thy poore children do humbly beseech thee graciously to assist us by thy holy Spirit in this our morning exercise that we may faithfully perform the same to thy praise and our comfort and that for Christ his sake our onely Saviour and Redeemer Amen This set forme of his short prayer before his Morning and evening exercise In a set forme I doe the more willingly set downe that they may see how farre they were deceived and what wrong they did him who held him to bee an utter adversary to all set formes of prayer who might also have received their answer and beene evidently refuted to their faces if they had but observed his ordinary practice every Lords day in the publike assembly where he did reverently accommodate himself to the publike prayers of the Church and religiously joyne together with Minister and people in the celebration of Gods service Certainly hee was not ignorant A set form of prayer justified that when our Saviour Christ taught his Disciples to pray hee gave them liberty to call upon the name of God their Father even in that set forme of prayer which he prescribed and in the same words when you pray say Our Father c. And yet for all that he knew well enough that he gave the Spirit of prayer also unto them and unto all believers children of the same Father that they might enlarge themselves according to those grounds and frame all their sutes after that forme and therefore hee gave this direction unto them After this manner pray ye By our Saviours institution of the Lords prayer and By his owne practice Mat. 26.44 Our Father c. yea Christ hath left us his owne blessed example for the warrant of both when in his Agonyhe praied three times using as the text saith the same words and when after his farewell sermon to his Disciples hee prayed for himselfe his Disciples and all true believers unto the worlds end in great variety of words and for many gifts and graces in particular which yet are not all mentioned but are all for substance contained in that patterne of true prayer None precisely bound to the letter of the Lords prayer but to the matter al. Peter Martyr hath made a collection of holy prayers out of Davids Psalmes and M. Perkins hath gathered together S. Paubs prayers out of his Epistles in both which there is great variety both of matter and words much exceeding the letter of the Lords prayer yet is there no Petition or thanksgiving in either of them which may not fitly be reduced to some parts and heads of the Lords Prayer For my part I shall never blame him that seeketh to help his understanding memory Set prayer a help and affection by such meanes if he bring new affections to renewed petitions and set his heart a worke to seeke more seriously for the best things such as the godly labours of good men have in print set before him But if any man will rest in his booke prayers and never strive to speake unto God out of his owne heart by his owne Spirit which teacheth every true child of God to cry Abba Father Heart prayer best of all Rom. 8. and helpeth our infirmities that wee may stand before him as his children Such a man in my opinion comes farre short of the power and practice comfort and fruit of true prayer and is not much unlike to an impotent and weake man that being lame of his limbes and having meanes of helpe and recovery tendred unto him had yet still rather use a paire of crutches borrowed of his neighbour to goe withall as he can than betake himselfe to his owne legges and feet to walke in his way which the Lord hath appointed for him as he might and ought to doe CHAP. XXIII AFter this short prayer because wee are all commanded to sing Psalmes unto God 2 His singing of Psalmes to testifie our rejoycing in him to instruct our selves in his mercies and judgements words and works and to make melody in our hearts before him as also to quicken our soules to praise and thanksgiving hee therefore did usually call the whole family to sing some of the Psalmes such as hee named unto them with grace in their hearts unto the Lord which they ordinarily performed with such melodious and sweet voices and affections himselfe beginning the tune and the rest in a sweet accord and harmony joyning with him as if they had desired to sing Davids Psalmes His delight in singing of Psalms not onely with Davids Harpe but even with Davids heart also With this exercise of singing of Psalmes hee was much delighted and oftentimes so ravished in his spirit with holy and heavenly joy in singing and sounding forth Gods praises that his heart would even spring and leape in his body as John Baptist did for the joy of Christ in his mothers belly Hieron in Epitaphio Fabiolae yea he was so much affected with the praising of God in this kinde that hee tooke the word Halelu-jah which is the title of nine Psalmes and the song of the Quire of Angles for his Poesie and usually writ it in the first leafe of all his bookes with his owne hand to provoke and draw on others into the fellowship of Gods praises with him and to set it forth as an impresse or character of his chiefe desire and delight Amalaris de officio mâ—ssâ—c 13. to have the praises of the Lord in his heart or in his mouth in his care or in his eye continually When the Psalm was ended 3 His reading of the Scriptures he read a Chapter himselfe out of the Bible keeping an orderly and constant course in his reading to make his family better acquainted with the order and matter of the Scriptures and to season their hearts with some portion of Gods Word in the morning as a preservative against all unfavoury thoughts noysome lusts rotten speeches and ungodly workes all the day after This hee knew was Gods holy Ordinance from which neither Kings in peace nor Commanders in warre were exempted wherewith all Governours of families are expresly charged Deut. 6.6 7 8. Deut. 17.18 19. Ios 1.7.8 Deut. â—1 18 19 20 2 Tim. 3.14 15. Ioh. 5.39 wherein both elder and yonger have beene exercised and whereunto all sorts are by our blessed Saviour exhorted Search the Scriptures c. And this hee duly performed with such reverence and conscience as might to his power best become the solemnity of the action which they had in hand and the majestie of his presence before whom they stood Now because he knew that all planting and watering was in vain unlesse God himself gave the blessing of increase and that the Prayer of faith availeth much for that end if it bee fervent hee therefore with all his family bowing the knees of their hearts as well as the knees of their bodies before the throne of grace did in
shall therefore breake or blemish it let them know the disadvantage is their owne not the Authors and as he for one fowle face they saw before may see twenty then I would send such to be disciplined by Erasmus Eras Epist. ad Dorp who writes thus to Dorpius concerning the Readers of others writings Siquispiam offendatur et sibi vindicet non habet quod expostulet cum eo qui scripsit ipse si volet secum agat injuriam utpote sui proditor qui declaravit hoc ad se pertinere He that quarrels at others workes betraies his owne folly not their Authors to prevent which if you in this shall meete with any errours of Pen or Presse doe not for those slight all the rest but remember the rule of the Naturallist Hor. in loc Vbi multa nitent in carmine non ego paucis offendor maculis Where many things are good shall I for but some triviall all let flie If the Zeale either of the Author or Subject outgoe thy expectation or Practice blame them not since as there is no ayming at any mans person so there is no favouring of any mans sinne according to the rule of the Poet. It is but just and as hath bin to spare the man and speake his sinne Licuit semperque Licebit Parcere Personis dicere de vitiis If the Style prove not so plausible as thy curiosity may expect or if in the discountenancing or battering downe of any errour in Life or judgement thou thinkst it mingled with too much bitter Hierapicra Remember then the Physitians rule Sharpe sauces best become the meat and move the appetite to eate Acriora Orexim Excitant Embammata But if all this will not doe it like Gallio you care for none of these things yet at least and at last remember the rule of our Saviour Doe to others as you would that others should doe to you Mat. 7.12 Deale not with their good names as Lycurgus did with his Country Coines or as Rehoboam with his Fathers Shields which they found of beaten gold but left of Brasse rather as Augustus did with the walles of Rome Juveni lateritiam reliqui Marmoream which he found of Bricke but left of Marble And whatsoever in them is vertuous Honest Iust Lawfull Laudible and of Good report Phil. 4.8 that follow and the while thy Charity is thus to them the blessing of God be with thee So prayes the Subjects Kinsman the Authors Sonne and thy Servant in CHRIST Samuel Hinde From Prescot this 20th of May. 1641. A Table of the Contents Chapter I. IOhn Bruen His birth and Bloud from Father and Mother well descended Cap. 2. His education free in good measure from Popery and profanesse also His childhood His Prayer Children may have good motions Some seeds of grace in his childhood Cap. 3. His youth His dancing Cap. 4. His going to Oxford about 1577. His Fathers care and cost Like Saint Austines Fathers for him He went up about 17 yeares old Few Gentlemen like minded The cause hereof their owne ignorance and profanesse Cap. 5. At his comming to Oxford somewhat popish But the Lord did reclaime him Meanes of his reclaiming from popish errours By his companion Master Brerewood By the Scripture urged Applied Private persons may sometimes helpe one another for Conversion A worthy example for young Gentlemen Cap. 6. He was much like Galeacius His proficiency at Oxford but small The causes of it Some unfitnesse for learning His sufficiency not great for great employment yet such as God chose to shew his power in as in Galeacius a young Christian and great Champion very like unto him in many things Cap. 7. His comming from Oxford 1459. His Father bestoweth him in marriage-1580 In a godly Family with a godly young Gentlewoman with mutuy all consent otherwise then manr Parents doe where lust and lucre makes the motion and the Fathers dropsie and the Sonnes phrensie make up the match They live together in love Cap. 8. His recreation of Hunting in some abuses reproved Some inconveniences of Hunting Cap. 9. The estate of the Creatures since the fall and before Their enmity a fruit of our sinne Vnlawfull to take pleasure in it Cap. 10. Neither in the emnity nor Cruelty of or towards the Creatures may we take pleasure An example of cruelty to the Creature Cap. 11. A good man is mercifull to his Beast not onely in the taking care for the preservation of his being but of his wel-being also Giving him due allowance of pasture and moderating hiâ— labour Cap. 12. The lawfullnesse or unlawfulnesse of Hunting laid downe in nine particulars Cap. 13. His more effectuall conversion and the fruits thereof upon his Fathers death by Gods good meanes not very violent likeunto Saint Austines in many particulars Cap. 14 The fruits of his conversion First As Heire of the Family in Civill matters His reformation removing impediments Renouncing his pleasures His frugality His fidelity A rebuke to others Prodigality and Infidelity and a check to some others obstinacy in their ould sinnes Secondly other fruites of their conversion in matter of religion as Governour of his Family Cap. 15. In setting up Religion in his Family Laid downe first in the Generalls Cap. 16 And then in the specialties and particulars First In his Family and secondly In the assembly In his Family First in dwelling with his wife as a man of knowledge in peace and love as equall yoke fellowes A good example to husbands and Wives A discovery of the misery of unequall yoak fellowes manifested in 4 instances Secondly In the godly education of their Children first by instruction secondly by correction wherein if his passions exceeded hee was humbled healed and bettered in foure particulars Thirdly In governing of his Servants Cap. 18. First in choosing Secondly In the using of his servants some of speciall note as old Robert Old Robert his Girdle for the helpe of his memory A rebuke to mindelesse and carelesse Persons And to such as use not their skill and other faculties aright Cap. 19 His familiar conversing with old Robert both gainers by it others dealing otherwise are loosers by their statelinesse His kind usage of him in his old age Vntill the day and houre of his death To the reproofe of mercilesse masters Cap. 20. His due regard to the rest of his servants Some attending upon him Some labouring for him His Family a Religious Nursery by disposing or dispersing his servants Cap. 21. His course in Family duties towards God The necessity and excellency of family Duties First His preparation in foure things First In his vigilancy Secondly in his Private prayer Thirdly Meditation Fourthly Industry in writing Cap. 22. Secondly His execution and performance of his Family exercise First A little short prayer in a set forme A set forme of prayer justified by our Saviours institution of the Lords praier and by his owne practice None precisely bound to the
letter of the Lords prayer but to the matter all Set prayer a helpe Heart-prayer best of all Cap. 23. Secondly His singing of Psalmes His delight in singing of Psalmes Thirdly His reading of the Scriptures Fourthly His humble and holy prayer with thankesgiving Having alwayes matter of praise as well as cause of prayer Cap. 24. His Evenings exercise in opening and applying the word for the use of his Family Crowned with a blessing from God Opposed much by some men of the world His fortification against such assaults For justifying of his judgement and practice in thus teaching of his family By his collections and observations out of Godly and good Authors Cap. 25. And yet not usurping upon the ministery nor by any private spirit But by Godly and good meanes providing as Ioseph for himselfe and for his Family Cap. 26. Thus farre of his religious governement of his owne house in his private Family Now of his zeale to Gods house in the publicke Assembly First In abolishing meanes and instruments of false worship His inducements thereunto Authority of the Magistrate example of good and great men which made him proceed from the Chappell to the Church This act censured by Papists Iustified by themselves against themselves Cap. 27. Secondly In establishing Gods true Word and worship by procuring godly ministers to preach of his own Cost and chaâ—ge Little regarded yet he not discouraged because the word of God prospered Many vertues of his to be observed and imitated For Gentlemen to bee rich in good workes For Patrons not to spoile the Church being bound to provide for it For profane Gentlemen bestowing much on their lusts nothing on Gods service Neither maintaining any Levite at home nor seeking after the word abroad Cap. 28. Vpon their neglect of the publike ministry he maintained the Preacher in his owne house But after a while restored him to the publicke Assembly The cause and occasion thereof And so continued to maintaine the Minister both by his owne and Master Clarkes testimony Cap 29 Popish and profane wakes His godly care and labour to suppresse them By a more plentifull and powerfull use of the word preached Whereby hee prevailed and blessed God With rejoycing and Feasting of Gods people Renouncing all fellowship with sinne and sinners And herein following the example of Christ Cap. 30. Nine reasons against popish and profane Wakes Cap. 31. Being still more religious hee grew â—…ore famous Many desire to sojourne with him Sir Ricâ—ard Grosvenor in his tender yeares bâ—ought up in his house Master Hardware and his Family also tabled with him His wise and gracious dealing with him and his And the good effect and fruit thereof Both in his family and in the city Thus to season others and to build up Gods house in his owne was his labour of love and joy of his heart Cap. 32. The good successe whereof made him like David To make greater provision by publicke exercises which he frequented and by which he became better furnished In which his course divers things to be commended First His chéerefullnesse Secondly His painfullnesse First In seeking Secondly In gathering Manna and other provision Thirdly His attentive diligence First In hearing Secondly In writing Thirdly In repeating Fourthly in recording the summe and substance of all the exercises In many manuscripts commended to the heires of his family Fourthly His kind usage of Gods ministers First Love to their persons Secondly Reverence to their callings Fiftly His good affection to professors Cap. 33. The exercises of Religion great helps unto godlinesse A motion for exchange with other exercises of profanesse Difference great Company contrary Holy exercises acceptable to God Profitable unto men yet will none make an exchange but such as are changed themselves Cap. 34. He was otherwise exercised also by affliction In the death of his Wife Sudden death a fearefull Iudgement to some Sudden Death upon a wicked life fearfull Yet all that dye suddenly doe not dye fearfully but many otherwise as this Gentlewoman very hopefully No death sudden to a sound Christian His afflictions sanctified and passions moderated Cap. 35. Standing in need of marriage he sought and found a prudent wife by good opportunity and by good meanes of his trusty servant declaring unto him her Parents Her Father her mother and her parts worthy due Commendation So he made motion for marriage Prevailed in it and tooke her to wife He set up and renewed the exercises of Religion in that Family The good successe thereof by his own testimony Cap. 36 His returne home to Stapleford bringing his wife along with him Divers Gentlemen desire to sojourne with him His Family a famous nursery for Religion Master Wilbraham placeth his Sonne-inlaw and his daughter with him Cap. 37. His desire to give him contentment and to doe them good To try their dispositions he observed their words and workes They were teachable and tractable Touching the Lords day Concerning Cardeplay His Wife converted Himselfe convinced Al witnesses of his faithfulnesse Cap. 38. His burning of Tables Cards and Dice as malefactours An attestation of the Fathers with him against them Cap. 39. His collections against Cards and Dice Cap. 40. Instead of Tables Cards and Dice he set up two Bibles one in the Parlour another in the Hall Answerable to our Church Canons Bibles for Bs. servants and for strangers This neglected A remedy for recovery to take heed of evill and provide good servants Our Canons against Cards and Dice and all unlawfull games Some of our Divines in the Countrey make little Conscience of these Canons Cap. 41. Some defects in the publicke ministry He procured Master A. St. for supply whom he maintained for the most part His worthy testimony concerning Master Bruen Being an eye and care witnesse Master Perkins hearing of him did much admire and commend him Many Gentlemen desire to sojourne with him His owne relation Cap. 42. A sudden Storme upon the death of his deare wife A great affliction to the whole Family Her vertues and due praises The heavy parting of his Tablers All full of griefe Master Bruen himselfe exceeded Time and reason strengthened with grace will moderate passions Cap. 43. Master Bruen's owne relation touching his more private course of life Seaven things remarkeable therein Cap. 44. All to be said may bee drawne to three heads First His conversing with God Secondly His conversation in the world Thirdly His departure out of the world God gave him wisedome and understanding Also courage and strength as he did to Ioshua His conversing with God in foure Spirituall Duties Cap. 45. First His meditation The necessity and excellency of Meditation Meanes and helpes which he used Reading of the word and of godly mens writings his following the rules of direction for meditation The gaine Godlinesse many benefits and sweet fruits of it Great difference Many Enemies unto it Many of the better sort fayle in it Cap. 46. Secondly Observation of Gods judgements and
and welfare aswel in matters of religion tending to their salvation as in the affairs of this life to lead and guid them aright for their outward peace and contentment And wives As also for such good women that would be reckoned in the number of gracious and good wives that they be in meeknesse and humility ' so subject unto their husbands that they may bee teachable to learne and tractable to observe and obey whatsoever in and for the Lord they shall require of them This also discovereth the miserable condition of such families A discovery of the misery of unequall yokefellowes Manifested in foure instances where the governours are unequally yoked being diverse both in opinion and affection touching matters of Religion and so much distracted and disordered in the performance of such religious duties as the Lord in their families requires at their hands which I see not how it can possibly bee otherwise when the husband drawes one way and the wife another As first when the husband is an Atheist that calls not upon God no prayer in his family no thanksgiving at his Table for his meate no reading of holy Scripture the wife a Papist contenting her selfe with her blind devotions upon her beads and bookes in her private chamber and her closet to feed and cherish her seduced heart and corrupted humour therewithall Secondly when the husband is a prophane Esau minding only earthly things and embracing like Demas this present world followeth with great eagernesse the profits and pleasures of this life the wife a godly matron like Sarah in her Tent faithfull and painfull carefull of her familie and friends with Mart ha and conscionable of that one thing which is needfull with Mary having chosen the better part which shall not be taken from her Thirdly when one thinkes every little too much or enough at least in Gods service the other thinks againe all that they can doe too little to testifie their thankfullnesse and faithfullnesse to God in the religious duties of their families Fourthly when the one contents himselfe with a forme of godlinesse putting a shag-hared servingman to read a few cold prayers and a simple and silly childe to say grace and so slubber over their morning and evening service being as well pleased as if they had gotten Micha his Levite into their house or one of Jeroboams priests to do them service in worshipping the Calf which is set up amongst them The other is much blamed for that rejecting all pharisaicall formality in religion they desire such effectuall and powerfull meanes of grace as may enable them to shew forth the power and fruit of godlines in a good conversation Alas what distractions and contentions must here needs be what distemper and disorder both in the governors and government of such a family must needs arise where husband and wife who should being yoke-fellows draw equally in one yoke are yet unequally yoked â—oves qui jungit adaratruÌ„ equos ad currum pares eligit ut aetas conveniat forma Amb. lib. 8 Epift. 86. ad Paternum that when the one drawes forwards the other drawes backwards the one puts his shoulder to the burden the other withdrawes himself from it or stands in open opposition against the bearing of it It was far otherwise with this Gentleman and his faithfull yoke-fellow who being both of one mind and one heart in the profession of the Gospel and both well affected and acquainted with the power and practice of religion became as lamps and lights to the rest of their family by their holy example and godly conversation amongst them CHAP. XVII 2 In their godly education of their children THeir children they brought up in the knowledge and feare of God laying the foundation by continuall catechizing of them in the principles and grounds of true Christian Religion and building thereon farther by such sentences and portions of holy Scriptures 1 By instruction as might best fit their tender yeares and make the easiest impressions of grace and truth in their hearts And because he well knew that it was not enough for him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. to put good things upon their minds but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to nurture them by correction as occasion should require 2 By correction and so both by the word and by the rod to bring them up in the information of the Lord He therefore did not spare to use the rod of correction as Gods healing medicine to cure the corruptions of his children and to heale their soules of their sinnes by the same Wherein if at any time his heart were so over-heated by his hatred of their sin Wherein if his passions exceeded He was humbled and zeale for Gods glory that he did either speake unadvisedly with his lips or deale too violently with his hands He was afterwards much troubled at it and much humbled for it that going about to heale others he had so rashly procured a stroke and a wound unto himselfe Healed for which now he found no better remedy than to have recourse unto his heavenly Father by humble and hearty prayer who healeth all the infirmities both of Parents and children and forgiveth all their sinnes And bettered in 4. particulars Optabatur in eo quod in aliis timebatur ut irasceretur Amb. de obit Theod. when they seeke unto him The fruits of which his holy desires and endeavours he found and reaped in due season For first he became hereby more watchfull over his spirit and speech in all such occasions and provocations to passion and distemper Secondly he grew more moderate in correction keeping himselfe within the bounds of it discretion and compassion Thirdly when his passions were most vehement against sinne he much asswaged the heat thereof 3 In the governing of his servants by his love and tender affections towards the sinner Fourthly He lived to see those whom he most sharply corrected effectually converted and reformed CHAP. XVIII I Come now after the branches of his vine to the plants of his vineyard namely his men 1 In chusing and maid-servants amongst whom there was not one idle and unprofitable person Where I hold him worthy great commendation first for his godly care in chusing And secondly for his good conscience in ordering and using of them as he did so well both in their persons and in their callings As for their choice this was wont to be his course As he heard of any that began to set their faces towards Ierusalem or to look towards heaven as if they meant in good earnest to travell that way or of such as had travelled many Sabbath dayes journey that way already his heart was presently towards them so that by good and faire meanes he endeavoured to draw such into his service and if he had place of imployment for them to plant them in his family above any other persons whatsoever So that in a