the Psalmes of David Quid sentit crus in nervo quum animus in coelo Tertull. He either was without pain or without any great feeling of it On the tenth of July his speech was quite taken from him but yet his understanding and memory continued with him and for the space of four dayes he lay as all about him might perceive in a very comfortable condition lifting up his eyes and hands towards Heaven with a smiling and cheerful countenance Qualis vita finis ita An upright life doth usually end in a peaceable death When a Minister a little before his departure pray'd with him he shew'd great affection all the while and when prayer was ended he took him by the hand and held it fast expressing by outward signes his inward joy in God and thanks to him The 14 of July this shining light went out Oh for young Timothys to stand up in the room of such aged Pauls He was buried the seventeenth day of the same moneth at Bovingden aforesaid And is this all may some say Is this such a rare and exemplary life read on and you 'l find the best wine is kept till last to do right to the memory of this blessed man as also to help the memory of the reader I have chosen a new way and though it be unusual yet I judge it very useful that is methodically and orderly in the close of all to set down the imitable graces and practises of this worthy person it may be the reader will better heed and remember them then if they had been confusedly scattered up and down the preceding Narrative I shall begin with 1. His care and diligence in self examination This duty of self-examination is much out of date with many yea I fear most Ministers and Christians and yet how frequently is it urg'd both in the old and New Testament Psal 4.4.13.5 1 Cor. This holy man would often press it upon others and did much practise it himself I judg'd it would tend greatly to edification if I did transcribe some passages out of his forementioned Manuscript to this purpose Pardon me if I am somewhat large upon this head it is intended Reader for thy good Thus then he Writes Evidences for heaven which if my heart deceive me not are in me through the gracious workings of Gods spirit upon are me 1. Effectual calling That this is a good evidence appears from Rom. 8.30 2 Pet. 1.10 The Calling I had was about the year 1620. and so he relates as in page of this Narrative 2. Change of Company choosing the society of the Godly shuning the society of the wicked Psal 1.1 Psal 26.4 5. Ps 119.115 Acts 9.26 To this my heart answers affirmatively Feb. 4. 1629. And doth so still Apr. 3. 1663. still so May 2. 1666. and again April 2. 1668 c. 3. Vniversalty of obedience Ps 119.6 and Psal 139. the two last verses To this my heart answers affirmatively Feb. 4. 1629. doth so still April 3. 1663. as before 4. Love to the Godly as such 1 John 3.14 To this my heart answers affirmatively Feb. 4. 1629 c. 5. Sincerity desiring more to approve my heart to God then my wayes to men aiming more at Gods glory then my own profit applause c. 2 Cor. 1.12 My heart answers affirmatively ut supra 6. Kindly meltings and mournings for sin upon the sence of Gods free-love in Christ Zach. 12.10 2 Cor. 7.9 10. My heart answers affirmatively c. Goeing to Hempsteed to preach as I was meditating on the rode neer Langley on the love of God in calling such a one as I am when thousands more noble more mighty more wise and learned c. lye in ignorance and prophaness I burst out into a fit of weeping and my heart was by and by fill'd with abundance of joy and rejoycing 7. Zeal for God and against sin John 2.17 2 Cor. 7.11 My heart answers affirmatively c. 8. A love and a longing for Christs appearing 2 Tim. 4.8 Heb. 9.6 Rev. 22.17 20. I cant say there hath been such a longing in me after Christs coming at least not so full and frequent as in many others yet in prayer and meditation the thoughts of a future estate wherein I should never sin more but be satisfy'd with Gods likeness have been very sweet and comfortable to me Once on the rode in a day of my greatest rejoycing as to outward comforts and mercies it lightned thundred and rained much my thoughts were what if this should be the day of judgment What if I should see Christ coming presently in the Clouds the answer of my soul was welcome welcome welcome this fill'd me with much peace and comfort 9. Speech gracious or with grace Prov. 10.21 Eph. 4.29 My heart answers affirmatively Feb. 4. 1629. when I have met with any ignorant persons willing to be instructed it hath been my manner to God be the glory and praise of it ta put good discourse on foot and to foward it when others have begun it 10. Blessing God for and rejoycing in the gifts and graces of others Joh. 29.30 My heart answers affirmatively Feb. 4. 1629. c. Though my heart is apt enough the Lord humble and help me to envy and detract from others yet through mercy I find 1. A heart blessing God for others gifts and graces out shining mine 2. Rejoycing that others do God greater and better service and bringing more glory to him then I do or can 11. The spirit of prayer Acts 9.11 Rom. 8.15 my heart answers affirmatively Feb. 4. 1629. c. Cum sublatum e conspectu lumen est conticuit uxor moris jam mei conscia totum diem mecum scrutor facta ac dicta mea remetior nihil mihi abscondo nihil transeo Quare enim quid quam inerroribus meis timerem cum possum dicere vide ne istud amplius facias nunc tibi ignosco Sen. lib. 3. de Ira. 12. A careful sanctificatiof the Sabbath Comman 4. Isa 56.4 5. 58.13 14. My heart answers affirmat Feb. 4. 1629. c. But here I will take up although he adds fourteen evidences more with other considerable enlargements and descants upon these already mentioned This is enough yet I hope the Reader will not think it too much to shew what was his constant practise in this particular Onely let this be added that according to the Psalmists Councel and other good mens custome he was wont to commune with his heart in the night season then there is the greatest silence and the least interruption May the Relater and Reader write after this Copy 2. His keeping a Journal or Diary of Gods mercies A second imitable practise in this man of God was his keeping a Journal or Catalogue of the mercies of God Gen. 32.10 11. 1 Sa. 17 36. Ps 103.2 2 Ti. 4.17.18 Three things we are apt to forget the word we hear the sins we commit
continue and abound This is the old and the new Commandment There is no duty more prest in the Word of God and no duty less practis'd by the people of God Surely the end is at hand because of the flaming out of sin and of the freezing of love These last dayes have introduc't a great many love-killing principles that former Ages were ignorant of we want the Apostle John amongst us or some of his spirit to stir up Christians to love one another Remember wherein the duties of brotherly love consist in relieving instructing admonishing exhorting comforting and bearing with one another He that sayes he loves his brother and lives in the neglect of these is a lyar and the truth is not in him VII Let your Conversation in the world be with simplicity and godly sincerity this is the way to have favour with God he hath pleasure herein 2 Chron. 29.17 he desires truth in the inward parts and reckons sincerity for perfection yea this is the way to have rejoycing in your selves Sincerity affords comfort in every condition of life and in the hour of death A sincere person if he lives in trouble he ordinarily dyes in peace He 's sure to find acceptance for all his services and indulgence for all his offences Oh that it may be said of you as of another in Scripture-story that you are men and women without guile VIII Set the Lord alwayes before you Remember he sees you when you are most out of sight his eyes are never off from you let your eyes be ever towards him One thought it would awe the Romans and make them serious if they did alwayes apprehend that Cato was in company with them It would certainly have a good influence upon our hearts and lives if we did apprehend that God was alwayes at our elbows and that his eyes are upon all our wayes and doings It is an excellent preservative against sin and provocation to duty to carry a remembrance of God about with us into all places and companies IX Fill up all your particular relations with duties Relative duties are better known than practised nature it self teacheth them the very Heathen have excelled herein surely if our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees it must not fall short of that of Heathens and Infidels it sounds like a contradiction for one to be a good Christian and a bad husband or wife father or child master or servant c. X. Promote the power and practice of Religion in your several Families Remember who said he would walk in his house not only in Gods but in his own house with a perfect heart Psal 121.1 resolve with Joshua not only to engage your persons but your houses and families in the service of God Of old the Families of Christians were call'd Churches but now many of them are rather Synagogues of Satan than Churches of Christ not Bethel's but Bethaven's houses of vanity and sin It is commonly said That Governours of Families as well as Pastors of Churches have curam animarum the charge and care of Souls and if any perish through your neglect their blood will be required at your hands How many of your Children and Servants may say to you another day bloody Parents and bloody Masters you have been to us and may they not now say Fathers Masters care you not that we perish Oh let your Families be instructed do I require this or doth God require it Deut. 6.6 7 8 c. Eph. 6.4 who will one day require an account of your doing of it Let there be morning and evening sacrifices of praise and prayer offered up to God in your dwellings God forbid there should be one prayerless habitation in Kingston XI Walk humbly with God Micah 6.8 This is the main thing that he requires of you without this let your other excellencies be never so many they are of no account with him A proud persons graces and good works do him hurt whil'st an humble man is made better by his evil deeds a proud man is made worse by his good deeds Oh pray God that saith he will give grace to the humble to give you that excellent grace of humility You may be brought low and yet not be lowly many are humbled that are not humble Plectuntur sed non flectuntur Salvian XII Follow the good examples of others There are many patterns for imitation in Scripture there 's the example of our Lord Jesus Christ himself be as he was in the world The Word of God aboundeth also with many other excellent instances and presidents it shews you many evil examples which are as Sea-marks to forewarn you and many good examples which are as Land-marks to direct you you have other excellent patterns too besides those upon record in Scripture Take my Brethren your old Pastor whose Life I have here delineated and who hath spoken to you in the Name of the Lord for an example of patience and all other branches of piety Therefore is the story of his Life and Death dedicated to you that it may be imitated by you But of this I spake somewhat before Let us remember here That I am writing an Epistle and not a Treatise ergo manum de tabula Though it were easie to give you many dozens more of such directions as these I have been longer because though I have often Preach't to you yet I never wrote to you before As I have often suggested the counsels of God to yous ears so I would set some few of them before your eyes I have an ardent affection for you you have had Ministers that have Preach't and liv'd better than I have done but never any that lov'd you better than I do I love your Souls and their eternal welfare and would be loth to meet any of you at Christs Tribunal in an unregenerate and Christless condition I would not the many Sermons I have Preach't to you should be at that day as so many Bills of Indictment against you Finally Brethren farewell be of one mind live in peace and let me close this Epistle as Jude doth his build up your selves in your most holy faith pray in the Holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life Vnto his grace and favour I commend you all and subscribe my self Your unworthy Minister And Well-wisher Richard Mayo Nov. 29. 1672. THE LIFE and DEATH OF Edmund Staunton S. T. D. IT is usuall even in the Holy Scripture when mention is made of any persons of Note to record their Genealogy Parents do sometimes bring lustre unto their Children and Children do sometimes bring renowne unto their Parents This excellent person who is the subject of the ensuing narrative was borne Anno 1600 of the Ancient and worshipfull Family of the Stauntons in Bedfordshire his Father Sr Francis Staunton had several sons of whose Education he was
farthing for all poor lost Souls that come unto him 3. You must pray hard beg the Spirit of God to help your infirmities to work all your works in you and for you and God hath promised to give his holy Spirit to them which ask him Luke 11.13 Stranger I believe in Jesus Christ and repent with all my heart what would you have me do more Min. Friend concerning faith in Jesus Christ we have spoken somewhat before enough to startle you and awake you out of your carnal security if you did indeed believe the Word of God Now for your repentance what do you do when you repent Stranger Why I cry God mercy for all my faults and desire him to Jorgive me Minister Friend that 's Prayer it 's not Repentance to say Lord have mercy on me and so forth is praying Str. Oh but Sir I am sorry for my sins Min. Friend You speak these words so smilingly and merrily as if your heart were not much orewhelmed with sorrow at the present for your sin Str. Yea but Sir I grieve for my sin though now I am a little merry I confess I hope there 's no harm in that Min. Tell me truly Friend did you ever weep for sin in secret between God and your own soul Str. Sir you put me hard to it I do not remember that ever I shed any tears for my sins but some men are not apt to weep Min. What you say Friend is very true some are naturally more apt to weep than others but cannot you weep and take on bitterly for other things for the death of a wife father child or some special friend of yours Stranger I confess then indeed I have mourned greatly and almost wept my eyes out Minister Friend it seems somewhat strange that you who have tears in abundance at command upon other sad occasions should not have some tears also for your sins against God Str. Well Sir though I weep little or not at all for my sins yet I grieve for my sins and hate my sins as much as another man Min. Friend if your grief for sin were right it would be 1. For sin as it is sin displeasing to God a dishonour to God and a defilement to your own soul 2. Godly sorrow works repentance 2 Cor. 7.10 That is amendment in heart and life Str. I hope I grieve for sin and hate it also though you Sir object something still against what I say Min. Friend be not angry that I object so much and so oft I do it only to find and beat out the truth and for your good Str. It may be so Sir Minister Friend You think and say you hate your sins let me put a few questions to you 1. Do you hate all sins one as well as another he that hates one Toad hates all Toads 2. Do you long to be the death of your sins is your hatred a mortal a deadly hatred do you mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit Rom. 8.13 3. Deal plainly and truly as you will answer it at death and judgment is there not some beloved sin that you are loth to part with loth to be told of by friends or Ministers some sinful way of profit or pleasure which you have no mind to leave but allow your self in it Stranger Sir I have had a great deal of talk with our own Minister who is a very good Churchman and he never said half so much to me Min. It may be so but what say you to my last question is there not some sin that you allow your self in which is as dear as your right eye and right hand unto you Str. Sir I am not bound to confess to you you have no authority to examine me Minister No Friend I speak in love to you desiring if the Lord please to do some good to your soul but let me tell you I fear your conscience cryes guilty you begin to be so touchy Stranger Sir it 's my fault to be angry but you do so pinch me yet I am persuaded you mean me no hurt therefore if you 'll needs have my heart out of me it 's even no better nor no worse I confess I love the company of some that are none of the best and I can't shake them off the world is hard and unless a man have some tricks there is no living in it and I do walk in some wayes not to mince the matter with you which my conscience tells me I ought not to walk in Min. Friend You do well to be open with me by the blessing of God it may be for your good therefore tell me a little farther do you not sometimes take the Name of God in vain Str. I hope not or very little Min. What think you of such words as these As I live As I am an honest man As I am a Christian Let me never stir Let me never be believed more if it be not thus and thus What think you of By my Faith By my Troth and By our Lady and of saying O Lord O God O Jesus and the like in common discourse which kind of words I heard fall from you at least some of them since you and I met Stranger Truly Sir I think they were better forborn Minister I think so too for they look like Oaths and Curses as a light and irreverent using of the Name of God Christ saith Matth. 5.37 Let your conversation be yea yea nay nay for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil Str. Sir People will not believe what I say unless I use such expressions as these Min. It matters not much so long as you speak the truth plainly if men will not believe you the fault is theirs and let me tell you that those who are wise men indeed will believe you the less for the using such words as these and say He that will swear will lye he that sticks not at dishonouring God by taking his Name in vain will not stick at deceiving man by a lye and speaking an untruth Stranger Sir what you say I confess is reason Minister Friend since I find you in so good a vein and willing to discourse it on which I am glad of tell me do you not use to break the Sabbath Str. No Sir I go to Church constantly when I am well and nothing hinders me Min. But Friend do not you accustom your self to lie long a Bed in the morning to sit idling at the doors that day to talk of worldly business to make bargains to hire or pay Labourers to walk in the fields needlesly do you not use some Sports Pastimes and Recreations do you not Travel that day to or prepare for Markets and Fairs and the like Str. I confess I have done so but I 'll do so no more Min. Friend you must desire God to humble you for these as all other your sins to pardon you in the blood of Christ and to strengthen you against them for
Lord turneth again the Captivity of Zion we are like unto them that dream our mouth is filled with laughter and our tongue with singing Psal 126.1 2 3 4. Such Sympathizing frames are sweet and honourable Mirth and Cheerfulness 2. Mirth and pleasantness of speech by way of cheariness and recreation is not only lawful but expedient by way of introduction or of interjection cast in now and then being as sauce to the meat that so more solid and serious discourse may go down more easily and it may be more profitable also And now I am accidently as it were fallen upon this Theame give me leave to speak something concerning this kind of talk though it be a digression and should be somewhat a large digression yet by the blessing of God it may be for his glory and the spiritual good of readers or hearers which I desire may run in three streams 1. Shewing the lawfulness of mirth and pleasantness of speech and in some cases a dutie 2. Touching the usefulness and expediency of it in some cases Thirdly Cautions to prevent miscarriages therein which are soon and easily run into a merry heart being like a boyling pot which if not well eyed and looked to will quickly sieth over 1. As concerning the lawfulness of mirth and merry discourse even to laughter methinks its evincible upon these accounts 1 Natural Faculty 1. God and Nature hath given man a faculty of risibility as a property distinguishing him specifically from other Greatures and surely not in vain but this Facultie may be acted and exercised and Solomon tells us that there is a time to laugh as well as a time to weep Eccl. 3.4 And if mirth and laughter be lawful then chearful discourse is lawful also as being a natural means exciting thereunto or rather part thereof 2. It 's highly commended at least 2 Commended if not commanded also by the wisest of Kings acted and guided by the inspiration of God who tells us that there is nothing better for a man then that he should eat and drink and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour This also I saw that it was from the hand of God Eccl. 2.24 chap. 3.13 22. chap. 5.18 chap. 8.15 He oft strikes and harps upon this meery string When he saith there is nothing better c. he speaketh not absolutely and simply for the love and favour of God in Christ the fear of God seasoning our hearts is far better yea the assurance of the acceptation of our persons and services is better also as being the ground and occasion of our mirth and merriment as he expresseth it Go thy way eat thy bread with joy and drink thy wine with a merry heart for God now accepteth thy works Eccl. 9.7 The root is better in the fruit the cause in the effect To know our acceptance with God in all our natural and civil mirth and merriment though it be also honest and lawful So that when he saith nothing is better he speaks comparatively that riches houses lands are good but the comfortable injoyment of them is better using them to the glory of God to the chearing up and refreshing our selves and others doing good with them and rejoycing in God in the liberal yet sober use of them And to be sure the Spirit of God in Solomon had no mind by these expressions to patronize Epicurisme sensuality gluttony drunkenness though some wanton prophane wits may study to wrest such a carnal liberty from them which to do hath in it a spice of blasphemy 3. It 's commanded also 3 Commanded and it is not only lawful but a duty Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart Psal 32.11 Shouting is laughing in in its elevation and triumph But why Because He that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall compass him about vers 10. It 's commanded by the Apostle Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes and again I say rejoyce Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce evermore 1 Thes 5.16 You 'le say this joy is spiritual Yea that is it I 'de have as best becoming the gravity and sanctity of Christians Joy in the heart holy and heavenly venting it self by a lightsome countenance by chearful discourse and singing also a duty much neglected scarce any more inforced four times in a verse Sing praises to God sing praises sing praises unto our king sing praises Psal 47.6 and civil mirth if regular helps rather then hinders spiritual of which by and by 4. It 's promised 4 Promised and duties are couched in promises what God promises we shall be or do is our duty to be and doe They shall praise the Lord that seek him your heart shall live for ever Psal 22.26 Shall live or be lively chearful comfortable as when Jacob heard that Joseph was alive the spirit of Jacob revived Gen. 45.27 To the same purpose The humble shall see this and be glad your heart shall live that seek God Psal 69.32 As at the down-fall of Gods and his Churches enemies so upon Doegs ruin it 's promised That the righteous shall see and fear and laugh at him Lo this is the man that made not God his strength Psal 52.6 7. 5. Practised by the best of Saints 5 Practised The man after Gods own heart was the sweet singer of Israel He 's upon a merry pin but an holy a pin in the Sanctuary He cries out Awake my glory awake Psaltery and Harp I my self will awake early Ps 57.8 or I 'le awake the morn be up before it and fit it up Ainsworth especially when it goes well with Zion The Book of Esther is a book of Providence of amazing Providence Esther is made Queen is spirited for the work with zeal and wisedome Mordecai is advanced Haman is hanged the Jewes are delivered and by them their enemies destroyed and what joy and rejoycing is thereupon Their Purims instituted dayes of feasting and joy and of sending portions one to another and gifts to the poor Est 9.20 21 23. Like to them this was the temper of the Churches of God when the Jewes returned out of the Babilonish Captivity Ps 12.12 When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion we were like to them that dream then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing c. I might tell you how that before all this when Pharaoh and his host were drowned in the Red sea Exo. 19.1 Moses and all Israel sung a sweet song unto the Lord c. and how after all this when Antichrist that great Pharisaical of Rome shall be destroyed the Saints will have a merry time of it when the harps of them are in their hands and the Song of Moses and of the Lamb in their mouths Rev. 15.2 3. I confess the joy and rejoycing commanded promised and practised was for the main spiritual heavenly and supernatural yet