the rest of the Chapter all those places the Lord often made a stay unto my soul And afterwards the Lord so blessed one means or other unto me insomuch as I was kept from sinking and falling into such horrour as many of the people of God sometimes fell into But yet my fears and doubts were so many as that my comfort never lasted long If the Lord did but hide his face I was troubled No longer could I beleeve then I found new strength given in that the Lord would ever have mercy upon my soul. The sense of Original sin and Actual transgressions in their filthiness and guiltiness caused my fears yet to remain upon my spirit my faith then seemed very small if I had any which I much questioned I durst not then say Lord encrease my faith but I could cry earnestly Lord work faith in me I found much dulness and deadness manifold distractions in duties so that God might justly have withdrawn himself from me for ever yet notwithstanding all my uneven walking with God he was graciously pleased to manifest his mercy unto my soul. When I was stricken with such weaknesses as I apprehended might quickly have ended my life I fell into a great fear At the first finding my heart to sink the Lord was pleased to gâ—ive me so much respite as to pour out my soul before him desiring strength and support from him to keep up my spirit and to make me willing to submit to his dispensations and the Lord graciously answered my prayers in that he removed all my former doubtings and fears all the time of that sickness which was long and so dangerous that neither I nor others expected my life The Lord then cleared up my evidences for Heaven and gave me in so much comfort against the apprehension of death as I never had in all my life before Other like trials of the Lords love I found still when I was in the greatest extremity and stood most in need of help from him insomuch as at such times I have hoped that I should never again have questioned the love of God to my soul But I have found it otherwise by sad experience For when these impressions were worn of I have been ready to call all in question again concerning my poor soul. It made me oft to think of that which was laid to Solomons charge that he forgat the Lord that had appeared to him twice I found it the hardest thing to believe that ever I went about But this wavering condition could not satisfie my soul for the Lord giving me sometimes a glimpse of his love made me long after fuller enjoyments of it so that I was carried out with a restless impatience to beg that the Lord would take away the heart of unbelief from me which did both dishonour him and hinder me from that peace which the Lord was willing that his people should enjoy My heart then being brought unto that frame I was more willing than ever I was before to impart my condition unto some spiritual Friends whom I desired to deal impartially with me acquainting them with the whole condition of my soul how far the Lord had carried me on and at what I stuck and still as new objections did arise I laboured to get satisfaction Being convinced that I had too much prejudiced my self in that I had not sooner made my condition known to some who were able to give me advice This way of communicating my condition I found the Lord blessed unto my soul insomuch that my hopes were more confirmed my fears more removed my faith more strengthned and by the hearing of such Sermons and reading such Books as came closest unto the conscience and were most for trial of ones spiritual condition I found the greatest benefit by and received the most comfort from them Formerly I had many fears that I was not one of them who had an interest in the Election of Grace But the Lord afterwards put into my heart to enquire whether I had those Graces of his Spirit wrought in me which none but his own elect people could have Upon the strictest searching into mine own heart the Lord was pleased after many years of fear at last to evidence unto my soul that there was a change wrought in my heart will and affections notwithstanding the remainders of sin and corruption which still encompassed me about being confident that he that had begun this good work would not leave it unfinished unto the day of Jesus Christ and the Lord was pleased to set home divers Promises for the strengthning of my faith to wit those which set down the Everlasting Covenant 2 Sam. 23. 5. The Everlasting love of God Jer. 31. 3. Joh. 11. 13. The certainty of the Foundation 2 Tim. 2. 19. The certainty of the Promises 2 Cor. 1. 20. They are all in Christ Yea and Amen and that the children of God have eternal life promised unto them and that none shall be ever able to pluck them out of Christs hands Joh. 10. 28. Then for divers years the Lord was pleased to stay me to lead and guide me till he had set my feet upon that Rock which is higher than I from whence I trust that I shall never be removed And now my hearts desire is to ascribe that measure of hope and comfort which the Lord hath given me at any time onely unto the praise of the glory of his Grace who hath made me accepted in his Beloved which is so great a mercy as I can never be thankfull enough for nor walk answerable thereunto I know when I look into my heart there is matter of fear that the Lord will withdraw the influences of his comforts from me But that which I rest upon is the free mercy of God in Christ expecting performance of his Promises made Rom. 6. 16. Sin shall not have dominion over you because you are not under the Law but under Grace And Ezek. 36. 25. that he will sprinkle clean water upon me and that he will give me a new heart and put a new spirit within me that he will take away my stony heart and give me an heart of flesh being perswaded that the Lord will keep me by his own Power through faith unto salvation And now that I may have all the Graces of the Spirit strengthened and encreased in me which I finde that I stand in continual need of It is the desire of my soul to be a partaker of the Lords Supper which through the blood of Christ onely I have right unto This is the particular account of Gods gracious dealing with this godly Gentlewoman considering there was no administration of the Sacrament in that Parochial Congregation where she lived and used formerly to receive it nor any Pastor at all to officiate there she being desirous to enjoy that great Ordinance and that after a pure way of administration sent this aforementioned Narrative
judgements are the forest judgements What if thou hast but the same words as Christ Mat. 26. 44. thou maist be heard as he was Heb. 10. 11. The song of Moses was a new Song because tendered to God with new affections Rev. 14. 3. 15. 3. What if thy petitions be broken and confused as Exod. 14. 10 11 12. This poor man cried saith David Psal. 34. 6. when he was in a poor case indeed like a Bedlam 1 Sam. 21. 13. and yet he was heard The little lisping children have sometimes a grant of their requests when those that are of greater maturity seem to be set aside Whilst Moses held up his hands though in a poor way Israel prevailed Who can tell what God may do Abraham left asking ere God left granting even for a filthy Sodome Remember Mr. Latimers once againe once againe Tug and wrestle We may come to see and our people may bee made to know that their heart is turned backe againe to the God of their Fathers 1 King 18. 37. But to return to Master Capel He was of a sound and setled judgement He pitched at first upon a good foundation and being nourished up in the words of Faith he continued in the things he had learned and been well assured of knowing from whom he had received them as 1 Tim. 4. 6. He was well grounded in his opinion one that stood like a brazen wall as firm as a very Rock in the middest of all the dashings and clashings of tempestuous times He saw with a clear eye through all the painted glosses of those that were given to change and therefore was not moved at all with any thing that was said or done in that kinde he was true to his Religion and clave close all along to his first principles holding fast the Faith that was once and as he himself would often express it but once delivered to the Saints He lived and dyed a true Orthodox Divine according to the known Doctrine of the Church of England He knew full well for all the great talk of the Gospel as though it were but newly dropt out of the clouds that there is not any other Gospel but the everlasting Gospel Rev. 14. 8. that was preached before unto Abraham Gal. 3. 8. and hath been entertained all along still by Gods faithful people and shall be so continually to the end of the world Yet some there be that are no mean pretenders to the Gospel and notwithstanding the same are in great danger of perverting the Gospel of Jesus Christ as Gal. 1. 7. This constant and stable man was set up as a sure Sea-mark Let us stand to his steps though we stand alone God and a good conscience are alwayes good company Elijah was but one yet did he very good service One Athansius in the East one Hillary in the West was of mighty great use in a staggering time What if we meet with storms It is but a poor Religion that is not worth suffering for It will turn to a Testimony Luke 21. 13. When the wilde humour is spent men will return home again A Statue of Mercury wil be looked upon then Those poor silly souls that be tossed to and fro and whirled about and about again with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 14. will be glad of such a sight in the day of their visitation whereas they which know or should know more of God be not steddy in their steering but vary in their course poor bewildred hearts will be at their wits ends not knowing which way to turn nor to whom to go nor whom to walk after As there is but one God so there is but one Faith one Baptisme and one way to eternal life and one Rule for us all to walk by why be we not then all of one heart why walk we not all in one tract So many men as we see so many mindes there be Every moneth almost produceth a new Faith It is easie to swim with the Tyde To perswade the heart of the rectitude of that that is favoured by the times and yet to pretend still that it is from more light We may talk of the Spirit but its certain that Schisme is a fruit of the Flesh. The old way is the good way Jer. 18. 15. He shall stumble and ensnare his feet that swerves from the antient paths What is got by gadding Men itch for change still and there is no rest but with our first Husband Hos. 2. 7. It is good to be all of one minde in God Where there is not unity in Judgement there is scarce unity in affections We are too fierce against such as close not with our Notions It was Bell Book and Candle once It is not much better now Wilde fire flyes amain We cannot all cut to a thread there will be some variation in the Compass But whilst we aim at the white the odds is to be passed by without bitterness Why should there be such huge Rents and Divisions in the Church Where is our mutual forbearance We have not yet learned our Lesson well to wait one for another till God shall reveal it Phil. 3. 15. Whilst we be so sharp in our contests Satan makes his Markets Religion goes to wrack our differences are widened Some are ready to give up all seeing there is no better Harmony Others could well wish themselves out of the world that they might be delivered as Melancthon said from the implacable difference even amongst some Divines Oh! that we could hearken unto God who would have the truth followed but in love Eph. 4. 15. If the Word will not prevaile the Cross will come and make a Hooper and a Ridley imbrace one another Let us fall upon that one and onely solid way of God it will ever be our glory Get we to God he can stablish our unresolved hearts 2 Cor. 1. 21. See that the judgement be so rightly set Isa. 33. 6. and the heart so firmly knit to God and his Truth and then we shall not waver Tamper not with opinions 2 Pet. 3. 17. nor with opiniative men 1 Tim. 6. Rom. 16. 17 18. Nor yet with Books that scatter Tares This grave and prudent Divine gives a very good caution to this purpose in his Treatise of Temptations from famous Mr. Dod a man of vast experience An honest heart may be sorely puzled with a forked Argument The Martyr could dye for Christ that could not dispute for him Some pretend that they must try all things But they speak besides the Book Who will try Rats-bane or a sharp Sword whether it will pierce into his bowels Some think that they can withdraw when they see danger but Satan is subtle Venome will get â—n before we be aware and error will stick and eat like a Gangrene What gets the Fly that playes with the Candle They that nibble at the bait shall hardly escape the hook Again gingle not with tearms that be
Christ most perfect and comprehensive of all our necessities That you may be the better satisfied concerning his sense and judgement in this matter take this transcript out of his Printed Commentary upon Mat. 6. 9. Where after he hath set forth the excellency and perfection of Christs Prayer he addeth Christ now directs us to the right performance of the Duty of Prayer After this manner pray ye Or as St. Luke sets it down When you pray say Not binding us strictly to use these words always and none other but to use the matter manner and like affections But as for them who cannot so well enlarge their suits in other words or for those also who can and do it and yet remain still unsatisfied as not having done it sufficiently and who can do it sufficiently the Lord Christ hath left this most excellent help to use the very words of this Divine Prayer as the most worthy servants of God have ever used to do And learn we here by the way that an absolute necessity lyeth upon us which ought to be our greatest glory and comfort to pray in these words or in this manner For it is the undispensable Commandment of our Lord Christ After this manner pray He had a special dexterity in comforting afflicted Consciences resolving doubts and answering questions when some came to him not long before he changed this earthly for an heavenly Mansion and told him of the rigour of the Prelates how it grew higher every day how they persecuted conscientious Ministers and Christians Of their Innovations and of the Book for Liberty of Sports on the Sabbath days tending to the fearfull profanation thereof He used these expressions I have had a longing desire to see or hear of the fall of Antichrist But I check my self I shall go to Heaven and there news of it will come thick thick thick When others came to him and pressed him with importunity to tell them his Judgement concerning the future state of the Church saying to him that he had travelled much in the study of the Revelations and they were perswaded that God had revealed something more then ordinary to him What do you think said they shall we have Popery once again or no He answered You shall not need to fear fire and fagot any more but such dreadfull divisions will be amongst God people and Professors as will equalize the greatest persecutions A man meeting him near his house called to him saying Oh Mr. Carter What shall I do My wife is entring into her Travel and I think she will die with very fear Mr. Carter answered Make haste run to your wife and tell her that I am going to my Closet as fast as I can to pray for her therefore bid her not faint but to be of good courage and comfort The man accordingly ran to his wife and told her what had passed between Mr. Carter and him Presently her fears vanished God gave her strength and she was delivered immediately and safely and strait after her Husband went to Mr. Carter even before he came out of his Closet and told him what God had done for him Another time a poor man met him by the way and cryed to him piteously saying Mr. Carter What shall become of me I work hard and fare hard and yet I cannot thrive I continue bare and know not how in the world to live He answered him Yet still you want one thing and I will tell you what you shall do Work hard and fare hard and pray hard and I will warrant you shall thrive There dwelled in that Parish a Tanner that was a very godly man and one that had much familiar society with Mr. Carter This man as he was very busie in Tawing of a Hide with all his might not so much as turning his head aside any way Mr. Carter coming by accidentally came softly behinde him and merrily gave him a little clap on the back the man started and looking behinde him suddenly blushed and said Sir I am ashamed that you should find me thus To whom Mr. Carter replied Let Christ when he comes finde me so doing What said the man doing thus Yes said Mr. Carter to him faithfully performing the Duties of my Calling Being at Dinner at Ipswich at one of the Magistrates Houses divers other Ministers being at the Table also One amongst the rest who was old enough and had learned enough to have taught him more humility was very full of talk bragged much of his parts and skill c. and made a Challenge saying Here are many Learned men if any of you will propound any question in Divinity or Philosophy I will dispute with him resolve his doubt and satisfie him fully All at the Table except himself were silent for a while then said Mr. Carter when he saw that none else would speak to him calling him by his name I will go no further then my Treacher to puzzle you Here is a Sole Now tell me the reason why this Fish that hath lived always in the salt water should come out fresh To this this forward Gentleman could say nothing and so was laughed at and shamed out of his vanity At another time a certain man came to him and made his moan saying I have lost the greatest friend that I had in the world I had in a manner all my livelyhood from him To whom Mr. Carter answered When the Fountain is dryed up in one place God will open it in another To one of his Sons he said Son John God hath always brought water for me out of the hard stinty rock Those covetous hard hearted men who have been enemies to my person and Ministery have many times come in and given me countenance and maintenance His eldest son whom he had bred up to the Ministery and who proved a blessed Instrument in the Church of Christ being dead Mr. Carter took care of his eldest son sent him to Cambridge and walking with him towards the Stable took his last leave of him in these words in Latine Cave mi fili fastum ignaviam Antichristum My son beware of Pride Sloth and Antichrist His usual saying was a Traveller must have a Swines belly an Asses back and a Marchants purse Meaning that he must be content with any fare bear all injuries and provide for vast expences We are Pilgrims and Travellers here and we must prepare for wants wrongs and spoiling of our goods It might well be said of him Semper erat ubi non erat His heart was where his head was and now his soul is to wit in Heaven His whole life was nothing else but a Communion day Old Jacob seemed to live in him and sure the Spirit of God breathed as much in him in his words and writings holiness dropped from his Pen in every ordinary Letter that he wrote in his actions and Soliloquies as in any mans in these latter times He was always
argues a good man For goodness is communicative And such was his Academical dexterity that he could impart as Scaliger speaks the felicities of wit to his hearers so accomodating and insinuating the matter in hand as that his Pupils might both perceive their profiting and taste the sweetness of that wherein they profited Thus by his School-stratagems he won the hearts of his Pupils both to himself and to a desire of Learning they were each to other as the Prophets and the sons of the Prophets his Pupils were honourers and lovers of him and he was a Tutor a Friend and a Father unto them The manner of his Conversion according to his own relation was thus During his residence in the University God began to work upon him by the Ministery of Mr. William Perkins of blessed memory But the motions and stirrings of his heart which then were he suppressed thinking that if he should trouble himself with matters of Religion according to the light he had then received it would be an hinderance to him in his Studies which then he had much addicteâ— himself unto Therefore he was willing to silence those suggestions and inward Callings which he had from Gods Spirit and did wittingly defer the prosecution of that work until afterwards At length as he was walking in the fields he heard the Bell tolling for Mr. Perkins who lay a dying whereupon he was secretly glad in his heart that he should now be rid of him who had as he said laid siege to and beleagured his heart This became matter of much affliction to him afterwards God keeping it upon his Spirit with the aggravation of it and making it an effectual means of convincing and humbling him in the sight and sense of the natural enmity that is in mans nature against God Afterward hearing Dr. Sibs then Mr. Sibs preaching a Sermon about Regeneration wherein he shewed First what Regeneration was not and so opening the state of a meer Civil man Mr. Cotton saw his own condition fully discovered which through Gods mercy did drive him to a stand as plainly seeing himself destitute of true Grace all his false hopes and grounds now failing him and so he lay for a long time in an uncomfortable despairing way and of all other things this was his heaviest burden that he had wittingly withstood the means and offers of Grace and mercy which he found had been tendered to him thus he continued till it pleased God to let in a word of Faith into his heart and to cause him to look unto Christ for his healing which word also was dispensed unto him by the same Doctor Sibs which begat in him a singular and constant love to the said Doctor of whom he was also answerably beloved That which frist made him famous in Cambridge was his Funeral Oration for Doctor Some Master of Peter House which was so accurately performed in respect of Invention Elegancy Purity of Stile Ornaments of Rhetorick Elocution and Oratorious beauty of the whole as that he was thenceforth looked at as another Xenophon or Musa Attica throughout the University Some space of time intervening he was called to preach at St. Maries where he preached a University Sermon with high Applause from the Academical Wits insomuch as the fame of his Learning grew greater and greater And afterwards being again called to preach in the same place as one Oration of Pericles left his hearers with an Appetite after another so the memory of his former accurate Exercises filled the Colleges especially the young Students with a fresh expectation of such Elegancies of Learning as made them flock to the Sermon with an Athenian Itch after some new thing as to the ornaments of Rhetorick and abstruser notions of Philosophy But his spirit now savouring of the Cross of Christ more than of humane Literature and being taught of God to distinguish between the Word of Wisdom and the Wisdom of Words his speech and preaching was not now with the enticing words of mans wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power The disappointed expectation of the Auditory soon appeared in their countenances and the discouragement of their non-acceptance returned him unto his Chamber not without some sad thoughts of heart Where yet he had not been long but lo Dr. Preston then Mr. Preston knocks at his Chamber door and coming in acquainted him with his spiritual condition and tells him how it had pleased God to work effectually upon his heart by that Sermon After which Dr. Preston ever highly prized him and both fully and strongly closed with him which real Seal of God unto his Ministery much comforted his soul far above what the present less acceptance of the Auditory had dejected him or their former acceptance had encouraged him His Concio ad Clerum or Latine Sermon which he preached when he proceeded Bachelor of Divinity which was after he had been at Boston about half a year was very much admired and commended His Text was Mat. 5. 13. Vos estis sal terrae quod si sal infatuatus fuerit quo salietur Ye are the salt of the earth but if the salt hath lost its savour wherewith shall it be salted In handling of which Text both the weight of the matter the elegancy of Phrase Rhetorical strains grave sweet and spiritual pronunciation rendred him yet more famous The like did his answering of the Divinity Act in the Schools having a very acute Opponent Mr. William Chappel to dispute with him So that in Cambridge the name of Mr. Cotton was much set by Unto this earthen vessel thus filled with Heavenly Treasure the Inhabitants of Boston in Lincolnshire made their address saying Come and help us And in that Candlestick the Father of Lights placed this burning and shining Light To whom he removed from Cambridge about the twenty eight year of his Age. At his first coming he met with some obstructions from the Diocesan then Bishop Barlo who told him that he was a young man and therefore unfit to be set over such a divided people Mr. Cotton being ingenious and undervaluing himself thought so too and purposed to return to the College again But some of his Boston Friends understanding that one Simon Biby was to be spoken with who was neer to the Bishop they presently charmed him and so the business proceeded without any further trouble and Mr. Cotton was admitted into the place after their manner in those days Two things are here not unworthy our observation which Mr. Cotton would sometimes speak of to his Friends First That in the beginning of his Ministery he was exercised with some inward troubles which much dejected him And indeed good spirits are much bettered by their conflicts with the worst of spirits Spiritual Preachers are often trained up in the School of temptation So true is that Theological maxime Meditation Prayer and Temptation make a Divine This Dispensation of the All-wise
University being a means to set up Lectures in many of them and very often assisting in them and as our Savior is observed by some Divines to have preached more frequently the nearer he was to his departure so this his faithful servant as it were presaging that his day would be but short towards his evening he made the more haste and speed in his journy towards his end and yet more abounded in this work of the Lord and now findes That his labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. Thus of him as a Minister And lastly as he was a Christian he was active for God as his Saviour Act. 10. 38. Going up and down and doing good and though otherwise modest yet when the case required it bold in a good cause He was spiritual in communion and a quickner of those with whom he conversed Fruitful in discourse by which the frame of his spirit might easily be discovered Frequent in asking questions which was both his humility and Christian good husbandry thereby to improve himselfe his time and company Affable he was to others of much humility and low thoughts of himself and of great integrity and singleness of heart towards God his Truth Ordinances wayes and servants of a very publick spirit and much affected with the various conditions of the State but especially of the Church and people of God He was a most loving Husband to his wife and a dutiful son to his Parents and in his life time very helpful to his other Relations Many poor both of the University and Town do now feel the want of his bounty which they tasted of in his life time and both they and others had done more at his death as appeared by his intentions of it in the draught of his Will had not the suddenness of his change prevented it In a long continued Quartan God had knocked at his door which in the interim of his recovery awakened him to get all within ready against the coming of his Lord which though to his friends was unexpected yet found not him unprepared In his short sickness he expressed to an intimate Friend his great comfort and joy in Gods discriminating electing-love and to a Reverend Doctor about half an hour before his departure who enquired of him about the setling of his outward estate and inward peace he readily and without the least hesitancy answered that throâ—gh the mercy of God in Christ his peace was made and that he quietly rested in it whereby it seems as was said by one he had his Faith at his fingers ends and having before given all diligence to make his calling and election sure though he was somewhat suddenly called out of this life yet had he an abundant entrance set open to him into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ departing quietly in the Lord Decem. 18. 1653. As to himself he had lived a fruitful and gracious life and therefore as Clemens Romanus speaks of some of the first and best Bishops he closed up all with a happy and blessed death and as to others he lived approved and dyed desired and very much lamented He was a great Friend to the publication of the lives of godly and eminent Ministers and Christians and assisting to me in procuring information concerning the Lives of some of those Worthies whom I have formerly printed Dr. WILLIAM GOUGE The Life and Death of Dr. Gouge who dyed Anno Christi 1653. WIlliam Gouge was born in Stratford-Bow in the County of Middlesex Novem. 1. Anno 1575. His Father Mr. Thomas Gouge was a godly Gentleman His Mother was the vertuous and pious Daughter of Mr. Nicholas Culverel a Merchant in London and she was sister to those two famous Preachers Mr. Samuel and Mr. Ezekiel Culverel she had also two sisters who were married to those two famous and learned Divines Dr. Chaderton the Master of Emanuel College in Cambridge and Dr. Whitaker the Regius Professor of Divinity in the same University so that by the Mothers side he came of a stock of eminent Preachers Our William Gouge in his younger years was first trained up in Pauls School London and was afterwards sent to a Free-school at Felsted in Essex where he was trained up three years under the publick Ministry of his Uncle Mr. Ezekiel Culverel by whose labours he was much wrought upon and if not first begotten yet much built up in his holy Faith as himself often expressed From thence he was sent to Eaton where he was educated other six years during all which time he was more than ordinarily studious and industrious for when other boyes upon play-dayes took liverty for their sports and pastimes he would be at his book wherein he took more delight than others could finde in their Recreations whereby he profited beyond many his equals At this time whilst he was a Schollar at Eaton he was possessed with an holy fear of God was conscionable in secret prayer and in sanctifying the Sabbaths and was much grieved at the ordinary prophanation thereof by sports and pastimes which were then and there too much allowed as he did oft-times in his life with much thankfulness unto God express From the School at Eaton he was chosen to Kings College in Cambridge whither he went Anno Christi 1595. and at the first entrance of his studies he applied himself to P. Ramus his Logick and grew so expert therein that in the publick Schools he maintained and defended him insomuch as when on a time divers Sophisters set themselves to vilifie Ramus for which end the Respondent had given this question Nunquam erit magnus cui Ramus est magnus which some of the Sophisters hearing and knowing the said William Gouge to be an accute disputant and a stiff defender of Ramus they went to the Divinity Schools where he was then hearing an Act and told him how in the other Schools they were abusing Ramus he thereupon went into the Sophisters Schooles and upon the Moderators calling for another Opponent he stepped up and brought such an argument as stumbled the Respondent whereupon the Moderator took upon him to answer it but could not satisfie the doubt This occasioned a Sophister that stood by to say with a loud voice Do you come to vilifie Ramus and cannot answer the Argument of a Ramist Whereupon the Moderator rose up and gave him a box on the ear then the School was all on an uproar but the said William Gouge was safely conveyed out from amongst them When he was Senior Sophister he was chosen Moderator of the Sophisters Acts in the publick Schools which was a place of great credit and he began every Act with a solemn speech in Latine which was not usual in those dayes and it added much grace to the Act. The said William Gouge took his degrees in order performing for every one of them all those
blood which extinguisheth the fire of thine anger O that it might allay my burning pains I am in a fiery Furnace Lord be with me as thou wast with the tâ—ree Children and bring me out refined from sin when I have sailed through the Ocean of these pains and look back I see that none of them can be wanting I flye unto thee O God hide me under the shadow of thy wings till these terrible storms be overpast 5. God added Humility as a Crown to all his other Graces which yet shone bright in the eyes of all that were acquainted with him Indeed he was cloathed with Humility And hence it was that he would converse so familiarly with the poorest Christians and with them who were of the lowest parts for knowledge even with babes in Christ. This his ordinary expression of himself before God did clearly demonstrate his great humility Poor worm Sinful wretch O pardon my transgressions for they are very great Hereupon he would weep much when he was told how much he was prayed for wondring at Gods goodness that so sinful a wretch and worthless a creature should have so much interest in the hearts and prayers of the people of God And his language in his Will speaks how little he was in his own eyes the words are these I desire that at my Funeral there may be no pomp but that so poor a worthless wretch may be privately laid in the ground And as his Graces were many so were his Comforts many and great which God vouchsafed as singular manifestations of his love to this his dear Servant and Childe O what Kisses of Christs Mouth and what imbraces from the Arms of his Love were bestowed upon this Saint of the most High He enjoyed all along his afflicted condition an uninterrupted assurance of Gods Fatherly love in Christ. In his addresses unto God he constantly claimed propriety in God calling him my God and my Father His inward peace and joy were the support of his heart under all his grievous and grinding pains he was confident of mercies mixtures with all his greatest distempers not at all doubting of the sanctification of them to him through Grace Thus he spake many times in his applications unto God Consider and save me for I am thine How long how long Lord shall I not be remembred yea I am remembred blessed be thy Name This is a fiery Chariot but it will carry me to Heaven Blessed be God that hath supported me hitherto and he that hath delivered will yet deliver Thou Lord never forgettest them that put their trust in thee Alwayes when the extremity of pain was over he would with smiles speak of Gods mercies Though trembling took hold upon him when his violent pains began yet would he with confidence say Now in the strength of the mighty God I will undergo these pains O my God put under thine everlasting Arms and strengthen me Many times he told a bosome friend of his 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 enthraled thereto And this much bespeaks Gods Fatherly indulgence towards him that Satan could never shake his confidence nor assault his hopes all the time of his irksome irksome distemper And this was further very remarkable that he counted all these inward cheerings the fruits of Prayers that were made for him though God saw cause to deny that ease and recovery to his body which was so much begged and withall he valued those spiritual cordials and refreshings far beyond deliverance from the Gout and the Stone yea and Death it self These things are the rather mentioned to prevent that discouragement or offence which some may be too apt to take at the violence and continuance of his wasting and tormenting pains notwithstanding his own godliness and the uncessant prayers both ordinary and extraordinary which were made unto God in his behalf for he found the sweet fruits of them in his own bosome even when he felt the continuance and increase of his bodily grief Another thing very remarkable in holy Mr. Whitaker was his 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 to his spirit His frequent visits of them that were in trouble and his stirring up of others to the like practice were testimonies of this his cordial love which indeed was not verbal but real He was also abundant in works of charity few men of his estate did equalize him therein He would often say It is a brave thing when a man together with a full estate hath a charitable heart Sometimes upon special occasions he hath given away all the money that he had in the house It was not unusual with him to give twenty shillings to a poor Saint and he had many experiencences of Gods gracious returns in such cases By his last Will he gave twenty pounds to the godly poor of his own Parish There were two Cases wherein his loves were most enlarged to the people of God whereof you may take these two Instances The one when the sufferings were publick He often told an intimate friend of his that Englands late breach with Scotland and the blood that was shed together 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 in England in our late Sea-sights were an heavy burden upon his spirit The other Case was in respect to the inward perplexity of such as were afflicted in minde having moved a special friend of his the week before his death to bestow a visit upon one in that condition the very morning before his death when speech was grievous to him in respect of his great weakness he asked him whether he had remembred the party that was troubled in spirit which was a remarkable evidence of his strong love to such And besides what hath already been mentioned I might here set down his many wrestlings with God to prevent the flood or troubles which he apprehended the Protestant Churches were now in danger to be overflowed withall as also his compassionate respect to Congregations in the Country which were like sheep wandring upon the barren mountains without a Shepherd And as his love sâ—owed forth to the Saints so was theirs no less towards him Not to speak of the many frequent and friendly visits of godly men and women in the Neighbourhood round about him there was scarce ever heard of any man that was so much prayed for both in publick and in private both upon ordinary and extraordinary occasions as he was There was no particular case so frequently so
of Faith Patience Contentment and spiritualness which he had formerly preached to and pressed upon others he was very profitable unto them who visited him and might also prove very advantagious unto others who might be acquainted therewith through Gods grace by Christ. So great was his tender respect to his friends that when his pains were coming with violence he would intreat them to withdraw from him that they might not be grieved with his roariâ—gs and he used often to bless God that his compassionate friends were not necessitated to abide within the reach of his doleful lamentation As his death drew more nigh so his fits of pain were more frequent either every half hour or many times every quarter yea two or three in a quarter of an hour which did exceedingly abate his strength The night before God took him out of this vale of tears Mr. Ash hearing that he was not likely to live another day went early in the morning to take his leave of him whom his soul loved at which time he found his bodily strength much decayed and perceiving that he could not speak without much difficulty Mr. Ash spake the more unto him in reference to the approach of his happy hoped for change and his discourse through Gods mercy was very refreshing his spirit He told him also that many of his friends intended to set apart that day in seeking the Lord for him and asked him in what things eâ—pecially he desired to be remembred before the Throne of Grace His answer was Do not complain but bless God for me and intreat him to open the prison door Then Mr. Ash laying his hand upon his cold hand covered with a clammy sweat took his last farewell of him with an aking heart and upon his departure from him the last words which Mr. Whitaker spake to him were these Brother I thank you I pray God bless you and I bless God for you That day was spent in addresses to God for him at Peters Cornhill where Mr. Newcomen quickned and guided our prayers in his Sermon upon Joh. 11. â— Lord Behold he whom thou lovest is sick and Mr. Jenkin endeavoured to moderate and regulate our sorrows from Luke 23. 28. Weep not for me Thus his friends having by prayers and praises on his behalf given him to God and having prepared their hearts for the loss of him the Lord was pleased that evening to take him to himself June 1654 being above Fifty five years old After his death Mr. Holiard opened his body in the presence of Dr. Cox Dr. Micklethwaite and Dr. Bevoir some other more ancient Doctors would have been there if either their being out of Town or present urgent occasions had not hindred being opened they found both his Kidnies full of ulcers and and one of them was swelled to an extraordinary bigness through the abundance of purulent matter in it Upon the neck of his Bladder they found a stone which was about an inch and an half long and one inch broad weighing about two ounces when it was first taken out and withall they found an ulcer which was gangrenized and this was judged to be the cause of his death All other parts of his body were found firm and sound He was so humble that he feared lest Gods people praying for him should speak too well of him before the Lord. He was a self-denying man never daring to look after great matters in this world whereby he condemned many whose self-seeking in earthly advantages renders them very offensive and unsavoury in the Church of Christ. Mr. Calamy speaking of him saith If I should enter upon his Commendations I might truly say what Nazanien doth of his Sister Gorgonia that I have more cause to fear lest I should speak below than above the truth For he was a burning and a shining light in this our Israel A Messenger and an Interpreter one amongst a thousand A Bazalâ—el in Gods Tabernacle A true Nathaniel that by his integrity humility constancy charity publickness and peaceableness of spirit and by his diligence and fâ—ithfulness in preaching the Gospel made his life both amiable and desirable I will say of him as it was said of Athanasius that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Adamant and a Loadstone To all that conversed with him he was as a Loadstone to draw their hearts to love him But in the cause of God and in reference to the truths of Christ he was as an unconquerable Adamant He was a Jeremy both in mourning for and in witnessing against the sins of the times He was a second Whitaker though not so eminent in Learning as to be what is said o◠〈◊〉 Mundi miraculum Academiae Oraculum the miracle of the world and the Oracle of the University yet he was which is also said of him sound in the Faith one that had no private opinion that did not in veteri viâ novam semitam quaerere seek out new paths of his own but kept the old way and the old path That had a great wit without any mixture of madness He preached no less by the heavenliness of his Doctrine than by the holiness of hâ—s life yea he preached as effectually by his death as by his life or Doctrine for so great was the patience which God measured out to him that though in his extremity of torments he groaned yet he never grumbled Though he often mourned yet he never murmured nay though he often roared by reason of the greatness of his pain yet he alwayes justified and mâ—gnâ—fied God therein and this he did so constantly and in such a measure that as it is said of Job so it wiâ—l be said by the Saints that succeed us for their mutual consolation and encouragement Ye have heard of the Patience of Whitaker He had indeed an ulâ—â—rated flesh but a sound and whole spirit and that inabled him to bear his infirmity he had a stone in the Bladder but a very soft and tender heart he had a gangreene in his body but a sound soul unstained by sin I heard him often say with thankfulness that under all his bodily sufferings he had a blessed calmness and quietness in his spirit that God spâ—ke peace unto him that though he roared for pain yet the Devil was chained up from roaring upon him On the Death of my dear Friend Mr. JEREMIAH WHITAKER IF Death be but a servant sent to call The souls of Saints to their Originall Dear Saint thine was a Noble soul to whom Three Messengers were sent to call thee home A Stone an Ulcer and a Cangreene too Three Deaths to hasten that which one should do ' â—was not because thy soul was deeper set Than ours within its house of clay nor yet Because thou wert unwilling to depart Thither where long before had been thine heart They were not sent to hale by violence A soul that lingred when 't was called hence God shew'd how welcome one Death was to thee
Who did so meekly entertain all three Thus many Deaths Gods Israel did inclose The Sea before behinde a Sea of Foes On either side the jaws of Mountains high No way from Death but unto Death to flye Not to destroy them but to let them see The power of love which then would set them free Thus Jobs four Messengers which did relate The doleful story of his ruin'd state And his three Friends which acted Satans part He on his flesh and these upon his heart Who by disputing him unto a curse Would make his spirits torments the far worse Were by Gods wise disposal sent to show The strength he on his Champion would bestow Thus Painters put dark grounds where they intend To overlay with finest gold and lend By deeper shadows lustre to that face On which they mean their choisest skill to place Thus workmen season much with Sun and wind Those greatest beams which must the building binde Whilst smaller pieces haply are put in When they come bleeding from the wood and green Oft where is greatest grace God's pleas'd to send Great conflicts those great Graces to commend As the six-fingred Giants sword did bring The more renown to little Davids sling The vanquisht Lion and the conquered Bear Prepar'd that holy Head a Crâ—wn to wear The Angel wrestled first and then did bless And made the greater servant to the less Pain was too great for thee Gods grace for pain And made the greater serve the less again Thy pains serv'd thee for glory and did fit The Head on which a Crown of life must sit This is Gods method to fetch joy from grief To turn our sorrows unto our relief To save by killing and to bring to shore By the ships planks which was quite broke before And thus a barren womb first took the seed Which did six hundred thousand people breed That seed too must from knife and Altar rise And be before a fire a Sacrifice Great Preacher of thy Heavenly Fathers will Thy tongue did many ears with Manna fill Thy life out-preach't thy tongue O blessed strife Thy sickness the best Sermon of thy life Before each Doctrine must be prov'd a new Thine end was one great proof that all was true Before thou preach't by weeks but now by hours Each minute taught thy mourning Auditors Each patient groan and each believing eye Was a new Sermon in Brachygraphy When Nature roars without repining words Grace in the mouth when in the Bowels swords In midst of torments to triumph o're Hell To feel Gods Arrows yet his Praises tell Through thickest clouds to see the brightest light In blackest darkness to have cleerest sight And with our Lord to cry My God My God Upon a Cross under the sharpest Rod. This is indeed to preach this is to show Faiths triumph over Natures greatest wo. Then welcome fiery Serpents scorching sting Which did thee thus to th' Brazen Serpent bring Then welcome Whale which though it first devour Renders at last the Prophet to the shore Well might'st thou bear the stone which Death did throw Who had'st the white Stone the new Name to show Well might'st thou be with such an ulcer calm Whose soul was heal'd before with Heavens Balm When spirits wounds are cur'd though Nature groan An heart of flesh can heal a back of stone Let conscience have her feast and let flesh roar This pain shall make the others joy the more As many times those Flowers most fragrant smell Which nearest to some noysome weeds do dwell Thus have you seen the Forge most clearly glow On which the Smith doth drops of water throw Keen Frosts make fire the hotter and deep night Causeth Celestial Lamps to shine more bright And by a dear Antiperistasis The Childs distress sweetens the Fathers kiss A wounded body yeelds to a sound soul The joyes of this do th' others pains controle As in the day that the Sun beams appear All other lesser Stars do disappear When Heaven shines and Divine love doth reign The soul is not at leasure to complain Internal joyes his heart so well composes That they have judg'd their flames a bed of Roses Mr. Gataker Mr. Whitaker But what shall England do from whence are lopt Two if her richest Acres to Heaven dropt By loss of these two Acres she 's more poor Then if sh 'had lost an hundred Lordships more 'T were a good purchase to gain these agen By giving to the Sea all Lincoln Fen. Two little Mines of Gold do far surpass Huge Mannors where th' whole vesture is but grass Learn we by them what all men will once say One Pearch of Heaven 's worth the whole Globe of clay ED. REYNOLDS D. D. The Life and Death of James Vsher Dr. of Divinity Arch-Bishop of Armagh Primate and Metropolitan of all Ireland who dyed Anno Christi 1655. ALexander the Great commanded that no man should draw his Picture but Apelles the most exquisite Painter in the world and that his Statue should not be made in brass by any one but Lysippus the most excellent Work-man in that kinde So truly the Life and Death of this great and good man is fit to be written only by the ablest Pen that can be found Dr. JAMES USHER James Usher was born in Dublin the Metropolis of Ireland in the Parish of St. Nicholas January the 4 Anno Christi 1580. His Father Mr. Arnald Usher was a student in the Law one of the Clerks of the Chanchery in that Nation and a person of excellent parts and endowments His Mother was Mrs. Margaret Stainhurst who in her later time was seduced by some of the Popish Priests to the Roman Religion they taking their opportunity whilst this her Son was upon some occasion in England and they by their subtilty had engaged her in such vows that when her Son came back he could not possibly reclaim her which they have often boasted of in Print yet her Sons hope was at least upon her Death bed to have prevailed for the reducing of her to the Truth But it pleased God that she dyed suddenly at Drogheda when he was absent at Dublin whereby to his no small grief those his hopes were frustrated and disappointed His Grandfather by his Mothers side was James Stainhurst whose Christian name he bore who was chosen three times Speaker of the House of Commons in the Irish Parliaments in the last whereof he made the first motion for the founding and erecting of a College and University in the City of Dublin He was also Recorder of that City one of the Masters of the Chancery and a man of great wisdome and integrity His Uncle was Richard Stainhurst a man famous in France and other Nations for his great learning which he manifested in several Books published by him one of them when he was eighteen years old between whom and this Reverend person there passed many learned Letters His Uncle by his Fathers side was Henry Usher who was trained up at
acknowledged Having thus preached for a while as a Probationer he refused to continue it any longer having not as yet received Ordination He also scrupled to be as yet Ordained by reason of his defect of years the Canons requiring twenty four and he being yet but twenty one But by some grave and learned men he was told that the Lord had need of his labours and so upon their perswasions and importunity his age being dispensed with according to some former presidents he was ordained at the usual time the Sabbath before Christmas day Anno 1601 by his Uncle Henry Usher Archbishop of Armagh with the assistance of some other Ministers The first Text that he preached publickly upon before the State after his Ordination was Rev. 3. 1. Thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead which fell out to be the same day upon which was fought the Battel of Kinsale which being a day specially set apart by prayer to seek unto God for his blessing and assistance in that engagement and being his first fruits after his entrance into the Office of the Ministry God might in a more than ordinary manner make his labours efficatious and prevailing the rest of that Epistle to the Church of Sardis he finished afterwards It was well known that if the Spaniards had gotten the better that day the Irish Papists had designed to murther the English Protestants both in Dublin and other places but especially the Ministers Hence said he arose a tentation in me to have deferred my Ordination till the event of the Battel had been known that so I might the better have escaped their fury but I repelled that suggestion and resolved the rather upon it that dying a Minister and in that quarrel I might at least be the next door to a Martyr The Spaniards being as was said before overthrown at Kinsale and the hopes of the Irish as to that design being frustrated they began generally to subject themselves to the Statute which was now put in execution in their coming to Church and that it might tend the more to their profit the Lord Lieutenant and his Council desired the Ministers at Dublin so to divide themselves that in imitation of what he had already begun at Christ Church there might be a Sermon on the Lords dayes in the afternoon at every Church upon those Controversies St. Katherines a convenient Church was assigned for Mr. Usher who removed accordingly and duely observed it and his custome was that what he had delivered in one Sermon he drew it up into Questions and Answers and the next Lords day several persons of note voluntary offered themselves to repeat those Answers before the whole Congregation which made them more clear and perspicuous to the Popish party It pleased God by his and the labours of others of his Brethren in the Ministry not only in Dublin but in other parts of the Kingdome that the Papists came so diligently to Church that if they had any occasion to absent themselves they used to send in their excuses to the Church-wardens and there were great hopes in a short time to have reduced the whole Nation to Protestanisme But on a sudden the execution of the Statute was suspended and the power of the High Commission Court then erected and used onely against the Papists was taken away whereupon the Papists presently withdrew themselves from the publick Assembles the Ministry was discouraged all good mens hearts were grieved and Popery from that time forward encreased till like a great Deluge it had overflowed the whole Nation Upon this the spirit of this holy man like Pauls at Athens was exceedingly stirred in him insomuch as preaching before the State at Christ Church upon a special solemnity he did with as much prudence courage and boldness as became his young years give them his opinion of that abominable Toleration of Idolatry making a full and clear application of that passage in Ezekiels Vision Chap. 4. 6. where the Prophet by lying on his side was to bear the iniquity of Judah for forty dayes I have appointed thee saith the Lord each day for a year This said he by the consent of Interpreters signifies the time of forty years to the destruction of Jerusalem and of that Nation for their Idolatry and so said he will I reckon from this year the sin of Ireland and at the end of the time those whom you now imbrace shal be your ruine and you shall bear this iniquity wherein he proved a Prophet For this was delivered by him Anno Christi 1601 and Anno 1641 was the Irish Rebellion and Massacre and what a continued expectation he had of a great judgement upon that his Native Country I saith Dr. Bernard can witness from the year 1624 at which time I had the happiness first to be known to him and the nearer the time approached the more confident he was of the event though as yet nothing that tended towards it was visible to other men The Body of Divinity which is printed in his name is highly commended by Mr. Downam who set it forth and so it is by a stranger Ludovicus Crocius who much desired that some English man would turn it into Latine for the benefit of forreign Churches but it was not intended by him for the Press It was begun by him in publick but finished some years after in private in his Family constantly instructing them twice a week unto which persons of quality and learning resorted and divers of them took Notes whereby several Copies were dispersed abroad some imperfect and mistaken and many passages are in it which were not his neither is the whole so polished as his other Pieces which were published by himself and indeed he was displeased that it came forth without his knowledge yet understanding how much good it had done he connived at it Shortly after the aforementioned defeat given to the Spaniards at Kinsale the Officers of our English Army gave 1800 pounds to buy Books for the College Library at Dublin then Souldiers were advancers of Learning the ordering of which was committed to Dr. Challoner and this Lord Primate who made a journey into England on purpose to buy Books with it He then met with Sir Thomas Bodly who was buying Books for his Library at Oxford and they were very helpful each to other in procuring the rarest Pieces In his journey he visited Mr. Christopher Goodman who had been Professor of Divinity in Oxford in King Edward the sixths dayes then lying on his death-bed at Chester and he would often repeat some grave and wise speeches that he heard from him After this he constantly came over into England once in three years spending one moneth at Oxford another at Cambridge in searching the Books especially the Manuscripts in each University amongst which those of Corpus Christi College in Cambridge he most esteemed the third moneth he spent at London
improper in matters of Religion they savour of singularity breed rents and divisions between Preachers and people and take off the minde from things more essential Learned men have observed that Hereticks gat great advantage by the unwary speeches of the Fathers Some of Calvins expressions that were not so well pondered have done no great good to some in our times Nestorius fell into his Heresie by defending an improper speech of his and Eutyches thinking to mend it fell into the other extream Dr. Thomas Tailor speaks much to this point to very good purpose in his Progress to Holiness p. 134 135 154. and concludes that if we will keep the faith of our Fathers we must keep the words of our Fathers Our Mr. Capel was a man of a single heart He was with Jacob Gen. 25. 27. a plain man i. e. A downright honest man as the Original signifies A very Nathaniel an Isralite indeed Joh. 1. 47. in whom though there was some infirmity yet there was no guile He had much of the wisdome that is from above and was as far from Hypocrisie as most men living If all others were of his temper Momus had no need to complain of the want of a window into any mans breast He was what he was indeed and in truth without dissimulation He was very high in his conformity to those Primitive Christians Act. 2. 46. and left a brave President to all that would be what they should be in this particular We of this doubting and deceitful Generation had need to look about us and see what was here set before us in very legible Characters that we may learn to be more above board in our dealings We are faln into an age like that of the Prophets wherein every one hath too much of the Hypocrite We may well cry Help Lord for the faithful fail with a double Heart and double tongue do they speak The most be for all Tides and Times as mutable as the Weather-cock For any manner of Mode so as they can serve their own turns by it Some can be any thing but what they should be We have need to beware of men where every brother will supplant The Hypocrite with his mouth destroyes his Neighbour Prov. 11. 9. It is indeed good to be wise as Serpents but withall we should be innocent as Doves Though it be just with God that the deceiver shall be deceived and some like it well yet is it not just in those that do it They that turn aside to crooked wayes shall be led forth with the workers of iniquity Psal. 125. 5. Plain dealing is a Jewel yea though it be in sin as this acute man tells us in his â—entat Part. 3. It s a dainty fine thing in our confessions repentance and in all wherein we act He that useth it what ever men say or think shall neither live nor dye a beggar Downright honesty is the best policy It is delightful to God Prov. 12. 22. and it will be a comfort to us 2 Cor. 1. 12. This is our rejoycing and we never eat â—ur meat with more gladness than when we do all with singleness of heart Act. 2. 46. Mr. Capel was a very useful man in his life He was with Melancthon born for the common good and lived for the publick benefit of the whole Country Whilst he was at his Pastoral charge he gave himself fully and wholly to Reading to Exhortation and Doctrine and his profiting appeared unto all men so that he was generally and that justly reputed a man approved of God rightly dividing the word of truth It is well known what pains he took and to how good purpose during the whole time of his abode there which was about one and twenty years He preached constantly twice every Lords day and besides preached a Lecture constantly every week though he had but an infirm body till by reason of sickness he was taken off And then besides his Sabbath-dayes work he preached onely upon the Festival dayes His lips were touched with a coal from the Altar It may truly be said of him as it was of Musculus that his words pierced like a two-edged sword He could when he pleased be a Boanerges a son of Thunder but his bent was most to be a Barnabas a son of Consolation He was a true Evangelical Preacher and comforted many a drooping heart by his labours in publick and gave abundance of satisfaction in private to many troubled spirits that used to resort to him out of all Countries both far and near He also shewed himself to be a Tree of Gods own planting by bringing forth more fruit still in his age When the times were such some flying so extreamly high the Ceremonies being pressed with rigour and grievous penalties inflicted that he being tender in matters of Conformity must needs quit his Pastoral charge which was Novem. 27. 1634 he betook himself then to his little Cell as Samuel did to his Ramah that had never been looked upon if he had not come thither no more than Islebium and Bretta if not for Luther and Melancthon and there he had more health and cheerfulness of spirit than formerly which he improved well for the publick advantage For There he fell upon the Practice of Physick He indeed had bent his studies that way before hand foreseeing what would follow yet would he do nothing in that kinde it not being his Calling so long as that great work of the Ministry lay upon him But when he had quit the more special tye of the care of mens souls he then took himself to be at more freedome and having a License sent him by the Bishop of Gloucester to authorize him he fell upon the cure of mens bodies and being of great sufficiency his fame was quickly spread abroad He was looked upon as a very Trismegistus or a second Aesculapius He could do much at the diving into a disease and in applying such medicines as were proper and fit Not like some that will be tampering with that Profession and give their doses at adventure He was quick yet in cases of difficulty and danger he would weigh things well In desperate diseases he would adventure far according to the rules of Reason what he gave should be safe He mixed all with his own hands he would stoop to the meanest and serve all at an easie rate His Receits amounted not to the half nay not to one quarter of a common Apothecaries Bill He was blessed by God with great and good success and had resort especially towards his latter end out of his own and other Countries so that he had not leasure to sit at his own meals in quiet Yea many times he was quite tired out till God called him to rest His words were seasonable and savoury His tongue was a Tree of life His lips fed many Whosoever came near him should have something dropping if he did but
36. that then every man shall be judged Jude 15. and every secret thing shall be brought to light Rom. 2. 16. and that the judgement will be most just and so confessed by all Rom. 2. 5 6. why then should I fear the last Judgement seeing he shall be my Judge who is my Brother Advocate and Redeemer He that was willingly judged for me will give no hard sentence against me yea he hath already absolved me from my sins and given me the earnest of his Spirit and the seal of the Sacraments and I have judged my self that I may not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. 32. I do beleeve that the glory of Heaven is unspeakable and incomprehensible by us here on earth 1 Cor. 2. 9. that is it eternal Matth. 25. 45. and that it is the gift of God proceeding onely from his free Grace not our merit Luke 12. 32. his free gift bestowed onely upon the Elect Rev. 21. 27. O that I could by the effectualness of contemplation behold the greatness of this felicity which is provided for me yet as I can conceive it I cannot choose but long to be absent from hence that I may be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. whos 's admirable beauty I shall clearly see and know as I am known and that with a perfection both of holiness and happiness such holiness as will not onely free me from all sin but from all possibility of sinning such happiness as that ceasing from all labour and sorrow I shall enjoy an eternal Sabbath and shall be free to all the treasures of Heaven and with the fruition of Gods glorious presence shall enjoy the sweet society of all the glorified Saints and Angels And all this as it is unuterable so it is unalterable For as I cannot be disappointed of it because it is certain so I cannot be deprived of it because it is eternal How then should the hope of the future life but swallow up the afflictions of the life present and why should I fear Death when being dead I shall be so blessed Yet was not her Faith elevated so high but that she could readily apply it to promises of an inferiour degree For as she trusted in God at all times as David teacheth Psal. 62. 8. so did she in all things whether temporal or eternal In straits and difficulties for the affairs of this life she had that ready at hand Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass Psal. 37. 5. If at any time she was sinisterly censured by any one her faith applied that promise to her heart He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy judgement as the noon day Psal. 35. 6. And whatsoever it were that came upon her as a cross her faith was either as a wreathe betwixt her shoulders and it that it did not pinch her or a remover of it from her self to him who was best able to bear it by vertue of that Warrant Psal. 55. 22. Cast thy burthen upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee and that done her faith which teacheth to keep an eaven pace with the promises not making haste Isa. 28. 16. by anticipating the time of accomplishment taught her soul to wait upon God as Davids did Psal. 62. 1. to effect his own work at his own time in his own way and manner wherein she would not prescribe any thing at all By this daily exercise of her Faith she gained a great deal of freedome and lightsomness of spirit which admirably appeared in her deportment upon great disappointments of that which was her own due and unexpected payments unto others when she hath seen no way of supply for the present occasions she hath believed that Gods providence would effect what her forecast could not when she was not wanting in the use of means and that he could furnish her with that which should be sufficient albeit for the present she saw not how nor by what means it would come to pass and therefore when she had done what belonged to her duty in the affiance of her Faith she rested quiet and remained cheerful and slept neither the less nor the worse for it and that which confirmed her confidence the more was that she still found by experience that God was most worthy to be trusted That her Faith was as good as it was great appeared by the effect of it in her Devotion and Piety which was suitable to her knowledge of God and her faith in him by both which as she had a clear apprehension of him so none had more dear and devout affections to him or more assured signs of such than she as appeared in these particulars She was frequently and fervently conversant with God besides the publick in her private supplications and therein was he most favourably familiar with her for he sent forth his Spirit into her heart whereby she cried Abba Father Gal 4. 6. The Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zach. 12. 10. which enabled her in an extraordinary manner and measure to pour out her soul into his bosome and though she duely esteemed of the solemn prayers of the sacred Assemblies whereof a learned and pious Divine said that never any one prayed well privately who contemned or neglected the publick prayers of the Church and never sleighted or censured set forms of Prayer yet could she and that excellently well conceive Prayer and vary her Petitions as the present occasion did require Yea in this Devotion she was so abundant in apt and pertinent expressions that indeed it was admirable that one so silent in her common conversation with the world should be so fluent and eloquent in her entercourse with God Nor was she more copious in speech than fervent in spirit For such was her holy violence in Prayer as that she seemed not to knock at Heaven Gate for another to open it but to make a battery upon it her self and to break in by the powerful importunity of her supplications Her service also of God in this kinde was no dry Devotion but steeped and drenched in showres of tears and though her prudence used as much privacy as might be herein yet such a singular gift could not be hid from her servants and some secret female friends who sometimes when they were sick or possessed with fears or pains of child-birth they would move her with importunity to pray with them and when she yeelded to them and God to her by answering her request they were apt as there was cause to impute the good effect to her fervent supplications A female friend of hers who was her bed-fellow in London for many weeks together and thereby was a partaker of her daily Devotions professed that she was so plentifully furnished for utterance of her requests to God that she never wanted variety of meet words to be presented unto him but when a surcharge of sighs and
tears put her Prayers to a pause When the heart is full of love the mouth is filled with praise of a person most deservedly and most dearly beloved whereof we have an example in this vertuous Gentlewoman who when time company and occasion did invite her to communicate to others the good matter which her heart had indited of God she used her Tongue as the pen of a ready writer Psal. 45. 1. And when she had that great King for the subject of her speech she spake of him with such hearty and savoury relishes of sacred delight and reverence and with such an affectionate force as if her soul were ready to leap out at her lips into the ears of others to kindle the same holy fire in their hearts who heard her which burned in her own bosome longing as David did that others might taste and see the goodnâ—ss of the Lord Psal. 34. 8. that they might be Rivals with her in her Religious love and glad she was when any sinner was converted or any already called better enabled to promote the glory of God and that was the end which she principally aimed at in her godly discourse of him In giving vent to her heart in this duty she could spend her spirits with great delight both to her self and to those choice friends who had opportunity to hear her when just occasion was ministred unto her and yet when she had spoken best she found matter of complaint in her own expressions as being too faint and too flat and so far below that which was meet for the Majesty of the great God insomuch as all the acceptation which she desired of him was but to pardon her presumption as the errour of her love for taking upon her to speak of his Excellency and the weakness of her spirit and speech which made her fall infinitely short of doing him right in the publication of his praise Another evidence of her dear affection unto God was the great love which for his sake she bore to whom or whatsoever had any near relation to him according to that 1 Joh. 4. 21. He that loves God must love his brother also and he must love him rather in a direct than in a collateral line as Gods childe rather than as his brother more for Gods sake than for his own The dearest degree of love belongs to those persons and things which are nearest to him and to such she bore a sincere and singular good will As to his Saints with David Psal. 16. 3. and to his true Religion and worship both at home and abroad the happy progress and prosperity whereof was with her as Jerusalem with David preferred above her chiefest joy Psal. 137. 6. and it was a great affliction to her heart to hear any ill tidings of any good man or any good cause She highly prized Gods word and in the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper she felt such a sweet refreshing as might make amends for the severity of her frequent fasting so that for her part and portion of it in respect of the common sort of Communicants she might say I have meat that ye know not of Joh. 4. 32. Dainties which infinitely exceed whatsoever delighteth or pleaseth a sensual pallate For the house of God she shewed her self just of Davids minde when she said I have loved the habitation of thy house the place where thine honour dwelleth Psal. 26. 8. and How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord Psal. 84. 1 2. If by any imperious impediment she were kept from the Church as by sickness in her body c. her soul was love-sick by her longings to be there and whereas many women take a little occasion to absent themselves from it she would many times force her feeble body to carry her soul to the Sanctuary though the day before she were confined not only to her chamber but to her bed whereby though she hazarded her health yet it pleased God so graciously to accept of her zeal to his House that she was never the worse for those pious adventures She kept a great distance from doting on the world which St. James condemns as enmity to God Jam. 4. 4. Though while she lived she could not choose but be in the world yet did she so love her dear Lord Jesus Christ that for his sake she was exceedingly estranged from the world which appeared 1. By her estrangement from sensual delights which she shewed by her frequent fasting from meats and drinks By her abstinence from such sports and pastimes as before her conversion she had been too immoderately addicted unto and by her fiâ—m resolution to forbear Marriage after her widowhood and to rest in that condition wherein she might best attend upon the service of God Indeed her love and delight in communion with God made her mindeless of meat and careless of provision for the flesh Well she knew that though fasting makes the body weak as David saith My knees are weak through fasting and my flesh faileth of fatness Psal. 109. 20. yet it strengthneth the spirit and maketh it vigorous in conflict and victorious in the event yea fasting and prayer make a potent combination which is able to drive the strongest Devil out of his usurped possession as Matth. 17. 21. These two she used not onely as weapons against the Devil but as wings to elevate her soul God-ward and heaven-ward yet herein was she observant of our Saviours rule Mat. 17. 18. that she fasted without an appearance of fasting onely the next day it might be discerned by her faintness she having spent her spirits in spiritual exercises the day before For those sports and pastimes wherein formerly she had taken too much contentment she not onely abstained from them but much complained of her vanity in them Her eyes which before were used to behold them with delight now shed tears of shame and sorrow that formerly she had set her minde so much upon them and now she imployed them in the more frequent and affectionate reading of the holy Scriptures wherein she took more delight than she had done before in the most pompous Spectacles set out to take the eyes with gazing and the minde with wonder And as for Marriage her heart was so devoted to her Lord Christ that though she had divers fair invitations to it by such as both for profit and credit and other considerable respects were worthy rather to be desired than denied yet she resolved not to change her condition in that kinde and that not onely in love and loyalty to her former Husband but that she might be more free to serve God according to that of St. Paul 1 Cor. 7. 34. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in body and spirit but she that is married careth for the things
not to say My Father or my Master would not afford me time for if they did he would protest against them in the day of Judgement And as he was going to the Congregation on the week-dayes he would often finde some of the Country people that were come early to the Market and then would ask them where they did live and when they answered five or six or more miles off he would thence take occasion to shew them how vain a thing it was to pursue the world and to neglect the care of their precious and immortal souls and would ask them how they could rise so early to get the world and not rise as early to get interest in Jesus Christ and to attain the favour of God and assurance of eternal happiness And then looking back upon his Family he would say to them You see here how these people can rise betimes to get a little part of the world and you will hardly rise early to get the assurance of the favour of God which is far better than the whole world As he returned from Sermons he would be speaking to them that went with him of what they had heard exhorting them to be mindfull of it and to put it in practice and when one of the company was troubled hearing him to press such things upon them told him that he had heard many good Sermons at St. Peters the Cathedral but never heard one at the great Conduit before he presently replied Sirs are ye troubled to be put in minde of the word of God I pray God the time come not when you are in hell that you wish you had not onely practised the Sermons which you heard at St. Peters but had received good counsel from the Word at the great Conduit also Thus by his diligent attending upon and carefull applying the means of Grace and Gods blessing upon them he attained a very great measure of assurance even to a kinde Plerophory such as the Apostle speaks of 1 Thess. 1. 5. Much assurance and Col. 2. 2. Full assurance of understanding by which he was carried as with full â—ails to holy duties And truly if we connsider the measure continuance and constancy of it there are few Christians that have attained the like Assurance was much in his tongue and in his heart it was that which he earnestly laboured for and obtained by fervent prayer and diligent use of the means God gave him the Testimony and Seal of the Spirit and so assured him of his eternal love in Christ as also of his Adoption and eternal happiness in Heaven God gave it him as part of his reward for his sincere and faithfull service At sometimes he had more than ordinary comforts and incomes of the Spirit for the strengthning of his Assurance As for instance At a time he being at a Sermon and attending heedfully to those discerning and differencing marks of uprightness which were then laid down and one mark being more powerfully pressed and coming fully home to his condition he being in a deep and serious meditation and reflecting upon himself and finding it to be truly in him it seemed to him as if one struck him upon the shoulder encouraging and saying Be of good cheer thou art the man upon which he had presently such inward joyes and ravishings of spirit as were unexpressible And as by diligence he obtained so he carefully kept his assurance by frequent trial of himself and his spiritual estate towards God he used to try himself by all the marks of sincerity which he found in the Scriptures heard by the Ministry of the word or read in the books of godly Divines and thereby he did clear up his evidences for heaven and he did not onely try his estate by some marks but he kept a narrow watch over his heart and wayes and thereby his assurance was preserved and he kept it for a long time together even for thirty years and more and being asked whether he never met with any temptations of doubting of his estate towards God he gave this answer That he had been and often was sorely assaulted by Satans temptations which were set against his Faith and Assurance and that he had been foiled in respect of the application of some particular promises but he was not thereby driven from his hold-fast of Christ or from the assurance of his interest in the Covenant of Grace yet still he acknowledged that his assurance and all his ability in spiritual things was through Christ that strengthened him as Paul Phil. 4. 13. As he had this assurance himself so he was alwayes forward to stir up others to labour for it there were scarce any that he met with if he supposed that their faces were heaven-ward but he would be questioning with them about their assurance blaming them if they did not diligently seek after it and encouraging them to labour for it And when some did ask him how they should get it he gave them this answer that they should importunately seek it of God and not give him any rest till he granted it unto them I would said he lock or bolt my Chamber door and beg it of God and never give him rest till I had obtained it and then he advised them that they should daily try themselves by some marks and he often mentioned three that he used to try himself by 1. A sincere desire to fear the name of God as Nehem. 1. 11. 2. A sincere endeavour to do the will of God in all things required as Psal. 119. 6. 3. A full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord as Act. 11. 23. and these he did not onely speak of but pressed them with much earnestness as longing that others should partake of that high priviledge and heavenly gift with himself If he met with any Schollar and such an one especially as applied himself to the study of Divinity his usual question to such was What evidence have you for heaven You Schollars have the best opportunities of all men for the getting of assurance you are still looking into Gods book and into other good books and should acquaint your selves with your spiritual estate towards God and so have a greater measure of assurance than others The like course he took when he met with any others as occasion was offered or if he found none he would take it of himself Once when he was a Parliament man being at London and coming accidentally into the shop of an intimate acquaintance a man of great estate and imployment and an Alderman of the City he expressed his wondring at so great trading for the things of the world and thereupon demanded how he could in the midst of such wordly business attend the weighty affairs of heaven His Friend answered that he hoped he looked after the good of his soul. Mr. Jurdaine replied How can you attend upon the worship of God every morning His Friend answered that though he
stretched out for their relief For standing within his own Shop with his own hands he ministred supplies unto them all and so dismissed them for the present And the next morning when there was a renewall of their sad complaints his charitable care of them was renewed also and thus he continued morning by morning even for the space of near three moneths till the return of the Mayor into the City Besides his great care of supplying the wants of such poor as came unto him he had a speciall respect to poor House-keepers and Tradesmen such as were ashamed and unwilling to make their sad and necessitous condition known and a peculiar care of the godly poor concerning whom he used to advise with the Constables and Churchwardens of every Parish and according to their need would proportion some relief and help unto them and send it by the hands of the said Constables or Churchwardens And his care for the poor was not only in that extraordinary season as their exigents did require but so long as he continued in the land of the living And he was so constantly exercised in this great work of charity that he did it as it were naturally as the Apostle speaks of Timothy Phil. 2. 20. But though he did well yet heard he ill even for this and by some it was cast in his teeth that he made beggars and when he was asked by a man of place and estate what he would give to keep the poor from begging supposing that he would not be so forward therein as he was in relieving them he freely offered a great part of his estate upon condition that the other would do the like But when he saw his forwardness the other pulled back his shoulder and would not joyn with him therein He was given much to hospitality He would not eat his morsels alone by himself as Job 31. 17. He well remembred the Apostles direction Heb. 13. 2. Be not forgetfull to entertain strangers He was most loving and friendly to them and especially to such as did suffer for conscience sake As those godly Ministers who were silenced for Non-Conformity although his own judgement was well satisfied in that point To him they did continually resort and by him they were kindly entertained Insomuch as by the profaner sort he was cried out on as an Arch-Puritan But by those that took Religion to heart he was honoured with the title of Gaâ—us mine Hoste and of the whole Church as Rom. 16 23. If we consider his last Will and Testament we shall find in it very great and unparalleled acts of charity As he gave one third part of his temporall estate to his wife and another third part to his children according to the custome of the City so out of the other third part he left very large Legacies especially to the poor We will here omit many Legacies given to Ministers and others and point only at some that were more remarkeable and take them in his own words in his Will First I give to all the poor of this City and County that receive pay of Parishes and also to those that dwell in Almes-houses I give five shillings to each to be paid at my Buriall I give to one hundred more poor people ten shillings to each to be given to such as my Overseers shall think to have most need the honest poor to be chiefly looked unto Also I give to the poor of Lime where I was born and to the poor of Garnsey where I was new born five pounds to each place Also I forgive all the Moneys owing to me if it be under the value of twenty shillings to each These smaller summes which he had lent to the poor were very many Also my Will is and I give now more to fifty poor people of this City and County twenty shillings to each by my Overseers or the major part of them Thus out of that estate which God had given him he gave again by way of gratitude to God viz. to the poor who are Gods receivers God gave him and left him a competent estate after his many and great losses and which is more he gave him an heart to honour him with his substance Prov. 3. 9. and to lay it forth as became a faithfull Steward in the service and for the honour of his Lord who had intrusted him with it It 's true some did wonder and others did sharply censure him for his extraordinary charity and liberality and especially for that he left no greater a part of his estate to his wife But this may be said in his defence That the strait and close hearts of others are no fit pattern to measure his large heart by And besides God had opened his hand in giving very liberally unto him blessings both spirituall and temporall and especially spirituall even the graces and comforts of his Spirit and he enjoying such sweet communion with God even above most other men what marvel is it if he did more for God than other men use to do And as for his wife as he left her the third part of his estate so likewise he made her Executrix of his Will and thereby much more had come to her than there did had not some Debts which he accounted good failed and come short both of his and her expectation Besides he did assure himself that her Brother who was then living and a man of great estate would be ready to supply any of her wants Thus we have heard what Mr. Jurdaine did for God In the next place let us see also what God did for him Besides all those graces which were eminently in him and whereby he was enabled to act so zealously and vigorously for God which all were Gods free gift and that comfortable assurance that he had which was part of his reward The Lord also advanced him from a mean and low estate to the highest place of honour and dignity in that City His beginnings were but small as appears by his answer to some that threatened to follow him with Suits and not to give over till they had not left him worth a groat To whom he chearfully replied That he should be then but two pence poorer than when he came first to Exeter For said he I brought but six pence with me hither and yet through Gods blessing on his labours he gat a competent and comfortable estate whereby he maintained a large Family of children and servants kept hospitality was liberall to the poor and open-handed to any pious use even far beyond many who yet had larger estates But when he had the greatest temporall estate he set no great estimate upon these fading perishing things He set them not up in his heart as worldlings use to do but trod them under his feet And usually also he set them very low in his ordinary discourse of them and especially when he was speaking of Heaven and heavenly things And yet he did not
was offered with strength of Argument against gain-sayers She was eminent for the grace of Humility and when I have said that she was of an humble spirit what can be said more This the Apostle would have us to be cloathed withall 1 Pet. 5. 7. Humility is the ornament of all Graces It s that Salt that seasons the best parts and graces So humble was the spirit of this excellent Gentlewoman that the poorest might have free access unto her and receive curteous language from her mouth and liberal almes from her heart and hand both being opened wide for their relief The observation of this humble deportment from her child-hood gained the heart of her dear Husband unto her long before she was ripe for her Marriage Her humble spirit evidently appeared by her condescending to them of low estate the servants in her Family the poorest and meanest in the Parish where she lived will bear witness to the truth of this particular She was of a meek and quiet spirit which as the Apostle saith 1. Pet. 3. 3. is in the sight of God of great price All her Relations will attest her meek deportment and how much she hated brawls and contentions Her very enemies if they would speak their consicences can testifie her readiness to pass by injuries So far she was from rendring reviling for revilings that she endeavoured to recâ—mpence â—vil with good and prayed for such as despitefully used her professing that it was the desire of her â—â—ul to do her very enemies all the Christian offices of love which lay in her power Special notice ought also to be taken of her Wisdome and Gravity in the ordering of her conversation Her discourses were savoury administring Grace to the hearers and tending to edification Her behaviour was modest and grave though she was of a cheerfull spirit yet it was without levity She was no tatler busie-body no medler in the affairs of others She was no gadder up and down from house to house hearing and telling of news as too many do to the wounding of the reputations of others The vain and frivolous discourse of some who came to visit her was an heavy burden and affliction to her spirit The dicourses of such as tended to the defaming and blasting others reputation were a great grief and trouble unto her and when she heard such discourses she would endeavour to turn the stream another way and move such discourse as might be profitable for the souâ—s good Her Love was very eminent towards all those that feared God she was with David a Companion to such a lover of their acquaintance who were the Saints the excellent ones Psal. 16. 3. Insomuch as when she apprehended any thing of God though in persons inclining to separation and of a contrary judgement from her she was so compassionate as to labour with much sweetness and candour to convince them of their errours and to wâ—n them to the truth imitating herein the holy practice of learned Musculus who gained some Anabaptists and Sectaries by kindness and benefits and 〈◊〉 them as much by love as by arguments Her holy Courage deserves special notice for though she was humble meek and loving yet she was stout and couragious in declaring her judgement upon just occasions before those whom she knew to be contrary minded hating compliance against conscience and doubting alwayes the soundness and sincerity of those who duâ—st not own their opinions She was much of her worthy Fathers temper in that particular who hath been often heard to say that a Coward can hardly be an honest man and much of Esters resolution desiring rather to suffer her self than sluggishly and silently to see the truths of God to suffer She was a praying Christian She was much in prayers and tears much in a sacred acquaintance and holy communion with God Her gift in prayer was very great She was much in her Closet alone and there much upon her knees An excellent patern for womens imitation which by no means should suffer that great duty to be omitted It was a Character of Paul when converted Act. 9. 11. Behold he prayes Praying Christians are the best Christians they are prevailing Christians and as Reverend and holy Mr. Dod was used to say Never dâ—spair of that person who can but pray She was â—ixed and 〈◊〉 in Religion having frequently read the Scriptures 〈◊〉 many â—ound orthodox and practical Divines she became settled rooted and grounded in the truth She was one that held fast her profession without wavâ—ing She was not 〈◊〉 about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 14. neither was she of their humours who for politick ends comply with all companies in their opinions She kept close to the publick Ministry where she lived there she heard the word faithfully dispensed She neither was of their opinion nor practice who out of I know not what kinde of singularity separate from the Ministry of a godly Pastor and Husband Her delight was very great in Gods Ordinances and she was glad when they said Let us go to the house of the Lord in company She had such an high esteem of and longing desire unto the house of God that when her strength failed her she would be carried thither by reason of lameness the feet of her body were weak but the feet of her soul her affections were strong nimble and vigorous Look upon her in her Relations as a Wife a Mother and Mistress and you shall see she was mindefull of her duty to God in them all Her great care and endeavour was to set up God in her Family in order whereunto she bestowed great pains in Catechising of her children and other near Relations committed unto her charge Her great design was to bring them all up in the fear and admonition of the Lord and to inculcate again and again that main and needfull lesson of Remembring their Creator in the dayes of their youth Much pains she took in Catechising and instructing her servants especially before they were to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper She used to examine them of the Sermons they heard and she customarily read over those Sermon Notes to them which she had taken â—t Church that so they might be the better prepared to give an account thereof to her Husband God was pleased to give her several Olive branches round about her Table well bred well Catechised and well governed and of very great hopes As Eunice and Lois instructed young Timothy so she instructed those hopefull little ones in the holy Scriptures and acquainted them with the knowledge of God in their tender years Thus according to Solomons counsel they were trained up in the way wherein they should walk Prov. 21. 6. and that even from their childhood insomuch as one of them though very young hearing a neighbour using the name of the Lord upon a sleight occasion reproved him for it alleadging the Commandement
yet will I trust in him I will wait and hearken to him when I say he is thus far proceeded Satan may now go shake his ears and receive his answer Its God that justifies who shall condemn Oh! Hell where is thy power Oh! Death Oh! Devil what is thy Commission It s not my meaning to prescribe to God any one way of working but this is the way he often takes with his children and this we may finde exemplified in this foregoing Narrative touching the conversion and procedure of this Saint so far as she hath commented upon her own life Now for her death I will tell thee whâ—t my observations were thereabout 1. I finde that God began with her quickly and called her hence before she was aged and that is mostly his method where an early harvest is intended a timely seeds-time is promised they live quickly and live apace who ripen betimes so was it with her who was seldome out of action after her entrance but gained as much time in so little a time as any I knew 2. I observe that death came not all at once upon her she was yearly dying some years before she dyed her last and thus death was made familiar to her I have seldome known any of her age that was less amazed at the speech and thoughts of death so good a thing it is to know experimentally what it is to dye beforehand 3. Observe how Gods power triumphs in weakest vessels It is a thing I have often thought on that godly women for the most part dye more confidently and comfortably than do good men the Lord trampling upon Satan in them and in her very eminently 4. Her patience was remarkable in the midst of sore pains which frequented her in the beeding and bearing of children yet then her speech was I fear not pains I fear my self lest through impatiency I should let fall any unfitting word It is a blessed frame when pain seems light and sin heavy 5. I plainly saw in her the power of Grace beyond nature 1. When life and death were both laid before her her speech was this I am at my Fathers disposal howbeit of my self I rather incline to death than life 2. Whereas her affections were very strong both to her loving Husband and children insomuch as it was conceived that the last farewell would go very near her when she should part with so precious and dear Friends she was so much taken up with the thoughts of Christ that she seemed not to stick at any such relations Nay thirdly she seemed wholly to forget her natural self for being intreated to favour her body and speech in regard of the lowness of her spirits after some pause she brake forth into these words Shall I for this poor carkass be wanting to my souls comfoâ—t and my Saviours praises Let me have your prayers still and God his praises yea pray not onely for but with me Which being done she overflowed with comfort and in that condition I left her and that stream of comfort led her not long after to the Fountain where are Rivers of joy for evermore Thus lived she a most profitable life Thus dyed she a most fruitfull death God so turned this his servant that living dying and after death she should be fruitfull Thus will God honour those that honour him To him be all honour to Eternity Amen Now it may be usefull to make mention of her last sickness especially eight weeks before her death All her discourses were savoury tending to edification Many good Christians came to visit her who all if it were not their own fault might reap some spiritual benefit from those many excellent speeches which proceeded out of her mouth And the counsels she gave to her Relations and other friends were tempered with gravity and affection She accustomed not her self to affectation of high-flown phrases but held fast the form of sound words She was an old Disciple and her grave and sober language accordingly discovered her so to be From the very first of her last sickness her apprehension was that she should dye shortly and her longing desire was to be dissolved and to be with Christ. She often repeated those words of Job There the weary go to rest and those words in the close of the Revelations Come Lord Jesus come quickly upon the approach of her death whereof she was very sensible she asked her Husband what Promises of assurance were a firm ground for her to bottome upon He named Joh. 10. 28. And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Likewise he added Rom. 8. 33. 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is ever at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us He added vers 38 39. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor â—â—ings to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. These said she are sweet promises That morning she dyed she desired her Husband to read the 17 Chapter of John which Chapter that eminent holy Scotchman Mr. Rollock caused to be read to him when he was dying after that was read she was ravished with great joy and expressed her self accordingly Her Husband and two other Friends prayed with her After the last Prayer was ended she said My flesh and my heart faileth Her Husband answered her That God was the strength of her heart and her portion for ever He would never fail her She returned an answer which were the last words which ever she spoke to him He will never fail me About an hour after she resigned up her spirit unto God who gave it and her last words were I have finished my course She slept in Jesus December the 8 Anno Christi 1654. To her to live was Christ and to dye was gain She lived much desired and dyed much lamented Her name is like precious Oyntment powred forth She lived holily and dyed comfortably and now partakes of those joyes which eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither can enter into the heart of man to conceive even those things which God hath prepared for them that love him Divers Epitaphs were made at the Death of this rare Gentlewoman I shall onely insert two which were made by two Reverend and Learned Doctors On the Death of that worthy Gentlewoman Mrs. ELIZABETH WILKINSON E-re while Dear Consort I was leas'd to thee Wise now to Christ for perpetuity L-iving with thee was sweet with him far best I-n earth joy 's mixt with pain in him all rest I-wrought I suffer'd much in a few years L-ife now rewards