what I write proceeds not from any fantastick Terror of Mind but from a sober Resolution of what concerns my self and earnest Desire to do you more Good after my Death than mine Example God of his Mercy pardon the badness of it in My Life-time may have done you harm I will not speak ought of the Vanity of this World your own Age and Experience will save the Labour But there is a certain Thing that goes up and down in the World called Religion dress'd and presented fantastically and to purpose bad enough which yet by such evil dealing loseth not its Being The great and good God hath not loft it without a Witness more or less sooner or later in every Man's Bosome to direct us in the pursuit of it and for the avoiding of those inextricable Difficulties and Intanglements our own frail Reason would perplex us withal God in his infinite Mercy has given us his Holy Word in which as there are many things hard to be understood to quiet our Minds and direct us concerning our future Being I confess to God and you I have been a great Neglecter and I fear Despiser of it God of his infinite Mercy pardon me that dreadful Fault but when I retired my self from the Noise and deceitful Vanities of the World I found no true Comfort in any other Resolution than what I had from thence I commend the same from the bottom of my Heart to your I hope happy use Dear Sir Hugh let us be more generous than to believe we die like Beasts that perish but with a Christian manly brave Ambition let us look to what is Eternal I will not trouble you farther The Only Great and Holy God Father Son and Holy Ghost direct you to an happy End of your Life and send us a joyful Resurrection So prays Your Dear Friend MARLBOROUGH Old James near the Coast of Holland the 24th of April 1665. I beseech you commend my Love to all my Acquaintance particularly I pray you that my Cousin Glascock may have a sight of this Letter and as many of my friends besides as you will or any else that desire it I pray grant this my Request To William Glascock Esq Dear Cousin May 23. 1665. IN case I be called away by God in this present Employment I have recommended these few Lines to you first earnestly begging God Almighty his most merciful Pardon and yours for the very bad Example and many Provocations to Sin I have given Next I do most heartily desire you to make use of your remaining Time in bestowing it upon his Service who only can be your Comfort at your Latter End when all the former Pleasures of your Life shall only leave Anguish and Remorse If God had spared me Life instead of this Paper I would through his Grace have endeavoured to have been as Assistful to you in minding you of true Piety as the care of mine own Life could have enabled me Do not think that melancholy Vapours cause this It is God's great Mercy that by this Employment hath made me know my self for which his Name be for ever praised Lastly I pray shew these few Lines to my Lord of Portland by which I in like manner and for the sarne cause crave his Pardon wishing you both the blessed Peace and Content of a good Conscience towards God and a happy End of your Lives Your truly Loving Cousin MARLBOROUGH The Gentleman who hath communicated to us these Letters sent by the Earl of Marlborough to Sir Hugh Pollard and Mr. Glascock is a Person of Quality now living in London and if any one hath the Curiosity to be satisfied from his own Mouth about the perfect certainty of the Matters therein related if he repairs to Mr. Darker in Bull-head Court near Cripplegate he will be always ready to bring any Gentleman to speak with him for further Confirmation 3. Mr. Hobbs who was so much noted in the World for his Atheistical Writings insomuch that his Book intituled The Leviathan was condemned by the Parliament in their Bill against Atheism and Profaneness Octob. 1666. and both that and his Book de Cive by the Convocation July 21. 1683. Yet the Earl of Devon's Chaplain hath left it on Record concerning him That he received the Communion from his Hands with much seeming Devotion about two Years before his Death than which there cannot be a more express Acknowledgment of the Truth of Christianity And this methinks should daunt the Confidence of his Followers the HObbists who because he was born on Good-friday are not ashamed blasphemously to say That as our Saviour Christ went out of the World on that Day to save Men of the World so another Saviour came into the World on that Day to save them Ath. Oxon. Part II. P. 483. 4. But the next Instance of the Earl of Rochester is still more convincing who as it appears by his Funeral Sermon did with very much abhorrence exclaim against that absurd and foolish Philosophy which the World so much admired and was propagated by the late Mr. Hobbs and others which had undone him and many more of the best Parts of the Nation My Lord Rochester being awak'd from his Spiritual Slumber by a pungent Sickness as appears by his Funeral Sermon preached by Mr. Parsons August 9. 1680. Upon the Preacher's first Visit to him May 26. my Lord thank'd God who had in Mercy and good Providence sent him to him who so much needed his Prayers and Counsels acknowledging how unworthily heretofore he had treated that Order of Men reproaching them that they were Proud and Prophesied only for Rewards but now he had learn'd how to value them that he esteem'd them the Servants of the most High God who were to shew to him the way to everlasting Life At the same time continues our Author I found him labouring under strange Trouble and Conflicts of Mind his Spirit wounded and his Conscience full of Terrours Upon his Journey he told me that he had been arguing with greater vigour against God and Religion than ever he had done in his Life-time before and that he was resolv'd to run them down with all the Arguments and Spite in the World but like the great Convert St. Paul he found it hard to â—ick against the Pricks for God at that time had so struck his Heart by his immediate Hand that presently he argued as strongly for God and Vertue as before he had done against it that God strangely opened his Heart creating in his Mind most awful and tremendous Thoughts and Idea's of the Divine Majesty with a delightful Contemplation of the Divine Nature and Attributes and of the Loveliness of Religion and Vertue I never said he was advanc'd thus far towards Happiness in my Life before tho' upon the commissions of some Sins extraordinary I have had some Checks and Warnings considerable from within but still struggl'd with them and so wore them off again The most observable that I remember
in a strange Sickness that he had shrewdly buffeted and handled by him and not far from a Possession His Sickness was a Vertigo 40 Fits at least in an hour and every one of them accompanied with sore Temptations but by Prayer and Fasting they were removed and he recovered Strength and Courage and Comfort though the Devil had tempted him strongly to blaspheme threaten to make him the Scorn of Religion to torment and hinder him if he offered to fast or pray or preach Clark in his Life p. 71. 5. Mr. Tho. Tregosse for five Weeks was kept under by the Spirit of Bondage and Afflicting Tortures till at last he took up a Resolution of discovering some Sins which most burdened his Conscience and meeting with a comfortable Passage concerning God's Love to Mankind in some of our English Divines he was somewhat quieted and refrashed See his Life 6. Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson was much troubled with Temptations Doubts Fears and Sickness but imparting her Condition to some Christian Friends hearing Sermons and reading proper Books after many years she was much strengthned and comforted and on her Death Bed even ravished with Joy See her Life by Mr. Clark 7. Mrs. Katherine Bretterge was upon her Death-Bed assaulted with most greivous Temptations which made her cry out That a Roaring Wilderness of Woe was within her her Sins had made her a Prey to Satan wishing she had either never been born or made any other Creature than a Woman crying Wo wo wo c. a weak wretched woful forsaken Woman c. But at last through the Mercies of God recovered extraordinary Comfort See more in the Chap. of Earnests of a Future Retribution 8. Mr. Robert Glover for five years was so worn and consumed with Cares and Fears about his Soul and Reflections upon his Backsliding that he had no pleasure of Meat Drink Sleep nor Life itself but seemed as if he had been almost in the Pit of Hell yet before he died recovered his Comforts so that he lived as if already possessed of Heaven Clark 's Examp. vol. 1. c. 3. 9. I have already or shall have occasion hereafter to speak of the Afflictions and subsequent Comforts of Mr. Mackarnesse Mr. Rob Smith of Ludshelft Mr. Charles Langford all which have published a Narrative of their own particular Cases and following Cures to the World for the Caution and Encouragement of others 10. Mr. Timothy Rogers who is a very ingenious Gentleman of great Learning Candor and Moderation upon his Recovery after two years very heavy Sickness thought himself obliged to commemorate the Mercy of God to him in delivering him in a manner Miraculously from his Malady after the Fruitless Attempts of many Physicians of great Note to restore him in the Assemblies of his People on these words Psal 30.3 4. O Lord thou hast brought up my Soul from the Grave c. Sing unto the Lord O ye Saints of his and give Thanks at the remembrance of his Holiness They are of great use not only for Persons in his Case but for all in general since they not only contain grateful Remembrances of God's Mercies for Deliverance out of Trouble but necessary Directions for all Christians how to behave themselves which Precautions to acquit themselves so as to provide for the worst of Afflictions After Pathetical Acknowledgments of the great Mercies he received from God in his Affliction both for giving him Patience under it and Deliverance from it and to the People for their Kindness to him in his Distress he raises these two Observations from the Words 1. That God alone is the Soveraign-Disposer of Life and Death 2. That to be brought up from the Grave is a Mercy greatly to be acknowledged and for which we ought to be very thankful He afterwards proceeds to give a plain Relation of some part of his sore distress and I shall give it you in his own words I would desire says he to praise God my self for his great Mercy in my Recovery and also beg of you to praise him in my behalf I will give you a short Account of the Deplorablness of my Condition before I was delivered It will not be a very delightful Account but yet as Solomon says Eccl. 7.2 It is better to go to the House of Mourning than to the House of Feasting It is better some times to hear sad than always pleasant Things And in as much as Grief and Mourning is in it self a very grave and homely thing that requires not Ornament or artificial setting off I shall without affecting to be thought eloquent give You A plain Relation of some part of my sore Distress AFter an ill habit of Body that had for some years attended me together with some little Ilnesses now and then which were but as drops to the greater Storm that was to come upon me and which I could not foresee it pleased God at length in his just and righteous Judgments to suffer my growing Distemper to arrive to a most formidable height So that before I desisted from coming to this place my Sleepdeparted quiâ—e away and for several Nights in a Week I slept no more than I do at this time upon which there immediately followed a general Weakness and Decay of Spirits a general Listlessness and a total Indisposition and by feeling of this I had a strong Impression in my Mind that I shouldvery speedily die as strongly fix'd in my Apprehensions as if it had been said to me as to Hezekiah Thou shalt surely die I thought I was immediately to go to the Tribunal of God and the Thoughts of immediate appearance before him continued with me for about a year there was not a Day past wherein I did not think that I should be dead before Night and at Night I should be dead before the Morning I thought my self just at the entrance into the Grave And what a strange prospect that is and what a mighty Change it causes in a Man's Thought none know but those that have apprehended themselves so near it nor do they fully know it unless they have been near it for many Months together He adds in another place If at any time I rested a little that little Rest was all the while disturb'd with terrible and amazing Dreams and when I awaked I always sound my self in strange and unexpressible Pain in Anguish and Bitterness such as nothing in this World is able to represent even as to its lowest degrees And judge you into what Confusions and Disorders this alone would throw a Man if it were single My Disease and my Fears and sad Apprehensions came upon me as a Whirlwind like the rushing of many mighty Waters strange and horrible Pains and great Fears so that it was as an universal Storm from which there was no retreat Sometimes by the Greatness of my Trouble I was even stifled with Grief that I could not for a great while speak a Word and when I spoke it was in a mournful
manner for many Months I could not breath without a mighty Pain and as soon as with Difficulty I had breath'd every Breath was turn'd into a Groan and every Groan was big with a very deep Sorrow I was weary with my Groaning Psal 6.6 All the Night made I my Bed to swim and watered my Couch with Tears Those that are in Health will scarcely perhaps credit what I say they will think I am a melancholy Man and aggravate my Trouble and set it out more than needs or than it was and that in the whole there was a great deal more of Fancy than of Reality but I pray God they may never taste one drop of that bitter Cup whereof I was made to drink for if they should they 'l find it whatever Names they now give it to be then full of real Miseries You think it may be that I have spoke a great deal and your Attention may be wearied but I 'l assure you 't is many hundred times below what I felt Great Griefs as well as mighty Joys exceed all our Words and Bitterness is not to be described Never was any I believe nearer to Death not to die never was any compass'd with a greater Danger never any had less hoep of an Escape than I and yet the Mercy of a God that is Omnipotent has relieved me And as 't is commonly said that Musick sounds best upon the Water so by setting our Sorrows and our Mercies together our Praise may be more harmonious You may in this behold the Severity and the Goddness of God his Severity in continuing on me so many smart Strokes for so long a space and his Goodness in giving me help when no Power on Earth was able to give me the least Relief The Storm indeed is in a great measure over blessed be God but I cannot without trembling call it to mind nor dare I think very long upon it I can scarce believe that I am at so much ease as I now am I can scarce believe that I am in this Assembly of which I confidently thought I had taken my leave for ever When I look back upon the rough Waves and the stormy Seas I am ready to say Can it be that God has brought me safe to Land After I had conversed with the Dead am I now among the Living am I now with People under Hope blessed be the Name of the Lord I am It is a great Mercy to me and it is the more so as it was unexpected and above the Power of Nature contrary to all my hopes and above all humane help Those that have heard my Groans and seenmy Agonies and heard of my Affliction cannot but wonder at it I often said that I could not be delivered without a Miracle and God himself has wrought it It was by the Soveraign Goodness and meer Mercy and Grace of God that I obtained this Deliverance all this he did for a most unworthy Sinner for an impatient and fretful Sinner too is not this wonderful Mercy with a witness a Mercy never to be forgotten as long as I have a Day to live I have cause to give Thanks for how many has he suffered to sink when the Waves were not so high against them as those that rowl'd over me the Storms and the Winds that blew them down not so fierce in some respect against them as they were against me and yet they are covered in the Grave whilst I though sorely weather-beaten have out-lived the Storm How many are there dead since I was ill many excellent and holy Men are now silent in the Dust who were more knowing more useful more zealous and better qualified than ever I am like to be and yet God has spared a poor Shrub whilst he has torn up some of the Cedars of our Lebanan by the Roots Here ends the Relation of Mr. Rogers's Bodily Distress which you 'l find more at large in his Practical Discourses of Sickness and Recovery to which I refer you I shall next proceed to give an Account of his Trouble of Mind as I find it in his Treatise upon that Subject In which he displays in Experimental Judgment a Moderate Temper and a Spirit repleat with all the Charms of Mildness and Pity of which his own Sufferings have rendred him very sensible The Preface contains certain Heads of Advice to the Relations of such as are Melancholy As 1. That they should look upon the Party as under te worst Distemper in this Life both Body and Mind being infected and therefore a Subject both for a Physician and Minister 2. To be compassionate to 'em considering that we our selves are in the Body 3. Not to use harsh Speeches to 'em but imitate him that wou'd not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax. 4. To believe what they say or at least that their Apprehensions are such as they tell you they are 'T is a real Misery to them if but fancy'd To contradict 'em is Cruelty 5. Urge 'em not to do what they cannot lest you add to their Burden 6. Attribute not the Effects of meer Disease to the Devil it may proceed from a violent Pressure upon their Spirits 7. Do not much wonder at what they say or do All 's to be born with where the Agent is so unhappy as to think himself lost for ever 8. Mention no formidable Things or Stories to 'em 't will effect greater Disorders upon their Spirits 9. When you talk to 'em do not speak as if their Troubles would be very long that 's the Sword that stabs them An End of Misery is encouraging 10. Give 'em Examples of others under the same Circumstances that have been delivered 11. Pray for ' em 12. Get others to pray for ' em 13. Put 'em in mind of the Sovereign Grace of God in Christ Jesus Menasseh found Mercy New follow the Letters of several Divines to the Author and his Relations very pertinent to the Subject treated of being mostly Experiences in such Troubles and Deliverances from ' em Mr. Rogers tells us It is very hard indeed to persuade a Person under great Pain and Anguish and a sense of the Wrath of God and a fear of Hell that ever any has heretofore been so perplext as he Such generally think themselves worse than Cain or Judas or any the most wicked People in the World as thinking that their Sins have greater Aggravations and that consequently they shall be more miserable but you may acquaint them with several Instances of God's Gracious dealing with others after they have been for many Months and Years afflicted I could send you to some now alive that were long afflicted with Trouble of Mind and Melancholy as Mr. Rosewell and Mr. Porter both Ministers the latter whereof was six years oppressed with this Distemper and now they both rejoyce in the Light of God's Countenance I my self was near two years in great Pain of Body and greater Pain of Soul and without any
same upon charitable Uses After this Vow finding his Estate wonderfully increased he began to build Alms-houses one in the Parish of St. George in Southwark another in St. Mary Newington because in those Parishes he observed many blind poor lame People were and never an Alms-house for them He built a Chappel near one of his Alms-houses and when he had so done with the Poor's Stock he bought Lands and Houses of Inheritance which he setled upon the Company of Drapers as for the Relief of his poor Alms-people so for the performing other charitable Gifts mentioned in his Last Will and Testament While he lived he was wont to go himself once a Month to his Alms-houses in his worst Cloaths that he might not be suspected to be the Founder of them and gave unto the poor People their promised Allowance This whilst living At his Death also he gave very considerable besides which he gave the left to his Wife and two Daughters about 10000 l. 9. William Pennoyer Esq Citizen and Merchant of London a Person wholly composed of Mercy and Goodness many Years before his Death turned great part of the Stock wherewith he traded into Lands of Inheritance to the value of Four hundred Pounds per Annum he lived frugally spending upon himself and Family about Two hundred Pounds per Annum and the Remainder he bestowed on charitable Uses His Legacies bequeathed in his Last Will and Testament were as followeth To poor Ministers Widows and others in distress about 150 l. To Four of his poor Tenants 20 l. Likewise 800 l. to be laid out here in Woollen-Cloth or other Commodities to be sent to New-England for the Vse of his poor Kindred there To Bristol 54 l. per Annum towards the Maintenance of a School-master and a Lecturer to Preach a Week-day Lecture there and to other charitable Vses He likewise setled 20 l. per Annum on Trusstees for the teaching of Forty Boys in or near White-Chappel and 40 s. yearly to buy Bibles for some of the Children He gave 12 l. Annum for maintaining a School at Hay in Brecknock-shire and 40 s. more yearly to buy Books for the Scholars Ten Pound per Annum for poor distressed People in Bethlehem Hospital London Ten Pound per Annum more to Ten of the blindest poorest oldest Cloath-workers at the Discretion of the Masters Wardens and Assistants of the said Company for the time being Forty Pound per Annum to Christ-Church Hospital for the placing out Four Children yearly and 40 s. more yearly to buy each of the Children a Bible Besides these he gave to his poor Kindred above 2000 l. by his Will And by a Codicil annexed thereunto he bequeathed to certain Trustees 1000 l. to be given to honest poor People As also 300 l. for Releasing poor Prisoners c. 10. Thomas Arnold Citizen and Haberdasher of London at his first setting up was not rich in Stock but being charitably disposed and ready to every good Work his Estate through God's Blessing very much increased He frequently enquired of others after such poor People as were over-burdened with Children or otherwise distressed yea he hired Men with Money to make it their Business to find out honest poor People on whom he might bestow his Charity and likewise did intrust others with considerable Sums to distribute among the poorer sort charging them to have special Respect to the honest Poor such whom they conceived did truly fear God That he was no Loser but a Gainer by his Liberality appeareth in that God so blessed him in his Calling that he attained to an Alderman's Estate and was chosen to that Office yea he gave over his Calling in the City and withdrew into the Country that he might the better mind God and the Concernments of his Soul more and the World less 11. John Clark Doctor of Physick one of great Repute for his Learning Piety and Charity sometime President of the College of Physicians was wont to lay by all the Lord's-days Fees as a sacred Stock for charitable Uses devoting that entirely to God which he received on his Day accounting it a piece of Sacriledge to appropriate it to himself or any common use whereupon God so prospered him in his Calling that tho' at first his Practice was little and his Estate not very great yet afterwards his Practice so increased and the World so flowed in upon him that he lived plentifully and comfortably 12. Dr. J. Bathurst likewise kept his Lord's-days Fees as a Bank for the Poor which was so far from lessening his Incomes that by the Blessing of God upon his Practice they were greatly in few Years augmented by it for tho' at his first coming to London he brought little Estate with him and here had small Acquaintance York-shire being his Native Country where he had spent his former Days yet the Lord was pleased so to prosper him in his Calling that in 20 Years time he purchased Lands of Inheritance to the value of 1000 l. per Annum to speak saith my Author what I know to be certain for in the Repute of some his Estate at his Death was no less than 2000 l. of yearly value 13. Dr. Edmond Trench likewise observed the same course as his Wife and divers other of his Friends do testifie And certain it is that this was no damage but a great advantage to him for he had as many Patients as his weak Body would permit him to visit and tho' he lived at a full and plentiful rate frequently and chearfully entertaining Ministers and Scholars at his Table yet did he gain a very considerable Estate which he left to his Wife and Children c. 14. Samuel Dunche of Pusey in the County of Berks Esq a Person that according to the Apostle's Rule Did good to all but especially to those of the Houshold of Faith used to send Moneys yearly to several Towns as to Stow upon the Woold in Gloucester-shire to Lamburn and others for the Relief of the Poor and upon the last here named he setled Lands of Inheritance for ever for the same use And to Rumsey in Hamp-shire he gave by Deed upon the like Account a Lease of Ninety nine Years to commence after his Decease The Poor also of the said Town whom he called his Alms-people had also during his Life weekly Relief from him and many other Towns together with them were large Sharers in the like Bounty Several poor Children of the said Town and likewise of those belong to Farringdon he set to School and did not only pay for their Teaching but also furnished them with Books convenient He caused also several good Books to be Printed at his own Charge which he freely gave to the Poor and gave considerable Sums of Money yearly for the Relief of poor Ministers and upon several of them he setled Annuities as 10 l. 20 l. per Annum for their Lives besides Legacies at his Death Besides all this his Hand was
73. Ibid. p. 75 76. out of the Bishop of Kilmore 20. Mr. Bilney going to the Place of Execution comforted himself with this Consideration That he was then sailing upon the troubled Sea but e're long his Ship would be in a quiet Harbour and I doubt not saith he but through the Grace of God I shall endure the Storm only I would entreat you to help me with your Prayers As he wet along the Streets he gave much Alms to the Poor by the Hands of one of his Friends At the Stake he made a long Confession of his Faith in an excellent manner and gave many sweet Exhortations to the Pople and then earnestly called upon God by Prayer and at the end rehearsed the 143 Psalm Then turning to the Officers he ask'd if they were ready Whereupon the Fire was kindled he holding up his Hands and crying sometime Jesus and sometime Credo But the Wind blowing away the Flame from him and the Pain enduring the longer he was put to a longer exercise of Patience till at last he gave up the Ghost Ibid. p. 124. 21. William Tindal whilst he was tying to the Stake cried with a fervent and loud Voice Lord open the King of England 's Eyes And so he was first strangled by the Hangman and then burnt A. C. 1556. Ibid. p. 129. 22. Leo Judae a little before his Death sent for the Pastors and Professors of Tigure and made before them a Confession of his Faith concluding thus To this my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ my Hope and my Salvation I wholly offer up my Soul and Body I cast my self wholly upon his Mercy and Grace c. Ibid. p. 137. 23. Cruciger after three Months illness calling his two young Daughters to repeat their Prayers before him and then himself praying with great fervency for himself the Church and those his Orphans concluded I call upon thee with a weak yet a true Faith I believe thy Promises which thou hast sealed with thy Blood and Resurrection c. Ibid. p. 145. 24. Martin Bucer in his Sickness to Mr Bradford coming to him and telling him that he would remember him in his Prayers being that Day to preach uttered these Words Ne abjicias me in tempore senectutis c. Forsake me not in the time of Age when my Strength fails me And being admonished in his Sickness that he should arm himself against the Assaults of the Devil he answered That he had nothing to do with the Devil because he was wholly in Christ And God forbid God forbid said he but that I should have some Experience of his Heavenly Comfort After Sermon Mr. Bradford coming again and declaring unto him the great Fear which the Physicians had to prescribe any thing unto him by reason of the Weakness of his Body with his Eyes fixed towards Heaven he uttered these Words I le ille regit moderatur omma He he it is that rules and governs all things And so in the midst of many pious Prayers he quietly yielded his Soul into the Hands of God Febr. 27. 1551. Ibid. p. 160. 25. George Prince of Anhalt falling sick of a most troublesome Disease was frequent in holy Prayer for himself for all the Princes of that Family for his Country and for Germany He had some portion of Holy Scriptures daily read to him He made his Will wherein he set down the Confession of his Faith and commended the Defence of the Churches to his Brother adding something to the Stipends of all the godly Ministers under his Charge often ruminated on those Texts God so loved the World that he gave c. No man shall take my sheep out of my hand Come uto me all ye that are weary c. And so in holy Meditations and Prayers he resigned up his Spirit unto God A. C. 1543. Ibid. p. 165. 26. John Rogers being degraded and excommunicated in Queen Mary's Reign was warned to prepare for Death before he arose If it be so said he I need not tye my Points Being afterwards brought to Smithfield and a Pardon offered him he refused to Recant His Wife with Nine small Children and the Tenth sucking at her Breast coming to him the sorrowful Sight nothing moved him But in the Flames he washed his Hands and with wonderful Patience took his Death He was the Protomartyr in Queen Mary's Reign The Sabbath before his Death he drank to Mr. Hooper who lodged in a Chamber beneath him bidding the Messenger to commend him to him and tell him That there was never a little Fellow that would better stick to a Man than he would to him Supposing they should be both burned together tho' it happened otherwise Ibid. p. 168. 27. Laurence Saunders being in Prison for a Year and three Months wrote thence in a Letter to his Wife I am merry and trust I shall be merry maugre the Teeth of the all the Devils in Hell Riches I have none to endow you with but that Treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry Consciences whereof I thank my Christ I do feel part that I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ c. When he came near the Place of Execution at Coventry to be burned he went cheerfully to the Stake kissing of it and saying Welcome the Cross of Christ welcome Everlasting Life And the Fire being kindled he sweetly slept in the Lord. Ibid. p. 171. 28. Bishop Hooper being come to the Stake prayed about half an Hour and having a Box with a Pardon set before him he cried If you love my Soul away with it if you love my Soul away with it Three Irons being prepared to fasten him to the Stake he only put an iron Hoop about his middle bidding them to take away the rest saying I doubt not but God will give me strength to abide the extremity of the fire without binding When Reeds were cast to him he embraced and kissed them putting them under his Arm where he had Bags of Gun-powder also When Fire was first put to him the Faggots being green and the Wind blowing away the Flame he was but scorched More Faggots being laid to him the Fire was so suppress'd that his nether Parts were only burned his upper being scarce touched he prayed O Jesus the Son of David have mercy upon me and receive my Soul and wiping his Eyes with his Hands he said For God's Love let me have more Fire A third Fire being kindled it burned more violently yet was he alive a great while in it the last Words which he uttered being Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Ibid. p. 175. 29. Rowland Taylor going to the Stake at Hadley the Streets were full of People weeping and bewailing their Loss to whom he said I have preached to you God's Word and Truth and am come to seal it with my Blood He gave all his Money to the Poor for whom he was wont thus to provide formerly Coming to the Place of
in the performance of that Duty which like Jacob's Ladder tho' it stand upon the Earth yet it reaches up to Heaven Here 's the Love of God made manifest to a poor Sinner at the last hour like the Thief upon the Cross he that never new before what the Love of God was to his Soul finds it now filled with it and running over Now bless the Lord O my Soul yea all that is within me Bless his holy Name for this Dispensation Now Light appears out of Darkness in the Face of Jesus now all Worldly Joy and Comforts seem to me as they are things not hard to part with Father Mother Brothers Sister Wife Children House and Lands are as my dear Saviour saith to be parted with for him or we are not worthy of him I bless his Name I find no reluctancy to do it he hath brought me to his Foot-stool and I can say heartily the Will of the Lord be done in this matter I never before but saw a Beauty in Worldly Comforts but now those seem so faded by the greater Lustre and Beauty that I see in God in Christ Jesus that I am astonished where I have been wandring all my days spending my Time and my Money for that which is not Bread O strive to get a taste of this Love of God in Christ Jesus and it will perfectly wean you from this deceitful foolish World What is worldly Honour and Riches O set not your hearts upon them but get a Treasure in Heaven that your hearts may be there also O lose no time for if you ever knew the sweetness of it you would never be at rest till you found him whom your Soul loved it will be more yea infinitely more than all worldly Enjoyments can afford you tho' in their greatest Perfection it will make your Life sweet and your Death most comfortable It is the Bread which this World knoweth not of and therefore maketh little or no Enquiry after it Dearest Relations whilst you and my other dear Friends are like Aaron and Hur holding up the Hands of Moses I am through Grace getting Victory over the Amalekites I â—n embrace my dear and beloved Brother and Companion with more Joy in the Field of Suffering than ever I could have done had I met him crowned with the Lawrels of Victory Oh the Mercy to die with such a Friend and such a valiant Soldier of Jesus who hath kept his Garments clean I now begin to pity you that stay behind who have many Temptations to conflict with for a little yea a very little time and my Warfare will be accomplished and if God continue his Love and Influence upon my Soul it will be both short and sweet I have little of this World about me I leave you all the Legacy of what was ever dearest to me the best of Wives and five poor Children who must pass through an evil and sinful World but I have committed them to God who hath commanded to cast our Fatherless Children and Widows upon him Dear Parents Brothers Sister all adieu my time draws on my Paper is finished and your dying Child and Brother recommends you all to him who is All-sufficient to the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus the great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant who will make you Perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen RICHARD NELTHROP From the Palace of Newgate Octob. 30. 1685. Two of the Clock in the Morning Mr. Nelthrop's Last Speech THE great and inexpressible trouble and distraction I have been under since I came into Trouble especially since my close Confinement in Newgate hath so broken my Reason that for many Weeks last past till the day my Sentence was passed I have not had any composure of Mind and have been under the greatest trouble imaginable Since my dearest Wife hath had the Favour granted her of coming to me I am at present under great composedness of Mind through the Infinite Goodness of the Lord. As to what I stand Outlawed for and am now sentenced to die I can with comfort Appeal to the great God before whose Tribunal I am to appear that what I did was in the simplicity of my heart without seeking any private Advantage to my self but thinking it my Duty to hazard my Life for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and English Liberties which I thought invaded and both in great danger of being lost As to the Design of Assassinating the late King or his present Majesty it always was a thing highly against my Judgment and which I always detested and I was never in the least concerned in it neither in Purse nor Person nor ever knew of any Arms bought for that intent nor did I believe there was any such Design or ever heard of any disappointment in such an Affair or Arms or Time or Place save what after the Discovery of the General Design Mr. West spoke of as to Arms bought by him And as to my self I was in the North when the late King was at New-Market and the first News I had of the Fire was at Beverly in York-shire As to my coming over with the late Duke of Monmouth it was in prosecution of the same ends but the Lord in his Holy and Wise Providence hath been pleased to blast all our Undertakings tho' there seemed to be a very unanimous and zealous Spirit in all those that came from beyond the Seas And as to the Duke of Monmouth's being declared King I was wholly Passive in it I never having been present at any publick Debate of that Affair and should never have advised it but complained of it to Col. Holmes and Captain Patchet I believe the Lord Gray and Mr. F the chief Promoters of it As to the Temptation of being an Evidence and bringing either into trouble or danger of his Life the meanest Person upon the Account for which I suffer I always abhorred and detested the thoughts of it both when in and out of danger and advised some very strongly against it except when under my Distraction in Prison that amongst other Temptations did violently assault me but through the goodness of my dearest God and Father I was preserved from it and indeed was wholly incapable and could never receive the least shadow of comfort from it but thought Death more eligible and was some time afore out of my distracted and disquieted condition wholly free from it though not without other Temptations far more Criminal in the sight of Men. I bless the Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations that I find a great Resignedness of my Will to his finding infinitely more comfort in Death than ever I could place in Life tho' in a condition that might seem honourable every hour seeing the Will of God in ordering
and Wisdom must this God be that stretched out the Heavens like a round Canopy and hung it over this lower World in so exact and circular a Figure that no inequality can be found in it 3. Of the Situation of the Heavens ALL this Great Body hung with an innumerable Number of Stars and Planets each Body big enough to make a World of all this hung upon nothing no material Arches no visible Pillars to support it Nothing but the Power of him that made it It surpasses Human Skill the Wit of all Men in the World to hang a little Ball or an Egg-shell in the Air without somewhat material to support it God hath not only hung the Earth but the Heavens also upon nothing What cannot the God of all the World do Let him but speak the Word and he can make a World stand without Pillars His Word is enough for a World to stand upon and shall poor sneaking Man be afraid to venture upon his Promise He spake the Word and the World was created he spake the Word and the Heavens were stretched forth over the empty places He may speak the Word Ten thousand times and Man shall despond and be afraid to venture out any further than he can stand upon his own Legs If St. Peter step forth upon the Sea at the Voice of his Saviour he begins to sink And if the Sinner do but essay to trust upon the Word of the Almighty when no outward supply is ready at hand his Faith fails him and he sinks into Despair So long as we have Money in our Pockets or a Remedy in sight we can keep our Feet but in Poverty Distress and Danger all the Promises in the Gospel sealed with the Word and Oath of a God are not Ground enough for Man to set his Foot upon 4. Of the Stars and Planets WHich deserve to be considered 1. As many How many I know not You have heard the Phrases As the Stars of Heaven for multitude and as the Sands upon the Sea-shore Used promiscuously sometimes one sometimes the other Astronomers have long ago reckoned up 1022 of them that are visible and 't is concluded those that are invisible are far the greater number Psal 147.4 He telleth the Number of the Stars and calls them all by their Names If the Stars of Heaven be so numerous what are the Inhabitants that dwell beyond I grant 't is a little Flock that goes to Heaven compared with the many many damned Souls that go to Hell but as God said to Abraham Gen. 15.5 Look now towards Heaven and tell the Stars if thou be able to number them c. The number of them that stand about the Throne is ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands stand before him Rev. 5.11 He sheweth Mercy to thousands of them that love him and keep his Commands And let not any think that amongst so many Children God will forget or overlook any of them he knows them all and will lose none of them He calls his own Sheep by Name and leads them out John 10.3 He counts our wandrings puts our Tears into a Bottle the very Hairs of our Head are all numbred There 's not a Word in our Mouth nor a Thought in our Heart but he knows it altogether Such Knowledge is too great for us it may put us into wonder and strike us with an awful Reverence of the Divine Omnipotence and Wisdom Consider then a little Sinner how many thy Sins are how many the Mercies of God bestowed upon thee how many Invitations thou hast had to Repentance and how many Repulses thou hast given to the Messages of Heaven and withal how if they were ten thousand times ten thousand more God knows and remembers them all and then say with Job 9.2 How should Men be just with God 2. Their Greatness Indeed they seem little to us because they are a great way off Distance of Place gives Disadvantage to the Prospect but he that saith they are no bigger than they seem is as wise as that Philosopher that thought the Sun was no bigger than his Head The Learned and most Skilful Astronomers do generally conclude it for a demonstrative Truth that the least Star in the Firmament is bigger than the Earth we live upon And yet these so great Bodies are carried so high supported only with the Hand of the Almighty let not the penitent Sinner then say can God raise me up from the Grave of Sin from Things below and set me up on high and bring me safe to Heaven Thô thou liest now among the Potsherds sunk deep into Sin and Misery yet God is able to lift thee and thousands more and carry thee as upon Eagles Wings and set you as Stars in Heaven there to shine for ever and ever 3. Distance from one another especially the Planets and from the Earth The Moon is next to us Mercury next Venus in the third place the Sun fourth Mars the fifth Jupiter the sixth Saturn highest the Fixed Stars above them all Were they all in the same Orb they would move together at the same time and make no Distinction of Day and Night of Winter and Summer or not so much as would serve for our Necessities And should they be all so low as the lowest or should he that holds them there let them fall thence by the reverse of his Decree or the withdrawing of his constant Providence they would soon set this World on Fire and send us off the Stage and burn the Universe into a Scroll Should God draw back the Hand of his Omnipotence but one moment the Stars would fall upon our Heads and make this whole World into a Hell in the twinkling of an Eye How necessarily do we depend upon the Divine Mercy for our Safety and Security every Hour we live More ways than one than a thousand doth he keep Death and Destruction from us Let us consider a little this excellent Favour So many Globes as big as Worlds and most of them far greater hanging over our Heads all the Days of our Life and we still walking safe under them how much methinks do we owe to the Power and good Providence of God for saving our Lives in such imminent Danger Were those excellent Bodies subject to the like Irregularities as we are apt to go out of their place to leave their Orbs to disobey the Will of him that made them as Man generally is what a dangerous Condition should we be in Damocles who sat down to Table at a Feast with a naked Sword hanging over his Head with a Horse-hair had no such reason of an awful fear upon him as we have if he that govern'd the Stars were a Man and not God 4. Their Light Which is so great in all that if but one of the Stars or Planets except the Moon which hath none but borrowed Light were not kept at a distance from us they would certainly dazle our weak Eyes into
of the Almighty But there shall no Man see his Face and live Exod. 33.20 Can the Owl see the Sun or Batts endure the Day-light No more can we abide the Lustre of the Divine Presence or see the Essentials of his Being 1 Tim. 6.16 8. Incorruptibility and Immortality The Sun is the same now as he was last Year last Age Thousands of Years ago he suffers no Decay Infirmity Old Age or Declension but is as fresh and vigorous now as in the first Morning of its Creation Doth not this somewhat resemble the Glory of the incorruptible God the King Immortal Eternal Invisible Jam. 1.17 Who is the same to day yesterday and for ever All things here wax old as doth a Garment c. 9. Of his Omnipotence For all these Attributes are reckon'd to the Almighty as in a manner peculiar to him and therefore I hope you 'll not quarrel with the Number of my Particulars What cannot in Reason the Sun do I have instanced in many things under the Point of Providence I will add a few more The Waters can parch our Grounds exhale our Waters make the Earth barren destroy our Harvests and bring a Dearth upon the Land The Sun can invenom the Air and shed a Poison into our Constitutions and destroy us with Plagues and Mortal Distempers the Sun can burn our Houses Towers Steeples and make a Desolation in the Earth the Sun can make our Heads ache our Hearts burn our Choler domineer and so dispose to Wars and Bloodshed Again the Sun can melt the Clouds and send Rain upon the Earth to make it fruitful and turn our dry Grounds into Springs of Water can heal the Air and warm our Constitutions and preserve our Health and Wealth and Peace and Plenty but all this under the Permission of God Almighty He only is the Supream Power whom nò Creature can resist He only is Omnipotent Our God is a consuming Fire Heb. 12.29 What a mighty Foundation is this Attribute of the Divine Omnipotence to build our Faith and Affiance upon And what strong Reasons we have to believe it And yet we shake like a Bulrush when we lean upon that strong Arm the Strength of Israel who will not lie nor deceive that Mighty God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we weak Mortals can wish or think of What Conceptions we are able to frame to our selves now of this Attribute I know not this I believe when once the Leaf of this sublunary World is turn'd over and the Gates of Heaven are open'd and that Scene of Infinite Glory which lies yet before us out of sight is presented to our Eyes when the WONDERS of the other World come in view we shall then cry out Rev. 19.6 The Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth 10. Purity and Holiness The Fire is a clean Element and one of those that we are wont to purifie Metals and Vessels made of them with It was enjoyned under the Law The Sun is pure from any Spot or Blemish or Wrinkle or Cloud or Earth or Pollution Yea thô it visits our Dunghils 't is not defiled with them no Vncleanness can stick to the Sun-beams Yea it discovers the Spots upon our Garments the Freckles upon our Faces and puts a Shame upon our Deformities Eccles 16.10 What is this but a lively Emblem of the Infinite Purity of that God with whom we have to do That Refiner's Fire and Fuller's Soap whose Words are all of them purer than Gold tried in the Fire and requires us to be pure as he is pure And really when we consider this Visinity of the Divine Holiness we may be justly abashed into Shame and Confusion to think what Deformities our Souls are disfigured with and what Insolencies we have committed in the sight of this Sun and withal we have Reason to cry out as 1 Sam. 6.20 Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God If the Righteous scarcely be saved c. We are apt to please our selves with the Memoirs of the Divine Goodness and Clemency the shining Light and Warmth of the Sun-beams but seldom remember that the same Sun when it looks through a Burning-glass is apt to set fire upon combustible Stuff I mean that whosoever builds any such Light Tinder Hay Straw Stubble Wood False Doctrines and Errors of Judgment or Ungodly Practices runs the Risk of an extraordinary Hazard and that these Works must be tried by a Jealous God and whatever is combustible must be burn'd up and if the Sinner after that loss have any Substance of Purity and Holiness left he shall be saved but so as by Fire as a piece of impure Gold or Sslver thrown into the Furnace to prove the Metal and waste the Dross Our God is a consuming Fire 11. Bounty How beneficial the Sun is to the Earth I need not stay now to tell you 't is sufficient to say the Benignity and Beneficence of it is so great and its good Offices so many that we can as ill spare the Sun out of the Firmament as the Breath almost out of our Nostrils nor can we live or move as Men as Christians without the Mercies of God His Mercies are over all his Works And should I go about to expatiate upon this Theme I might as well go waâ—e in the deep and wide Ocean His Mercy is over all his Works He is a gracious God merciful slow o anger of great kindness pitiful and compassionate of tender bowels and of long patience and plenâ—â—ous in goodness keeping mercy for thousands of them In short the Prophet seems to make out my Analogy in this Point more exactly when he ells us Mal. 4.2 The Son of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings 12. Vnchangeableness and Everlastingness We see nothing visible in the Nature of Things to prognosticate the Ruine of the Sun at least 'till the expiration of the whole Elementary World It neither changes nor decays nor dies it falters not in its Motions or Influences 't is still one continues the same and will do so 'till the End of Time So long as the Sun endures Psal 72.5 17. And in this respect likewise 't is an Adumbration of the Divine Truth and Faithfulness and Unchangeableness and Eternity I am the Lord I change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Mal. 3.6 The Lord shall endure for ever Psal 9.7 13. I have one thing more and I have done The Sun and Moon repesent a Husband and Wife So the Heathen Poets fancied and accordingly gave the Names of Phoebus to one and Phoebe to the other Psal 19.5 And 't is very certain the Moon depends entirely upon the Sun for all its Light and attends it in its Motion as becomes an obsequious Bride Nor am I singular in this Conceit Holy Scripture gives sufficient Countenance to it The Church is fitly compared to the Moon upon the Account of its Changes Eclipses borrowed Light and wanish Complection I think by
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
whom he might be Ordained he pitched upon the Bishop of Catalonia to whom when he came and had Conversed a while with him there grew a very strict Bond of Friendship between them Ibid. p. 105. 5. Under the Seventh Persecution Theodora a godly Virgin for her Religion was condemned to the Stews where her Chastity was to be a Prey to all Commers which Sentence being executed many wanton young Men were ready to press into the House but one of the Brethren called Didymus putting on a Soldier 's Habit would have the first turn and so going in perswaded her to change Garments with him and so she in the Soldiers Habit escaped and Didymus being found a Man was carried before the President to whom he confessed the whole matter and so was condemned Theodora hearing of it thinking to excuse him came and presented her self as the guilty Party desiring that she might Die and the other be Excused but the Merciless Judge caused them both to be put to Death Clark Gen. Martyr p. 82. 6. In Queen Elizabeth's Reign in a Fight between the Earl of Kildare and the Earl of Tir-Owen two of the Earl of Kildair's Foster Brethren were Slain whose Death he took so heavily that himself shortly after Died for Grief For there is no Love in the World comparable by many degrees to that of Foster-brethren in Ireland Camb. Brit. Irel. p. 116. 7. Dr. Cranmer was a Faithful Friend to the Lord Cromwel even in his Disgrace insomuch that he ventured King Henry VIIIth's Displeasure to excuse for him and absented from the Parliament when he was condemned Church Hist. by Dr. Burnet 8. Minutius Faelix saith that he and his Friend Octavius did both will and will the same things 9. Humphry Duke of Glocester being Wounded and Overthrown by the Duke of Alenzon at the Battel of Agincourt in France was rescued by his Brother King Henry Vth who bestriding him delivered him from the Danger Speed Chron. Clark's Mirrour c. 56. p. 231. 10. Pelopidas and Epaminondas were singularly noted and commended for the perfect Love and Friendship that was ever inviolable kept between them even till their Deaths having been joined together in so many Wars Battels Charges of Armies and in Government of the Common-wealth They were both alike born to all Vertue only Pelopidas took most pleasure in the Exercise of his Body and Strength and Epaminondas in the Exercise of his Wit and Learning the Recreation of the one was to wrestle hunt and exercise his Strength of the other to hear study and always to learn something in Philosophy Their great Love each to other was shewed in a Journey they made together unto Mantinea to aid the Lacedemonians who were now in League with the Thebans wherein they being both set in the Battel near together amongst the Foot-men against the Arcadians it fell out that that point of the Lacedemonian Army wherein they were retreated and many of them run away But these two gallant young Men resolved rather to die than to fly and standing close together they couragiously resisted the many Enemies that assaulted them till such times as Pelopidas having received seven dangerous Wounds fell down upon a heap of dead Bodies as well of their Friends as of their Foes then Epaminondas thinking he had been slain stept notwithstanding before him and defended his Body and Armour and he alone fought against many desiring rather to die than to forsake Pelopidas lying amongst the Dead but himself at last being thrust through the Breast with a Pike and receiving a sore Cut on his Arm with a Sword was even ready to sink when Agesipolis King of the Lacedemonians came with the other point of the Battel in an happy hour and so saved both their Lives when they were even past hope Plut. in vita Pelop. 11. Audamidas a Corinthian by Birth had two Friends Aretaeus and Charixcenus both wealthy himself being very poor This Man at his Death made this his last Will and Testament viz. I bequeath my Mother to be nourished and cherished by him in her Old Age. Item I bequeath my Daughter to Charixcenus to be placed out by him with as big a Portion as possibly he can give her The Girl was at that time Marriageable The Heirs as soon as they heard of the Will came forthwith and accepted those things that were given in charge but Charixcenus dying within five days Aretaeus undertook the whole Charge maintained the old Woman during Life and married the Man's Daughter together with his own on the same day allowing them out of five Talents two Talents apiece for their Portion Lucian in Toxar Dial. CHAP. XXXVIII Remarkable Hospitality BY a Hospitality I mean a Charitable Disposition of Soul to entertain and relieve such as are in real Distress And the Apostle enforceth this as a Duty upon Christians with a good Argument when he bids us Not to be forgerful to entertain Strangers because that some by so doing formerly had received Angels into their Houses unawares And who knows till after some time of Conversation with them what Graces may be lodged in the Breasts or what Commissions may be put into the Hands of those Persons that Lazarus like wait at our Gates 1. A religious and rich Matron at Anticch entertained Origen together with his Mother and his Brethren after the Death of his Father and the Confiscation of his Goods 2. Gregory the Great was much given to Hospitality so that when many Inhabitants from divers parts fled from the barbarous Cruelty of the Longobards and came to him he entertained and relieved them inviting daily to his House many of those Exiles He made also large Distributions unto others giving them Corn Wine Flesh Cheese and many other Refreshments in their several Seasons he sent often also large Relief to the Sick Lame and Impotent not only in Rome but in many other Towns and Villages round about insomuch that all that he had seemed to be a common Granary Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist p. 98. 3. Mrs. Margaret Corbet was eminent for a charitable and bountiful Spirit She was another Dorcas Full of Good-Works and Alms-Deeds That high Elogium that Solomon gives to a vertuous Woman may properly be applied unto her Many Daughters have done vertuously but she excelled them all Prov. 31.19 Many there are that come far short of her but very few that went beyond her in Acts of Charity God gave her a liberal and plentiful Estate and that was a great Mercy But it was a far greater Mercy that he gave her a free and liberal Heart to do good and to distribute To cast her Bread on the Waters and to honour God with her Substance That Protestation which Job makes for his own Vindication Job 31.16 19. may fitly be applied unto her He would not withhold the poor from their desire nor cause the eyes of the Widow to fail He would not see any to perish for want of Clothing nor any poor
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
prospect of Peace or Help and yet God hath revived me thro' his Soveraign Grace and Mercy and there have been several heretofore forely perplex'd with great inward and outward trouble whom God aftr that wonderfully refreshed Mr. Robert Bruce some time ago Minister at Edinburgh was Twenty years in Terrors of Conscience and yet delivered afterwards You may also direct them to the Lives of Mrs. Brettergh Mrs. Drake Mr. Peacock and Mrs. Wight where they will see a very chearful day returning after a black and stormy night and that the Issue from their Afflictions was more glorious than their Conflict was troublesome They went forth weeping they sowed in Tears but they reaped an Harvest of wonderful Joys afterwards You have in the Book of Martyrs written by Mr. Fox an instance of Mr. Glover who was worn and consumed with inward Trouble for the space of Five years that he neither had any Comfort in his Meat nor any Quietness of Sleep nor any Pleasure of Life he was so perplexed as if he had been in the deepest Pit of Hell yet at last this good Servant of God after so sharp Tempetations and the strong Buffetings of Satan was freed from all his trouble and was thereby framed to great Mortification and was like one already placed in Heaven and led a Life altogether Celestial abhorring in his Mind all propahen things and you have a remarkable instance of mighty Joy in Mr. Holland a Minister who having the day before he died meditated upon the 8th of the Romans he cried on a sudden Stay your Reading What Brightness is it that I see They told him it was the Sun-shine Nay saith he my Saviour's shine Now farewell World and welcome Heaven the day-star from an high hath visited my Heart O speak it when I am gone and let it be Preached at my Funeral God dealeth familiarly with Man I feel his Mercy I see his Majesty whether in the Body or out of the Body God he knoweth but I see things unutterale And in the Morning following he shut up his blessed Life with these blessed words O! what an happy Change shall I make from Night to Day from Darkness to Light from Death to Life from Sorrow to Solace from a factious World to an Heavenly Being O! my dear Friends it pitieth me to leave you behind yet remember what I now feel I hope you shall find e're you die That God doth and will deal familiarly with Men. And now thou fiery Chariot that came down to fetch up Eliah carry me to my happy hold and all the blessed Angels who attended the Soul of Lazarus to bring it up to Heaven bear me O bear me into the Bosom of my best Beloved Amen Amen Come Lord Jesus come quickly And so he fell asleep See this and several other Instances in Mr. Robert Bolton's Instructions for Afflicted Consciences p. 87. and 235 c. Thus far Mr. Rogers I shall next add what dreadful Apprehensions a Soul has that is under Desertion from Mr. Rogers's own Experience and I shall give it you in his own words viz. The time of God's Forsaking of a Soul is a very dark and mournful time 't is not only night but a weeping stormy Night and it may not be unuseful to you who have it may be hitherto lived in the Beams and chearful Light of Day to know what passes in this sorrowful and doleful Night and in this Matter I will not borrow Information from others but give you my own Experience 1. In this Night the deserted Soul in overwhelmed with continual Thoughts of the Holiness and Majesty and Glory of the Lord not does in think of him with any manner of Delight acording to that of Asaph Psal 77.3 I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my Spirit was over-whelmed And in how deplorable a case is such a Soul that cannot think of its God and its Creator but with Grief and Sorrow 2. The Deserted Soul in this mournful Night does look upon God as its Enemy and as intending its Hurt and Ruin by the Sharpness of his Dispensations and this makes it to be incapable of receiving any Consolation from the Creatures for will it say to them Alas if God be my Enemy as I apprehend him to be which of you can be my Friend He is with his People ut he has forsaken me he has east me into a fiery Furnace where I am daily burnt and scorcht and he is not with me there I dare not says the mourning Person look up to Heaven for there I see how great a God I have against me I dare not look into his Word for there I see all his Threats as so many barbed Arrows to strike me to the Heart I dare not look into the Grave because thence I am like to have a doleful Resurection and what can a poor Creature do that apprehends the Almighty to be his Enemy It is a common thing to say Why do you so lament and mourn you have many Mercies left many Friends that pray for you and that pity you Alas what help is there in all this if God himself be gone Nothing is then lookt upon as a Mercy and as for the Prayers of others will the distressed Person say They can do me no good unless I have Faith and I find I have none at all for that wou'd purify and cleanse my Heart and I do nothing else but sin 3. In this doleful Night the Soul hath no evidence at all of its former Grace so that in this Night the Sun is not only set but there is not one Star appears such an one look upon himself as altogether void of the Grace of God he looks upon all his former Duties to have been Insincere or Hypocrital he feels his Heart hardned at present and concludes that it was never tender I am an Apostate if I had any share in the Intercession of the great Redeemer he wou'd not leave me thus sad and desolate O! how greatly have I been deceived that imagined my self to be an Heir of Heaven and am now seized with the Pangs of Hell 4. During this Sadness the Soul cannot think of Christ himself with any Comfort For thus it argues he will be a Saviour to none but those that believe I have no Faith and therefore he will be no Saviour to me he that is to his Servants as the Lamb of God will be to me as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah he that deals gently with them will tear me to pieces He seems to be angry and enraged against me for my Disobedience and though I have cried sometimes Have Mercy on me thou Son of David he passes away and does not regard my Cries and O what shall I do when he comes in the Clouds of Heaven when I am to stand at his Bar and to be punished as an Unbeliever 5. In this Night the Soul is full of Terror and how can it be otherwise when every
is at best fickle and subject to change We are short sighted and cannot see at first what the Effects of such Love will be And therefore what more ordinary than for Lovers to grow cold and indifferent If the Person be loved for Beauty the Small-Pox or Feaver may put an end to that Love If for good Humour Age and Sickness often alters it if for Money Riches may make themselves Wings and fly away or else any Vnkindness or unsuitable Carriage from the Person loved often alters the Affections Yet with what delight can they talk of these they love 't is hard to put them off with other Discourse Lovers think not the time long they are together Yet O my Soul I am infinitely obliged to God his Love is beyond all Expression I have ever since I was born offended him and brought Sin enough into the World with me to set me at an eternal Distance from him Yet God's great Love was such that he thought nothing too much for fallen Man He knew before ever he fixt his Love on me what I should prove how I should carry it towards him yet that could not hinder his Thoughts of Love O my Soul thou canst never do enough to testify thy Love to God There 's no fear of the Decay of his Love to thee if thou dost but carry it ingenuously towards him There can be no Defect in God all that is is on my part I have cause to bewail my former Miscarriages and now to resolve to walk more holily and humbly before God Christ he is altogether lovely there is nothing in him but what if considered may inflame my Heart with Love to him I may wonder at my self that I do no more love to talk of this lovely Jesus that I do so seldom think of him Well now let me learn something from this Reflection to fill my Soul with Love to him and to set me a longing after Communion with him O that I may for ever have him in my Thoughts whose Thoughts I was never out of from Eternity if I am not mistaken but am truly his REFLECTION III. On her Brother H 's telling her Mother that she lay at Mrs. B 's and her Mother discoursing what her Landlord said of her Febr. 2. 1679. Her Reflections on this were these viz. OH my Soul What use should I make of all this I may see how vain it is to expect Satisfaction in the Creatures when they do in so small a matter disappoint me and prove false Sure the use God would have me to make of all the Disappointments I have ever yet met with is to expect more from God and less from the Creature I see and find by Experience this I may soon expect more from them than is to be had But I never yet expected that from God that is to be had in him I find I may soon loose my good Name and Credit in the World I should from hence learn to make it my business to keep a Conscience void of offence towards God and Man that so whatever the World says or thinks of me I may still be able to approve my Heart to God and to carry it so towards all I converse with as not willingly to give them any just cause to speak Evil of me I see 't is a vain thing nay I shall be the most inexcusable of any one in the World if ever I should expect Satisfaction in the Creature For my Experience tells me it is not there to be had I no sooner promise my self Comfort in any Earthly Enjoyment but some way or other it is imbittered to me I promised my self a great deal of Comfort in Mrs. B 's Acquaintance and now I cannot go to see her without hazarding my good name Well I will now retreat back again to my former SOLITVDE and converse more with God and my own Soul I have found enough of the Vanity of Acquaintance But I never yet had cause to complain of my God The more I acquaint my self with him the better it is I should be so ingenuous in all cases to make a Spiritual Improvement of an Earthly Disappointment that so I may reap real Benefit by outward Vexations REFLECTION IV. Upon her being taken ill in the Night and thinking she was struck with Death OH my Soul thou seest what need I have to be always prepared for Death How soon can God take away Health and Life I am but Tenant at Will to my Maker and therefore I need to be ready I then began to call my self to account to see with what Comfort I could appear before God I find upon Examination and some sight of Eternity here is abundance of Sin to be repented of I dare not think of appearing before God without an Assurance of an Interest in Christ Well O my Soul what use should I make of this Providence I know not how soon I may die Death is a serious thing it is a solemn thing to appear before the Heart-searching God there to be accountable for all I have done in the body and for ever to be doomed to endless Happiness or Misery What a mad Body and Fool am I then to be so negligent in working â—â—t of my Salvation when I am sure I cannot live long The Pain I felt was great but nothing to what the Damned feel I did then bless God that it was not eternal I thought if my Pain was so sad what is it to be tormented in Body and Soul and that for ever I then considered what Sin it was that most disturbed my Peace and find it is trifling with God Well O my Soul it is time for thee now to resolve to be more serious and always prepared because in such an hour as I think not the Son of Man comes REFLECTION V. Upon her Mother's and Sister T 's saying to her She would neither make a fond Wife nor Mother OH my Soul What use should I make of all the Opinions People have of me and of their thinking I shall never be fond of any Relation Sure God hath some end in it that notwithstanding my Willingness to please all manner of Persons I cannot yet have their good word Let me now more than ever endeavour to please God I have great cause to love my Parents for under God I am beholding to them for my Being But I am not only beholden to God for my Creation but I hope for Redemption and a whole Life of Mercies that be hath continually followed me with I have great cause to love Relations but that is nothing if compared with what cause I have to love God Their greatest Love is Hatred when compared with God's Love Well then the use I should make of all this is to consider my Obligations to God I would not willingly displease an Earthly friend sure then had not Sin basely besotted me I should abhor the Thoughts of doing any thing that might displease God I should endeavour
door therefore we should be watching for we know not what hour he will come My Brother John and Cousin Deb. thank you for your kind Letters I remain April 1663. Caleb Vernon After some time falling sick he earnestly desired to be Baptized I suppose being born of Anabaptist-Parents saying Father pray have you come to any Conclusion to day about my being baptized I pray Father do for indeed I cannot be satisfied and I would fain be in Christ's Fold After which being admonished and many gracious Expressions uttered he died comfortably See his Life printed An. 1665. 17. A Child of one Master Maxey of Lime when it was but Two years old would use to kneel down often and with his Eyes and Hands lift up towards Heaven seemed to be very serious in Prayer and as it grew older would often be at Prayer by it self and ask very strange Questions of its Mother concerning Spiritual Matters much beyond its Age The Mother expounded all these things as proceeding rather from childish Imitation than from any Relish or Understanding that it had of those things At last when the Child was Five years old in the midst of his Sports as he was Whipping-top on a sudden he cast away all and went to his Mother saying to her with much Joy Mother I must go to Heaven will you go with me asking her the same Question the second time His Mother answered Yes dear Child when God shall please But how dost thou know that thou shalt go to Heaven The Child answered God hath told me so I must go to Heaven for I love God and God loves me After which time he never played more About three Weeks or a Month after he sickned and died speaking much during his Sickness of his going to Heaven still asking his Mother whether she would not go with him And when his Mother asked him whether he would not stay with her here he refused rather desiring that she should go with him Master White 18. A nameless Person J. B. gives this Relation concerning her self About seventeen years since a Child of mine about six years of age when I have bid him go forth to play he hath come in again very solitary and other Children would swear and be very debaucht I would ask him Robert what aileth you why do you not go to play He would answer That he had no Fellows to play withal but such as would swear and the like and they could not be said he God's Children I would say why not Child then he would say No Mother though I am but a little way in my Book yet I have learnt that God will not pardon such Sins as Swearing I have sometimes said yes Child I hope God will pardon them else God help thy Father and God help us all Then he hath replied Mother with great Repentance God can forgive for his Mercies are great but good Mother let us forbear that which is evil And many times I had such conference with that Child who seeing me troubled about it he hath said Good Mother be content their Parents are such and they must needs learn after them I thought upon my Child's words and having before often offended God about gathering of Flowers in my Garden on the Lord's-days and the Thoughts of other Failings in my Conversation it wrought great trouble upon my Heart so that I was much afflicted in Soul considering that my Child so young should give me such Instructions which hath proved a Blessing to me to bring me home to him I did make then some doubt whether God would forgive me those Sins and about that time hearing Dr. V. preach several Sermons at O. and particularly upon that Text That we are but Sojourners and Travellers here and shewing That we are not at home therefore we must keep on the straight-way to Heaven and take heed of the broad-way which leadeth to Hell which then as also other means since did much throw me down low under the sense of Sin yet not without sometimes some Refreshments Believers Experiences p. 54. 19. Bishop Vsher at Fourteen years old was judged fit and admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's-Supper and his usual Custom was the Afternoon before to retire himself in private and to spend it in a strict Self-Examination and deep Humiliation for all his Sins wherein he had such Enlargements of Heart that a Stream of Tears flowed from his Eyes which afterwards he oft recalled to mind both as a Provocation and Censure of himself When he was elder of years there was a certain place by a Water-side whither he oft resorted sorrowfully to surveigh his Sins and with Floods of Tears to confess and bewaile them wherein he found so much Sweetness and Communion with God that he thirsted for such comfortable Opportunities and it was his usual Custom to spend Saturdays in the Afternoon in these Duties Amongst other Sins he much bewailed his too much love to Humane Learning which made him as glad when Munday came that he might renew his Studies as he was when Sabbath-day came wherein he was to apply himself to the Service of God and it cost him many Tears that he could not be more Heavenly-minded at that Age. See his Life 20. Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Winchester from his Youth declared an extraordinary worth that he was made up of Learning and Vertue in both of them so eminent that it was hard to judge which had the Precedency and greatest Interest though it was truly asserted from his Comtemporaries that there was not any kind of Learning that he was a stranger to but in his Profession admirable which was as well if not better known abroad than admired at home England's Worthies by Will. Winstanley p. 366 367. 21. Mr. Bernard Gilpin being yet a very Child gave Testimony of a future Holiness upon this Occasion A begging Frier lodging at his Father's House one Saturday Night in order to preach the next day but eating at Supper like a Glutton and drinking like a Beast in the Morning as if he had been some young Saint lately dropped from Heaven he caused the Bell to tole to the Sermon and in the midst there of blustering out certain good words he presumed to grow hot against some Sinners of the time and amongst the rest to thunder boldly against Drunkenness Young Gilpin who had but newly got the use of his Tongue having observed as it seemed the hateful Baseness of the Man by his Oversight the Night before and now hearing the Beast cry out so loud against these Crimes which himself had so lately been guilty of as he was sitting in his Mother's Lap in the Church suddainly cryeth out in these words O Mother do you hear how this Fellow dates speak against Drunkenness who was drunk himself yester-night at our House The Mother made speed to stop the Child's Mouth with her Hand that he might speak no further Mr. Gilpin 's Life by Bp. Carleton p. 2. 22. Mr.
alibi 11. Bishop Vsher's Custom was to pray Four times a Day in and with his Family in the Morning at Six a Clock in the Evening at Eight and before Dinner and Supper in his Chappel at each of which he was always present On Fryday in the Afternoons there was constantly an Hour spent in his Chappel in Catechizing upon the Principles of Religion for the Instructing of his Family and on Sabbaths in the Evening the Sermon which he had preached in the Afternoon was repeated in his Chappel by one of his Chaplains See his Life 12. It is recorded to the everlasting Praise of the young Lord Harrington so famous for Piety that it was his constant use to pray twice every Day in secret twice with some choice Friends and Servants besides his Family-Duties See his Life 13. It was the Practice of Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston to pour out his Soul before the Lord in secret thrice every Day and sometimes oftner if he could gain opportunity besides his Family-Duties and Days of extraordinary Humiliation which he importunately embraced upon every occasion This I can testifie saith Mr. Fairclough upon mine own Experience that for many Years together when I was first acquainted with him I seldom visited him but if any convenient Place could be found we might not part except we had prayed together Nor was he more frequent in secret Prayer than constant in secret Reading the Scriptures See his Life 14. Mr. Samuel Fairclough upon the escape of his Child after a dangerous Fall made a solemn Vow in the Publick Congregation to give all the Tithe-Wool of the Parish to the Poor The Vow was Registred and Subscribed by his Hand and piously observed See his Life 15. Mr. Cotton Mather tells us Such was the Piety of Mr. Eliot that like another Moses he had upon his Face a continual Shine arising from his uninterrupted Communion with the Father of Spirits Indeed I cannot give a fuller Description of him than what was in a Paraphrase that I have heard himself to make upon that Scripture Our Conversation is in Heaven I writ from him as he uttered it Behold said he the Ancient and Excellent Character of a true Christian 't is that which Peter calls Holiness in all manner of Conversation you shall not find a Christian out of the way of Godly Conversation For First A Seventh part of our time is all spent in Heaven when we are duly zealous for and zealous on the Sabbath of God Besides God has written on the Head of the Sabbath Remember which looks both forwards and backwards and thus a good part of the Week will be spent in Sabbatizing Well but for the rest of our time Why we shall have that spent in Heaven e're we have done For Secondly We have have many Days for both Fasting and Thanksgiving in our Pilgrimage and here are so many Sabbaths more Moreover Thirdly we have our Lectures every Week and pious People won't miss them if they can help it Furthermore Fourthly We have our private Meetings wherein we Pray and Sing and repeat Sermons and confer together about the Things of God and being now come thus far we are in Heaven almost every day But a little farther Fifthly We perform Family Duties every Day we have our Morning and Evening Sacrifices wherein having read the Scriptures to our Families we call upon the Name of God and ever now and then carefully Catechise those that are under our Charge Sixthly We shall also have our daily Devotions in our Closets wherein unto Supplication before the Lord we shall add some serious Meditation upon his Word a David will be at this Work no less than thrice a Day Seventhly We have likewise many Scores of Ejaculations in a Day and these we have like Nehemiah in whatever place we come into Eighthly We have our occasional Thoughts and our occasional Talks upon Spiritual Matters and we have our occasional Acts of Charity wherein we do like the Inhabitants of Heaven every Day Ninthly In our Callings in our Civil Callings we keep up heavenly Frames we Buy and Sell and Toil yea we Eat and Drink with some Eye both to the Command and the Honour of God in all Behold I have not now left an Inch of Time to be carnal it is all engrossed for Heaven And yet lest here should not be enough Lastly We have our Spiritual Warfare We are always encountring the Enemies of our Souls which continually raises our Hearts unto our Helper and Leader in the Heavens Let no Man say 'T is impossible to live at this rate for we have known some live thus and others that have written of such a Life have but spun a Web out of their own blessed Experiences New-England has Examples of this Life thô alas 't is to be lamented that the Distractions of the World in too many Professors do becloud the Beauty of an Heavenly Conversation In fine our Employment lies in Heaven In the Morning if we ask Where am I to be to Day Our Souls must answer In Heaven In the Evening if we ask Where have I been to Day Our Souls may answer In Heaven If thou art a Believer thou art no Stranger to Heaven while thou livest and when thou diest Heaven will be no strange place to thee no thou hast been there a thousand times before In this Language have I heard him express himself and he did what he said he was a Boniface as well as a Benedict and he was one of those Qui faciendo docert quae facienda docent Thus far Mr. Cotton Mather 15. Mr. Henry Gearing's Covenant with GOD As I find it in his Life Published by Mr. John Shower O Most Dreadful GOD for the Passion of Thy Son I beseech Thee accept of Thy poor Prodigal now prostrating himself at Thy Door I have fallen from Thee by mine Iniquity and am by Nature a Son of Death and a Thousand-fold more the Child of Hell by my wicked Practice but of Thine Infinite Grace Thou hast promised Mercy to me in Christ if I will but turn to Thee with all my Heart Therefore upon the Call of thy Gospel I am now come in and throwing down my Weapons submit myself to thy Mercy And because Thou requirest as the Condition of my Peace with Thee that I should put away mine Idols and be at Defiance with all Thine Enemies which I acknowledge I have wickedly sided with against Thee I here from the bottom of my Heart renounce them all firmly Covenanting with Thee not to allow myself in any known Sin but to use Conscientiously all the Means that I know Thou hast prescribed for the Death and utter Destruction of all my Corruptions And whereas I have formerly inordinately and idolatrously let out my Affections upon the World I do here resign my Heart to Thee that madest it humbly protesting before Thy Glorious Majesty That it is the firm Resolution of my Heart and that I do unfeignedly desire Grace
the Faith that we may have this Testimony in our own Consciences that all our Ways and Paths are well-pleasing to the Lord our great Soveraign that we may so even so run as to obtain an immortal Crown at last though the Righteous shall scarcely be saved and that we might be found upon Mount Sion with the Lamb among the Sealed ones of God is the earnest and daily Prayer of Your loving Sister Lydia Carter Mrs. Lydia Carter's Letter to her Brother Jeremiah Carter Loving Brother Jeremiah YOU are a young Man and you read of the young Man in the Gospel concerning whom it is said Christ looking upon him loved him I think that was but a common Love because of some hopefulness of more good or of less discovery of more evil in him than in many others The Lord knows that I do most tenderly love you as a Brother in the Flesh but oh how much more should I love you as a Brother in Christ Now that you may have a share in the Soul-saving Love of Christ that you may be more intimately acquainted with the deep Mystery of the Gospel that you may consecrate the Flower of your Youth to God that you may fly all Sins incident to your present State that you may be sensible of continued Mercies that you may improve all Opportunities and Abilities which you have received from God for God that you may earnestly contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints that you may follow the Lord fully in your Generation and that you and I with all our Relations may one Day sit down in heavenly places together with Jesus Christ is the uncessant Prayer of Your very Loving Sister Lydia Carter August 10. 1655. Mrs. Lydia Carter's Letter to her Sister Child Loving Sister Child YOU are a Mother 't is a Blessing yet but an earthly Blessing Children are certain Cares uncertain Comforts Now that you may bear Christ in your Spirit as you have born Children in your Body that you may have further Experience of the preserving Love of God which passeth the Tenderness of Maternal Affection Isai 49.14 15. that you may always enjoy the Light of God's Countenance that you may be strengthned with all Might according to the glorious Power of God in your inward Man unto all Patience and Long-suffering with Joyfulness that you may by your heavenly Conversation adorn the Gospel of Jesus Christ that you may be counselled and comforted by the sweet Influences of the Spirit of Grace and that you may be one of those who shall be caught up in the Clouds together with all the Saints to meet the Lord in the Air and befor ever with him is the fervent Prayer of Your very Loving Sister Lydia Carter Mrs. Lydia Carter's Letter to her Aunt Child Most endeared Aunt WHom I love in the Truth and not I only but also all they that have known the Truth Grace be with you Mercy and Peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in Health even as your Soul prospereth I have no greater Joy than to hear that all the Lord's People walk in the Power of Godliness shewing forth the Praises of him who hath called us out of Darkness into his marvelous Light It is true I have need to be more fully instructed of those who have attained unto a full Age and by reason of use have their Senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil yet as one who hath obtained this Grace of the Lord as to be faithful in a few things I shall not be negligent to put you in remembrance of these things tho' you know them and are established in the present Truth That which the Lord expects at our Hands is that we should walk worthy of him who hath called us unto a Kingdom that we should live unto the praise of his rich Grace who hath so freely poured out his Soul unto Death for us Dying Love justly merits an humble holy thankful and fruitful Conversation Truly we live in a crooked and perverse Generation Satan hath his Seat in every place great is the subtilty of Sin the deceitfulness of our own Hearts the power and malice of our Spiritual Adversary it nearly concerns us therefore to give all diligence to make our calling and election sure before we go away from hence and be no more Aunt My continual and fervent Desire is That we may be every Day more and more enlightned into the Depths of Special and Distinguishing Love and that I may be helped forward in my Faith and Joy in the Holy Ghost by your Experiences is the Prayer of Your Affectionate Cousin Lydia Carter My Love unto all my Cousins praying that they may be blessed with all Spiritual Blessings in the common Saviour Mrs. Lydia Carter's Letter to her Sister Desborrow Loving Sister Desborrow THat we should exhort one another daily consider one another and provoke one another unto Love and Good Works is the Exhortation of the Scripture and such Counsel as I desire might be written upon your Heart and mine Sister You are now entred into the World with me but that an abundant entrance may be administred into the Kingdom of God unto us both that we may with Mary choose the better part which shall never be taken from us that we may grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ that we may not be weary of Well-doing that we may approve our Hearts unto God in all manner of Holiness that we may be filled with Spiritual Graces suitable to our Relations and Conditions that we may persevere unto the End that we may have the Sence of God's Love kept alive and warm upon our Hearts that we may bring forth much Fruit proportionable to the precious Enjoyments of Divine Mercy that we may make it our Business to praise exalt and glorifie him who hath abundantly loved us in his Son that we may have a continual Eye upon him who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith that we may earnestly strive to attain unto the Resurrection of the Dead and that we may learn Christ love Christ and live Christ is the restless Desire of Your very Loving Sister Lydia Carter Your Husband and you shall not be forgotten by me in my Pleadings at the Throne of Grace Farewel These Letters were all sent me by her own Son who received 'em from his Father a little before his Death He also sent him the following Letter and Directions for the Management of his whole Life which being full of pious Instructions may properly come under this Head His Letter was this following My dear Child THY Master's Letter to me last Week gives me great Encouragement to think that if please God I live I shall receive a great deal of Comfort from thee he writes so fully that I profess I never read more written concerning any one in my Life of thy
Method charming and welcome in Families Schools and publick Assemblies to both Old and Young Ignorant and Knowing He exhorted all he came near to become Catechists or Catechumens He gave away many Thousands of Catechisms and many Hundreds with Expositions not only of those of the Assemblies but very many of Dr. Combers and of Mr. Thomas Adams's Principles of Christian Religion cleared and confirmed by the Articles and Homilies of the Church of England neither would he be quiet till he made his Disciples throughly understand the Points he put to them In short our Author says His Heart was on his Exercise living and dying and that he never knew any one so painful and at such care and cost about it as he He disperst incredible Numbers of the most practical pious Books of all sorts not only of Small but considerable Price viz. some Thousands if not ten Thousands of Catechisms many with Expositions some Thousands of Shepherd's Sincere Convert R. Allein's Vindiciae Pietatis Mr. Joseph Allein of Conversion several of Mr. Baxter's Works as his Call to the Vnconverted his Now or Never his Saints Rest c. Particularly he and some others of whom he was chief having agreed for an Impression of 20000 of Mr. Joseph Allein's Book of Conversion he paid down 50 l. himself as Earnest for the Printing and Dispersing them through England and Wales and afterwards procured an Impression of 20000 more to be Sold at under Rates He also disposed some Writings of Conformists viz. Pink 's Trial of sincere Love to Christ Caley of Eternity Wade of Redemption of Time Dent 's Plain Mans Path-way to Heaven Scudder 's Daily Walk Reiner 's Precepts c. also Fox's Martyrs in 3 and Charnock's Works in 2 Volumes Several Annotations and Commentaries on the Scripture and several Libraries to young Students and Candidates for the Ministry but he remembers not he dispersed any Books of Controversie but Pool's Nullity of the Roman Faith and his Dialogue between a Popish Priest and an English Protestant being more for promoting Practical Godliness Above all his Care and Policy was to disperse Bibles by giving away perhaps some Thousands and when he found some were so tender of charging him with such Gifts that they had rather be without he contrived between his Friends and himself to distribute them at 1 s. 6 d. a piece on condition not to sell them again by which means he caught many that refused them Gratis and returned some Money towards buying more and he not only gave such Books to assist the Poor but to allure and oblige the Rich he presented them also with Books most proper for them richly bound to render them more acceptable which was a powerful Artillery to subdue their Minds to Piety his only Aim In a word all Houses and Places where ever he came or could send were stored with pious Books where they would accept them and he never made Journey but in every Inn or other place where he lodged or stopt he imployed all the little time he had and all opportunities he could find to fasten good Counsel or good Books or both on all he met with of what condition soever of which our Author gives several Instances in p. 60 c. to 65. To Sum up his charitable Expences a notable prying intelligent Person who lived some Years in the same House with him affirms That to his Knowledge he spent above 300 l. per Annum that way besides what he could not find out which could not but be very considerable besides the many large Charities he continually procured from others which no Man was more successful in doing even from the most covetous Persons he sometimes using to say He would not sell his Estate because entail'd but he would squeese it as long as he lived and that he would accept of no Mans Estate if he must be tied from using it on Spiritual accounts and he would often pity the condition of wicked Rich Men. In fine His Zeal for doing good was such he could as soon cease to live as cease to attempt it there being one place where he was contriving to settle a Minister notwithstanding his Weakness when he died Such was the Life and such the Exit of this Godly Man The Author applies the whole with the same Counsel to the Reader that our Saviour gave the Lawyer Go thou and do likewise CHAP. LXIII Remarkable Devotion in singing Psalms and Hymns of Praise SInging of Divine Hymns and Praises to God as the Author of all our Comforts and Benefits hath been ever look'd upon as a very proper Exercise even Bruits do somewhat towards the acknowledgement of a Deity and the Praising of him for his Benificence But Man is High Priest to the rest of the Creation and is bound to a more express particular pleasant Discharge of this Office Psalms and Hymns were accounted a considerable part of Divine Worship saith Dr. Cave in his Prim. Christianity And Pliny saith The Christians met together in his time before day to sing a Hymn to Christ. Plin. l. 10. ep 97. 1. Theodosius the Second at the dawning of the Day used with his Sisters to sing Psalms and Hymns of Praise to God Dr. Cave in his Prim. Christian Clark in the Life of Theod. c. 2. One day as the same Emperour was celebrating a publick Show at Constantinople he had news brought him of Asper's Success and of the Death of the Tyrant John whereupon he spake thus to the People Let us give over this vain Pastime and repair unto Church and serve God devoutly powring one our zealous Prayers to him and Praise him for his wonderful Mercy who by his own Hand and outstretched Arm hath deprived the Tyrant of his Life No sooner had he made an end of speaking but all the People left off and passing through the Theatre sang Praises together with the Emperour unto God and so going directly to Church spent the whole Day in those religious Exercises Clark in his Life 3. They sing Hymns and Psalms at Dinner a Custom which Clem. Alex. commends Paedag. l. 2. c. 4. Chrysostom greatly pleads for it to be used as ordinary Works at Meals after Meals as an excellent Antidote against Temptations in Ps 41. Tom. 3. Cypr. Ep. 1. p. 7. 4. St. Augustin saith We have the Precept and Example of our Saviour Christ and his Apostles for Singing in our Assemblies Orig. Brit. Also he saith The Customs of Churches were very different about these Matters In the Churches of Afric he saith The confined themselves to the prophetical Hymns for which they were upbraided by the Donatists as too Grave and Formal but he allows Singing for one of the solemn Parts of Divine Service with which he joyns Reading the Lessons Preaching and Praying either aloud by the Bishop or in common by the Deacons giving notice Ibid. 5. In the Ancient Church the Christians were much exercised in repeating the Psalms of David many had them by
of parting with Possessions for Christ's sake are applied by St. Hierom to the Words of Solomon Prov. 11.24 There is that scattereth and yet encreaseth because saith he they receive an hundred fold in this World This saith he I am resolved on 't is want of Belief and nothing else that keeps Men from the Practice of this Duty Could this one Mountain be removed the lessening of our Wealth that Alms-giving is accused of Could that one Scandal to Flesh and Blood be kicked out of the way there is no other Devil would take the unmerciful Man's part no other Temptation molest the Alms-giver And let me tell you that you have no more Evidence for the truth of Christ's coming for all the Fundamentals of your Faith on which you are content your Salvation should depend then such as I have given you for your security in this point Arch-bishop Tillotson tells us in his Sermon upon Acts 10. v. 38. That to do good is the most pleasant Employment in the World It is natural and whatever is so is delightful We do like our selves when ever we relieve the Wants and Distresses of others And therefore this Virtue among all other hath peculiarly entituled it self to the name of Humanity We answer our own Nature and obey our Reason and shew our selves Men in shewing Mercy to the Miserable when ever we consider the Evils and Afflictions of others we do with the greatest Reason collect our Duty from our Nature and Inclination and make our own Wishes and Desires and Expectations from others a Law and Rule to our selves And this is pleasant to follow our Nature and to gratifie the importunate Dictates of our own Reason So that the Benefits we do to others are not more welcome to them that receive them then they are delightful to us that do them We ease our own Nature and Bowels when ever we help and relieve those who are in Want and necessity As on the contrary no Man that hath not divested himself of Humanity can be cruel and hard-hearted to others without feeling some Pain in himself There is no sensual Pleasure in the World comparable to the Delight and Satisfaction that a good Man takes in doing good This Cato in Tully boasts of as the great Comfort and Joy of his old Age That nothing was more pleasant to him than the Conscience of a well spent Life and the remembrance of many Benefits and Kindnesses done to others Sensual Pleasures are not lasting but presently vanish and expire But that is not the worst of them they leave a Sting behind them as the Pleasure goes off Succedit frigida cura Sadness and Melancholy come in the place of it But the Pleasure of doing good remains after a thing is done the thoughts of its lie easie in our Minds and the reflection upon it afterwards does for ever minister Joy and Delight to us In a word That Frame of Mind which enclines us to do Good is the very Temper and Disposition of Happiness Solomon after all his Experience of worldly Pleasures pitches at last upon this as the greatest Felicity of Human Life and the only good Use that is to be made of a prosperous and plentiful Fortune Eccl. 3.12 I know that there is no good in them but for a Man to rejoyce and do god in his Life And a greater and wiser then Solomon had said That it is more blessed to give then to receive Thus far Arch-bishop Tillotson I now proceed to Instances of present Retribution to the Charitable 1. St. Alban whom Mr. Fox in his first Tome mentioned amongst the Martyrs who suffered for the Name and Cause of Christ having received a poor persecuted Minister into his House was by his godly Life and gracious Exhortations so wrought upon that he turned from Heathenism to Christianity and at last suffered as a Martyr for the Truth of Jesus Christ as Beda and others write of hâ—â— His kindness to a poor persecuted Minister was recompenced not only with his Conversion to the true Religion but likewise with the honour of Martyrdom 2. St. Austin having set forth the mercifulness an liberality of Constantine the Great saith Bonus Deus Constantinum magnum tantis terrenis implevit muneribus c. God gave Constantine that merciful Prince more Wealth than Heart could wish for his bounty to the Poor Aug. de Civitate Dei l. 5. 3. Dr. Hammond in his forementioned Treatise mentioned an ancient Story out of Cedrenus of a Jew who upon reading those words of Solomon Prov. 19.17 He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again resolved to try whether God would be as good as his word thereupon gave all that he had but two pieces of Silver to the Poor and then waited and expected to see it come again But being not presently answered in that Expectation grew angry and went up to Jerusalem to expostulate with God for not performing his Promise And going on his way found two Men a striving engaged in an unreconcileable Quarrel about a Stone that both walk together had found in the way and so had both equal right to it but being but one and not capable of being divided they could not both enjoy and therefore to make them Friends he having two pieces of Silver doth upon contract divide them betwixt the Contenders and hath the Stone in exchange for them having it he goes on his Journey and coming to Jerusalem shews it the Goldsmith who tells him it was a Jewel of great Value being a Stone fallen and lost out of the High Priests Ephod to whom if he carried it he should certainly receive a great Reward He did so and accordingly it proved the High Priest took it of him gave him a great Reward and withal sharply reproved him for questioning the truth of God's Promise bidding him trust God the next time 4. The Story of Tiberius the Second is pertinent to this purpose which take in the Words of that Reverend Person before-mentioned in his Sermon at the Spittle This Tiberius was very Famous for his Bounty to the Poor insomuch that his Wife was wont to blame him for it and speaking to him once how he wasted his Treasury that way he told her He should never want Money so long as in obedience to Christ's Commands he did supply the necessity of the Poor And presently see how Providence ordered it Immediately after he had given much this way under a Marble Table which was taken up he found a great Treasury and news was brought him too of the Death of one Narses a very rich Man who had given his whole Estate unto him 5. Famous is the Story of that charitable Bishop of Millain who as he was Travelling with his Servant overtook some poor People who begged an Alms of him whereupon he asked his Man what Money he had about him who answered Three Crowns which he commanded him to give
best Beloved Amen Amen Come Lord Jesus come quickly And so he fell asleep Clark's Exampl Vol. 1. C. 39. out of Leigh c. 9. Mrs. Catherine Breterg a little before her Death said Now I perceive and feel that the Countenance of Christ my Redeemer is turned towards me and the bright shining Beams of his Mercy are spread over me O happy am I that ever I was born to see this blessed Day Praise praise O praise the Lord for his Mercies c. Oh how wonderful how wonderful is thy Love Oh! thy Love is unspeakable Oh! I feel thy Mercies And oh that my Tongue and Heart were able to sound forth thy Praises as I ought and willingly would Oh! help me to praise the God of all Consolations O My Lord God blessed be thy Name for evermore for thou hast shewed me the Path of Life Thou didst O Lord for a little Season hide thy Face from me but with everlasting Mercy thou hast had Compassion on me Thou art come with fulness of Joy and abundance of Consolations c. Help me O help me to praise the Lord O praise the Lord for he hath filled me with Joy and Gladness of Heart My Line is fallen unto me in a pleasant Place I have a goodly Heritage for the Lord is the Portion of my Inheritance Oh! how pleasant is the Perfume of the Place where I lie It 's sweeter than Aaron's Perfume composed of the most precious Spices How comfortable is the Sweetness I feel It 's like the Odour that proceeded from the Golden Censer that delights the Soul The Taste is precious Do ye not feel it sweeter it is than Myrrh than the Honey or the Honey-comb Oh the Joys the Joys the Joys that I feel in my Soul O they be wonderful wonderful wonderful O come kiss me with the Kiss of thy Mouth for thy Love is better than Wine Oh! how sweet the Kisses of my Saviour be mine Eyes are opened blessed be God I do feel and see the everlasting Mercies of my Christ O how marvellous gracious and merciful art thou unto me I feel thy Mercy I am assured of thy Love And so certain am I thereof as that thou art the God of Truth even so sure do I know myself to be thine O Lord my God And this my Soul knows right well I am sure that my Redeemer lives and that I shall see him at the last Day c. My Soul was compassed about with the Terrours of Death a roaring Wilderness of Woe was within me but blessed blessed blessed be the Lord my God who hath not left me comfortless but like a good Shepherd hath brought me into a place of Rest even to the sweet running Waters of Life O blessed blessed be the Lord that hath thus comforted me and brought me to a place sweeter than the Garden of Eden O the Joy the Joy the delightsome Joy that I feel O how wonderful how wonderful how wonderful is this Joy O praise the Lord for his Mercies and for this Joy that my Soul feels right well c. And thus she continued for the space of Five Hours praising the Lord with a chearful and heavenly Countenance 10. Mrs. John Drake Wife of Francis Drake of Esher in Surrey Esq naturally of a sanguine and cheerful Disposition but being by her Parents matched against her own Mind fell into Melancholly which Satan getting advantage of assaulted her with many and unparallell'd Temptations for the space of Ten Years together After Marriage being brought to Bed of a Daughter and wrong'd in her Travail by the Midwife she never recovered her Health as before Whilst she lay in her Mother Mrs. Tottle lying with her after her first Sleep she awaked with terrible Shrieks and Outcries saying That she was undone undone she was damned and a Cast-away and so of necessity must needs go to Hell And therewith she shook dropped with Sweat and wept exceedingly Her Mother comforted her and prayed with her upon which she seemed pretty well pacified and after a-while fell asleep again and awaked full of extraordinary Joys telling her Mother what a wonderful comfortable Dream she had been in and how by an Angel she had been assured of her Salvation that now she discerned all her former Fears had been false and therefore would no more doubt of her going to Heaven After she fell asleep again and waking was in a more dreadful Case than before trembling sweating shaking exceedingly the Bed and the very Chamber seeming to reel under her crying out That now she was a forlorn Creature sure to be damned without Hope of Mercy without all Remedy confident that she must needs go to Hell Together with this Distemper she had some Fits of Frenzy abstained almost wholly from Meat used strange desperate Speeches and was unruly in her Behaviour would slight and laugh sometimes at all that was said to her sought Opportunities to destroy herself search Places of Scripture that might make against her swallowed down many great Pins would sometimes slip a Knife into her Napkin or Sleeve for Two Years together she begg'd of every one not to pray for her would disturb them at Prayers threaten them with a Bedstaff yet was afraid of Hell and ask others If they did not pity her who must go to live in Hell-torments for ever Was merciful to others but with pretence of the contrary visited by many Ministers and among the rest Bishop Vsher Dr. Preston Mr. Dod c. At last after Divine Discourses about Death Heaven and Eternal Glory and Prayer she broke out with a strange Outcry into these Expressions or to this purpose Oh! oh oh What 's this What 's this What 's this I am undone undone undone I cannot endure it I cannot endure it I cannot endure it I cannot endure it Oh! oh oh Let me be gone let me be gone let me be gone Oh! I must be gone I cannot tarry I cannot tarry O what shall I do what shall I do O Father O Mother O Husband Come kiss me kiss me and let me be gone Come All. Farewel All. Let me take you by the Hand and be gone Lo Lo the Angelâ— are come they wait they stay for me O dear Mother why do you hold me I must be gone Oh! he is come he is come he is come Now you have it you have it you have it Why hold you me Let me be gone My Work is done Oh! Call call call Where 's my Crown Fetch me my Crown Bring bring bring me my white Robes Quickly quickly quickly Why run you not The Angels stay Now you have it you have it you have it Oh! it overcomes overcomes overcomes me I am undone undone undone What shall I do What shall I do What shall I do Oh! you will nto let me be gone c. With many other Expressions delivered with an incredible swiftness and with such elevation of Body and Eyes as if she were making towards the House-top and would have
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
of destroying herself and have had oftentimes a Knife put into her Hand to do it so that she durst not be left by herself alone and when she had considered what the Cause of it might be her Conscience did hint most her neglecting of Duties to have performed they being the Ordinances of God Thus she continued 'till two Years ago she buried her Child the which was a very great trouble to her to part with and then was she more convinced of Sin which caused her Burthen to be the greater so that she could seldom have any other Thoughts but of Desperation but the Lord keeping her by his great Mercy so that sometimes she could pray with Devotion and discerning the Lord to remove this great Trouble from her she did plainly find that those great Temptations were very much lessened the which is a great Comfort unto her Spirit Believers Experiences p. 25. CHAP. XCI Satan Hurting by Dreams That God hath made use of Dreams and Visions of the Night to awaken Men to their Duty and a Sence of the Dangers they were in is demonstrated already and it is not unreasonable to believe that the Devil can in this Case too transform himself into an Angel of Light and impose upon the Imaginations of Men by strange deluding Fancies and Idea's formed on purpose to trick their Minds into a Snare and to allure them into some Trap of either Sin or Misery that he hath laid for them 1. King James the Fifth of Scotland was a great Enemy to the Light of the Gospel which in his Days broke forth in that Kingdom viz. about the Year 1541 and out of a blind and bloody Zeal was heard to say That none of that Sort should expect any Favour at his Hands no not his own Sons if they proved guilty But not long after Sir James Hamilton being suspected to incline that way was falsly accused of a Practice against the King's Life and being Condemned was Executed Shortly after the King being at Linlithgow on a Night as he slept it seemed to him That Thomas Scot Justice-Clerk came unto him with a Company of Devils crying Wo-worth the Day that ever I knew thee or thy Service for serving thee against God and against his Servants I am now adjudged to Hell torments Hereupon the King awaking called for Lights and causing his Servants to arise told them what he had heard and seen The next Morning by Day-light Advertisement was brought him of this Scot's Death which fell out just at the time when the King found himself so troubled and almost in the same manner for he died in great extremity often uttering these words Justo Dei Judicio comdemnatus sum by the righteous Judgment of God I am condemned Which being related to the King made the Dream more terrible 2. Another Vision he had in the same place not many Nights after which did more affright him Whilst he lay sleeping he thought He saw Sir James Hamilton whom he had caused to be Executed come with a Sword drawn in his Hand wherewith he cut off both his Arms threatning also to return within a short time and deprive him of his Life With this he awaked and as he lay musing what this might import News was brought him of the Death of his two Sons James and Arthur who died at St. Andrews and Strinling at one and the same Hour The next Year viz. 1542 being overcome with Grief and Passion himself died at Faulkland in the Thirty second Year of his Age. Arch-bishop Spoteswood 's History of the Church of Scotland Clark's Mirrour Ch. 7. p. 34 35. I am not sure that these particular Instances are properly placed under this Head I leave it to my wise and judicious Reader to consider whether or no these were Divine Admonitions or Satanical Illusions Mr. Clark hath accounted them as Satanical But 't is certain the Vulgar sort of People are so fond of observing their Dreams and some pretended wise Men and Women of a superstitious Kidney do promote this Fancy extreamly and undertake to prescribe Rules for the making a Judgment upon them and by that means do no small hurt to some weak hypochondriacal and melancholick Spirits How often shall we hear them whining out their Complaints upon the Account of some late Dream in expectation of some sad Disaster or Malady that they believe with much Confidence will befall them And sometimes fretting and pining to that extremity that no Comfort will down with them 'till the Date of their Dream be fully expired And I doubt not but Comfort will down with in promoting these silly and troublesome Conceits CHAP. XCII Satan Hurting by Witchcraft ATheism and Sadducism have got such Ground in the World of late Ages that 't is no vain Vndertaking to write of Devils and the Mischief done by them to Mankind by the Mediation of a sort of People that have Familiar Communion with them To transcribe all has been writ upon this Subject by Dr. More Mr. Glanvil Mr. Baxter Scheggius Remigius Delrio Mather c. would make up a large Volume enough to confute any whose Faces are not harder than Brass and their Hearts than Iron it shall be enough to say so much as shall suffice to convince those who are industrious enough to read patient enough to deliberate and have humility and honesty enough to be serious and impartial And as for the rest Qui vult Decipi decipiatur 1. In Pinola there were some who were much given to Witchcraft and by the Power of the Devil did act strange Things Amongst the rest there was one Old Woman named Martha de Carillo who had been by some of the Town formerly accused for Bewitching many but the Spanish Justices quitted her finding no sure Evidence against her with this grew worse and worse and did much harm when I was there two or three died withering away declaring at their Death That this Carillo had killed them and that they saw her often about their Beds threatning them with a frowning and angry Look the Indians for fear of her durst not complain against her nor meddle with her Whereupon I sent saith my Author unto Don Juan de Guzman the Lord of that Town that if he took not Order with her she would destroy the Town He hearing of it got for me a Commission from the Bishop and another Officer of the inquisition to make diligent and private Enquiry after her Life and Actions Which I did and found among the Indians many and grievous Complaints against her most of the Town affirming that she was certainly a most notorious Witch and that before her former Accusation she was wont to go as she had occasion about the Town with a Duck following her which when she came to the Church would stay at the Door 'till she came out again and then would return with her which Duck they imagined was her beloved Devil and Familiar Spirit for that they had often set Dogs at
years lived in great Anguish of Mind and found no Rest till Repentance and therefore afterwards Preached publickly that Doctrine which he had Abjured Church Hist Britan. 14. James Bainham A Gentleman of the Middle Temple being Imprisoned for his Religion and Rack'd Abjured his Principles and had his Liberty but he asked God and the World Forgiveness before the Congregation in those days which was in a Ware-house in Bow-Lane and immediately after he came to St. Austin's with the New Testament in his hand in English and the Obedience of a Christian Man in his Bosome and there declared with Tears before the People that he had denied God and prayed the People to forgive and beware of his Weakness Ibid. 15. A. C. 1584. Francis Spira living at Citadella a Civil Lawyer when he had received the Doctrine of the Gospel and explained it among his Friends being brought into Danger after long deliberation on both sides he publickly Renounced But not long after fell into illness both of Body and Mind and began to despair of the Mercy of God Being brought from Citadella to Padua that he might make use of his Physicians he received no Comfort and scarce took any Meat to support Nature Whereupon returning home professing himself to be Condemned to Eternal Torments for Abjuring the known Truth ended his Life Miserably Thus for Sleidan in his Commentaries He that Writes the Story at large adds That he called for a Sword to dispatch himself with that he professed that his heart was estranged from God saying I cannot call him Father from my heart All good Motions are now quite gone my heart is full of Malediction Hatred and Blasphemy against God I find I grow more and more hardned in heart and cannot stoop nor help my self Your Prayers for me shall turn to your own benefit but they can do me no good When this Friend took his Leave of him Spira said Although I know that nothing can bring any benefit to me a Reprobate but that every thing shall tend to my deeper Condemnation Yet I give you most hearty thanks for your kind Office of Love and Good will and the Lord return it unto you with a plentiful encrease of all good As he was going down he saw a Knife on a Table and running to it he snatched it up therewith to have mischieved himself but that his Friend prevented it thereupon he said I would I were above God for I know that he will have no Mercy on me He lay about eight weeks in this case in a continual Burning neither desiring nor receiving any thing but by force and that without Digestion and was like an Anatomy vehemently raging for Drink ever Pining yet fearful to live long dreadful for Hell yet coveting Death in a continual Torment yet his own Tormentor And thus consuming himself with Grief and Horror Impatience and Despair like a living Man in Hell represented an extraordinary Example of God's Justice and Power and thus he ended his miserable Life See it more largely in the History it self 16. Near akin to this is the Story of the second Spira published at London 1692. though the early publication of it together with the dreadful Contents and the natural tenderness of Relatives and Countrey-men and indeed the unwillingness of almost all People to believe things so full of Terror rendred it to the apprehensions of some scarce credible And my self at Reading of it wish'd it were not true yet upon a serious and impartial Inquiry I do firmly believe that there is more Truth in it than will be granted by many of the present Generation See the Narrative it self 17. The Story of Nightingale is generally known which Mr. Fox relates how he fell out of his Pulpit and brake his Neck whilst he was abusing that Scripture 1 John 1.10 18. A Copy of a Letter directed to me since I undertook this Work SIR FInding in one of the Mercuries a Proposal for Printing The Most Remarkable Providences c. I would according to my weak Capacity let you know That sometime since though not very long a Neighbour dying the News came while I was at Dinner and one in Company said thus We must all go and none knows how soon I out of a scoffing way made answer I was sure I should live whilst I had eat the Meat I had Before I had got one Bit of it in my Mouth I was struck quite Senseless and had much adoe to rise from the Table where I sate and did not expect ever to think of telling my blasphemous Expression to any But now meeting with a Work which may be Profitable for all but especially to young Ones I am willing to attest this the Truth of which some can testifie as I in the Presence of the Almighty have wrote Your's JOHN EREEVE London June 4. 1695. 19. There was a Woollen-Draper in Warwick who made a Profession of Religion but many times brake out into scandalous Practices Mr. Cartwright on a time walking with him in his Garden dealt plainly and faithfully with him rebuking him for his Miscarriages and shewing him the Dishonour that he brought to God and the Gospel thereby Which so wrought upon him that he presently sunk down and being carried home died within a few Hours after Mr. Clark in the Life of Mr. Cartwright 20. One John ap Howel in Queen Mary's Reign standing by William Maudon as he was reading in a Primer at Greenwich mocked him after every Word with contrary gaudy and flouting Expressions Whereupon Maudon said to him John take heed what thou doest thou mockest not me but God in his Word tho' I be simple that read it Yet went he on in his Mocking till Maudon reading Lord have Mercy upon us Christ have Mercy upon us the other with a Start said suddenly Lord have Mercy upon me With that Maudon turning to him said What aileth thee John To which he answered Nothing but that he was afraid Afraid of What saith Maudon Nothing now said the other But presently after he confessed That at the reading of those Words Lord have Mercy upon us c. the Hair of his Head stood an end with the great Fear that came upon him On the next Day he ran Mad was bound in his Bed and lay continually Day and Night crying out of the Devil of Hell c. Clark's Exampl Vol. 1. c. 199. CHAP. CII Divine Judgments upon Scoffers at other Men's Imperfections or such as Counterfeited to have them when they had them not TO Commiserate the Infirmities of our Brethren or Neighbours is a Branch of Charity which the Gospel calls earnestly for but to deride them for their Defects and Imperfections is a Point of Impiety that is founded in Pride and Arrogance and a Conceit of our own Dignity and Merit not God's Grace and Mercy For which Reason God is very angry with those that make the Defects of other Men the Object of their Irrision and Scorn as if they were
shall see your Face no more in this Life Ibid. 4. S. Augustine whose usual wish was that Christ when he came might find him either Praying or Preaching was accordingly answered for in the Siege of Hippo by the Goths after he had for some Months together continually exercised himself in Prayers in the third Month of the Siege he fell sick of a Fever in his Sickness breathing forth most Pious Ejâ—culations as Vivere renuo ut Christo vivam viz. I refuse to live that I may live to Christ c. and so died making no Will having nothing to bestow but only Books which he left to several Libraries Aged 76. Anno Christi 430. having been a Minister 40 Years Ibid. 5. Prosper upon his Death-bed speaking to many of his People that wept sore said the Life which I have enjoyed was but given me upon condition to render it up again not grudgingly but gladly For me to stay longer here might seem better for you but for me t is better to be dissolved Ibid. p. 89. And so praying and lifting up his Hands before them all be departed Anno Christi 466. 6. Bede in his Sickness comforted himself with Heb. 12.6 Whom the Lord loveth be chasteneth c. When his Scholars were weeping about him he said in the words of S. Ambrose Non sic vixi ut pudeat me inter vos vivere sed nec mori timeo quia bonum Dominum habemus The time is come if my Creator pleaseth that being freed from the Flesh I shall go to him who made me when I was not out of nothing I have lived long and the time of my Dissolution is approaching proaching and my Soul desires to see my Saviour Christ in his Glory Ibid. p. 101. His Epitaph was Hac sunt in fossa Bedae Venerabilis put in as Tradition saith by an Angel Ossa 7. S. Bernard in his Sickness wrote this Letter to Arnold Abbot of Boneval We received your Love in Love and not in Pleasure for what Pleasure can there be where Pain and Bitterness challengeth all to it self Only 't is a little delightful to me to eat nothing Sleep is departed from me that Sorrow and Pain may never depart by the benefit of my Senses lulled asleep The want of a Stomach is all that I suffer only it lacks to be continually refreshed with some comfortable Liquor But if I admit more than is meet 't is very grievous to me My Feet and Thighs are swollen as in a Dropsie And in all these things that I may conceal nothing from my Friend who defires to know the state of his Friend the Spirit is willing but the Flesh weak Pray unto my Saviour who desires not the Death of a Sinner not that he will defer but guard my Departure hence with his Angels Take you care that my Heel which is naked of Merits he strengthened and defended by your Prayers that he which lies in wait may not find where to fasten his Tooth and inflict a Wound Farewel To his Monks he said I am in a Streight not knowing which to chuse Life or Death but leave all to the will of God Ibid. p. 105. 8. John Husse used these words by way of Prayer at his suffering Martyrdom Lond Jesus Christ assist and help me that with a constant and patient Mind by thy most gracious help I may bear and suffer this most Cruel and Ignominious Death burning with a tripe Crown of Paper painted with ugly Devils on his Head whereunto I am condemned for Preaching thy most Holy Gospel And when the Fire was kindled he sung three times with a loud Voice Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God have Mercy upon me And so the Wind drove the Flame into his Face and choaked him Ibid. p. 119. 9. Cardinal Woolsey being arrested by the King's Order breathed out his Soul in words to this purpose If I had served the God of Heaven as faithfully as I did my Master upon Earth he had not forsaken me in my Old Age as the other hath done Lloy's State-worthies p. 19. 10. Luther dying in his Clymacterical Year made this his last Prayer O Heavenly Father my Gracious God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ thou God of all Consolation I give thee hearty Thanks that thou hast revealed unto me thy Son Jesus Christ whom I believe whom I profess whom I love whom I glorifie whom the Pope and the wicked Rout do persecute and dishonour I beseech thee Lord Jesus Christ receive my Soul O my Heavenly Father tho' I be taken out of this Life and must lay down this frail Body yet I certainly know that I shall live with thee eternally and that I cannot be taken out of thy hands God so loved the World c. Lord I render up my Spirit into thy Hands and come to thee And again Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit Thou O God of Truth hast redeemed me And so as one falling asleep and without any bodily Pain as could be discerned he departed this Life Feb. 18. Anno Christi 1548. Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist p. 143. 11. Calvin makes this his Last Will In the Name of God Amen Anno Christi 1564. April 25. I Peter Chenalat Citizen and Notary of Geneva do Witness and Profess that being sent for by that Reverend Man John Calvin Minister of the Word of God in the Church of Geneva and a Free Denizen of the same City who then truly was sick in Body but sound in Mind told me that his purpose was to make his Testament and declare his Last Will c. which was this In the Name of the Lord Amen I John Calvin Minister of the Word of God in the Church of Geneva oppressed and afflicted with divers Diseases so that I easily think the Lord hath appointed shortly to lead me out of this World I therefore have determined to make my Testament and to commit to Writing my Last Will in this form following First I give Thanks to God that taking pity of me whom he created and placed in this World hath delivered me out of the deep Darkness of Idolatry into which I was plunged and that he brought me into the Light of his Gospel and made me a partaker of the Doctrine of Salvation whereof I was most unworthy Neither hath he only gently and graciously born with my faults for which yet I deserved to be rejected by him and driven out but hath used towards me so great meekness and mildness that he hath vouchsafed to use my Labours in Preaching the Truth of his Gospel And I Witness and Profess that I intend to pass the remainder of my Life and Religion which he hath delivered to me by his Gospel and not to seek any other Aid or Resuge for Salvation than his free Adoption in which alone Salvation resteth And with all my Heart I embrace the Mercy which he hath used towards me for Jesus Christ's sake recompensing my Faults with the Merit
to the uttermost I humbly beseech thee give me now in this great Instant full Patience proportionable Comfort and a Heart ready to die for thy Honour the King's Happiness and this Church's Preservation and my Zeal to these far from Arrogancy be it spoken is all the Sin Humane Frailty excepted and all Incidents thereto which is yet known to me in this Particular for which I now come to suffer I say in this particular of Treason but otherwise my Sins are very many and great Lord pardon them all and those especially whatever they are which have drawn down this special Judgment upon me And when thou hast given me Strength to bear it do with me as seems best in thine own Eyes and carry me through Death that I may look upon it in what Visage soever it appear unto me Amen And that there may be a Stop of this Issue of Blood in this more than miserable Kingdom I shall desire That I may pray for the People too as well as for my self O Lord I beseech thee give Grace of Repentance to all Blood-thirsty People but if they will not Repent O Lord confound all their Devices defeat and frustrate all their Designs and Endeavours upon them which shall be contrary to the Glory of thy Great Name the Truth and Sincerity of Religion the Establishment of the King and his Posterity after him in their just Rights and Privileges the Honour and Conservation of Parliaments in their just Power the Preservation of this poor Church in her Truth Peace and Patrimony and the Settlement of this distracted and distressed People under their ancient Laws and in their native Liberties And when thou hast done all this in Mercy for them O Lord fill their Hearts with Thankfulness and with Religious Dutiful Obedience to thee and thy Commandments all their Days So Amen Lord Jesus Amen And receive my Soul into thy Bosom Amen Our Father c. Again kneeling by the Block he prayed thus Lord I am coming as fast as I can I know I must pass through the Shadow of Death before I can come to see thee But it is but umbra mortis a meer Shadow of Death a little Darkness upon Nature but thou thro' thy Merits and Passion hast broke through the Jaws of Death So Lord receive my Soul and have Mercy upon me and bless this Kingdom with Peace and Plenty and with Brotherly Love and Charity that there may not be this Effusion of Christian Blood amongst them for Jesus Christ's sake if it be thy Will Then laying his Head upon the Block and praying silently to himself he said aloud Lord receive my Soul Which was the Signal given to the Executioner Thus he died Aged 71. Jan. 10. 1644. A brief Relat. of his Death and Sufferings printed at Oxon c. 1644. 114. King Charles the First made this his last Speech upon the Scaffold I Shall be very little heard by any body here I shall therefore speak a Word unto you here Indeed I could hold my Peace very well if I did not think that holding my Peace would make some Men think that I did submit to the Guilt as well as to the Punishment but I think it is my Duty to God first and to my Country for to clear my self both as an honest Man and a good Christian I shall begin first with my Innocency In troth I think it not very needful for me to insist long upon this for all the World knows I never did begin a War with the two Houses of Parliament and I call God to witness to whom I must shortly make an Account that I never did intend to encroach upon their Privileges They began upon me it was the Militia they began upon They confess'd that the Militia was mine but they thought it fit to have it from me And to be short if any Body will look to the Dates of Commissions both theirs and mine and likewise to the Declarations will see clearly that they began these unhappy Troubles not I So that for the Guilt of these enormous Crimes that are laid against me I hope in God that God will clear me of it I will not I am in Charity God forbid that I should lay it upon the two Houses of Parliament there is no necessity of either I hope they are free of this Guilt For I do believe that ill Instruments between them and me have been the Cause of all this Bloodshed so that by way of speaking I find my self clear of this I hope and pray God that they may be so too Yet for all this God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian as not to say That God's Judgments are just upon me Many times he doth pay Justice by an unjust Sentence that is ordinary I will only say this That an unjust Sentence that I suffered to take effect is punished now by an unjust Sentence upon me That is so far I have said to shew you that I am an innocent Man Now for to shew you that I am a good Christian I hope there is a good Man pointing to Dr. Juxon that will bear me witness that I have forgiven all the World and those in particular that have been the chief Causers of my Death who they are God knows I do not desire to know I pray God forgive them But this is not all my Charity must go further I wish that they may repent for indeed they have committed a great Sin in that Particular I pray God with St. Stephen that this be not laid to their Charge nay not only so but that they may take the right way to the Peace of the Kingdom So Sirs I do wish with all my Soul and I hope there is some here will carry it further that they may endeavour the Peace of the Kingdom Now Sirs I must shew you how you are out of the way and will put you in a way First You are out of the way for certainly all the way you ever had yet as I could find by any thing is in the way of Conquest Certainly this is an ill way for Conquest Sirs in my Opinion is never Just except there be a good just Cause either for Matter of Wrong or a just Title and then if you go beyond it that makes it Unjust in the end that was Just at first But if it be only Matter of Conquest then it is a great Robbery as a Pirate said to Alexander That he was the great Robber he was but a petty Robber And so Sirs I do think the way you are in is much out of the way Now Sirs for to put you in the way believe it you will never do right nor God will never prosper you until you give God his due the King his due that is my Successors and the People their due I am as much for them as any of you You must give God his due by regulating rightly his Church according to his Scriptures which is now out
With much more which would be too tedious to relate in this place See the Narrative At last with a chearful and smiling Countenance embracing Dr. Sibbalds he said Truly Sir I do take you in mine Arms and truly I bless God for it I do not fear I have an Assurance that is grounded here laying his hand upon his Heart now that gives me more true Joy than ever I had I pass out of a Miserable World to go into an Eternal and Glorious Kingdom and Sir though I have been a most sinful Creature yet God's Mercy I know is infinite and I bless my God for it I go with so clear a Conscience that I know not the Man I have Personally injured Then Embracing those his Servants which were there present he said to each of them You have been very Faithful to me and the Lord bless you And so turning himself to the Executioner he said I shall say a very short Prayer unto my God while I lie down there and when I stretch out my Hand my Right-hand then Sir do your Duty and I do freely forgive you and so I do all the World Then the Earl of Cambridge said to the Executioner Must I lie all along He answered Yes and 't please your Lordship Then he said When I stretch out my hands but I will fit my Head first tell me if I be right and how you would have me lie And being told he must lie a little lower he said Well stay then till I give you the Figure And so having lain a short space devoutly Praying to himself he stretch'd out his Right-hand whereupon the Executioner at one blow severed his Head from his Body which was received by two of his Servants then kneeling by him into a Crimson Taffaty Scarff and that with the Body immediately put into a Coffin brought upon the Scaffold for that purpose and from thence conveyed to the House that was Sir John Hamilton's at the Mews 116. The Speech of the Earl of Holland upon the Scaffold IT is to no purpose I think to speak any thing here which way must I speak And then being directed to the Front of the Scaffold he leaning over the Rail said I think it is fit to say something since God hath called me to this Place The first thing which I must profess is what concerns my Religion and my Breeding which hath been in a good Family that hath been ever Faithful to the True Protestant Religion in the which I have been bred in the which I have lived and in the which by God's Grace and Mercy I shall die I have not lived according to that Education I had in that Family where I was born and bred I hope God will forgive me my sins since I conceive that it is very much his Pleasure to bring me to this Place for the sins that I have committed The cause that hath brought me hither I believe by many hath been much mistaken They have conceived that I have had ill Designs to the State and to the Kingdom truly I look upon it as a Judgment and a just Judgment of God not that I have offended so much the State and the Kingdom and the Parliament as that I have had an extream Vanity in Serving them very extraordinarily For those Actions that I have done I think it is known they have been very Faithful to the Publick and particularly to the Parliament my Affections have been ever exprest truly and clearly to them The disposition of Affairs now have put things in another posture than they were when I was engaged with the Parliament I have never gone off from those Principles that ever I have profest I have lived in them and by God's Grace will die in them c At last the Earl turning to the Executioner said Here my Friend let my Cloaths and my Body alone there is Ten Pounds for thee that is better than my Cloaths I am sure of it Execut. Will your Lordship please to give me a sign when I shall strike And his Lordship said You have room enough here have you not Execut. Yes Then the Earl of Holland turning to the Executioner said Friend do you hear me if you take up my Head do not take off my Cap. Then turning to his Servants he said to one Fare you well thou art an honest Fellow and to another God be with thee thou art an honest Man And then said Stay I will kneel down and ask God forgiveness and then prayed for a pretty space with seeming earnestness Then speaking to the Executioner he said Which is the way of lying which they shewed him and then going to the Front of the Scaffold he said to the People God bless you all and God deliver you from any such Act as may bring you to any such Death as is violent either by War or by those Accidents but that there may be Peace among you and you may find that the Accidents that have happened to us may be the last that may happen in this Kingdom it is that I desire it is that I beg of God next the saving of my Soul I pray God give all Happiness to this Kingdom to this People and this Nation And then turning to the Executioner he said how must I lie I know not Execut. Lie down flat upon your Belly Whereupon after he had prayed with much Affection for a short space the Executioner upon the sign given at one blow severed his Head from his Body 117. The Lord Capel after a brave Speech made upon the Scaffold wherein he prayed for his Enemies taxed the Illegality and Injustice of the Proceedings against him lamented the Consent he gave to the Sentence of Death passed upon the Earl of Strafford as an Act of Cowardice commended the King Charles for a Vertuous and sufficient Prince prayed for the Prince his Son commended the Case of the Nation to the Grace and Mercy of God prayed for all the People and humbly beg'd that God would stanch that Issue of Blood and lastly for himself at last he submitted his Neck to the stroke of the Executioner 118. Mr. Love's Speech on the Scaffold on Tower-Hill August 22. 1651. BEloved Christians I am this Day made a Spectacle to God Angels and Men a Grief to the Godly a Laughing-stock to the Wicked and a Gazing-stock to all yet blessed be my God not a Terror to my self tho' there be but a little between me and Death yet this bears up my Heart there is but a little between me and Heaven It comforted Dr. Tallour the Martyr when going to Execution that there were but two Stiles between him and his Father's House There 's a lesser way between me and my Father's House but two steps between me and Glory it is but lying down upon the Block and I shall ascend upon a Throne I am this day Sailing towards an Ocean of Eternity through a rough Passage to my Haven of Rest through a Red-Sea to
Quarrels or Duelling but serving his Country at Sea in the most dangerous Wars and at Land in the Parliament in more dangerous Councils and Debates He was there a true Englishman still the same you knew where he would be for he never mov'd A strenuous Asserter and Defender of his Country's Religion and Rights against all Opposers and that in a Lawful and Parliamentary Method He spoke little there but always very home and much to the purpose And that was as true a Character of him formerly recited as if it had come from a better Man That every one knew the Lord Russel to be a Person of great Judgment and not very lavish of Discourse Lastly which will give no small heightening to his Character He had Mr. Johnson to his Chaplain An Abstract of the late Noble Lord Russel's Speech to the Sheriffs as also of a Paper delivered by him to them at the Place of his much-lamented Execution on July 21. 1683. IN his Speech to the Sheriffs he tells them That for fear of not being well heard he had couched what he had to say upon that sad occasion in the Paper he delivered them only he Protest his Innocence of any Designs against the King's Person or the then Government and Prays for the Preservation of both and of the Protestant Religion and in short declares that he forgives all the World and wishes that all True Protestants may love one another and not make way for Popery by their Animosities In the Paper He first declares himself compos'd for Death and weaned from this World Then he affectionately thanks God as in general so in particular for his advantageous Birth and Religious Education of which in that important occasion he found such happy and powerful Effects as kept him up against the fear of Death and all other Discomposures and armed him with such Assurances in God's Love and Mercy as made the most joyful of the visibly saddest Moments of his Life He professes to die as he had lived a sincere Protestant of the Church of England though he never could come up to the heighths of some wishes more Moderation both in Church-men and Dissenters and that the Common Danger of Popery might move them to lay aside their Differences and all Persecuting Inclinations as more unseasonable then than at any other time He declares he had a Notion of Poperey as of an Idolatrous and Bloody Religion and thought himself bound to Act in his Station against it notwithstanding the Power of the Enemies he was sure to meet with on that account c. But yet he professes he never thought of doing any thing against it basely or inhumanely against the Maxims of Christian Religion or the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom for his sincerity in which he appeals to God renouncing all Passion By-End or Ill Design as also all Designs of changing the Government which was in his Opinion the best in the World and for which as well as his Country which he valued above his Life he was ever ready to venture it Disclaims all thoughts against the King's Life denying even the Lord Howard to have said any thing tending to prove it Frays sincerely for the King and Nation and wishes they may be mutually happy in one another that the King may be truly a Defender of the Faith that the Protestant Religion and Kingdom may flourish under Him and He be happy in both Worlds As to his share in the Prosecution of the Popish Plot he declares he acted sincerely in it as really believing as he still did the truth of such a Conspiracy and disclaims his knowledge of any Practices with the Witnesses which he protests against as abominable and disowns Falshood or Cruelty ever to have been in his Nature He persists in his Opinion that Popery was breaking in upon the Nation and grieves to see Protestants Instrumental to it declares his fears of the Sufferings the Protestant Religion was like to undergo and bewails the publick and shameless Impiety that abounded and modestly admonishes all Persons and particularly his Friends well-wishers to the Protestant Cause that were defective to live up to its Principles Then he declares his Submission to God's Pleasure freely forgives his Enemies and desires his Friends to seek no Revenge for his Blood After which he looks back and gives some little touches concerning his past behaviour and the manner of his Treatment at his Tryal He confesses he moved much for the Bill of Exclusion as the only effectual Remedy to secure both the King's Life the Protestant Religion and the Frame of the Government he thinking none of them could be safe so long as there was any hopes of a Popish Successor and that the Limitations proposed to bind the Duke were effectual Remedies against those Fears because the Nation could never be easie and safe under a King without a Prerogative But yet imputes his present Sufferings to the Revengeful Resentments some Persons retained for his Earnestness in that matter Next as to his Conspiring to seize the Guards he disowns that ever he was concerned in any such Design or ever heard talk of any such thing as designed but only one as of a thing feazible against which likewise he warmly declared himself and said the consequence of it was so like to end in Massacring the Guards in cold Blood that he could not but abhor the thoughts of it as approaching too near the Popish Practice at which the Duke of Monmouth taking him by the hand cried out affectionately That he saw they were both of a Temper he adds on that occasion that he always observed in that Duke an abhorrence to all base things He proceeds to shew how he went to the Meeting at Mr. Shepherd's at the Duke of Monmouch's earnest Request chiefly to endeavour to prevent any such disorderly Proceedings as the Duke feared would be otherwise put on by some hot Men whose rash courses he did accordingly most vigorously oppose and yet was condemned only for not discovering them though he endeavoured to reform them because he would not stoop to so mean a thought as that of going about to save his Life by accusing others for Crimes that they only talk'd of and that as we may partly gather from his Discourse he had effectually disswaded them from too so that his Intention was good and his part in that Transaction even in the strictest sense of Law but a Misprision of Treason and therefore he declares he cannot but think the Sentence of Death past against him to be very hard and he by a strange fetch brought within the compass of the Statute of Treason of Edward the Third He moreover adds That he had so convincing a sense of his own Innocence in that Case that he would not betray it by flight tho' much pressed to it He next excuses his saying so little at his Tryal saying he hoped it look'd more like Innocence than Guilt Adding that he was advised not to
confess Matter of Fact too plainly because it would certainly have brought him within the Guilt of Misprision and so he thought it better to say little than by departing from the Ingenuity he had always practised by using little Tricks and Evasions to make the last and solemnest part of his Life so notably different from the preceding course of it as such a Conduct would have made it He farther subjoyns that he never pretended great Readiness in Speaking and advises those Gentlemen of the Law that have it to use it more conscientiously and not to run Men down and impose on Easie and Willing Juries by Strains and Fetches c. the Killing unjustly by Law being the worst of Murthers He then as in several other places repeating his wishes that the Rage and Revenge of some Men and the Partiality of Juries may be stopped with his Blood and so after a small hint how by the Importunity of his Dearest and most Vertuous Lady and some other Dear Friends he had been prevail'd upon against his Inclinations to Address tho' ineffectualy for his Life he concludes with a fresh Protestation of his Innocency and a Devout Prayer to God suitable to that sad Occasion 5. Captain WALCOT CAptain Walcot and his Fellow-sufferers in order of time should have gone first he being convicted before my Lord Russel and executed the Friday as he on Saturday But my Lord Russel's Fate having so immediate a dependance on the Earl of Essex's and all the Plot hanging on him especially they two making the greatest Figure of any who suffer'd on this occasion it look'd more proper and natural to begin with them and reserve the other to this place Captain Walcot was a Gentleman of a considerable Estate in Ireland but more remarkable for the rare Happiness of having Eight Children all at once living and most of all for his Love to his Country which cost him his Life An Abstract of Captain Walcot's Speech CAptain Walcot denied any Design of killing the King or of engaging the Guards whilst others killed him And said That the Witnesses invited him to Meetings where some thing were discoursed of in order to the asserting our Liberties and Properties which we look'd upon to be violated and invaded That They importuned and perpetually solicited him and then deliver'd him up to be hang'd That They combined together to swear him out of his Life to save their own and that they might do it effectually They contrived an Vntruth That he forgave them though guilty of his Blood But withal earnestly begg'd That they might be observed that Remarks might be set upon them whether their End be Peace And he concluded with what made Sir Roger L'Estrange a great deal of Sport but yet Heaven has made it good That when God hath a Work to do he will not want Instruments With him was try'd Rouse who was charged with such a parcel of mad Romance as was scarce ever heard of and one would wonder how Perjury and Malice which use to be sober sins could even be so extravagant as to hit on 't He was to seize the Tower pay the Rabble uncaese the Aldermen to be Pay-Master and Flea-Master General and a great deal more to the same Tune In his Defence he says no great Matter but yet what looks a Thousand times more like Truth than his Accusation That the Tower Business was only Discourse of the feasibleness of the thing as Russel's about the Guards but without the least intent of bringing it to Action That all he was concern'd in any real Design he had from Lee and was getting more out of him with an intention to make a Discovery But it seems Lee got the whip-hand of him they were both at a kind of Halter-Combat Rouse's foot slipt and Lee turn'd him over and saved his own Neck His Dying Words Mr. Rouse declared That he was told that They did not intend to spill one drop of Blood and affirmed that Lee the Witness against him did by his Evidence make him the Author of the very Words that came out of his the said Lee 's own Mouth A Brief Extract of Captain Walcot's Prayer O Lord our God Thou art a God of present help in time of Trouble a God that hast promised to be with thy People in the Fire and in the Water O Lord we pray Thee that thou wilt afford thy Presence to thy poor Suffering Servants at this time O Lord thy Servant that speaketh doth confess that the Iniquties at his heels have justly overtaken him O do thou bathe each of our Souls in that Fountain set open for sin and Uncleanness O do thou enable every one of us from the inward Evidence of thy Spirit to say with thy Servant Job That we know and are assured that our Redeemer lives O give us some inward Tasts of those Heavenly Joys that we hope through the Mercy of Jesus Christ in a little time to have a more full Fruition of O Lord do thou speak Peace to every one of our Consciences though we lie under a Sentence of Death from Man we beg that we may have a Sentence of Life Eternal from our God and though we meet Thee O Lord in a Field of Blood we beg that Thou wilt come to meet us in a Field of Mercy O Lord though we have been Prodigals we desire to return unto our Father's House where there is Bread enough O enable us to come unto Thee as Children to their Parents Lord put to thy helping Hand Lord teach us truly to leave no Sin unrepented of in any one of our Hearts And O Lord we beg that with us thou wilt give us leave to recommend unto thy Care our Poor Wives and Children Thou hast promised to be the Father of the Fatherless and the Husband of the Widow and thou hast commanded us to cast the Care of them upon Thee O do thou make Provision for them an enable them to bear this severe stroke with Patience O Lord we also beseech thee in the behalf of these Poor Kingdoms wherein we are that Thou wilt be merciful to them prevent Divisions among them heal all their Breaches compose their Differences make all that are thine of one Heart and Mind in the things of Thee our God Lord favour us with the Mercy assure us of thy Love stand by us in the difficult Hour take us into thine own Care cause thy Angels to attend us to convey our Souls as soon as they are divided from our Bodies into Abraham's Bosoâ— All which we beg for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ in whom O Lord this little time do thou give us Hearts to give Thee all Glory Honour and Praise now and for evermore Amen Sweet Jesus Amen 6. Mr. HONE Hone was accused and owns himself Guilty of a Design to Kill the King and the Duke of York or one or neither for 't is impossible to make any Sense of him When they came to suffer Walcot
the Day was principally owing Finding all things in Disorder and the Rout beyond recovering he was forc'd to disperse his Troops every one shifting as they could for themselves He and his Brother kept together where what befel 'em after their Friends have given an exact Account which is here following inserted An Account of the Behaviour of Mr. William and Benjamin Hewlings before and at their Execution with several Letters to divers of their Relations THe gracious dealings of God manifested to some in dying Hours have been of great Advantage to those living that heard the same giving them an occasion thereby to reflect on their own State and to look after the things of their Peace before they be hid from their Eyes as also a great Encouragement to strengthen the Faith of those that have experienced the Grace of God to them To that end it is thought necessary by Parents especially to preserve to their Children t hat remain those blessed Experiences that such have had which God hath taken to himself Here therefore is presented a true Account of the admirable appearances of God towards two young Men Mr. Benjamin Hewling who died when he was about 22 Years of Age and Mr. William Hewling who died before he arrived to 20 Years They engaged with the Duke of Monmouth as their own Words were for the English Liberties and the Protestant Religion and for which Mr. William Hewling was Executed at Lyme the 12th of September 1685. and Mr. Ben. Hewling at Taunton the 30th of the same Month and however severe Men were to them yet the blessed Dispensation of God towards them was such as hath made good his Word That out of the Mouths of Babes he hath ordained Strength that he may still the Enemy and the Avenger Then Reader would you see Earthly Angels Men that are a little too low for Heaven and much too high for Earth would you see poor frail Creatures trampling this World under their Feet and with an holy serene Smiling at the Threats of Tyrants who are the Terrors of the Mighty in the Land of the Living Would you see shackled Prisoners behave themselves like Judges and Judges stand like Prisoners before them Would you see some of the rare Exploits of Faith in its highest Elevation immediately before it be swallowed up in the Beatifical Vision To conclude would you see the Heavenly Jerusalem pourtrayed on Earth Would you hear the melodious Voices of ascending Saints in a ravishing Consort ready to joyn with the Heavenly Chorus in their delightful Hallelujahs Then draw near come and see If thou be a Man of an Heavenly Spirit here is pleasant and suitable Entertainment for thee and after thou hast conversed a while these excellent Spirits it may be thou wilt Judge as I do That dead Saints are sweeter Companions in some respects for thee to converse with than those that are living And when thou shalt see the magnificent Acts of their Faith their Invincible Patience their flaming Love to Christ their strange contempt and undervaluings of the World their plainness and simplicity in the Profession of the Gospel their fervent and brotherly Love to each other their ravishing Prospects as it were on the top of Mount Pisgah of the Heavenly Canaan their Swan-like Songs and Dying Speeches And Reader You know the first Lisping of little Children and last Farewels of Dying Saints are always most sweet and Charming Those Fore tasts of the Rivers ' of Pleasure the transporting Glimpses they had of the Crown of Glory I say when you see and read these Exemplary Truths wonder not that the Pious Hewlings long'd so vehemently to be in a better World though they were to pass through a Thousand Deaths or the Fiery Tryal to it But to come to our intended matter After the dispersing of the Duke's Army they fled and put to Sea but were driven back again and with the hazard of their Lives got on shore over dangerous Rocks where they saw the Country filled with Soldiers and they being unwilling to fall into the hands of the Rabble and no way of defence or escape remaining to them they surrendred themselves Prisoners to a Gentleman whose House was near the place they landed at and were from thence sent to Exeter Gaol the 12th of July where remaining some time their Behaviour was such that being visited by many caused great Respect towards them even of those that were Enemies to the Cause they engaged in and being on the 27th of July put on Board the Swan Frigate in order to their bringing up to London their Carriage was such as obtained great Kindness from the Commander and all other Officers in the Ship and being brought into the River Captain Richardson came and took them into his Custody and carried them to Newgate putting great Irons upon them and put them apart from each other without giving Liberty for the nearest Relation to see them notwithstanding all Endeavours and Entreaties used to obtain it tho' in the Presence of a Keeper which though it did greatly increase the Grief of Relations God who wisely orders all things for good to those he intends Grace and Mercy to made this very Restraint and hard Usage a blessed Advantage to their Souls as may appear by their own Words when after great Importunity and Charge some of their near Relations had leave to speak a few words to them before the Keeper To which they replied They were contented with the Will of God whatever it should be Having been in Newgate three Weeks there was Order given to carry them down into the West in order to their Tryal which being told them they answered They were glad of it and that Morning they went out of Newgate several that beheld them seeing them so chearful said Surely they had received their Pardon else they could never carry it with that Courage and Chearfulness Although this must be observed that from first to last whatever hopes they received from Friends they still thought the contrary never being much affected with the hopes of it nor cast down nor the least discouraged at the worst that Man could do In their Journey to Dorchester the Keepers that went with them have given this Account of them That their Carriage was so Grave Serious and Christian that made them admire to see and hear what they did from such Young Men. A near Relation that went into the West to see the issue of things and to perform whatever should be necessary for them gives the following Account At Salisbury the 30th of August I had the first Opportunity of Converse with them I found them in a very excellent Composure of Mind declaring their Experience of the Grace and Goodness of God to them in all their Sufferings in supporting and strengthening and poviding for them turning the hearts of all in whose hands they had been both at Exon and on Ship-board to shew pity and favour to them although since they came to Newgate
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
said before there is nothing in your Paper about the Doctrine of Non-resistance Mon. I Repent of all things that a true Christian ought to Repent of I am to die pray my Lord Assist Then my Lord we can only recommend you to the Mercy of God but we cannot Pray with that Chearfulness and Encouragement as we should if you had made a particular Acknowledgment Mon. God be praised I have Encouragement enough in my self I die with a clear Conscience I have wronged no Man Assist How sir no Man Have you not been Guilty of Invasion and of much Blood which hath been shed and it may be of the loss of many Souls that followed you You must needs have wronged a great many Mon. I do Sir own that and am sorry for it Assist Give it the true Name Sir and call it Rebellion Mon. What Name you please Sir I am sorry for Invading the Kingdom and for the Blood that has been shed and for the Souls which may have been lost by my means I am sorry it ever happened Mr. Sher. Vandeput He says he is sorry for Invading the Kingdom Assist We have nothing to add but to renew the frequent Exhortations we have made to you to give some Satisfaction for the Publick Injuries to the Kingdom There have been a great many Lives lost by this Resistance of your Lawful Prince Mon. What I have done has been very ill and I wish with all my heart it had never been I never was a Man that delighted in Blood I was very far from it I was as cautious in that as any Man was the Almighty God knows how I now die with all the Joyfulness in the World Assist God grant you may Sir God give you True Repentance Mon. If I had not True Repentance I should not so easily have been without the fear of Dying I shall die like a Lamb. Assist Much may come from Natural Courage Mon. I do not attribute it to my own Nature for I am fearful as other Men are but I have now no fear as you may see by my Face but there is something within me that does it for I am sure I shall go to God Assist My Lord be sure upon good grounds do you Repent you of all your sins known or unknown confessed or not confessed of all the sins which might proceed from Error in Judgment Mon. In general for all I do with all my Soul Assist God Almighty of his Infinite Meâ—â— forgive you Here are great Numbers of Spectators here are the Sheriffs they represâ—â—â— the Great City and in speaking to them you speak to the Great City make some Satisfaction by owning your Crime before them He was exhorted to Pray for the King and was asked whether he did not desire to send some Dutiful Message to His Majesty and to recommend his Wife and Children to His Majesty's Favour M. What harm have they done Do it if you please I pray for him and for all Men. Ass At his undressing My Lord you have been bred a Soldier you will do a generous Christian thing if you please to speak to the Soldiers and say That here you stand a sad Example of Rebellion and entreat them and the People to be Loyal and Obedient to the King M. I have said I will make no Speeches I will make no Speeches I am come to die Ass My Lord Ten Words will be enough M. Then calling his Servant and giving him something like a Tooth-pick Case Here said he give this to the Person to whom you are to deliver the other things To the Executioner Here are Six Guinea's for you pray do your Business well Don't serve me as you did my Lord Russel I have heard you struck him three or four times Here to his Servant take these remaining Guinea's and give them to him if he does his Work well Execut. I hope I shall M. If you strike me twice I cannot promise you not to stir During his undressing and standing towards the Block were used divers Ejaculations and much of the 51st Psalm and particularly Deliver me from Blood guiltiness O God Thou God c. Then he lay down and soon after he raised himself upon his Elbow and said to the Executioner Prithee let me feel the Ax. He felt the Edge and said I fear it is not sharp enough Execut. It is sharp enough and heavy enough Then he lay down again During this space many pious Ejaculations were used by those that assisted him with great fervency God accept your Repentance God accept your Repentance God accept your imperfect Repentance My Lord God accept your general Repentance God Almighty shew his Omnipotent Mercy upon you Father into thy Hands we commend his Spirit c. Lord Jesus receive his Soul Thus ended the Life of the late Duke of Monmouth on Wednesday the 15th of July 1685. on Tower-hill A Brief Abstract of the Paper left behind him I Repent in general of all my Sins and am more particularly concerned for what Blood hath been spilt on my Account and the rather seeing the Issue is such as I fear will prove of Fatal Consequence to the Reformed Protestant Religion Instead of being counted Factious and Rebellious the very opposing of Popery and Arbitrary Power now arising and appearing plain enough would sufficiently have protected my Cause besides several other most heinous and notorious Crimes such as the unhappy Fate of the Earl of Essex and my Father of ever blessed Memory and others now covered over with Jesuitical Policy should have been detected and avenged I have lived and shall now die in the Faith of this That God will work a Deliverance for his People and then will be discovered the great and horrid and scarcely to be parallell'd Villainies our Enemies have been guilty of but now you see my case is desperate yet know that I die a Martyr for the People and shall rather pity the State that their false and covetous Minds have brought themselves and me to than discover who are the Persons concerned in my Overthrow and I heartily forgive all that have wronged me even those that have been Instrumental in my Fall earnestly praying for their Souls And I hope King James will shew himself to be of his Brother's Blood and extend his Mercy to my Children even as he was wont to his greatest Enemies they being not capable to Act and therefore not conscious of any Offence against the Government Argile and the Duke of Monmouth being now both safe in their Graves King James was so puff'd up with a petty Victory over a few Clubmen and so wrapt up with a Conceit that he had now conquer'd the whole Nation so that now believing himself impregnable he resolves to be revenged upon the Western People for siding with his Capital Enemy Monmouth and to that purpose sends down his Executioner in Ordinary Jefferies not to decimate according to the Heathen way of Mercy but with the Besom of his
Practice of the Independant Church and in that Faith I die depending on the Merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ for my Eternal Salvation His Blessing be with you all Farewel to thee poor England Farewel 16. Mr. Josias Askew's Letter to his Father Honoured Father I Not having an Opportunity to make my Gratitude known to you for all your Endeavours for the saving a poor vain perishing and troublesome Life and seeing it is all in vain I would desire you both to acquiesce in the Will of God and rejoyce with me for this happy Day of my departure from this State of Pilgrimage home to the Possession of those Heavenly Mansions which my God and Father hath provided for me in and through my Lord Jesus Christ It is in him alone I put my Trust and Confidence and therefore can boldly say Who is he that Condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again and is set down at the Right Hand of God making Intercession for all those that have a well-grounded Confidence in him My Time is but short and by reason of Company I am disturbed Therefore I conclude with my last Breath begging of God that he would keep you constant in his Fear in this Day of great Temptation and at last receive you to his Glory where we shall once more unite in praising without interruption or distraction World without end Amen Until which time the Grace of God the Father the Love of God the Son the comfortable Refreshing of God the holy Ghost be with you all yours and the whole Israel of God both now and for ever Which is the hearty Prayer of your Son JOSIAS ASKEW Pray remember me to all with Joy The Account his Friend gives of him TO prevent your further Trouble in suing for a Pardon I think it convenient to let you know I do not question but my dear Cousin hath had his Pardon sealed by the King of Kings and is in everlasting Blessedness singing Hallelujahs Salvation Glory and Honour to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever For God did so carry him through to drink that bitter Cup with so much Courage and Chearfulness to the last as was to the Admiration of all Spectators notwithstanding the terrible Sight he saw at the Place of Suffering and so vehemently as he was tried by the Adversary yet it did not in the least discompose him or alter his Countenance for he continued with a smiling Countenance to the last and was transported above measure I want Words to express it he was like one wrapp'd up in Heaven with his Heart there and his Eyes fixed thereon I could wish you had been there it would have driven away all cause of Sorrow from your Heart to see his Deportment and hear the Gracious Words that proceeded out of his Mouth He remembreth his Duty to you both and left Paul's Blessing with you Grace Mercy and Peace his Love to his dear Sister He desires her not to be troubled for him for he hath made his Peace with God and was assured he should go to eternal Happiness He would have written more to you and to his Sister but that he had so short a time after Sentence that he wanted Opportunity When he went out of Prison he said Gentlemen Now I am going and it is the Time I much longed for I would not change with him that passeth Sentence upon me for a World I was with him to the last and seeing his Courage it did very much encourage me though I never saw such a sight with my Eyes 17. The Behaviour of JOHN HOLWAY before and at the Place of Execution at Warham in the County of Dorset HE lived in Lime where the Duke landed and appeared in Arms at that time until his Captain left him then took up Arms under the Duke of Monmouth and went with him until the King's Proclamation came forth That all that would lay down their Arms before some Justice of the Peace in Four Days after and take a Certificate for their so doing they should be acquitted and have his Majesty's Pardon which this Person did though one Day too late He received his Sentence with much Courage and Resolution and by the means of one Mr. Tiller who was to suffer with him was brought to that settled frame of Spirit as is fit for one in that Condition As he was riding in the Cart toward the Place of Execution the Troopers being just behind the Cart he told them They shewed like brave Fellows But said he if I were to have my Life for fighting the best Five of you I would not question it At the Place of Execution he said not much But that he thought his and other Mens Blood would be revenged one time or another and said Forgive me have Mercy on my poor Soul pardon all my Sins and the like and so the Executioner did his Office 18. The Last Speech and Prayer of Mr. Matthews at the Place of Execution HE was much concerned the Morning before he died to see his Wife weep and to be in such a Passion for him which drew Tears from his Eyes and taking her in his Arms said My Dear Prithee do not disturb me at this time but endeavour to submit to the Will of God and although thy Husband is going from thee yet I trust God will be All in All to thee Sure my Dear you will make my Passage into Eternity more troublesome than otherwise if you thus lament and take on for me I am very sensible of thy tender Love towards me but would have you consider that this Separation will be so much for my Advantage as your Loss cannot parallel I thank God I am willing to die and to be with my Jesus Be satisfied the Will of God must be done Thy Will be done O God in Earth as it is in Heaven So embracing her he took his Last Farewel of her and prepared to go to the Place of Execution where being come he with a very modest sober composed frame of Spirit stood while he saw several Executed before him His Turn being come he thus spake Dear Countrymen I Suppose we are all of one Kingdom and Nation and I hope Protestants O I wonder we should be so Cruel and Blood-thirsty one towards another I have heard it said heretofore that England could never be ruin'd but by her self which now I frear is a doing Lord have Mercy on poor England Turn the Hearts of the Inhabitants thereof cause them to love one another and to forget one anothers Infirmities Have Mercy O Lord on me Give me Strength and Patience to fulfil thy Will Comfort my dear and sorrowful Wife be a Husband unto her stand by her in the greatest Trouble and Affliction Let her depend upon thy Providence Be merciful to all Men. Preserve this Nation from Popery Find out a way for its Deliverance if it be thy good Will and give all Men
of Christ It is not all I can do that will or can save me Were I to live my Days over again and spend them in nothing but Prayers and Tears that could not Save me no it is nothing but the Mercy of God in Christ that must save me and upon this will I trust I am resolved that at the last I will lay my self wholly at the Feet of God's Mercy in Jesus Christ and there I will die This he uttered with raised and enlarged Affections They have brought my Coffin and I am not afraid to see it proceeded he I thank God I can freely lie down in it These Shackles about my Legs are as if they were not I do not regard them My Heart is so cheared with the consideration of the Precious Promises God hath made to poor perishing Sinners and why not to me And why not to thee indeed said I She loved much to whom much was forgiven Ah reply'd he it is much must be forgiven me Much indeed More to this purpose passed between us Several other Ministers were with him that Day and prayed with him as he told me what Discourse they had with him I know not A little before Execution enquiring of him what Confession he thought to make he said he was not inclined to speak much publickly in that respect for this reason That he judged it useless and at most would only gratifie some who came for nothing else but to hear him tell a long Story of a Vicious Life which was more likely to discompose his own Minds than tend to their Edification Moreover he said I cannot affect the Guilty and for others some may believe me some may not The Guilty know themselves I will therefore leave them to God and their own Consciences wishing them true Repentance that they may never come to this miserable End He did not think fit to go out of the World accusing others whom he could no more than accuse and neither bring them to deserved Punishment for what they had done hor prevent thereby their proceeding in the same course of Wickedness No for said he God must convince them and change their hearts which he did and would Pray earnestly for to his last He was desirous to employ all his little space in seeking God and giving up himself to Jesus Christ in humble Prayer now and then saying Oh! my Time is short within a few hours yea moments I shall be in Eternity O vain World Requesting me oft not to leave him till Death separated us I accompanied him to the Place of Execution where I prayed with him committing his Soul to God he joyned with me with great Ardency Then was sung the latter part of the 39th Psalm by his Appointment in singing whereof he seemed elevated in Heart and Voice above most present At last turning about and looking round on the Multitude he took his Farewel in these words or words to the like effect Gentle Spectators You are come to see a sinful miserable Wretch suffer this Ignominious Death I thank God it is not terrible to me for I trust that I shall find Mercy with God for my poor Soul through the precious Blood of my sweet Jesus You may see here what Sin will bring you to Oh take warning by me take heed of Sin shun Temptationsâ— flee Ezsil Company beware of Sabbath-breaking for by this Sin the Devil begins with many to draw them to all manner of Wickedness so he did with me Oh forsake all your Evil Wars turn to the Lord he is a gracious God Oh vile Wretch that I have so sinned against a holy just and merciful God I have been a Prodigal indeed but I hope now a Returning one Oh that they that have been my Companions in Mischief may Repent before it be too late I beg of them to fear God and mind their Souls There may be some of them that hear me at this time the Lord touch their hearts Oh do not still go on you are known to God who will call you to Account for all one day Think of it I beseech you the Lord give you true Repentance and Pardon your Sins that you may not come to this miserable End you see me come to With more to the like purpose Then Resigning himself to God and begging Acceptance with him for the Merits of a Dear and All-sufficient Redeemer he ended this Temporal and Miserable Life Thus far Mr. Burroughs CHAP. CXLV The Last Wills of Persons Remarkable for their Oddness and Singularity HAving had occasion to mention before several Wills with a particular Respect to Charities bestowed and some which were Remarkably Serious and Devout here I shall present the Reader with a few that I thought not very suitable to either of those Heads having something of Oddness or Levity or Brevity in them extraordinary 1. I have already spoken of Endamidas the Corinthian who dying Poor left his Aged Mother to Aretaeus and his Young Daughter to Charixenus two Rich Friends of his the one to be maintained till she died and the other till she married She the Chapter of Remarkable Friendship 2. Hilarion is reported at Eighty Years Old to have made this Will All my Wealth that is the Gospel and one Hair Vest my Coat and little Cloak I leave to my most loving Friend Hesychius Mourning Ring 3. Antonius the Great this As for the Place of my Burial let none know but your own Love my Felt and old Cloak give it to Athanasius which he gave me when it was new Let Serapion take the other which is somewhat better Do you take my Hair Garment And so Farewel my Bowels for Antony is going Ibid. 4. I Acathius Victor have been running to Eternity from A.C. 1581. and have Eternity in my Mind Now I commend my Spirit to God my Body to the Earth and Worms But as for Estate nothing now is mine but Good-Will which I carry with me to the Tribunal of God Ibid. 5. S. Hierom Martyr left his Estate to his Mother and Sister but to Rusticius the Chief Magistrate of Ancyra his Right-hand already cut off Ibid. 6. Zisca bequeath'd his Skin to make a Drum and his Flesh to the Fowls of the Air and Wild Beasts Ibid. 7. A Woman left her Cat 500 Crowns to maintain her with Food so long as she lived 8. I have mentioned already an Old Witch that on her Death-bed bequeathed her Imp the Devil to her Daughter 9. Luther was more serious and wise when he in his Last Will bequeath'd his Wife to God who gave her 10. Cardinal Bellarmine as I have noted before makes a long sputter in his Last Will about his Disposal of a few Cloaths and fine Pictures c. 11. I have been credibly informed that a certain School-Master in Shropshire making his Will his Wife who had always the Whip-hand over him standing by took occasion frequently to Advise the Clerk that wrote for him or rather to Correct and altar what
and died Chetwind 's Hist Collections In the Year 1559. Henry the Second King of France was slain in the midst of his Pastimes and Triumphs and in publick Joy of the People For while he Celebrated the Nuptials of his Daughter at Paris in a Tilting the Splinter of a broken Lance flew with such violence and pierced his Eye that he died immediately In the Year 1491. Alphonsus the Son of John the Second King of Portugal being about Sixteen Years of Age a Prince of great Hopes and Wit took to Wife Isabella the Daughter of Ferdinand King of Spain whose Dowry was the ample Inheritance of her Father's Kingdoms The Nuptials were celebrated with the preparations of Six Hundred Triumphs Plays Running Racing Tilting Banquets So much Plenty so much Luxury that the Horse-boys and Slaves glistered in Tissue But oh immense Grief hardly the Seventh Month had passed when the young Prince sporting a Horse-back upon the Banks of Tagus was thrown from his Horse to the Ground so that his Scull was broken and he wounded to Death He was carried to a Fisher's House scarce big enough to contain him and two of his Followers there he lay down upon a Bed of Straw and expired The King flies thither with the Queen his Mother There they behold the miserable Spectacle their Pomp turn'd into Lamentation The growing Youth of their Son his Vertues Wealth like Flowers on a sudden disrobed by the North-winds blast and all to be buried in a miserable Grave O the sudden Whirlwinds of Human Affairs O most precipitate Falls of the most constant Things What shall I remember any more Basilius the Emperor was gored to death by a Hart while he was entangled in a troublesome Bough The ancient Monument in the Camp of Ambrosius near Aenipontus witnesses That a Noble Youth though under Age set Spurs to his Horse to make him leap a Ditch twenty foot broad The Horse took it but the Rider and the Horse fell by a sudden and almost the same kind of death That the Spoils of the Horse and the Garments of the Youth speak to this Day But this sudden Fate is common as well to the Good as to the Bad neither does it argue an unhappy Condition of the Soul unless any Person in the Act of burning Impiety feel himself struck with the Dart of Divine Vengeance Such was the Exit of Dathan and Abiram whom the gaping Earth miserably swallowed up obstinate in their Rebellion against Moses Such was the End of those Soldiers whom for their Irreverence to Elijah Heaven consumed with Balls of Fire Such was the End of the Hebrew whom the Revengers Sword pass'd thorough finding him in the Embraces of the Midianitess turning his Genial into his Funeral Bed So many Pores of the Body so many little Doors for Death Death does not shew himself always near yet is he always at hand What is more stupid than to wonder that that should fall out at any time which may happen every Day Our Limits are determined where the inexorable necessity of Fate has fix'd them But none of us knows how near they are prefixed So therefore let us form our Minds as if we were at the utmost extremity Let us make no Delay Death has infinite accesses So it is indeed and to what I have said I add It is reported that a certain Person dream'd that he was torn by the Jaws of a Lion He rises careless of his Dream and goes to Church with his Friends In the way he sees a Lyon of Stone gaping that upheld a Pillar Then declaring his Dream to his Companions not without Laughter Behold said he this is the Lyon that tore me in the Night So saying he thrust his Hand into the Lyon's Jaws crying to the Statue Thou hast thy Enemy now shut thy Jaws and if thou canst bite my Hand He had no sooner said the Word but he received a deadly Wound in that place where he thought he could have no harm for at the bottom of the Lyon's Mouth lay a Scorpion which no sooner felt his Hand but he put forth his Sting and stung the young Man to death Are Stones thus endued with Anger Where then is not Death if Lyons of Stone can kill In the same manner died the young Hylas who was kill'd by a Viper that lay hid in the Mouth of a Bear 's resemblance in Stone What shall I mention the Child kill'd by an Isicle dropping upon his Head from the Penthouse whom Martial laments in the following Verses Where next the Vipsan Pillars stands the Gate From whence the falling Rain wets Cloak and Hat A Child was passing by when strange to tell Vpon his Throat a frozen drop there fell Where while the Boy his cruel Fate bemoan'd The tender point straight melted in the Wound Would Chance have us adore her lawless Will Or tell where Death is not if Drops can kill 'T is the Saying of Annaeus Uncertain it is saith he in what place Death may expect thee therefore do thou expect Death in every place We trifle and at distance think the Ill While in our Bowels Death lies lurking still For in the moment of our Birth-day Morn That moment Life and Death conjoin'd were born And of that Thread with which our Lives we measure Our Thievish Hours still make a rapid â—â—â—zure Insensibly we die so Lamps expire When wanting Oil to feed the greedy Fire Though living still yet Death is then so nigh That oft-times as we speak we speaking die Senccio Cornelius a Roman Knight a Man of extream Frugality no less careful of his Patrimony than of his Body when he had sate all Day till Night by his Friend sick a Bed beyond all Hopes of Recovery when he had Supp'd well and cheary was taken with a violent Distemper the Quinsey scarcely retained his Breath within his contracted Jaws till Morning so that he deceas'd within a few Hours after he had performed all the Duties of a sound and healthy Man What follows is extracted from Mr. Increase Mather's Book of Remarkable Providences I Shall only add says he at present That there have been many sudden Deaths in this Countrey which should not pass without some Remark For when such Strokes are multiplied there is undoubtedly a speaking Voice of Providence therein And so it hath been with us in New-England this last Year and most of all the last Summer To my Observation in August last within the space of three or four Weeks there were twelve sudden Deaths and it may be others have observed more than I did some of them being in respect of sundry Cirrumstances exceeding awful Let me only add here that sudden Death is not always a Judgment unto those who are taken out of an evil World It may be a Mercy to them and a Warning unto others as the sudden Death of the Prophet Ezekiel's Wife was Many of whom the World was not worthy have been so removed out of it Moses died suddenly and
was this One Day at an Atheistical Meeting at a Person of Quality's I undertook to manage the Cause and was the principal Disputant against God and Piety and for my Performances receiv'd the Applause of the whole Company upon which my Mind was terribly struck and I immediately replied thus to my self Good God! That a Man that walks upright that sees the wonderful Works of God and has the uses of his Sence and Reason should use them to the defying of his Creator But tho' this was a good beginning to my Conversion to find my Conscience touch'd for my Sins yet it went off again Nay all my Life long I had a secret Value and Reverence for an honest Man and lov'd Morality in others But I had form'd an odd Scheme of Religion to my self which would solve all that God or Conscience might force upon me yet I was not over-well reconcil'd to the Business of Christianity nor had that Reverence for the Gospel of Christ as I ought to have which estate of Mind continu'd till the 53d Chapter of Isaiah was read to him and some other Portions of Scripture by the Power and Efficacy of which Word assisted by his Holy Spirit God so wrought upon his Heart that he declar'd that the Mysteries of the Passion appear'd so clear and plain to him as ever any thing did that was represented in a Glass so that that joy and Admiration which possessed his Soul upon the reading God's Word to him was remarkable to all about him and he had so much delight in his Testimonies that in my absence he begg'd his Mother and Lady to read the same to him frequently and was unsatisfied notwithstanding his great Pains and Weakness till he had learn'd the 53d of Isaiah without Book At the same time discoursing of his Manner of Life from his Youth up which all Men knew was too much devoted to the Service of Sin and that the Lusts of the Flesh the Eye and the Pride of Life had captivated him he was very large and particular in his Acknowledgments about it more ready to accuse himself than any one else could be publickly crying out O blessed God! Can such an horrid Creature as I am be accepted by thee who has denied thy Being and contemn'd thy Power asking often Can there be Mercy and Pardon for me Will God own such a Wretch as I And in the middle of his Sickness said Shall the unspeakable Joys of Heaven be conferr'd on me O mighty Saviour never but through thine infinite Love and Satisfaction O never but by the purchase of thy Blood adding that with all abhorrency he did reflect upon his former Life that sincerely and from his Heart he did repent of all that folly and Madness which he had committed He had a true and lively sense of God's great Mercy to him in striking his hard Heart saying If that God who died for great as well as lesser Sinners did not spâ—edily apply his infinite Merits to his poor Soul his Wound was such as no Man could conceive or bear crying out That he was the vilest Wretch and Dog that the Sun shined upon or the Earth bore That now he saw his Error in not living up to that Reason which God endued him with and which he unworthily vilified and contemned wish'd he had been a starving Leper crawling in a Ditch that he had been a Link-Boy or a Beggar or for his whole Life-time confin'd to a Dungeon rather than thus to have sinend against God How remarkable was his Faith in a hearty embracing an devout Confession of all the Articles of the Christian Religion and all the Divine Mysteries of the Gospel saying that that absurd and foolish Philosophy which the world so much admir'd propagated by the late Mr. Hobbs and others had undone him and many more of the best Parts of the Nation He cast himself entirely upon the Mercies of Jesus Christ and the Free Grace of God declared to repenting Sinners through him with a thankful Remembrance of his Life Death and Resurrection begging God to strengthen his Faith and often crying out Lord I believe help thou mine unbelief His mighty Love and Esteem of the Holy Scriptures his Resolutions to read them frequently and meditate upon them if God should spare him having already tasted the good Word for having spoken to his Heart he acknowledged all the seeming Absurdities and Contradictions thereof fancied by Men of corrupt and reprobate Judgments were vanished and the Excellency and Beauty appeared being come to receive the Truth in the Love of it How terribly did the Tempter assault him by casting upon him wicked and lewd Imaginations But I thank God said he I abhor them all and by the Power of his Grace which I am sure is sufficient for me I have overcome them 'T is the Malice of the Devil because I am rescued from him and the Goodness of God that frees me from all my Spiritual Enemies He was greatly rejoiced at his Lady's Conversion from Popery which he called a Faction supported only by Fraud and Cruelty He was heartily concerned for the Pious Education of his Children wishing that his Son might never be a Wit that is as he explain'd it One of those wretched Creatures who pride themselves in abusing God and Religion denying his Being or his Providence but that he might become an Honest and a Religious Man which could only be the Support and Blessing of his Family He gave a strict Charge to those Persons in whose Custody his Papers were to burn all his profane and lewd Writings as being only fit to promote Vice and Immorality by which he had so highly offended God and shamed and blasphemed that holy Religion into which he had been baptized and all his obscene and filthy Pictures which were so notoriously Scandalous I must not pass by his pious and most passionate Exclamation to a Gentleman of some Character who came to visit him upon his Death-Bed O remember that you contemn God no more he is an avenging God and will visit you for your Sins will in Mercy I hope touch your Conscience sooner or later as he has done mine You and I have been Friends and Sinners together a great while therefore I am the more free with you We have been all mistaken in our Conceits and Opinions Our Perswasions have been false and groundless therefore God grant you Repentance And seeing him again next Day said to him Perhaps you were disobliged by my Plainness to you Yesterday I spake the Words of Truth and Soberness to you and striking his Hand upon his Breast said I hope God will touch your Heart He commanded me continues our Author to preach abroad and let all Men know if they knew it not already how severely God had disciplin'd him for his Sins by his afflicting Hand that his Sufferings were most just tho' he had laid Ten thousand times more upon him how he had laid one Stripe upon another
because of his grievous Provocations till he had brought him home to himself that in his former Visitations he had not that blessed Effect he was now sensible of He had formerly some loose Thoughts and slight Resolutions of Reforming and designed to be better because even the present Consequences of Sin were still pestering him and were so troublesome and inconvenient to him but now he had other Sentiments of Things and acted upon other Principles He was willing to die if it pleased God resigning himself always to the Divine Disposal but if God should spare him yet a longer time here he hoped to bring Glory to the Name of God in the whole course of his Life and particularly by his Endeavours to convince others and to assure them of the Danger of their Condition if they continued Impenitent and how graciously God had dealt with him The Time of his Sickness and Repentance was just Nine Weeks in all which time 30 Hours about the middle of it excepted wherein he was delirous he was so much Master of his Reason and had so clear an understanding that he never dictated or spake more composed in his Life Three or Four Days before his Death he had comfortable Perswasions of God's accepting him to his Mercy saying I shall Die but Oh what unspeakable Glories do I see What Joys beyond Thought or Expression am I sensible of I am assured of God's Mercy to me through Jesus Christ O how I long to die and to be with my Saviour His Dying REMONSTRANCE FOR the Benefit of all those whom I may have drawn into Sin by my Example and Encouragement I leave to the World this my Last Declaration which I deliver in the presence of the great God who knows the Secrets of all Hearts and before whom I am now appearing to be Judged That from the bottom of my Soul I detest and abhor the whole Course of my former wicked Life that I think I can never sufficiently admire the Goodness of God who has given me a lively sense of my pernicious Opinions and vile Practices by which I have hitherto liv'd without Hope and without God in the World have been an open Enemy to Jesus Christ doing the utmost despite to the holy Spirit of Grace and that the greatest Testimony of my Charity to such is to warn them in the Name of God and as they regard the Welfare of their Immortal Souls no more to deny his Being or his Providence or despise his Goodness no more to make a Mock of Sin or Contemn the pure and excellent Religion of my ever-blessed Redeemer thro' whose Merits alone I one of the Greatest of Sinners do yet hope for Mercy and Forgiveness Amen J. ROCHESTER Declared in the presence of Anne Rochester Rob. Parsons 5. Sir Duncomb Colchester who died May 25. 1694. in his Return from London towards Gloucestershire wrote this Penitential Letter Sir Duncomb Colchester's Penitential Letter Gentlemen and Friends SInce it hath pleased Almighty God of his great and undeserved Mercy and Goodness to bring me one of the chiefest of Sinners by a long and sharp Visitation to a sense of my Sins for which with all Humility of Soul I adore and praise him it is a Duty I know incumbent on me as ever I hope for his Pardon and Forgiveness to do what in me lies to bring Honour to his Holy Name to make Reparation for the Mischief I have done by my former vitious Life and antidote as far as I can the Poison which my Example has shed round about me In order whereunto I do hereby Declare That I am heartily sorry for all the Sins of my past Life the remembrance whereof however pleasant they formerly seemed to be is now Grief and Bitterness to my Soul More particularly that I may take shame to my self I do with the deepest Sorrow lament my Bioting and Drunkenness my Chambering and Wantonness those daring and presumptuous Sins which had so long dominion over me I do also most heartily lament that great Sin which I was so frequently guilty of of encouraging and drawing others to Excess which has made me partaker O sad Thought of other Mens Sins and liable to answer for more than mine own I am sensible that as it hath been my Practice so it is still of too many Gentlemen and that they as I did reckon excessive Drinking so far from a Fault as to be rather one of the best Indications of a hearty Respect and true Affection to the Persons they entertain But O false Love O treacherous Friendship to receive their Friends Men and send them out of their Houses Beasts I wish from the bottom of my Soul that any thing I could say would make all those whose Consciences accuse them of Guilt in this particular to loath and abhor this wicked Practice as I do And I do also heartily lament my great Neglect of putting the Laws in execution against common Drunkards Swearers and such-like scandalous Sinners and do earnestly beseech all such as are in Authority and whose Business it is to see the Laws executed if any such come to hear this Paper read that they will be more careful in that particular and consider that as their Power is a Talent entrusted in them whereof they must give a strict Account to their Heavenly Lord so by their being duly conscientious in the Discharge of their Duty herein we may hope for a Reformation amongst us and then with confidence expect God's Blessing to rest upon us And as I abhor my self for my Neglect in this Particular now mentioned and all my great Sins and Provocations against an infinite Majesty so I do farther hereby declare my full Purpose and Resolution if it shall please Almighty God with whom all things are possible to restore me to Health or prolong my Days by his special Grace and Assistance without which I shall be able to do nothing to lead a new Life in all Holy Obedience to his Will and Commands and desire that this Declaration of mine if I fail to do so may be produced as a Testimony against me to my Shame and Reproach But since my Recovery is very uncertain and what I have the least Reason in the World to hope for being heartily desirous to do what good I can in the Circumstances I am in I do hereby earnestly warn and beseech all Sinners especially those whom my Example has at any time encouraged the Remembrance whereof still fills me with Shame and Sorrow to repent of all thier Sins and Provocations least God's Vengeance overtake them in their Security and there be no Remedy And I beseech them farther to take notice that if this Warning be slighted the wilful Neglect and Refusal thereof will at last be charged upon them as a heinous Aggravation of all their Sins they shall hereafter commit will encrease their Condemnation and make their Doom more dreadful and terrible But that it may have a contrary Effect and be a means
to reduce 'em from their Sins to a Holy and Religious Life that so their Souls may be saved in the great Day of the Lord is the earnest Desire of their Languishing and Sorrowful Friend DUNCOMB COLCHESTER Who desires this may be read in the Parish-Churches of Michel Dean and Westbury and shewn to such Gentlemen Friends and others as may bring God most Glory Nov. 1693. Signed and Delivered in the presence of several of his Friends 6. The Remarkable Penitence of J. H. The next Letter is written by a Woman and one of inferior Quality in the World but not at all inferior in her Repentance It was that and the Grace of God in her Heart which moved her to do it long before it was done and it was the pure effect of that when at last it was done and all her own Composure we are assured by Mr. Stephens an ancient Divine now living in London who gave her Absolution approved her Purpose in it and perused it when she had done it and hath seen other Letters of her Writing by which he could easily discern the Composure of this if there had been any other hand in it or any Reason to suspect it It is published with her Consent who is very ready to embrace any Motion tending to the Honour and Service of God or her own Humiliation Her Letter was directed to Mr. Minister in Portsmouth and is as follows viz. Reverend Sir I Have put Pen to Paper humbly beseeching you to hear me of your Charity a few Words The Enemy of my Soul hath raised many Objections to hinder my intended purpose and I have been almost perswaded to give it over but now having the Advice of a Pious Holy Minister of God who says it may be of great use I desire to take Shame to my self and to give Glory to the Majesty of Heaven who in great Love and Pity hath pluck'd me as a Firebrand out of the Fire and I am this Day a Living Monument of Mercy I cannot but be grieved at the many sad Examples I have given at Portsmouth My Sins have encreased the heap of the publick Impieties and made them cry the louder to Heaven for Vengeance both there and here too It is very meet right and my Duty to confess to the Glory of God and Praise of his Grace my crying Sins committed in that Place that some of my Companions in Evil may hear and fear and do no more such Wickedness About Nine or Ten Years agone I came a young Woman if I deserve that Name to P my Husband Cook of a Ship in that Harbour a very ill Husband no Excuse for me Almighty God did suffer two Sinners to come together in plague one another and whilst he acted the Part of a Drunkard with Shame and Confusion of Face be it spoken I acted the part of a Harlot giving my self over to work all Vncleanness with greediness insomuch that my very Name was a Proverb of Reproach to all Civil Women Two or Three Years I lived openly Scandalous and then it pleased the Almighty to visit me with a sore Fit of Sickness even to the Loss of my Limbs for a Season at which time I did beg of God to restore me to my Health and did faithfully promise never more to defile my Marriage Bed and the Lord was entreated at that time also and hath added to my Life these remaining Years Some time after it pleased the All-wise Providence to make me a Mother I was very thankful for the Mercy and was much reclaimed and I was in some measure convinced of the great Evil of sin and did put Pen to Paper with intent it should come to the Ministers hand but the Enemies of my Soul prevented and hindred that reasonable Design and I was again lull'd to sleep in the Bed of Carnal Security where I continued three or four Years with little Interruption in which time I buried my Husband and two Children After this I was in danger of being as bad as ever living at Service in the very midst of Temptation at Portbridge I continued there but a short space for the good Hand of Providence brought me to London where I had Time and Opportunity to reflect upon my ill-spent Life O that I might improve the Mercy O that I could tell you what God hath done for my Soul He hath brought me out of Darkness into his marvellous Light O that I could prevail with my Companions in Evil to seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near Some of them are old Sinners grey hairs are upon them and they know it not I could be content to stand in a white sheet in your Church if I might but prevail with any one Soul to see the heinousness of my sin Nay I could be content to be stoned without the Walls of the Garrison so I might but be a means of the Conversion of any one Sinner O that I could write these Lines with my purest Blood I am grieved for the Dishonour I have done to God by my abominable sin and heartily wish my Head were Waters and mine Eyes were a Fountain of Tears that I might weep day and night for abusing Mercy O Sir you live in a place relating to Sodom cry aloud spare not to tell the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseer their Sins and my Companions in Evil their Sins The Lord is coming to reckon with the Nations and with you God grant you may be found among the Faithful Shepherds watching them and giving them their Meat in due Season I humbly beg your Blessing desiring to be remembred in your Prayers and I humbly beseech the Almighty that this poor Paper may have its designed Effect that God may be glorified and our Souls saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Amen and Amen J. H. Jan. 22. 1693 4. 7. Sir Alan Broderick who was a Gentleman of Extraordinary Learning and Accomplishments did own with much Contrition that a long Scene of his Life had been acted in the Sports and Follies of Sin that he had sometime pursued a Pagan and abandon'd way Scepticism it self not excepted wherein the poignancy of his Wit and the strength of his Reasoning even in that very Argument the using of which proclaims a Man in the Language of the Holy Scriptures a Fool may have been the occasion of a great deal of Mischief towards some that are already gone to their Accounts Yet some Years before his Death the bent and tendency of his Life and Actions was Devout and Religious and in his Private Conversation with his Minister he would always be Discoursing some Cases of Conscience about retir'd Closet-Prayer or the Nature and Necessity of True Religion and in his last Sickness he thought himself under a mighty Incumbency to Pray but was much harassed and anxious what to do because of his fear of not performing it with all becoming Reverence and Seriousness
which God had given to the Grandeur of her Power We have seen Tears in her Eyes for sorrow that she could not do so much as she desir'd With what Goodness I will not say of a Princess and a Queen but of a Mother did she take particular Accompts and make particular Enquiries for the succour of poor Families Ibid. 81. 'T was this Charity that made her shut her Ears against Calumny and Backbiting Never durst any one speak ill of any Body before the Queen Neither Flattery nor Calumny two of the most dangerous Pests of Sovereign Courts durst never open their Mouths in her presence Slander was utterly banish'd from her sight and hearing Lord says David who shall abide in thy Tabernacle He that is pure in his Life whose Actions are just who speaks always according to Truth who slanders not his Neighbour and who lends not his Ear to the Backbiter This is then one more Encomium which it behoves us to give the Queen and which you who had the Honour to be near her Person knew that she most justly deserved Ibid. 82. There was something admirable in the Diligence of this excellent Queen and very extraordinary in a Person of her Sex her Age and Degree For she spent every Hour of the Day to profit and advantage She was wont to rise by Six a Clock in the Morning Winter and Summer far different from most People who covetous of many Things are so prodigal of that little time which is so burthensome to 'em that they seek always to waste it Ibid. 83. The Queen concern'd herself for all those who had quitted their Country for the sake of Religion Piety and the Glory of God which she had always before her Eyes made her continually wish That Persons who had shew'd their Zeal and Affection to the Service of God might do nothing but what became the Character of that Zeal which had inclin'd ' em Let us fulfil these Wishes so just and so Christian-like The incorruptible Crown of Glory shall not be given to him that begins but to him that perseveres Let us therefore labour our Zeal and Fervency while we may to the end we may find Grace and Mercy at the Day of our Death and that we may be made Partakers of that Bliss and Eternal Glory which now the Queen enjoys That Queen who because she was a Woman that truly feared the Lord deserves far greater Praises than we have been able to give her Ibid. 84. I remember one Day this pious and pensive Princess recalling to Mind her Father who had so lately Rul'd most flourishing Kingdoms but gone astray from that Faith whch the Laws of God and Man had establish'd ever since the Reign of Edward VI. the Josiah of his Age and which his Father and Grand-Father had subscrib'd to I remember I say that being admitted into her private Chappel after she had let fall a Showre of Tears she gave Thanks to God the Supream Parent of all Things who sometimes forsook the Sons and Grand-Children of Hero's sometimes in them supply'd what was wanting in their Parents correcting the Vice of Nature by the Benefit of Grace Which when I had confirmed by the examples of herself and her Great Grand-Father James the Son of unfortunate Mary and that it was done by the same Miracle of Grace as we daily see Nature produce Gold and Diamonds out of stony and craggy Mountains and sweet Juices out of bitter Roots I added by way of Consolation of her afflicted Piety that perhaps the Father of so many Tears and Sighs would not be lost in Heaven Ibid. 85. When first the News was brought of the inauspicious but certain Nuptials of James the Father with Mary of Modina by the Mediation of Lewis not only she together with Anne her Sister with a cast-down Countenance and watry Eyes receiv'd the Tidings attended with a Deluge of Tears which Doctor Thomas Doughty then Domestick Chaplain could by no means put a stop to but our Mary also after she somewhat alleviated her Sorrow with Weeping brake forth into these Expressions worthy to be engrav'd in Cedar However things fall out said she I hope we shall preserve immaculate to God our Faith and our Religion let all other things pass away which we shall look upon as of little consequence Ibid. 86. From these Exercises of her Youth she was called to greater and higher Things and to lay the Foundations of Empire and Council under the Conduct of William Henry Her Mind being capable of Great Things beyond her Sex she profited so well by the Company of so Great a Prince not only by his Instructions but by his Example that she was taught to Reign before she could know herself I will faithfully relate what I only heard my self and therefore can attest While she staid at the Hague after the Expedition for England expecting a Wind I was admitted to the Presence of the Royal Princess and found her turmoil'd with many Cares and deep Cogitations At what time she who was never wanting in any measure of Familiarity casting a propitious Look upon the Interpreters of the Holy bible deliver'd herself in these Expressions to me What a severe and cruel Necessity said she now lies upon me either to forsake a Father whom my Grand-Mother first ruin'd hence France the Author of our Parents Calamity or to forsake a Husband my Country nay God himself and my Soul my nearest and my dearest Pledge 'T is a cruel Necessity indeed Madam answer'd I but not to be avoided Heaven not enduring divided Duty nor divided Affections Heaven that has not only joyn'd you by an Eternal Tie to William but calls you to succour your labouring if not perishing Country the Church of God your Religion and these your Batavians over whole Necks the Sword or Bondage hang. You forsake a Father Madam 't is true but who first forsook himself Nature his Children Kingdoms Religion Laws his Word and the Hopes of his Subjects who departed himself from the Government that he might serve the Conveniences of those who under the pretence of false Religions measure all things Divine and Human by their own Advantages And when I added that she was called by the Voice of Heaven from a most delightful Ease to be the Companion of William in his Cares and Toyls and unless our Wishes fail'd us to the Government of one of the greatest Empires in the World I said the very Image of Modesty itself I govern a People and wield Scepters I who only learnt to handle next the Sacred Bible Books that either may instruct or recreate the Mind then to handle my Needle Pen or Pencil or to mind my Flowers Garden or whatever else belongs to my Family-Affairs or calls off our Sex from the Contagion of Idleness And therefore be not deceived in your Opinion continued she smiling as if the Prince by his Society had instructed me in the Arts of Peace and War 'T is true after hard
are able to discourse with her in that way will communicate any Matter much more speedily and as full as can be by Speech and she to them her Children Sign from the Breast and learn to speak by their Eyes and Fingers sooner than by their Tongues She was from her Childhood naturally sober and susceptible of good civil Education but had no knowledge of a Deity or of any thing that doth concern another Life and World Yet God hath of his infinite Mercy reveal'd himself his Son and the great Mysteries of Salvation unto her by an extraordinary and wonderful working of his Spirit as 't is believed in a Saving Work of Conversion An Account of her Experiences was taken from her in writing by her Husband upon which she was examined by the Elders of the Church they imploying her Husband and two of her Sisters intelligent Persons and notably skill'd in her Artificial Language by whose help they attain'd good Satisfaction that she understandeth all the Principles of Religion Those of the Unity of the Divine Essence Trinity of Persons the Personal Union the Mystical Union they made most diligent Enquiry about and were satisfied that her Knowledge and Experience was distinct and sound and they hoped saving She was under great exercise of Spirit and most affectionately concern'd for and about her Soul her Spiritual and Eternal Estate She imparted her self to her Friends and expressed her desire of Help She made use of the Bible and other good Books and remarked such Places and Passages as suited her Condition and that with Tears She did once in her Exercise write with a Pin upon a Trencher three times over Ah poor Soul and therewithal burst out into Tears before divers of her Friends She hath been wont to enquire after the Text and when it hath been shewed to her to look and muse upon it She knoweth most if not all Persons Names that she hath Acquaintance with If Scripture Names will readily turn and point to them in the Bible It may be conceived that although she understands neither Words Letter nor Language yet she understands things Hieroglyphically The Letters and Words are unto her but signs of the things and as it were Hieroglyphicks She was very desirous of Church Communion in all Ordinances and was admitted with general and good satisfaction and hath approved her self to the best Observation a grave and gracious VVoman They both attend publick VVorship with much Reverence and Constancy and are very inoffensive and in divers respects exemplary in their Conversation Thus far is that Narrative written June 27. 1683. I suppose no one that rightly considers the Circumstances of this Relation will make a Scruple about the Lawfulness of admitting such Persons to participate in the Holy Mysteries of Christ's Kingdom All judicious Casuists determine that those who are either born or by any accident made Deaf and Dumb if their Conversation be blameless and they able by signs which are Analogous to Verbal Expressions to declare their Knowledge and Faith may as freely be received to the Lords Supper as any that shall orally make the like Profession Of this Judgment was Luther and Melancthon Gerhard Balduinus in his Cases of Conscience Lib. 2. Chap. 12. does confirm this by producing several Instances of Dumb Persons addmitted to the Communion It 's certain that some such have been made to understand the Mysteries of the Gospel so as to suffer Martyrdom on that account 4. In the Year 1620. One that was Deaf and Dumb being solicited by the Papists to be present at Mass chose rather to suffer Death It is a thing known that Men are able by Signs to discourse and to communicate their Sentiments one to another There are about thirty Mutes kept in the Ottoman Court for the Grand Seignior to sport with Concerning whom Mr. Ricaut reports pag 62. that they are able by Signs not only to signifie their Sence in familiar Questions but to recount Stories and understand the Fables of the Turkish Religion the Laws and Precepts of the Alcoran the Name of Mahomet and what else may be capable of being expressed by the Tongue This Language of the Mutes is so much in fashion in the Ottoman Court that almost every one can deliver his Sense in it And that Deaf Persons have been sometimes able to write and to understand what others say to them by the very motion of their Lips is most certain 5. Cammerarius tells us of a Young Man and a Maid then living in Noremburg who tho' Deaf and Dumb could Read and VVrite and Cypher and by the motion of a Mans Lips knew his meaning 6. Platerius speaketh of one Deaf and Dumb Born that yet could express his mind in a Table-Book and understand what others wrote therein and was wont to attend upon the Ministry of Oecolampadius understanding many things by the motion of the Lips of the Preacher 7. Mr. Clark in his Examples vol. 1. chap. 33. saith That there was a VVoman in Edenburge in Scotland her Name was Ceanet Lowes who being naturally Deaf and Dumb could understand what People said meerly by the moving of their Lips It is famously known that Mr. Crisp of London could do the like 8. Borellus giveth an Account of one that lost his Hearing by a violent Disease when he was five Years old yet if they did but whisper to him he could by their Lips perceive what they said 9. There is one now living or not many Years since was so in Silesia in whom that Disease of the Small-Pox caused a total Deafness who nevertheless by exact observing the motion of Mens Lips can understand what they say and if they do but whisper he perceives what they say better than if they Vociferate never so loudly He attends upon publick Sermons being able to give an Account of what is delivered provided that he may but see the Preacher speaking tho' he cannot hear a word It is consistent with Reason that Mutes should understand what others say by the motion of their Lips since it is evident that the Lips are of great use in framing Speech Hence Joh calls his Speech the moving of his Lips Chap. 16. ver 5. and we know that Tongueless Persons by the help of their Lips and other Organs of Speech have been able to Speak 10 Ecclesiastical Story informs us of several Confessors of the Truth who after their Tongues were cut out by bloody Persecutors could still bear witness to the Truth 11. Honorichius that cruel King of the Vandals caused the Tongues of many to be violently pluckt out of their Mouths who after that could speak as formerly only two of them when they became guilty of the Sin of Uncleanness were able to speak no more this has been Attested by three credible Witnesses who knew the Persons See Mr. Baxters Church History p. 130. 12. There is lately Published in Latin a very strange Relation of a Child in France his Name was Peter Durand who
professed he had Joy in parting with them Yet now their outward Distress and Danger was become greater since the Skipper's two Sons were the only help he had in working the Vessel Not long after another of the Company viz. Caleb Jones Son to Mr. William Jones one of the worthy Magistrates in New-Haven fell sick and died also leaving the VVorld with comfortable Manifestations of true Repentance towards God and Faith in Jesus Christ Thus the one half of their Company was taken away none remaining but the Skipper himself one Mr. Augur and a Boy He himself was still sickly and in a very weak Estate yet was fain to stand at the Helm 36 Hours and 24 Hours at a time in the mean time the boisterous Sea overwhelming the Vessel so as that if he had not been lasht fast he had certainly been washed overboard In this Extremity he was at a loss in his own Thoughts whether they should persist in striving for the New-England Shoar or bear away for the Southern Islands He proposed that Question to Mr. Augur they resolved that they would first seek to God by Prayer about it and then put this difficult case to an Issue by casting a Lot So they did and the Lot fell on New-England By that time a Month was expired they lost the Rudder of their Vessel so that now they had nothing but God alone to rely upon In this deplorable State were they for a Fortnight The Skipper though infirm as has been expressed yet for six Weeks together was hardly ever dry nor had they the benefit of warm Food for six Weeks together was hardly ever dry nor had Weeks in the Morning betimes the Vessel was driven on the Tailings of a Ledge of Rocks where the Sea broke violently looking out they espied a dismal Rocky Island to the Leeward upon which if the Providence of God had not by the Breakers given them timely warning they had been dashed in pieces And this extremity was the Lord's opportunity to appear for their Deliverance they immediately let go an Anchor and get out the Boat and God made the Sea calm The Boat proved leaky and being in the midst of Fears and Amazements they took little out of the Vessel After they came ashoar they found themselves in a rocky desolate Island near Cape Sables where was neither Man nor Beast to be seen so that now they were in extream danger of being starved to Death But a Storm arose which beat violently upon the Vessel at Anchor so as that it was Staved in pieces and a Cask of Powder was brought ashoar receiving no damage by its beiâ—g washed in the Water also a Barrel of Wine and half a Barrel of Molosses together with many things useful for a Tent to preserve them from cold This notwithstanding new and great distresses attended them for though they had Powder and Shot there were seldom any Fowls to be seen in that dismal and desolate place excepting a few Crows Ravens and Gulls These were so few as that for the most part the Skipper shot at one at a time Many times half of one of these Fowls with the Liquor made a Meal for Three Once they lived five Days without any Sustenance at which time they did not feel themselves pincht with Hunger as at other times the Lord in Mercy taking away their Appetites when their Food did utterly fail them After they had been about twelve Weeks in this miserable Island Mr. How 's dear Friend and Consort Mr. Augur died so that he had no living Creature but the Lad before-mentioned to Converse with And on April 2. 1677. that Lad died also so that the Master was now left alone upon the Island and continued so to be above a Quarter of a Year not having any living Soul to Converse with In this time he saw several Fishing Vessels Sailing by and some came nearer the Island than that which last took him in but though he used what means he could that they might be acquainted with his Distress none came to him being afraid for they supposed him to be one of those Indians who were then in Hostility against the English The good Man whilest he was in his desolate State kept many Days of Fasting and Prayer wherein he did confess and bewail his Sins the least of which deserved greater Evils than any in this World ever were or can be subject unto and begged of God that he would find out a way for his Deliverance At last it came into his mind That he ought very Solemnly to Praise God as well as Pray unto Him for the great Mercies and signal Preservations which he had thus far experienced Accordingly he set apart a Day for that end spending the time in giving Thanks to God for all the Mercies of his Life so far as he could call them to mind and in special for those Divine Favours which had been mingled with his Afflictions humbly blessing God for his wonderful Goodness in preserving him alive by a Miracle of Mercy Immediately after this a Vessel belonging to Salem in New-England providentially passing by that Island sent their Boat on shoar and took in Skipper How who arrived at Salem July 18. 1677. and was at last returned to his Family in New-haven I have seen a Manuscript wherein many memorable Passages of Divine Providence are Recorded And this which I shall now mention amongst others 13. About the Year 1638. A Ship fell foul upon the Rocks and Sands called the Rancadories sixty Leagues distant from the Isle of Providence Ten of the Floating Passengers got to a Spot of Land where having breathed a while and expecting to Perish by Famine eight of them chose rather to commit themselves to the Mercy of the Waters two only stood upon the Spot of Land one whereof soon died and was in the Sands buried by his now desolate Companion This Solitary Person in the midst of the roaring Waters was encompassed with the Goodness of Divine Providence Within three Days God was pleased to send this single Person who now alone was Lord and Subject in this his little Common-wealth good store of Fowl and to render them so tame that the forlorn Man could pick and chuse where he list Fish also were now and then cast up within his reach and somewhat that served for Fewel enkindled by Flint to dress them Thus lived that Insulary Anchorite for about two Years till at last having espied a Dutch Vessel he held a rag of his Shirt upon the top of a Stick towards them which being come within view of they used means to fetch him off the said Spot of Sand and brought him to the Isle of Providence The Man having in so long a time conversed only with Heaven lookt at first very strangely and was not able at first Conference promptly to Speak and Answer 3. Princes and Magistrates delivered from Plots c. THE Mercy of God is of a very extensive Nature and his Goodness
reacheth to all Mankind but is most illustriously visible in watching over Kings and Princes those Great Instruments of Good to Mankind and so we find it Recorded in more Capital and Legible Characters by the Pen-Men of S. Scripture and so we may find it too in Humane Histories It would be too wide a Field to walk in to take a Prospect of Foreign Nations I shall in this place confine my self to my Own and Remark a little what signal Deliverances our Princes have received since the Reformation I. In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth 1. Pope Paulus Quintus a Man of a fierce Nature and Disposition A. C. 1569. was so far wrought upon That in the most Solemn manner that could be he Excommunicated and Anathematized our Blessed Queen and caused a Brief thereof with his Leaden Bull annexed thereto to be fastned to the Gate of the Bishop of London's Palace near Pauls Church by one John Felton who being Apprehended confessed the Fact and received the reward of his Treason on a Gibbet before the said Gate This Excommunication caused much Trouble on Man's part but manifold Preservations and Deliverances on God's part 2. A C. 1563. Arthur Poole of the Race of George Duke of Clarence of the House of York with sundry of his Kindred and Alliance Conspired to set on foot again the Title of Mary Queen of Scots and to bring an Army out of France into Wales to back the same but before they could bring their Plot to maturity it was discovered and themselves Condemned 3. A. C. 1570. the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland encouraged by Promises of Aid from the Pope and Spaniard raised a Rebellion against the Queen in the Northern Parts but the Fire was soon quenched the Earl of Northumberland being taken and Beheaded and the Earl of Westmoreland flying beyond Sea ended his Days in a poor and mean Condition 4. A. C. 1570 John Story Doctor of Law a Spy to the Duke de Alva Conspired with one Prestol a Man much addicted to Magick and a Subject to the King of Spain against the Life of Queen Elizabeth He gave Intelligence to the said Duke how he might Invade England and cause Ireland to revolt But God brought this Treason to light Story and Prestol were by the Parliament Condemned for Treason and accordingly Executed 5. A. C. 1571. The Bishop of Rosse practised with sundry English Men to intercept Queen Elizabeth and to trouble the Parliament then sitting that so another Queen might be set up instead of Elizabeth but there fell out such mutual Mistrust amongst the Conspirators that their Plot turned to their own Confusion 6. A. C. 1578. Thomas Stukely an English Fugitive plotted with Pius V. and Gregory XIII to Lead Forces into Ireland to Assist the Rebels and to Conquer it for the Pope's Natural Son for which purpose he was made General of 8000 Italian Soldiers but by the persuasion of Sebastian King of Portugal he first led his Troops into Mauritania and was there Slain 7. A. C. 1580. Nicholas Sanders an English Priest had a Consecrated Banner given him by the Pope and an Army of Spaniards wherewith he entred Ireland and joyning with the Rebels caused a great Insurrection but it proved the Ruin of himself and of all his Accomplices 8. A. C. 1581. Robert Parsons Edmond Campion with other Seminary Priests were sent by the Pope from Rome to England to with-draw the Queen's Subjects from their Allegiance and to prepare them to take part with Foreign Powers when sent into England but their design was frustrated Campion Shâ—rwin Kirby and Bryant were Convicted Condemned for High Treason and accoadingly Executed 9. A. C. 1583. John Somervil was Apprehended as he came in a desperate manner to have killed the Queen being moved thereto as himself confessed by the Reading of certain Popish Books published by certain Priests After his Condemnation he Strangled himself in Newgate 10. A. C. 1585. Will. Parry Doctor of Law made a promise to kill the Queen upon promise of Absolution from the Pope but through Terror he deferred till his Treason was discovered and he received a due Reward for the same A. C. 1586. John Ballard a Romish Priest persuaded some Gentlemen to kill the Queen as she was going to take the Air which they vowed to do but being discovered before the Effect Fourteen of them were Executed as Traitors A. C. 1587. William Stafford a young Gentleman and one Moody a desperate Ruffian were Suborned by a Foreign Ambassador then in England to kill the Queen but were prevented 13. A. C. 1588. Philip formerly of England then King of Spain endeavoured by his Invincible Armado to recover England the Strength of which take out of Ranzovius's Com. Bell. l. 1. c. 8. The Navy consisted of 130 Ships and carried 57868 Lasts Soldiers c. 19295. Sea-Men 8052. great Guns 2441. Pilas seu glandes Tormentarias I know not well whether my Author means Mortar-Pieces or Cannon-Bullets 123090. Hundreds of Powder 1151. a great quantity of fresh Water Dishes Candles Lamps Clubs Leather Tow Flax and Straw to stop the chinks of the Ships great Plenty Shields Wax-Candles Tallow-Candles long Sacks a great Number for carrying of the great Guns 40 Mules together with Wagons Wheels c. Field-Pieces 1500. long Guns 7000. Forked and Crooked at the Handle 1000. Halbards and Axes 1000. Short Pikes 6000. Pioneers 700. Persons needful for such an Expedition Stipendiary Soldiers Gunners Physicians Chirurgeons Priests Monks Nobles Servants Governours Judges Admirals Mariners Seamen Cooks c. almost 30693. Provision for 6 Months thus Hundreds of Bisket 11000 Barrels of Wine 21255 Hundreds of Salt Flesh 6000 Hundreds of Cheese 3433 Hundreds of Salt Fish 8000 Hundreds of Oats 3000 Hundreds of Beans c. 6320 Baths of Oil 11398 Baths of Vinegar 13687 Pipes of Potable Water 11870 Paid to the Soldiers for Stipend 12000 Ducats besides a great quantity of Gold and Silver for carrying on and maintaining the War And yet saith my Author the English discharged upon this Fleet 10000 Guns Pant. Attic. Bellar. par 2. p. 208 209. ex Comment Bell. Ranzov l. 1. c. 8. 14. A. C. 1593. Patrick Cullin an Irish Fencer was hired by English Fugitives in the Low Countries to kill the Queen and with that purpose came over but Intelligence being given thereof he was Apprehended and Executed 15. The same Year Edmond York and Richard Williams were hired in like manner to kill the Queen and to burn her Navy with Balls of wild Fire but the mischief was prevented and they deservedly Executed 16. A. C. 1598. Edward Squire being in a Ship on the Sea was taken by the Spaniards and by them carried into Spain where he was suborned and directed by Richard Whalepool and English Fugitive and a Jesuit to destroy the Queen by laying a strong Poyson which the Jesuit then gave him on the pummel of the Sadle whereon the Queen should ride that she laying her Hand thereon might carry the