church so many as survived and at Natick he died His Speech as followeth I rejoyce and am content and willing to take up my Sorrows and Sickness many are the Years of my Life long have I lived therefore now I look to die But I desire to prepare my self to die well I believe God's Promise that he will for ever save all that believe in Jesus Christ. Oh Lord Jesus help me deliver me and save my Soul from Hell by thine own Blood which thou hast shed for me when thou didest die for me and for all my Sins Now help me sincerely to confess all my Sins Oh pardon all my Sins I now beg in the Name of Jesus Christ a Pardon for all my Sins for thou O Christ art my Redeemer and Deliverer Now I hear God's Word and I do rejoyce in what I hear tho' I do not see yet I hear and rejoyce that God hath confirmed for us a Minister in this Church of Natick he is our VVatchman And all you People deal well with him both Men VVomen and Children hear him every Sabbath Day and make strong your praying to God and all you of Hassaunemesue restore your Church and Praying to God there Oh Lord help me to make ready to die and then receive my Soul I hope I shall die well by the help of Jesus Christ Oh Jesus Christ deliver and save my Soul in everlasting Life in Heaven for I do hope thou art my Saviour Oh Jesus Christ. So he died 40. Old Jacob He was among the first that pray'd to God he had so good a Memory that he could rehearse the whole Catechize both Questions and Answers when he gave thanks at Meat he would sometimes only pray the Lord's Prayer his Speech is as followeth My Brethren now hear me a few Words stand fast all you People in your praying to God according to that Word o God 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit you like Men and be strong in the Lord. Especially you that are Rulers and Teachers Fear not the Face of Man when you Judge in a Court together help one another agree together Be not divided one against another remember the Parable of ten Brethren that held together they could not be broken nor overcome but when they divided one against another then they were easily overcome and all you that are Rulers judge right Judgment for you do not judge for Man but for God in your Courts 2 Chron. 19.6 7. Therefore judge in the fear of God Again You that are Judges see that ye have not only Humane Wisdom for Mans Wisdom is in many things contrary to the Wisdom of God counting it to be foolishness Do not judge that right which only seemeth to be right and consider Matth. 7.1 2. Judge right and God will be with you when you so do Again I say to you all the People make strong your Praying to God and be constant in it 1 Thess 5.17 Pray continually Again lastly I say to you Daniel our Minister be strong in your Work As Mat. 5.14 16. You must bring Light into the World and make it to shine that all may see your good Work and glorifie your Heavenly Father Every Preacher that maketh strong his Work doth bring precious Pearls As Matth. 13.52 And thou shalt have Everlasting Life in so doing I am near to Death I have lived long enough I am about 90 Years old I now desire to die in the presence of Christ Oh Lord I commit my Soul to thee 41. Antony He was among the first that prayed to God he was studious to read the Scriptures and the Catechism so that he learned to be a Teacher but after the Wars he became a Lover of strong Drink was often admonished and finally cast out from being a Teacher His Dying Speeches follow I am a Sinner I do now confess it I have long prayed to God but it hath been like an Hypocrite tho' I was a confessing Church-Member yet like an Hypocrite tho' I was a Teacher yet like a Backsliding Hypocrite I was often drunk Love of strong Drink is a lust I could not overcome tho' the Church did often admonish me and I confessed and they â—orgave me yet I fell again to the same Sin tho' Major Gookins and Mr. Eliot often admonished me I confessed they were willing to forgive me yet I fell again Now Death calls for me and I desire to prepare to die well I say to you Daniel beware that you love not strong Drink as I did and was thereby undone Strengthen your Teaching in and by the word of God take heed that you defile not your work as I did for I defiled my Teaching by Drunkenness Again I say to you my Children forsake not praying to God go not to strange places where they pray not to God but strongly pray to God as long as you live both you and your Children Now I desire to die well tho' I have been a Sinner I remember that word that saith That tho' your Sins be many and great yet God will pardon the Penitent by Jesus Christ our Redeemer Oh Lord save and deliver me by Jesus Christ in whom I believe send thy Angels when I die to bring my poor Soul to thee and save my poor sinful
brought them home to Biscay Here the Vistiors of the Inquisition came aboard the Ship put them on Examination but by the Master's Favour and some general Answers they escaped for the present But fearing a second search they shifted for themselves and going twelve Miles by Night into France and so safely arrived in England Thus as the Psalmist speaks They which go down into the Sea and occupy in great Waters these Men see the Works of the Lord and his Wonders in the Deep Hackluit's English Voyages Vol. 3. Pag. 163. Full. Worth Pag. 282. in Devonshire 5. Dr. VVilliam Johnson late Chaplain and Subalmoner to King Charles I. going aboard from Harwich on Michaelmas-Day Sep. 29. 1648. was seized presently with a dull sadness of Spirit and was to use his own Words in a strange Anguish and Propassion so that he suffered Shipwreek in his Mind and all the terrors thereof before it came so really sick that to be drown'd in his Thoughts had been no Affliction to him After some time and not long about four a Clock in the Afternoon the Ship sprung a leak the Doctor crawled upon the Deck sees the sad Sight one fell to his Prayers another wrung his Hands a third wept after all they fell to work but in vain for the Wound was incurable At last they cast out their Long-boat shot off eight or nine Guns to give notice to the Master of the Ship that went out with them leap'd all into the Boat and in leaping the Doctor had like to have been drown'd No Mr. Cook who was Master of the Ship came to their Relief he and all his Men perished at the same time Now it blew half a Storm and they in a small Vessel many Leagues from any Shoar without Compass to guide them or Provision to sustain them starved with Cold and Night growing upon them without any thing in their Boat but a small Kettle which serv'd as a Scoop to cast the Water out and three Bags of pieces of Eight to the value of 300 l. sterling nothing to help them but their Prayers In this extremity of Danger see the Goodness of God a Ship made towards them and they with their two Oars towards it but the Sea was boisterous the Waves raging so that they were fain to keep out the Sea with their Backs sitting close to one another and to make use of their Kettle and for a long time were not able to reach the Ship nor the Ship them Tho' the good Man the Skipper hung on the Lee and did what he could to retard the Course of his Ship and hung out a Light to them at last they got into the Ship but the Doctor being weak and his Hands made useless and numb with cold and wet was left in the Boat till with the help of a Rope the Seamen pull'd him up Now they began to think over their Losses in the Shipwreck but they were not considerable when God had so graciously spared their Lives The next day Thursday it blew very fair for Norway whither their Ship was bound and about 12 a Clock at Noon they came within view of it but to escape the Rocks they thought to keep off the Coast till Morning and so sat down to eat the Doctor not having made a Meal in five Days About ten a Clock at Night when they had set their Watch and prayed with secure Thoughts they laid themselves to rest some of them upon their Bed but God appointed a harder Lodging for them such a one as for Jacob in his Journey to Padan Aram Gen. 28.11 for the Ship with full Sails ran upon a Rock and gave such a Crack that it was able to have awaken'd the most dead asleep among them The Mariners cried out Mercy Mercy Mercy the Master bid the Doctor pray for them pray for them for they should certainly perish The Ship stuck so fast in the Cleft of the Rock and brake in the hinder parts and one of the Seamen with a Rope in his Hand fastened to one of the Masts leaped from the Bow of the Ship to the Rock the rest following him 28 in number the Doctor being left alone upon the Deck began to wonder what was become of his Company and perceiving that they had all crowded to the Head of the Ship he went to see and there found a Dane who took pity on him and help'd him to get down with hird and being got down the Rope with much difficulty and danger he climb'd up on all four to his Company on the Rock Immediately the Ship began to decline and the Master being left last of all in the Ship made lamentable Moan to them to help him but too late for the Ship brake and sunk immediately and he good Man with a Light in his Hand who had been so kind in saving others but a little before was now with four of the Mariners drown'd himself Now the rest were upon a little Rocky Island unhabitable where they passed a sad Night the Country People call the Rock Arn-scare next Morning they were hungry one of the Boys brought the Doctor a Leaf of Scurvy-Grass some of them went a Fishing with a long Arm and a bended Finger and drew up some small Muscles Fresh Water was not to be had the Doctor being in a Fever was forced to lap salt Water which he still vomited up again and this he was told was both a present Cure of his Sickness and future Preservation of his Health A Danish Ship passed by but tho' they waved their Hats to them came not near them Then to their Prayers and singing Psalms after which some of them made a Raft and ventured to Sea upon it and it proved to be then a great Calm and the Goodness of God appear'd miraculous in that after the Loss of two great Ships he should save them by a swimming Plank for by this means several Shawls came rowing towards them before Night and brought Provision with them so that they got all once more to Land in Waller-Island where they were lodged in the Parson's House who was a Lutheran and shewed them no little kindness the People weeping bitterly at the Relation of their misfortunes and setting before them Meat and Drink Rye-Pancakes for Bread and good Lubeck Beer and after Sermon a doubtful Meal full of Variety in one Dish as Beef Mutton Lard Goat Roots and so many of God's Creatures that it seem'd the First Chapter of Genesis in a Dish From Ostersound they came for England in a Ship which presently had almbst fallen foul upon a Rock afterward sprang a Leak so that they were forced to pump for their Lives till at last they got safe but thro' Dangers and Troubles to Yarmouth See the Narrative it self called Deus Nobiscum with a Sermon by W. Johnson D. D. 6. Dr. Baily of St. John's Colledge in Oxford had a Son who was Servant to Sir John Robinson Alderman of London and afterwards Lieutenant of the
Tower this Son being at Sea and engaged in the Fight between a Squadron of the Parliament and the Dutch in the Leghorn-Road the Ship wherein he was which I think was the Providence was blown up and it was supposed all the Men lost about a Month or two afterwards the Doctor being at Sir John Robinson's House his Son to the great admiration of his Father and Master came at that instant to them told them that sitting on a Pole upon the Poop by the Flag-staff he was blown up into the Sea and there continued on the Pole till next day when the Dutch found him pitied him and took him aboard with them and so saved him This was related to me by the Worshipful William Garraway of Ford in Sussex Esq 7. The following Relations are to be found in Mr. Mather's Book of Providence Remarkable was that which happened to Jabez MMusgrove of Newbery who being shot by an Indian the Bullet entred in at his Ear and went out at his Eye on the other side of his Head yet the Man was preserved from Death yea and is still in the Land of the Living 8. Remarkable was that Deliverance mentioned by Mr. Janeway wherein that gallant Commander Major Edward Gibbons of Boston in New-England and others were concerned The substance of the Story is this A New-England Vessel going from Boston to some other parts of America was through the Continuance of contrary Winds kept long at Sea so that they were in very great straits for want of Provision and seeing they could not hope for any Relief from Earth or Sea they apply themselves to Heaven in humble and hearty Prayers but no Calm ensuing one of them made this sorrowful motion that they should cast Lots which of them should die first to satisfie the ravenous Hunger of the rest After many a sad Debate they come to a result the Lot is cast and one of the Company is taken but where is the Executioner to be found to act this Office upon a poor Innocent It is Death now to think who shall act this bloody part in the Tragedy But before they fall upon this in-voluntary Execution they once more went unto their Prayers and while they were calling upon God he answer'd them for there leapt a mighty Fish into the Boat which was a double Joy to them not only in relieving their miserable Hunger which no doubt made them quick Cooks but because they looked upon it to be sent from God and to be a token of their Deliverance But alas their Fish is soon eaten and their former Exigencies come upon them which sink their Spirits into Despair for they know not of another Morsel To Lot they go again the second time which falletn upon another Person but still none can be found to sacrifice him they again send their Prayers to Heaven with all manner of fervency when behold a second Answer from above a great Bird lights and fixes it self upon the Mast which one of the Company espies and he goes and there she stands till he took her with his Hand by the Wing This was Life from the Dead the second time and they feasted themselves herewith as hoping that second Providence was a fore-runner of their compleat Deliverance But they have still the same Disappointments they can see no Land they know not where they are Hunger increaseth again upon them and they have no hopes to be sav'd but by a third Miracle They are reduced to the former course or casting Lots when they were going to the heart-breaking work to put him to death whom the Lot fell upun they go to God their former Friend in Adversity by humble and hearty Prayers and now they look and look again but there is nothing Their Prayers are concluded and nothing appears yet still they hoped and stayed till at last one of them espies a Ship which put new Life into all their Spirits Their bear up with their Vessel they Man their Boar and desire and beg like perishing humble Supplicants to Board them which they are admitted The Vessel proves a French Vessel yea a French Pyrate Major Gibbons petitions them for a little Bread and offers Ship and Cargo for it But the Commander knows the Major from whom he had received some signal Kindnesses formerly at Boston and replied readily and chearfully Major Gibbons not a hair of you or your Company shall perish if it lie in my power to preserve you And accordingly he relieveth them and sets them safe on Shoar 9. Mr. James Janeway hath published several other Remarkable Sea-Deliverances of which some belonging to New-England were the Subjects He relates and I am inform'd that it was really so that a small Vessel the Master's Name Philip Hungare coming upon the Coast of New-England suddenly sprang a Leak and so Foundered In the Vessel there were eighteen Souls twelve of which got into the Long-Boat They threw into the Boat some small matters of Provision but were wholly without Fire These twelve Men sailed five hundred Leagues in this small Boat being by almost miraculons Providences preserved therein for five Weeks together God sent Relief to them by causing some flying Fish to fall into the Boat which they eat raw and well pleased therewith They also caught a Shark and opening his Belly sucked his Blood for Drink At the last the Divine Providence brought them to the West-Indies Some of them were so weak as that they soon died but most of them lived to declare the Works of the Lord. 10. Remarkable is the Preservation of which some belonging to Dublin in Ireland had Experience whom a New-England Vessel providentially met in an open Boat in the wide Sea and saved them from perishing Concerning which memorable Providence I have received the following Narrative A Ship of Dublin burdened about seventy Tuns Andrew Bennet Master being bound from Dublin to Virginia this Vessel having been some Weeks at Sea onward of their Voyage and being in the Latitude of 39. about 150 Leagues distant from Cape-Cod in New-England on April 18. 1681. A day of very stormy Weather and a great Sea suddenly there sprang a Plank in the fore part of the Ship about six a Clock in the Morning whereupon the Water increased so fast in the Ship that all their Endeavouts could not keep her from sinking above half an Hour so when the Ship was just sinking some of the Company resolved to lanch out the Boat which was a small one They did accordingly and the Master the Mate the Boatswain the Cook two Fore-mast-men and a Boy kept such hold of it when a Cast of the Sea suddenly helped them off with it that they got into it The heaving of the Sea now suddenly thrust them from the Ship in which there were left nineteen Souls viz. sixteen Men and three Women who all perished in the mighty Waters while they were trying to make Rafters by cutting down the Masts for the preservation of their Lives as
scent to her Nose and thereby receive it into her Brain which if she had done it had been her Death Never any Treason against her came so near to Execution as this For the Traytor Squire observed his Direction did the Deed and that immediately before the Queen rode abroad but the Divine Providence kept her from touching the Pummel with her Hand yet was the Treason discovered and the Traytor received his reward 17. A. C. 1599. The Earl of Tyr-Owen an Irish-man having been some while in Spain returned from thence with a Rebellious Mind and by the Assistance of Spain and the Popish Faction raised a Rebellion whereby more damage accrued to the Queen and State than by any other Rebellion all her Days yet by the good hand of God this Rebellion also was subdued and that Land secured and quieted 18. A. C. 1600. There was a Plot for the removing some of the Queens chief Officers and Councellors from about her which had it been effected might have proved dangerous to her Person and State the rather because many Papists had a great hand in that Conspiracy But the Lord prevented the mischief intended 19. A. C. 1602. Henry Garnet Superiour of the Jesuits in England Robert Tresmand Jesuit Robert Catesby Francis Tresham and others in the Name of all the Romish Catholicks in England imployed Thomas Winter into Spain to obtain an Army from thence to joyn with a Popish Army that should be raised here to change the Government and Religion setled among us Spain and England being then at Wars the motion was readily embraced by the Spaniards and an hundâ—ed thousand Crowns promised to help forward the business but before any thing could be effected it pleased God to take away that Peerless Princess full of Years in peace on her Bed having Reigned Gloriously 44 Ysars four Months and seven Days being sixty nine Years six Months and seventeen Days old II. In the Reign of King James 1. In the first Year of his Reign before he was solemnly Anointed and Crowned Watson and Clark two Romish Priests drew into their Conspiracy some Noble Men some Knights and some Gentlemen to surprise the King and his Son Prince Henry presuming on Foreign Forces for Aid and Assistance intending to alter Religion and to set up such Officers of State as they ohought best but their Plot before it came to execution was discovered the Traytors Condemned some of them Executed and others through the Kings Clemency spared Garnet and Tresmond Jesuits with Catesby and Tresham notwithstanding the Death of Queen Elizabeth when they saw that King James Defended the same Faith continued to solicit the King of Spain to send an Army into England to joyn with the Forces of the Papists here for Extirpation of Religion But the King of Spain being in Treaty with the King of England about Peace refused to hearken to any such motion whereupon they together with other Unnatural and Trayterous Subjects Plotted the matchless merciless devilish and damnable Gun-powder Treason as is now to be shewed The Plot was to under-mine the Parliament-House and with Powder to blow up the King Prince Clergy Nobles Knights and Burgesses the very Confluence of all the flower of Glory Piety Learning Prudence and Authority in the Land Fathers Sons Brothers Allies Friends Foes Papists and Protestants all at one blast Their intent when that Irreligious Atchievement had been performed was to surprize the remainder of the King's Issue to alter Religion and Government and to bring in a Forreign Power Sir Edmond Baynam an attainted Person who stiled himself Prince of the Damned Crew was sent unto the Pope as he was the Temporal Prince to acquaint him with the Gun-powder Plot and now to the Plot it self The Sessions of Parliament being dissolved July 7th A. C. 1605. and Prorogued to the 7th of February following Catesby being at Lambeth sent for Thomas Winter who before had been imployed into Spain and acquainted him with the design of blowing up the Parliament-House who readily apprehending it said This indeed strikes at the Root only these helps were wanting a House for Residence and a skilfull Man to carry the Mine but the first Catesby assured him was easie to be got and for the Man he commended Guy Fawkes a sufficient Souldier and a forward Catholick Thus Robert Catesby John Wright Thomas Winter and Guy Fawkes had many Meetings and Conferences about the business till at last Thomas Piercy came puffing into Catesby's Lodging at Lambeth saying What Gentlemen shall we always be thinking and never do any thing You cannot be ignorant how things proceed To whom Catesby answered that something was resolved on but first an Oath for Secrecy was to be Administred for which purpose they appointed to meet some three Days after behind St. Clements Church beyond Temple-Bar where being met Peircy professed that for the Catholick cause himself would be the Man to advance it were it with the slaughter of the King which he was ready to undertake and do No Tom. said Catesby thou shalt not adventure thy self to so small purpose if thou wilt be a Traytor there is a Plot to greater Advantage and such a one as can never be discovered Hereupon all of them took the Oath of Secresie heard a Mass and received the Sacrament after which Catesby told them his devilish Devise by Mine and Gun-powder to blow up the Parliament-House and so by one stroke with the Destruction of many effect that at once which had been many Years attempting And for case of Conscience to kill the Innocent with the nocent he told that it was Warrantable by the Authority of Garnet himself the Superiour of the English Jesuits and of Garrard and Tresmond Jesuitical Priests likewise who by the Apostolical Power did commend the Fact and Absolve the Actors The Oath was given them by the said Garrard in these words You shall swear by the blessed Trinity and by the Sacrament you now purpose to receive never to disclose directly nor indirectly by Word or Circumstance the Matter that shall be proposed to you to keep secret nor desist from the Execution thereof until the rest shall give you leave The Project being thus far carried on in the next place the first thing they sought after was a House wherein they might begin the Work for which purpose no place was held fitter than a certain Edifice adjoyning to the Wall of the Parliament-House which served for a With-Drawing Room to the Assembled Lords and out of Parliament was at the disposal of the Keeper of the place and Wardrobe thereto belonging These did Piercy hire for his Lodgings entertained Fawkes as his Man who changed his Name into Johnson had the Keys and keeping of the Rooms Besides this they hired another House to lay in Provision of Powder and to frame and to fit Wood in for the carrying on the Mine which Catesby provided at Lambeth and Swore Robert Keyes into their Conspiracy whom he made the
Keeper of those Provisions who by Night conveyed the same into Fawks's Rooms The appointed day for the Parliament being the 17th of February it was thought fit to begin their work in October before But Fawkes returining out of the Country found Piercy's Roomes appointed for the Scotish Lords to Meet in who were to Treat about the Union of the two Kingdoms whereupon they forbore to begin their Work But that Assembly being Dissolved upon the 11th of December late in the Night they entred upon the Work of Darkness beginning their Mine having Tools afore-hand prepared and bak'd Meats provided the better to avoid Suspicion in case they should send abroad for them They which first began the Mine were Robert Catesby Esq the Arch Contriver and Traytor and ruin of his Name Thomas Piercy Esq akin to the Earl of Northumberland Thomas Winter John Wright and Guy Fawkes Gentlemen and Thomas Bates Catesby's Man all of them well grounded in the Romish School and earnest Labourers in this Vault of Villany so that by Christmass-Eve they had brought the Mine under an Entry adjoyning to the Wall of the Parliament-House under-proping are Earth as they went with this Framed Timber nor till that day were they seen abroad of any Man During this under-mining much consultation was had how to order the rest of the business when the Deed should be accomplished The first was how to surprize the next Heir to the Crown For tho' they doubted not but Prince Henry would accompany his Father and perish with him yet they suspected that Duke Charles as too young to attend the Parliament would escape the Train and perchance be so carefully Guarded and Attended at Court that he would hardly be gotten into their Hands but Piercy offered to be the remover of this Rub resolving with some other Gentlemen to enter into the Dukes Chamber which by reason of his Acquaintance he might well do and others of his like Acquaintance should be placed at several Doors of the Court so that when the Blow was given and all Men in a maze then would he carry away the Duke which he presumed would be easily done the most of the Court being then absent and for such as were present they would be altogether unprovided for Resistance For the surprize of the Lady Elizabeth it was held a matter of far less difficulty she remaning at Comb-Abby in Warwickshire with the Lord Harrington and Ashby Catesby's House being not far from the same whither under the pretence of Hunting upon Dunsmore-Heath many Catholicks should be Assembled who knowing for what purpose they were met had the full liberty in that distracted time to provide Money Horses Armour and other necessaries for War under pretence of strengthening and guarding the Heir apparent to the Crown Then it was debated what Lords they should save from the Parliament and it was agreed that they should keep as many as they could that were Catholicks or Favourers of them but that all others should feel the smart and that the Treason should be charged upon the Puritans to make them the more odious to the World Next it was controverted what Foreign Princes they should make privy to this Plot seeing they could not enjoyn them Secresie nor oblige them by Oath and this much troubled them For though Spain was held fittest to second their Plot yet he was slow in his Preparations and France was too near and too dangerous to be dealt with and how the Hollanders stood Affected to England they knew very well But while they were thus busying themselves and tormenting their Brains the Parliament was Adjourned to the Fifth Day of October ensuing whereupon they brake off both Discourse and Work till Candlemass and then they laid in Powder and other Provisions beginning their Work again and having in the mean time taken into their Company Cristopher Wright and Robert Winter being first Sworn and receiving the Sacrament for Secresie the Foundation Wall of the Parliament-House being very hard and nine Foot thick with great difficulty they wrought half through Fawkes being their Centinel to give warning when any came near that the Noise in digging might not be heard The Labourers thus working into the Wall were suddenly surpriz'd with a great Fear and casting away their Digging Tools betook themselves to their Weapons having sufficient Shot and Powder in the House and fully resolving rather to die in the place than to yield or be taken The cause of this their Fear was a noise that they heard in a Room under the Parliament-House and which they meant to have mined which was directly under the Chair of State but now all on a sudden they were at a stand and their Countenances cast each upon other as doubtful what would be the issue of this their Enterprize Fawkes scouted out to see what he could discover abroad and finding all safe and free from Suspect he return'd and told them that the noise was only occasion'd by the Removal of Coals that were now upon Sale and that the Cellar was to let which would be more commodious for their purpose and also would save their labour for the Mine Hereupon Thomas Peircy under pretence of Stowage for his Winter Provision and Coals went and hired the Cellar which done they began a new Conference wherein Catesby found the whole weight of the Work too heavy for himself alone to support For besides the Maintenance of so many Persons and several Houses for the several Uses hired and paid for by him the Gunpowder and other Provisions would rise to a very great Summ and indeed too much for one Man's Purse He desired therefore that himself Piercy and one more might call in such Persons as they thought fit to help to maintain the Charge alledging that they knew Men of Worth and Wealth that would willingly assist but were not willing that their Names should be known to the rest This request as necessary was approved and therefore ceasing to dig any further in the Vault knowing that the Cellar would be fitter for their purpose they removed into it 20 Barrels of Gunpowder which they cover'd with a thousand Billets and five Hundred Faggots so that now their Logding Rooms were clear'd of Suspicious Provisions and might be freely enter'd into without danger of Discovery But the Parliament being again Prorogued to the 5th of November following these Persons thought fit that for a while they should again disperse themselves all things being already in so good a forwardness and that Guy Fawkes should go over to acquaint Sir William Stanley and Master Hugh Owen with these their Proceedings yet so as the Oath of Secresie should be first taken by them For their Design was to have Sir William Stanley's Presence so soon as the fatal Blow should be given to be a Leader to their intended Stratagems whereof as they thought they should have great Need and that Owen should remain where he was to hold Correspondence with Foreign Princes to allay
without Covering The whole Countrey round about where she dwelt will bear her Witness that she visited and relieved the Sick and cloathed the Naked She fed the Hungry and healed the Wounded Her Purse her Hand her Heart were all open for their Relief She bought many Precious Drugs and Cordial Waters She made several precious Salves and gave them all away to such as stood in need of them She spared not her best Pains being never weary of well-doing insomuch that in the extremity of her great Sickness such bowels of Compassion yearned in her she compounded several Medicines with her own Hands and applied them Thus will her Works praise her in the Gate and being dead she yet speaks Prov. 31.31 Heb. 11.14 for her precious Name lives The Lord will have the Name of the Righteous to be in everlasting Remembrance Psalm 112.6 and the Memory of the Just is blessed Clark's Examp. Vol. 2. c. 15. 4. Mr. John Bruen of Bruen-Stapleford for three years together whilst he lived in Chester maintained the Poor of his own Parish in the County allowing them all the Profit of his two Mills He relieved the Poor in Chester both daily at his Gate and otherwise Weekly as he was rated Ibid. 5. Mr. John Dod though his Means was very small yet was much given to Hospitality Scarce any Sabbath in the year but he dined both Poor and Rich commonly three or four Poor besides Strangers that came to hear him He had so large a Heart that upon occasion he hath given to some three Shillings to some five Shillings to some ten Shillings yea to some twenty Shillings and when the Poor came to buy Butter or Cheese he would command his Maid to take no Money of them Ibid. 6. Mr. Samuel Crook of Wrington in Sommersetshire was very bountiful to his Kindred that needed it and then he shewed it most when their Necessities swelled highest He was very charitable and open-handed to the poor Members of Jesus Christ And albeit his Charity shined most to those of his own Flock yet was it not shut up from Strangers but he was very liberal to them also upon good Occasions Yea when he went abroad to bestow the Gospel freely upon other Congregations adjacent such Poor as he found to be Hearers unless they were known to him to take up Hearing as a Cloak to cover their Idleness and Neglect of their Callings never went home empty-handed but he always warmed and cheered them with his Bounty as well as instructed them with his Doctrine Ibid. 7. Mr. John Carter sometime Minister of Delstead was very diligent in Visiting the Sick especily the poorer sort and he never went to the House of any poor Creature but he lest a Purse-Alms as well as a Spiritual-Alms of good and heavenly Advice and Prayer No poor body ever came to his Door that went away unhanded his Wife also looking unto that as well as himself Ibid. 8. Dr. William Gouge was very charitable especially to the Houshold of Faith He maintained some poor Schollars in the University wholly at his own Charge and contributed liberally towards the Maintenance of others He set a-part a Sacred Stock as he called it a Portion for the Poor proportionable to his Encoms which also he faithfully distributed Ibid. 9. Dr. Harris in his Works of Charity to the Poor was no less discreet than private When he met with fit Objects his Hand was more ready to give then his Tongue to proclaim it Indeed he was no Friend to idle lazy canting Persons who live on the Sweat of other Mens Brows Whosoever shall survey his Large Bills of Weekly and Quarterly Allowances besides considerable Sums given to poor Ministers and especially to poor Widows and Orphans who never knew whence it came and shall add thereunto his Legacies bequeathed in his Will to charitable Uses cannot but judge that his Charity exceeded the ordinary Proportions of his Revenues Ibid. 10. Mr. Ignatius Jordan of Exeter was famous for his Charity both in his Life and at his Death In his Life he was a free-hearted and open-handed Man He was a great Patron of the Poor another Job in that respect He could truly say with him as Job 30.25 Was not my Soul grieved for the Poor No doubt it was and did earnestly plead for them and especially for God's Poor honest poor Persons whose Hearts and Faces were set God-ward and Heaven-ward and his Hands were very open to relieve them He did that for them which many that had far greater Estates had not Hearts to do Ibid. He would often say That he wondred what rich Men meant that they gave so little to the Poor and raked so much together for their Children Do you not see quoth he what comes of it And hereupon he would reckon up divers Examples of such as heaped up much for their Children who within a short time had scattered and consumed all And on the Morth-side he often spake of such as had small beginnings and afterwards became rich or of a competent Estate giving a particular Instance in himself I came said he but with a Groat or Six pence in my Purse Had I had a Shilling in my Purse I had never been Mayor of Exeter Therefore leave Children but a little and they by God's Blessing upon their Labours and Industry may become Rich but leave them a great deal and they are in danger to become Beggars His Care for the Poor was most remarkable in the time of a great Plague in that City which was Anno Christi 1625. For in the absence of the Mayor he was chosen his Deputy and he seeing the sad and deplorable Condition of the City accepted of it and wrote his Letters to divers Towns in Devonshire and to some in Dorcet and Somersetshire by which means he procured several Sums of Money for the Supplial of the Wants of many Hundred of Poor that in that time were in a distressed Condition One that was an Eye-witness Related that he had seen Morning after Morning coming to his Door sometimes Thirty sometimes Forty yea Fifty Sixty or more wringing their Hands Some crying that their Husbands are Dead others that their Wives were Dead others that their Children are Dead and all that they had not wherewith to Bury them Some again cryed that their Families are Sick and they had not wherewithal to Relieve them others that they had divers Children but had neither Bread nor Money to Buy it for them Some cryed for Bread some for Physick others for Shrouds for their Dead and he not only heard them patiently but his Bowels yearned towards them and his Hands were stretched out for their Relief For standing in his Shop with his own Hands he ministred Supplies unto them all and so dismissed them for the present The next Morning when there was a renewal of their sad Complaints his charitable Care of them was renewed also And thus he continued Morning by Morning even for the space
be paid by 40 shillings apiece 13. For the Marriages of poor Maids in Reading in the same manner 100 l. 14. For the Marriages of poor Maids in Newbery that have served 7 years the same Master or Mistress 50 l. 15. To set on work idle vagrant Boys in Bridewel 200 l. 16. Towards Finishing the Pinacles of the Steeple of S. Marys in Reading 50 l. 17. To be lent upon Bond with Sureties to several honest industrious poor Clothiers in Reading first for 7 years then for 3 years to others and so on gratis for ever 500 l. viz. 50 l. apiece 18. To the Clothiers of Newbery the same Sum for the like use viz. 500 l. 19. To poor industrious Merchant-Adventurers in London to be lent by 300 l. in a parcel gratis from 3 years to 3 years in like manner as before 300 l. 20. To his Brother William Kendrick and Children 2000 l. and a Gold-Ring 21. To his Sister Anna Newman of Reading 1000 Marks 22. To her Children 2000 Marks c. 23. To his Sister Alice Vigures of Exeter 500 l. 24. To her Children 1000 l. 25. To his Brother James Winch of Purley in the County of Berks and Children 1000 l. 26. To old Elizab. Kendrick his Uncle's Daughter 50 l. 27. To Tho. Newman at Delf in Holland Servant to his Partner 1000 l. 28. To his Kinsman and late Servant Sim. Gaudy 1000 l. 29. To Arth. Aynscomb Merchant then at Antwerp Shearer with him in Trade 500 l. 30. To Barney Reymes Merchant at Delf another Shearer 500 l. 31. To Mr. John Quarles who was his Master and then kept his Accompts 500 l. forgiving him also a Debt of 300 l. 32. To Mr. George Lowe Merchant and former Partner 300 l. 33. To Tho. Billingslie Son of Sir H. B. 200 l. forgiving him also a Debt of 200 l. more 34. To the Executors of Tho. Jackson Merchant 300 l. 35. To Luces van Punon of Middleburgh 50 l. 36. To Jeremiah Poets of Middleburgh 20 l. 37. To William Powle his Covenant-Servant 200 l. 38. To And Kendrick his Apprentice 300 l. and in lieu of what he had received with him 100 l. 39. To another Apprentice Chr. Packe 100 l. 40. To his House-keeper 20 l. To two of his Maids 20 l. apiece To his Drawer 50 l. to another Drawer 25 l. To his Drawers Servants 25 l. To his twelve Clothworkers Rowers and Shearers 130 l. To Bigge and Salisbury that pressed and folded his Cloth 25 l. To his Porters at the Water-side 10 l. To Packers 10 l. To his Water-bearer 3 l. To the Washer 5 l. To W. Bealde of Reading Clothier 50 l. to another Clothier 50 l. To another Clothier Tho. Newman 100 l. To John Skegmere Secretary to the Merchant-Adventurers 100 l. To R. B. a Partner 300 l. To Mr. W. T. 5 l. To Officers of the Company 15 l. For Service at 6 a Clock in Reading 250 l. the like at Newbery 250 l. to another 100 l. For a Dinner for the Drapers at his Funeral 40 l. Extracted out of the Copy printed A. C. 1625. 23. The Lady Alice Dutchess Dudley gave many hundred pounds toward the Building of St. Giles's Church the Church being finished she gave Hangings of Watchid Taffety to cover the upper-end of the Chancel and those bordered with a silk and silver Fringe Item For the back of the Altar a rich green Velvet Cloth with these three Letters in Gold IHS embroidered on it Two Service-Books in Folio embossed with Gold A gree Velvet Cloth with a rich deep Gold Fringe to cover the Altar on Sundays A Cambrick-Altar Cloth with a deep Bonelace round about another fine Damask-Altar Cloth Two Cusâ—ins for the Altar rickly embroidred with Gold A large Turkey Carpet to be spread on the Week-days over it A beautiful Skreen of Carved Work which was placed where the former in the old Church stood Moreover she gave a neat Pair of Organs with a Case richly Gilded Item Ver costly handsom Rails to guard the Lord's Table from prophane uses It. The Communion-Plate of all sorts in Silver and gilt for that sacred use she was at the Charge of Paving the upper-end of the Church wih Marble-stones She gave the great Bell and was at the Charge of Casting and Hanging the other five Bells She gave to the Church of Stonelay in Warwickshire as also to the Churches of Mancester Leke-Wotton Ashow Kenelworth and Monks-Kirby Twenty pounds per Annum apiece for a perpetual Augmentation to the poor Vicaridges of those respective Churches for ever She bestowed on the same Churches as also upon the Churches of Bedford Acton St. Albans Patshill divers pieces of costly Plate for the Celebration of the Holy Communion in each of them And she purchased a fair house and Garden near the said Church of St. Giles's and gave it for a perperual Mansion to the Incumbents after three Lives She also allowed a yearly Stipend to the Sexton of that Churchâ—â— Tole the great Bell when the Prisoners condemned to die were passing by and to Ring out after they were executed She likewise gave great Sums of Money for the Repairing the Cathedral Church of Litchfield and for the Re-edifying of St. Sepulchres in London All these with many more were the Product of her great Charity whilst she lived and thereby made her own Eyes her Overseers and her own Hand her Executors At her Death she gave for Redemption of Christian Captives from the Hands of Infidels One hundred pounds per Annum for ever To the Hospital in St. Giles's Four hundred pounds for Twenty pounds a year for ever For the placing out for ever of poor Parish-Children of St. Giles's Apprentices Two hundred pounds to purchase 10. l. per Annum To the Poor of the Parishes of Stoneley Kenilworth Leke-Wotton Ashow Bedford and Passhill aforesaid and also of Lichborow and Blakesley One hundred pounds per Annum And upon the Day of her Funeral Fifty pounds to be distributed among the Poor She gave to Fourscore and ten Widows according to the number of the years she had lived to each one a Gown and fair white Handkerchief to attend the Hearse wherein her Body was carried and One shilling apiece for their Dinner after that Solemnity was performed which was on the 16th of March 1668. She gave to every place where her Corps should rest in its passage from London unto Stoneley aforesaid in Warwickshire where she had a Noble Monument prepared by her self She ordered that Six pence should be given to every poor Body that should meet her Corps on the Road. She gave to Blakesley Lichborow and Patshill Ten pounds apiece to be distributed among the Poor the same day her Corps was interred to Stoneley Fifty pounds distributed the same day Thus this Illustrious Dutchess did in her Life and at her Death and doubtless for all her good Deeds she has her Reward in Heaven by God's Mercy and Christ's Merits See the Narrative of her Life
On the Lord's Day Octob. 6. she said thus Here is nothing here but sin I am willing to die but either to live or to die which the Lord pleaseth his Will be done and so it will whether I will or no On Tuesday at Night Octob. 8. seeing her Mother weeping she said Mother do not weep for me but leave me to the Lord and let him do with me what he pleaseth And then clasping her Arms about her Mother's Neck her Mother said Thou embracest me but I trust thou art going to the Embracings of the Lord Jesus She answered Mother I know it that when I go from hence I shall go into Health and Happiness or else I should not undergo all my Pains with so much patience More Expressions of Mary Warren Pray you Mother take off these Plaisters for I would not have them I would have no Doctors or Apothecaries for God shall be my Physician and he will heal me I do not value the Things of this World no more than Dirt. Her Mother had told one That she thought her Daughter had Assaults of Satan she once looked very ghastly and now her Daughter said thus Once I think I looked ghastly and turned my Head on one side and on the other Satan stood upon my left side and God was upon my right side and opened the Gates of Heaven for me and he told me Satan should not hurt me though he sought to devour me like a roaring Lyon I am very sore from the Crown of my Head to the Sole of my Foot but I am so full of Comfort and Joy that I do feel but little of my Pain I do not know whether I shall live or die but whether I live or die it will be well for me I am not in trouble for my sins God is satisfied with his Son Jesus Christ for he hath wash'd them away with his Blood Then her Sister standing by she said Sister Betty and Sister Anne be sure your first Work be in the Morning to seek the Lord by Prayer and likewise in the Evening and give Thanks for your Food for you cannot pray too ofen to the Lord and though you cannot speak such Words as others have yet the Lord will accept of the Heart for you do not know how soon your Speech may be taken away as mine was She desired her Mother thus Do not let too much Company be here late at Night lest it should hinder them from seeking the Lord in Duty at home I know not whether I shall live or die but if I die and if you will have a Sermon I desire this may be the Text the Place I do not know but the Words may be comfortable to you That David when his Child was sick he cloathed himself in Sackcloth and wept but when his Child was dead he washed and eat Bread For you have wept much while I have been sick and if I die you have cause to rejoyce My Comfort is in the Lord there is Comfort indeed Though we may seek Comfort here and the Glory of this World yet what is all that All will be nothing when we come to lie upon a Death-bed then we would fain have the Love of God and cannot get it I am full of Comfort and Joy Though my Pains are very great yet I am full of Joy and Comfort I was very full of Comfort before but I am fuller of Joy this Hour than I have been yet It is better to live Lazarus's Life and to die Lazarus's Death than to live Dives's Life he had his Delicates and afterwards would have been glad to have had Lazarus dip his Finger in Water and cool his Tongue The last Night I could not stir my Head Hand nor Foot but by and by the Lord did help me to move my Head a little and at length my Body O what a good God have I that can cast down and raise up in a moment 29. Of the Expressions of an hopeful Child the Daughter of Mr. Edward Scarfield that was but Eleven Years of Age in March 1661 Gathered from a Letter written by one fearing God that lived in the House with the Child In August last this Child was sick of a Fever in which time she said to her Father who is a holy humble precious Man I am afraid I am not prepared to die and fell under much trouble of Spirit being sensible not only of actual Sins but of her lost Estate without Christ in Unbelief as Ephes 2.12 John 16.8 9. and she wept bitterly crying out thus My sins are greater than I can bear I doubt God will not forgive them telling her Father I am in unbelief and I cannot believe Yet she was drawn out to pray many times in those words of Psal 25. For thy Name 's sake O Lord pardon my sin for it is great Thus she lay oft mourning for sin and said I had rather have Christ than Health She would repeat many Promises of God's Mercy and Grace but said she could not believe But whilst her Father was praying the Lord raised her Soul up to believe as she told her Father when Prayer was ended Now I believe in Christ and I am not afraid of Death After this she said I had rather die than sin against God Since that time she hath continued quiet in mind as one that hath Peace with God Her Father saith that since she was Five Years old he remembred not that either a Lye or an Oath hath ever come out of her Mouth neither would she have wronged any to the value of a Pin. For these two last Relations I 'm beholding to Mr. Henry Jessey Next follows a Narrative of the Conversions and happy Deaths of several young Children extracted from Mr. White 's and Mr. Janeway's Treatises upon that Subject to which the Reader is refer'd for a much larger Account 1. THere was a Child of whom many things which I here relate I was an Ear-witness of and other things which I shall speak of him I am fully satisfied of This little Child when he died was in Coats somewhat above eight years old of singular Knowledge Affections and Duties for his Age of whom that I may give a more full Account For his Knowledge 1. He asked how the Angels could sin since there were none to tempt them and they were with God 2. It being told him that all Sins and Duties were commanded in the Ten Commandments and forbid I asked him what Commandment forbad Drunkenness He said Thou shalt not kill for they quartelled and killed one another His Father asked him who bid you learn your Book and there is no Commandment saith Thou shalt learn thy Book The Child answered in these words or to this purpose It is said Thou shalt honour thy Father and thy Mother you bid me learn my Book He asked his Father when he was at Dinner what became of Children that died before Baptism he made a little stop that he might answer him
suitable to his Capacity the Child prevented him saying I think it is thus God knows all things he knows which of those Children had they lived would have served him them he takes to Heaven and he knows which would not have served him them he casts into Hell I set not this down as a true Answer to the Question but it argued more than ordinary consideration in a Child For his Affections 1. Some years since his Mother found him crying His Mother taking him into her Lap ask'd him why he cried he answered with many Tears he feared he should go to Hell yet he served God as well as he could 2. Another time being found weeping upon a Lord's-day his Mother asked him why he cried he said Because he remembred no more of the Sermon 3. Other times he had wept lest he should not go to Heaven For his Practices I bless God his Practices were not unequal to his Affections and Knowledge he was often found in Corners at Prayer When my Wife sent him upon an Errand she would ask him why he staid he would answer with much ado that he thought there was no great haste so he stayed a little at Prayers he spent a quarter of an hour daily in secret Prayer he got his Brother to keep a Diary but he bid that we should not know of it till his Death-bed wherein he set down many of his Sins but none of his Duties for them he said were so few that he could easily remember them Some of which Sins were these 1st He whetted his Knife upon a Lord's-day 2d He did not reprove one that he heard swear 3d. He once omitted Prayer to go to play 4th He found his Heart dead and therefore omitted Prayer He one day hearing the Bell toll said He would not have any Rings given at his Burial but a good Book that may do them good 2. There was a little Child which frequented that excellent Duty of Secret Prayer and would ask the Mother strange Questions concerning Heaven and God and the Mother thought the Child had heard some discoursing of those Questions and so had taken them from their Conferences He once ran to his Mother and said O Mother I must go to God will you go with me His Mother said I must go when it pleaseth God but my Child how knowest thou that thou must go to God The Child answered God told me so for I love God and God loves me and after that cared no more to play but about a month after fell sick and died always saying in his Sickness that he must go to God and asking his Mother whether she would go with him 3. I know also a Minister who told me That one of his Children when but four years old said to him that he had seen God and his Angels and that he must go to them 4. This fourth History I have out of the Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. John Langham eldest Son to Mr. James Langham being but five years and a half old and it 's thus This sweet Child had arrived to that in five years and a little more that some which are here I am afraid have not arrived to in ten times that space He was a very dutiful Child to his Parents and would exceedingly rejoyce when he had done any thing or had carried himself so as to please them He was taken with the Book called the Practice of Piety and delighted to be reading in it His Father speaking to him one day about the Devil and Hell and things of that Nature he asked him if he were not afraid to be alone he answered No for God would defend him His Father asked him why he thought so he replied that he loved God and that he hoped God loved him The day before he died he desired me to pray for him I told him if he would have me to pray for him he must tell me what I should pray for and what he would have God to do for him He answered To pardon my Sins Oft upon his Sick-bed he would be repeating to himself the fifty fifth Chapter of Isaiah and other pieces of Scripture which in the time of his Health he had learned by heart 5. I shall next set down several Passages in a Letter written by one that went to School a rare Example for Children of that Age to follow I find he was to get time from his Sleep to write I shall not set down the whole Letter but leave out things of business and that are introductory The Letter BRother pray let me intreat you to fit and prepare your self for Death for it knocks at the door of young ones as well as the old there are as many young Souls in Golgotha as old the Sythe of Mortality mows down Lillies as well as Grass One thing I beg of you and I hope you will not deny me which is this seeing you have Knowledge Will Mind take heed you be not drawn away by hypocritical Deceivers for the Scripture saith That in the latter days many false Prophets shall arise who would deceive the very Elect themselves if it were possible but it is not possible for God will reserve some for himself Thus far Mr. White 6. Mrs. Sarah Howley at eight years old gave her self much to attending upon the Word preached and still continued very tender under it greatly savouring what she heard She was much in Secret Prayer as might easily be perceived by those who listened at the Chamber-door and was usually very importunate full of tears She was exceeding dutiful to her Parents very loath to grieve them in the least and if she had at any time which was very rare offended them she would weep bitterly She abhorred Lying and allowed her self in no known Sin The Lord's-day before that in which she died a Kinsman of hers came to see her and asking of her Whether she knew him she answered Yes I know you and I desire you would learn to know Christ you are young but you know not how soon you may die Now and then she dropt these words How long sweet Jesus Finish thy work sweet Jesus come away sweet Jesus come quickly sweet Lord help come away now now dear Jesus come quickly Good Lord give patience to me to wait thy appointed time Lord Jesus help me help me She oft commended her Spirit into the Lord's Hands and the last words which she was heard to speak were these Lord help Lord Jesus help Dear Jesus Blessed Jesus And thus upon the Lord's Day between Nine and Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon she slept sweetly in Jesus and began an everlasting Sabbath February 19. 1670. 7. Of a Child that was admirably affected with the Things of God when he was between Two and Three Years old A certain little Child whose Mother had Dedicated him to the Lord in her Womb when he could not speak plain would be crying after God and was greatly desirous to be taught good
Transaction between God and him and upon mature Deliberation he judged it most adviseable for him to make his Covenant with God as Explicit as Writing and Signing could render it that so it might leave the more Impression upon his Heart and Life and be an Evidence likewise which in Temptation or Desertion he might have recourse unto Wherefore he set apart a time for I think secret Fasting and Prayer before the Lord and then behold how this young Man counting it high time for hime to be bound out unto some Service took a course for it he subscribed an Holy Covenant of which this was the Matter this the Form The Covenant between God and my Soul renewed confirmed and signed Nov. 22. 1683. Whereas not only the Commands of God who hath often called upon me by his Word preached to give up my self both Body and Soul to be at his Disposal which calls by the publick Ministry were enough to engage me unto this but also the Christian Religion which I profess and my Baptism in which I took the Lord to be my God and promised to renounce the World the Flesh and the Devil and to dedicate my self unto the Service Work and Will of God do bind me hereunto in that God is such a God as deserves this yea infinitely more than this at my Hands my Creator the Fountain of my Being my Preserver my Benefactor my Lord my Soveraig my Judge he in whose Hands my Life my Breath and all my Concerns are he that doth protect me from all Dangers and supply me in all Wants support me under all Burdens and direct me in all Streights he alone that can make me Happy or Miserable he alone that can Save me or Damn me he alone that can give inward Peace and Joy that is my Friend my God in that Self-dedication is the Creatures Advancement these First-fruits if in Sincerity putting upon me a Gloriousness and Excellency in that Felicity hereafter depends upon my dedicating of my self unto God now in that this is the highest piece of Gratitude I am capable of expressing unto God and I know no better way to obey the Will of God than first to give up my self unto him And whereas the Mercies which the Lord hath been pleased graciously to bestow upon me are so many that even bare Morality doth shew me that I can never enough requite one that hath done so much for me except by giving up my self wholly to him 1669. Whereas God hath given me a godly Father and Mother 1674. In that when I was like to die being twice sick of a Feaver God was pleased to bless means for my Recovery and lengthen out the Thread of my Life 1675. Whereas when I by an Accident fell down and had like to have been deprived of the use of my Tongue God was in his good Providence graciously pleased to give me the use of it 1678. Whereas when I was sick of the Small Pox God was pleased to bless means for my Recovery whereas then I made Promises unto God that if he would give me my Health I would endeavour to become a new Creature and he hath done so for these five Years And whereas God hath of late been bestowing many and wonderful Mercies upon me What can I do less than give up my self wholly to him which now I do And O Lord God I beseech thee to accept of thy poor Prodigal now prostrating of himself before thee I confess O Lord I have fallen from thee by my Iniquity and am by Nature a Son of Hell but of thy infinite Grace thou hast promised Mercy to me in Christ If I will but turn unto thee with all my Heart therefore upon the call of thy Gospel I come in and from the bottom of my Heart I renounce all thy Enemies with whom I confess I have wickedly sided against thee firmly Covenanting with thee not to allow my self in any known Sin but conscientiously to use all means which thou hast prescribed for the utter Destruction of all my Corruptions And whereas I have inordinately let out my Affections upon the World I here resign my Heart unto thee that made it humbly protesting before thy glorious Majesty that it is the firm Resolution of my Heart and that I do unfeignedly desire Grace from thee that when thou shalt call me thereunto I may put in Practice my Resolution through thine Assistance to forsake all that is dear unto me in the World rather then to turn from thee to the ways of Sin and that I will watch over all its Temptations whether of Prosperity or Adversity lest they should withdraw my Heart from thee beseeching thee to help me I renounce all my own Righteousness and acknowledge that of my self I am helpless and undone and without Righteousness and whereas of thy bottomless Mercy thou hast offer'd to accept of me and to be reconciled to me and to be my God through Christ if I would accept of thee I do this day avouch thee to be the Lord my God I do here take the Lord Jehovah Father Son and Holy Ghost for my Portion and chief Good and do give up my self Body and Soul for thy Servant promising to endeavour to serve thee in Righteousness and Holiness I do here also on the bended Knees of my Soul accept of the Lord Jesus Christ as the only and living Way by which Sinners may have access to thee and do here joyn my self in a Marriage-Covenant with him O Lord Jesus I come to thee hungry poor miserable blind and naked and a most loathsome Creature a condemned Malefactor Who am I that I should be Married unto the King of Glory I do accept of thee for my Head and Husband and embrace thee in all they Offices I renounce my own Worthiness and do choose thee the Lord my Righteousness I do renounce my own Wisdom and do take thine for my Guide I take thy Will for my Will and thy Word for my Law I do here willingly put my Neck under thy Yoke I do subscribe to all the Laws as Holy Just and Good and do promise to take them as the Rule of my Thoughts Words and Actions but because I am subject to many Failings through frailty I do here protest here before thee that unallowed Miscarriages contrary to the constant Bent of my Heart shall not disannul this everlasting Covenant NATHANAEL MATHER It may justly be taken for granted that such a Work as this would have an Influence into his Conversation afterwards and so it had producing in him a Conversation which became the Gospel of Christ. He kept waiting upon God not only in the Family but also under the Ministry of Two that were near a-kin unto him namely his Father and his Brother whereby the Grace thus begun in him was not a little cherished and promoted and unto all known Sins he now kept saying as I find once in Short-hand written by him To my Lusts I have had Communion
have I read the Bible but I have now learnt a better way And that way was this He would oblige himself in reading to fetch a Note and a Prayer out of every Verse in all the Bible to dwell upon every Verse until it had afforded at least one Observation and one Ejaculation to him He imagined that an incredible deal both the Truth and Grace would in this way make its Impression upon his Mind besides what exercise of Wit it must have called for and so most certainly it would have done but before he had made much Progress in it the Chariots of God fetcht him away to that place in which a Jesus is a Bible to the there perfect Spirits of the Righteous I cannot forbear adding here what the Reverend Mr. Mead tells us That about fourteen Years old Mr. Nathaniel Mather did dedicate himself wholly to God and his Service and entred into a solemn Covenant with God to that purpose which as he did not begin rashly and without great deliberation so he did not transact it slightly but with great Sense and Seriousness The Matter and Form of which Covenant you have in this Work signed with his own Hand according to that Word of the Prophet Isa 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord. And with what Care and Conscience he performed this Covenant in Fasting in Prayer in Watchings in self-examination in Meditation in Thanksgiving in Walking with God in all is fully witnessed in his Life which shews that he was a true Nathanael and Israelite indeed in whom was no guile not like those Israelites which the Prophet reproveth for that they flattered God with their Mouth lied to him with their Tongues their Hearts not being right with him nor stedfast in his Covenant For having once given up himself to God He kept the ways of the Lord and did not wickedly depart from his God Thus far Mr. Mead in his prefatory Epistle to Mr. Mather 's Life Mr. John Machin kept a constant watch over his Thoughts especially of his last Thoughts that he slept with and his first Thoughts that he waked with and usually they were some precious Scripture or other which he would discourse of to his Friends with great Alacrity He kept a Diary of his Life wherein every day he wrote in Characters where he was what Scriptures he found any sweetness from what was the state of his Soul towards God and such other remarkable Passages that did occur each day from the Year 1650 to the Year he died His love to the Word of God was superlative it was his Meditation Day and Night He did constantly in a Morning pitch upon some Verse which he would endeavour to infuse into his Heart ever unwilling to leave it till he bad suck'd some Virtue from it He was chewing by Meditation the 119th Psalm at the time of his Sickness daily squeezing the Virtue of one Verse thereof into his Soul as appears by his Dairy and this he did not formally as a Task but with that effectual Seriousness and Relish that his Family at home and Friends at a distance in his Letters might perceive exactly what Dainties he had tasted and at every vacant time he would be looking for a Word and would find out by the casual turning down a Leaf in his Bible which was his usual way such Passages as were very remarkable and not observed before A Scripture thus met with was as Food to him exceeding sweet to his Tast he would make much of it and usually would not leave it till he had improved it to the good of others by speaking or writing that others might see what he saw and feel what he felt in the Word of God Another usage he had also which shewed him to be both a good Textuary and a good Christian and that was usually to take leave with his Friends and Relations by leaving some Scripture with them and those most suitable to their Condition nay he hardly sent Commendations to a Friend but it was accompanied with some pertinent Scripture that he seemed to breath no other Air but Scripture His Bible was his constant Companion in the Day and usually his Pillow at Night and many Scores of emphaticallively Expressions he had found therein which the constant reading and diligence of others could never light on And where ever he came he was engraving some Scripture or other on the Mantle Posts and Walls and Trees which was so constant and peculiar a Course with him that his acquaintance oft knew he had been in such a place by the Marks he usually left His design therein being the advantage of all mens Souls that the very novelty of seeing such things might set People upon enquiring and looking those Scriptures in their Bibles not knowing what good one Verse of the Scripture thus met with might do upon a Soul if God set it on at least he found this Advantage to himself that when he came to a review of them he was put in mind of that frame of Heart he had when he was there before and might tast over again what he had before felt in that Passage of the Word of God He seldom wrote a Note or Letter but he made it up with some suitable Scripture the Word of God dwelling plentifully in him and in the Memorials forementioned he inserts Scriptures upon every occasion saying in the Conclusion The Texts of Scripture herein mentioned are best worth thy finding and noting in thy Life as they were in mine See his Life Do not for your Lives says the Reverend Mr. Burgess in his Sermon in the last Morning Exercise ever neglect reading the Scriptures take some portion of God's Word as daily as you eat of his Bread 'T is very honourably that I do remember a poor Soul who sometimes burned the Thatch of her House to read her Bible by the Light of it And no less a Saint than Mr. Richard Fairclough told me she died a glorious one It was Luther's saying The reading of the Scriptures is the Terror of Devils Mr. Adams tells us in his Sermon in the late Morning Exercise That Gregory called the Great gives an account of an illiterate Man who bought a Bible hired one to read to him out of it and thereby became a great proficient in the School of Christianity Luther by reading of it was turn'd from Popery so was John Hus by reading of our Wickliff's Books proving his Doctrine from it We know Augustine was converted by taking it up and reading And 't is said Crprian by reading the Prophet Jonas And Junius by the first Chapter of John's Gospel tho' 't is supposed neither of them then had much skill in the Originals but were beholding to Translations Consider says Mr. Boyl the Holy Bible as an harmonious System tho' written by parts and piece-meals in several Ages It being like
Liquors unless now and then a Glass by way of Cordial CHAP. LXXII Present Retribution to the Devout and Praying Or Prayers answered in Kind NEver did God say to any of the Seed of Jacob seek my face in vain Our Saviour hath resolved us by the Authority of his Word the Example of the Syrophoenician Woman Mat. 15 22. And the Parable of the Importunate Widow Luke 18.2 That Prayer is no vain or fruitless Point of Devotion Let Elijah Daniel David Jesus the Apostles and all the sincere Votaries of the Church of GOD give their Suffrage in the Case 1. Alexander Bishop of Constantinople when Arius was sent for thither by the Emperour to give an Account of his unquiet Behaviour at Alexandria shut himself up in the Church and there fell to Fasting and Prayer begging of God Night and Day with Tears That if Arius were true in his Opinion he might never see the Day of his Trial but if not that God would inflict some visible Judgment upon Arius the Author of so much Mischief Arius before the Emperour subscribed and swore to the Decrees of the Nicene Council but with Fraud and Equivocation for swearing that he heartily assented to what he had written he meant only a Form of Faith which he had purposely put in his Bosom upon this the good Emperour was satisfied and commanded Alexander to receive him into his Communion This was upon Saturday but the next Day expecting to the admitted he goes out of the Palace with Eusebius and many Followers in great Pomp and Pride but by and by in the chief Marker-place of the City his Conscience accused him his Belly loosened he called for the next Jakes whither he retired immediately and there his Fundament coming out he voided much Blood together with Bowels Spleen and Liver and so died wretchedly Clark's Marr. of Eccl. History 2. St. Augustine when the Goths and Vandals were broke into Africa and besieged Hippo sitting at Table one Day with his Presbyters and the Bishops that were fled thither from other places for Refuge said to them You know Brethren that from the beginning of this Siege my daily Prayers have been That God would either free us from it or give his Servants Patience and Courage to undergo what he imposeth or to take me out of this present evil World and I believe that God will answer my desire And accordingly the Third Month of the Siege he fell sick of a Fever and died Ibid. And Dr. Jer. Tailour Life of Christ. He was very powerful in Prayers so that sometimes thereby he hath cast out Devils Clark Ibid. I have mention'd formerly in my Christian 's Companion out of his Confessions that once being extreamly afflicted with the Tooth-ach so that he could not speak by writing he requested his Friends that came to visit him to pray with and for him which they did and immediately whilst they were at Prayers his Pain ceased and his Speech was restored 3. Luther being present at the Marriage of Philip. Duke of Pomerania with Mary Daughter to the Elector of Saxony prayed for a Blessing and taking Philip by the hand said The Lord God be with you and keep your Posterity from failing but his Wife continuing barren Four Years all his Male-stock was like to be extinct yet at length by God's Blessing according to Luther's Prayer he had Seven Sons by her which wonderfully increased the Family Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist p. 141. 4. Mr. Hugh Latimer used constantly in his Prayers to beg That God would restore the Gospel to England once again Which blessed be God hath been granted Clark's Exam. p. 461. 5. Luther is said to be able to prevail with God at his pleasure to obtain what he list according to that of Prov. 12.2 Once praying for the Recovery of Myconius he let fall this rapturous Expression Fiat voluntas mea Let my Will be done and then sweetning it Mea voluntas Domine quia tua My Will because thine which was granted Ibid. p. 466. 6. Henry late Lord Delamer in his Advice to his Children tells them That he had observed any Morning that he had hurried over his Devotions the Day following was not prosperous and that thing which particularly occasioned him to such haste met with ill success Lord Delamer's Works p. 3. 7. A. C. 1584 near Bern in Switzâ—rland a certain Hill in an Earthquake was carried violently over and beyond other Hills and covered a whole Village consisting of Ninety Families one Half-house only excepted wherein the Master of the Family with his Wife and Children were earnestly praying unto God This is attested by Polanus who lived in those parts Syntag. p. 841. Present Retribution to the Devout Prayers answered in kind c. 8. IF Mr. Elliot said of any Affiar I cannot bless it it was a worse omen to it then the most inauspicious Presages in the World but sometimes after he had been with God about a thing he was able successfully to foretel I have set a Mark upon it it will do well I shall never forget that when Enland and Holland were plunged into the unhappy War which the more sensible Protestants every-where had but sorrowful Apprehensions of our Elliot being in the height and heat of the War privatly asked What News we might next look for Answered unto the surprize of the Enquirer Our next News will be a Peace between the two Protestant Nations God knows I pray for it every day and I am verily perswaded we shall hear of it speedily And it came to pass accordingly There was a godly Minister of Charles-Town one Mr. Foster who with his Son was taken Captive by Turish Enemies much Prayer was made both privately and publickly by the good People for the Redemption of that Gentleman but we were at last informed that the bloody Prince in whose Dominion he was now a Slave was resolved that in his Life-time no Prisoner should be released And so the distressed Friends of this Prisoner now concluded Our hope is lost Well upon this Mr. Elliot in some of his next Prayers before a very solemn Congregation very broadly begg'd Heavenly Father work for the Redemption of thy poor Servant Foster and if the Prince which detains him will not as they say dismiss him as long as himself lives Lord we pray thee to kill that cruel Prince kill him and glorifie thy self upon him And now behold the Answer the poor captivated Gentleman quickly returns to us that had been Mourning for him as a lost Man and brings us news that the Prince was come to an untimely Death by which means he was now set at liberty Cotton Mather in his Life p. 50. 9. In 1642 One Mary Glover a Merchants Daughter in Thames-street being bewitched by one Mother Jackson who was arraigned at Newgate in London continuing every second day in most strange and dreadful Fits and Torments for about three Weeks or a Month after the Witch was condemned several Ministers and
Chancellor Bacon saith That Imagination is next Kin to Miracle-working Faith 25. When King Charles the First was Prisoner at Carisbrook-Castle there was a Woman Touched by him who had the King's-Evil in her Eye and had not seen in a Fortnight before her Eye-lids being glued together as they were at Prayers after the Touching the Womans Eyes opened Mr. Seymer Bowman with many others were Eye-witnesses of this 26. William Bakhouse of Swallowfield in Berk-shire Esq had an ugly Scab that grew on the middle of his Forehead which had been there for some Years and he could not be cured In his Journey to Peterborough he dreamt there That he was in a Church and saw a Hearse and that one did bid him wet his Scab with the Drops of the Marble The next Day he went to Morning-Service and afterwards going about the Church saw the very Hearse which was of Black Say for Queen Catherine Wife to King Henry the Eighth and the Marble Grave-stone by He found Drops on the Marble and there were some Cavities wherein he clip'd his Finger and wetted the Scab In Seven Days it was perfectly cured 27. Arise Evans had a fungous Nose and said It was reveal'd to him that the King's Hand would cure him and at the first coming of King Charles the Second into St. James's-Park he kiss'd the King's Hand and rubb'd his Nose with it which disturb'd the King but cured him Mr. Ashmole told me 28. There is extant a true Relation of the wonderful Cure of Mary Maillard Lame almost ever since she was born on Sunday the 26th of November 1693. With the Affidavits and Certificates of the Girl and several other credible and worthy Persons who knew her both before and since her being cured To which is added A Letter from Dr. Wellwood to the Right Honourable the Lady Mayoress upon that Subject London Printed for R. Baldwin near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-lane 1664. 29. The following Letter I receiv'd from Mr. Moses Pitt with the Relation of Anne Jefferies Decemb. 3. 96. Reverend Sir I Have here sent you what I have Published of Anne Jefferies which you may if you please Reprint in your Collections only with these Additions which accrued not to my Memory or Information 'till after I had Published the same viz. That these Fairies are distinguished into Males and Females and than they are about the bigness of Children of Three or Four Years of Age. I also desire you to insert this Letter to me from my Kinsman Mr. Will. Tom who was the Person which Dined with the Lord Bishop of Gloucester when I told him this of Anne Jefferies and is a Merchant of as much Note as most in Devon or Cornwall and has been Mayor of Plimouth who knows Anne Jefferies who is still living as well as my self he sent me the Letter on my sending him one of the Books by Post I have the Original by me Plimouth May 12. 1696. Cous Pitt I Have yours with the inclosed Prints and do know and have heard that all in it is very true which with my Duty to my Lord Bishop of Gloucester you may acquaint his Lordship it 's needless for me to write to him I am Your Affectionate Kinsman and Servant William Tom. This is all I think needful to acquaint you with on this Subject I am Your True and Faithful Servant Moses Pitt 30. An Account of one Anne Jefferies now living in the County of Cornwall who was fed for Six Months by a small sort of Airy People called Faiâ—ies And of the strange and wonderful Cures she performed with Salves and Medicines she received from them for which she never took one Penny of her Patients In a Letter from Moses Pitt to the Right Reverend Father in God Dr. Edward Fowler Lord Bishop of Gloucester My LORD WHen about Christmass last I waited on you with my Printed Letter to the Author of a Book entituled Some Discourses upon Dr. Burnet now Lord Bishop of Salisbury and Dr. Tillotson late Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury occasioned by the late Funeral Sermon of the former upon the latter After I had paid my Duty and Service to your Lordship you were pleased to mind me of my having told you a wonderful Story about Seventeen or Eighteen Years since in the Company of a Kinsman of mine a Tradesman of Plimouth who also confirmed part of it from his own Knowledge and the following Narrative you will sâ—â—d to contain the Substance of what you then heard And I doubt not but I could bring several other Persons now living to justifie the Truth of what I here write Nay the Person concerned who is at this time living in Cornwall must own it and a great deal more if she could be prevailed with to speak out My Lord I thought I could if any Person alive have prevail'd with her she being the Servant that attended me in my Childhood but your Lordship may see that I cannot and therefore your Lordship must be content with what I here publish I am satisfied I was not nor could be imposed on in this Affair the Particulars having made sâ— great an Impression on me from my Youth hitherto I know my Lord that the great part of the World will not believe the passages here related by reason of the strangeness of them but I cannot help their Vnbelief Your Lordship knows the Record where it 's mentioned That the great God did marvellous things in the sight of our Forefathers but for all that they sinned yet more and believed not his wondrous Works And therefore Vnbelief is no new Sin crept into the World And moreover my Lord if Men would give themselves time to think they cannot but remember that the great God has done as great and marvellous Works in our Age both in Judgment and in Mercy as be did in the Days of old by which the greatest Atheist may be convinc'd not only of the Being of a God but also that his Power and his Goodness are as manifest now as of old and therefore it 's the Duty of all that do by personal Knowledge know any extraordinary Works or Providences of God which are uncommon to publish them to the World that the great God may be glorified and Mankind edified which is purely and truly the Design of Publishing the following Narrative ANne Jefferies for that was her Maiden Name of whom the following strange things are related was born in the Parish of St. Teath in the County of Cornwall in December 1626. and she is still living 1696. being now in the Seventieth Year of her Age she is married to one William Warden formerly Hind a Hind is one that looks after the rest of the Servants the Grounds Cattel Corn c. of his Master to the late eminent Physician Dr. Richard Lower deceased and now lives as Hind to Sir Andrew Slanning of Devon Bar. I must acquaint you Sir that I have made it my Business but could not prevail to get
Execution he was not suffered to speak to the People who much lamented his Death yet was very chearful saying Thanks be to God I am even at home And when he had prayed and made himself ready he went to the Stake and kissed it The Fire being kindled he held up his Hands and called upon God saying Merciful Father of Heaven for Jesus Christ my Saviour's sake receive my Soul into thy hands And so stood still without moving till one with an Halberd struck out his Brains Ibid. p. 178. 30. Mr. Bradford as soon as he approached the Stake fell flat on the Ground intending there to pur forth his Prayers to Almighty God for he was not permitted to do it publickly but Woodroffe the Sheriff commanded him to arise and dispatch for the People encreased and pressed upon him Whereupon as soon as he got up he embraced the Stake and kissed it put off his Cloaths gave them to his Servant comforted the Stripling that was to be burned with him and earnestly exhorted the People to Repentance Which so enraged the Sheriff that he commanded his Hands to be tyed His last Words that were audible were Strait is the way and narrow is the gate that leads to salvation and few there be that find it He endured the Flame as a fresh gale of Wind in a hot Summer's Day without any Reluctancy Ibid. p. 189. 31. Bishop Ridley and Bishop Latimer suffered together but were not permitted to speak at the Stake The Evening before their Execution Ridley washed his Beard and his Feet and bad those that supped with him to his Wedding the next Day demanding of his Brother Mr. Skipfide whether he thught his Sister his Wife could find in her Heart to be there and he answering That he durst say she would with all her Heart he professed to the thereof very glad At Supper-time he was very chearful and merry desiring those there present that went of which number Mrs. Irish his Hostess tho' an eager Papist was one to quiet themselves affirming That tho' his Breakfast was like to be somewhat sharp and painful yet his Supper he was sure would be pleasant and sweet They endured a long time in the Fire with most grievous Pains to the great Grief of the Beholders thro' the Indiscretion of those that composed the Pile burning as it were by piece-meal till at last their Souls mounted as in a flaming Chariot up to Heaven Ibid. p. 203 204. 32. Bishop Latimer when he came to the Stake lifting up his Eyes with a comfortable and lovely Countenance cried out God is faithful who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able and when the Fire was kindled O Father of Heaven receive my Soul His Blood as he was burning running out of his Heart in such abundance as if all the Blood of his Body had been gathered thither to the great Astonishmnt of the Beholders Ibid. p. 210. 33. Mr. Philpot going into Smithfield and the way being very foul two Officers took him up and bore him to the Stake to whom he said merrily What will you make me a Pope Being got into Smithfield he kneeled down and said I will pay my Vows in the midst of thee O Smithfield and kissing the Stake Shall I disdain to suffer at this Stake when my Lord and Saviour refused not to sufer a most vile Death for me And when the Fire was kindled with much Meekness and Comfort he resigned up his Spirit unto God Ibid. p. 222. 34. Archbishop Cranmer when tied to the Stake thrust first of all his Right Hand into the Fire wherewith he had subscribed to Popery crying out Ah my unworthy Right Hand So that his Hand died a Malefactor and the rest of his Body a Martyr Ibid. p. 228. 35. Bugenhagius drawing near to his End often repeated This is Life Eternal to know Thee the only true God and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ and so quietly departed this Life Aged 73. Ibid. p. 233. 36. Phil. Melancthon in the midst of many Heavenly Prayers surrendred his Soul unto him that gaveit Aged 63. Ibid. p. 241. 37. Hyperius falling sick of a Fever gave diverse Instructions to his Wife for the Education of his Children to his Children for the serving of God and obeying their Mother and when his Friends visited him requested them to bear Witness That he now died in that Faith which he had taught while he lived and so yielded up his Spirit to God Aged 53. Ibid. p. 265. 38. John Brentius falling sick of a Fever made his Will and therein set down a Confession of his Faith received the Sacrament exhorted the Ministers of Stutgard to Unity in Doctrine and a mutual Love always saying That he longed for a better an Eternal Life and so died Aged 71. Ibid. p. 298. 39. Bishop Jewel died praying and prayed dying His last Words worthy to be written with the Point of a Diamond never to be razed out were these A Crown of Righteousness is laid up for me Christ is my Righteousness this is my Body this day quickly let me come unto thee this day let me see thee Lord Jesus He was arrested by Death as he was preaching at Lacock upon those Words Walk in the Spirit and so carried from the Pulpit to Bed from which he never rose more Ibid. p. 311. 40. John Knox a Day or two before his Death sending for Mr. Lawson Mr. Lindsey the Elders and Deacons of the Church told them the Time was approaching which he long thirsted for wherein he should be released from all his Cares and be with his Saviour Christ for ever And now saith he God is my Witness whom I have served with my Spirit in the Gospel of his Son that I have taught nothing but the true and sincere Word of God I am not ignorant that many have and do blame my too great Rigor and Severity but God knows that in my Heart I never hated those against whom I thundered God's Judgments I did only hate their Sins and laboured according to my power to gain them to Christ That I did forbear none of what Condition soever I did it out of Fear of my God who hath placed me in the Function of his Ministry and I know will bring me to an Account Now Brethren for your selves I have no more to say but to warn you to take heed to the Flock over which God hath placed you Overseers which he hath Redeemed by the Blood of his only-begotten Son And you Mr. Lawson Fight a good Fight do the Work of the Lord with Courage and with a willing mand and God from Heaven bless you and the Church whereof you have the Charge Against it so long as it continues in the Doctrine of the Truth the Gates of Hell shall not prevail Having thus spoken and the Elders and Deacons being dismissed he called the two Preachers to him and said There is one thing that grieves me exceedingly you have
to carry my Soul to the Bosom of Jesus and I shall be for ever with the Lord in Glory And who can chuse but rejoyce in all this And now my dear Mother Brethren and Sisters Farewel I leave you for a while and I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified And now dear Lord my Work is done I have finished my course I have fought the good Fight and henceforth there remaineth for me a Crown of Righteousness Now come dear Lord Jesus come quickly Then a Godly Minister came to give him his last Visit and to do the Office of an inferiour Angel to help to convey his blessed Soul to Glory who was now even upon Mount Pisgah and had a full sight of that goodly Land at a little distance When this Minister spake to him his heart was in a mighty flame of Love and Joy which drew Tears of Joy from that precious Minister being almost amazed to hear a Man just a dying talk as if he had been with Jesus He died June 1657. Aged between 23 and 24 and was buried in Kelshall-Church in Hartfordshire For a larger Account of this Extraordinaay Person see his Life written by his Brother Mr. James Janeway 102. Mrs. Allein in the History of the Life and Death of Mr. Joseph Allein writes thus concerning his Death viz. About Three in the Afternoon he had as we perceived some Conflict with Satan for he uttered these words Away thou foul Fiend thou Enemy of all Mankind thou subtil Sophister art thou come now to molest me Now I am just going Now I am so weak and Death upon me Trouble me not for I am none of thine I am the Lord 's Christ is mine and I am his His by Covenant I have sworn my self to be the Lord's and his I will be Therefore be gone These last words he repeated often which I took much notice of That his Covenanting with God was the means he used to expel the Devil and all his Temptations The time we were in Bath I had very few hours alone with him by reason of his constant using the Bath and Visits of Friends from all Parts thereabouts and sometimes from Taunton and when they were gone he would be either retiring to GOD or to his Rest But what time I had with him he always spent in Heavenly and Profitable Discourse speaking much of the Place he was going to and his Desires to be gone One Morning as I was Dressing him he looked up to Heaven and smiled and I urging him to know why he answered me thus Ah my Love I was thinking of my Marriage-Day it will be shortly O what a joyful Day will that be Will it not thinkest thou my dear heart Another time bringing him some Broth he said Blessed be the Lord for these Refreshments in the way home but O how sweet will Heaven be Another time I hope to be shortly where I shall need no Meat nor Drink nor Cloaths When he looked on his weak consumed hands he would say These shall be changed This vile Body shall be made like to Christ's Glorious Body O what a Glorious Day will the Day of the Resurrection be Methinks I see it by Faith How will the Saints lift up their heads and rejoyce and how sadly will the wicked World look then O come let us make haste our Lord will come shortly let us prepare If we long to be in Heaven let us hasten with our Work for when that is done away we shall be fetch'd O this vain foolish dirty World I wonder how reasonable Creatures can so dote upon it What is in it worth the looking after I care not to be in it longer than while my Master hath either doing or suffering Work for me were that done farewel to Earth Thus far Mrs. Allein 103. Dr. Peter du Moulin Professor of Divinity at Sedan at his last Hour pronounced these Words I shall be satisfied when I awake c. and twice or thrice Come Lord Jesus come Come Lord Jesus come and the last time that Text which he loved so much He that believeth in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life and a little after Lord Jesu receive my Spirit It being said to him You shall see your Redeemer with your eyes laying his Hand on his Heart he answered with an Effort I believe it and so departed 1658. aged 90. Out of the French Copy of his Death 104. Arminius in his Sickness was so far from doubting any whit of that Confession he had publish'd that he stedfastly judged it to agree in all things with the Holy Scriptures and therefore he did persist therein That he was ready at that very moment to appear with that same Belief before the Tribunal of Jesus Christ the Son of God the Judge of the Quick and Dead He died of a Disease in the Bowels which caused Fevers Cough Extension of the Hypochondria Atrophy Gout Iliack Passion Obstruction of the Left Optick Nerve Dimness of the same Eye c. which gave occasion to some Censures He died Oct. 19. In his Life by an unknown Hand 105. Simon Episcopius An. 1643. falling sick of an Ischuria for Eleven Days not being able to make a drop of Water continued ill two Months or more and at last for some Weeks was deprived of his Sight which Loss had been more grievous to him had not his deep and almost continual Sleeping lessened the same For he complained of it to his Friends that he should not be able to serve the Church of Christ any more He died April 4 at Eight of the Clock in the Morning the Moon being then eclipsed saith the Author of his Life p. 26. 106. Gustavus Ericson King of Sweden having lived 70 Years and reigned 38. gave in Charge to his Children to endeavour the Peace and maintain the Liberties of their Country but especially to preserve the Purity of Religion without the Mixture of Human Inventions and to live in Unity as Brethren among themselves and so sealing up his Will he resigned his Spirit to God An. 1562. Clark's Martyrol p. 370. 107. Edward the Sixth King of England in the Time of his Sickness hearing Bishop Ridley preach upon Charity gave him many Thanks for it and thereupon ordered Gray-Friars Church to be a House for Orphans St. Bartholomew's to be an Hospital and his own House at Bridewel to be a Place of Correction And when he had set his Hand to that Work he thank'd God that he had prolong'd his Life till he had finished that good Design About three Hours before his Death having his Eyes clos'd and thinking none near him he prayed thus with himself Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wretched Life and take me among thy Chosen howbeit not my Will but thine be done Lord I commend my Spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest
this Affair more and more cleared up to me God hath given God hath taken blessed be his holy Name that hath enabled me to be willing to suffer rather than to put forth my hand to Iniquity or to say a Confederacy with those that do so I am heartily and sincerely troubled for what hath happened many mans Lives being lost and many poor distressed Families ruin'd the Lord Pardon what of sin he hath seen in it He in his wonderful Providence hath made me and others concerned Instruments not only for what is already fallen out but I believe for hastening some other great Work he hath to do in these Kingdoms whereby he will try and purge his People and winnow the Chaff from the Wheat the Lord keep those that are his Faithful unto the end I die in Charity with all the World and can readily and heartily forgive my greatest Enemies even those that have been Evidences against me and I most humbly beg the Pardon of all that I have in the least any way injured and in a special manner humbly ask Pardon of the Lady Lisle's Family and Relations for that my being succoured there one Night with Mr. Hicks brought that worthy Lady to suffer Death I was wholly a Stranger to her Ladiship and came with Mr. Hicks neither did she as I verily believe know who I was or my Name till I was taken And if any other have come to any loss or trouble I humbly beg their Pardon and were I in a condition I would as far as I was able make them a requital As to my Faith I neither look nor hope for Mercy but only in the Free-Grace of God by the Application of the Blood of Jesus my dearest and only Saviour to my poor sinful Soul My distresses have been exceeding great as to my Eternal State but through the infinite goodness of God tho' I have many sins to answer for yet I hope and trust as to my particular that Christ came for this very end and purpose to relieve the Oppressed and to be a Physician to the Sick I come unto thee O blessed Jesus refuse me not but wash me in thine own Blood and then present me to thy Father as Righteous What though my Sins be as Crimson and of a Scarlet Dye Yet thou canst make them as white as Snow I see nothing in my self but what must utterly ruine and condemn me I cannot answer for one Action of my whole Life but I cast my self wholly upon thee who art the Fountain of Mercy in whom God is reconciling himself to the World the greatest of Sins and Sinners may find an All-sufficiency in thy Blood to cleanse them from all sin O dearest Father of Mercy look upon me as Righteous in and through the imputed Righteousness of thy Son he hath payed the Debt by his own Offering up himself for sin and in that thy Justice is satisfied and thy Mercy is magnified Grant me thy Love O dearest Father assist me and stand by me in the needful hour of Death give thy Angels charge over my poor Soul that the Evil One may not touch nor hurt it Defend me from his Power deliver me from his Rage and receive me into thine Eternal Kingdom in and through the alone Merits of my dearest Redeemer for whom I praise thee To whom with thy self and holy Spirit be ascribed all Glory Honour Power Might and Dominion for ever and for ever Amen Dear Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Amen R. NELTHROP Newgate Octob. 29. 1685. 6. Mrs. GAVNT ONE of the great Reasons why Mrs. Gaunt was burnt was 't is very possible because she lived at Wapping the honest Seamen and hearty Protestants thereabouts being such known Enemies to Popery and Arbitrary Government that the Friends of both gave all who oppose it the Name of Wappingers as an odious Brand and Title She was a good honest charitable Woman who made it her business to relieve and help whoever suffered for the forementioned Cause sparing no Pains refusing no Office to get them Assistance in which she was the most Industrious and Indefatigable Woman living Among others whom she had thus relieved who were obnoxious Persons was one Burton whom with his Wife and Family she had kept from starving for which may the very Name of them be register'd with Eternal Infamy they swore against her and took away her Life Tho' she says in her Speech there was but one Witness against her as to any Money she was charg'd to give him and that he himself an Outlawed Person his Outlawry not yet revers'd he not being Outlawed when she was with him and hid him away That which she writ in the Nature of a Speech has a great deal of Sense and Spirit Were my Pen qualified to represent the due Character of this Excellent Woman it would be readily granted That she stood most deservedly entituled to an Eternal Monument of Honour in the hearts of all sincere Lovers of the Reformed Religion All true Christians tho' in some things differing in Persuasion with her found in her an Universal Charity and sincere Friendship as is well known to many here and also to a multitude of the Scotch Nation Ministers and others who for Conscience-sake were formerly thrust into Exile These found her a most refreshing Refuge She dedicated her self with unwearied Industry to provide for their Supply and Support and therein I do incline to think she out-stripped every individual Person if not the whole Body of Protestants in this great City Hereby she became exposed to the implacable Fury of Bloody Papists and those blind Tools who co-operated to promote their accursed Designs And so there appeared little difficulty to procure a Jury as there were well-prepared Judges to make her a Sacrifice as a Traytor to the State Her Judges the King's Counsel the Solicitor-General the Common Serjeant c. rackt their Inventions to draw Burton and his Wife to charge Mrs. Gaunt with the knowledge of his being in a Plot or in the Proclamation but nothing of that could be made out nor is here any sort of Proof that Mrs. Gaunt harboured this ungrateful Wretch or that she gave him either Meat or Drink as the Indictment charges her but notwithstanding that her Jury brought her in Guilty The Sentence was executed upon this Excellent Woman upon Friday then following being the 23d of October 1685. when she left her Murderers the following Memorial Newgate 22d of October 1685. Mrs. Gaunt's Speech written the Day before her Sufferings NOT knowing whether I should be suffered or able because of weaknesses that are upon me through my hard and close Imprisonment to speak at the Place of Execution I writ these few Lines to signifie That I am well reconciled to the way of my God towards me though it be in ways I looked not for and by terrible things yet in Righteousness having given me Life he ought to have the disposing of it when and how he pleases
to call for it and I desire to offer up my All to him it being but my reasonable Service and also the first Terms that Jesus Christ offers That he that will be his Disciple must forsake all and follow him and therefore let none think hard or be discouraged at what hath happened unto me for he doth nothing without cause in all he hath done to us he being Holy in all his ways and Righteous in all his works and 't is but my Lot in common with poor desolate Sion at this day Neither do I find in my heart the least regret for what I have done in the Service of my Lord and Master Jesus Christ in succouring and securing any of his poor Sufferers that have shewed favour to his Righteous Causeâ— which Cause though now it be fall'n and trampled upon as if it had not been anointed yet it shall revive and God will plead it at another rate than ever he hath done yet and reckon with all its Opposers and malicious Haters And therefore let all that love and fear him not omit the least Duty that comes to hand or lies before them knowing that now it hath need of them and expects they shall serve him And I desire to bless his Holy Name that he hath made me useful in my Generation to the Comfort and Relief of many desolate Ones and the Blessing of those that are ready to perish has come upon me and help'd to make the Heart of the Widow to sing And I bless his Holy Name that in all this together with what I was charged with I can approve my Heart to him that I have done his Will tho' it does cross Man's Will and the Scriptures that satisfie me are Isaiah 16.4 Hide the Outcasts bewray not him that wandereth And Obad. 13.14 Thou shouldst not have given up those of his that did escape in the day of his distress But Man says You shall give them up or you shall die for it Now who to obey Judge ye So that I have cause to rejoyce and be exceeding glad in that I suffer for Righteousness sake and that I am accounted worthy to suffer for Well-doing and that God has accepted any Service from me which has been done in Sincerity tho' mixed with manifold Infirmities which he hath been pleased for Christ's sake to cover and forgive And now as concerning my Fact as it is called alas it was but a little one and might well become a Prince to forgive but he that shews no Mercy shall find none And I may say of it in the Language of Jonathan I did but tast a little Honey and lo I must die for it I did but relieve an unworthy poor distressed Family and so I must die for it Well I desire in the Lamb-like Gospel Spirit to forgive all that are concerned and to say Lord lay it not to their Charge but I fear he will not Nay I believe when he comes to make Inquisition for Blood it will be found at the Door of the furious Judge who because I could not remember things through my dauntedness at Burton's Wife and Daughter's Vileness and my Ignorance took advantage thereat and would not hear me when I had called to mind that which I am sure would have invalidated their Evidence though he granted something of the same nature to another yet denied it to me My Blood will also be found at the door of the unrighteous Jury who found me Guilty upon the single Oath of an Out-law'd Man for there was none but his Oath about the Money who is no legal Witness though he be pardoned his Outlawry not being recall'd and also the Law requires two Witnesses in point of Life And then about my going with him to the Place mentioned 't was by his own Words before he was Out-law'd for 't was two Months after his absconding and though in a Proclamation yet not High-Treason as I have heard so that I am clearly murder'd by you And also Bloody Mr. A. who has so insatiably hunted after my Life and though it is no Profit to him through the ill-will he bore me left no stone unturn'd as I have ground to believe till he brought it to this and shewed favour to Burton who ought to have died for his own Fault and not bought his Life with mine and Capt. R. who is cruel and severe to all under my Circumstances and did at that time without all Mercy or Pity hasten my Sentence and held up my Hand that it might be given all which together with the Great One of all by whose Power all these and a multitude more of Cruelties are done I do heartily and freely forgive as against me but as it is done in an implacable Mind against the Lord Christ and his Righteous Cause and Followers I leave it to him who is the Avenger of all such Wrongs who will tread upon Princes as upon Mortar and be terrible to the Kings of the Earth And know this also that though ye are seemingly fix'd and because of the Power in your Hand are writing out your Violence and dealing with a despiteful hand because of the old and new Hatred by impoverishing and every way distressing of those you have got under you yet unless you can secure Jesus Christ and all his Holy Angels you shall never do your Business nor your Hands accomplish your Enterprizes for he will be upon you e're you are aware and therefore O that you would be wise instructed and learn is the Desire of her that finds no Mercy from you ELIZABETH GAVNT POSTSCRIPT SUch as it is you have it from her who hath done as she could and is sorry she can do no better hopes you will pity and cover weakness shortness and any thing that is wanting and begs that none may be weakned or humbled at the lowness of my Spirit for God's Design is to humble and abase us that he alone may be exalted in this Day and I hope he will appear in the needful time and it may be reserves the best Wine till last as he hath done for some before me None goeth to Warfare at his own Charge and the Spirit bloweth not only where but when it listeth and it becomes me who have so often grieved quenched and resisted it to wait for and upon the Motions of the Spirit and not to murmure but I may mourn because through want of it I honour not my God nor his blessed Cause which I have so long â—â—ed and delighted to love and repent of nothing about it but that I served him and it no Latter 7. The Earl of ARGYLE â—â—E must now take a step over into Scotland that poor Country which has been harrass'd and tired for these many Years to render them perfect Slaves that they might help to enslave 〈…〉 prevent which and secure the Protestant Religion which 't was grown impossible 〈…〉 but by Arms this good Lord embark'd from Holland about the same time with the
Limb for every Town in Christendom ☞ Thus Reader having given thee a Faithful Account of the Behaviour and Dying Speeches of the most Eminent Persons who suffered in Scotland I shall return again for London where the last Person of Quality that suffered was the Duke of Monmouth whose Expedition Sufferings and Dying Speech next follows 9. JAMES Duke of MONMOVTH THE last Person with whom we shall conclude this Mournful Tragedy and the greatest in it is the late James Duke of Monmouth one indeed who if he had been a little less might have been at this time one of the greatest Men both in England and the World By reason of some Passages in his Life not so defensible 't was thought at first better to draw a Veil before that unfortunate Prince and say nothing at all of him But what Allowances are made for Custom and Education God only knows I remember a shrewd Answer given to an Objection of this Nature Where said one should he learn any better But however where there has been any time to think soberly of past Actions or none of that Nature reiterated Charity is obliged to judge favourably And besides the good West-Country-men would be very angry if they should not find their Master that they loved so well and suffered so much for among the rest of these Noble Hero's None can deny but he was a great General a Man of Courage and Conduct and great Personal Valour having signaliz'd himself both at Mons and Maestricht so as to gain an high and just Reputation He was all along true and firm to the Protestant Interest in and out of Parliament tho' abhorring any base way of promoting it as well as his Friend my Lord Russel This is intended as a Character rather or very short Compendium than any History of his Life He was all along the Peoples Darling whose hearts were entirely his by his Courtesie and Affability as other Persons lost them by their sourness and haughty Pride After Russel's Death he went into Flanders whence had he prosecuted his Design and gone as 't is said he intended into the Emperor's Service how many Lawrels might he have won and how many more would now have been growing for him But his Fate was otherwise He came over into England After the defeat of his Army at Sedgemoor he fled with the Lord Gray who was first taken and he himself a little after brought up to London and on his Attainder in Parliament beheaded on Tower-Hill 'T is said a certain brave Old Officer who then came over with him and since with the Prince offered with a small Party of Horse to have ventured through all the Guards and took him off the Scaffold But they could not be got together his time was come Providence had designed other things that our Deliverance should be more Just and Peaceable and Wonderful and that the Glory thereof should be reserved for His Sacred Majesty King William Whom God grant long to Reign The Last Speech and Carriage of the Duke of Monmouth upon the Scaffold THE late Duke of Monmouth came from the Tower to the Scaffold attended by the Bishop of Ely the Bishop of Bath and Wells Dr. Tenison and Dr. Hooper which four the King sent him as his Assistants to prepare him for Death The Duke himself entreated all four of them to accompany him to the Place of Execution and to continue with him to the last The two Bishops going in the Lieutenant's Coach with him to the Bars made Seasonable and Devout Applications to him all the way and one of them desired him not to be surprized if they to the very last upon the Scaffold renewed those Exhortations to a particular Repentance which they had so often repeated before At his first coming upon the Scaffold he looked for the Executioner and seeing him said Is this the Man to do the Business Do the Work well Then the Duke of Monmouth began to speak some one or other of the Assistants during the whole time applying themselves to him Monmouth I shall say but very little I come to die I die a Protestant of the Church of England Assistants My Lord if you be of the Church of England you must acknowledge the Doctrine of Non-resistance to be true Mon. If I acknowledge the Doctrine of the Church of England in general that includes all Assist Sir it is fit to own that Doctrine particularly which respects your Case Here he was much urged about that Doctrine of Non-resistance but he repeated in effect his first Answer Then he began as if he was about to make a premeditated Speech in this manner Mon. I have had a Scandal raised upon me about a Woman a Lady of Vertue and Honour I will name her the Lady Henrietta Wentworth I declare That she is a very Vertuous and Godly Woman I have committed no sin with her and that which hath passed betwixt us was very Honest and Innocent in the sight of God Assist In your Opinion perhaps Sir as you have been often told i. e. in the Tower but this is not fit Discourse in this Place Mr. Sheriff Gostlin Sir were you ever married to her Mon. This is not a time to Answer that Question Sher. Gostlin Sir I hoped to have heard of your Repentance for the Treason and Bloodshed which hath been committed Mon. I die very Penitent Assist My Lord it is fit to be particular and considering the Publick Evil you have done you ought to do as much Good now as possibly you can by a Publick Acknowledgment Mon. What I have thought fit to say of Publick Affairs is in a Paper which I have signed I referr to my Paper Assist My Lord there is nothing in that Paper about Resistance and you ought to be particular in your Repentance and to have it well grounded God give you True Repentance Mon. I die very Penitent and die with great Chearfulness for I know I shall go to God Assist My Lord you must go to God in his own way Sir be sure you be truly Penitent and ask Forgiveness of God for the many you have wronged Mon. I am sorry for every one I have wronged I forgive every Body I have had many Enemies I forgive them all Assist Sir your Acknowledgment ought to be particular Mon. I am to die pray my Lord I referr to my Paper Assist They are but a few words that we desire We only desire an Answer to this Point Mon. I can bless God that he hath given me so much Grace that for these two Years last past I have led a Life unlike to my former course and in which I have been happy Assist Sir was there no Ill in these two Years In these Years these great Evils have happened and the giving Publick Satisfaction is a necessary part of Repentance be pleased to own a Detestation of your REBELLION Mon. I beg your Lordship that you would stick to my Paper Assist My Lord as I
are of all other most suitable sweet and satisfactory to immortal Souls And also I see that he that departs from iniquity makes himself a Prey and so many plunging themselves into the ways of Iniquity lest they should be accounted odious and vile which makes them so much degenerate not only from Christianity but from Humanity it self as if they were scarce the Excrement of either contemning even that most Noble Generous Heroick Spirit that dwelt in many Heathens who accounted it most honourable and glorious to contend for their Rights and Liberties yea to suffer Death and the worst of Deaths in Defence of the same and judge them accursed and most execrable in the World that do so and not only so but for their own Profit and Advantage have many of them enslaved their Posterity by it and are most industrious and laborious most fierce and furious to destroy them whereby they are become as unnatural as Children that seek the ruine of their Parents that begot them and brought them forth or them that lay violent hands upon themselves dashing out their own Brains cutting their own Throats hanging and drawing themselves ripping up their own Bellies tearing out their own Bowels they being in different senses Children and Members of that Body Politick they design and attempt the Destruction of and when I know not how long the Duration and Continuance of these things shall be or a Conclusion or End by God shall be put thereto who by Divine and Unerring Wisdom Governs the World why shall my Soul be unwilling to take its flight into the unseen and eternal World Where no sullied sordid or impious thing most incongruous and unbecoming Nature shall be seen and found and where I shall behold no narrow conclusive contracted Soul there habitually preferring their private before a publick good but all most unanimously and equally centre in one common universal good and where the sighs and groans and cries of the afflicted and persecuted shall be heard no more for ever I earnestly exhort all most highly to prize and value Time and diligently improve it for Eternity to be wise seriously and seasonably to consider of their latter End For by the irrepealable and irreversible Law of Heaven we must all die yet we know not how where or when Live with your Souls full of solicitude and care with a most deep concernedness and most diligent industriousness whilst you have time and opportunity and the means of Grace Health and Strength make sure of these two great things viz. 1. What merits for you a Right and Title to Eternal Life and Glory and the future unchangeable Blessedness as the Redeemer's most precious Blood and Righteousness that thereby a real Application and Imputation may be unto you by sincere Believing 2. That that which makes you qualified Subjects for it is the great work of Regeneration wrought in your Souls being renewed in the Spirit of your Minds the Divine Nature being imprest upon them repairing of the depraved Image of God in you that being transformed into his own likeness thereby in the World you may mind and savour more the things of the Spirit than the things of the Flesh Coelestial and Heavenly more than Terrestrial and Earthly Superiour more than Inferiour things And therewith have a holy Life and Conversation conjoyned that results and springs from the same as Fruit from the Root and Acts from the Habits Let all in order thereto seriously consider these few Texts of Sacred Scripture let them predominately possess you let them be deeply and indelibly Transcribed upon your Souls let them be assimilated thereunto and made the written Epistles the lively Pictures thereof Matth. 5.8 20. Blessed be the pure in heart for they shall see God Vers 20. For I say unto you except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God c. Gal. 5.19 20 to 23. Now the works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery c. James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Vers 13. Wherefore gird up the loyns of your Minds c. Colos 3.1 2. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things that are above Set your affections on things above not c. Gal. 5.24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts c. Ephes 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins Rev. 20.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no power Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no Condemnation c. 1 Pet. 1.15 But as he that hath called you is holy so be ye c. Vers 23. Being born again not of corruptible Seed c. Psal 4.3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself c. I shall mention now no more the whole Bible abounds with these Texts with what a Renovation and Change of our Carnal and Corrupt Hearts and Natures there must be with Holiness of Life and Conversation before we can be capable of a future and blessed Immortality and of inheriting the Kingdom of God for ever and ever Amen 15. Captain Abraham Ansley 's Last Speech I AM come to pay a Debt to Nature 't is a Debt that all must pay though some after one manner and some after another The way that I pay it may be thought by some few ignominious but not so by me having long since as a true English-man thought it my Duty to venture my Life in defence of the Protestant Religion against Popery and Arbitrary Power For this same purpose I came from my House to the Duke of Monmouth's Army At first I was a Lieutenant and then a Captain and I was in all the Action the Foot was engaged in which I do not repent For had I a Thousand Lives they should all have been engaged in the same Cause although it has pleased the wise God for Reasons best known to himself to blast our Designs but he will deliver his People by ways we know nor think not of I might have saved my Life if I would have done as some narrow-soul'd Persons have done by impeaching others but I abhor such ways of Deliverance choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy Life with Sin As to my Religion I own the way and
that unhappy Accident which threatned the putting a Stop to it for I ever esteemed Platonick-Love to be the most Noble and thought it might be allowed by all but some wise Persons are afraid least the Sex should creep in for a share Here was no Danger for tho' Nature and Art have done their utmost to make Cl s Charming to all her Wit c. being beyond most of her Sex yet P t having for many Years given such Testimonies of a Conjugal Affection even to excess if such a thing can be that I fanned their Friendship might have been honourably continued to the End of Time I hope what Difficulties they meet with at their first setting out will heighten their Friendship and make it more strong and lasting So wishes August 27. 1695. Your Humble Servant E This Letter was occasioned by a Misconstruction put on the Correspondence then carried on 'tween P t and the aforesaid Lady but E being universally Religious by consequence is universally Charitable and therefore as she knew no Harm thinks none but encourages the Correspondence Mr. Richard Mays was a Man of sincere Godliness A (r) Mr. Singleton worthy Person sufficiently known in this City for his great Skill and Pains in training up of Youth was the Happy Instrument which Providence made use of for the first awakening and enclining him to look out after God I have often heard him speak with great thankfulness both to God and him of that Mixture of Love and Prudence whereby he gained upon him Throughout the Whole of his Sickness of Six Weeks continuance all was clear between God and him 2 Sam. 23.4 His End was like the Light of the Evening when the Sun setteth an Evening without any Clouds He said to my self when I enquired of him concerning that Matter I have not indeed those Raptures of Joy which some have felt tho' yet he added blessed be God I have sometimes tasted of them too but I have a comfortable well-grounded Hope of Eternal Life Another time I have had my Infirmities and Failings but my Heart hath been right with God as to the main and I look for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to Eternal Life Again another time I know that I have passed from Death to Life And again Blessed be God for our Lord Jesus Christ who hath delivered me from the Wrath to come In the Presence of others that stood by him when the sudden Blast was so strong as almost to puff out the Lamp of Life expecting to die in a very few Moments he said in the Words of the Psalmist Into thy Hands I commit my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth and this was uttered by him with a more than ordinary Chearfulness visibly spread on his Face He would often say in his Sickness If God hath any Pleasure in me and any more Work for me to do he will raise me up but if not lo here am I let him do with his Servant what seemeth him good In short I could neither observe my self nor learn from those that were constantly about him who must know this Matter better than any others and would not Lye for God himself that he had the least Darkness upon his Spirit as to his present and future State from the beginning of his Sickness till he gave up the Ghost which he did the last Lord's-Day about Five in the Morning the time when he was wont to arise and prepare himself for his Sacred Work Mr. Nathaniel Taylor in his Sermon at Mr. Mayo 's Funeral Dr. Samuel Annesley was reconciled to Death yea so desirous of it as hardly induced him to have his Life prayed for But hearing some Ministers had been fervently praying for his Life he replied I 'm then more reconciled to Life than ever for I 'm confident God will not give a Life so eminently in answer of Prayer as mine must be if he would not use it to greater purposes than ever before Yet some little time before his Change his Desires of Death appear'd strong and his Soul filled with the fore-tasts of Glory oft saying Come my dearest Jesus the nearer the more precious the more welcome Another time his Joy was so great that in an Ecstasie he cried out I cannot contain it What manner of Love is this to a poor Worm I can't express the thousandth part of what Praise is due to thee We know not what we do when we offer at praising God for his Mercies It 's but little I can give but Lord help me to give thee my All. I 'll die praising thee and rejoyce that there 's others can praise thee better I shall be satisfied with thy likeness satisfied satisfied Oh my dearest Jesus I come See a larger Account in Dr. Annesley's Funeral Sermon preach'd by Mr. Daniel Williams The Death of Old Mr. Eliot of New-England While he was making his Retreat out of this Evil World his Discourses from time to time ran upon The Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ It was the Theme which he still had recourse unto and we were sure to have something of this whatever other Subject he were upon On this he talk'd of this he pray'd for this he long'd and especially when any bad News arriv'd his usual Reflection thereon would be Behold some of the Clouds in which we must look for the Coming of the Son of Man At last his Lord for whom he had been long wishing Lord come I have been a great while ready for thy Coming At last I say his Lord came and fetched him away into the Joy of his Lord. He fell into some Languishments attended with a Fever which in a few Days brought him into the Pangs may I say or Joys of Death And while he lay in these Mr. Walter coming to him he said unto him Brother Thou art welcome to my very Soul Pray retire to my Study for me and give me leave to be gone meaning that he should not by Petitions to Heaven for his Life detain him here It was in these Languishments that speaking about the Work of the Gospel among the Indians he did after this Heavenly manner express himself There is a Cloud said he a dark Cloud upon the Work of the Gospel among the poor Indians The Lord revive and prâ—â—â—er that Work and grant it may live when I am dead It is a Work which I have been doing much and long about But what was the Word I spoke last I recall that Word My Doings Alas they have been poor and small and lean Doings and I 'll be the Man that shall throw the first Stone at them all Mr. Cotton Mather tells us of Mr. Elias That the Last of his ever setting Pen to Paper in the World was upon this Occasion I shall transcribe a short Letter which was written by the shaking Hand that had heretofore by Writing deserved so well from the Church of God but was now taking its leave of Writing for
of Exalting the Majesty of God and your own Reward amongst Men. The Regal Power allotted to us makes us common Servants to our Creator then of those People whom we Govern So that observing the Duties we owe to God we deliver Blessings to the World in providing for the Publick Good of our States we Magnifie the Honour of God like the Coelestial Bodies which though they have much Veneration yet serve only to the Benefit of the World It is the Excellency of our Office to be Instruments whereby Happiness is delivered into the Nations Pardon me Sir This is not to Instruct for I know I speak to one of more clear and quick sight than my self but I speak this because God hath pleased to grant me a happy Victory over some part of those rebellious Pirates that have so long molested the Peaceful Trade of Europe and hath presented further occasion to Root out the Generation of those who have been so pernicious to the Good of Our Nations I mean since it hath pleased God to be so auspicious to Our beginnings in the Conquest of Salla that We might joyn and proceed in hope of like Success in the War against Tunis Algier and other Places Dens and Receptacles for the Inhumane Villanies of those who abhor Rule and Government Herein whilst We interrupt the Corruption of Malignant Spirits of the World We shall glorifie the great God and perform a Duty that will shine as glorious as the Sun and Moon which all the Earth may see and Reverence A Work that shall ascend as sweet as the Perfume of the most Precious Odours in the Nostrils of the Lord A Work grateful and happy to Men. A Work whose Memory shall be reverenced so long as there shall be any that delight to hear the Actions of Heroick and Magnanimous Spirits that shall last as long as there be any remaining amongst Men that Love and Honour the Piety and Vertue of Noble Minds This Action I here willingly present to you whose Piety and Vertues equal the Greatness of your Power That we who are Servants to the Great and Mighty God may Hand in Hand Triumph in the Glory which this Action presents unto us Now because the Islands which you Govern have been ever Famous for the unconquered Strength of their Shipping I have sent this my Trusty Servant and Embassador to know whether in your Princely Wisdom you shall think fit to assist me with such Forces by Sea as shall be answerable to those I provide by Land which if you please to grant I doubt not but the Lord of Hosts will Protect and Assist those that Fight in so Glorious a Cause Nor ought you to think this strange that I who much reverence the Peace and Accord of Nations should exhort to a War Your great Prophet Christ Jesus was of the Line of the Tribe of Judah as well as the Lord of Peace which may signifie unto you that he which is a lover and maintainer of Peace must always appear with the Terror of his Sword and wading through a Sea of Blood must arrive to Tranquility This made James your Father of Glorious Memory so happily renowned amongst all Nations It was the Noble Fame of your Princely Vertues which resounds to the utmost corners of the Earth that perswaded me to invite you to partake of that Blessing wherein I boast my self most Happy I wish God may heap the Riches of his Blessings on you increase your Happiness with your Days and hereafter perpetuate the Greatness of your Name in all Ages Heylin Cosmogr p. 961 962. It were not difficult to add many more such Attestations as these from Heathens Indians Jews c. For indeed all the Converts brought over to Christianity contribute a particular strength to this kind of Evidence But these I think are enough to satisfie any reasonable Reader and the unreasonable will not be convinc'd though Witnesses should arise from the Dead CHAP. CL. The Sufferings of the Reformed in the Kingdom of France THE Sufferings of the Reformed in the Kingdom of France within the Revolution of a few Years have been so great and attended with so many Remarkable Providences that tho' we cannot pretend to give our Reader a full Idea of them here that being reserved ' till the Publication of the Two last Volumes of the Edict of Nants it self yet we cannot but take notice of a few Particulars which were Transacted within the Bounds of Lower Languedoc and that may in the mean time serve for a Specimen of the same 1. When the Parliament of Toulouse and other Parliaments in France laboured to destroy the Protestant Churches God was pleased to raise up a Lawyer named Claude Brousson who with much Zeal and holy Boldness sollicited the Parliament of Toulouse on their behalf but being at last through the Violence of the Persecution forced to go out of France in the Year 1683. after he had run through many Dangers there he did yet from thence forward labour according to his Ability for the Defence Edification and Consolation of his distressed Brethren Lausanne in Switzerland was the principal place of his Residence and though he had not been bred in the Study of Divinity yet by assiduous Application and the blessing of God upon his Labours he Composed and caused to be Printed several small Pieces adapted for the Use of the afflicted Churches c. and which he took care to have dispersed up and down France and elsewhere continually As the extraordinary Ministers of God's Word were pleased to come often to confer with him concerning what both the one and the other of them had done for advancing the Lord's Work and that on the other hand he found he had not now as also for some time past the same liberty as formerly to disperse his Writings in France by the Post he was sollicited by his Conscience to return thither also in order to do what he could for the Promotion of God's Glory and had always these Words upon his Spirit Ezek. 13.4 5. O Israel thy Prophets are like the Foxes in the Desares Ye have not gone up into the Gaps neither made up the Hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the Battel in the day of the Lord. And that other Text in Judges 5.23 Curse ye Meroz said the Angel of the Lord c. Wherefore he at length determined to go thither and in order thereunto made up several Bales of those Writings he had got Printed and which he judged most proper for the advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven he did suppose he might be able to find out a way to convey those Bales into Languedoc and that when he found himself in the Heart of the Kingdom he might disperse the said Writings with more Facility then he could have done during his abode in Switzerland but the Ways of God are not like nor Ways nor his Thoughts like our Thoughts But whatever be proposed hereby the Danger
him a thousand Blessings and God at the same time made him also taste in his Mind ineffable Consolations but above all he knew not how to express those Comforts he felt in the Holy Assemblies and particularly in those where he administred the Lord's Supper In the mean time he had daily Experience of a very remarkable thing which the rest of God's Servants did doubtless experience as well as he and that is that thô he were surrounded with an Army of Enernies who ran about and made continual Search after him to take him yet while he was in these Religious Meetings and opened his Mouth to call upon the Name of the Lord to sing his Holy Praises and to preach his Word he had commonly as calm a Mind as if he had been in a free Country and the like Tranquility he also enjoyed when he took his Pen in Hand to labour for the Advancement of God's Kingdom and for the Consolation of his desolated Church and if God shall be pleased to favour him with Life and Means to publish some Works which he has composed in the midst of so many Dangers and which he sent to the Court for to vindicate the Doctrine which he preached the Reader will doubtless be surprized that amidst so many Troubles he could be possest with a Mind so calm as to write Things of that nature but God perfecteth his Strength in the Weakness of his Children On the other hand he had the Comfort to be a Witness of all the Wonders which God did for the Salvation of his poor People he could not but admire the Graces he bestowed on so many faithful Servants which he raised up daily in an extraordinary manner who were weak and contemptible in the Eyes of the Flesh but whom he strengthned by his Spirit whereby he accompanied at the same time his Word with a wonderful efficacy and of which many from time to time sealed the Truth by their own Blood with an unshaken Constancy thô they were pleased to Honour him so far as to look upon him as their Brother and Colleague in the Work of the Lord and that they esteemed him also as a Person to whom God was pleased to give greater Degrees of Light than to many others and that he edified then by his Conversation yet he never compared the Graces which they had received of the Lord with those which it pleased God to bestow upon him but that he found very great matter of Humiliation administred to him and that he esteemed those faithful Servants of God much more excellent than himself he saw plainly that God was pleased to lay up Treasures in Earthen Vessels that it was his Spirit which made those dumb Ones to speak which drew forth Praises from the Mouths of those little Babes and which made those mystical Stones to cry out One Night as he was going towards a place which he had appointed for a Meeting as he drew nigh unto it be heard the Voice of a Person who spake in the midst of the People whereupon he drew somewhat nigher and finding that he who spoke prayed to God he fell down upon his Knees as 't is a constant usage in the Religious Meetings of France and there be heard a long and excellent Prayer wherewith he was much edified when it was ended he drew nigh to the Person that pray'd and he found him to be a young Man and a poor Trades-man to whom he said Brother if you be disposed to make some Exhortation to the People you may proceed Alack replied that poor Trades-man how hould I do it I can neither Write nor Read Some time after this young Man as he went from place to place to pray for the Consolation of the People being taken with another young Man named Compan who together with him did what he could in that kind for the Peoples support they were both of them condemned to the Gallies and suffered their Punishment boldly confessing the Name of the Lord. I have noted before that Brousson had made choice of Henry Poutant for his Guide and Companion in the Work he was engaged in who was a young Man of about Five and twenty Years old full of Zeal and Piety and of unblamable Life and who having learnt to write in the Woods while he was with Brousson he put him upon Copying his Sermons as he had done himself and to disperse them in such Places where himself could not go to preach the Gospel But as he had Copied about a Dozen and that he saw that Brousson who had declined in his Health was then sick at Nismes he told him he was very desirous to go and visit their Brethren from place to place and read his Sermons unto them which Proposal being well liked of by Brousson he recommended him to the Grace of God and so Poutant went from place to place labouring every-where for the Instruction and Comfort of his Brethren when he had got together some faithful Ones he began with the Confession of Sin then sung a Psalm after which he pray'd again the second time to implore the Aid of the Holy Spirit in the succeeding Exercise then he read some Chapter in the Scripture and some Sermon the reading whereof was followed by a warm Exhortation which he made to those that were present upon the Things which they had heard and lastly he concluded the whole with an excellent Prayer which he made with admirable servour of Spirit as Brousson found that God bestowed a particular Blessing on his Labour he told him when he returned to him That he ought to continue his Work it was what himself greatly desired but finding Brousson somewhat re-established in his Health and that he was now in a Condition himself to go and preach the Gospel in Person as he had constantly done by Writing during the time of his Sickness by sending up and down Copies of his Sermons among the Faithful he had some regret to abandon Brousson knowing the need he had of his assistance for Poutant knew perfectly well all the Country whereas another faithful Friend whom Brousson had pitched upon for his Companion and who had already been some time with him did not know it near so well but Brousson told him he had rather want his assistance than that the People should be deprived of the Edification which they might receive by his Labours and that God who knew the sincerity of his Intentions would take care of him insomuch that being separated from him after that Brousson had again recommended him to the Grace of God God hath since that time done great things by his Ministry Brousson on his part set himself again to gather Meetings but as he found himself still very feâ—ble he could not from thence forward but every Eighth Day or thereabouts exercise his Function in the mean time he found the Zeal of the People much inflamed during his Sickness whether arising from the fear they had of being deprived of
the Comforts which God gave them in Times past or that from the great Number of Copies of his Sermons Letters and Prayers which he took care to disperse amongst them during his Sickness and which had been read by Persons of Quality and other wealthy Ones who 'till that time would not frequent the Religious Assemblies the Zeal of the most Cold and the Courage of the most Fearful had been influenced and raised up it matters not to determine but Persons of Quality and others who 'till then had testified less Zeal for the Truth came now to give Glory to God in the Holy Assemblies in the midst of all the People insomuch that afterwards it was one of Brousson's greatest care to prevent the Assemblies becoming too numerous to the end they might not make too much Noise and that the People might not be exposed to too great Evils however these Assemblies made so much Noise in the Kingdom that the People of other parts where those who preach'd in Cevennes and Lower Languedoc could not go were edified and strengthned Brousson also sent as far as possibly he could Copies of his Sermons Letters and Prayers to give part of those Instructions and Consolations to them afar off which God by his Ministry bestowed upon the People of Cevennes and Lower Languedoc He was seconded in the same good Work by Papus of whom you have heard somewhat before and who was saved by Divine Providence when Vivens was killed for he had been gone but a Minute out of the Cave where Vivens was invested on him God had bestowed the Spirit of Prayer in a great degree he had before the Death of Vivens begun to labour for the Consolation of the People by excellent Prayers and this he continued after his Death and went from place to place to keep small Meetings where he read the Holy Scriptures and some of the Sermons afore-mentioned and of which he had desired Copies besides whom there was another young Man whose Name was Vzes about twenty Years old who having got together ten or a dozen of the same Sermons got them by Heart and went also to repeat them from place to place and to comfort the People by Praying amongst them But what is more surprising than any thing hitherto related is that God was pleased to raise up the young Maidens for to labour for the Salvation and Comfort of that distressed People one whereof was called Isabel Redostiere about eighteen Years old the Daughter of a Country-man that lived at the foot of the Mountain Liron and the other Pintarde about sixteen or seventeen the Daughter of another Peasant near St. Hipolite They did not take upon them to administer the Sacraments but they went asunder from Place to Place and Desart to Desart to keep Meetings where they exhorted the People out of the Word of God to be converted sanctified be zealous for God come out of impure Babylon to give Glory to God and serve him in purity of Heart according to his Commandments and to be faithful to him unto Death and at the same time edisying comforting and strengthning the People by ardent and excellent Prayers Redostiere coming to know that Broussin with some other faithful Friends that accompanied him were upon an high Mountain she came thither to see them with another faithful Maiden that was elder than herself and who usually kept her Company in whom Brousson and his Friends observed such a Character of Modesty Humility Simplicity and Piety that ravished them with admiration When she happened to be in the same part of the Country where Brousson was she would often come to see and to confer with him about Religious Matters and especially she came frequently to those Assemblies where he administred the Lord's Supper and Brousson hath always testified that she was filled with the Grace of God After this same Maiden had for about two Years laboured for the Salvation and Support of the People she was taken and carried before the Intendant who said unto her So are you one of those Maidens who concern themselves in Preaching I have replied she given some Exhortations to my Brethren and have pray'd to God with them when occasion hat served if you call that Preaching I have Preached But do not you know said the Intendant that the King hath forbidden it I know it well said she again my Lord but the King of Kings the God of Heaven and Earth hath commanded it and I am obliged to obey him rather than Men. Then the Intendant proceeded and told her She deserved Death and that she ought not to expect any other Treatment than that which others had already suffered who had been so adventurous as to preach against the King's Orders But she made him answer She was not disinay'd at that and that she was fully resolved to suffer Death for the Glory and Service of God After many such Discourses the Intendant seeing this young Maiden dispos'd to suffer Martyrdom did not think fit to put her to Death for fear without doubt least the Constancy of this young Maiden should produce a quite contrary Effect to his Intentions he therefore contented himself to sentence her to a perpetual Imprisonment where she is still in the Tower of Constance in Aâ—guemortes with several other Women and faithful Maidens The other Maiden whote Name we told you was Pintarde laboured 〈◊〉 on her part in the Work of the Lord. Brousson had several times an opportunity to confer also 〈◊〉 her and to joyn with her in many an excellent Prayer she made to God that she for the most part drew out of the Psalms and those Old Prophets which agreed exactly to the then State of the Church of God in France and which she delivered with very great fervency One Night as Brousson drew nigh to a place where he had appointed a Meeting to be in the Neighbourhood of St. Hipolite he heard her make a Controversial Sermon or Discourse with great strenuousness She oftentimes kept Meetings where she prenched the Word of God and where she made excellent Prayers and this she continued two Years or better But at last this good Maiden fell into the Hands of her Enemies also with whom the Intendant had much the same Discourse as that already mentioned with the other Maiden but finding she was also very ready to go and suffer Martyrdom he contented himself to condemn her to perpetual Prison where she is still in the Castle of Sommieres These two holy Maidens had not been long Imprisoned but that God was pleased to raise up in Low Cevennes three other Maidens who also edified the People much by their excellent Prayers One of them among the rest and whom perhaps it 's not fit I should name did many times Extempore pray for Half an Hour and Three Quarters of an Hour wherein she very pathetically brought in and applied several Texts of Scripture insomuch that at the very same time she spake to God and
Night to cover him to lie upon nor to wrap about his Legs Next Day as he found himself benumb'd with Wet and Cold he told a faithful Friend that kept him Company That he must go to the Neighbouring Village to dry and warm himself a little But when they were got our of their Den and had gone forward about thirty or forty Paces they observed on one side of them in the thick Wood a Detachment of a Dozen Soldiers with a Sergeant advancing towards them and not above a Pistol-shot from them so that they had scarce time enough to go back again and to hide themselves in a Bush In a little while after they heard a great Number of Enemies who by the same Path marched also very near to them by Defiling they reckoned in all One hundred and four when they gave over Reckoning because they found them halt near them They were four Companies of such as searched for Brbusson and the Officers stopped them to consult together whether they should make any further Search Brousson was not above a Stone's-throw from them and the place where he was was very dangerous by reason there were there some Rocks which might serve for an Hiding-place and so be more liable to be searched and that there were in these four Companies a great many People who knew the Country very well and who had also Dogs to find out Brousson in the Woods In the mean time Brousson would not remove further for fear of being discovered whereupon he fell upon his Knees to pray and God was pleased to strike his Enemies with Blindness and so they went no further that way but divided into several Companies and went to surround and search all the adjacent Villages and Barns and particularly the Village where Brousson was minded to go It may be easily judged that during all the time he was in France to labour for the Salvation and Comfort of his Brethren and which was for four Years and five Months that he saw himself often in such Dangers as this now mentioned and even sometimes in greater but to give an exact Relation of the Miseries Fatigues and Dangers he has been exposed to during that time would be too tedious but the principal Design herein has been to make known the great Wonders which God hath done and does still do in Cevennes and Lower Languedoc to give his People such Instructions and Comforts as were needful in the deplorable State they were in Every body may well think that a Servant of God against whom the Enemies of the Truth were so enraged hath been continually in fearful Dangers and that his Preservation amidst the Flames of this horrible Persecution hath been a continual Succession of Miracles he passed like a Lamb through the midst of a Troop of ravenous Wolfs he held frequent Meetings in the midst of an Army of cruel and furious Enemies who searched for him Night and Day and never found him thô their Search had been a thousand times God having always brought their Designs to Confusion He many times lay in such Houses where the Soldiers went from time to time to search but God never suffered them to go thither while he was in the place thô they went about continually and laid Snares for him every-where Thanks be to God no ill did betide him he held some Hundreds of Meetings great and small but blessed be God none of them was ever surprized many of them have been at times discovered And God who governeth all things by his Wisdom permitted it for divers ends but after all none of those Assemblies have been surprized by the Enemy He hath always experienced what the Holy Ghosts says in the Prophecy of Isaiah chap. 4. v. 5 6. And the Lord will create upon every Dwelling-place of Mount Sion and upon her Assemblies a Cloud and Smoak by Day and the shining of a flaming Fire by Night for upon all shall be a Defence And there shall be a Tabernacle for a Shadow in the Day-time from the Heat and for a Place of Refuge and for a Covert from Storm and from Rain Lastly The Fury of his Enemies coming to increase more and more insomuch that at length he had no liberty almost left him to labour for the Salvation of the People and considering on the other side that almost all the Places of his Retreat were discovered that in the mean time they had resolved to bring four Regiments more into that Country for the entire Suppression of the Meetings that having divers times endeavoured to go into another Country he could not execute his Design because his Picture being dispersed up and down every-where he could not travel but by Night and that he must have a place of Retreat every two or three Leagues for to rest himself upon the approach of Day which he could not propose to have without that Country where God had for a long time honoured him with Preaching the Gospel that his Health was also so impaired that from thence forward he could do but little for the Instruction of the People Viva voce that besides his Family whom he had left in Switzerland now for a considerable time and wanting his assistance were reduced to great Misery that his only Son who was yet young was also deprived for a long time of the Education he stood in need of that on the other hand he had in his possession some Religious and Pious Works which he hoped to get Published and which he thought with the Lord's assistance might contribute to the Edification of good Souls and to the Advancement of the Kingdom of God that in the mean time there were still in Cevennes and the Lower Languedoc divers Servants of God whom he had raised up extraordinarily and who laboured for the Salvation of the People that he left behind a great many Copies of his Sermons and other Writings which might serve for the instructing and strengthning of that poor People and that when he should get out of France if God were pleased to honour him so far he might still labour other ways for their Consolation as in effect he quickly begun and continued He was at last constrained to make Choice of this last And therefore he left the Kingdom of France in December 1693 and the Seventeenth of that Month arrived at Lausanne from whence he had departed July 22. in the Year 1689. And thô his Picture was sent up and down to all places God who conducted him safe into France lead him out again to the end the might tell his great Wonders in Sion I shall give some few Instances more of French Cruelty from a Book Entituled Martyrs in Flames Printed for Mr. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry And so conclude this dismal Scene of Sorrow 3. THE Dragoons that Quartered with Monsieur Solignac at Montauban says the fore-said Author made his Dining-Room a Stable for their Horses thô the Furniture thereof was valued at a Thousand Livres and
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