the next place commend themselves unto God in humble and hearty prayer making their requests knowne unto God 4. His humble and holy prayer with thanksgiving in all manner of supplications with thanksgiving which hee usually performed with that power and feeling fervency and sincerity faith and humility as the spirit of grace gave him understanding and utterance and their severall occasions and other necessities did require that hee was oftentimes much admired of them that heard him and by his holy petitions and gracious affections did much refresh the hearts and cheere the spirits of many of his neighbours and friends which joyned with him Gen. 32.26.27.28 Hos 12.4 Hee would so wrestle with God by prayers and teares like Jacob that hee would not let him go untill like an Israel he had by praying and weeping prevailed with him The fruits of which his holy desires and endeavours were so remarkable in that family whether hee prayed against sinnes or sorrowes or sought unto God for grace and good things that seldome did they meet againe to pray but they had some new and fresh cause of praise and thanksgiving unto him that had heard their prayers Having alwayes matter of praise as well as cause of prayer A godly and an holy course in prayer which I wish were as well performed as it is well worthy to bee observed Namely Not only to consider wisely what we ask in prayer but to observe carefully how wee speed after it for in so doing as we should still be stirred up and provoked to new praises so should wee be quickned and encouraged to seeke unto our God againe by continuing or renewing the same or the like prayers and requests unto him This was the practice of holy David that man after Gods owne heart who having called upon God Psal 41.1 did patiently wait upon him for hearing and diligently observed what successe he had and as hee found the fruit of his prayers did thereupon come againe into Gods presence with new and fresh praises Psal 66.17.19.20 I called unto the Lord saith he with my mouth and he was exalted with my tongue Verily God hath heard me he hath attended to the voice of my prayer Blessed bee God which hath not turned away my prayer nor his mercy from me CHAP. XXIV THus did he exercise himselfe and his family unto godlinesse every morning His evening exercise and after the duties of the day and their naturall refreshing and repast in the end thereof hee called them again to the like service and sacrifice in the evening which hee very religiously and constantly performed much after the same manner saving thaâ— then he tooke some more paines with them having more liberty In opening and applying the word and better opportunity so to doe for then he ordinarily instructed and taught his family out of that portion which hee tooke in the Chapter read at that time unto them propounding and applying some wholesome doctrine profitable for their godly edification as the tenor of the Scripture best served 2 Tim. 3.16.19 whether to convince any errour or to confirme the truth to rebuke any sin and to instruct in the way of righteousnesse to comfort the heart under hope in doing well and settle the soule by faith and patience in suffering ill This was his holy defire and delight to edifie his family in faith and love For the use of his Family and to traine them up in the true knowledge and feare of God so acquainting them with their duties towards God and man Tit. 2.10 11 12. that living soberly righteously and godly in this world they might beautifie their profession and adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour alwayes and in all things All which his godly paines and practices in the instructing of his family out of the Word of God as a pastor and teacher in his owne house Crowned with a blessing from God albeit they were through the blessing of God crowned with good successe at home yet were they much maligned reproached opposed and questioned abroad and that not only by the vulgar fort but even by some of our masters in Israel whose negligence was much rebuked by his diligence their prophannesse checked by his holy duties their government in their families not onely obscured but blemished Opposed much by some men of the world but blemished by the comely order and beautie of his government in his family which was so farre advanced above some of theirs as ever Bethell was above Bethaven Sion above Shilo or the Temple of God above the Temple of Idols Which malignity of the world His fortification against such assaults and enmity of godlesse persons against godly and good duties when he well observed and wisely considered of hee began to fortifie his building both for his judgement and practice as Nehemiah did the wales of Jerusalem against the assaults of Gods enemies which he did very faithfully and effectually by his painefull collections and observations which he made out of the Scriptures For justifying of his judgement and practice in thus teaching of his family and by the expositions testimonies and examples of godly and good men records of antiquity and evidences of worthy Writers and witnesses to the truth of God all sutable to the doctrine of our Church to justifie his course and stop the mouthes of all such as without any just cause did open them so wide against it I have seen and read what hee hath collected and set downe to this end and purpose under his owne hand which I approve of and like so well for his choice and paines in binding up together so many sweet and wholesome flowers of heavenly doctrine By his collections and observations out of godly and good authors for his owne confirmation and other mens satisfaction that I could have been well contented to have set downe these his collections and observations at large concerning this point of the masters duty in teaching and instructing his family in the feare of God and faith of Christ and in opening and applying some portion of the Scriptures to their mindes and hearts for that end but that I much feared lest my labour and paines herein at this time might be held not so needfull and lesse pertinent seeing many godly mens bookes are filled with the same or the like instructions since that time justifying the same point and practice and that the bulk and body of this little booke would swell too bigg if I should bring in another Treatise to stuffe up the bosome and brest of it CHAP. XXV And yet not usurping upon the Ministery Nor by aprivate spirit But by godly and good meanes Homines discunt prius quod doceant ab alâ—o accipiunt quod aliis tradant Amb. Coster us in eins Vita Amb lib. 1. de Offic. c. 1 NOw because some may mistake both him and me in this businesse as imagining
plerunque forvescit suis horrattbus duplicante Hieron adver ViglaÌ„t His childhood The greater must needs be both the sinne and shame of many of our Gentlemen who are so far from repressing such corruptions or restrayning such lusts and lewd courses in their children that they do not only lead and draw them by their countenance and example but hale and force them by their commands and threats into the base fellowship of such sinnes and sinners Bis peccat qui exemple peccat his offence is double that offends himselfe and by his bad example causeth others to offend also When he was about the age of six or seven yeares his Father for some offence or fault did rebuke him sharpely and correct him soundly and being then in much griefe of heart for his Fathers displeasure and desiring to see some meanes of comfort and reliefe tooke unto him a little prayer book which at that time he had learned and went apart into his Fathers Chappell and there by reading and praying aswel as he could was comforted with unexpressible joys His Prayers These be his own words and he addeth But being but a child I knew not what they meant And the next day I went to the same place using the like means but found not the like comfort What I should think upon a childs Prayers and such unexpressible joyes upon the same I cannot well tell yet do I remember what Austine reporteth of himselfe being but a child that observing others to pray unto God he learned to thinke and conceive of God as some great and mighty one Like Austins who though he were not known by sight Aug. confes lib. 1â— 9 lib. 3.4 yet could both heare us and helpe us at his pleasure Nam puer coepi rogare te auxilium refugium meum rogabam te parvus non parvo affectâ—… ne in Scholâ vápularem For being but a child saith hee I began to pray unto thee my help and my refuge and I prayed a little one with no little affection that I might not be beaten at Schoole Hee that out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hath ordained himselfe praise may also put some good motions of his Spirit even upon the hearts of children and cause them to open their lips in prayer which hee that worketh in them knoweth how to accept from them what answer to make unto them according to his wisdom and good pleasure And if we acknowledge that the elect of God in the Sacrament of their new birth being but infants may and do receive the seale of Gods Spirit in their soules which worketh in them though secretly and strangely yet effectually and truly some measure of saving Grace and Faith in Christ Jesus Why may we not thinke that some sparkles of this holy and heavenly fire Children may have good motions may upon occasion no wand then break out from the hearts and lips of young children being the elect of God though by reason of their weaknesse of understanding and wanâ— of judgment they neither know whence they are nor what they meane Samuel being but a childe ministred unto the Lord before Eli when as yet hee knew not the Lord 1 Sam. 3.1.7 neither was the Word of the Lord revealed unto him Yea hee had communion and conference with the Lord when the Lord called Samuel Samuel and he answered Speak Lord for thy servant heareth Wee are not I know to look for such revelations in these dayes yet seeing the Lord is Liberrimum Agens not bound himself though he bind us to the use of his ordinary means hee may at his pleasure make sweet impressions of his Spirit and Truth even upon the mindes and hearts of young children As I make no doubt but he might doe upon the heart of this his servant being yet a childe when first he was so sensible of his fault before his father that he was much displeased with himselfe because he had displeased him Secondly in filiall obedience and patience submitted himselfe quietly to his fathers sharpe rebuke and severe correction And lastly when he had recourse unto the Lord by such meanes and helps of prayer as he had both for pardon of his sinne and comfort of his soule in that affliction Some seedes of grace in his childhood Which now I am the rather induced to thinke of him because it is well knowne that being often asked in his riper age of the time of his calling and of his conversion when it first began his usuall answer was Even of a child little Aug. Confes l. 3. c. 4. Hoc nomen Chri. c. The seeds of grace in some measure might then be sowne which untill they were farther increased by knowledge and judgement watered by the Word and warmed by the Spirit lay hid under the corruptions of nature and lusts of youth as under clods of earth for a time but afterwards brake out in the fruits of an effectuall Calling and Conversion in due season CHAPTER III. ANd so indeed or not much otherwise it fared His youth and fell out with this Gentleman in his tender years who for want of a Schoole-master at home was sent by his parents to his Vncle Dutton of Dutton there to be taught and trained up under one James Roe who kept Schoole there at that time where he continued a Scholler and Tabler for the space of three yeares A great family and of great liberty Something he got for Grammar learning a little it may be for civill education but nothing at all for nurture and information in true Religion There His dancing and then by occasion of Musitians and a chest of Viols kept in the house he was drawn by desire and delight into the Dancing-schoole where he profited so well in that kinde of youthfull activity that he did not only please himselfe too much but his parents also much more than was meet with those tricks of vanity Isucrat Oral Areopag Hieron ad Laetam So he termeth those exercises himself and yet saith hee they were held commendable in those dayes of ignorance Venena non dantur nisi melle circumlita vitia non decipiunt nisi sub specie umbr áque virtutum Poysons are not given but sweetned with honey and vices doe not deceive but under the shew and shadow of vertue Sober and single dancing of men apart and women apart hath had his use and praise also not only among the Heathen but amongst the people of God when by the nimble motions and gestures of the body Ambr. in Luc. lib. 6. cap. 7. Tertul de Spectac cap. 21. Origen in cap. 14. Matth. in cap. 12. ad Rom. Amb. in 1 Cor. cap. 10. in Luc. lib. 6. cap. 7. de Virgin lib. 3. they have expressed the great joyes of their hearts for some good of their owne or to set forth Gods glory But mixt dancing of men and women with light and
hodie quare non hac hora finis turpitudinis meae How long how long To morrow and to morrow Why not to day why not this houre is there not an end of my former filthinesse O happy Austin and holy man of God that was first thus humbled that he might be exalted And yet more happy that having the Lord to seeke him as a lost sheep he finding himselfe to go astray began presently to seek the Shepheard that sought him and happy most of all in this that in so seeking the Lord he did both finde him and was found of him In many particulars I will not compare this Gentleman for measure of grace with S. Austin but for the nature manner meanes and time and truth of their conversion he may well go hand in hand with him 1. Austin was about 32 yeares of age when he was effectually called and converted and so was he 2. Austin had at that time many combats betwixt Reason and Religion the flesh and the spirit and so had he 3. Austin had his heart full of prayers and his eyes full of teares when he sought after God and so had he 4. Austin had and held sweet communion with God by Colloquies Soliloquies holy and heavenly meditations and so did he 5. Austin having once tasted the sweetnesse of the Lord thought nothing so pleasant as to forgoe the pleasures of his former vanities Aug. Cons lib. 9. cap. 1. Quam suave mihi subitò factum est carere suavitatibus nugarum And held it now a joy to renounce those joyes and toyes which before he was afraid to lose Et quas amittere metus fuerat eas jam dimittere gaudium erat And such for all the world were this Gentlemans desires and delights such his disposition and affection when once he had tasted how sweet the Lord was and had drunk of the pleasures of his house somwhat more freely and fully than formerly he had done Whereof Austin gives the reason for them both Tu enim Domine qui vera es summa suavitas ejiciebas eas à me ejiciebas intrabas pro eâ—s omni voluptate dulcior omni luce clarior c. For thou O Lord who art the true and chief sweetnesse it selfe didst cast out of me those pleasures of vanities thou didst cast them out and didst enter in thy selfe in stead of them being unto me more delicious than any delight more cleare than any light whatsoever 6. Austins conversion was so blest of God that it was an occasion of the conversion of others of his friends as of Alipius Nebridius and Evodius neare about the same time And so was this Gentlemans conversion blest of God also being attended and accompanied with the conversion of diverse of his friends brothers and sisters and neighbours who being brought on by his good meanes and Gods blessing unto a love and liking of the truth of the Gospell were also effectually called to the profession and practice of the same 7. Austin being converted did not onely cease from the practice of his former vanities and old sinnes of his youth but he renounced the heresie of the Manichees wherewith he was tainted and did for go his Rhetoricke Lecture at Millan fearing to doe hurt unto his Schollars any longer by poysoning their mindes with errors and lies and corrupting their hearts with words of vanity And so did this Gentleman utterly renounce the pleasure and practice of his former vanities and purge out of his heart the poyson of Popish errours wherewith formerly he had been infected and would never any more either read or heare such Lectures of vanity as formerly he was wont to do 8. Lastly Austin upon his conversion began to seeke and serve the Lord with great power and zeale both in his person and calling standing and striving for the truth against a lie yea every lie that durst confront it or assaile it And so did this Gentleman for his calling and standing according to the gifts and graces which God had given him though herein much inferiour to Augustine I confesse who is gone before him yet superiour by much to many if not the most of his rank that either lived with him or shall follow after him The truth of all which specialties shall God willing be seene in divers and sundry particulars more plainly in the course of his life and sequele of this story CHAP. XIV SOme of the first though not the fairest fruits of his change and conversion The fruits of his conversion First as heire of the family in civill matters Secondly cap. 18. His reformation began then to appeare when first of an heire he became an inheritor of his Fathers state and took possession of his house and lands For being of himselfe unfit as many young heires are either to undertake such a charge or manage such an estate as by the fall of their parents is fallen unto them he notwithstanding by the mercy and grace of God at his first entrance began to cut off and cast out all lets and impediments which might hinder him and to use and embrace all helpes that might further him in running the race which the Lord had now set before him for whereas there were two speciall matters of importance that might now perplex him first how upon so small beginnings he might sufficiently provide for his owne family Removing impediments and secondly how his father having charged him and the land with the portions of twelve children sonnes and daughters which hee left behind him hee might faithfully discharge that trust which his father reposed in him hee both wisely and conscionably first of all laid away Hawkes and Hounds and cast off for ever his wide mouth'd Dogs and utterly ceased any longer to follow them or their followers And which is yet more Renouncing his pleasures to cut off all occasions of wastefull and riotous expence both of time and other things having a goodly Parke left him on the backeside of his house well stored and furnished with fallow Deere hee presently killed up the game and disparked the Parke and drawing himselfe to as narrow a compasse as well hee could lived so frugally and contentedly and yet for his place very competently and orderly that he provided sufficiently for his owne family His Frugality and faithfully discharged himselfe of his fathers charge paying his brethren and sisters all their portions and placing them in marriage and otherwise very comfortably as his owne words will beare me testimony This charge through Gods assistance saith he I well discharged His fidelity And married well all my sisters and preferred all my brothers and none of them offended A rare example I confesse considering the young heires that come to their lands in our time for as commonly they are sick of the father as Esau was before his day looking for his death so when they come on a sudden to so greate an estate A rebuke to
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
and for our pleasure in these exercises which were intended especially for the refreshing of mens mindes and renewing of their strength after honest studies and labours to overtoyle and tire out our selves as did Esau in his hunting even untill he was almost dead for hunger Inordinate affections to these games and immoderate passions in the crosse occurrents of them doe not onely marre all the sport but deprive us of all lawfull use and fruit of them Eighthly It is unlawfull by hunting or hawking to overcharge our state or endammage our neighbours by Horses and Hounds costly at home and cumbersome abroad so as we are made lesse able to doe good to them that need or to our owne families and more offensive in doing hurt to them that might looke for better things from us Lastly the exercise of hunting hath beene held in it selfe not onely lawfull but commendable amongst the ancient Romans and by the judgement of the wisest States-men Athen. Dipno lib. 1. cap. 20. and Moralists of the world both for increase of health and strength in the time of peace and for fitting and framing of the body to a nimble activity and agility for sundry feats and exploits in the time of warre Sertorius a Romane Captaine and Commander Plutarch in Sertorio by his travell and paines which he took in hunting had so accustomed himselfe to hard adventures and dangerous and difficult passages that by the nimblenesse and agility of his body he was so able either to assaile his enemies or to winde himselfe out of their hands also with so great facility if he were in danger or distresse that he overcame them oftentimes as Plutarch reporteth of him rather by light skirmishes than by open encounter and publike fight Xenophon Plato Aristotle Plinius Secundus and others Xeno in lib. de venat Galen lib. de sanitate tuend lib. de Indo parvae pile have allowed and approved of hunting both for the execise of the body unto health and strength and for inuring and training up of youth in the feats of Armes and exploits of war Xenoph. in Cyropaedia Plat. lib. 7. de Legib. Aristot lib. 1. Polit. Plin. Sec. Lib. 5. Epist. in Panegyric And Julius Capitolinus recordeth that the Romane Legions were oftentimes exercised in hunting Jul. Capitol in Maxim p. 10 15. under Maxinūnus the Emperour that so they might be better fitted for warlike service and imployment Viget dere milit lib. 1. cap. 7.9.10 as occasion should require So likewise Vigetius reckons of those that have beene well exercised in hunting running leaping swimming to be fittest for trained souldiers and such as are to be chosen before others for warlike affaires And albeit many of our Gentlemen which are most addicted to this exercise of hunting do not alwayes prove the best souldiers neither have it ever in their minde so hotly to pursue their enemies as they doe their game or to make the dangers of warre the end and aime of their sports in peace Galen de lud parvae pilae Yet seeing in the judgement of Galen that renowned Philosopher and Physician hunting is one of those exercises which is both healthfull for the body and delightfull for the minde also we will so farre rest in his judgement and allow them hunting for an honest recreation if so be they will admit of Galens counsell and limitation therewithall Galen ibid. Nimium quod est reprehendo semper c. I alwayes blame that which is too much and would have every art that we use Lusus habet laudem si moderatus erit Promptuar Damhouderii pa. 229 Etlucta cursu saltu certare palaestra Haec bene conveniunt sed moderata viris Promptu Damhouderii pa. 230. Est modus in rebus c. Hor. used in moderation Quae si modum excedat jam bona esse desinit Which so soone as it begins to exceed measure it presently ceaseth to be good any more Ludendi est quidam modus Cic. lib I. Off. Thus by occasion of this young Gentleman his hunting keeping his Dogges and following hi◠Hounds with so great care and cost so eager desire and delight we have for a while held hunting it selfe in chase and so followed the sent that we might finde out the game in the nature end and use of it how it may serve for profit and how for pleasure how we ought to follow it for the manner and measure that it may do us good and not to exceed therein lest it do us hurt CHAP. XIII His more effectuall conversion and the fruits of it Cap. 14 HAving now spent some few yeares of his youth in the pursuit of these vanities lest he should trifle out his precious time in such carnall pleasures any longer The Lord began to awaken him to some better sight and sense of his errour and offence in this course and to prepare him now as a vessell of honour for better service and imployment both in his owne and in his masters house Vpon his fathers death In the yeere 1587. It pleased tho Lord to call unto his mercy his worthy Father upon whose decease he being much perplexed both in minde and state some sorrowes and feares thoughts and cares began to stirre and work within him and the Lord who best knoweth the fittest times and seasons for his own work began to work also for his more effectuall calling and reformation therewithall And this he did by the rebukes of his Word and checkes of his Spirit convincing his judgement and changing his minde and heart By Gods good meanes from the love of baser to a delight in better things For now he began to search his heart and try his wayes and to call himselfe to an account for his former courses and measuring all those things by the line of the Word and in the ballance of the Sanctuary which he had found or felt before in the pleasures of this life he saw there was nothing at all in them all but vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit Not very violent And albeit the pangs of his conversion and paines of his new birth were not so violent as others of Gods childrens have beene or as Pauls Constantines and Luthers were yet were his passions and affections at this time not much unlike unto S. Austins upon the point of his conversion who being now weary of the wayes of vanity and tyred out with the weight of his owne sinne in a holy desire to cast off the burden that did presse him downe and to shake off the pleasing sins that did intangle him so fast powred out his heart in prayers and teares before the Lord after this manner Vsquequo Domine irasceris in finem Ne memor fueris iniquitatum mearum antiquarum How long Lord wilt thou be angry for ever Like unto S. Austins Be not mindfull of my old sins Quamdiu quamdius cras cras Quare non
Spring Seedings Summer Harvest Winter faire or foule weather and the like and to apply these to such places of the Scriptures as they had heard or read the same things in for their farther instruction and edification Now for their work what he saw was well for manner and matter hee did likewise well approve and accept and by a due and kinde commendation of their care and paines hee provoked them to continue in well doing What he saw was amisse if it were of small moment hee would wisely passe by it if of greater weight he would admonish them of and reprove them for it yet not with any railing or reviling words for ought that ever I could heare but in words of wisedome as became a holy man and a good Master sometimes it may be more sharpely because the nature of the fault and disposition of the offender might so require it and sometimes more mildly as hee found the party more sensible of his fault and more tractable for amendment There was not the meanest amongst them but hee would labour to cheare him and encourage him in his service and if hee saw them any more towardly in duties of Religion hee would so much the more kindly speak unto them and more willingly confer with them They did usually also exercise themselves unto godlinesse by mutuall exhortations and admonitions drawing on one another in every good way and praying unto God in their courses together in the evening for a blessing upon their desires and labours which they ordinarily performed in the Kitchen more privately after prayer in the Parlour with the whole family So that by this meanes the Master governing religiously His family a religious nursury and the servants obeying conscionably his family became a common nursury for the Churches of God in the whole countrey For 1. Such of his servants as were inclineable unto marriage hee provided well for them and sent them out being married in the feare of God to raise and establish the worship of God in their owne houses And such as were single persons By disposing as he had any mind to spare them and to part with them he either bestowed them in other families or suffered them to plant themselves in such houses where they might mutually both joyne and joy together in Gods service to the spreading abroad of Religion and farther inlarging of the kingdome of Christ Jesus Or dispersing his servants And then he made supply againe by taking out of the countrey such of their sonnes and daughters as were fittest for his planting or watering in that part of the Lords Vineyard or for sowing or setting in the Lords field CHAP. XXI THus farre we have heard in what manner hee governed His course in Family duties towards God and ordered his family in their severall places for the better discharge of their duties amongst themselves Now we are farther to observe his course and carriage in those exercises and religious duties which he daily and duely performed morning and evening with his family in the worship of God for their mutuall comfort and for Gods praise and glory This Gentleman knew right well that family exercises were the very goads and spurs unto godlinesse the life and sinnews of grace and religion The necessity and excellency of family duties Example in Abrah Gen. 18.19 in Cornelius Act. 10.2 in Lors Eun. 2 Tim. 1.5 the bonds and cords of love drawing or leading to perfection Like the coales taken from the Altar whereby both iniquity is purged and mens hearts are inflamed with holy and heavenly affections towards God and good things Like the planting and watering of the Lords Vineyard whereby every branch is made more fruitfull Like the private training of Christian Souldiers that they may be fit and more fit for publike service Like the nursing or nurturing of the children or heires of great families where some are fed with milke and some with stronger meat all with wholesome food untill they bee brought on to their Fathers house to bee farther refreshed and feasted at his Table Of the souldiers Harnesse Lastly hee knew well that Family exercises in religious duties were like the putting on and buckling unto us the whole armour of God that so being furnished with all offensive and defensive weapons we may stand fast in the evill day and goe through the duties of every day also with more ease and comfort His preparation in 4. things 1 In his vigilancy And upon these and such like serious considerations he exercised himselfe and his family unto godlinesse after this manner First for preparation and secondly for execution For preparation It was his ordinary course to rise very early in the morning before the rest of his family betwixt three and foure of the clock in Summer and at or before five in the Winter so that by this his vigilancy and industry hee gained the liberty and opportunity most commonly of an houre or two before he rung the bell to awaken the rest of his family which time he bestowed most graciously first in private prayer for himselfe 2 In his private prayer and for every soule in his family making mention of some more particularly by name as their occasions or afflictions might move him thereunto and giving thankes to God therewithall for such mercies and comforts as both hee and they had received that night past and formerly also from his hand Secondly 3 Meditation in meditation upon some part of Gods Word and works wherewith he did season his mind and refresh his heart endevouring so to set the Watch aright in the morning that the clock might go the better all the day after 4 Industry in writing Thindly hee did as hee had occasion usually write out faire some part of such Sermons as hee had by a running hand taken from the mouth of the Preacher for renewing and increasing of the benefit and comfort which hee had reaped and received by the same Thus did he watch over his family when they were at rest themselves and commend them unto God by his prayers before they could open their lips to speake unto him by their owne words Thus did he awake with God in the morning that he might the better awake unto righteousnesse and walke before God in holinesse and uprightnesse all the day after even untill the evening CHAP. XXII 2. Hisexecution and performance of his family exercise THis he did by way of Preparation Now for execution in the performance of his family exercises he did discharge himselfe after this manner After they were come together upon the ringing of the bell they did all very reverently frame and compose themselves to stand in Gods presence and then he himselfe lifting up his heart with his hands unto God in the heavens First a little short prayer began his morning exercise after this manner Blessed Lord God and our most mercifull father in Christ Jesus we
and the godly in all duties of Piety and Charity And so continuing as she did faithfull unto death shee obtained what she desired and expected the crown of life What were the heavy consequents of this affliction in his Family hee hath himselfe set down and that in so patheticall a maner that I know some that could yet never read the words but their heart was full of sorrow and their eyes full of teares in the reading of them His own words be these But when it pleased God to take away my wife from me then all mourned for her losse As also in respect that all my tablers must now part being about the number of 21. my son John and his being then with me But we did still so accord and so loth wee were to depart a sunder The heavy parting of his Tablers that I requested them to stay with me that quarter more from January to Aprill which was very thankfully accepted which quarter we had much comfort together but mourning oftentimes to think of the quarters end And the last day sitting at dinner together all so full of heavines that in effect there was no meat eaten So as I was forced to hide my selfe All full of griefe and could not take leave with them all being so full of griefe c. When Jonathan and David whose hearts were linked together in holy love were orced to part and were now ready to take leave one with another It is said in the story that they kissed one anther 1 Sam. 20.41 and wept one with another untill David exceeded It was not much otherwise with this Company that had lived under one roof in so great love and peace together when now they must part and take leave one of another they kissed one another and wept one with another untill M. Bruen himselfe exceeded M. Bruen himselfe exceeded And so exceeded that he was glad then to hide himselfe to conceale the extremity of his griefe and since in recording of it to draw a vaile over it with an c. as the Painter did over Agamemnons face when hee knew that his pensill could not expresse the heavy sorrows of a fathers heart in the losse of Iphigenia so deare a daughter Pectoris vulaus tepore ratione curatur Hieron ad Pammach Time and reason strengthened by grace will moderate passions That which men say will avayle much with a naturall man for allaying the heate and repressing the violence of griefe and sorrow time and reason being now more strengthened by grace and well qualified by Christian wisdome and moderation brought this Gentleman to a good measure of patience and contentment in bearing and breaking through this affliction which hee saw the hand of the Lord had laid upon him For now he began to frame his affections for a single life and to draw his Family into a narrower compasse resolving to retire himselfe and to live more privatly if it were but for a season for the benefit of his children which the Lord had given him CHAP. XLIII WHat hee did herein upon what advise to what end and with what successe to others and himselfe both for soule and body I think it not amisse to tell you at large in his own words Then I continued saith hee a single life five yeares and a halfe or thereabouts Two yeares in mine own house In which time that man of God good M.D. came unto me who enquiring of my estate I told him I did owe about an hundred pounds and had 4 daughters and divers sons He therefore advised me to give over my house and to go to Chester and to live there a season which I yeelded unto M. Bifeild then being there a godly Preacher and very powerfull in his Ministery And there I lived 3 yeares having the company of M. Bifeild and his wife every Wedensday and Fryday to dinner which were his Lecture dayes with some other good company besides In which 3 yeares it pleased God to stir up the hearts of many neighbours to come every evening to prayer with us and some every morning My sister Hardware and her Family shee being a widow came constantly having a convenient way through her garden and often with her many friends and neighbours These our meetings were traduced by some and excepted against by others and yet after a while being well known what they were no fault was found In this time It pleased the Lord Almighthy to give a great blessing All praise unto his holy Name only Many converted and many confirmed and many convinced And many could I name but I spare Let God alone be glorified magnified for ever that by such weake instruments doth manifest such great power grace and mercy In these 3 yeares God gave me also a great earthly blessing 1 I paid all my debt 2 I marryed my two daughters that were marriageable and paid their marriage portions 3 I preferted a son or two 4 I maintained the poore in my own Parish in the Countrey allowing all the increase of my 2 mils in Stapl. for that end 5 I mainteined the poore in Chest both at my gates and otherwise weekly as I was rated All humble and hearty praise and thanks be given to God Father Sonne and Holy Ghost for evermore Amen Then I returned home and built my Study And tooke to wise Margaret through Gods blessing and by her one daughter dead one son living Al praise to God There are divers things in this relation very remarkable which may not well be passed over in silence tending so much both to his just commendation and to our information and edification in the Faith and feare of God 1 As first that Although the Lord was pleased sundry times to exchaunge his comforts with crosses yet was he never changed nor moved from his steadfastnesse 2 Secondly in all his afflictions he was willing to be humbled but never dejected nor discouraged having learned in what estate so ever he was therewith to be content 3 Thirdly that where ever he was at home or abroad in city or countrey his desires and endeavours were ever bent to doe good remembring the words of our Lord Jesus that it is a more blessed thing to give than to receive 4 Fourthly that where ever he went whatsoever he did the presence of the Lord Jesus was with him and his good hand upon him to prosper him in all his wayes and to strengthen his hand and heart in well doing 5 Fifthly that in every place he became a nursing father to the children of God Esay 22.23.24 whether they were babes or such as were of riper age in Christ yea he was as a naile of the Sanctuary fastened in a sure place upon which men did hang all vessels of small quantitie from the vessels of cups even to all the vessels of flaggons as the Prophet speaketh 6 Sixthly that notwithstanding all his great expenses both in city and countrey in maintaining
life from me Well these drunkards whoremasters do not think upon their sins well how then There is no drunkard that doth drink one spoonefulor drop of drink more than doth suffice nature but the Devill doth pen it down in his book Well it is a great book and he doth keep it close untill the day of Indgement And then he will lay it to their faces At which time the hils will tremble and quake and the Devill will quake yea he doth quake for feare now Well some would think it a great while to be bound with the Devill as I am a 12 month or 2 yeares but it is better to bee so than to wallow in drunkennesse swearing and whoring for the Divell doth worke in their soules Well some will say how can the Devilly in so little a room Well the Devill is as the wind for when he did take a man away out of a chamber be came in at the little hole but how did he take him away even out at the top of the chimney Well there are some Papists and some Atheists and some of no Religion woe be to those that dye suddenly for they have no time to repent and especially those that live in drunkennesse or whoring or swearing Iesus saith they say hee shall not out of me but when God comes he will strike home Many and many other more of his strange speeches I passe over contenting my selfe with these few which were taken from his own mouth by the hand under the testimony of faithfull witnesses some at one time and some at another as he himself did then deliver them and as this worthy Gentleman hath in his diligent Observation of this amongst other of Gods Iudgements made mention of them and recorded them This therefore that hath been spoken shall suffice concerning the second daily duty which this Gent performed namely his carefull observation of Gods ways and works mercies and judgements amongst the sons of men CHAP. XLVIII His private invocation THe third followeth viz. His Religious invocation of the Name of God every day Now although it be true that he did very constantly performe this duty every day morning and evening with his Family as formerly wee have heard yet did he not hold that sufficient for himselfe unlesse he did open his heart and poure out his soule in private before the Lord making his requests known unto him Phil. 4.6 in all manner of supplications with Thanksgiving And this he desired and endevored to perform according to the Apostles direction 1 Tim. 2.8 In every place lifting up pure hands without wrath or doubting that is in faith and love For hee did not confine himselfe for his private Prayers unto any one place Not confined to one place neither within doores nor without but ever tooke his fittest opportunity as time and place might best move him or leade him unto this Duty Following herein the holy example of Christ and of other holy men setting themselves a part for this service sometimes in and upon the higher roomes of the house with Peter sometimes in the field with Isaac Acts 10.9 Gen. 24.63 Luc. 22 39 40. Eph. 3.13 14. Nehem. 2.4 sometimes in the mount and sometimes in the garden with Christ Iesus sometimes in the Prison with Paul and sometimes in the Palace with Nehemiale sometimes upon his journey with Iacob sometimes at the end of it Gen. 28.20 Gen. 24.12 Psal 6.6.9 Act. 10.30 with Eliezer somtimes on his bed with David and somtimes in his closet with Cornelius If he were in his own house or about home he had divers places which he interchangeably used for this purpose because hee would not bee too much observed to frequent one place lest he should draw himself into some suspition of vanity or hypocrisie Hee had variety of Closets Studies Chambers and other convenient roomes if hee were within and if he went abroad he had his Gardens Orchards Arbors Groves Woods and Fields Walkes and Shades where he did delight to speak and commune with his best friend and to seek the face and favor help and succour of his heavenly Father in and through the mediation of his Son Christ Iesus And as he was choice of the place so was hee carefull of the time which he constantly set apart every day for his private prayer His time for private praver Fsal 119.164 Seven times a day and praise 7 times a day did hee reverently and conscionably performe this duty causing his prayers to ascend as incense and the lifting up of his hands to be as an Evening Sacrifice The severall seasons and times he tooke were these The first in the morning before any of his family were stirring being usually first up in the house Psa 55.27.7 and that both Summer and Winter The second was before his breake-fast after prayer in his family The third was immediatly before dinner The fourth a little while after dinner The fist a little before supper The sixt not long after supper And the seventh a little before hee tooke his Chamber to go to his rest Neither was he only so plentifull for the number of his spirituall Devotions as he was by the grace of God powerfull in the manner measure end and issue of them Powerful in prayer Rom. 8.26 27.1 Iohn 5.14 I am 5.16 2 Cor. 12.7 For being full of Faith and of the holy Ghost he could speake unto God by his own spirit in his owne words according to his owne Will and in the name of his own Son And so we know he could not but speake wel and speede well either finding that which hee craved and sought for at Gods hands or obtaining more than all that he could desire or deserve My grace is sufficient for thee And herein we are the rather induced thus to thinke because usually his prayer was fortified by Faith supported by Hope inflamed with Zeale beautified with Humility purified by Sincerity and established by Constancy Now unto his Private Praying he did usually upon some extraordinary occasion his own or others adjoyne private Fasting His private Fasting which hee was very frequent and fervent in and that with so great austerity that he did much weaken his body as well as afflict his soule thereby as sometimes Timothy did in the like case 1 Tim. 5.23 Eusebius hath reported recorded it Euseb c Hist lib. 2. cap. 23. of Iames the Iust that with often and continuall bowing of his knees before the Lord for himselfe and the people in earnest fervent prayer for remission of their sins he hath so lost the sense and feeling of his knees that they were as hard and so as sensles as the knees of a Camell I will not compare this Iohn with that Iames neither for sanctity of heart nor for austerity of life Tender prayers and hard knees But for their Affections and Actions Prayers and knees tendernesse of the one
and hardnes of the other I thinke no man may justly put them far asunder if he ever knew how well they did herein agree together Tuis oculis durities de genibus camelorum in illo Sancto Asellae corpuseulo prae orandi frequentia obcalluisse perspecta est Hieron ad Marcellum de laudibus Asellae The matter of his private prayers Now in these his private devotions his desires and endeavours were principally bent to search his heart and to examine his life to confesse and bewayle his speciall sins and infirmities craving pardon for them and power against them And as he found any thing to bee amisse in his Family by any transgression or affliction hee brought it in prayer before the Lord to procure some help and healing of the same from his hand Here also did he mourne for the sins of Sion Sins of Sion Ezek. 9.4 and take to heart the afflictions of Ioseph and desolations of Ierusalem Here did he bemone and bewayle the common and grosse sins of the Time Sins of the Time Psa 119.136 and afflict his heart for the barrennesse or backsliding of many professors of Religion for their embracing of the world and forsaking of their first love Praise and Thanksgiving Here did he also rejoyce in the Lord and praise his holy Name for earthly and heavenly blessings bestowed upon him and sometimes for great deliverances which hee had wrought for him And thus did he converse with his God in this third Duty of Prayer and Prayse in the Invocation of Gods Name every day CHAP. XLIX NOw followeth the fourth which was his holy Imitation of his heavenly Father every day And this hee endevoured by conforming himselfe unto his Image in expressing the Properties Vertues Affections and Actions of him that had begot him and called him to be conformable to the Image of his Son Christ Iesus To this end hee dayly laboured to be more and more renewed in the spirit of his mind in knowledge righteousnesse Eph 4.24 Col. 3.10 and holinesse of Truth according to the Image of him that created him And this hee knew was the Duty of all Gods obedient Children to bee holy as hee is Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1.14 15 16. Lev. 11. 44. because it is written Bee yee Holy for I am Holy This hee knew also was charged upon us Mat. 5.45 46 by our Saviour Christ Iesus that in all our Affections and Actions we should behave our selves like the children of our Heavenly Father and labour to resemble him in doing good unto all hurt unto none Amicos diligere omnium est inimicos autem solorum Christianorum Tertull lib. ad Scapull Cap. 2. yea in doing good unto the bad as as well as to the good and to our enemies as well as to our friends Mat. 5.48 Luke 6.36 Rom. 2.4 striving to be perfect as he is perfect mercifull as hee is mercifull righteous as hee is righteous wise as he is wise patient as he is patient faithfull as he is faithfull and endeavouring to hate iniquity which he hateth to love righteousnesse which he loveth to delight in the Saints in whom he delighteth and to hate the wicked Psalm 5 5 Heb. 1.9 2 Cor. 3. last whom his soule abhorreth After this manner did this gratious Gentle set the Lord alwayes before his eyes and following this blessed patterne and example of his Heavenly Father with all godly care and good Conscience and so with open face as in a Glasse the glory of the Lord he was translated into his Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. And thus have we declared unto you the first of those three generall heads proposed for the further opening and manifesting of the vertues of his life viz. his holy conversing with God which consisted in his Meditation Observation of Gods Mercies and Iudgements Invocation of his Name in Prayer and Praise and Imitation of his blessed example in his Properties and Affections Words and Works CHAP. L. NOw we come to the second which is his conversation in the world 2 His conversation in the world Cic. Tusc Quaest. lib. 5. in fol. p. 166. When Socrates was demanded what countreyman he was he answered that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a citizen of the world and so he might well knowing no other world but this present evill world But this Gentleman although by his naturall birth and condition of the same city and society with Socrates yet by his new birth and regeneration being called out of the world Ioh. 15.19 1 Ioh. 5.4 and having by his faith overcome the world though he were in the world yet was he not of the world and though he were amongst the children of the world a froward and a crooked generation Luk. 16.8 Eph. 2.19 yet was he even then a citizen of the holy city and of the houshold of God and a sonne of the heavenly Ierusalem which is the mother of us all And so being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he had his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 2.19 .i. his conversation in heaven even while he was in earth Phil. 3.20 So that of all that ever we knew in these parts he might have taken up the words of the Apostle with best warrant and most comfort Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world For such indeed was the course of his life that he did desire nothing more than to walk worthy God 1 Thes 2.10 11 12. endeavouring to expresse the very power of godlinesse in the fruits of righteousnesse and holinesse to the praise of his glorious grace Phil. 1.9 10 11. Phil. 2.15 16. And that he might so hold forth the word of life in his lampe and lanterne that he might both shine as a light in himselfe and be a light unto others also in this present world Now for the better clearing and manifesting of this point we will set downe certaine rules of direction which he much desired to follow partly as preparatives for a godly conversation in the world and partly as preservatives against the contagion and corruptions of the same 1 As first Resolution against the world God presence A holy resolution so to use the world as neither abusing it nor being abused by it but to keep himselfe unspotted from it 2 The second A full purpose of heart to keepe his heart alwayes in Gods presence knowing and beleeving that he heareth all his words and beholdeth all his works 3 The third Striving against sin A constant and conscionable standing and striving against all manner of sinne especially the sinnes of the time and the common corruptions that are in the world through lust 4 The fourth Desire to doe good A godly desire in
He was one of the Trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord whose leafe was ever greene whose fruit did never faile ever bearing his owne fruit good fruit much fruit and even in his age more and more fruit being ever full and flourishing in the courts of our God Full of good fruits towards all He was full of Mercy and of good fruits towards sinners and towards saints towards neighbours and towards strangers towards friends and towards foes towards the poore and towards the rich towards all sorts and conditions of men as he had opportunity and ability so to declare himselfe unto them Now because the good Tree is knowne by his Fruit and the true Uine by her sweete Grapes Mat. 12.33 we will take a view of some of his fruits of Mercy and try what their taste and relish is that so finding them to be wholesome and savoury as no doubt we shall wee may judge aright of the tree that did beare them and of the branch that brought them to our hands Some of the fruits of Mercy which hee shewed forth in his holy conversation He did mourne for sinners were directed unto such as were yet in their sins blind ignerant popish or prophane Such as were without meanes of grace being without God and without Christ how would his bowels of compassion yern within him Mat. 9.36 Exod. 32. Mar. 3.5 Hee did contemne contemners 2 Tim. 3.3 Mat. 7.6.2 Tim. 3.5 2. Ioh. 10. Esay 36.21 and be moved for the misery that was upon them How often as he hath by occasion seene them in the midst of their Heathenish sports and Idolatrous feasts either kissing the Calves or dancing about them hath be looked angerly upon them and spoken roughly unto them yet mourning for the hardnesse of their hearts which was upon them and as it were bleeding inwardly for the wickednesse committed by them If he by occasion did meet with such persons as were mockers contemners of God and despisers of good things hee would not cast Pearles before Swine nor holy things before Dogs but turne away his face from them and not so much as salute them nor speak one word unto them But if he found any poore soules erring from the right way yet desiring a guide as the Eunch did to bee directed unto it Act. 8.31 Prov. 2.1 2 3 4. Pro. 4.1 2 and to walke in it how carefull would he bee of their good how joyfull to doe them good He would deal so choisely and tenderly so mercifully and wifely with them by his wholesome instructions loving admonitions godly exhortations and good directions that hee did nourish and cherish them in religion as the tender Babes 1 Thes 2. â— 1. 1 Thes 2.7 Plants and Lambes of Christ Jesus and so brought them to a better liking of the truth and a greater love unto it for their farther growth in knowledge and in grace by it Yea such was his bounty and liberality to such persons 1 Pet. 2.1 2 Pet. 3.18 to encourage them and draw them on in the true profession of religion that he would if they were poor and needy give to some money out of his purse His bounty to poor Christians corne out of his Garner to others Bibles Catechismes and other good bookes which of his owne cost hee had provided to that end and laid up in store in his Study by him If hee had seene a professor of religion in some decay and want for outward things he would endeavour to relieve him by his own and other good means For supply of their wants according to his present occasions and necessities I know those that have seen him take off a good sute of apparell from his owne body as it might be this day to bestow it the next upon an honest godly man that wanted seemely raiment to fit him for some better service and imployment And when he had thus done to give him a good summe of money in his purse to set him out in some good fashion and to beare his charges untill hee might come to the place where hee might better provide for himselfe These are some of the fruits of mercy which this mercifull Gentleman shewed forth in his godly conversation both towards sinners and to wards saints partly to their soules and partly to their bodies CHAP. LVI THese are some but let us attend unto more They that are rich in this world He was rich in good workes 1 Tim. 6 18. are charged to be rich in good workes to distribute unto the necessities of the saints to give themselvs to hospitality and not to forget to entertain strangers for therby some have entertained Angels unawares This Gentleman was ever ready according to his portion and proportion to be rich in good workes and full of good fruits and so gave himself to great hospitality to entertain strangers and to refresh the bowels of the saints His house was as the common Inne His Hospitality or constant harbour of the Church and of Gods children and himselfe as Gaius a godly and good Hoste to give them liberall and cheer full entertainment as they came unto him None so welcome to eate of his morsels or to drinke of his cup as such strangers as were no strangers in Israell For Gods children nor strangers from the Covenant of promise but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Such there were Many passengers from London to Ireland and from Ireland into England many travellers horsemen and others out of Lancashire and the farthest parts of Cheshire who would as they had occasion to come to the Courts or Faires of Chester take up his house for their lodging place not so much I conceive for the ease and refreshing of their bodies as for the comfort and rejoycing of their hearts in seeing his face in hearing his voice in conferring and advising with him in having a portion in his prayers and a part in his praises unto God with him His provision for his Table in plenty and varietie Now for his ordinary Table which hee kept for his hospitality it was bountifull and plentifull not unto excesse and superfluity but unto a very competent sufficiency and that with great variety of Gods good creatures ever ready to his hand His flight of Pidgeons the best in the Countrey his Warrens of Conyes not inferiour to many his delicate Fish-ponds surpassing all about him which were the better for his owne skill care and paines which he took himself with them all these being blest of God unto him might well furnish his table together with other ordinary provision in and about his house for the comfort and contentment of any such strangers as would come unto him Hee could not endure any riot or excosse In all this great plenty and abundance he would never suffer any wilfull waste nor could hee endure any wanton or wicked abuse of Gods good creatures his
him that prayed could not containe himselfe but oftentimes with a cheerefull consent said Amen Amen unto the requests and supplications that were made for his good and comfort in Christ Jesus After this M. L. spake a word unto him to comfort him in the midst of all his sorrowes that hee knew that shortly hee should bee released and freed from all sinne and sorrow from Satan and this present evill world wherunto he answered most cheerfully and graciously I know I shall and bee with Christ which is best of all And now the messenger of death is upon me which he spoke of the hickock which had taken hold of him M. L. replyed I hope Sir that death is no scare nor terror unto you No indeed it is not I thanke God saith he for it is my way to life and I am now called of God unto it And thus he continued in great paine of body but yet in great peace of mind increasing still in consolations and enduring all his sicknesse with admirable patience not shewing any distemper nor discontent neither in word nor deed all the while in the troubles and sorrow of the same His care for prayer in the Family After this the same night he put it upon me to call his Family to Prayer and to performe the evening Sacrifice in the great parlour commading them to set open his little parlour doore adjoyning to it that he might heare us and joyne with us and partake of such mercies and meanes as the Lord should be pleased either to offer unto us or to accept at our hands The next morning though he did weare a way very much yet he called upon M. L. to pray with him Mindfull of M. L. being up very early to go a long journey to preach his ordinary Tewsday Lecture Of whom he was so very carefull that he caused some provision to be made for him especially a Posset that hee himselfe at their parting might drinke with him The same day I staid with him untill the afternoone A heavy Parting ministring such help and comfort as I could unto him And then mine owne occasions calling me home my wife being his former wives own sister and my selfe came to take leave with him which when hee heard and saw his very soule seemed to melt within him for both his and our hearts were full of griefe and our eyes full of teares and so mingling our sorrowes our teares and our prayers together be commended us to the grace and blessing of God as wee also did him And then falling upon his face and kissing his cheek we tooke our long leave with him leaving him yet in the hands of his heavenly Father that would never leave him CHAP. LXVIII Some ever ready to pray with him THe same afternoone he called for M. Lan. and M. Clerk his own Pastor to pray with him and was never at quiet unlesse hee were either Meditating and Praying himselfe or had some godly man or good Minister to pray with him and for him Divers desire a blessing from him Vpon Wednesday morning divers of those that were with him suspecting his death and dissolution to be neare tooke leave with him desiring at their parting a blessing from him Which he did willingly expresse by lifting up his hands and his heart unto Heaven for them Vttering also some words which they could not so well understand In the afternoone he overheard some making motion of blacks I wil have no blacks saith he I love not any proud or pompous Funerals neither is there any cause of mourning but of rejoycing rather in my particular After this he entreated a good Christian to pray with him which he did very willingly again and again to his good contentment And while they were in prayer in the Family they that were with him did imagine that he prayed himself silently and secretly He prayeth secretly himselfe by the pulling of his armes out of the bed and lifting up his hands and his eyes towards Heaven whence only he did looke for hearing and helping at Gods hands And now growing so weak that he was scarce able to speak a word those gracious people that were about him prayed him to lift up his hand if he understood them and would have them to pray for him Other gracious people pray with him which he did very willingly and readily and so he joyned with them and was heard to say Amen to the prayers that they made for him Afterward they perceived that he prayed himselfe again lifting up his hands and uttering these words with many other to the like effect The Lord is my portion His last Prayer my help and my trust his blessed son Jesus is my Saviour and Redeemer Amen Even so saith the Spirit unto my spirit Therefore come Lord Jesus and kisse me with the kisses of thy mouth and embrace me with the armes of thy love Into thy hands do I commend my spirit O come now and take me to thine own selfe O come Lord Jesus come quickly O come O come O come And so his spirit fainting His last end and his speech failing he lay quiet and still for a little season And then he meekly and graciously yeelded up his pretious soule into the hands of God his Father that gave it and into the armes of his Saviour that had bought it and redeemed it with his pretious bloud And thus having finished his course and run out his race the night of his death shutting up the dayes of his life Snaviter in Domino obdormivit He sweetly slept in the Lord. All Glory Thanksgiving and Praise bee unto our gracious God in and through his Son Christ lesus for ever and ever Amen Vae etiam laudabili vitae si remota misericordia discutias eam Aug. Conf. lib. 9. c. 19. Aug. Quisguis tibi enumerat vera merita sua Aug ibid. cap. 13. Quid tibi enumerat nisi muneratua FINIS Imprimatur JOH HANSLEY Jan. 16. 1640.