I so much love When she enjoyed the greatest portion of temporal or spiritual comfort yet would she never say Master it is good to be here as Matth. 17. 4. but making that but a step for an higher ascent she rather inferred It is good going hence For if on earth there be so much good how pleasant and desirable is Heaven the joyes on earth to those that are there are but as the earth is to Heaven little and low dark and heavy Why I do not fear Death I fear not Death because it is but the separation of the body from th sould and that it is but a shadow of the body of death Rom. 7. 24. whereas the separation of the soul from God by sin Isa. 59. 2. and of soul and body for sin is death indeed I fear not Death because Death is such an enemy as hath been often vanquished and because I am armed for it and the weapons of my Warfare are mighty through God and I am assured of victory I do not fear Death for the pain of it for I am perswaded I have endured as great pains in life as I shall finde in Death and Death will cure me of all sorts of pains and because Christ dyed a terrible and cursed Death that any kinde of Death might be blessed to me and that God who hath greatly loved me in life will not neglect me in death but his Spirit will succour and strengthen me all the time of the combate I do not fear Death for any loss For I shall but lose my body by it and that is but a prison to my soul an old rotten house or ragged garment nay I shall not lose that neither for I shall have it restored again at my Saviours second coming made much better than now it is For this vile body shall be like the Body of Christ and by death I shall obtain a far better life And as an incentive of Divine love she prepared a breviate of Gods principal benefits to her self for meditation on her Death-bed and for thanksgiving to God which was this How shall I praise God 1. For my Conversion 2. For his Word both in respect of my affections to it and the wonderful comforts I have had by it 3. For hearing of my prayers 4. For godly sorrow 5. For fellowship with the godly 6. For joy in the Holy Ghost 7. For the desire of death 8. For contempt of the world 9. For private helps and comforts 10. For giving me some strength against my sin 11. For preserving me from gross evils both before and after my calling c. She shewed her holy love to God by conforming her practice to his Precepts according to that Joh. 14. 15. If you love me keep my Commandements She thought nothing too much that she should stick at if God commanded or forbad it nothing so small but his Word was able to give it weight enough to bow down her neck to the obedience of it If it was a greater matter that he required of her she considered that he was a God infinitly both great and good and that unto her who had and would do for her ten thousand times more and greater things than she could do for him If it were a little thing she conceived that the contempt or neglect of it would aggravate her guilt as Naamans servants said to their Master If the Prophet had bidden thee do some great matter wouldst thou not have done it How much rather when he saith unto thee wash and be clean 2 King 5. 18. the less the duty is the more is the disobedience if we do it not for thereby we extenuate the Authority of the Almighty and such as sleight it in a little thing will not regard it in a greater She was therefore very precise in every point which God required the perâ—formance of By this means she still increased in holiness and sanctification and kept a greater distance from great offences according to that of St. Jerom Non cito ad majora progreditur qui parva formidet who so is afraid of a small sin will not easily grow bold on those that are greater Her love to God was strong as death Cant. 8. 4. yea and much stronger so that Death could not affright her for she desired daâ—ly to look death in the face nor could it hurt her more than she was content to endure For though it was not likely that she should go through the narrow wicket of Death and not be pinched in her passage yet was she well contented with it seeing it was the ready way to come to God whom she so much longed to behold Her Charity was very chary of the credit of the absent towards whom she would not suffer either her tongue or her ears be guilty of any wrong or robbery of their reputations She never imposed false crimes or feigned faults upon others She never discovered their secret sins or aggravated those that were known She never denied dissembled nor diminished the vertue or good parts of any Though her hatred of sin was such as became a sincere Christian yet knew she how to distinguish betwixt sin and the sinner and setting a severe dislike on the one she reserved as charity required love or compassion for the other Her Charity was regular according to the Rules of Scripture which she set down in a paper with quotations of Texts for her direction in four particulars 1. I must give readily Job 31. 16. Prov. 3. 28. 1 Tim. 6. 18. 2. I must give secretly Matth 6. 3. 3. I must give liberally 2 Cor. 8. 12. 9. 6. 4. I must give cheerfully 2 Cor. 8. 12. It was answerable also according to her own ability and others necessities She had rather give a little to many since the number of the needy is very great then a great deal to a few and she so ordered her charity that she might still be able to exercise her hand that way and not as some who give so much that after a while they can give no more And upon extraordinary occasions if she were not magnificent the let was not in her minde but in her means Her Charity was vigorus and so cordial that what she gave was alwayes without grudging knowing that God loves a cheerful giver 2 Cor. 9. 7. yea she was so cheerful herein that she bestowed nothing upon her self with more readiness than she did upon others whether it were towards the maintenance of the Ministry or in giving Almes to the poor and yet herein did she follow the rule of our Saviour Matth. â— 6. Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth for she was many times as close in giving her own as a Thief would be in taking away from others so that none did more good deeds with less shew or sound of words than she For the object of her charity she took her direction from the Apostles precept
so far from cooling and diminishing as that they encreased and that deservedly to his last rather than decreased amongst all that had learned Christ in humility and truth And as for those few silly seduced ones who were carried away towards his latter end with a spirit of giddiness through the secret and subtile insinuations and whisperings of false Teachers in corners who with as much ignorance as confidence delude the simple by great swelling words of vanity and uncouth phrases abhorrent from Christian Religion sobriety and truth and which wise men lament while fools who are ignorant of the depths and methods of Satan applaud and admire endeavoured in their virtigenous fits to eclipse his credit and splendour yet his pious and affectionate Essayes to reclaim them with the spirit of meekness as also his fervent Prayers and yearning Bowels for their reducing turned all their revilings to his greater lustre and glory amongst all such as were able to discern of things that differ and willing to approve the things that are excellent Not long after Mr. Crook's first setling in this his Pastorall charge he happily married a Wife of his own Tribe and after his own heart who was the eldest daughter of that Reverend Mr. Walsh an holy and painfuâ—l Minister in Suffolk a great and rare Light in his time and famous for his Ministeriall labours his fervent zeal and abundant charity She was a very prudent and gratious woman a most loyall loving and tender wife zealous and active for his encouragement credit and comfort in all things especially in his Ministry to which she constantly bore such hearty respect and reverence as did much quicken and enlarge him in the work of the Lord. She was also continually studious and carefull to free and ease him of all emergent occasions avocations and businesses of ordinary concernment that so he might with the more freedom follow what his soul most delighted in his diviner imployments and enjoy himself and friends in his necessary relaxations In a word her behaviour was such as becometh holiness a teacher of good things to the younger women and in her Family a worthy pattern and a great promoter of godliness in all that conversed with her and to her Husband a meet help indeed and so she continued all the dayes of their conjugall relation Children he left none besides those spiritually begotten unto Christ by his labours in the Gospell His great delight and indefatigable pains in preaching so many years so frequently was almost beyond all example for he constantly preached if in health thrice a week besides his extraordinary labours on many emergent occasions which he cheerfully embraced as rejoycing in all opportunities of doing good and that abroad as well as at home In all his Sermons which were many thousands his expressions were choice grave solid weighty savoury and seasonable His applications home and pertinent strongly enforced and set on from Divine authority by a sweet and moving elocution a masculine eloquence fervent zeal and strength of love to the souls of the hearers He knew very well how to set forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abstruse points plainly and how to manage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plain truths elegantly not in the words of mans wisdome but which the Holy Ghost teacheth Alwayes speaking in Christ as of God in the sight of God He was not like one that makes a Feast once a moneth or once a quarter letting his Family beg or starve in the intervals Nor like such as visit the Pulpit twice every Sabbath day yet bring no new matter with them scarce once a moneth but still are setting on the same dishes with a little new garnish even unto nauseousness But our Mr. Crook as he layed in richly so he layed out liberally and prudently like a ready Scribe instructed to the Kingdom of God or a good Housholder who brings forth of his treasury things both new and old And albeit he could by his quick invention profound Judgment and faithfull memory things rarely meeting in the same man dexterously dispatch that with little labour which costs other men much pains yet he seriously professed with rejoycing that he never durst serve God with that which cost him nothing well knowing that industry adds weight and respect both to the matter and speaker whereby his words became as goods and nails fastened by that great Master of the Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd His Motto was Impendam expendar I will spend and be spent which he cheerfully verified For he counted not his life dear in comparison of preaching the Gospell and of finishing his course with joy and the Ministry he had received from the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospell of the Grace of God When he was told by his Physician who was very carefull to preserve his life that he might live longer if he would preach seldomer Alas said he If I may not labour I cannot live what good will life doe me if I be hindred from the end of living Et propter vitam vivendi perdere causam When through age and weakness he was disenabled from travelling abroad any more to perfume other Congregations with the sweet odours of his pretious ointment and when by reason of his years and infirmities he might very well as an emeritus miles have sued out even in the Court of Heaven it self a Writ of ease and have passed the rest of his dayes in rejoycing over his Triumphs and Trophies yet would he never give over studying and Preaching till all strength of Body gave him over Yea he often preached even when his legs almost refused to carry him any more to Church and that with much spirit and unexpected vivacity even as a mighty man refreshed with the Wine of Gods Spirit And being some years before his departure sensible of the daily approaches of Death which he long expected to his exhausted and decayed body almost ready to be deserted of its Divine Soul he did severall times preach his own Funerall Sermon as supposing he should never preach more and that not without the tears proceeding from the grief of his loving and beloved hearers And when after such preaching and rejoycing in it he invited as his constant manner was such Ministers and Friends as came to hear his Lecture to his Table he would force himself to sit with them although for the most part he was forced to be silent by reason of the expence of his spirits and much rejoyced that he had once more imployed his Masters Talent and enjoyed the precious society of Saints in whom was all his delight He used often to say to his friends that rejoyced with him and blessed God for him that he was nothing but a voice as being troubled at the decayes of nature growing upon him more and more whereby his feeble body was disenabled from serving his still active soul and his Tongue being no longer able to
him in their holy fellowship and commended them to the blessing of God His pious Consort and those Olive Plants that sate lately about his Table now gathered together about the Bed of a dying Husband and departing Father This was his last solemn transaction with man in this world Silver and Gold though he wanted not he had not much to give them but the blessing of a righteous Paâ—ent he left with them That Reverend and Godly man Mr. Wilson who excelleth in Love as Mr. Cotâ—on did in Light the faithful Pastor of that Church taking his last leave of him and most ardently praying unto God that he would lift up the light of his countenance upon him and shed his love into his soul he presently answered He hath done it already Brother His work now finished with all men perceiving his departure to be at hand and having nothing else to do but onely that great work of dying in the Lord he wholly composed and set himself for his dissolution desiring that he might be permitted to improve that little remnant of his life without impediment to his private Devotions and divine Soliloquies between God and his soul and for that end he caused the Curtains to be drawn and a Gentleman and Brother of that Congregation that was much with him and ministred to him in his sickness he caused to promise him that the Chamber should be kept private But a while after hearing the whispering of some brethren in the Room he called to that Gentleman saying Why do you break your word with me Not long after being mindful no doubt of that great helpfulness which he received from that aforementioned Brother throughout his visitation he left him with this farewel The God that made you and bought you with a great price redeem your body and soul unto himself These words were his last words after which he was not heard to speak but lying some hours speechless he quietly breathed out his spirit into the hands of him that gave it December 23. Anno Christi 1652. being entred into the Sixty eighth year of his Age. The Life and Death of Dr. Hill who dyed Anno Christi 1653. MR. Thomas Hill was born at Kingston in Worcestershire of Godly Parents and David accounted it his great honour and blessing to be the Son of Gods Handmaid Psal. 86. 16. His Parents dedicated him unto God from his Child-hood designing him to the work of the Ministry and in order thereunto they trained him up in School-learning in the Country and being there well fitted they sent him to Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge where the Rose was not cankered in the bud his youth not corrupted nor debauched as too many are But this morning like that 2 Sam. 23. 4. was without clouds not sullied with any noted miscarriage but on the contrary as it is said of Sampson when young that the Spirit of the Lord began then to move him Judg. 13. 25. So in his then sober and studious behaviour the Sun looked out betimes in that Summer morning and through Gods Grace otherwise than it oft falls out in nature he gave promising hopes of an after clearer day This being taken notice of by the Governours of the Colledge they thereupon after examination had chose him Scholar of the House he as his Saviour still growing in wisdome and stature and in favour with God and man And then after some good time spent in his private studies in the Colledge for his further perfecting and the more happy seasoning of his spirit he went and sojourned with that man of God now also with the Lord Mr. Cotton at Boston in Lincolnshire where by Gods rich blessing upon his most godly directions and example and the society he had with him and other eminent Christians in that place he was much improved and furthered as otherwise so especially in Heavens-way which happily went along with him to his journies end Upon his return from thence to the Colledge it was not long before he was chosen Fellow with general approbation though upon a most strict and double examination more I think than ever was in that Colledge before or hath been since though it still is and ever hath been according to the Statutes very strict and serious and which hath been blessed to be a special means of holding up true worth and learning in that happy Society And now through Gods good hand of providence leading and strengthning him he proved a diligent painful and successful Tutor of very many Pupils and divers of them persons of quality who since have proved great blessings both to the Church and Commonwealth And thus as he was before a pattern to young Schollars so after he was a Tutor no diligence was wanting whereby he might be instrumental to Gods Glory and the good of those who were committed to his charge But this our wise Master-builder satisfied not himself as a Tutor in polishing of builders but as a faithful and painful Minister he laboriously endeavoured to square other lively stones for Gods Temple 1 Pet. 2. 5. and so as he read to Schollars in the Colledge he also diligently and conscionblâ— preached to a neighbour Congregation St. Andrews in the Town so that many poor souls long after had cause to bless God for him Nor was he an Hireling to flye when the Wolf came but when the Plague in this time of his Ministry raged in the Town he still continued with them in his Ministerial employment the better Shepherd he who not onely fed the sound but also healed and bound up the torn and weak of the flock This Alabaster Box of precious oyntment thus powred out filled the whole house with its odour and the sweet fragrancy of it did spread abroad so that now he came to be more taken notice of by many both great and good men and so by some of eminent worth and honour he was called to the Pastoral charge of Tichmersh in Northamptonshire where he laboured faithfully in Gods Harvest for the space of about eight or nine years and partly by preaching and conversing up and down with others but especially with his own Parochial charge he proved a great blessing not onely to that Town but also to the whole Country in every place where he came spreading a good savour and leaving it behinde him During the time of his being at Tichmersh he sometimes repaired to Warwick Castle to that Noble Robert Lord Brook who highly esteemed him and in whose Family he grew acquainted with Mrs. Mary Wilford at that time Governess to the Lady Frances Rich a young Lady of rare parts Daughter to the Right Honourable Robert Earle of Warwick and mutual affections growing betwixt them he was married to her who since his death was re-married to the Reverend learned and pious Dr. Tuckney Master of St. Johns Colledge and Regius Professor in Cambridge my much honoured friend so that she hath
his full and faithful testimony One thing was well observed by him and is very remarkable that notwithstanding the many opportunities she had to see Playes to which the neighbourhood and vicinity of the Play-house there and the frequent throngs of Gentlewomen which prest thither might have been forcible and prevailing invitations yet she could never whilst she lived there nor indeed all the time of her being in London be induced to see any of them and being sometimes advised by her dearest Friend to go thither as other Gentlewomen did to avoid too much retiredness she answered it is hard to say whether with more discretion or Religion that she liked it not and that next to Gods house she could best spend her time in her own In Gods House if I may with reverence use Tertullians expression she saw enough of the Scene Scenicae Doctrinae delectant Sat nobis sententiarum sat versuum sat etiam Canticorum c. Sentences Verses and Songs enough to delight her soul. Would she see a Tragedy There she could see before her eyes Jesus Christ evidently set forth crucified amongst them Gal. 3. 1. What a sight is Christs coming to Judgement Kings throwing down their Crowns and Scepters and themselves before him In her own house she could as Solomon describes the excellent Huswife Prov. 31. 27 28. imploy her self in looking well to the wayes of her Houshold and not eating the bread of idleness that so her children might rise up and call her blessed her Husband also and he might praise her She was so far from the gadding disposition of other talking walking women that she was for the most part as a Snail Domi porta within her own shell and family And as St. Jerom pourtaits his never enough admired and applauded Marcella Raro procedebat in publicum maximè Nobilium Matronarum domos vitabat ne cogeretur videre quod contempserat She went seldome abroad and especially chose to decline the houses of Noble and Honourable Ladies lest she should be tempted to see those vanities which she resolved to contemn and so be unwillingly wrought and brought to desire what she so willingly despised This retiredness as usually it doth drew on her a decrease of health which occasioned for the enjoyment of a better air and recovery of health her removal to Cheswick where she lived to her dying day exceedingly beloved and dyed extreamly lamented and desired of all While she enjoyed her health which yet was much interrupted her constant and unfailing practice was besides daily prayers in the Family to betake her self in the morning and at other convenient times to her constant private devotions in her Closet and then allotting some time for being a wise and prudent woman she made a little time reach far in the education and oversight of her children and disposing and dispensing the affairs of the Family the residue of the day she spent in reading books of Piety and Devotion and most willingly those of Dr. Gouge by which means she made her heart Bibliothecam Christi a Library of Christ and furnished her self with such a stock of Christian knowledge and devotion as carried her on with much comfort and cheerfulness through all her afflictions till she arrived at her long and much longed for home Both in her health and sickness she was of so meek and milde a comportment and behaviour towards all that she conquered by it as Ignatius advised Polycarp to do those that had if at least any had any venemous sting or spleen against her For her meekness she seemed indeed like that Dove in the Prophet Hosea chap. 7. 11. that had no heart none certainly to do any harm or injury to any And as Solomon saith Prov. 15. 1. A loft answer turns away wrath so without doubt her soft and milde disposition in these rough and blustering times kept off many an impetuous storm and shower from her This mildness was eminently conspicuous in her sickness One night her Husband perswaded her to use an Electuary that was sent her she refused it twice but in milde tearms yet the next morning she told him that she had been too blame it might be in her words the night before Often she desired all the world to forgive her if she had offended any as she heartily forgave them all that had offended her Her Husband told her that he thought she had no enemies Yea said she some have wronged me but I forgive them from my heart and desire God to forgive them In all the time of her sickness she was never heard to use any impatient word to any or of any Quis unquam ab hac muliere quod displiceret audivit That I may use St. Jeroms Question concerning another on her behalf Who ever heard any thing from this good woman that might displease him or believed any thing against her and condemned not himself of too much credulity or malignity in believing it Cheerful she was yet she tempered it with such a becoming severity severe she was yet she allayed it with such a decent cheerfulness that it may be truly said of her what was said by St. Jerom of a vertuous woman Nothing was more severe than her cheerfulness nor cheerfull than her severity Such a concurrence and constellation of vertues and sweetness such a Mirror of Charity such a Treasury and Magazine of Chastity and Sobriety was in her In short she had such an eminency in single vertues as if she had had no more and yet such a worthiness in all as if she had been singular in none Since the troubles of these bleeding times she suffered many afflictions with a Masculine patience though much imbittered to her by a long and tedious sickness and the necessary and indispensable absence of her dearest Consort which yet she professed that it never bred in her the least ill thought of him saying often that she did but desire to see him again and to speak with him and then she was ready if God so pleased the next day to sing old Simeons Nunc dimittis Luke 2. 29. Lord now lettest thy servant depart in peace And God heard her prayer and his also for in this they were joynt and mutual Orators and to her great comfort she saw him and spake with and for three weeks space they mutually enjoyed each other abroad in the house But then the first-born of Death began to devour her strength as Bildad speaks Job 1. 13 14. and threatned to bring her to the King of Terrours for so indeed Death is to them that have not made their peace with God But to her however in regard of the dissolution and parting of those dear friends body and soul which had been now for two and forty years sweet and loving inmates a valley of Achor Hos. 2. 15. that is bitterness as the word imports yet was it to her a door of hope to open her a passage
into that better world which she so much longed after often professing that there was nothing that could tempt her to wish for life but the breeding up of her little ones which yet now she was the less solicitous about because she could leave them in the hands of their tender and careful Father not doubting as old dying Jacob said when he was blessing the two Sons of Joseph Gen. 48. 15. 16. That that God which had fed her all her life long untill that day and the Angel which had redeemed her from all evil would bless them And now finding her self arrested by the messenger of Death and her body like the house of Saul growing weaker and weaker but her soul like the house of David waxed stronger and stronger took higher flights and made nearer approaches to God that gave it When her Husband came to her as he did frequently he continually admonished and minded her of the gracious Promises of mercy in Christ and of faith in him and desired her to be strengthened and comforted in them Her answer was she was comforted in them she found the comfort of Gods Spirit in her and verily believed she should see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living Psal. 45. 13. Ever and anon saying I am comforted Gods Spirit is in me which makes me endure my sickness and more pains than you can think of so comfortably as I do When she knew of none by her usual prayer was Lord look down upon me in thy mercy Lord forgive me my sins Lord assist me with thy holy Spirit Lord thou hast assured me of the forgiveness of my sins Lord assist me still with thy holy Spirit And many times passing the whole night without sleep she spent that time in these and the like heavenly prayers and ejaculations in which her Husband and those which attend her continually still found her when they came to her Never man had a more faithfull dear and loving Wife or more carefull of what concerned him than himself and more tender of any thing said or done against him than if it had been said or done against her self And when he seemed to lament the loss he should have if God took her from him She meekly answered We came not into the world together and therefore may not look to go out together When he replied that it would be much better for their children if he went first as by the course of nature was most likely she said that he could do much better for the children than she could and thanked God for that she could now leave them with him For the space of three weeks she kept her bed and about a fortnight before her death being surprized with a fainting fit in which she was like to depart and thereby perceiving that earth would suddenly return to the earth whence it came that her soul might be the better winged and prepared for a return to God that gave it she deâ—ired that all the Family might be called up and joyn in prayers with and for her At which time observing the grief and passion of her Husband and those that were present expressed plentifully by tears from their eyes she besought him and them not to grieve and lament for her happiness About that time a Reverend person coming to visit her Husband he solicited him to enlarge that great act of favour unto him by a greater act of charity to his wife by visiting her also whom God now visited with sickness as also to pray with and administer some comfort unto her which he most willingly condescended unto and having taken a strict account of her faith in Christ and hopes of a better life he left her with his Fatherly benediction top full of comfort and when she was afterwards told that he came out of respect and kindness to visit her Husband she said No but God had sent him for her comfort often acknowledging the consolations which she had found by him When any came to visit her in the time of her sickness at the parting she desired them to pray for her and often sent Messengers and caused Letters to be directed to her friends in London to pray for her for that she was now preparing for another world When she was sometimes desired for her childrens sake to chear up her self her answer was that to leave them did not trouble her because she was assured that God would provide for them adding that she would willingly leave Husband Children and all to go to Christ which was just the minde of that blessed Martyr Ignatius Befall me said he what will or can so I may enjoy Jesus Christ my Love my Life that was crucified for me or rather St. Pauls case expressed in that most elegant Barbarisme Phil. 1. 23. Desiring to be with Christ which is multo magis melius much more better And now finding the day of her life wasted to the evening and ready to dye into night on the Lords day before her death she desired the prayers of the Congregation in the Parish where she lived being well assured as she said that many good people would pray heartily for her After which some coming to visit her and exhorting her to patience and to remember the afflictions of Job she answered that she had had her part in his afflictions God having given her Luctuosam foecunditatem as St. Jerom said of Laeta a sad and sorrowfull fruitfulness taking away seven of her children in their minority so that she as Hanna spake in her song 1 Sam. 2. 5. that had born seven waxed feeble yet she comforted her self with this hope that they were in Heaven before her and hoped that they would be Lamps to lead her to heaven for she assured her self that they followed the Lamb whithersoever he goeth and for those two which were yet alive she thanked God for that she saw no ill qualities in them Besides she said that God had taken away her goods from her but had given her patience which to her was of more value and she esteemed it above them all knowing that God was able to restore all when he pleased She often acknowledged Gods goodness to her in sending her a milde sickness and not taking her away with some sudden stroke as he did the wife of Ezekiel Chap. 24. 16. or by some tormenting disease as he is pleased to visit some of his dear ones acknowledging the wonderful mercy of God to her therein A week before her death she called her eldest Daughter to her being to go from her to School at Putney and putting her hand on her shoulder she said to her I give you that blessing which my Mother gave me at her death The God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob bless you and then added the blessing which Aaron by Gods own appointment was to give the children of Israel The Lord bless thee and keep thee
is given to those who in their life-time were Governours of the Hospital of Bridewell one of which number this worthy Doctor was yea and a Benefactor too to that House As also that he should not affixe any Escocheons to his Herse though he was a Gentleman of an ancient Descent as if he had thought that the poverty of Christ was his Patrimony and Coat of Arms and his interest in him his greatest and best atchievement or as if both living and dead he would be as the Apostle speaks cloathed with Humility He was much in Communion with God and contented not himself only with his constant daily and ordinary holy duties but was also frequent in extraordinary exercises In the Bishops times when it was not permitted to keep Fasts in the publick Congregations he was one of those Ministers who frequently holp private Christians in their more retired Humiliations In times of fears and dangers he with divers others had sometimes monthly yea sometimes weekly Fasts whereof many were kept in his own house and others of them in his Vestry which he was observed to perform with extraordinary reverence awfulness of spirit His Confessions were accompanied with much sense of and sorrow for sin brokenness of heart self-abhorrency judging of the creature and justifying of God His petitions were pertinent judicious spiritual seasonable accompanied with faith and fervency like a true son of Jacob he wrestled with supplications and tears as resolving not to depart out of Gods presence without a blessing But there was none like him in Thanksgiving when a man would have thought that he had spent the last drop of his spirits and strength in Confession and Prayer O! how would he recollect is spirits when he came to the work of Thanksgiving wherein he would be so large particular warm and vigorous that in the end of the day when mens affections grew flat he would so revive and quicken them as if the work had been then but newly begun and as if that had been the onely work of the day and herein indeed he may be a pattern to all his surviving Brethren in the Ministry He was very inquisitive after the state and condition of the Church of Christ both at home and abroad that he might accordingly order his prayers in their behalf of whom he was never unmindful in his addresses unto God And when he heard that it went ill with the Church of God in any place like another Nehemiah he sate him down and wept and mourned and fasted and prayed unto the God of Heaven in their behalf His study was as great to advance Christ as to debase himself He used frequently to say When I look upon my self I see nothing but emptiness and weakness but when I look upon Christ I see nothing but fulness and sufficiency When the hand of his body was weak and shaking that of his soul his faith was strong and steddy When he could not hold the Cup at the Sacrament nor scarce carry it to his own mouth by reason of his Palsie hand yet then with a firme anâ— fixed affiance did he lay hold upon Christ and with a strong and eager appetite applied his blood to his soul and his manner was sweetly to breathe forth joyful Thanksgivings for his refreshment by the blood of Christ when he was returned to his house after the Lords Supper yea when he could hardly creep with his body to the place where it was celebrated and was forced many times to make use of the help of others to support him in his passage thither even then did his faith run swiftly and was upon the wing to carry him to Christ. When worldly suports failed him when health and strength forsook him he made Jesus Christ the staff of his old age often professing as his great misery and impotency without him so his holy and humble recumbency upon him Great was his patience under the visiting hand of God especially in his old age when God exercised him with painful maladies Though by reason of the sharpness and bitterness of his pains occasioned by the stone and acuteness of his urine and that Lethalis arundo as he oft called it that deadly arrow in his side which he knew could never be plucked out but by death I mean his Asthma which he got by an excessive cold in attending upon publick imployments Notwithstanding I say by reason of these he was often heard to groan yet never did he once grumble against the dispensations of God Never did he complain of God for his sufferings though oft of himself for sinning He never cryed out A great sufferer but oft A great sinner and yet he would overtake that expression again with the discoursing of and comforting himself in A great Saviour and in the depth of his torments he would say Well yet in all these there is nothing of Hell or of Gods wrath His sufferings were never so deep but he could see the bottome of them and would say Soul be silent soul be patient It is thy God and Father that thus ordereth thy estate Thou art his clay he may tread and trample on thee as pleaseth him Thou hast deserved much more It is enough that thou art kept out of Hell Though thy pain be grievous yet it is tollerable Thy God affords some intermissions he will turn it to thy good and at length put an end to all none of these can be expected in Hell He used often to make mention of the extent of obedience which he said was not onely to endeavour to do what God requireth but also patiently to bear what Gods will is to lay upon his creature as Christ himself though he were the Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered In his greatest pangs he oft used this speech of holy Job Shall we receive good from the hands of God and not evil He often commended his soul unto Christ and used to say I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day When any of his Friends went about to comfort him in those gifts which God had bestowed on him and works which he had wrought by him he would answer I dare not think of any such thing for comfort Jesus Christ and what he hath done and endured is the only ground of my sure comfort Many that came to visit him in his weakness professed that they went away better than they came by reason of those savoury and gracious speeches and expressions that proceeded from him Though towards his latter end his fits of the stone were frequent and sharp having sometimes four or five of them in an hour yet such was his desire to finish that his so much desired Commentary upon the Epistle to the Hebrews that so soon as the bitter pain of his fit was over he still returned to his work making some further progress therein And thus he
hands the Patronage was supposed to rest some of the Religious Inhabitants valuing the means of Grace above all their other outward enjoyments cast their eyes and thoughts upon Mr. Gataker to gain whom to their own intreaties they added the mediation of his good Friend Mr. Richard Stock who when he had by many reasons remonstrated unto him that God did give him a clear call to that place whose honour and Ordinances might suffer prejudice by the intrusion of an unworthy man if he should refuse the call he at last suffered himself to be perswaded and prevailed with to undertake that charge which being represented to Sir Henry Hobart the Kings Atturney General by Mr. Randolph Crew afterwards Lord Chief Justice Sir Henry that before favoured other pretensions to gratifie some Tenants of his in that Parish yet now did readily imbrace the motion concerning the setling of Mr. Gataker there according to his own contentment and withall wrote a Letter to the Bishop for the removal of all obstructions that lay in the way or that might hinder his acceptance of the presentation of Mr. Gataker which being signed with all the hands of the three brethren who had right to that Advocation was tendred on his behalf The report of this his removal was no welcome news to many of that Honourable Society who would fain have retained him and some of them offered an enlargement of his maintenance for an argument to keep him and others of them represented the consistence of both imployments by the help of an assistant But he that made not his Ministry a meer trade of living here as Gregory Nazianzene complained that some did in his time and too many do in our times would not multiply his burdens when he deemed himself unfit for the least and would not suffer himself to be wrought to any other resolution Therefore Anno Christi 1611 commending his former charge to the Grace of God he betook himself to the sole attendance of that Flock of which now the Holy Ghost had made him the Overseer and his industry in the discharge of his duty there was both constant and great notwithstanding that he was almost perpetually troubled with the head-ache wherewith God had exercised him from his very youth and for which he had only this poor comfort from his Physician Dr. Goulston his singular good friend with whom he communicated his studies upon Galen and to whom he contributed his assistance for the Edition of some parts of Galen who often told him that the incurable disease of age would be the onely remedy of his distemper because together with the abatement of natural heat his indisposition would grow less vigorous and violent To the work of his Ministry in publick upon the Sabbaths he added a Catechetical weekly Lecture on Fridays in the evening which was designed by him to lay the foundation of saving knowledge in the hearts of the children of whom a certain number every Lecture day did give an account of their knowledge by set Answers to Questions delivered out to them aforehand for their instruction this course of holding a form of sound words agreeable to the Doctrine of the Gospel consigned in holy Writ of what importance it is we may gather from that ignorance and those errours which have invaded the Church in these our times which mischiefs can hardly be imputed to any thing so much as to the neglect of that usefull duty of Catechizing But that exercise was performed by him with such an accurate and methodical explication of the whole Body of Divinity that Christians of riper years and of long standing in Christs School did resort to be partakers of those discourses wherein their well-exercised senses did find not only milk fit for babes but also solid meat suitable to grown men in Christ. This course he continued till he had compleated a pefect Summary of Divinity and gave it over when he saw that the least part of his Auditory consisted of those for whose sakes he principally intended this work his Parishoners being grown at least to a neglect of his free labours in that kinde Mr. Gatakers constant retirement in his study caused him to make choise of an help meet for him that might oversee his Family which was a necessary act of prudence and therefore not long before he left Lincolns Inne he married the widow of Mr. William Cupp to whose two daughters he was so providently kinde in their education that he disposed of them in marriage to two Divines of note in the Church and continued such a fatherly love to them and theirs that the world mistook them for his own children That wife dyed in child-bed of a son that did bear the Fathers name who after that he had seen the most remote parts of the world wherewith we keep commerce returned home to his Father and dyed in peace The same motive still being in force he after a decent interval of widow-hood chose for himself the daughter of a Reverend Minister Mr. Charles Pinner who was brought up in the worthy and religious Family of Mr. Ellis Crisp brother to Mrs. Pinner and it pleased God to give him a Son by her whom in process of time he dedicated unto God in the work of the Ministry but immediately to take away the mother so that the mothers Funerals and the childes Baptisme were celebrated together Thus our wise and gracious Father tempers the cup for his children lest they should surfet upon earthly enjoyments as they might easily do if they were unmixed with occasions of sorrow Then did Mr. Gataker remain for many years in a disconsolate condition till at last he adventured and married a Gentlewoman of a very considerable Family being sister to Sir George and Sir John Farwell and a good esteem for knowledge and piety By her he had three children whereof a son and a daughter were carried to the ground before their mother but the third yet lives to walk by the light of her Fathers life and Doctrine This his third wife being of a contemplative minde fell into a consumption which so wasted her body that her soul took its flight from thence into Heaven Last of all he took to wife a Citizens widow whose comfortable conversation he enjoyed for the space of four and twenty years but without any issue by her His love to her was one motive that induced him to remove out of his Parsonage house into another habitation of his own revenue For supposing that she might survive him he would make a convenient provision for her that she might not be subject to the curtesie of another for her removal and that affection extended it self in his great liberality to many of 〈◊〉 kindred that were in need of help and support from him and that both in her life time and since her decease He survived her two years within a few dayes and because he numbred his dayes with wisdome and
of Faith Patience Contentment and spiritualness which he had formerly preached to and pressed upon others he was very profitable unto them who visited him and might also prove very advantagious unto others who might be acquainted therewith through Gods grace by Christ. So great was his tender respect to his friends that when his pains were coming with violence he would intreat them to withdraw from him that they might not be grieved with his roariâ—gs and he used often to bless God that his compassionate friends were not necessitated to abide within the reach of his doleful lamentation As his death drew more nigh so his fits of pain were more frequent either every half hour or many times every quarter yea two or three in a quarter of an hour which did exceedingly abate his strength The night before God took him out of this vale of tears Mr. Ash hearing that he was not likely to live another day went early in the morning to take his leave of him whom his soul loved at which time he found his bodily strength much decayed and perceiving that he could not speak without much difficulty Mr. Ash spake the more unto him in reference to the approach of his happy hoped for change and his discourse through Gods mercy was very refreshing his spirit He told him also that many of his friends intended to set apart that day in seeking the Lord for him and asked him in what things eâ—pecially he desired to be remembred before the Throne of Grace His answer was Do not complain but bless God for me and intreat him to open the prison door Then Mr. Ash laying his hand upon his cold hand covered with a clammy sweat took his last farewell of him with an aking heart and upon his departure from him the last words which Mr. Whitaker spake to him were these Brother I thank you I pray God bless you and I bless God for you That day was spent in addresses to God for him at Peters Cornhill where Mr. Newcomen quickned and guided our prayers in his Sermon upon Joh. 11. â— Lord Behold he whom thou lovest is sick and Mr. Jenkin endeavoured to moderate and regulate our sorrows from Luke 23. 28. Weep not for me Thus his friends having by prayers and praises on his behalf given him to God and having prepared their hearts for the loss of him the Lord was pleased that evening to take him to himself June 1654 being above Fifty five years old After his death Mr. Holiard opened his body in the presence of Dr. Cox Dr. Micklethwaite and Dr. Bevoir some other more ancient Doctors would have been there if either their being out of Town or present urgent occasions had not hindred being opened they found both his Kidnies full of ulcers and and one of them was swelled to an extraordinary bigness through the abundance of purulent matter in it Upon the neck of his Bladder they found a stone which was about an inch and an half long and one inch broad weighing about two ounces when it was first taken out and withall they found an ulcer which was gangrenized and this was judged to be the cause of his death All other parts of his body were found firm and sound He was so humble that he feared lest Gods people praying for him should speak too well of him before the Lord. He was a self-denying man never daring to look after great matters in this world whereby he condemned many whose self-seeking in earthly advantages renders them very offensive and unsavoury in the Church of Christ. Mr. Calamy speaking of him saith If I should enter upon his Commendations I might truly say what Nazanien doth of his Sister Gorgonia that I have more cause to fear lest I should speak below than above the truth For he was a burning and a shining light in this our Israel A Messenger and an Interpreter one amongst a thousand A Bazalâ—el in Gods Tabernacle A true Nathaniel that by his integrity humility constancy charity publickness and peaceableness of spirit and by his diligence and fâ—ithfulness in preaching the Gospel made his life both amiable and desirable I will say of him as it was said of Athanasius that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Adamant and a Loadstone To all that conversed with him he was as a Loadstone to draw their hearts to love him But in the cause of God and in reference to the truths of Christ he was as an unconquerable Adamant He was a Jeremy both in mourning for and in witnessing against the sins of the times He was a second Whitaker though not so eminent in Learning as to be what is said o◠〈◊〉 Mundi miraculum Academiae Oraculum the miracle of the world and the Oracle of the University yet he was which is also said of him sound in the Faith one that had no private opinion that did not in veteri viâ novam semitam quaerere seek out new paths of his own but kept the old way and the old path That had a great wit without any mixture of madness He preached no less by the heavenliness of his Doctrine than by the holiness of hâ—s life yea he preached as effectually by his death as by his life or Doctrine for so great was the patience which God measured out to him that though in his extremity of torments he groaned yet he never grumbled Though he often mourned yet he never murmured nay though he often roared by reason of the greatness of his pain yet he alwayes justified and mâ—gnâ—fied God therein and this he did so constantly and in such a measure that as it is said of Job so it wiâ—l be said by the Saints that succeed us for their mutual consolation and encouragement Ye have heard of the Patience of Whitaker He had indeed an ulâ—â—rated flesh but a sound and whole spirit and that inabled him to bear his infirmity he had a stone in the Bladder but a very soft and tender heart he had a gangreene in his body but a sound soul unstained by sin I heard him often say with thankfulness that under all his bodily sufferings he had a blessed calmness and quietness in his spirit that God spâ—ke peace unto him that though he roared for pain yet the Devil was chained up from roaring upon him On the Death of my dear Friend Mr. JEREMIAH WHITAKER IF Death be but a servant sent to call The souls of Saints to their Originall Dear Saint thine was a Noble soul to whom Three Messengers were sent to call thee home A Stone an Ulcer and a Cangreene too Three Deaths to hasten that which one should do ' â—was not because thy soul was deeper set Than ours within its house of clay nor yet Because thou wert unwilling to depart Thither where long before had been thine heart They were not sent to hale by violence A soul that lingred when 't was called hence God shew'd how welcome one Death was to thee
Who did so meekly entertain all three Thus many Deaths Gods Israel did inclose The Sea before behinde a Sea of Foes On either side the jaws of Mountains high No way from Death but unto Death to flye Not to destroy them but to let them see The power of love which then would set them free Thus Jobs four Messengers which did relate The doleful story of his ruin'd state And his three Friends which acted Satans part He on his flesh and these upon his heart Who by disputing him unto a curse Would make his spirits torments the far worse Were by Gods wise disposal sent to show The strength he on his Champion would bestow Thus Painters put dark grounds where they intend To overlay with finest gold and lend By deeper shadows lustre to that face On which they mean their choisest skill to place Thus workmen season much with Sun and wind Those greatest beams which must the building binde Whilst smaller pieces haply are put in When they come bleeding from the wood and green Oft where is greatest grace God's pleas'd to send Great conflicts those great Graces to commend As the six-fingred Giants sword did bring The more renown to little Davids sling The vanquisht Lion and the conquered Bear Prepar'd that holy Head a Crâ—wn to wear The Angel wrestled first and then did bless And made the greater servant to the less Pain was too great for thee Gods grace for pain And made the greater serve the less again Thy pains serv'd thee for glory and did fit The Head on which a Crown of life must sit This is Gods method to fetch joy from grief To turn our sorrows unto our relief To save by killing and to bring to shore By the ships planks which was quite broke before And thus a barren womb first took the seed Which did six hundred thousand people breed That seed too must from knife and Altar rise And be before a fire a Sacrifice Great Preacher of thy Heavenly Fathers will Thy tongue did many ears with Manna fill Thy life out-preach't thy tongue O blessed strife Thy sickness the best Sermon of thy life Before each Doctrine must be prov'd a new Thine end was one great proof that all was true Before thou preach't by weeks but now by hours Each minute taught thy mourning Auditors Each patient groan and each believing eye Was a new Sermon in Brachygraphy When Nature roars without repining words Grace in the mouth when in the Bowels swords In midst of torments to triumph o're Hell To feel Gods Arrows yet his Praises tell Through thickest clouds to see the brightest light In blackest darkness to have cleerest sight And with our Lord to cry My God My God Upon a Cross under the sharpest Rod. This is indeed to preach this is to show Faiths triumph over Natures greatest wo. Then welcome fiery Serpents scorching sting Which did thee thus to th' Brazen Serpent bring Then welcome Whale which though it first devour Renders at last the Prophet to the shore Well might'st thou bear the stone which Death did throw Who had'st the white Stone the new Name to show Well might'st thou be with such an ulcer calm Whose soul was heal'd before with Heavens Balm When spirits wounds are cur'd though Nature groan An heart of flesh can heal a back of stone Let conscience have her feast and let flesh roar This pain shall make the others joy the more As many times those Flowers most fragrant smell Which nearest to some noysome weeds do dwell Thus have you seen the Forge most clearly glow On which the Smith doth drops of water throw Keen Frosts make fire the hotter and deep night Causeth Celestial Lamps to shine more bright And by a dear Antiperistasis The Childs distress sweetens the Fathers kiss A wounded body yeelds to a sound soul The joyes of this do th' others pains controle As in the day that the Sun beams appear All other lesser Stars do disappear When Heaven shines and Divine love doth reign The soul is not at leasure to complain Internal joyes his heart so well composes That they have judg'd their flames a bed of Roses Mr. Gataker Mr. Whitaker But what shall England do from whence are lopt Two if her richest Acres to Heaven dropt By loss of these two Acres she 's more poor Then if sh 'had lost an hundred Lordships more 'T were a good purchase to gain these agen By giving to the Sea all Lincoln Fen. Two little Mines of Gold do far surpass Huge Mannors where th' whole vesture is but grass Learn we by them what all men will once say One Pearch of Heaven 's worth the whole Globe of clay ED. REYNOLDS D. D. The Life and Death of James Vsher Dr. of Divinity Arch-Bishop of Armagh Primate and Metropolitan of all Ireland who dyed Anno Christi 1655. ALexander the Great commanded that no man should draw his Picture but Apelles the most exquisite Painter in the world and that his Statue should not be made in brass by any one but Lysippus the most excellent Work-man in that kinde So truly the Life and Death of this great and good man is fit to be written only by the ablest Pen that can be found Dr. JAMES USHER James Usher was born in Dublin the Metropolis of Ireland in the Parish of St. Nicholas January the 4 Anno Christi 1580. His Father Mr. Arnald Usher was a student in the Law one of the Clerks of the Chanchery in that Nation and a person of excellent parts and endowments His Mother was Mrs. Margaret Stainhurst who in her later time was seduced by some of the Popish Priests to the Roman Religion they taking their opportunity whilst this her Son was upon some occasion in England and they by their subtilty had engaged her in such vows that when her Son came back he could not possibly reclaim her which they have often boasted of in Print yet her Sons hope was at least upon her Death bed to have prevailed for the reducing of her to the Truth But it pleased God that she dyed suddenly at Drogheda when he was absent at Dublin whereby to his no small grief those his hopes were frustrated and disappointed His Grandfather by his Mothers side was James Stainhurst whose Christian name he bore who was chosen three times Speaker of the House of Commons in the Irish Parliaments in the last whereof he made the first motion for the founding and erecting of a College and University in the City of Dublin He was also Recorder of that City one of the Masters of the Chancery and a man of great wisdome and integrity His Uncle was Richard Stainhurst a man famous in France and other Nations for his great learning which he manifested in several Books published by him one of them when he was eighteen years old between whom and this Reverend person there passed many learned Letters His Uncle by his Fathers side was Henry Usher who was trained up at
tears put her Prayers to a pause When the heart is full of love the mouth is filled with praise of a person most deservedly and most dearly beloved whereof we have an example in this vertuous Gentlewoman who when time company and occasion did invite her to communicate to others the good matter which her heart had indited of God she used her Tongue as the pen of a ready writer Psal. 45. 1. And when she had that great King for the subject of her speech she spake of him with such hearty and savoury relishes of sacred delight and reverence and with such an affectionate force as if her soul were ready to leap out at her lips into the ears of others to kindle the same holy fire in their hearts who heard her which burned in her own bosome longing as David did that others might taste and see the goodnâ—ss of the Lord Psal. 34. 8. that they might be Rivals with her in her Religious love and glad she was when any sinner was converted or any already called better enabled to promote the glory of God and that was the end which she principally aimed at in her godly discourse of him In giving vent to her heart in this duty she could spend her spirits with great delight both to her self and to those choice friends who had opportunity to hear her when just occasion was ministred unto her and yet when she had spoken best she found matter of complaint in her own expressions as being too faint and too flat and so far below that which was meet for the Majesty of the great God insomuch as all the acceptation which she desired of him was but to pardon her presumption as the errour of her love for taking upon her to speak of his Excellency and the weakness of her spirit and speech which made her fall infinitely short of doing him right in the publication of his praise Another evidence of her dear affection unto God was the great love which for his sake she bore to whom or whatsoever had any near relation to him according to that 1 Joh. 4. 21. He that loves God must love his brother also and he must love him rather in a direct than in a collateral line as Gods childe rather than as his brother more for Gods sake than for his own The dearest degree of love belongs to those persons and things which are nearest to him and to such she bore a sincere and singular good will As to his Saints with David Psal. 16. 3. and to his true Religion and worship both at home and abroad the happy progress and prosperity whereof was with her as Jerusalem with David preferred above her chiefest joy Psal. 137. 6. and it was a great affliction to her heart to hear any ill tidings of any good man or any good cause She highly prized Gods word and in the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper she felt such a sweet refreshing as might make amends for the severity of her frequent fasting so that for her part and portion of it in respect of the common sort of Communicants she might say I have meat that ye know not of Joh. 4. 32. Dainties which infinitely exceed whatsoever delighteth or pleaseth a sensual pallate For the house of God she shewed her self just of Davids minde when she said I have loved the habitation of thy house the place where thine honour dwelleth Psal. 26. 8. and How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord Psal. 84. 1 2. If by any imperious impediment she were kept from the Church as by sickness in her body c. her soul was love-sick by her longings to be there and whereas many women take a little occasion to absent themselves from it she would many times force her feeble body to carry her soul to the Sanctuary though the day before she were confined not only to her chamber but to her bed whereby though she hazarded her health yet it pleased God so graciously to accept of her zeal to his House that she was never the worse for those pious adventures She kept a great distance from doting on the world which St. James condemns as enmity to God Jam. 4. 4. Though while she lived she could not choose but be in the world yet did she so love her dear Lord Jesus Christ that for his sake she was exceedingly estranged from the world which appeared 1. By her estrangement from sensual delights which she shewed by her frequent fasting from meats and drinks By her abstinence from such sports and pastimes as before her conversion she had been too immoderately addicted unto and by her fiâ—m resolution to forbear Marriage after her widowhood and to rest in that condition wherein she might best attend upon the service of God Indeed her love and delight in communion with God made her mindeless of meat and careless of provision for the flesh Well she knew that though fasting makes the body weak as David saith My knees are weak through fasting and my flesh faileth of fatness Psal. 109. 20. yet it strengthneth the spirit and maketh it vigorous in conflict and victorious in the event yea fasting and prayer make a potent combination which is able to drive the strongest Devil out of his usurped possession as Matth. 17. 21. These two she used not onely as weapons against the Devil but as wings to elevate her soul God-ward and heaven-ward yet herein was she observant of our Saviours rule Mat. 17. 18. that she fasted without an appearance of fasting onely the next day it might be discerned by her faintness she having spent her spirits in spiritual exercises the day before For those sports and pastimes wherein formerly she had taken too much contentment she not onely abstained from them but much complained of her vanity in them Her eyes which before were used to behold them with delight now shed tears of shame and sorrow that formerly she had set her minde so much upon them and now she imployed them in the more frequent and affectionate reading of the holy Scriptures wherein she took more delight than she had done before in the most pompous Spectacles set out to take the eyes with gazing and the minde with wonder And as for Marriage her heart was so devoted to her Lord Christ that though she had divers fair invitations to it by such as both for profit and credit and other considerable respects were worthy rather to be desired than denied yet she resolved not to change her condition in that kinde and that not onely in love and loyalty to her former Husband but that she might be more free to serve God according to that of St. Paul 1 Cor. 7. 34. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in body and spirit but she that is married careth for the things
Gal. 6. 10. Do good unto all but especially to the houshold of faith She indeed shut up her charity from none that had need of it but she enlarged it chiefly to such as were of the faithfull Her love and charity was very intire and great to her friends yet not so confined to them but that she reserved a competent measure for them that dealt unfriendly with her or that were enemies to her If there was any unkinde difference between her and any one though she enjoyed the freedome of her judgement to think as there was cause yet would she not suffer her affections to be estranged from them but was ready to do them good if power and opportunity did furnish her for it She requited love for hatred pity for spight â—riendly offices for offensive usages She bare ill will to none She hated nothing but that which is worse than nothing Sin and that she hated in all and most of all in her own soul. As her Charity was evidenced by doing so also by suffering If any tribulation were upon others or imminent over them she was like minded with her Lord and Master according to that of the Prophet Isa. 63. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflisted She did passionately sympatize in the sufferings of her fellow-members If it was ill with the Church or any particular Saints it was no better with her Charity made her suffer as much by inward affection as they did of their enemies by outward affliction Her Patience also was very remarkable For though her apprehensions were quick enough to conceive any thing tending to the disturbance of peace and patience yet she enjoyed such a calmness of spirit as could hardly be turned to a storm If any were injurious towards her her tongue could more readily pray and her eyes weep for them than with looks or words of indignation or disdain set upon them If she were angry at others which was very seldome it was sin their sin that was the cause of it If news came to her of any losses in her estate as sometimes there did of great ones yet was she never put out of temper with those ill tidings having these considerations ready at hand to quiet her heart It is that God that gave all that now taketh away some why should I take it ill He would not have me to be in love with nor to relye upon uncertain riches which were never true to any that trusted them but upon himself and I willingly renounce them to rest upon him He can if he see it good recompence the loss in the like or some better kinde If he take more there will yet be many poorer than my self and if he take away all my goods he can give me content without them for he is All-sufficient and so though I have nothing I may be as possessing all things 2 Cor. 6. 10. The world and I must part and whether we be unstiched by parcels or torn asunder by taking all at once all is one to me that which he chooseth is best for us both for his owne glory and my good if I grudge not against him but willingly as I pray give way to his will By bodily sufferings her patience was exceedingly tried both for the truth and strength of it For of some of her children she had long painful and very perilous labour but that which exceeded all was a long and sore sickness to which were applied very rough and irksome remedies so that she suffered not onely the anguish of her disease but many things also of the Physitians as that woman in the Gospel Mark 5. 28. and had it onely been pain and torment it had been more tolerable but it was accompanied with a strange infirmity and deformity Her jaw being faln she could not bring it up towards her upper jaw Her mouth was drawn awry towards her ears so that with much difficulty both to her self and others her food was conveyed through so crooked a passage to her throat which might have caused the greater discontent to her minde because it was the shipwrack of much beauty and comeliness which until then was seated in her countenance and whereof she kept remarkable impressions to her dying day yet shewed she admirable patience under this great affliction to which her heart was brought meekly to submit and concerning which she said that if it pleased the Lord still to continue her a spectacle of deformed misery she would not repine at his doing or her own suffering but would willingly abide it until he freed her body from the disease by health or her soul from her body by death Her Modesty also manifested it self by her shame-faced estrangement from sin and vanity concerning which vertue in her it may be said that it was rather sometimes too much than any time too little and it shewed it self divers wayes 1. In her look which was habitually composed to a modest and gracious gravity so that against any thing that was unseemly to be said or done she carried a severe rebuke in her very countenance or if any were so immodest as to speak or do any thing before her not becoming Christianity her modesty made some supply to their want of it she would blush for them 2. In her Speech whereas some would have vaunted themselves or made some vain-glorious shew of such sufficiency as was in her she rather shadowed her own light with a dark Lanthorn and therefore in that wherein she was a teacher she carried her self as in the person of a learner rather asking questions than making resolutions or giving rules and directions unto others 3. By her Silence For as St. Ambrose saith Thoughâ— silence be a rest to other vertues yet is it a chief act anâ— exercise of Modesty yea her pace her habit and he whole behaviour was a lesson of modesty which together with her other vertues wrought a kinde of awfulness in her person so that those that had not grace to do well in private were more afraid and ashamed of an appearance of evil in her presence than in the sight of many a Magistrate As for Humility she made great account of it she studied it seriously and got it so by heart that there was no need of Art to make profession or ostentation of it Solomon makes contention the proper effect of pride Prov. 13. 10. So peaceableness is a sure sign of Humility and this she shewed in that she could endure contradiction reproaches and other trials of Humility without a quarrel or breach of peace with any being still ready to deny her self and to yeeld to others so far as with a safe conscience she could Once a new Gown being brought her to put on and presented as a gift from he Husband wherein his kindness had put him to more cost than she wished to make her more fine than she desired to be she humbly besought with tears that it might not
was offered with strength of Argument against gain-sayers She was eminent for the grace of Humility and when I have said that she was of an humble spirit what can be said more This the Apostle would have us to be cloathed withall 1 Pet. 5. 7. Humility is the ornament of all Graces It s that Salt that seasons the best parts and graces So humble was the spirit of this excellent Gentlewoman that the poorest might have free access unto her and receive curteous language from her mouth and liberal almes from her heart and hand both being opened wide for their relief The observation of this humble deportment from her child-hood gained the heart of her dear Husband unto her long before she was ripe for her Marriage Her humble spirit evidently appeared by her condescending to them of low estate the servants in her Family the poorest and meanest in the Parish where she lived will bear witness to the truth of this particular She was of a meek and quiet spirit which as the Apostle saith 1. Pet. 3. 3. is in the sight of God of great price All her Relations will attest her meek deportment and how much she hated brawls and contentions Her very enemies if they would speak their consicences can testifie her readiness to pass by injuries So far she was from rendring reviling for revilings that she endeavoured to recâ—mpence â—vil with good and prayed for such as despitefully used her professing that it was the desire of her â—â—ul to do her very enemies all the Christian offices of love which lay in her power Special notice ought also to be taken of her Wisdome and Gravity in the ordering of her conversation Her discourses were savoury administring Grace to the hearers and tending to edification Her behaviour was modest and grave though she was of a cheerfull spirit yet it was without levity She was no tatler busie-body no medler in the affairs of others She was no gadder up and down from house to house hearing and telling of news as too many do to the wounding of the reputations of others The vain and frivolous discourse of some who came to visit her was an heavy burden and affliction to her spirit The dicourses of such as tended to the defaming and blasting others reputation were a great grief and trouble unto her and when she heard such discourses she would endeavour to turn the stream another way and move such discourse as might be profitable for the souâ—s good Her Love was very eminent towards all those that feared God she was with David a Companion to such a lover of their acquaintance who were the Saints the excellent ones Psal. 16. 3. Insomuch as when she apprehended any thing of God though in persons inclining to separation and of a contrary judgement from her she was so compassionate as to labour with much sweetness and candour to convince them of their errours and to wâ—n them to the truth imitating herein the holy practice of learned Musculus who gained some Anabaptists and Sectaries by kindness and benefits and 〈◊〉 them as much by love as by arguments Her holy Courage deserves special notice for though she was humble meek and loving yet she was stout and couragious in declaring her judgement upon just occasions before those whom she knew to be contrary minded hating compliance against conscience and doubting alwayes the soundness and sincerity of those who duâ—st not own their opinions She was much of her worthy Fathers temper in that particular who hath been often heard to say that a Coward can hardly be an honest man and much of Esters resolution desiring rather to suffer her self than sluggishly and silently to see the truths of God to suffer She was a praying Christian She was much in prayers and tears much in a sacred acquaintance and holy communion with God Her gift in prayer was very great She was much in her Closet alone and there much upon her knees An excellent patern for womens imitation which by no means should suffer that great duty to be omitted It was a Character of Paul when converted Act. 9. 11. Behold he prayes Praying Christians are the best Christians they are prevailing Christians and as Reverend and holy Mr. Dod was used to say Never dâ—spair of that person who can but pray She was â—ixed and 〈◊〉 in Religion having frequently read the Scriptures 〈◊〉 many â—ound orthodox and practical Divines she became settled rooted and grounded in the truth She was one that held fast her profession without wavâ—ing She was not 〈◊〉 about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 14. neither was she of their humours who for politick ends comply with all companies in their opinions She kept close to the publick Ministry where she lived there she heard the word faithfully dispensed She neither was of their opinion nor practice who out of I know not what kinde of singularity separate from the Ministry of a godly Pastor and Husband Her delight was very great in Gods Ordinances and she was glad when they said Let us go to the house of the Lord in company She had such an high esteem of and longing desire unto the house of God that when her strength failed her she would be carried thither by reason of lameness the feet of her body were weak but the feet of her soul her affections were strong nimble and vigorous Look upon her in her Relations as a Wife a Mother and Mistress and you shall see she was mindefull of her duty to God in them all Her great care and endeavour was to set up God in her Family in order whereunto she bestowed great pains in Catechising of her children and other near Relations committed unto her charge Her great design was to bring them all up in the fear and admonition of the Lord and to inculcate again and again that main and needfull lesson of Remembring their Creator in the dayes of their youth Much pains she took in Catechising and instructing her servants especially before they were to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper She used to examine them of the Sermons they heard and she customarily read over those Sermon Notes to them which she had taken â—t Church that so they might be the better prepared to give an account thereof to her Husband God was pleased to give her several Olive branches round about her Table well bred well Catechised and well governed and of very great hopes As Eunice and Lois instructed young Timothy so she instructed those hopefull little ones in the holy Scriptures and acquainted them with the knowledge of God in their tender years Thus according to Solomons counsel they were trained up in the way wherein they should walk Prov. 21. 6. and that even from their childhood insomuch as one of them though very young hearing a neighbour using the name of the Lord upon a sleight occasion reproved him for it alleadging the Commandement
of God against it Thou shalt not take the Name of God in vain And another of them reasoning with his fellows about God and the Devil professed that he had rather be in hell with God than in heaven with the Devil And a third who by reason of her age could not speak distinctly said in some discourse with her Father that God Almighty would not bless them who tell Fibbs meaning Lies and that she had rather dye than tell a Fibb so far had their Mothers instructions prevailed with them She was eminent for a charitable and bountifull spirit she was another Dorcas full of good works and Alms-dâ—eds That high Elogium that Solomon gives a vertuous woman may properly be applied unto her Many Daughters have done vertuously but she excelled them all Prov. 31. 29. Many there are that come far short of her but very few that went beyond her in the acts of Charity God gave her a liberal and plentifull estate and that was a great mercy but it was a far greater mercy that he gave her a liberal heart to do good and to distribute To cast her bread on the waters and to honour God with her substance That protestation which Job makes for his own vindication may fitly be applied unto her Job 31. 16 19. He would not with-hold the poor from their desire nor cause the eyes of the widow to fail He would not see any to perish for want of cloathing nor any poor without covering The whole Country round about where she dwelt will bear her witness that she visited and relieved the sick and cloathed the naked fed the hungry and healed the wounded Her purse her hand her heart were all open for their relief She bought many precious Drugs and cordial waters She made several precious salves and gave them all away to such as were in need of them She spared not her best pains being never aweary of well doing insomuch that in the extremity of her greatest sickness such bowels of compassion yearned in her she compounded several Medicines with her own hands and applied them Thus will her works praise her in the Gate and being dead she yet speaketh Prov. 31. 31. Heb. 11. 4. For her precious name liveth The Lord will have the name of the Righteous to be in everlasting remembrance Psal. 112. 6. and the memory of the just is blessed Prov. 10. 7. And precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal. 116. 15. Now this rare Gentlewoman reaps the fruit of her serving of God and the whole harvest whereof she received onely the first fruits in this present world The usual saying is All is well that ends well Come we therefore to speak of her end Her life was holy and therefore her death must needs be happy It pleased the Lord to exercise her with a long and lingring sickness and amidst the weakness of the outward man God gave her great strength in her inward man though her limbs and outward strength failed her yet God was her strength and portion and he never failed her A few dayes before her distemper waxed high her Husband being from home she sent for all her Family both young and old to come in unto her chamber with whom she prayed near two hours with such pathetical heavenly Scripture-language as drew admiration and tears from those that were present She blessed her children counselled her servants heartily and affectionately commended her Husband unto God she wept and prayed and prayed and wept and could not easily part with the company nor yet leave off praying and weeping Upon the encrease of her distemper her spirit was much disturbed and some impertinent speeches did fall from her yet in the middest of all her impertinences Grace and the Spirit of God did eminently declare their Power and Sovereignty in her by many savoury and choice speeches and sweet breathings of her soul some of which are these that follow I was in the Devils claws but Jesus Christ the sweet Bridegroom of my soul the sweet Bridegroom of my soul these words she often reiterated the sweet Bridegroom of my soul hath delivered me At another time I am safe for Jesus Christ is at my heart and I would not part with him for ten thousand worlds Again Come Lord Jesus the Captain of my salvation ride on gloriously conquering and to conquer for me Satan Sin Hell Death and all mine enemies Afterwards again I was in Hell but now I am in Heaven I am in Heaven indeed indeed I am in Heaven I am in Heaven eternally I am in Heaven the habitation of Gods glory unto all eternity Much of this nature she did speak even when her understanding was so disturbed that she scarce did know her near Relations and those who did attend upon her in her Chamber And now all these things are worthy to be transmitted unto posterity and to be had in perpetual remembrance She was an eminently godly Gentlewoman being but little above Eight and twenty years of age when she dyed which was in the beginning of March Anno Christi 1656. But though she was young in years yet was she old in Grace She had lived long in a little time She was a mirror of her age and a renown of her sexe a pattern worthy of imitation She was the beloved faithfull wife of as an intirely loving and faithfull Husband She was a tender affectionate Mother to her own and no less carefull of those pledges committed to his charge She was a most dear Sister an affectionate Mistress carefull both of the bodies and souls of her servants that they should neither want corporal nor spiritual food Her profession was with Joshua Chap. 24. 15. Choose you this day whom you will serve But as for me I and my house we will serve the Lord. She was not onely a friend to her friends but a friend to her enemies even unto such as despitefully used her All the Country round about could not but look upon her whilst living as a publick gain and when dead as a publick loss She was very usefull whilst she lived and will be much missed now she is dead Two things were very eminent in her Setledness in Religion and holiness of conversation By her death the poor have lost a liberal Almoner the sick 〈…〉 a good Physitian the wounded have lost a 〈◊〉 Chirurgion the Husband hath lost a faithful Wife the children a tender Mother the servants a gracious Mistress and not any that knew her of all her neighbours and friends but they will finde a great loss and miss of her All that knew her loved her but onely such whose love is not worth the having She lived much desired and dyed much lamented For her to live was Christ and to die was gain Phil. 1. 21. She was honoured in her life and she was honoured at her death by a confluence of many persons of quality of the Gentry
yet will I trust in him I will wait and hearken to him when I say he is thus far proceeded Satan may now go shake his ears and receive his answer Its God that justifies who shall condemn Oh! Hell where is thy power Oh! Death Oh! Devil what is thy Commission It s not my meaning to prescribe to God any one way of working but this is the way he often takes with his children and this we may finde exemplified in this foregoing Narrative touching the conversion and procedure of this Saint so far as she hath commented upon her own life Now for her death I will tell thee whâ—t my observations were thereabout 1. I finde that God began with her quickly and called her hence before she was aged and that is mostly his method where an early harvest is intended a timely seeds-time is promised they live quickly and live apace who ripen betimes so was it with her who was seldome out of action after her entrance but gained as much time in so little a time as any I knew 2. I observe that death came not all at once upon her she was yearly dying some years before she dyed her last and thus death was made familiar to her I have seldome known any of her age that was less amazed at the speech and thoughts of death so good a thing it is to know experimentally what it is to dye beforehand 3. Observe how Gods power triumphs in weakest vessels It is a thing I have often thought on that godly women for the most part dye more confidently and comfortably than do good men the Lord trampling upon Satan in them and in her very eminently 4. Her patience was remarkable in the midst of sore pains which frequented her in the beeding and bearing of children yet then her speech was I fear not pains I fear my self lest through impatiency I should let fall any unfitting word It is a blessed frame when pain seems light and sin heavy 5. I plainly saw in her the power of Grace beyond nature 1. When life and death were both laid before her her speech was this I am at my Fathers disposal howbeit of my self I rather incline to death than life 2. Whereas her affections were very strong both to her loving Husband and children insomuch as it was conceived that the last farewell would go very near her when she should part with so precious and dear Friends she was so much taken up with the thoughts of Christ that she seemed not to stick at any such relations Nay thirdly she seemed wholly to forget her natural self for being intreated to favour her body and speech in regard of the lowness of her spirits after some pause she brake forth into these words Shall I for this poor carkass be wanting to my souls comfoâ—t and my Saviours praises Let me have your prayers still and God his praises yea pray not onely for but with me Which being done she overflowed with comfort and in that condition I left her and that stream of comfort led her not long after to the Fountain where are Rivers of joy for evermore Thus lived she a most profitable life Thus dyed she a most fruitfull death God so turned this his servant that living dying and after death she should be fruitfull Thus will God honour those that honour him To him be all honour to Eternity Amen Now it may be usefull to make mention of her last sickness especially eight weeks before her death All her discourses were savoury tending to edification Many good Christians came to visit her who all if it were not their own fault might reap some spiritual benefit from those many excellent speeches which proceeded out of her mouth And the counsels she gave to her Relations and other friends were tempered with gravity and affection She accustomed not her self to affectation of high-flown phrases but held fast the form of sound words She was an old Disciple and her grave and sober language accordingly discovered her so to be From the very first of her last sickness her apprehension was that she should dye shortly and her longing desire was to be dissolved and to be with Christ. She often repeated those words of Job There the weary go to rest and those words in the close of the Revelations Come Lord Jesus come quickly upon the approach of her death whereof she was very sensible she asked her Husband what Promises of assurance were a firm ground for her to bottome upon He named Joh. 10. 28. And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Likewise he added Rom. 8. 33. 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is ever at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us He added vers 38 39. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor â—â—ings to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. These said she are sweet promises That morning she dyed she desired her Husband to read the 17 Chapter of John which Chapter that eminent holy Scotchman Mr. Rollock caused to be read to him when he was dying after that was read she was ravished with great joy and expressed her self accordingly Her Husband and two other Friends prayed with her After the last Prayer was ended she said My flesh and my heart faileth Her Husband answered her That God was the strength of her heart and her portion for ever He would never fail her She returned an answer which were the last words which ever she spoke to him He will never fail me About an hour after she resigned up her spirit unto God who gave it and her last words were I have finished my course She slept in Jesus December the 8 Anno Christi 1654. To her to live was Christ and to dye was gain She lived much desired and dyed much lamented Her name is like precious Oyntment powred forth She lived holily and dyed comfortably and now partakes of those joyes which eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither can enter into the heart of man to conceive even those things which God hath prepared for them that love him Divers Epitaphs were made at the Death of this rare Gentlewoman I shall onely insert two which were made by two Reverend and Learned Doctors On the Death of that worthy Gentlewoman Mrs. ELIZABETH WILKINSON E-re while Dear Consort I was leas'd to thee Wise now to Christ for perpetuity L-iving with thee was sweet with him far best I-n earth joy 's mixt with pain in him all rest I-wrought I suffer'd much in a few years L-ife now rewards