In the aformentioned and such like imployments publick and private he spent his time He spent his strength like a Torch or Taper wasting and consuming himself for the profit and benefit of others having his work with God then and his reward for it from God afterwards And for these imployments sake was it principally that he desired recovery of health and strength Unto the performance whereof also though therein injurious to himself and contrary to his own desires he oft strained himself and that in the midst of his infirmity and weaknesse not to uncertain hazard only but to evident impreaching and impairing of either What is the sign saith Hezekias when he promised recovery that I shall go up to the house of the Lord as desiring continuance of life and recovery of health for no one end more then that And therefore also was it that this worthy man was desirous of recovery that he might repair to Gods house again and that he might return to Gods work again To which purpose the very last Lords day before his disease having after many relapses recovered a little strength he made shift to get out to a neighbour Congregation there to joyn with Gods people in publick performance of such solemn service of God as that day is usually spent and imployed in And having held out with them to the end in both parts of the day he rejoyced much therein that he was able so to do the rather because he thereby conceived some good hope that he should be strong enough ere long to return to his wonted work and imployment again But the Lord saw it better for his will appears by his work to put an end to his incessant labours here and to transhate him to the place of his endlesse rest elsewhere and that upon the twentieth day of April Anno Christi 1626. having been Preacher at All-Hallows Bredstreet during the spence of thirty two years where he was an exmple to his people in word in inconversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity But as one saith An exact face is seldom drawn but with much disadvantage so neither is his character so that we may well say as one doth of Basil There wanted but his own tongue to commend him with The Life of Master Richard Rothwel who died Anno Christi 1627. RIchard Rothwel was born in Lancashire at or near Bolton in the Moors about the year of our Lord 1563. After he took the Ministry upon him and God gave him another heart he disposed his temporal estate amongst his friends and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 9.11.14 He lived of the Gospel His education was in the Schools and afterward in Cambridge in the one he attained to an exact knowledge of the tongues especially Greek and Hebrew wherein he was a Critick and in the other of the Arts so that he became a skil-Linguist subtil Disputant copious Orator and of a deep insight into any kind of knowledge Humane or Divine In this first course of his studies appeared presently to his observers the buds and blossomes of that fame which after he attained for he had a prompt wit a quick apprehension a clear understanding a sound judgement a ready speech and a strong memory All these seldome meet in one man but did in him very eminently and were improved by diligent study which out of a desire of learning and knowledge he continued to his last without wearinesse His constitution of body and moral endowments of minde were great props and supporters to his intellectual habits Gratior est virtus veniens è corpore pulchro This is not the ordinary lot of Scholars He was tall well set of great strength of body and activity of a stern countenance of invincible courage of approved valour and of a very goodly and majestick presence Grief nor any misery could ever break him but joy would presently melt him into tears He was of a generous spirit and deportment yet withall very humble and courteous His language was sententious and proverbial I have heard many others say what I must needs my self Nunquam illi accedo quin doctior evadam I never came to him but I went the learneder from him He had a great dexterity in communicating his mind to another and speaking to his understanding God gave him a great inlet into the hearts of men After many years spent in the University he betook himself to the Ministry and was ordained Presbyter by Doctor Whitgift then Archbishop of Canterbury who forbade him medling with interpretation of Moses Types the Book of Canticles Daniel and the Revelation Which then he thought himself as the Bishop did were not so useful for him to study as some other Scriptures But alas all these natural dispositions intellectual habits personal deportments were but as so many weapons in the hands of a mad man Judge how able by these to resist the truth for he remained some years without any change of heart or sensible work of grace upon his soul but preached learnedly as they called it and lived vainly abhorring debauchery and debauched companions through the height of his spirit but gave himself to hunting bowling shooting more the◠became a Minister of the Gospel and sometimes he would swear Faith and Troth and in his passion greater blasphemies I have heard him tell that there were two Knights in Lancashire fallen out and great fewd betwixt them That the one had a very good Park with store of Deer That the other had excellent good Fish-ponds and store of Fish He robbed the Park of the one and presented what he got to the other and the Fish-ponds of the other and presented the Fish to his adversary thus he pleased himself in the daies of his vanity with such kind of follies In doing this one night the Keeper met with him his Dog having killed a Buck at the fall of the Buck the Keeper came in with his fauchion and staff and met Master Rothwel who had a staff also They fell from words to blows He got the Keeper down bound him by the thumbs and drew him up to his full height that he could but touch the ground with his toes and so left him tied to a tree till next morning when others found him and loosed him At length God pleased who separated him from his Mothers womb as he did Paul and called him by his grace to reveal his Son in him Which because it was famous and he himself afterwards proved the means of the Conversion of so many I shall set it down as I remember I have heard him speak it He was playing at Bowles amongest some Papists and vain Gentlemen upon a Saturday somewhere about Rachdale in Lancashire there comes into the green to him one Master Midgley a grave and godly Minister of Rachdale whose praise is great in the Gospel though far inferiour to Master Rothwel in parts and learning he took
many well-affected people came to him being affrighted with the Cavaliers he encouraged them using this speech that if a house were full of rods what need the Child fear when none of them could move without their Fathers hand and the Lord was a loving Father state and life and all was in his disposing When afterwards the Cavaliers came to his house and threatned to knock him on the head he answered with confidence that if they did they should send him to Heaven where he longed to be but they could do nothing except God gave leave They broke open his Chests and Cupboards and plundred him of his goods but he said to a Friend of his that he would not do them that honour to say they had taken ought from him but it was the Lord alledging that of Job who when he was spoiled by the Chaldeans and the Sabâ—ans yet he did not so much as name the Instruments but The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken blessed be the Name of the Lord. At length they came to him when through weaknesse he was unable not only to stirre out of his chamber but also out of his bed they cut the Curtains of his bed and pulled away the Pillowbeers from under his head asking him whether he could speak Latine in all which losses which were great he never uttered one word of impatience In his sicknesse when extream pain was upon him as soon as the fit was over he would say to his maid-servant that attended him O think well of God for it for it is most justly and wisely done whatsoever he sendeth or doth When his servants came to visit him in the morning he would say have ye been with God to blesse him for your sleep this night He might have made your bed your grave He would often say in his sicknesse I am not afraid to look death in the face I can say death where is thy sting Death cannot hurt me He spake how death was a sweet sleep to a Christian adding that if Parents should tell little children who had played all the day that they must go to bed they would be ready to cry but a labouring man is glad when night comes that he might go to rest So wicked men death is unwelcome unto them but a Child of God who hath laboured and suffered is glad when death cometh that he may rest from his labours When he had been long speaking to those who came to him and used to ask him questions and hath been perswaded to spare himself he would say hear but this one thing more it may be I shall never speak to you again but if it should be so Blessed is the servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Hearken to a few words more God hath heard all the words we have spoken and considered with what hearts and affections we have spoken them He used to compare rebukes uttered in passion to scalding potions which the Patient could not take down And his opinion was that if we would do good unto others we should labour for meeknesse of wisdome whereby we shall be inabled to use soft words and hard arguments He allowed to Husbands and Wives only one contention which was this who should love one another best and advised them that when either of them were in passion they should not answer passions with passions but with compassions He was very plain and familiar both in preaching and conference yet very spiritual and performed all with much gravity The chief things he sought God for in his frequent secret fastings and prayers as himself said were the knowledge of the Scriptures and a blessing upon his Ministry in both which God answered him abundantly As for the Scriptures God had so enlightened him that he was able to give account of the drift and scope of the Spirit of God in the greatest part of them with great clearnesse and to open them in such sort as proved very effectual for the bringing of Scripture-light into simple mens understandings who were not able to reach the obscure and scholastick interpretations of many His manner was to compare Scripture with Scripture seldome naming the dissenters and but sparingly different readings but making out the truth positively or by necessary consequence In preaching he usually took some portion of Scripture in order before him opening a verse or two or more at a time first clearing the drift and connection then giving the sense and interpretation briefly but very plainly not leaving the text untill he had made it plain to the meanest capacity then raising those Doctrines that were most agreeable to the mind and meaning of the Spirit of God in that text clearing and exemplifying his points excellently out of the Word opening his proofs not multiplying particulars for oppressing memory not dwelling so long as to make all truth run through a few texts He spake most largely and very home in application mightily convincing and diving into mens hearts and consciences and leaving them little or nothing to object against it He took great care to speak to the meanest capacity and to feed the Lambs saying he must stoop to the lowest capacity and if he could reach them others might help themselves He could not endure that Ministers should use hard and unusuall English He said that most Ministers in England usually shoot over the heads of their hearers He did not strive to speak all that might be said to a point nor to shew variety or please curiosity but to speak to the heart He would say that there were many tricks and devices that some men used in preaching but they seldome did good The pure Gospel and that preaching which the world counts foolishnesse was that that works most kindly He was very Evangelicall striving first to make men see their lost condition clearly and to be convinced of it saying Sense of misery was a gooâ— step to the remedy And then largely and excellently opening the Promises and the grace of God in Christ according to the Gospel looking at that as the most effectual preaching Some saies he labour still to keep men under terrors and load them with threatnings c. lest they should not be humbled enough but the Gospel works true humiliation not the Law it arises from sense of sin and misery joyned with hope of mercy The damned have terror and sense of misery enough but that did not humble them He desired to speak distinctly not giving the childrens bread to dogs but to discover hypocrisie and sincerity by lively characters and signes but yet with great tendernesse to babes in Christ striving to discover a babe from an hypocrite He was excellent for practical Divinity and living by Faith as to spirituals and temporals and self-denial and very consolatory rendring Religion the most sweet and comfortable life notwithstanding sufferings He used to presse much
this time though his Bushell was bigger then other mens yet he would often charge his man not to strike off all the Corn. He used not to trouble himself with reckonings and accounts but would sometimes ask his man when he came from the Market how he sold Corn and if it was dear he would say I pray God bring down the price of it and if it was cheap he would heartily blesse God for it Yea his Charity was not onely extended to the poor of his own Parish but to others also for if at any time he had seen a poor body at a distance from him as he rode abroad he would send his man with money to him and when at any time he rode by the Castle at Cambridge the Prisoners would never ask him for any thing nor any one that was with him for if he had any money in his purse they were sure to have part of it By reason of his great liberality though his living was worth a hundred pound per annum yet he usually wanted Money to get in his Harvest so that his Wife formerly Doctor Bounds widow was forced to borrow money to supply that want Yet was he so well content with his present condition that though he had proffers of livings worth three of that which he had yet would he by no meanes be perswaded to accept of them He was a great friend to and promoter of peace and concord amongst his Neighbours and acquaintance insomuch that if any had come to him who were at variance he would either have made them friends himself or if he could not prevail he would have made use of other friends to reconcile them together thereby to prevent their going to Law When Martin Mar-Prelate came first out Master Greenham being to preach at Saint Maries in Cambridge spake freely against that Book manifesting his dislike of the same For said he the tendency of this Book is to make sinne ridiculous whereas it ought to be made odious On a time the Bishop of Ely sent for him to appear about his Non-conformity at which time the Bishop told him that there was a great Schisme in the Church asking him where the blame was to be 〈◊〉 whether upon the Conformists or Non-conformists To which â—e readily answered that it might lie on either side or on neither side For said he if they loved one another as they ought and would do all goâ—â— Offices each for other thereby maintaining love and concord it lay 〈◊〉 neither side otherwise which party soever makes the rent the Schisme lies upon their score The Bishop was so pleased with this answer that he dismissed him in peace He was much troubled with a bad concoction whereby he had frequent sick nights which kept him much waking but then his manner was as much as possibly he could to spend the time in meditation and prayer We have before heard of his great Charity to mens bodies His Charity to souls was not lesse exemplary For having great experience and an excellent faculty to relieve and comfort distressed consciences he was sought to far and neer by such as groaned under spiritual afflictions and temptations all whom he entertained friendly and familiarly without respecting the person of the rich more then of the poor Yea the fame of this spiritual Physician so spread abroad that he was sent for to very many and the Lord was pleased so farre to blesse his labours that by his knowledge and experience many were restored to joy and comfort out of unspeakable and insupportable terrours and torments of conscience If the Lord had not so soon translated him out of this sinfull and miserable world there was none more fit nor willing to have prescribed Rules and a Method to be observed in this so little a known Art Of his good will herein let his own words testifie the forward desires of his heart For upon a special occasion he thus speaketh of himself I have had saith he for a long time a settled resolution which I hope is from God to study the cases of conscience that thereby I may be the better able to succour the tempted and perplexed in spirit He was filled with bowels of compassion towards the afflicted sympathizing as if he had been afflicted with them Many godly and learned friends of his perceiving his abilities and inclination thereto did labour much to excite and incourage him in those studies upon these and the like grounds First that he might hereby the better train up some young men in the like studies communicating his knowledg and experiences to them therein Secondly that he might leave to posterity a Commentary of such particular Maladies as God had made him instrumental in the cure of together with the meanes by him used for effecting of the same And because Precepts are wanting Rules of direction might be framed partly by his own observation partly by conference with other learned and experienced persons whereby in that and the age following that Art might be brought into some form and method to the publick good and benefit of many not only foâ— the fruitfull curing but also for the healthfull preventing of manifold mischiefs To such as complained to him that they were troubled with â—â—â—sphemous thoughts his counsell was that they should not fear them but abhorre them And when some poor Christians were miserably afflicted with feares that they had commited that unpardonable sinne against the holy Ghost he used to tell them that if they would not have committed it it was certain that they had not faln into it The graces of Gods Spirit did all abundantly shine forth in this man of God all tempered as with unfeigned love to Christ so with bowels of love and compassion towards men and he again was greatly beloved of all men In the whole course of his Ministry he was very carefull ever to avoid as much as was possible all occasions of offence desiring in all things to approve himself as a Minister of Christ and Workman that needed not to be ashamed He much rejoyced in and praised God for the happy government of Queen Elizabeth and for the blessed calm and peace which the Church and people of God enjoyed under the same speaking often of it both publickly and privately as he had occasion endeavouring to stirre up the hearts of all men as much as in him lay to praise God with him for it and to pray also for the continuance thereof Yea this matter so affected him that the day before his departure out of this world his thoughts were much troubled for that most men were so unthankfull for those wonderfull and happy deliverances which the Lord of his mercy vouchsafed to that glorious Queen from the conspiracies and dangerous practices of her Popish Adversaries He was a special Instrument and meanes under God to incourage and train up many godly and learned young men in the holy service of
unto others There was one Master Chaplin a woollen Draper in Warwick who made a Profession of Religion but many times brake out into scandalous practices Master Cartwright on a time walking with him in his Garden dealt plainly and faithfully with him rebuking him for his miscarriages and shewing him the dishonour that he brought to God and the Gospel thereby This so wrought upon Chaplin that he presently sunk down and being carried home died within a few hours after In his old age he was much troubled with the stone and gout which much empaired his strength yet would he not intermit his labours but continued preaching when many times he could scarce creep up into the Pulpit The Sabbath before his death which was the last Sermon that he made December the 25. he preached upon Eccles. 12.7 Then shall the dust return to the earth and the spirit shall return to God who gave it The morning before his death which was the Tuesday following he was two hours on his knees in private Prayer In which as he told his Wife he found wonderfull and unutterable joy and comfort God giving him a glimpse of heaven before he came to it and within a few houres after he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God December the 27. Anno Christi 1603. And of his age sixty eight Master Dod preached his Funeral Sermon During his abode in the University he was of great power and credit in the Regent-house so that the Doctors feared lest the Precisians as they were then called should choose him Vice-Chancellour whereupon they procured the alteration of the Statute whereby the choice was formerly in the Regent-house and confined the Election of the Vice-Chancellour to one of those two whom the Heads should prick After long discontinuance Master Cartwright coming to Cambridge was importuned to preach on a week day in Saint Maries where there was a great confluence of all sorts to hear him grave men ran like boys in the streets to get places in the Church After Sermon he dined at Master Chaddertons and many went to the house to see and hear him speak The Life of Master Paul Baines who died Anno Christi 1617. PAul Baines was born in London and had his Education in his younger years at Withersfield in Essex under one Master Cosens his Schoolmaster from whence being fitted for it he was sent to the University of Cambridge and admitted into Christs Colledge where his conversation at first was so irregular that his Father being grieved at it before his death being intimately acquainted with one Master Wilson a Sailes-man in Birchin-lane he left with him forty pounds by the year desiring him that if his Sonne did forsake his evil courses and become an honest man he would then give him that fourty pounds per annum if not that he would never let him have it But it pleased God not long after his Fathers decease to shew him his sinnes and to work effectual repentance in him for the evil of his waies so that forsaking his former evil company and practices he became eminent for Piety and Holinesse and according to that of our Saviour Much being forgiven him he loved much After which gracious change wrought in him by the goodnesse of God it was not long before Master Wilson fell dangerously sick and hearing how God had dealt with his Master Baines he sent for him and desired him to pray with him by which as also by his savoury discourse finding that what he had heard of him rather came short of the truth then exceeded it according to that trust reposed in him perceiving himself to be upon his death-bed he told Master Baines of the fourty pounds per annum which his Father left with him and so faithfully delivered up to him those writings of the agreement which had passed betwixt his Father and him and being like to leave behind him a Wife and two Children he intreated Master Baines that as he had faithfully and carefully discharged his trust towards him so when God should take him away hence that he would have a care of his Wife and Children and be a Friend to them And Master Baines after Master Wilsons death that he might fully discharge that trust which was reposed in him and also by way of gratitude for that friendship and fidelity which he had found in Master Wilson married his widow But before this for his eminency in learning he was chosen Fellow in Christs Colledge where he so much through Gods blessing on his studies and endeavours improved his time and talents that he became inferiour to none for sharpnesse of wit variety of Reading depth of judgment aptnesse to teach holy and pleasant language wise carriage heavenly conversation and all other fulnesse of grace By his holy life and coversation also he did largely preach to all such as came neer unto him and for the heavenly frame of his spirit what it was his incomparable Writings will sufficiently demonstrate to all future generations When Master Perkins who was Lecturer at Saint Andrews in Cambridge had there for many years held forth a burning and shining light the sparkes whereof did flie abroad into all the corners of the Kingdom and after he had served in his generation was taken up into Heaven there was none found so meet to receive as it were the Torch out of his hand and succeed him in that great Office of bearing it before such a people as Master Baines upon whom also the spirit of that Elias was by experience found to be doubled In which station he so demeaned himself for some years that impiety only had cause to complain But all that favoured the wayes of God or savoured of Religion rejoyced and gloried in him and his Ministry as in a spiritual and heavenly treasure But at length the hour of darknesse came from Lambeth when Arch-bishop Bancroft sent Master Harsnet to visit in that Diocesse which was but a trick to suppresse those which were not friends to the Bishops Kingdom At which time though there were multitudes of unable and notoriously scandalous Ministers yet none were found worthy of censure but only Master Baines of whom indeed the world was not worthy and one other godly Minister like unto him It 's yet hard to say whether the silencing of this good man were more odious or the manner of it more shamelesse which was thus Their custome was for fashion sake at their visitations to have a Sermon and Master Baines was chosen out by the Visitor to preach it at this time not out of love and respect to him but from a designe either to ensnare him in his words if he did not apply himself to their humour or else to grace their ungracious courses if he did But it succeeded not handsomly either way for Master Baines delivered holy and wholesome Doctrine appertaining to the present audience in such a
we do become Petitioners unto your Lordship in the behalf of our too much wronged Preacher Master Bradshaw Unto whom in sincrity of a good conscience we do voluntarily yeeld this testimony that he is a man so farre in every respect from desert of those misreports wherewith his causelesse adversaries have endeavoured to incense your good Lordship against him as his accusers have been from the remembrance of that duty which they ought to bear to your Lordship whom they have abused with sinister and unjust informations his Doctrine alwaies holy wholesome true and learned utterly void of faction and contention his life so throughly garnished with unblemished vertues and graces as malice it self cannot reprove or suspect him directing all his labours only to the beating down of sin and wickednesse the comfort of the faithfull and the instruction of the ignorant without intermedling at any time with the needlesse and conceited controversies of this factious age May it therefore please your good Lordship with favour according to your wonted goodnesse so to tender this your little poor flock of Chatham as to restore unto us our vertuous and faithfull Teacher lest otherwise we be as sheep without a Shepherd Which being obtained we your humble Suppliants will account it so great a blessing of God from the hands of your Reverend Fatherhood as that we shall hold our selves bound faithfully to pray unto the Almighty for your good Lordships endless prosperity This their Petition after their own frame conceived is the rather here inserted to shew their reverend estimation of Master Bradshaw and their earnest desire to have retained him still with them But the business was in higher hands London was the man that must do it if ought were done With whom Master Chaderton going up to London upon occasion of some Colledge-affairs promised to deal in Master Bradshaws behalf and in likelihood did but as appeared without success Thus was this blessed Servant of God tossed to and fro and could not be suffered to abide long in any place though a man of peaceable carriage a most meek and humble spirit and a kinde and loving disposition But Gods pious providence over his and gracious provision for them never faileth He is oft working for them when they least see it and where or whence they least look for it He was then preparing a retiring and resting place for him when he seemed to be now utterly out of hope of any For being now driven from Chatham he came up to London whence after some short stay with a Friend having at present no employment he thought good to look down into Leicestershire to visit his Friends there And he indeed intended the journey only as a visit howsoever the Lord in his hidden disposal unknown unto him had a farther aim in it then he was then aware of as by the event appeared and he afterward took speciall notice of and did thankfully acknowledge For upon his coming down into those parts by the good hand of God using that his worthy servant of blessed memony Master Arthur Hildersham as formerly sometime so now again as an instrument therein he was brought into some notice with and commended unto one Master Alexander Redich a religious Gentleman then residing at Newhall an house of note situate neer to Burton upon Trent in the confines of Darbyshire Leicestershire and Staffordshire He not only received him into his house but obtained also for him from the then Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield being a moderate man a Licence to preach in any part of his Diocess which favour and liberty being by a Present of Venison at first procured and afterward maintained by a yearly gratuity of a brace of Bucks out of the Gentlemans Park Master Bradshaw without any interruption enjoyed in those parts during that Bishops life yea and after too without any trouble a light and short storm only excepted and that soon again laid the year before his decease whereof somewhat hereafter unto the time of his releasement For his entertainment there though the means allowed him were very small in regard that the Gentlemans estate was much encombred and he by reason thereof disabled to do what he otherwise desired the Lady Ferrers his Wives Mother yet surviving who had an estate for life in that part of the Land which was to come to his Wife whereon he then resided nor in regard of Religion for a strong and zealous Papist she was so well-affected towards them being forward another way and some other part of it by concealment of some Evidences being wrongfully detained from him as in process of time upon discovery thereof did evidently appear Yet the small pittance that was allowed him together with their kind carriage toward him and the loving affection to him that he found generally in the Family did give him very good content For in a Letter to an inward Friend he professeth that he found both the Gentleman and his Wife very tender-hearted and sincerely Religious so kind unto him as his heart could not desire more and that in gifts they were otherwise beneficial unto him and the truth is saith he for you have his own words it is impossible to find more love in a place then I do find more and more both of great and small in the House so that the Lord I see hath not clean forsaken me And in another to the same party Never let your mind be troubled about the smallnesse of my Maintenance it is more then he from whom it cometh can well spare yet as much as my labours upon them deserve and more then many of my betters have To adde hereunto some farther matter of encouragement and contentment he withall signifieth that the Lord had blest him there with a most kind neighbour abiding in a house not far from thence with the Lord Paget a young man of Oxford and a Londoner by birth one Master Hassal a man of very rare parts for all kind of learning of most prompt and ready speech and of a very courteous and affable disposition With him he entertained familiarity and maintained a good correspondence while they abode so neer together For he was not nice to imbrace acquaintance with any moderate man of endowments especially and very forward to take notice of the good parts of others and to set them out as occasion was offered to the utmost so far was he from that malevolent humour so rife with too many in these times of extenuating or blurring the endowments and abilities of others such especially as do not in every particular conceit though but groundlessely oft fancied comply with themselves as also together with his ingenuous composure of spirit his pious disposition may herein be observed in taking notice of and acknowledging a passage of divine providence in every accommodation that might any way or in any measure improve the comfort of his present condition But that the great moderation
him aside and fell into a large commendation of him at length told him what pity it was that such a man as he should be a companion for Papists and that upon a Saturday when he should be preparing for the Sabbath-day Master Rothwel sleighted his words and checked him for his medling The good old man left him went home and prayed privately for him Master Rothwel when he was retired from that company could not rest Master Midglys words struck so deep in his thoughts The next day he went to Rachdale Church to hear Master Midgley where it pleased God to blesse that Ordinance so as Master Rothwel was by that Sermon brought home to Christ. He came after Sermon to Master Midgley thanked him for his reproof and besought his direction and prayers for he was in a miserable condition of nature and under the spirit of bondage he lay for a time till afterwards and by Master Midgleys hands also he received The Spirit of Adoption wherewith he was so sealed that he never lost his assurance to his dying day Though he was a man subject to many temptations the devil assaulting him very much yet God was mightily with him that out of his own experience he was able to comfort many He esteemed and counted Master Midgley ever afterward for his spiritual Father This makes me think upon Augustines speech to God when he came to hear Ambrose preach non ut Doctorem veni but upon another account ad eum per te ducebar nescius ut ad te per eum sciens ducerer So did the Lord by Master Midgleys plain kind of teaching put forth the evidence of his spirit upon this mighty and learned Rabbi Whether it was before or after this his Convesion that he went a Souldier and Chaplain to a Regiment under the Earl of Essex into Ireland I know not but there he was and did very great things And certainly his wisdome and courage were so eminent in him that there were few of his Calling his equals I think none at all his Superiours He now becomes another man forsakes all his wonted courses and companions preacheth in another manner then formerly opens the depths of Satan and deceitfulnesse of the heart so as he was called the Rough Hewer He had the power of God that went with his Ministry when he preached the Law to make men tremble yea sometimes to cry out in the Church and when he preached the Gospel he was another Barnabas and had great skill in comforting afflicted consciences He studied now the point of Non-conformity which was as the joynts in Ahabs armour through which the Prelates hit and deprived so many godly and able Ministers in those times In these Controversies he was so well versed that he satisfied many and silenced any that disputed with him He was so fixed in his judgment that he would never either marry expecting daily persecution and the word he used in all his Books was Persecutio pignus futurae felicitatis nor take any Benefice though divers great livings were proffered him because he would still say My head is too big to get into a Church-door But he betook himself first to a Chappel in Lancashire as a Lecturer and afterward to decline the storm of the Prelates to be a Domestick Chaplain to the Earl of Devonshire and at â—hat time I first knew him and came I blesse God acquainted with him There now ran nothing more in his mind but why the Bishop should forbid him preaching upon those Scriptures before mentioned and he began to conceive that there was sure something there could he find it which would mightily batter bown their Hierarchy He prayed therefore much to God wherein he was mighty and studied them and God opened those mysterious passages of his Book to him more then to other men that he seldom preached abroad out of any other Scriptures and did write an exact Commentary upon Moses Types which he unveiled with very much profit and delight to the Reader but that Book is lost to the great losse of Gods Church thereby Learned and godly Master Cotton enquired of me whether that or any thing else might not be found amongst his papers after his death I told him there was little found but what was in Characters He prayed me to send him what I could gather to Boston where men were that were expert in Characters I did so but I believe they could make nothing of them That and some other of his learned and judicious labours he hath lent out I suppose and I fear they will not be recovered Learned men that have seen them judge them a rare treasure He had some contests with the Prelates especially with Bishop Neal then of Litchfield afterwards of Durham in the which the Bishop I dare say was more afraid of him then he was of the Bishop But I forbear that story At length he came to spend most part of his time in the Bishoprick of Durham by means of an honourable and Elect Lady the Lady Bowes afterwards the Lady Darcy in the North. Of whom it was truly preached at her Funeral Alas that it was at her Funeral Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole world there shall also this that this woman hath done be told for a memorial of her She gave about one thousand pounds per annum to maintain Preachers where there were none nor any means for them and all her Preachers were silenced men by reason of Non-conformity Such as Master Baynes Master Dike c. She would lay out all her interest to get them their liberty and then she would dispose of them where there needed in the North or in the Peak in Darbyshire or other places and allow them pensions O! That God would raise out of the ashes of this Phoenix some more such Mothers in Israel Sir William Bowes her husband dying his Funerals were kept at Bernards-Castle where he had some honour Master Dike Father of the Writers of that name was then her houshold Chaplain and went into the North to that Funeral at his return he represented the state of the people destitute of a Minister to my Lady who would have sent him thither but he told her he durst not venture on so surly a People but commended Master Rothwel to her She sent to him then at the Earl of Devonshires house and proffered him this employment His answer was he would go thither and if the people called him he would then accept of her motion At his first dayes labour they all desired him he returned to the Lady and told her he would go she replyed though for their sakes she was glad yet she was afraid to send him understanding that they were of a fierce disposition and having never heard the Gospel might deal unkindly with him he answered Madam If I thought I should never meet the devil there I would never come there he and
though the wound might seem quite cured and he never so much engage forbearance yet frequent apparitions would redintegrate Et nihil facilius quam amor recrudescit Sir Arthur was a very wise man and had experience of the world thanks Master Preston for his faithfulnesse pretends Sir Capel wanted something and desires his Tutor to give him leave to stay a little while untill he could be furnished and then he should be sent to which the Tutor easily consented and so the rest went home and after a while the old man tels Sir Capel he grew in bignesse and it would be fit for him to travell before he setled and he prevails with him to be content But what saies Mistresse Newcomb who is robb'd by this means of her vowed and resolved servant and her crafty Father that beholds so good a morsell snatched from between his teeth do ye think he had forgotten this when Master Preston came to preach within his Jurisdiction Pulvere qui laedunt sed laesi marmore scribunt other injuries perhaps may be forgotten but losse of money is not ploratur lachrymâ—s amissa pecunia veris. Master Preston was not altogether a stranger at the Court however now there was no remedy when he came to New-market he found that Bishop Andrews then Bishop of Ely was chief and that his Jurisdiction in the Commissary was it that was pretended to be affronted and therefore applied himself to him and told him that he did not purpose to offend but being ingaged for to preach at that time could not with honour disappoint the Auditory if he suspected him for any thing desired he would examine him and satisfie himself The Bishop told him the King was told he was an enemy to Formes of Prayer and held no Prayer lawful but conceived and therefore being popular his judgment and opinion might do hurt Master Preston answered that it was a slander for he thought Set Formes lawfull and refused not on all occasions to be present at the Colledge-Prayers and when it was his turn to read them The Bishop answered that he was glad and would inform the King and do him all the good he could and bad him wait a while and then repair again to him for satisfaction in it and so time passed on and there was nothing done There were some at Court that wished well to Master Preston Sed lapsuro assistere formidant were loth to undertake a drooping cause only there was one Doctor Young an honest Scotchman that was Dean of Winchester and he told Master Preston plainly that Bishop Andrews was his greatest adversary and though he gave him good words yet had assured the King that if Master Preston were not for this expeld the University Lord Bishops would not long continue but because Master Preston was accounted and not without cause a learned man he was not willing to appear against him but desired the punishment might be inflicted where the fact was done and that was in the University Master Preston saw now that the Bishop was a Courtier and could give words where deeds were not intended and therefore goes again unto the Bishop and tels him plainly that he or none must put a period to his attendance and that either he would speak unto the King in his behalf or tell him plainly that he would not that he might know whence all this trouble flowed The Bishop paused a while on this bold carriage and at the last bad him come to him such a time again and he would deal with the King in his behalf So he goes unto the King and tels him that however Master Preston was very dangerous and it would be a very great security if he were handsomely expelled yet he doubted it would not hear well if it should be done for this offence for he would be absolved in the opinions and minds of men and be owned and applauded as their Martyr and might perhaps recover and live to be revenged and therefore thought it would be better for to enjoyn him to declare his judgment about Forms of Prayer for that would be accounted a recantation and however would weaken his reputation with the Puritans which would be enough for if they could divide him from his Party they should not fear him for he said his carriage argued confidence in some assistance which when they had removed they should be strong enough at single hand All that the Bishop spake was as if ex tripode and order presently was drawn and sent to the Vice-Chancellor that Master Preston should in Buttolphs Church declare his judgment concerning Formes of Prayer on such a Sunday or else they should immediately proceed against him according to their first instructions Master Preston was glad there was a way out but sensible of the hard hand that had been carried towards him but now there was no remedy and it was vain to strive against the stream but before he could come home the news was all about the Town that Master Preston was to preach a Recantation Sermon at Buttolphs Church on such a day This was good sport to the brave blades who now came crowding as fast as any for to hear and it was no sin now for any body to be from Prayers and indeed there was a very great Assembly though he did all he could to have concealed it So he went on upon his former text and preached a very profitable Sermon concerning growing in grace and directed Prayer as a speciall meanes to make men grow in grace Now that he said was of two sorts either that which was suddain extemporary and conceived or set enjoyned and prescribed before not only for the sense and scope but also words and phrases And whereas some thought this was to stint the spirit he said there was a liberty to use conceived Prayer at other times wherein the spirit might expatiate and inlarge it self and also the intention of the mind though not in extension and variety of language The Blades that came to laugh had no great cause to do it for this passage was at the very close and the Sermon all along before was sharp and searching both sides were silent and went home not without some prints of good upon their spirits Optimus Orator censendus non qui meruit auditorum judicium sed qui abstulit He makes the best speech that binds his Hearers rather to think what was said then who said it The good fellows were nothing so merry at the end as at the beginning of the Sermon Indifferent Hearers praised all and were confirmed in a good opinion of the Preacher Good men were glad he came so well off and was at liberty to preach again where they might hear him himself was troubled lest any thing he said should be mistaken or mis-interpreted as he was apt to be But there were many eyes upon this action and all men waited to see the issue The Courtiers did not like it that after all
persons amongst whom Master Peter Studley was the chief were stirred up to lay in complaints against him as a Non-conformist for such was his prudence sweetnesse and peaceablenesse of spirit that other objections could not with any colour of truth be made against him Hereupon Doctor Morton then the Bishop of that Diocesse referred him unto two neighbour Ministers for satisfaction and in pursuance of this order Master Herring gave in his scruples in writing and also replyed upon their answer The consequence of this paper-dispute was a Certificate to the Bishop from the Ministers that they believed Master Herring from conscientious grounds in his own apprehensions remained unsatisfied and the Bishop himself told Master Herrings Friends that he was satisfied in his integrity But such were those times that he was suspended from the use of his Ministry though by mediation of Friends the suspension was divers times taken off and then brought on again by persons of contrary minds and waies Thus he continued in Salop for the space of seventeen years sometimes enjoying and sometime wanting liberty for the exercise of his Ministry in publique But when the Pulpit door was shut against him he was the more frequent in keeping private Fasts and in expounding the Scripture three times a day in his own Family by which exercise some of the neighbours were edified also Alwaies upon the Lords day whether he was at home or abroad he frequented the Ordinances of God administred in publique professing thereby as himself said that his practice should declare his judgement against separation from the Congregations in England though there were corruptions in them When some seeds of seperation were scattered in Salop by Daniel Chidley and his Wife their growth was check'd by his appearing against them He had many bowels towards them who were misled in this kind as was expressed by the many prayers with tears which he poured forth before God in their behalf And having upon this occasion studied that point the more throughly he would often say It is a sinne of an high nature to un-Church a Nation at once and that this would become the spring of many other fearfull errours for separation will eat like a Gangrene into the heart of Godliness And he did pray that they who would un-Church others might not be un-christianed themselves When the Plague was in Salop he gave himself unto prayer for the town and in particular for the persons infected and many from the Pest-houses returned thanks unto him for the spiritual comfort received by his Prayers He took great delight in his studies having a very good Library and was often willing to misse a meal that he might the more satisfie himself in conversing with his Books He was seldome hungry as himself was wont to say while he was in his study and those who best knew him could easily render the reason thereof for as he was afraid of doing Gods work negligently so it was his meat and drink to converse with his God and to do the will of his heavenly Father And yet such were his compassions towards afflicted consciences that he gave charge unto his whole Family to send none such away till they had spoken with him yea unto them his manner was to give full liberty of speech that they might not go away without some clearing and satisfaction His experience humility and sweetnesse of disposition was such that seldome any one who was troubled in spirit departed from him without some relief and comfort whereto may be added his great faithfulnesse towards them in perplexed cases who opened their hearts into his bosome for spiritual satisfaction When he was not allowed liberty to preach in publique at home he was willing to bestow his pains abroad and every where he in his Ministry proved himself a solid well-studied Divine A Workman who needed not to be ashamed It may truly be affirmed concerning him that when he was in journeys he imitated the Lord Christ his Master Who went about doing good For in the Families whither he came if there was not opportunity of more publique employment wherein he might appear with safety in those Prelatical times he was alwaies ready by Prayer and Exposition of Scripture to be serviceable unto the souls of such who desired to improve him He was a man of an ingenuous and cheerfull spirit yet very grave and inoffensive yea the lightsomeness of his behaviour being accompanied with holinesse and humility did make his serious services the more acceptable and more taking upon the hearts of those who conversed with him Amongst many other rare gifts with which God had enriched him this did shine forth brightly unto all them who were acquainted with his way in performing Family duties whether in his own house or elsewhere viz. That he would alwaies most aptly and affectionately enlarge himself upon the Sermon lately heard or the Chapter read by confession complaint petition thansgiving c. unto the advantage of them who joyned with him in that exercise He was indeed a man made up of love and meeknesse for the discovery whereof take two instances which will tell the Reader that he was Dove-like without gall The one is this Doctor Lambe having broken his legge by a fall was brought into the same Inne in Norhamptonshire where Master Herring had taken up his lodging being in a journey and that night he prayed very affectionately for him though Doctor Lambe was a notorious violent Persecutor of Non-conformists both Ministers and people yea though he had been a bitter opposite against Master Herring particularly He being asked the reason why he expressed so much respect towards so unworthy a man returned this answer The greater enemy he is to the Church the more need he hath of Prayers And then wished those who were with him To prove themselves Christs Disciples by loving their enemies and by praying for their Persecutors The other instance is this viz. understanding that Arch-bishop Laud said unto some of his Friends Petitioners for the liberty of his Ministry I will pickle up that Herring of Shrewsbury he used these words If he will abuse his power let it teach Christians the more to use their Prayers And he then prayed that the Non-conformists enemies might by observation know that they have a good God to trust unto when trampled upon by ill-despised men He was a constant mighty Wrestler with the Almighty in Prayers for England that the Gospel might not be removed but that the Kingdom of Christ might be here advanced more and more He much feared that bad times would overtake this Nation and at a conference about the affairs of England he used these words Gods rod I much fear will be homebred Warre in the State and Errours and Heresies in the Church with Gods visible departure from us When all hope of regaining the liberty of his Ministry in Shrewsbury was quite gone and therefore his continuance there in
in the afternoon and kept a Lecture on the Wednesday constantly and besides this he was one of the five Ministers who held up the Lecture at Banbury He gave himself much to Fasting and Prayer and as his seeds-time was painfull so his Harvest was gainfull hundreds of souls being converted by his Ministry He was given to Hospitality delighting therein keeping a constant Table on the Sabbath and on the Wednesdays Lecture upon which daies he had not under eight or twelve persons commonly dining with him and he spent the time amongst them in spiritual exhortation and conference He was about thirty years old when he came to Hanwel and continued there above twenty years where he had twelve Children by his dear Wife formerly Anne Bound Daughter-in-law to the worthy Servant of Jesus Christ Master Greenham of Draighton near Cambridge and Daughter to Doctor Bound she was one that truly feared God and after her decease by the perswasion of some Friends he took to Wife Mistresse Cleiton who then lived at Stratford Bowe she also was a godly woman and he was contracted to her by Master Egerton of Black-Fryers and married by his ancient and loving Friend Doctor Gouge But to return back again to Hanwel it pleased the Lord to give a great blessing to his Ministry in that place yet he had much trouble from the envy of some Ministers that lived about him who though they seldome preached themselves yet they would not suffer that their people should go from them and hence he was frequently questioned in the Bishops Courts And besides this though some of Hanwel were very courteous and kind yet there were some others who were glad to get from him what they could and to keep from him what they could thinking that that which he had was too much Upon a time Master Dod took a journey to Draighton to bemoan himself to his Father-in-law Master Greenham by reason of his crosses and hard usage Master Greenham heard him what he could say and when he had done answered him thus Son Son when affliction lieth heavy sin lieth light This deserves the rather to be remembred because Master Dod used often to blesse God for it saying also that if Master Greenham had bemoaned him which he expected he had done him hurt and he forgot not this speech in his old age but made excellent use of it for himself and others He was suspended from his Ministry at Hanwel by Doctor Bridges Bishop of Oxford And suspecting what would follow the Sabbath before he went to the Visitation he gave his hearers a farewell Sermon out of that text I will smite the Shepherd and the Sheep shall be scattered the people did attend unto him with sad countenances and weeping eyes Being thus driven from Hanwel he preached at Fenni-Compton in Warwickshire where he had but small means but he was desirous to be doing good From thence he had a fair call unto Cannons-Ashby in Northamptonshire where he lived quietly divers years preached over the whole Prophesie of Danel with some other Scriptures having much kindnesse from Sir Erasmas Dryden in whom there was a rare mixture of Piety and Learning and good affection from Master Cope He was silenced from preaching at Ashby upon a complaint made against him by Bishop Neal to King James who commanded the Arch-bishop Abbot to silence him Then he ceased for some time to preach publiquely yet in regard of his heavenly gift in conference he might have been said daily to preach privately he was in his element when he was discoursing of heavenly things And God in goodnesse so ordered it that when he was restrained from publique preaching yet himself conceived that at that time his life was no lesse profitable then it had been in former times He had much employment in comforting such as were wounded in their spirits being sent for not only nigh at hand but also into remote Countries There was a Gentlewoman who had a great worldly estate and a loving Husband but she was so sadly assaulted with tentations that she often attempted to make away her self Master Dod was sent for to come to her and the Lord so blessed his Councels Exhortations and Prayers that she did not only recover out of her anguish of spirit but she was afterwards taken notice of for her singular Piety and the Lord so ordered that this affliction was not only the means of her Conversion but also of her Husbands so that both of them were a great mercy in the Countrey where they lived promoting Religion according to their power and entertaining and cherishing godly people She lived divers years quieted in her heart and being rich in good works and when she lay on her death-bed Master Dod was sent for to her again who spake of heaven and to fit her for that glory she told him that she felt the comforts of God and that she could as hardly at that time forbear singing as formerly in child-bearing she could forbear crying and shortly after she died There was a Gentlemen related to a noble Family so perplexed in his mind that he hath been known in hard frosts to go barefooted that the pain of his feet might divert his thoughts Master Dod was sent for to him who was his spirituall Physician to heale him It would be long to insist on all particulars of this nature the Lord having made him a happy Instrument for the good of many When he had spent some years in this kind of service by the care and industry of Master Richard Knightley of Preston a worthy Patriot after the death of King James his liberty was procured for preaching again publiquely and then he was setld at Fausley where he preached twice every Lords day There he went over the Gospel of John the Epistle to the Colossions and other Scriptures He was much given to Hospitality at Fausley as he had formerly been at Hanwel so that there was scarce any Sabbath in the year in which he did not dine both poor and rich commonly three or four poor persons besides those that came from other places to hear him He had so large an heart that upon occasion he hath given to some three shillings to some ten shillings to some twenty shillings and when the poor came to buy butter or cheese he would command his maid to take no money of them At Fausley he had quietnesse from the Courts as also at Ashby for in neither of those places was there any Church-wardens He was beholding at Fausley to the Right Worshipfull Family of the Knightleys where his bones was laid He used to bear crosses with much patience and meeknesse being wont to say that Sanctified afflictions were great promotions quoting that of the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 1.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. is much more precious then gold which he conceived to signifie the affliction that
that we should be sure of if we unfeignedly sought it Speaking of Davids penning the 51 Psalm after his murther and Adultery he put this glosse upon it That hearty and true repentance shall have cause to praise the Lord for his pardoning mercy He said Afflictions were Gods Potions which we might sweeten by Faith and faithfull Prayer but we for the most part made them bitter putting into Gods Cup the ill ingredients of our own impatience and unbelief He gave this reason why many of Gods people lived uncomfortably for that they shut their ear against what God said where they should open it and they opened their ear to what their carnal reason and Satan and the world said where they should shut it But said he the Psalmist was wiser Psal. 85.8 He would heare none of them all I will heare what the Lord God will speake His preaching was searching and when some did suppose that he had Informers and Spies because he came so close to them he answered that the Word of God was searching and that if he was shut up in a dark vault where none could come at him yet allow him but a Bible and a Candle and he should preach as he did He had an excellent gift in similitudes which did flow freely and frequently from him as all those knew who either heard him preach publiquely or discourse privately He called death the friend of grace though it were the enemy of nature and whereas the Word and Sacraments and Prayer do but weaken sin death kills it Speaking of Prayer he said a man was never in a hard condition unlesse he had a hard heart and could not pray Having preached out of that text O woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt he invited some women to dinner and told them it was a usuall saying Let a woman have her will and then she would be quiet Now the way for a woman to have her will is to have a strong Faith and to pray as that woman in the Gospel did Upon a time when he had preached long so that it was somewhat late before he went to dinner he said you shall have some Gentlemen will follow hounds from seven in the morning till four or five in the afternoon because they love the cry of dogs which to me was unpleasant hearing so if we love the Word we should be content though the Minister stood above his hour And he added methinks it is much better to hear a Minister preach then a Kennell of hounds to bark Speaking of Recreation he said he marvelled what the vocation of many was who were so eager for recreation And if we should come into a house and see many Physick-boxes and glasses we would conclude some body is sick so when we see Hounds and Hawks and Cards and Dice we may fear that there is some sick soul in that Family He told some Friends that if he were to passe sentence who was a rich man he would not look into his purse or chest how much gold he had laid up but look into his heart what promises were treasured up there For we count him rich that is rich in bonds and the pleading of the Promises in Prayer is suing of the bonds Speaking to a Minister who was to go to a place where there was but small means he told him that his care was to preach and do God service and then God would provide for him When he preached at Fausley and was much resorted unto as it was with him in other places he told a godly man of his acquaintance that if the Countrey knew so much by him as he knew by himself they would not have him in so much admiration Speaking about going to Law his Opinion was that it was better to buy Love then Law For one might have a great deal of love for a little whereas he could have but a little law for a great deal He would frequently say That was well which ended everlastinly well and that was ill which ended everlastingly ill And that a man was never undone till he was in hell This was a speech which he often used that if it were lawfull to envy any he would envy those that turned to God in youth whereby they escaped much sin and sorrow and were like unto Jacob that stole the blessing betimes This was a remarkable passage of Providence that upon a time when it was late at night it came into his mind that he must see a Friend of his some two miles off he had businesse and would have put it off but his thoughts were restlesse whereupon he went and when he came to the place all the Family were in bed but only his Friend who was esteemed truly godly but at that time was overwhelmed with tentations the occasion whereof was some cruelty offered to his Children Master Dod knew nothing either of the tentation or occasion of it But knocking at the door his Friend opened the door to him to whom he said I am come to you I know not why my self but I was restlesse in my spirit untill I had done it To whom his Friend answered You know not why you came but God knew why he sent you and withall pulled out a halter wherewith he had intended self-murder at that time which by Gods goodnesse was by this means prevented Speaking of losing for Christ he testified from his own experience that for the losse of one carnal Brother he had two hundred spiritual Brethren Before he was married he could not maintain himself and thereupon he was thinking how he should maintain a Wife and Children his living not being great but looking out of his study window he saw a Hen and Chickens scratching for their living and he considered thus with himself The Hen did but live before and had nothing to spare and now she had as much with that great Family When he saw a Christian to look sad he would use that speech which Johnadab did to Amnon Art not thou a Kings Son He would say to those that complained of losses and crosses that which Eliphaz did to Job Do the consolations of God seem small to you God hath taken away your children your goods but he hath not taken away himself nor Christ nor his Spirit nor Heaven nor eternal life He used to instruct Christians how they should never have a great affliction nor long and that was by looking upon things which were not seen which are eternal 2 Cor. 4.17 18. What can be great to him that counts the world nothing And what can be long to him that thinks his life but a span long To perswade them that are Christians not to return railing for railing he would say that if a dog bark at a sheep a sheep will not bark at a dog In these times of war at the first beginning of them when