Bondage the end of my Care and the Haven of my Hopes now I am to take my flight to the place from whence I shall never more return now I am to enter into the loving Embraces of my Lord and Saviour O thou Father of Comforts how do I love to hear of thy mercy and the joys of Heaven O how dear unto me are the promises of the Living God Suffer me not to be impatient in this day of Visitation but meekly to resign my spirit up into thy Hands and peaceably to pass by the Gates of Death to the Kingdom of Glory Separate my Transgressions O Lord from my Soul or else they will separate me from Heaven Now the Enemy is busie and Satan watches for an advantage secure my apprehension add strength to my faith and pity my Infirmities make all my Friends who stand around my Death-bed sensible of Human frailty by beholding me an object of Mortality just setting out for Eternity O Lord let thy pardon refresh my Soul let thy Spirit guide me safely in the way to the blessed Mansions above If they are at the point of death I have fought a long fight in much weakness I have near finish't my Course though in great faintness and the Crown of my Life is that through the strength of thy Grace I have kept the true faith and now dye in it I thank God for all his blessings the company of my Friends the means of Physick holy Prayers and living and dying in the best established Church in the Christian World I willingly resign my Earthly body to the Dust from whence it came and I earnestly desire to be with God I profess to all the World I know no other Name by which any man can be saved but by the Name of Jesus I renounce all presumption and confidence in my own merits I thankfully acknowledge Gods repeated Blessings and heartily bewail my own sins I repose all my trust in the mercy and promises of God and I forgive all my Enemies as now I beg of God to forgive me Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Soul Amen A Prayer to be said at any time by a young Scholar of the House O Merciful Father the Redeemer and Sanctifier of all thy Children I praise and magnifie thy holy Name because I have received many special and peculiar Blessings at thy hands I thank thee O God that I was born of Christian Parents that I was baptized into the true Faith that my Lot is fallen in this excellent place of Piety and Education and that I have the knowledge and opportunity of making my early approaches to the Throne of Grace Teach me O Lord to remember my Creator in the daies of my Youth to dedicate the Spring and Innocency of my Age to the God of Purity and Perfection I am now soft and tender apt to receive the first Impressions that are laid upon me suffer me therefore not to be led aside by the whispers of sin or the pernicious Examples of a wanton and prophane Age Season the beginnings of my years with thy Grace and Goodness let wisdom teach me the fear of the Lord that I may cheerfully run the way of thy Commandments I am now entring upon the Stage of the World and humbly desire to be led by good Example therefore O blessed Father lead me not into Temptation but deliver me from Evil Curb and restrain the unruliness of my passion rebuke and subdue the rashness and heat of youth train me up in that way wherein thou desirest I should walk Frame in me an humble and submissive mind that I may be willing to be taught and obey to entertain all godly and profitable Instructions Give me understanding to discern my duty grace and wisdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all corrupt Example and Conveâ—â—â—… and to fix my heart upon Obeâ—â—â—… Thanksgiving Here thy wonâ—… 〈◊〉 mercy has placed me to be brought up in thy Fear and praise thy Name therefore I heartily desire to fulfill thy Will that these my fresh and greener years may be consecrated to thy Service before they receive any taint of Corruption from a lewd and infectious Age I bow my Soul before thee earnestly desiring that I may betimes become a Servant of the Living God Teach me to shun the occasions and appearances of sin that I may never be defiled with its Embraces Teach me to avoid the first steps and entrances of Impiety that I may never be so bold as to violate thy Commands Let the apprehensions of a small sin so terrifie and affright my tender Soul that I may alwaies abhor the malignity of gross and filthy sins that I may keep these Evils at a distance and not be entangled in their Snares As I grow up in years let me encrease in Goodness and Learning that I may fully Answer the ends of my Noble Benefactour and be instrumental to the publishing of thy Honour and Glory Now may I justly sing Hosanna seeing thou hast made so many shiftless Babes and Sucklings to rejoyce Plant in me a just and forward Obedience to all my Governours that are set in Authority over me In an especial manner bless my Soveraign Lord King Charles let him be as the First-born and glorious among the Kings of the Earth let thine Hand hold him fast and thine Arm strengthen him Bless him likewise in all his Royal Relations Be gracious to thine Inheritance bless them who watch diligently for our Souls that at the last day they may give a joyful account of them to the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls Arise O God maintain thine own Cause remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily continue unto us the Light of thy Gospel that the Name of the Man of thy Right Hand Christ Jesus may be glorified thy Church enlarged and defended and we all brought up in the true Faith of thy only Son Bless our Noble and Wise Governours our Instructors both in Sacred and Human Learning and sanctifie my heart with humility that I may shew all due Reverence to the several Members of this Religious House whether in Age or Authority placed above me Purge and cleanse my Soul from all the seeds and beginnings of evil root out of my mind all folly and vanity idleness and self-conceit expel all loose and wanton desires all stubborn and contumacious Humours which are apt to breed in younger years that every day I may wax wiser and more holy sensible of thy gracious assistance and the comforts of a chaste and vertuous life O thou Father of Lights it is by thy Providence I am placed here in the School of Instruction and from thy Goodness I crave a blessing upon my endeavours otherwise all my labour and study will be vain and fruitless To thee therefore do I lift up my Soul who art the Fountain of all Knowledge the Original of all Tongues and Languages I humbly desire thee to endue my mind with knowledge and discretion quickness of perception and a tenacious memory that I may be sit for that station which thou art pleased to design me for As I now make my Addresses betimes to thy holy Majesty so grant that the sincerity and fervour of my Soul may continue and encrease that I may be accustomed to Prayer and lifting up holy hands unto thee Pardon all the sins of my youth the errors and miscarriages of my few and imprudent years Bless me with health of body and soundness of mind increase of friends and profitable acquaintance sanctifie the ministry of thy Word unto me that my Soul may rejoyce in thy Salvation Make me able and ready every day to extol thy loving kindness and frequently to meditate upon thy mercy O thou Pittier of all that stand in need of help my Guide and Castle of Defence the great Preserver of Youth as well as Men through Jesus Christ his sake Amen FINIS Errata sic corrigat Lector Benevolus Page 10. line 14. read now p. 21. l. 11. r. dolentèr p. 21. l. 18. r. propagentur p. 38. l. penult r. 500 marks to Jesus Colledge p. 55. l. 6. r. cholick p. 87. l. 14. r. Horse-heath p. 114. l. 16. r. fitting p. 127. l. 12. r. all p. 135. l. 20. r. of age p. 187. l. 10. in the marg r. by How 's p. 191. l. penult r. latter p. 195. l. 9. r. Fryans p. 234. l. 18. r. the Senior p. 237. l. 16. r. shoes p. 238. l. 4. r. for such
but to recommend this Great Example to the Christian World The Poets feign that at the end of the thred or web of every mans life there is a little Medal containing the person's name and that Time waiting upon the Shears as soon as the thred was cut caught the Medals and carried them to the River Lethe about whose Banks there were many Birds flying up and down that would get the Medals and carry them in their Beaks a little while and then let them fall into the River only there were a few Swans which if they got a Name would carry it to a Temple where it was Consecrated May the memory of this great Man long endure and in this Temple dwell for ever The last WILL AND TESTAMENT OF Thomas Sutton Esquire IN the Name of God Amen The Second day of November in the year of our Lord God One thousand six hundred and eleven I Thomas Sutton of Camp Castle in the County of Cambridge Esquire being weak in body and of good and perfect mind and memory thanks be given to Almighty God for the same Do make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say First and principally I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God trusting through his mercy and by the precious death and passion of my Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ to be saved and to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven for ever And my Body I will to be buried where and in what sort it shall seem meet and convenient to mine Executor or Executors and Supervisor or Supervisors of this my last Will and Testament with the least pomp and charge that may be Item I give to every one of the Children of Richard Coxe late Bishop of Ely who shall be living at the time of my death Ten pounds apiece of lawful mony of England Item I give to the Children of Eleanor Aske late wife of Robert Aske of Aughton in the County of York Esquire the Sum of One hundred pounds of good and lawful mony of England to be equally distributed amongst them Item I give to the poor Town of Berwick upon Tweed One hundred Marks of lawful mony of England to be distributed amongst the Poor there by the discretion of the chief Governour and Preacher there for the time being to be paid within one year after my decease Also I give to Andrew Westwood's wife of Newcastle upon Tyne or to her Children or to so many of them as shall be living at my death Ten pounds to be bestowed equally amongst them And I give to the poor people of Stoke-Newinton in the County of Middlesex Ten pounds to be distributed by the Constables Church-wardens and Parson of the same Town for the time being to the most needy people there Also I give to Mr. Gray dwelling in Yorkshire sometimes servant to Ambrose Earl of Warwick or to his Children if any of them be living at my decease Forty pounds of good and lawful mony of England to be distributed equally amongst them within six months after my decease Also I give to the Children of my Aunt White or to so many of them as shall be living at my decease One hundred Marks to be equally distributed amongst them within six months next after my decease Also I give to William Cocket Son to William Cocket late Alderman of the City of Lincolne One hundred pounds of lawful mony of England Also I give to the Children of John Copeland late of Skillingthorp in the County of Lincoln or to so many of them as shall be living at the time of my decease One hundred pounds of lawful mony of England to be equally distributed amongst them saving unto Elizabeth Copeland for my meaning is that she shall not have any part of the said Legacy of One hundred pounds And unto the said Elizabeth Copeland I give the Sum of One hundred pounds of lawful mony of England to be paid unto her at the day of her marriage or within one year after my decease Item I give unto Jane Upton one of the Daughters of Elizabeth Upton late wife of Hamond Upton of Wamfleet in the County of Lincoln Esquire the Sum of fifty pounds of lawful mony of England And to every other of the Children of the said Elizabeth who shall be living at the time of my decease Twenty pounds apiece of lawful mony of England to be paid within six months next after my decease Also I give to the Children of one Skelton late of Lowth in the County of Lincoln and sometimes towards the Henneages of Heniton in the said County Ten pounds to be equally divided amongst them Item I give to the Children of Thomas Pynner late of Micham in the County of Surrey Esquire or to so many of them as shall be living at my decease Twenty pounds to be equally distributed amongst them Item I give to the Children of Henry Tutty late Gunner in Barwick or to so many of them as shall be living at my decease Ten pounds of lawful mony of England to be equally distributed amongst them Also I give to my Neece Elizabeth Allen Two hundred pounds of lawful mony of England And to every of her Children which shall be living at my decease One hundred Marks apiece Item I give to Simon Baxter if he be living at my decease Three hundred pounds of lawful mony of England if not then I give the same Sum to his Child or Children to be equally divided amongst them Item I give unto Francis Baxter if he be living at my death Five hundred Marks of lawful mony of England if not I give the same Sum to his Child or Children to be equally divided amongst them Item I give unto each of my Serving-men to whom I give wages with my Cook that shall be alive at my decease Thirteen pounds six shillings and eight pence over and above their wages then due Item I give to so many of my Maid-servants as I have in my house at the time of my decease five Marks apiece over and above their wages Item I give unto the Children of Reynold Tomps my late Servant if any of them be alive at my death Ten pounds to be distributed amongst them Item I give to the Fishermen of the Town of Ostend in the Low-Countries One hundred pounds of lawful English mony to be given and distributed amongst the poorest Fishermen of that Town or for want of a competent number of them to call in some other of that Town to have a share of the said one hundred pounds by the discretion of the Governours of that Town and his Assistants and the Parson and Minister there for the time being the same to be paid within one year after my decease Item I give towards the mending of the Highways between Islington and Newington in the County of Middlesex Twenty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence of lawful mony of England to be imployed and bestowed by
O Lord have mercy upon me for my sin is great If every moment we offend thee and can do nothing as we ought then how long must my Accusation be who have so many years repeated so many transgressions How dreadful must the thoughts of the Process of the Day of Judgment be unto me who have been so long an experienced sinner I faint at my own unworthiness and yet otherwise I cannot appear before thee O Lord I have no other qualification for thy mercy but my extream misery I am now brought very low to a vale of misery and tears surrounded with all the Chambers and Instruments of Death This dear Brother just deceased only shews the way that I must soon follow e're long I must repair to the House of mourning I must bid my last farewel to the world but wo and eternal sorrow will be my Portion if I dye in my sins and depart in thy displeasure Therefore out of the abundance of thy love pardon cleanse and reform my poor and sinful Soul send me thy sanctifying thy guiding and supporting Spirit that I may pass safely through the valley of Death in the lively sense of thy mercies and the refreshments of thy love in the hopes of pardon and the expectation of glory O thou ancient of days at whose voice the pillars of Heaven shake and the whole Creation trembles thou art my strength and defence in whom is my sole trust deliver my Soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling cleanse me from all my iniquities and purge me from my secret sins for Heaven is so holy a place that no impure thing can inhabit there teach me so to number the rest of my days that I may apply my heart unto Wisdom Here length of days is in her right hand and her ways lead to those rivers of joy which are at Gods right hand for evermore O Lord who art touched with a sense of my Infirmities let me not be afraid of the thoughts of Death that King of Terrours but soften its severity by a mild Commission sweeten its bitterness with the most pleasant relishes of joy and immortality My life I had of thee and all the blessings I have enjoyed ever since I came into the World O Lord make me willing to render them back again into thy hands Whom have I in Heaven but thee and I desire no other Saviour but thee Teach me often to meditate on Heaven that I may wish for it of Hell that I may abhorr it of Death that I may expect it and of the Day of Judgment that I may be prepared for it To thy mercy I appeal I fly unto thee for succour my sole dependance is on thy love I fear love reverence and adore thy goodness which is thy glory Blessed is the man whom thou choosest for though he seemeth to decay and perish to be a companion of death though the body wax feeble and impotent yet he lives the life of Faith he lives in the secure Courts of thy protection and the Guardian Angels pitch their Tents round about him Let not this be a short heat and suddain fit of Devotion raised by this late instance of mortality and the amazing thoughts of Death but may these exercises of piety continue and endure to my lives end For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Amen In the Morning before he stirs abroad O Lord God Almighty who makest the out-goings of the Morning and Evening to praise Thee I cannot but reverence and adore thy Divine Majesty for the Blessings of the last Night for my Preservation from all evils both of Body and Soul I laid me down and slept and rose up again for the Lord hath sustained me For I am a weak and aged Creature surrounded with Infirmities of Nature and seldom free from the assault of Temptations night and day Though my Limbs wax stiff and cold yet let my Soul be vigorous and fervent that like Jacob I may seem to wrestle with thee for thou delightest in the earnest and importunate Solicitations of thy people Now I am risen from my place of slumber teach me to look upwards to found my hopes on Thee to fix my eye upon that holy place from whence the day does break Bless me in all my endeavours and duties of this day that in every action I may have a regard to thy glory and the salvation of my own Soul Unto thee O Lord have I cryed and early in the morning shall my Prayer come before thee As long as I live will I magnifie thee on this manner and lift up my hands in thy Name O let me hear of thy loving kindness in the morning betimes for in thee is my trust Shew me the way I should walk in for I lift up my Soul unto thee I desire to dedicate the powers of my Soul the Affections of my heart and the Faculties of my Body to be thy Faithful Loyal and Obedient Servants Extend O merciful Father thy loving kindness over all the World especially this sinful Land of my Nativity Herein bless his most Excellent Majesty his Royal Consort and the Illustrious Prince let the Sons of Violence do them no harm Let Mercy and Truth preserve him and his Throne be establish't for ever before thee O thou who art the wonderful Counsellor and Prince of Peace Be gracious to thine Inheritance for the glory of thy Name let not thine Enemies devour the Church and lay waste her dwelling places Defend it with the Custody of Angels and the Patronage of Kings and Princes that She may flourish under the Beams of thy Favour and Providence take root and spread and fill all Lands that the whole Nation may be blessed with thy health and salvation Bless our Noble Governours under whose care and protection we live and are sustained Let thy Truth and Mercy be ever with them and when they have happily finish't their Course in this Life crown their Wisdom and Fidelity with Immortality and Glory Hear me for all those whom I am obliged to by the bonds of Duty Charity or Affection Pity all those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death preserve them in the midst of an untoward and sinful Generation Avert thy Judgments from us and soften the hearts of all our Enemies O Lord whom my Soul does desire and my Spirit seeks early in the morning How excellent is thy Name in all the World Grant me a pure intention of mind and a stedfast regard of thy glory in all my Actions Create in me sorrow for my sins thankfulness for thy benefits fear of thy Judgments and love of thy mercies that I may have a continual reverence for thy Name and be mindful of thy presence for evermore Every morning I draw nearer the last Stage of my Life therefore