teach the others simplicity or even in years might be their Fathers § He saw no cause to affect among Ministers above all Fraternities this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the inverting of all order that the first should be last and the last first though he subscribed to the rule of Christ that the greatest among his Ministers even the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very chiefest of the Apostles should in humility and charity condescend and demean themselves so as if they were servants to all and the least of all Mat. 13.11 yet he saw this precept was vain and impertinent as not practicable if none were greater or more eminent than others as in age gifts and graces so in spiritual power and Ecclesiastical authority not tyrannously usurped but by the consent of all conferred § Those novel interpretations he saw were but wresting Scripture from primitive sense to bring in the postern chaos of popular parity among Ministers which never was in Christs or the Apostles or after days nor can be ever without great disadvantages to both Ministers and people while Presbyters having no order or subordination among themselves must either have no fraternal communion living like stragling sheep without fold flock or shepherd or meeting arbitrarily and occasionally they must be all Sons and all Fathers without centre or circumference ference having no principle to convene or move them no power coercive to containe or restrain them and no regular authority to reprove or repress their extravagancies in doctrine or manners Nor was it his ambition but his conscience and judgement that thus commanded him to assert Episcopacy Not ambition but conscience made him Episcopall even long before he was or possibly thought to be a Bishop upon which account when I once told his Lordship after he was made Bishop by the King and unmade by the people that a person equestris ordinis but parum aequae mentis had in discourse told me That he wondered Dr. Brounrig would be made a Bishop whom he had heard sometime declare his judgement against Episcopacy which report as I no way believed so relating it soon after and the authors name to him he with some passion and emotion as full of a just defiance and contradiction to such a fable and falshood professed he lied notoriously for saith he I never thought much less said as that lewd person hath falsly averred I thank God I took the Office of a Bishop with a good conscience and so I hope by his mercy I shall both maintain and discharge it He was by the favour of King Charles His being made Bishop◠An◠1641. and to the great liking of all good men made Bishop of Exeter anno 1641. But as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one born out of due time when that storm was beginning to rise which afterward shipwracked the Sovereign and many other gallant ships the wall was too far swoln out and threatning to fall before this potent pillar or shore was applied to support it if any single Puissance could have done good his shoulders were most probable to have done it for his counsel and prudence his aequanimity and moderation were equal to his other vast abilities for he had not only the verdure and spring of wit also the summer of much learning and reading but he had the harvest of a mature understanding and a mellow judgement in all matters Politick and prudential both Ecclesiastical and Civil If his excellent temper had sooner been added as an allay to some other mens hotter spirits His aequanimous temper possibly Troja nostra stetisset we had not seen such deplorable ruines of a flourishing and Reformed Church But upon this and other worthy Bishops heads was this great breach and ruine of ancient and venerable Episcopacy to tumble by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impetuosity and exorbitancy of the times which at length grew to so popular a prevalency that some men would not endure the best Bishops nor any moderation short of total extirpation that way might be made for confiscation For Episcopacy was with modest approaches first undermined by some plausible Pioners and Ingineers who pretended that it did not stand upright but leaned toward the Court and Prerogative too much that they would only set it right and so support it but afterward it was quite blown up much over-doing their first pretentions which were only to reform some exorbitancies in the use and practices of times or men to which all wise and good Bishops easily and chearfully together with this worthy Prelate would have condescended and submitted provided it were done not by tumultuous impressions of faction and violence but by that Parliamentary fulness and freedom which became the honor piety wisdom and majesty of this Church and Nation but instead of snuffing some Bishops all were extinguished since which time we have been at blindmansbuff and in the dark scuffling about Church Government § His loyalty in all times And however this excellent Bishop enjoyed not the benefit of the Kings favour and munificence as to his Bishoprick or any other preferment after the troubles of the times yet he was ever most unmoveable in his loyal respects of sidelity gratitude love and obedience which he thought were absolutely due to Soveraign Princes from their Subjects as Christians a point which I heard him notably discourse and prove the last Sermon he ever lived to preach which was on the last fifth of November 1659 at the Temple on that Text Dan. 6.21.22 O King live for ever His judgment of Soverainty and subjection c. Proving out of the Scriptures and the both judgement and practice of the Primitive Christians in their sorest persecutions that they venerated their Superiors Kings or Emperors for an Emperor was but as an overgrown King that either had many Kings in his belly or had devoured their Kingdoms as Tertullian in his Apology says Tertul. Apol. c. 33. Temperans majestatem Caesaris infra Deum magis illum commen do Deo cui soli sublicio So cap. 39. in the next place to God as only less then and subject to the Divine Majesty as safest for both the Emperors and their people too Upon any pretext of religious liberty he denied any capacity in Christian Subjects as such to resist their Soveraign Princes for which they had neither Christs precept nor any good Christians practice There was left them only the choice to obey actively or passively to do or to suffer and rather to suffer than to sin by doing or resisting in any unlawful way which Doctrine he had formerly declared in a Sermon at Cambridge for which he was immediately proscribed and outed of his places in the Vniversity and deprived of his liberty Where first visiting his Lordship in prison he acquainted me with his Sermon and his sense of proceedings § Not but that he well understood that some Subjects not as Christians but as cives men and Citizens might enjoy greater freedom
off his earthly Tabernacle those exuviae mortalitatis which are due to the grave It was inter novissima vota one of his last desires that as this mantle of Eliah's soul was likely to fall among you so it might be deposited in your Temple or Sanctuary as an expectant of a blessed Resurrection § This request you not onely ambitiously entertained but honorable accomplished being loth that so great a Prophet should be buried among the graves of the meaner people though living he was almost levelled to them by some men I fear of more preposterous than pious spirits who seemed most impatient to own the vast differences which God and nature education and grace age and experience learning and industry besides our Lawes and the universal custome of the Churches of Christ had made among the Ministers of Christ for the good order and welfare both of Presbyters and people grudging that any civil respect or reward should be proportioned to their worth and usefulness in the Church § It became your learning Justice and wisdom to descern and own the advantages and discriminations that were so evident in this excellent Bishop who are not only Trustees and Guardians of his Urne and ashes but Conservators of his better self living Monuments of his excellent soul Admirers of his rare endowments Imitators of his worthy example All which were by him and now by me devoted to you above all men among whom he had his last hospitable and honorable reception You by a generous civility in an age pittifully and plebeianly Antiepiscopal durst invite own and entertain with publique respect such a Bishop whose eminent and unspotted worth every way made him so much more the object of some mens envy and despite as the highest Towers and trees are of the rage of tempests § For many have more patience towards Bishops and Ministers of his degree and perswasion who are less commendable or more culpable than to those whose eminency in goodness becoming Bishops and Divines makes their injurious malice wholy inexcusable Some spirits are most eager to cast that Episcopal salt on the ground which hath best savour in it and least of popish or popular fatuity that greater esteem may be had of their inspired arrogancy which by parity tends to Ataxy division and confusion as it is at this day Sunt tempora inquibus maximis virtutibus certissimum est exitium Tacitus observes that the worst times can least bear the best laws and worthiest persons whose exemplary vertues are the daily Satyrs and Sarcasmes of unreasonable men and manners § Some School-men think that the presence of a good Angel is an augment to the torture of Divels exasperating the regret and sense of their hell deformity and misery by the others beauty glory and felicity it is certaine Mat. 8.29 that the evil and unclean spirits could not smother the great terror even to torment which they had seising on them when the holy Majesty of the Messias though vailed under the cloud of humane nature and infirmities gave check to their Demoniac malice and mischeif Thus are the best ministers either Bishops or Presbyters men of the greatest learning piety and constancy most unwelcome as Micaiah to Ahab to men of high minds of heady passions of giddy spirits of impotent prejudices of popular principles and of licencious Practises who affect things of vulgar ambition and plebeian arbitrariness being unpatient of any thing authoritative and setled either by civil or ecclesiastick constitutions and customes in Church or State § Hence then is the Crown of your Honour more ponderous and illustrious That you so far owned and expressed your esteem of this learned and religious Bishop who as much deserved and enjoyed the applause of all good men as he patiently endured the envy and injuries of others Him you kindly invited Him you civilly received Him you highly honoured Him you greatly endeared to you notwithstanding the long and many diminutions yea disgraces he had suffered as a Bishop more to the detriment and dishonour of the publique than of his private comforts For it is certaine that every Christian Church and State in all ages hath wanted and ever will such excellent Bishops as wise and exemplary Goverours more than they can want publique rewards and incouragements but as it was said of Paulinus Bishop of Nola in Italy Aequiori animo sua pertulit damna quam alii sua lucra No man deplored the publique distractions more and his own depressions less than this wise and worthy Bishop he still enjoyed himself in an holy and happy tranquility as much nay much more than any of his destroyers whom he lived to see driven as chaffe too and fro with every wind till they were hurried to Democracy to Stratocracy to Anarchy both in Church and State § After many Tragedies which he had seen and suffered it was a great reviving to his age to find the noble respects of your honourable Society shining upon him and in him upon all worthy Bishops and Episcopal Divines You were desirous to be his Diocess to own him as a Father in God And as you deserved so I know he intended you the best recompences he was able to give you out of the rich treasury of his learned and pious soul if God had spared him life and health As you have the honour to be the eminent orbe and publique Sphear in which this great Star of learning and religion of Episcopal desert and dignity last moved both in and out of this world The Mount Nebo to which this Moses was to ascend and there to dye So it is but just you should have this Monument of singular honour and renown so long as the name and memory of Bishop Brounrig survives which I presume will be very long For he had omnia victura et sempiterna praeter corpusculum all things living and lasting to eternity except his body especially if I have in this work which is thus Dedicated to you done him and you the present and after age that right which I intended and of which I have thus given the world some account as to your particular merit towards him which was my second undertaking § My last work in this Epistle is to crave your patrociny for my vindication both against Romish partiality whose designe and interest is to decry and destroy all Reformed Bishops and also against those immoderate Antypathies which others have taken up against all presidential Episcopacy and Diocesan Bishops though never so reformed in Doctrine and Manners Yea and circumscribed by good Laws of Church and State Not that I fear the wit which is not overgreat or the spite which is not very small of those unreasonable Episcopomastix whose malice is as blind as it is bold against all Bishops good and bad precious and vile Popish and Primitive Episcopacy They shall do well to try their Teeth on this file to confute any one particular which I have averred of this excellent
59. l. 11. r. Elisha p. 62. l. 3. r. coveted p. 71. l. 1. r. autedate p. 105. r. Antisignani p. 155. l. 9. f. warp for worship p. 177. l. 1. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 184. l. 7. r. principles p. 245. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Epitaphio p. 3. l. 4. r. Bonorum A SERMON Preached at the Funeral of Ralph Brounrig D.D. LATE L. BP of EXCESTER 2 KING 2.12 And Elisha saw it and he cried My Father my Father the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof and he saw him no more and he took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces § ALthough no man is more ambitious then my self to pay all due respects to that Reverend and justly honored Prelate whose Funerals we this day celebrate yet I should discover too much ignorance of my own disproportion to so grand a Personage to so sad an occasion and so ample an expectation as I know possesseth you right Honorable Worthie and Christian Auditors if I had ambitiously obtruded my self upon this so important a Province for which many others might have been found much more apt and adequate than my self § But being unexpectedly called to this performance by those worthy Friends of the deceased to whom he had chiefly committed the care of his decent Interment I durst not be either so ingrateful to the merits and favour of this excellent Bishop of which I had great experience for many years while he lived or so diffident of Gods gracious assistance and your ingenuous acceptance of my endeavors as to refuse so noble an imployment What is objectable either by my self or others as to my defects may possibly be supplied either by those great respects of love and honor which I ever had and still have to this Venerable Bishop or by your Christian candor or by the Divine grace which is the fountain of all holy sufficiency which as I humbly beg of God so I less despair of it considering my work and design is not to adorn a Roman but a Christian Funeral I am to speak non ad plausum sed ad planctum non ad pompam sed ad pietatem not for pomp but piety not to gain your applause but to amend your and my own lives as discoursing of a dead man to such as are daily dying and decaying with my self § He speaks best of the deserving dead who leaves the living better than he found them which might be your happy improvement honored and beloved if as you have an Eliah now departed so you had an Elisha deploring his departure you have indeed seen or heard the first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as St. Basil speaks the migration and assumption of this great Prophet you may be most probable to enjoy the second if you joyn with me in Elisha's prayer Vers 9. not that a double portion of this Eliah's spirit may be upon me no I have not so immodest an ambition to excel a decimation will be a great addition the Tenth part of the Wisdom Learning Judgement Eloquence Zeal Courage Constancy Gravity and Majesty of this excellent Bishop will make not onely a competent but as the world is now shrunk a very compleat Minister I may tell you the gleanings of this worthy Prelate would be beyond most Presbyters harvests and his racemation or after-gatherings beyond their proudest Vintages However since Eliah's work is not to be done without some portion of Eliahs spirit this is the onely favour next your patience wherein I crave your concurrence § But I must not detain you long in the porch or preface when I have two ample edifices with many fair rooms in them through which I am to lead you § The first is in this read Text which I have set before your eyes which was indeed the first that came into my mind as soon as I had a summons to preach on this occasion The second in that dead Text which is now hidden from your eyes In both of them there is as Christ saith of his Fathers house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many Mansions but I must not tarry long in any one that I may give you some prospect of them all § I begin at the first And Elisha saw it c. The words set forth to us First An eminent person Elisha Secondly His emphatick actions which are many 1. His Vision as to that strange appearance and transaction of Eliah's rapture He saw it 2. His exclamation or vociferation he cried out 3. His expressions 1. As to his private relation and affection My Father my Father 2. As to the publick concern and importance The chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof 4. The cessation or period of the Vision He saw him no more 5. His solemn lamentation set forth by rending his own cloaths in two pieces 1. In this eminent person Elisha though many other things be very considerable 1 The person Elisha considered in his succession to Eliah yet I shall chiefly fix upon him as the person specially designed to be Eliahs Successor in the Prophetick Office both as to ordinary and extraordinary duties for the service of God and the Church yet remaining in Israel although now among much rubbish and ruine sullied with Idolatry and great Apostacy yet the things that remain are not to be neglected even those few that had not yet bowed the knee to Baal Churches must not be cast off nor Christians left without Prophets Pastors and Bishops because of great disorders and degenerations that may by Heresie Schism or persecution befal them those few sheep must not be left in the wilderness without some shepherds to feed and guide them § Here I cannot but observe 1 King 19.16 19. not onely the care of the Prophet Eliah but of God himself by whose special mandate Eliah was to nominate and annoint such an one as might be meet to succeed him in his holy function as a Prophet yea as the Father or chief President and Master for so the sons of the Prophets call Eliah of all the other sons who were brought up in the ordinary Schools and Nurseries of the Prophets As nothing is more necessary for mankind The blessing and necessity of an holy succession of Ministers in the Church than to have some to teach them the will of God and the way of true Religion which differenceth them from beasts and leads them to eternal happiness so nothing is more an evidence of Gods indulgence and mercy to any people than to furnish them from among their brethren with such an holy succession of Prophets and Pastors of Priests and Ministers of Bishops and Fresbyters of Teachers and Rulers in things sacred and spiritual as may least expose the profession of Religion to any doubt disorder division defect interruption or uncertainty When true Religion and the acceptable service of God was first planted in the single families of the Patriarchs as rare flowers are in their severall
of this world not to his torment or consumption but to his honor and consummation This chariot and horses are sent for him as those Joseph sent to Jacob to bring him out of a land of famine Gen. 45.27 to a place of plenty Divine Omnipotence oft makes different use and ends of the same methods and things Same death but different fates of good and bad the death and departure of good and bad out of this world may seem and is most what the same as to the visible way and manner but vastly distant as to the last fate and end as the fool that is the wicked dieth saith Solomon so dies the wise that is the holy and good man there Eccles 2.15 16 is one end to them both by sword or plague or famine or sickness or prison or torment the fire of feavors and the fire of fagots consumes martyrs and malefactors Gods witnesses and the devils witches yet it shall be well with the righteous that fear before God Eccles 8.13 Luke 16. â—2 but not with the wicked Lazarus died and Dives died the one on the dunghil the other on his purple and imbroidered bed but the Angels carried Lazarus to Abrahams bosom to a refrigerating fire and the devils attend Dives as a malefactor to hell that is to a scorching and tormenting fire wicked men are swept as dung from the face of the earth by whatever death they die never so placid and pompous Iob 20.7 Mal. 3.17 without any horrors and pangs in their death but good men as Gods Jewels are made up and laid up in his best cabinet be their deaths never so horrid and painful Tares and wheat are both cut up by the same hand but the one to be cast into unquenchable fire Matth. 13.20 the other to be gathered into everlasting Mansions As the terrors of God and afflictions even to death it self in what way soever God orders our glorifying him Rom. 8.28 become blessings and work together for good to those that love God so to wicked men Psal 6â— â—2 their table is a snare their prosperity cumulates their misery the blessings they enjoy or rather abuse soure as sweet-meats in summer curses to one death is as the blastings of the breath of Gods anger to consume them the Lord is not in that fire which devours the ungodly save only in his power and vengeance which gives this cup of fire and brimstone to drink Ps 11.6 To the other it is as a gentle breath or sweet refreshing gale when God takes their souls to him as he did Moses's with a kiss as some Rabins interpret that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 34.4 Moses died super os Domini at the word or upon the mouth of the Lord. This way of Gods providence to Eliah The Analogy of Eliah's departure to his life by fiery chariot and horses to take him out of the world to glory is remarkable for two things First The Analogy and proportion the Talio or recompence wherewith God testifies his approbation of Eliah's temper as to that high and heroick zeal which he ever shewed to the glory of God and true Religion he had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 flagrantissimam animam a most flaming soul not to be quenched or damped in Gods causeâ— he was as a sacred Salamander impatient of any cold or lukewarm or halting or dough-baked constitution in Religion he had not onely wrought miraculous execution of Gods vengeance by fire 2 Kings 1. to chastise the military insolence of some but he had pleaded Gods cause against Baal and his Priests by fire which came down from heaven and decided the controversie whether the Lord or Baal was God a fire not to be obstructed 1 Kings 18.17 damped or quenched by all the effusion of water upon the Sacrifice and Altar giving hereby a reflexive character and commendation of the magisterial and irresistible and unquenchable zeal wherewith Eliah carried on the interests of God and Religion against all the terrors and threats of Ahab and Jezebel also against the ingrateful levities and Apostacies of the people of Israel many times God suits mens deaths to their lives and tempers as he did this milde but majestick Bishops such as are of meek and calme spirits oft die without any great pain sometimes without any yea I have been very credibly informed of one Mr. Lancaster a very milde grave and worthy Minister who died about twenty years past that there was so loud and sweet a consort of musick heard by him and those about him for above half an hour before he died that the good man owned it as a signal token of Gods indulgence to him thus to send for him and to sweeten his death by so heavenly an harmony with the close of which he gave up the ghost On the other side men of high choler of unmortified and unsanctified passions do not only give themselves much trouble in life but many times their deaths are full of no less terror than torment especially if they die in their vigor or before time and infirmity had much mortified and emaciated their natural strength and temper Secondly The honor done Eliah by this fiery convoy The manner of Eliah's departure by chariot and horses of fire was a notable instance of the great value and honor which God would set upon him as his Prophet of whom the world was not worthy and yet it thought him not worthy to live 1 Kings 18 18 Ahab the King hates him as a publick enemy and troubler of Israel Jezebel the Queen abhors him a woman implacably desperate the Court Parasites are all generally to the same tune except good Obadiah the common people as always are pleased with any liberty that lets them plough and sow buy and sell novelty and apostacy hating all men that are out of favour persecuted and unprosperous though never so pious On all sides good Eliah is driven to fly into wildernesses to prefer wilde beasts before vile men Quorum societas omni solitudine tristior whose society was more sad than any solitude yet this poor yet precious man 1 Kings 19.4 who was even weary of life and petitioned to dye out of a despondency of minde in desperate times God not onely sets miraculous marks of his favour upon him by frequent intercourse of Angels to him and by working wonders by him and for him while he lives thus persecuted and despised of men but he must not die an ordinary death either with that squallor pallor or pain which usually attends the sordidness of sickness and those languishings with which the souls of poor mortals usually take their leave of their bodies as prisoners do of their sad and nasty prison no such an extaordinary pomp and honor must be had at his vale and departure as shall declare him to all ages a man as high in Gods favour as Solomon was in Davids 1 Kâ—ngs 1.33
but commendable and imitable in parallel occasions when they are real unwonted and wonderful in whch Good men do not deserve blame if they seem to forget themselves while they remember God a great and terrible Majesty it is meet for us to hear the voyce or rod of God and who hath appointed it Secondly 2 The matter or words of Elisha But passions alone and their expressions by crying out or any outward emotion disorder which signifie no more than interjections or broken and inarticulate sounds but as the leaves of the barren figtree without fruit Of rational and religious exstasies or as clouds without water these are neither the intents nor usual effects of divine manifestations and extraordinary impressions for however they may give some exstatick terror and amazement at first by the newness suddenness and wonder of them so as to discompose a while both Reason and Religions clearness yet they are not considerable further than God is discernable in them and glorified by them as that vision of Moses and Elias on the mount with Christ at his transfiguration Luke 9.8 9 10 which gave St. Peter such a present shake and astonishment that though he spake of making three Tabernacles and staying there yet he knew not what he said that is he did not well consider the unseasonableness and unreasonableness of his proposals yet afterward upon composed reflections and calmer thoughts 2 Pet. 1.17 he makes a very holy and excellent use of that vision to confirm the faith of Christians in Christ as in the beloved Son of God which voyce we heard saith he in the holy mount coming from the excellent glory of God the Father § Why Elisha thus cryed after Eliab Elisha's cry is not vox praeterea nihil a bare clamor insignificant as one scared and forehared but his wisdom remained with him he cries out as still importune and eager for the blessing of the doubled spirit that Eliah might see he saw him crying now at the instant of his departing which was the compact and agreement and he now laid claim to the accomplishment using this potent Charm of My Father my Father as begging his last blessing that he might be heir of his spirit Here we may observe Observ That divine manifestations or extasies in whatever way they are applied to our discomposure Oâ— holy transports and impressions still preserve the good man as to grace and the man as to right reason they do not speak either evilly or uncivilly or senselesly or unadvisedly with their lips whilst heart and senses divine Creeds or impulses do affect either they pray or praise God either they fear or rejoyce before him either they admire or adore and set forth the glory of God as Balaam himself did when he was in his Prophetick trances and was over-byassed by Gods Spirit against his own covetousness and ambition So the poor Shepherds at the Angelick Quire and Hymn Luke 2.9 10 11 12. visibly appearing and speaking audibly to them of Christs birth went away believing and rejoycing wondering and reporting the truth they first heard of and then found true in the birth of Christ It is an opinion worthy of the Mahometan blindness to fancy that mad men are inspired and see Angels when they rave and talk wildely Insani esse hominis non sanus juret Orestes They are the madder of the two that do think these harsh strings to be touched with Gods holy Spirit § Of fanatick and frantick deliâ—ancies Certainly all extasies of delirancy and dotage that bring men first to strange fancies or to fits of quaking and convulsion then to vent either nonsense or blasphemous and scurrillous extravagancies these must be imputed as learned Dr. Merick Causabon observes either to natural distempers of disease and melancholy or to jugling affectations or to Diabolical delusions and possessions to which some of the Montanists Maniches Circumcellians and others of the Energumeni of old and of late have pretended who made first popular ostentations of special inspirations and correptions or raptures of the Spirit of God but afterwards the leaves and trash the toys and impertinencies they vented by words together with the pernicious extravagancies of their actions proclaimed as loud as the Devil of Mascon to all hearers and spectators that their troubles or tempests with the following dirt and mud arose not from the flowings or emanations of the pure spring of Gods Spirit but either from the Devils filthy injections or from the foul puddle of their own perturbed fancy and corrupt hearts or over-heated brains possibly intoxicated with the fumes of some new opinions and the gallant advantages they fancy to make by them § Of demoniac correptions It is an observation which St. Chrysostom makes that Demoniac correptions as those of the Sybils and other Oracles of old were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with such shakings and transports as dispossessed the possessed for a time of themselves both as to their reason and senses but divine Oracles and inspirations greater or lesse like loud or still musick preserve the harmony of the soul though they make for a time quick and smart strokes upon the strings of holy mens constitutions understandings passions and affections The words of Eliah are as St. Godâ— Spirit suggests and utters only words of soberness and truth Acts 26.24 Acts 2.4 Paul refuted Festus his supposal of his madness words of soberness and truth they that should then have heard them as now we read them must confess that God was in him of a truth 1 Pet. 1.2 he spake which St. Peter gives as the character of a true Prophet and Apostle as the Spirit gave him utterance and guidance as intentive to the last object the fatal signal token of his obtaining the desired Spirit and blessing This affected him so highly as the ingemination imports twice crying out My Father My Father § Expressing first a genuine and great sense of his private love respect duty and honor to Eliah whose relation and merit was to him as a father so he had found him so he valued him so he shall misse him remaining without him as an Orphan in minority desolate and exposed to injuries as well as indiscretions We may observe the great ingenuity and humility of Elisha Observ 1 The filial respects of Elisha to Eliah as his Father though anointed a Prophet and thought meet to succeed Eliah though now of the same order yet he doth not disdain to count and call Eliah his father because first his elder secondly his better and ordainer thirdly his superiour in merits graces no less than in degree and authority in his power or place in the Church Thus the antient Christian people yea and the antient Christian Presbyters owned their Bishops as Fathers The father of the Christian Churches in a precedency and presidency of place degree dignity and authority Ecclesiastical Thus did St. Jerom write with
Silver-smith the other a Copper-smith and both Blacksmiths as to their covetous souls and malicious spirits against the Gospel and true Apostles The Fourth General The silence and distance of all after their last departure Cessatio visionis the ceasing of the Vision admonisheth me to think of closing this my discourse for since Elisha saw him no more there will be no great matter more for me to speak of him or his assumption where the Scriptures are silent we must not be inquisitive after neither prying with our eyes nor prating with our tongues what God conceals and hides we must not be curious to discover or enquire as those do who here are much troubled what became of Eliah whether he went whether to Paradise or Abrahams bosom or into some other Limbo or place of refreshing or into the third heaven the place and state of beatisick vision If I should spin this out to a long and fine discourse Q. What became of Eliab I should but abuse your patience nor would it be other than a cobweb scarce worth the winding up as little would that Query be which some hotly agitate Whence Eliah sent a letter long after he was ascended to King Jehnoram 2 Chron. 21.12 of which mention is made in the second Book of Chronicles Probably it was antidated as a Prophetick Prescript before Eliah departed foreseeing by the spirit of Prophesie the evil of that Prince and those times or some other Eliah than the Tisbite might then live and a Prophet too It is enough for us to confine our sight with this dark vail and interminate Horison He saw him no more This was the period to Eliah and all the appearance of charet and horses as it was with Moses God hid him and with Enoch he was not for God took him so here with Eliah God withdrew him to an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a state invisible out of the ken of mortal eyes and humane cognizance which was a kind of dying although t is probably thought his soul never parted from his body but the body was changed and made capable of that new state wherein God set him no doubt very happy though not in the highest state and degree to which Christ did and will bring him and all his at the consummation of all This we may observe Miraculous manifestations few and short First That extraordinary manifestations of God to any are commonly very short either external or internal Rara hora brevis mora as St. Bernard speaks of spiritual motions and joyes that are most signal and emphatick So to Abraham and Jacob and Moses in the bush so to Manoah Samul David Solomon and others yea the Spirit that descended as a Dove on Christ Mat. 3.16 and rested on him visibly staid not long and but once seen â—oh 12.29 so the voyce that seemed as thunder Mat. 18 3 testifying of Christ as the beloved Son of God so the Transfiguration but once Luk. 22 41 as a glimpse of glory so the Angel in his Agony made no long stay with Christ so St. Pauls rapture was but once and he tells not of its lasting any time These dispensations are not quotidianae nor diuturnae neither fiequent nor continuant but a touch or or taste a glimpse or flash like lightning that many times it is doubted whether it is real or only imaginary till the good event or some gracious effect on our spirits gives a confirmation of the truth of it as it was in St. Acts 12.17 Peters deliverance out of prison which assured him of the reality of the vision that God had sent his Angel and reprieved him God is not prodigal of these special favours but for some great design are they indulged as I have been assured of some in cases of great darkness of soul have had such visions of light as both cleared and cheared them ever after Secondly The period of death to all visible comforts I observe in this lively figure of death which is set forth by Elisha's seeing him no more for ever what is that ultima linea last period which we must expect our selves and rest contented in as to our dearest relations they must be hidden from our eyes they go to the terra incognita land of darkness Psal 88.12 and of forgetfulness which is a place from whence they cannot return to this mortal view and state Luk. 16.26 there being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great and black abyss between the dead and the living one in the center the other in the vast circumference of the world All our delectable and desirable things Friends Parents Wives Children Princes Prophets Preachers semel statutum it is once appointed they must shoot that gulf the shadow of death with a black mantle will interpose between them and us not to be drawn till heaven and earth be no more as the Stage and Theatre of mortality Thirdly Impreve our short vision and fruition of friends If we shall see them no more then it is wisdom to make the best use of them we can and do them all the good we may before we or they go from hence and be no more seen Eccles 9.10 Whatever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might saith Solomon when he had recovered his wits Leave them not whom thou lovest without a blessing before thou diest Gen. 26.4 as Isaac was solicitous for his Sons the blessing of pious instruction good counsel kind reproof noble example frequent yea constant prayers nor be wanting to make that use of their wisdom parts and worth who are able and willing to assist thee many die from us and we from them as I have found by sad experience while we delay to tell them our minds or open our hearts to them putting it off till next visit or another more convenient time as Felix did St. Paul and 28.1 when we shall never see them more till heaven and earth be no more Fourthly Acts 24.25 Set not thy hâ—aâ—t on what will vanish Take heed of setting thy heart on any thing Quod a te invito abesse potest which may leave thee whether thou and it will or no as St. Austin speaks not without penitent retracting of his immoderate love of his friend Alypius and his excessive mourning for him when he died for commonly as sowred vinegar is made of the sweetest wine so vehement affections are but the fewel to maintain or nourish vehement afflictions as the Bucket of our delights and joyes goes down so that of our grief comes up full the highest tide of all comforts sensible usually falls into as low an ebb of discontent and sorrow if our hearts be too much engaged or sit not so loose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Epictetus saith as to love an earthen pot as an earthen pot that it being broken thou mayst not seem broken too This is the law of mutability and
prudentia senex sanctitate Angelus As a child for harmlesness as a young-man for vigor as a son in his obedience to superiors as a Brother in his charity as a Father for his gravity as aged for his wisdom and as an Angel for his sanctity § His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great renown and publique fame But the evidence pregnancy and general renown of his great endowments and worth for learning and prudence for gifts and graces save me a great part of my labor for these were so well known to all the English world in Vniversities in Cities in Countries that in speaking of Bishop Brounrig I may fear to be as tedious and superfluous to you of this present age as if I should hold a candle to shew you the Sun which is sufficiently known by its own light if therefore I may seem to offend any of you by my prolixity be pleased to impute it to the charity and zeal I have for posterity that they may not be ignorant of what many are loth to know and own in this age the great worth of our late English Prelates and Reformed Bishops nor of the injustice of that late Sarcasm which joyns Prelacy and Popery together § He was for prelacy but for from Popery Here was much of a Primitive Prelate nothing of some modern Popes here was the learned industry and humble piety of antient Christan Bishops nothing of that Antichristian pride empty formality and impious hypocrisie which in the black and blind centuries many Popes who were but diseased hydropick over-grown and unsound Bishops have been guilty of by the confession of Baronius Platina and others of the Romish adhesion from which also I am far remote though a great vindicator of good Bishops § As Nazianzen speaks of his commending Hieron the Philosopher He was willing to appear so much a Philosopher as to commend and admire such a Philosopher So I cannot but appear so much Episcopal as to commend the excellencies of an excellent Bishop which some were as loth to see as willing to smother § Bishop Brounrig was a person of that soundness of judgement of that conspicuity for an unspotted life of that unsuspected integrity that his life was virtutum norma as St. Jerom of Nepotian It a in singulis virtutibus eminebat quasi coeteras non habuisset so eminent in every good and perfect gift as if he had had but one only This made him loved and admired most by those who had most experience of him He was not like those rough pictures and unpolished Statues which at a distance make a pretty shew Near hand minuit praesentia famam their commendation and comliness shrinks almost to nothing but either courtship and formality or the meer noise and vapor of vulgar credulity which is as prone to worship a gay Idol as a true Diety yea people are more taken with complemental froth than with the most accomplished worth § His openness and sincerity of life In this Coloss or Heroe of learned and real worth there was nothing dubious or dark nothing various or inconstant nothing formal or affected nothing that needs palliation or apology He lived always as at noon day never using or wanting any twilight or shadow I never heard of any thing said or done by him which a wise and good man would have wished unsaid or undone yet I had the happiness to know him above thirty years He always appeared as Isidor Pelus speaks of Timotheus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sanctuary of sobriety a magazein of humanity a treasury of all vertue and a superlative object of just commendations no less than imitation § He was indeed an Evangelical Eliah potent and fervent in spirit yet not with a heat predatorious but propitious He was apt and able to every good word and work having great parts but little passions As little subject to the usual infirmities and transports incident to men of high and rare abilities as could be few cedars of so noble a procerity ever suffered less tempests or enjoyed more tranquillity within themselves The reason was this he had no leaven of pride at least not so turgent and predominant as either to sowre or swell his passions above his gracious perfections he had the gentleness of a Father the potency of a Prophet the wisdom of a Counsellor the gravity of a Bishop the majesty of a Prince the courage of a Champion he was like Sampson an Army in himself he was as a Troop of Chariots and horsemen strong and resolute for the defence of the true Christian and Reformed Religion with which this Church of England was once blessed both against the great Baals of Popery and the less Baalims of Popularity § So that if I had chosen this Text possibly you would have commended my discretion but as Jacobs venison it offered it self unhunted no other was thought on by me as I told you at first nor could any Jewel in the cabinet of Scripture have better born the characters or gravings of this excellent person and the occasion than this Text which I have wrought off before your eyes my work now is to set the signet of the Text thus graven not upon that dead wax or cold clay which is in that coffin but on that great spirit and that gracious soul whose goodly shrine and temple that body lately was I presume Iust and general Elogies of him I may without the envy or frown of any worthy person here present to honor this solemnity use the words of David at Abners funeral 2 Sam. 3.38 Know you not that this day there is a Prince so St. Jerom and others interpret that Psa 45.16 whom thou mayst make Princes in all lands of Bishops in all Churches I am sure a great man is faln this day in our Israel a Prophet yea more than an ordinary Prophet for as Christ said of John Baptist Among those that were born of women few have in all points equalled this worthy Bishop this reverend Father this gracious Lord who in that true Nobility of wisdom vertue grace and goodness had not many his Peers even among those who were so impatient to have such venerable persons full of prudence learning and piety sit with them or have any influence in the great Councils of Church and State whose presence one would think by the way of former ages was esteemed not only comely but necessary in a Christian Commonwealth to see as Representatives of the Church and Fathers of the Clergy Ne quid detrimenti patiantur aut Ecclesia aut Ecclesiastici for if Religion and Church-interests be left to Laymen only if they do not make a prey of it while it is worth a groat yet they are prone to finde other business and pursue designs of more pleasure profit or honor than Religion seems to most of them and many times as St. Ambrose observed to make mad work of Religion as the Arrians did when they appealed from
not convert gain-sayers and if he could not perswade them yet he would pitty and pray for them His Judgment as to the foundations and solemn administration of the Reformed Religion His fixedness in there formed Religion settled in the Church of England and so in other Reformed Churches which were for the main consonant to it was such that he was unmoveable even to a martyrdom Never more offended as I have sometimes heard him express his displeasure than with those men that affected to be Hybridae Religionis Mungrils or Mephibosheths in Religion and halters in opinion a kinde of ambiguous and dough-baked Protestants that are afraid to own their discommunion and distance from the Church politick or Court of Rome even so far as they see by Scripture and antiquity that it hath evidently divorced from communion with the word of God and Institutions of Jesus Christ walking contrary to the judgement and practice of the Primitive Churches To both which he always appealed in the grand concerns of Religion not allowing that pollicy which incroached upon truth and piety though in matters of outward Rites and Ceremonies he allowed latitudes and liberty without breach of charity It was a maxime I have heard him use That nothing was less to be stickled for or against than matters of reremony which were as shadows not substances of Religion As they did not build so they could not burthen if kept within their bounds as was done in Englands Reformation § Yea he had so far both pity and charity for those plain and honest-hearted people of the Roman communion as either their errors presumed by them to be truths or their ignorance in some things not fundamental did not betray them either to unbelief or self-presumption or to final impenitence or to immorality or uncharitableness If there were hope to close the â—ad breaches of these Western Churches no man was more able and willing to have poured balme into them But he feared the gangreen of Jesuitism had festred and inflamed things to an uncurableness which he oft deplored § His temper is latter dispute among reformed Divines As for the differences of other parties in some opinions which then began to grow very quick and warm in England as well as the Netherlands he seemed always most conformed to and satisfied with the judgement of his learned and reverend friends Bishop Vsher Bishop Davenant and Dr. Ward who were great Disciples of St. Austin and Prosper in their contests against the Pelagians Not that he could indure no difference among learned and godly men in opinions especially sublime and obscure without dissentions and distance in affection but he wished all men to look well to the humility and sincerity of their hearts whose heads were most prone and able to manage points of controversie the heat of which is ready to make the fullest souls to boil over to some immoderation and study of sides He thought that Scripture it self was in some points left us less clear and positive as to mysterious not necessary verities that Christians might have wherewith to exercise both humility in themselves and charity towards others § He very much venerated the first worthy Reformers of Religion at home and abroad yet was he not so addicted to any one Master as not freely to use that great and mature judgement which he had so as to sift and separate between their easie opinions and native passions as men and their solider probations and sober practices as great and good Divines He suffered not prejudices against any mans person or opinion to heighten animosities in him against either He hoped every good man had his retractations either actual or intentional that died in true faith and repentance however all had not time to write their retractations as St. Austin did § If against any thing next sin and gross errors he had an antipathy and impatience it was against those unquiet and pragmatick spirits which affect endless controversies varieties and novelties in Religion that hereby they may carry on that study of sides and parties in which they glory and under which skreen they hope to advance their private interests and politick designs This he saw by experience was commonly the Scorpions tail and sting of those opinions which at their first broaching and variating from the pristine and Catholick Doctrine might seem to have the face of women modest and harmless but in time grew very pernicious to Church and State When the clouds of nonconformity which was formerly reduced to an hand breadth in the Church of England began now His constancy in the late vertigious times partly by a spirit or breath of super-conformity and chiefly by those vehement winds which blew from the North to cover the whole English heaven with blackness and to threaten a great storm of blood which after followed yet did this excellent person then hold to his former principles and practice not because he was a Bishop but because he was a judicious and consciencious man where he saw Scripture and Law bound him to duty and to that constancy of his judgement in matters of Religion both essential and circumstantial substantial and ornamental which became a wise and honest man He was too ponderous a person to be tossed too and fro with every wind of doctrine or discipline nor was he ever either so scared or in so merry and frolick a sit as to dance after the Scottish pipe he had learned another and a better tune as from the Catholick Church in general so particularly from this Church and State the Princes and Prelates the Parliments and Convocations of the Reformed Church of England now too old to affect any new jigg after an hundred years most flourishing State the wisdom gravity and majesty of which he thought was not now either to be either disciplined or reformed or chastened by the pedantique authority pretended necessity or obtruded insolency of any Church or Nation under heaven much less by any party in it self which was less than the authority of a full and free Parliament consisting of King Lords and Commons counselled as to matters of Religion by a full and free Convocation or Synod which he thought the most laudable way of managing Religion and most probable by doing good impartially to be blest of God and approved by good men He saw the Church and State of England had been sufficient every way for it self heretofore while united and was then happiest when it enjoyed its own peaceable and Parliamentary Counsels and results without any others partial dictates which were as improsperous as importune and impertinent § For the Liturgie His esteem of the liturgy of the Church of England or publick form of Prayer and solemn Administration in the Church of England though he needed a set form as little as any yet he had a particular great esteem of it 1. For the honor and piety of its Martyrly Composers who enduring such a fiery trial
were not likely to have made a Liturgy of straw and stubble 2. For its excellent matter which is divine sound and holy besides its method which is prudent and good 3. For the very great good he saw it did as to all sober Christians so to the common sort of plain people who what ever other provision they had of their Ministers private abilities yet they were sure every Lords Day at least to have a wholesom and compleat form not only of Prayers but of all other necessaries to salvavation set before them for faith holy life and devotion in the Creeds Commandments Lords Prayer with Confessions and Supplications admirably linked together and fitted to the meanest capacities the want of which he saw was not supplied by any Ministers private way of praying or preaching which in very deed are but small pittances of piety or fragments compared to the latitude of religious fundamentals and varieties contained in the Liturgie the want of which he judged would induce a great ignorance as he saw and said to me a little before his death it had done already among the ordinary sort of people in Countrey and City whose souls are as precious to God as others of greater parts and capacities whose appetites were not to be flattered and deceived with novelties but fitted and fed with wonted solidities by which they would thrive look better as by the use of plain and repeated food which is as their daily bread than those that delight in greater varieties and dainties which may seem more toothsom to wanton palates but are not more wholesom or nourishing to honest hearts who are commonly less licorous in Religion and best content with what is best for them § Not that he was such a Formalist Verbalist and Sententiolist as could not endure any alteration of words or phrases or method or manner of expressions in the Liturgie to which either change of times or of language or things may invite he well knew there had been variety of Liturgies in Churches and variations in the same Church he made very much but not too much of the English Liturgie not as the Scriptures unalterable but yet he judged that all alterations in such publick and settled concerns of Religion ought to be done by the publick spirit counsel and consent of the Prophets Prince and People However this was a concluded Maxim with him That the solemnity and sacredness of consecrating those Christian mysteries of the blessed Sacraments were not to be adventured upon Ministers private abilities tenuities or distempers but by a publick and uniform spirit among Preachers and people all should say Amen to the same Prayers and receive the same mysteries under one form of consecration in which nothing should be defective or superfluous § His personal and occasional abilities for prayer were answerable to his other gifts and graces both for matter method utterance discretion and devotion full fervent and pathetick upon his own and others spirits not coldly formal and stark nor yet wildly rambling loose and broken but judicious apt grave and of so moderate an extent as suited the weight of the occasion the capacity of the auditors and the intensiveness of his own heart his prayers were not the labor and product only of lips lungs and tongue but of his spirit and understanding he minded not the glory but grace of prayer As to the Government of the Church by Episcopal Presidency His judgment of Church government by Episcopacy to which Prince and Presbyters agree he was too learned a man to doubt and too honest to deny the universal custom and practice of the Church of Christ in all ages and places for Fifteen hundred years according to the pattern at least received from the Apostles who without doubt followed as they best knew the mind of Christ This Catholick prescription he he thought so sacred that as it did sufficiently prejudge all novel presumptions so nothing but importune and grand necessities put upon any Church could excuse much less justifie the cutting off those pipes or the turning of that primitive and perpetual course of Ecclesiastical Ordination subordination and Government into another channel Nor did he understand the method of those new Vitruviusses who would seem Master-builders though they are yet but destroyers when they affect to have all timber and stones in the Churches building of the same shape size and bigness when the Church of Christ is compared to a body which hath members of different forms use and honor 1 Cor. 12. § Yet this worthy man had nothing of secular pomp or vain ambition in his thoughts meerly to bear up or bolster out a formal and titular Episcopacy with Goats hair like Michols image No he exacted worth and work And where true Bishops did the duties and good works belonging to the principal Pastors of the flock he thought they deserved double honor as Fathers and Governors among good Christians both of revenue and reverence § Yet he did not judge the principal dignity or authority of Episcopacy to depend upon its Secular advantages but on its Ecclesiastical custom and Apostolick institution and however no man was more ready to condescend to any external diminutions and comely moderations that might stand with a good conscience and prudence as tending to the peace and unity of the Church yet no man was more firm resolute and immovable from gratifying any Sacrilegious Projectors or proud Factionists or peevish Novellers to the reproach of the Church of England yea and of the Catholick Church in all the world which had its Bishops every where before it had its Bible or its Scriptures compleated In the matter of Episcopacy he differed little from Bishop Vshers moddel of the ancient Synodical Government only he thought the petulancy of mens spirit in these times beyond the primitive simplicity did require all prudent advantages of Order and authority which might consist with piety and true policy as antidotes ought to be heightned to the measure of the poison they are to encounter § He approved not a leveling party among Ministers Only he could never be induced so far to forsake the principle of all Reason Order and Government in humane societies or to disown the remarkable differences which God and Nature age and education experience and studies industry and grace did make between Ministers no less than other men as to think that neither work nor rewards of honor and estate may be proportioned to their different worths but that the youngest Schollar yea the meanest Schoolmaster if they can but now and then appear in a Pulpit and take Orders as they best fancy shall presently in all things of publick honor and Ecclesiastick authority run parallel to the greatest Schollars and gravest Divines so that either a beardless and juvenile petulancy or more aged but empty gravity shall in all points be level and justle with the most venerable worth and accomplished learning of those that are capable to
than others according as they were settled by civil compacts and politick agreements or constitutions of State where the Laws of the Land give any stop restraint or limit to Princes power and proceedings by putting some co-ordinate and cautionary power into some orderly way and legal procedure whereby to vindicate or assert the rights of Subjects there he judged the great Arbitrator of just and unjust lawful and unlawful was the Law of the Nation as Mans and Gods Ordinance which who so brake Prince or People was a transgressor against God and Man who so pursued was unblameable in which case the Lawyer was to go before and the Divine to follow as to resolution of conscience § But for Subjects who were once by publick consent of Laws and many oaths bound to the limits and inclosures of obedience and legal subjection for these to affect a liberty under pretence of Religion as Christians or of any common priciples and natural freedoms as men beyond the established rules and boundaries of the Laws this he thought such a fanatick fetch as would undo and overthrow all Government for where is there any Christian State so setled in which some men will not quarrel with the Laws as too strait-laced for their either spiritual or natural liberties their consciences or conveniencies that is for their lusts and licenciousness their ambition or covetousness or their revenge and discontents § People ungoverned their own greatest oppressors He found by reading and experience that no Tyrannies and Oppressions of any lawful Prince were ever so heavy upon any Nation as when it turns its own Tyrant and fals under a popular self-oppression by inordinate and immoderate affectations of liberty and oppositions to legal and setled Soveraignty as was evident in the passionate Apostacy of the Ten Tribes from Davids house pretending Solomons exactions when it is better to be oppressed by one wise Prince than to be left to popular liberties which ruine Church and State § He judged as one true God is beyond ten thousand Idols so was one Lawful Soveraign with a wise Council and a settled Law beyond all the many headed and many handed Hydra's of any popular parity or other forms of Government whatsoever § For he had observed that warlike and populous Nations are much more crushed and bruised with their own weight like heavy bodies when they fall from an higher station or posture then when they are only bastonadoed with a cudgel or not mortally wounded with a sword which blows have as far less pain and expence of blood or spirits so greater possibility and speed of recovery § Though he was a very learned and well-read Schollar yet he had not studied Marianas or other Jesuitish Catechisms as to those reserves in point of civil subjection and obedience by which they allow either one great Pope or many little ones to dominier over Soveraign Princes or chief Magistrates upon any account of Christs Kingdom and spiritual power § He was more versed in the Bible of the Bishops translation than in any Papal glosses or others Annotations § However being a Father of the Church he thought it became him to be a very dutiful and obedient Son to the King as Father of his Country in England who was under God Grandfather of Church and State by a Law that invested him in a Soveraignty or Monarchy subject to no power on earth § This he judged the safest way as to inward and outward peace in conscience and prudence for men and Christians for Church and State Accordingly when O. P. with some shew of respect to him demanded his judgment in some publick affairs then at a nonplus his Lordship with his wonted gravity and freedom replied My Lord The best counsel I can give you is that of our Saviour Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods with which free answer O. P. rested rather silenced than satisfied When he had accepted to be a Bishop I think he had sinned if he refused Gods call to that Office and honor being so able so worthy What damps and distances he found from some Ministers after they saw he was an eclipsed Bishop and so willing to have done good as in all times so in such a time as that was the Amphibian Ministers who could live in Presbytery or Episcopacy as their interest led them when they saw the Northern tempest strong the tide to turn and this good Bishop with others not likely to enjoy the estates and honors of their Bishopricks Then O then began some of those Preachers whose Darling Crown and Triumph whose almost adoration and Idol Dr. Brounrig had sometimes been now they began to withdraw from him to keep a loof and at distance to look as strangers on him and to be either afraid or ashamed to appear before him such a reproach and maul his very presence constancy and gravity were to their popular and time-serving inconstancies that many became his enemies because he persevered in the truth they once asserted and had now deserted by the confutation and conversion which tumults and arms had made on their spirits more than any new reasons and arguments § Others were so peevish and spiteful against him not as Dr. Brounrig but as an unfortunate Bishops that to revenge their own sin and folly on their betters they after the Lystrian levity Act. 14.18 19. endeavored to stone him and other Bishops whom they once had reverenced as Gods consenting to and applauding his expulsion out of the House of Lords out of the Colledge and University yea and to his deposition as much as humane power and malice could from his Episcopal Office and Authority which yet he failed not while he lived as he had power and opportunity to discharge § If he had as a Bishop met with better times as to Christianity or worse as to Heathenish barbarity so as to have shined fully and steadily in one of those golden Candlesticks of the Church for which he was fitted I make no doubt but the most benign influence of so able so affable so amiable so consciencious so compleat a Bishop would have wrought as great effects in any Diocess where he lived as Gregorius Thaumaturgus is said to have done in his Scythian Bishoprick where when he came first to them he found but fifteen Christians when he left them he left but so many Heathens or Infidels amonst them Bishop Brounrig was as likely as any man to have been a Thaumaturgus to have wrought miracles in this age if they had been so just moderate and wise as to have made use of his oracular wisdom in grand and publick concerns or to have trusted to the counsels of such Schollars as much as of Soldiers § His publick prudential ability Possibly other men and Bishops might have as much learning but few that ever I knew had his incomparable clearness candor solidness sweetness dexterity eloquence and great
his delivery who always preached in good earnest as well as he took great pains would have deceived a very judicious Auditory to have believed they were premeditated and penned His design was neither to over-preach his audience nor under-preach his matter but to fit both so that neither the Text nor the people should have cause to think themselves slighted This I observe on the by as to his conversation and discourse § To his learned and ready abilities were added the blessing of a very happy historick memory which by a latitude commensurate to his understanding and judgement had not swallowed up and crammed it self with all he read or heard but having weighed the worth and credit of all historick passages had discreetly treasured up so great variety of very remarkable things both old and new experiments that he was both by his sufficiency or store as Condus in laying up and by his prudence as Promus in bringing them out rarely fitted for all company and occasions that were worthy of his owning § Nor was he a penurious or illiberal speaker but as fons sitientem vincit the living fountain overcomes the most thirsty soul so did he study to shew a Princely and Fatherly munificence in his speech Neminem unquam tristem à se demisit as was said of that good Emperor he never sent any one away sad or unsatisfied who was not peevish impenitent and unworthy none but such could come nigh him and not be bettered by him so communicative and courteous he was to all Among other memorable passages which I have heard from him A strange story related by Bishop Brounrig I cannot but here represent to the Reader one story which being sealed with the credit and veracity of so grave a person who was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a man of great integrity may not be unworthy of observation § His Lordship a few weeks before he died told me together with Dr. Bernard his very faithful friend and servant that his Lordship was assured from the relation of a Dutch Minister of his particular acquaintance having lived long in England a man of good learning and of a most religious plain-heartedness in his life That this Dutch man coming from Ireland and being cast away by storm far from shore he floated not knowing how to swim on the face of the deep as despairing of life and half dead yet not forgetting to invocate Gods mercy After two hours distress lying now on his back and tossed at the pleasure of wind and waves a vessel came by him under sail and took him up when he was aboard the ship the charitable Mariners helped to relieve him with dry clothes and while they were looking on him as a drenched and almost drowned man to their great wonder they saw on the back of his coat toward the middle a perfect print of a mans hand which by its different colour shewed it was dry as indeed it was like Gideons fleece when the flore was all wet about it This the good man himself when he had pulled off his apper garment saw admired and blessed God acknowledging that he seemed as upheld by a Divine hand from sinking all that time he was floating and helpless on the sea this he averred on his faith to God and man to this excellent Bishop whose belief of it makes me think it not only credible but true and worthy of memory He could never be perswaded to set forth any thing of his own in print Why he would never Print any thing Although my self and others have oft moved him while yet he had vigor and leisure enough either to take this pious revenge on the age which had injured it self most by laying him aside or to give the better world this great satisfaction either as to some elaborate pieces he had made and by word of mouth published in Sermons or Determinations and other Speeches at Commencements Or as to his judgment in some grand cases of dispute in which he had a great happiness to comprehend things fully to state the controversy exactly and to express himself both clearly and compendiously full of Scripture strength of Councils weight of the Fathers consent of Historick light of Scholastick acuteness and inclining to no side but where God and truth were § That which made him more averss to the Press was partly a spirit too active and vigorous to be confined to that tedious and plodding way which is required in those that list to write and not scribble Next he was so severe an exacter of all perfections in what ever he did that it was hard for him in a great work to satisfie himself without which he had no great hope to satisfie the learned world nor pleasure to gratify others Lastly he would oft complaine as many wise men have done and yet added to the number of the surfet of Books as an incurable disease in an age whose droppy makes it thirst and drink the more He thought latter writings do but divert men as acornes do Deer from their better feed on grass from reading the antients who were so far the best as they were both nearest the fountaine of primitive purity and remotest from the passions prejudices and partys of our later and worser times Nor did he believe that those in England who most needed the direction or correction of his judgment would trouble themselves to read what he wrote Since he saw as men act and fight so they both read and write according to their studie of sides as the opinion or party sways to which they are addicted So that he concluded the antidote or plaister would be quite lost The whole not needing them and the sick never using them § This made him wrap up himself in silence as to any way of printing Leaving the debates and scuffles of the times as to Church and State either to younger men who were more daring and could better endure the heat and burthen of the day or to be answered and fully in time confuted by the effects of their own ignorance rashness and folly which he ever thought would be as they then were horrid confusion and bitter uncharitableness Or at best a sottish and lazy superstition with which common people are at length willing to acquiesce as drunken men falling asleep after they have wearied themselves with the frolicks of their heady opinions and intoxicating disputes about Religion § Yet will it not I presume be any regret to his blessed spirit if those pieces which remain perfected by his own hand be redeemed from the darkness or twilight of Manuscripts and brought forth to the day and sunshine of Printing that in their light we may see some genuine beams of that burning and shining light which was in the soul of Bishop Brounrig And certainly if he had after the example of the best of Emperors and Heathens that ever lived Marcus Aurelius his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his own observations and peculiar
frowned on sin and smiled on goodness § This affliction only that noble Society had that having tasted a little of that Manna and honey 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some seven or eight times they were not permitted longer to enjoy the full and durable blessings of so sweet so plenteous and so heavenly repast In which he so dispenced his divine store and provision as St. John wrote to youngmen and Fathers to children and old men in his first Epistle so this Apostolick Bishop and Preacher at one Sermon both pleased the young Gentlemen and profited the Antients teaching the first there to know their duty and the second to do it preparing the one to live holily the other to dye happily § But this rich banquet was not to last long a little of Bishop Brounrig was a great deal for any one congregation to have In Michaelmas Term next following his bodily infirmities began to prevail against the strength and willingness of his mind not permitting him to preach in publick save only on the fifth of November which was his last though he did preach in private almost to all that came to him and were capable of his converse even till he was much spent and weary as I have heard him complain God was pleased to exercise him with bodily pains His bodily paines and infirmities indispositions and distempers sometimes with sharp fits of the stone and hydropick inclinations which made the chariot of his body which was somewhat plethorick and corpulent drive heavily though those fiery horses his fervent spirits were still agile and able But under all these God supported him with his grace and a spirit as always humble devout and pious so for the most part sociable serene and chearful till he had lived to his Sixty seventh year Then with age sickness increased with great failings of spirit The Will he made which gave him the alarms of approaching death but before this while he was yet in competent health of body and serenity of mind he made his Will which bears date as Mr. Thomas Buck his Executor told me two years before his departure A Will much like that of St. Austin or other Primitive Bishops not loaden with great and pompous Legacies of money but rather with testimonies of a pious grateful and charitable soul That little he had of estate was distributed either as tokens of respect love and gratitude to his ancient friends or as agnitions of his nearest deserving kindred and relations or as requitals to a well-deserving Servant or as charitable reliefs to the poor he was pauperior opibus but opulentior moribus as Chysologus speaks of St. Lanrence § If any man quarrel that he gave away no more by Will The reason is he had no more He wanted not a large heart or liberal hand no man was further from covetousness which is never so unseasonable as when a man is dying Nor was he wanting to be his own Executor chusing rather in secret to give much while he lived than to leave more when he died If this be his defect that he gave not great sums as the renowned Bishop Andrews or other Bishops and Clergymen sometime did to pious and charitable uses to Colledges Libraries Hospitals when Bishops and other Churchmen injoyed those rewards and revenues which the piety and Laws of the Nation had proportioned to their places and merit truly it must be imputed to the injuries and privations of the times for no tree would have born more or fairer fruit as in other so in this kind than this fair and fruitful figtree if he had not been blasted not by Christs word as a Bishop or as barren but by the fatal curse of the times No Christian would have done more good works of this nature or more advisedly than this wise and venerable Bishop Si res ampla domi similisque affectibus esset if his estate had been answerable to his mind And yet he had discouragements enough as to such works and charitable donations wherein the Sacrilegious sauciness of some mens spirits who dare make bold to take from God and never ask his leave is such that liberal souls are even nonplust how to place any durable and great charity in so safe a way as the Cormorant and Vulture of avarice or publick necessity and State frugality will not in time seise on it as a prey sic rapitur fisco quod dabatur debetur Christo One would have thought that no times would have made a prey and spoil of those Ecclesiastial revenues which Henry the Eighth's luxury and avaricious prodigality had spared but we see Joel 1.4 the catterpillar will devour what the canker-worm and locust and palmer-worm have left The pious improvement of his interals of health In all his vacancies from pains and bodily infirmities he was frequent in preaching in celebrating and receiving the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper in his private retirements much in reading cheifly the Scriptures of later years in meditating and in prayer besides his social joyning with others in family duties in which as he willingly and devoutly used the Liturgy of the Church so far as it was fitted to publick and private necessities so he either added of his own or admitted from others those pious and prudent prayers which more nearly suited with the private devotions and condition of those that were present § His willingness to dy in these distracted times He had more frequent infirmities as gentle Monitors a little before his death of which he would speak to my self and others in a kind of familiar sort as one that by dying daily was well acquainted with death He would say That it was a very cheap time now to die there being so little temptation to desire life and so many to welcome death since he had lived to see no King in the State no Bishop in the Church no Peer in Parliament no Judge in the Land yea and no Parliament in any freedom honor power or being worthy that name Omnia miles all power was contracted to the pummel of their sword or the barrel of their guns the Soldier was all in all in that black interregnum or horrid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which had neither form nor power of any legal government in England in that dark day departed this great light All Church and State being reduced to military arbitration and presumption he saw nothing remained of order or honor love or Law Reason and Religion in any publick and social correspondency yea new feuds and quarrels like boils from unsound bodies were daily breaking out and continuing the fires of civil Wars like those of hell and Tophet to be everlasting and unquenchable There being no thought of the way of peace but to avoid it § This made him willingly gird as St. Peter did his coat to him that he might be ready to lanch into that dead sea when Christ should bid him come to him He only hoped