The doleful story of his ruin'd state And his three friends which acted Satans part He on his flesh and these upon his heart Who by disputing him unto a curse Would make his spirits tormeÌ„ts the far worse Were by Gods wise disposal sent to show The strength he on his Champion would bestow Thus Painters put dark grounds where they intend To overlay with finest gold lend By deeper shadows luster to that face On which they mean their choicest skill to place Thus workmen season much with sun wind Those greatest beams which must the building binde Whilst smaler peeces haply are put in When they come bleeding from the wood green Oft where is greatest grace God's pleas'd to send Great conflicts those great graces to coÌ„mend As the six finger'd Giants sword did bring The more renown to little Davids sling The vanquisht Lion and the conquered Bear Prepar'd that holy head a Crown to wear The Angel wrastled first and then did bless And made the greater servant to the lesse Pain was to great for thee Gods grace for pain And made the greater serve the lesse again Thy pains serv'd thee to glory and did sit The head on which a Crown of life must sit This is Gods method to fetch joy from grief To turn our sorrows unto our relief To save by killing and to bring to shore By the ships planks which was quite broke before And thus a barren womb first took the seed Which did six hundred thousand people breed That seed too must from knife and alter rise And be before a fire a sacrifice Great Preacher of thine heavenly Fathers will Thy tongue did many years with Manna fill Thy life out-preacht thy tongue O blessed strife Thy sicknesse the best Sermon of thy life Before each Doctrine must be prov'd anew Thine end was one great proof that all was true Before thou preacht by weeks but now by houres Each minute taught thy mourning Auditors Each patient groan and each beleeving eye Was a new Sermon in Brachygraphy When nature roars without repining words Grace in the mouth wheÌ„ in the bowels swords In midst of torments to triumph o're hell To feel Gods Arrows yet his praises tell Through thickest clouds to see the brightest light In blackest darkness to have clearest sight And with our Lord to cry my God my God Upon a Crosse under the sharpest rod. This is indeed to preach this is to show Faiths triumph over natures greatest wo. Then welcome fiery SerpeÌ„ts scortching sting Which did thee thus to th' brazen Serpent bring Then welcom Whale which though it first devour Renders at last the Prophet to the shore Well might'st thou bear the stone which death did throw Who hadst the white stone the new name to show Wel mightst thou be with such an ulcer calm Whose soul was heal'd before with heavens balm When spirits wounds are cur'd though nature groan An heart of flesh can heal a back of stone Let conscience have her feast and let flesh roare This pain shal make the others joy the more As many times those flowers most fragrant smell Which nearest to soÌ„e noisom weeds do dwel Thus have you seen the forge most clearly glow On which the Smith doth drops of water throw Keen frosts make fire the hotter deep night Causeth coelestial lamps to shine more bright And by a dear Antiperistasis The childs distress sweetens the father kiss A wounded body yields to a sound soul The joys of this do th' others paines controle As in the day that the Sun beams appear All other lesser stars do disappear When heaven shines and divine love doth raign The soul is not at leasure to complain Internal joyes his heart so well composes That they have judg'd their flames a bed of Roses Mr. Gataker Mr. Whitaker But what shall England do from whence are lopt Two of her richest acres to heaven dropt By losse of these two acres shee 's more poor Then if she'had lost a hundred Lordships more 'T were a good purchase to gain these agen By giving to the sea all Lincoln-fen Two little mines of gold do far surpasse Huge Mannors where th' whole vesture is but grasse Learn we by them what al men wil once say One Pearch of heaven 's worth the whole globe of clay Ed. Reynolds D. D. To the memory of Mr. Jeremy Whitaker powerful in Prayer and Preaching pious in life patient in sicknesse c. NAy now forbear for pity sake give o're You that would make the Clergy none or poor We are made miserable enough this year That we have lost our Reverend Whitaker Losâ—e above Deans and Chapters had but he Liv'd stil preacht Ziba take all for me Nay I beleeve had Sacrilegious hands Finger'd our poor Remains of Tyths Lands Whilst he surviv'd they had but sin'd in vain Whitaker would have pray'd them back again As Luther did a young mans soul repeal Giv'n to the Devil under hand and Seal A Chariot and an Horsman we have lost In whose each single pray'r incamptan Host How have I heard him on some solemn day When doubtful War could make all London pray Mount up to heav'n with armed crys tears And rout as far as York the Cavileers Have you not seen an early-rising Lark Spring from her turf making the Sunne her mark Shooting her self aloft yet higheâ— higher Till she had sung her self into heav'ns Quire Thus would he rise in pray'r and in a trice His soul become a Bird of Paradise And if our faint devotions prayers be What can we call his lesse then Extasie On his Preaching If with th' Almighty he prevailed so Wonder not that he wonders wrought below The son of consolation and of thunder Met both in him in â—thers are asunder He was like Luke Physitian of both kindes Wrought cures upon mens bodies and their mindes The falling sicknesse of Apostasie Dropsie of drunkennesse prides trimpany The Megrim of opinions new or old Palsy of unbelief Charities Cold Lusts burning Feaver Anger 's Calenture The Collick in the conscience he could cure Set the souls broken boneâ— by holy Art He hath dissolv'd the stone in many a heart Harder then that he dy'd of O come in Yee multitudes whom he hath heal'd of sin And thereby made his debtors pay him now Some of those tears which he laid out for you Interest-tears I mean for should you all Weep over him both use and principal 'T would wash away the stone which covers him And make his Coffin like an Ark to swim Now wipe thine eyes my Muse and stop thy verse Thy ink can only serve to black his herse Yet stay I 'le drop one tear sigh one sigh more 'T is this Although my Poetry be poor O what a mighty Prophet should â— be Had this Elija's mantle falne to me Oh might I live his life I 'de be content His sore diseases too should me torment And if his Patience could mine become I would not be afraid
by the practice of Faith Patience Contentment and Spiritualnesse which he had formerly preached he was very profitable unto them who did visit him and might also prove very advantageous unto others who might be acquainted therewith through Gods grace by Christ So great was his tender respect unto his friends that when his pains were coming with violence he would intreat them to with-draw from him that they might not be grieved with his roarings He would often bless God that his compassionate friends were not necessitated to abide within the reach of his doleful lamentations I hearing the night before God translated him that he was not likely to live another day I went early in the morning to take my leave of him whom my soul loved and found his bodily strength almost spent And because he could not speak without difficulty I spake the more unto him in relation to the approach of his happy hoped for change my discourse through Gods mercy was refreshing unto his spirit Minding him that many of his friends intended to set apart that day in seeking the Lord for him I asked him in what things especially he desired to be remembred before the Throne of Grace His answer was Do not complaine but blesse God for me and intreat him to open the prison-door Hereupon laying my hand upon his cold hand covered with a clammy sweat I took my last farewel with an aking heart and upon my departure from him these were his last words unto me Brother I thank you I pray God blesse you and I blesse God for you That day was spent in addresses to God for him at Peters Cornhil where Mr. Newcomen quickened and guided our prayers in his Sermon from John 11. wherein he insisted especially upon these words Lord behold he whom thou lovest is sick ver 4. And Mr. Jenkyn endeavoured to moderate and regulate our sorrows from Luke 23. 28. Weep not for me Thus his friends having by prayers with praises on his behalf given him up to God and having prepared their hearts for their loss of him the Lord was pleased that evening to take him unto himself And now our friend Whitaker sleepeth 1. He is dead that speaketh sorrow 2. His death is a sleep this yieldeth relief First His death is ground of lamentation because Christ and his Church have now one friend less on earth to be serviceable unto both I would awaken your hearts unto sensiblenesse under this great losse and therefore wish that his great parts many interests frequent opportunities of service together with the unmovable faithfulness of his heart to improve all for good may be duly remembred viz. 1. As for his Abilities he was an universal Scholar both in the Arts and Original Languages by much study he had digested the whole Body of Divinity he was well acquainted both with the Schoolmen and the Fathers a good Disputant judicious in Cases of Conscience and second unto none in acquaintance with the holy Scripture 2. He had much interest in the hearts of persons of chiefest places and power in the Nation for the plainnesse of his spirit together with the power of godlinesse which did shine in his conversation gained him much Authority in the consciences of all sorts with whom he conversed whether in the City or Countrey 3. And his opportunities of service were many not only in Southwark but also in London Westminster Stepney where he had much imployment We read when Dorcas was dead that the widows stood weeping and shewing the coats which she had made Acts 9. 39. and that upon Pauls departure the people wept because they should see his face no more Acts 20. 38. And is there not reason that we should be in like manner affected remembring how truth hath been defended error confuted holiness cherished wickednesse checked the cause of the poor pleaded and the violence of some passionate spirits allayed by Mr. Whitaker But now this able publick-spirited man must be serviceable on earth no more now we shall not be edified by his Ministery any more nor warmed by his prayers any more nor cheared by his company and conference any more But let us moderate our sorrow by this following consideration That our friend Whitaker is not dead but sleepeth For this assureth us both of his present ease and future Resurrection Now being asleep he is well he resteth as in a bed and we shall not see his pale face his weeping eyes his trembling hands any more we shall no more hear his deep groans and doleful lamentations He is fallen asleep in the Lord and he and we shall have a better meeting at the general Resurrection then ever heretofore and then shall we ever be with the Lord. Therefore let us comfort one another with these words 1 Thes 4. 15 18. I have but one thing more to hint viz. That Christ now knoweth that this our precious friend sleepeth From whence I infer 1. Comfort 2. Counsel This may be chearing unto all his mourning Relations Domestical Pastoral Classical For Christ understandeth that his wife hath lost a dear husband his children an indulgent father his people a faithful Pastor the Classis a chief Pillar and all good Christians a real friend And seeing Christ considering that Mr. Whitaker is dead doth also observe how we all are affected with this providence therfore I beseech you and beseech you again to study in good earnest the gracious improvement of this sad dispensation Let us hear the voice of this rod repentingly remember the forfeitures made of this blessing and make conscionable imitation of the good example he hath left us Though Mr. Whitaker is dead yet his holy life speaketh My Narrative hath told much of that which it speaketh and my prayers are that it may speak through the concurrence of Gods grace that unto all our hearts which may be for spiritual and eternal benefit by Christ FINIS POEMS And ELEGIES On the Death of Mr. JEREMIAH WHITAKER On the Death of my dear Friend Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker IF death be but a servant sent to call The souls of Saints to their original Dear St thine was a noble soul to whom Three Messengers were sent to call thee home A stone an ulcer and a gangrene too Three deaths to hastē that which one should do 'T was not because thy soul was deeper set Then ours within its house of clay nor yet Because thou wert unwilling to depart Thither where long before had been thine hear◠They were not sent to hale by violence A soul that lingered when 't was called hence God shewd how welcome one death was to thee Who did so meekly entertain all three Thus many deaths Gods Israel did inclose The sea before behind a sea of foes On either side the jaws of mountains high No way from death but unto death to flie Not to destroy them but to let them see The power of love which then would se◠them free Thus Jobs four Messengers which did relate
as examples of faith and holinesse he addeth these words All these died Reasons The reasons are not only 1. Because of Adams sin transmitted Sin entereth into the world and death by sin Rom. 5. 12. 2. And by reason of Gods determination with reference to his own glory many wayes to be manifested in the consequence of death It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgement For upon these Heb. 9 27. accounts the wicked who are Christs enemies do die also But there are peculiar Reasons wherefore Christs and the Churches friends do die I will not here speak unto that which was extraordinary in this death of Lazarus viz. for the glory of God Verse 15. that the Son of God might be glorified thereby and for the sakes of them who should beleeve upon the observation Ver. 4. of Christs power in a miraculous raising him from the dead I will only instance in those ends which God intends in a way more ordinary with respect unto his people themselves 1. Sometimes that they may be secured from common calamities coming upon the world As men do house their cattel before the storme falleth Thus God takes away Isa 57. 1. the righteous from the evil to come wherof the case of Josiah is a famous instance 2 Chro. 34. 28. 2. That they may rest from their labours both of service Rev. 14. 13. and suffering when their task and exercises are over when their work is done and the Lord hath sufficiently proved and purged them by variety of providences both crosse and comfortable in this world then he calleth them off this stage and causeth their departure hence 3. That they might enjoy immediate communion with Christ in heaven which is farre better then the best condition Phil. 1. 23. Heb. 12. 23. attainable in this life and that their spirits might be made perfect in glory before the day of the general Resurrection when their souls and bodies shall be reunited There are many profitable Uses to be made of this Doctrine Application which I shall only point at Vse 1. Therefore natural death is not the greatest evil neither are those comforts whereof death doth deprive the best good because it is absurd to imagine that the most godly shold undergo the heaviest evils and be stript of the chiefest comforts This inference is obvious and might be usefully enlarged But I must forbear Vse 2. Therefore death is not alwayes to be looked upon as a demonstration of Gods anger against them who die neither is any sicknesse bringing death to be judged a signe of divine wrath and severity Lazarus Verse 3. Christs friend died and it was said before He whom thou lovest is sick This is alledged as the reason of the death of Jeroboams childe because there was some goodnesse in him 1 Kings 14. 13. Hezekiah was sick unto death and it 's conjectured that his disease was the Plague both because of the swelling mentioned and the medicine advised Let them take Isa 38. 21. a lump of figs and lay it for a plaster upon the boile And how sad Jobs condition was I need not to relate who yet according to Gods own testimony was a man of incomparable piety Satan smote Job with sore boiles from Job 1. 8. 2. 3. Job 2. 7 8. the sole of the foot unto his crown And he took him a potsheard to scrape himselfe withall and he late down among the ashes This I do rather note 1. Because people are subject to censure severely those who undergo unusual afflictions When the Barbarians saw the venomous beast Acts 8. 4. hang on Pauls hand they said among themselves No doubt this man is a murtherer vengeance suffereth not him to live 2. Because by this uncharitable censoriousnesse men do expose themselves unto Gods displeasure Hence it was that the Lord thus spake unto Eliphaz the Temanite My wrath is Job 42. 7. kindled against thee and against thy two friends for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right Vse 3. Therefore Gods people should the rather hold up with hope comfort and patience under all sorts of their sufferings here because their death which is certain will put a period an end unto all Though the Sea Nubecula est citò transibit be stormy yet the voyage is short we shall ere long come safe to shoare For this cause we faint not though the outward man perish suppose rotting and unsavoury 2 Cor. 4. 16 17. c. for this light affliction is but for a moment Do you not remember how the holy Martyr comforted his fellow-sufferer viz. that death would cure the one of his blindnesse and the other of his lameness And doubtlesse in this sense it may be said safely that death unto the godly is the best Physician curing them perfectly of all diseases whatsoever Therefore chear up ye Saints of God under all your grievances upon the thought of death Say to your selves as the good Martyr did But one stile or two more and then I am at my journeys end Vse 4. Therefore Gods servants should be the more industrious in doing all the good which possibly they can with speed because they must die and death will take them off their work This is Solomons inference Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there Eccles 9. 10. is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdome in the grave whither thou goest How did our Saviour bestirre himself when he knew that his houre was come What a great deal Joh. 13. 1. of good work did he then dispatch in a short time And it seemeth to be the reason why Paul at Troas preached till midnight because he was ready to depart on the morrow The Acts 20. 7. nearer unto the center the swifter is the motion Famous Doctor Sibbs would say Could we suppose sorrow in heaven this would be our sorrow there that we did no more work for God before we came thither to receive so great wages Vse 5. Therefore we all should be perswaded to improve our Christian friends both Ministers and others in all their gifts graces and experiences so much as may be and that with speed because they must die Upon this ground the Prophet Zachary quickeneth obedience Thus saith the Lord of hosts Turne ye now Zach. 1. 4 5. from your evil wayes Your fathers where are they And the Prophets do they live for ever Our Saviour is often in this exhortation having foretold his own departure Yet a little while is the light with you walk while John 12. 35. Eph. 5. 8. Mat. 5. 16. John 5. 35. you have the light As all godly ones are called light So Ministers are the lights of the world John was a burning and a shining light Beloved death will blow out these your candles and your Torches therefore while they live while they
a friend lies sleeping in the dust The blessed Saint dear Jeremy is gone And who shall write his lamentation Had we his eyes which always showry were Such is our loss each word should have a tear Another Whitaker in a Coffin plac'd The first the Chair this the Pulpit grac'd Reader would'st know his worth then cast thy eye Upon the Narrative there 's his excellency Rings hold not Histories who can rehearse His vast perfection in a narrow Verse Take Vertues Graces Gifts and all you can All are concentred in this holy man A brighter star in all our orb there 's none None do exceed few equal him that 's gone Ah pious soul What mortal man can speak out Thy rare humility Who ere meanly thought Of thee besides thy self What mov'd thy passions But Eulogies and Commendations 'T is well th' art gone from us shouldst thou but look Into and read thy praises in this book I 'm sure by this thou would'st be somewhat moved And Simeon himself should be reproved He speaks thy worth so much yet but little 'T is scarce enough but true to every tittle Thy personal endowments who would commend Should neither know where to begin nor end Thy Minister'al accomplishments were rare Thy constant pains thy diligence thy care For souls in holy things who can expresse Thou might'st have longer liv'd had'st thou liv'd lesse O melting Suppliant who e're did know Thy prayers to heaven without some tears to go The secret ravishings which poor souls have found When from thy mouth the Word of life did sound Our very Pulpits wonder where thou art In which thou didst such spiritual gifts impart But 't is enough we 'l weep the rest we can Launch out no farther in this Ocean Could prayers and teares have kept thee here thy stay It had been longer in this house of clay Pray'r barr'd thee in some time till death would throw Open the door by force to let thee go At last thy soul did finde the way to blisse And now is steep'd in heavens happinesse O blessed change for thee the painful bed Is now a Throne where not a tear is shed No dismal groaÌ„ings now from thee do come But everlasting Triumphs in their room Farewel blest Saint farewel and since 't is thus We 'l hast to thee thou wilt not come to us THO. JACOMB of M. Ludg. Vpon the death of the reverend Learned and Faithful Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker late Minister of Magdalene Bermonsey in Southwark WHat speaks this sudden storm of brinish teares What means this doleful volley in mine ears Is the Sun darkned Do the Lamps above Resolve their fiery station to remove And shine no more on earth Doth the Creation Intend to melt it self with Lamentation The holy Whitaker is stept away Late Angel of the Church of Bermonsey A Pillar in Gods house a sweet Musitian That gladded drooping hearts A soul-Physician A Sun whose beams did consolation shine A faithful skilful guide a rare Divine He was a Watchman could not wel be blamed A workman needed not to be ashamed No Proteus that could change to every shape No servile spirited Preacher that could scrape And cringe to please the lusts of wanton men He could not say and then unsay agen Learned yet very humble prudent dear To God to men meek holy wise sincere He lov'd the Truth he hated Heresie A strong opposer of all Blasphemy His heart was toward a holy Reformation But set against a godlesse toleration Of lewd Opinions Great was his care To keep the holy Covenant which he sware The marrow of Gods O acles was iâ— him No Scripture Mystery was hidden from him Cases of Conscience he could well unty Scruples and Doubts from Scripture satisfie His holy Function was his consolation His Pulpit work to him was recreation His pray'rs were zealous heavenly steep'd in teare His Doctrine Orthodox convincing clear Ful of the spirit of life and Power his words Did pierce like nailes did cut like sharpned swords He durst tell Ahab of his great oppression What! dost thou kill and after take possession He durst tell Herod though it cost his life 'T is wickednesse to take thy brothers wife Had strangers heard him Preach they would have sed Sure John the Baptist's risen from the dead His carriage holy harmlesse free from strife His Sermons were imprinted in his life His body was infirm diseased weary His soul still vigorous active strong and cheary The more the Cabinet did waste and wear The brighter did the Jewel stil appear Goodness of nature made the world admire him The brightness of his grace made Saints desire him The Church on earth hath lost a precious plant The Church in heaven hath gain'd a glorious Saint Ra. Robinson Minister of Mary Wolnoth Lumbard street London Jeremiah Whitaker ANAGRAM I have hit everi Mark THou didst not shoot at rovers in the dark Thy polisht shaft could hit the smallest mark Gods glory was thy scope his Word thy guide His stable Spirit did teach thee to divide The word of truth aright A signal Teacher An useful pious fruitful powerful Preacher God made thee to his Chuâ—th None better knew Then Whitaker to carve to each his due The mark of saving grace was first obtain'd And now the mark of glory thou hast gain'd Enjoy it and let other Archers see Thy happy pattern and take aim by thee Ra. Robinson Minister of Mary Wolnoth Lombardstreet London Vpon the death of his most dear friend that eminent servant and Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker Pastor of Mary Magdalen Bermonsey in Southwark THus Cedars fall thus Stars do disappear Prophets though Angels yet but mortals are Our Prophet Jeremy's dead and now there 's none That 's fit to make his Lamentation Plato once wisht that vertue could appear To mortal eyes his wish was granted here If any Breviator would comprize All vertues in a word then let his eyes Be fixed here keep Whitaker in minde And there you have the vertues all defin'd Or would you know what all the graces are In short hand writing they make Whitaker Would any have the Bible in a word And what the vastest comments can afford Read Whitakers Works peruse his conversation And there 's the Bible and th' Interpretation That Book was in his brest so well ingrost He could restore it if it had been lost He that by thee blest Saint shall calculate Will finde that Miracles are not out of dare Who e're was so far blest to hear him teaching Was prone to think a Seraphim was preaching 'T was Austin's wish i'th'Pulpit Paul to hear He had been satisfied hadst thou been there Me thought when thy sweet soul was poured out In fervent prayer I began to doubt Whether Elias was come down again And mounting heaven-ward with his fiery train In this thou didst excel he scal'd the sort Alone but thou thy hearers didst transport But whither goes my doleful Muse to
the strength of the mighty God I will undergo these paines O my God put under thine everlasting arms and strengthen me Many times he hath told me that notwithstanding all his rentings and roarings from which he expected no deliverance but by death he would not for a thousand worlds change estates with the greatest man on earth whom he looked upon as in a way of sin And let me tell you one providence of fatherly indulgence towards him That Satan never shaked his confidence nor assaulted his hopes all the time of his tiresome irksome exercise There is but one passage more which I shal point at under this second head of my Narrative viz. That he accounted all these inward chearings the fruits of Prayers made for him though God saw cause to deny that ease and recovery to his body which was much begged withal valuing those spiritual cordials much beyond deliverance from the Gowt and Stone and death it self All these things I have the rather mentioned to prevent that discouragement or offence which some may be too apt to take at the continuance of his wasting tormenting paines notwithstanding his own godlinesse and the uncessant Prayers both ordinary and extraordinary which were made unto God in his behalfe for he found the sweet fruits of them in his own bosome when he felt the continuance and increase of his bodily griefs I proceed to the third head of my promised Narrative which will speak Mr. Whitakers love to his fellow-Christians He was a man made up as it were of love His delight was in the Saints upon earth whom he esteemed most excellent and their society was a constant cordial unto his spirit Hâ—s fâ—equent visits of them who were in trouble and his stirring up others to the like practice were testimonies of his friendship His love was not only verbal but real Truly I know no man of his estate more liberal He would often say It 's a brave thing when a man with a full estate hath a charitable heart Sometimes upon special occasions he himself hath given away all the money he had in his house It was not unusual with him to give twenty shillings unto a poor Saint and he had many experiences of Gods gracious returns in such cases By his Will he gave 20. l. to the godly poor of his own Parish There were two cases wherein his loves were most enlarged to the people of God whereof I shall give in two instances The one when their sufferings were publick He hath often told me that Englands late breach with Scotland and the blood shed with other sad consequences thereof had taken such impression upon his heart that the sorrow would never be removed till his death And the sufferings both in Holland and England upon our late Sea-fights were great burdens upon his spirit The other case was in reference to the inward perplexity of such as were afflicted in minde Having moved me the week before his death to bestow a visit upon one in that condition the morning before his death when speech was grievous in respect of his weaknesses he asked me whether I had remembred the party troubled in spirit which is a remarkable evidence of strong loves Besides all that hath been mentioned I could relate his many wrestlings with God to prevent the flood of troubles which he apprehended the Protestant Churches are now in danger to be overflowed withal as also his compassionate respect to Congregations in the Country who were like sheep wandring upon the barren mountaines without a shepherd The fourth head of my Narrative should hold forth the love which he received from the Saints of God What godly heart that either knew him or heard of his fame did not love him I will not speak of the frequent friendly visits of the Religious ones in the neighborhood round about I never heard of any man so much prayed for both in publick and private There was no particular case so frequently so affectionately spread before God in most of the Congregations about London as his Three dayes were set apart by Ministers and many other praying friends to seek God in his behalf one in private and two in publick which also were observed much better then such dayes usually are yea in remote Countreys besides the ordinary prayers made for him there were some Fasts kept with special reference to his affliction The multitude of people attending his Funeral with the many weeping eyes did witnesse how much he was beloved Here I might remember the readinesse of London-Ministers to supply his place at home and Lectures elsewhere as also the willingness of fellow-Lecturers at Westminster to preach for him there when he himself by reason of weaknesse could not possibly do his own work But I may be silent for still every where upon the naming of him love is some way discovered by such who had knowledge of him Though I have related much concerning the worth of this good man yet my conscience tells me that I have rather been defective then excessive in my relation I have not told you of his humility expressed by fears lest Gods people praying for him should speak too well of him before the Lord. Neither have I mentioned his self-denial never daring to look after great matters in the world whereby he condemneth many whose self-seeking in earthly advantages rendereth them very offensive and unsavoury in the Church of Christ Towards his end neither faith nor patience did abate though his grievous paines were more frequent and violent in which regards his longings for death were much increased yet attended with holy submission unto the good pleasure of God These were some of his expressions O my God break open the prison-door and set my poor captive soul free but enable me willingly to wait thy time I desire to be dissolved never did any man more desire life then I do death When will that time come when I shall neither sin more nor sorrow more When shall mortality put on immortality When shall this earthly be dissolved that I may be cloathed upon with that house which is from heaven Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth The Sabbath seven-night before God released him though his paines were very sharp yet he bestowed most part of the time of publick Ordinances in prayer with those that were with him and his petitions were most for Ministers that God would cloath his Ordinances with his own power and enable Ministers to speak unto the souls of people Then also he did with many tears bewail his detainment from the Sanctuary and Sabbath-opportunities which had been his delight professing also that his being taken off from service was a greater affliction to him then all his pains And because this apprehension viz. his unserviceablenesse did much afflict him therefore this was often suggested to him which also was relieving to his spirit viz. that now