Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A67469
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The life of Mr. Rich. Hooker, the author of those learned books of the laws of ecclesiastical polity
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Walton, Izaak, 1593-1683.; King, Henry, 1592-1669.
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1665
(1665)
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Wing W670; ESTC R10749
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56,844
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234
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that the fittest time to discover those errors to which health and prosperity had blinded them and having by pious Reasons and Prayers moulded them into holy Resolutions for the time to come he would incline them to Confession and bewailing their sins with purpose to forsake them and then to receive the Communion both as a strengthning of those holy Resolutions as a seal betwixt God and them of his Mercies to their Souls in case that present sickness did put a period to their lives And as he was thus watchful charitable to the sick so he was as diligent to prevent Law-sutes still urging his Parishioners Neighbours to bear with each others infirmities and live in love because as S. John says he that lives in Love lives in God for God is Love And to maintain this holy fire of Love constantly burning on the Altar of a pure heart his advice was to watch and pray and alwayes keep themselves fit to receive the Communion then to receive it often for it was both a Confirming and a Strengthning of their Graces this was his advice and at his entrance or departure out of any House he would usually speak to the whole Family and bless them insomuch that as he seem'd in his youth to be taught of God so he seem'd in this place to teach his Precepts as Enoch did by walking with him in all Holiness and Humility making each day a step towards a blessed Eternity And though in this weak and declining Age of the World such examples are become barren and almost incredible yet let his Memory be blest with this true Recordation because he that praises Richard Hooker praises God who hath given such gifts to men and let this humble and affectionate relation of him become such a pattern as may invite posterity to imitate his vertues This was his constant behaviour at Borne thus did he tread in the footsteps of Primitive Piety and yet as our blessed Iesus was not free from false accusations no more was this Disciple of his this most humble most innocent holy man his was a slander parallel to that of chaste Susannaes by the wicked Elders and which this age calls Trepaning the particulars need not a repetion and that it was false needs no other Testimony than the publick punishment of his Accusers and their open Confession of his Innocency 't was said that the accusation was contrived by a dissenting Brother one that indur'd not Church Ceremonies hating him for his Books sake which he was not able to answer and his Name hath been told me but I have not so much confidence in the relation as to make my Pen fix a scandal on him to posterity I shall rather leave it doubtful till the great day of Revelation But this is certain that he lay under the great charge and the Anketiety of this Accusation and kept it secret to himself for many moneths and being a helplesse man had layn longer under this heavy burthen but that the Protector of the innocent gave such an accidental occasion as forced him to make it known to his two dear Friends Edwin Sandys and George Cranmer who were so sensible of their Tutors sufferings that they gave themselves no rest till by their disquisitions and diligence they had found out the Fraud brought him the welcom news hat his Accusers did confess they had wrong'd him and begg'd his pardon to which the good mans reply was to this purpose the Lord forgive them and the Lord bless you for this comfortable news Now I have a just occasion to say with Solomon Friends are born for the days of adversity and such you have prov'd to me and to my God I say as did the mother of St. Iohn Baptist thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the day wherein he looked upon me to take away my reproach among men And oh my God neither my Life nor my Reputation are safe in mine own keeping but in thine who didst take care of me when I yet hanged upon my Mothers brest blessed are they that put their trust in thee O Lord for when false witnesses were risen up against me when shame was ready to cover my face when I was bowed down with an horrible Dread and went mourning all the day long when my nights were restless and my Sleeps broken with a fear worse than Death when my Soul thirsted for a deliverance as the Heart panteth after the rivers of waters then thou Lord didst hear my Complaints pitty my condition and become my deliverer and as long as I live I will hold up my hands in this manner and magnifie thy mercies who didst not give me over as a prey to mine enemies Oh blessed are they that put their trust in thee and no prosperity shall make me forget to perform those vows that I have made to thee in the days of my affliction for with such sacrifices thou O God art well pleased and I will pay them Thus did the Joy and Gratitude of this Good mans heart break forth and 't is observable that as the invitation to this Slander was his Meek behaviour and Dove-like simplicity for which he was remarkable so his Christian Charity ought to be imitated For though the Spirit of Revenge is so pleasing to Mankind that it is never conquered but by a Supernatural Grace being indeed so deeply rooted in Humane Nature that to prevent the Excesses of it for men would not know Moderation Almighty God allows not any Degree of it to any man but says Vengeance is mine And though this be said by God himself yet this Revenge is so pleasing that Man is hardly persuaded to submit the menage of it to the Time and Justice and Wisdom of his Creator but would hasten to be his own Executioner of it And yet nevertheless if any man ever did wholly decline and leave this pleasing Passion to the Time and Measure of God alone it was this Richard Hooker of whom I write for when his Slanderers were to suffer he laboured to procure their Pardon and when that was denied him his Reply was That however he would fast and pray that God would give them repentance and patience to undergo their punishment And his Prayers were so far returned into his own bosom that the first was granted if we may believe a penitent Behavior and an open Confession And 't is observable that after this time he would often say to Dr. Saravia Oh with what quietness did I enjoy my Soul after I was free from the fears of my Slander and how much more after a Conflict and Victory over my Desires of Revenge In the Year 1600 and of his Age 46 he fell into a long and sharp Sickness occasioned by a Cold taken in his Passage betwixt London and Gravesend from the Malignity of which he was never recovered for till his death he was not free from thoughtful Days and restless Nights but a submission to his Will that