life from me Well these drunkards whoremasters do not think upon their sins well how then There is no drunkard that doth drink one spoonefulor drop of drink more than doth suffice nature but the Devill doth pen it down in his book Well it is a great book and he doth keep it close untill the day of Indgement And then he will lay it to their faces At which time the hils will tremble and quake and the Devill will quake yea he doth quake for feare now Well some would think it a great while to be bound with the Devill as I am a 12 month or 2 yeares but it is better to bee so than to wallow in drunkennesse swearing and whoring for the Divell doth worke in their soules Well some will say how can the Devilly in so little a room Well the Devill is as the wind for when he did take a man away out of a chamber be came in at the little hole but how did he take him away even out at the top of the chimney Well there are some Papists and some Atheists and some of no Religion woe be to those that dye suddenly for they have no time to repent and especially those that live in drunkennesse or whoring or swearing Iesus saith they say hee shall not out of me but when God comes he will strike home Many and many other more of his strange speeches I passe over contenting my selfe with these few which were taken from his own mouth by the hand under the testimony of faithfull witnesses some at one time and some at another as he himself did then deliver them and as this worthy Gentleman hath in his diligent Observation of this amongst other of Gods Iudgements made mention of them and recorded them This therefore that hath been spoken shall suffice concerning the second daily duty which this Gent performed namely his carefull observation of Gods ways and works mercies and judgements amongst the sons of men CHAP. XLVIII His private invocation THe third followeth viz. His Religious invocation of the Name of God every day Now although it be true that he did very constantly performe this duty every day morning and evening with his Family as formerly wee have heard yet did he not hold that sufficient for himselfe unlesse he did open his heart and poure out his soule in private before the Lord making his requests known unto him Phil. 4.6 in all manner of supplications with Thanksgiving And this he desired and endevored to perform according to the Apostles direction 1 Tim. 2.8 In every place lifting up pure hands without wrath or doubting that is in faith and love For hee did not confine himselfe for his private Prayers unto any one place Not confined to one place neither within doores nor without but ever tooke his fittest opportunity as time and place might best move him or leade him unto this Duty Following herein the holy example of Christ and of other holy men setting themselves a part for this service sometimes in and upon the higher roomes of the house with Peter sometimes in the field with Isaac Acts 10.9 Gen. 24.63 Luc. 22 39 40. Eph. 3.13 14. Nehem. 2.4 sometimes in the mount and sometimes in the garden with Christ Iesus sometimes in the Prison with Paul and sometimes in the Palace with Nehemiale sometimes upon his journey with Iacob sometimes at the end of it Gen. 28.20 Gen. 24.12 Psal 6.6.9 Act. 10.30 with Eliezer somtimes on his bed with David and somtimes in his closet with Cornelius If he were in his own house or about home he had divers places which he interchangeably used for this purpose because hee would not bee too much observed to frequent one place lest he should draw himself into some suspition of vanity or hypocrisie Hee had variety of Closets Studies Chambers and other convenient roomes if hee were within and if he went abroad he had his Gardens Orchards Arbors Groves Woods and Fields Walkes and Shades where he did delight to speak and commune with his best friend and to seek the face and favor help and succour of his heavenly Father in and through the mediation of his Son Christ Iesus And as he was choice of the place so was hee carefull of the time which he constantly set apart every day for his private prayer His time for private praver Fsal 119.164 Seven times a day and praise 7 times a day did hee reverently and conscionably performe this duty causing his prayers to ascend as incense and the lifting up of his hands to be as an Evening Sacrifice The severall seasons and times he tooke were these The first in the morning before any of his family were stirring being usually first up in the house Psa 55.27.7 and that both Summer and Winter The second was before his breake-fast after prayer in his family The third was immediatly before dinner The fourth a little while after dinner The fist a little before supper The sixt not long after supper And the seventh a little before hee tooke his Chamber to go to his rest Neither was he only so plentifull for the number of his spirituall Devotions as he was by the grace of God powerfull in the manner measure end and issue of them Powerful in prayer Rom. 8.26 27.1 Iohn 5.14 I am 5.16 2 Cor. 12.7 For being full of Faith and of the holy Ghost he could speake unto God by his own spirit in his owne words according to his owne Will and in the name of his own Son And so we know he could not but speake wel and speede well either finding that which hee craved and sought for at Gods hands or obtaining more than all that he could desire or deserve My grace is sufficient for thee And herein we are the rather induced thus to thinke because usually his prayer was fortified by Faith supported by Hope inflamed with Zeale beautified with Humility purified by Sincerity and established by Constancy Now unto his Private Praying he did usually upon some extraordinary occasion his own or others adjoyne private Fasting His private Fasting which hee was very frequent and fervent in and that with so great austerity that he did much weaken his body as well as afflict his soule thereby as sometimes Timothy did in the like case 1 Tim. 5.23 Eusebius hath reported recorded it Euseb c Hist lib. 2. cap. 23. of Iames the Iust that with often and continuall bowing of his knees before the Lord for himselfe and the people in earnest fervent prayer for remission of their sins he hath so lost the sense and feeling of his knees that they were as hard and so as sensles as the knees of a Camell I will not compare this Iohn with that Iames neither for sanctity of heart nor for austerity of life Tender prayers and hard knees But for their Affections and Actions Prayers and knees tendernesse of the one
And Prophannesse vaine applause or worldly credit which are held in these dayes to make an accomplished Gentleman As if great men did take great delight Egregiè de Caesare Tullius Cum quosdam ait ornare voluit non illos honestavit sed ornamanta ipsa turpavit Hieron ad Pammachium to make their children heires of their ignorance and propnanenesse as well as of their houses and families lands and livings Pudet haec opprobria nobis Et dici potuisse non potuisse reselli We are asham'd that so base things may justly be imputed To Gentlemen and cannot well as justly be refuted CHAPTER V. AT his comming to Oxford it is apparent At his comming to Oxford somwhat Po pish Possid in vita August Cap 1. Omnes nos qui in Christo evedimus de Jdololatriae errore venimus Non eaim nascimur sed renascinur Christiani Hieron adv Vigilant that hee brought up with him some seeds and weeds also of Popish errours which had beene either scattered by others or gathered by himselfe by that which he did heare and see in the countrey before his comming So much hee doth acknowledge himselfe that he was then as Paul said of the men of Athens very superstitious Angustine confesseth of himselfe he was first a Manachy before he was a Preacher or professor of the true Religion And Paul himselfe acknowledgeth he was first a Pharisie before he was called and entrusted in Christs service Every man indeed by nature is a Pharisie and more or lesse a friend to Popery there being no religion so agreeable to carnall reason and fleshly wisedome nor so pleasing and plausible to naturall affection as pharisaicall devotion and hypocrisie and popish superstition and idolatry Which is not spoken to this end to lessen his fault or to blaunch over the errours of his youth but to magnifie the goodnesse and grace of God towards him that finding him wandring and going astray as a lost sheepe But the Lord did reclaime him hee was pleased to reclaime him and reduce him unto the flocke and fold of Christ Jesus And seeing hee was in danger to make but sorry proceedings of such bad beginnings and like enough to reape but a poore harvest after such a spring it seemed good unto the Lord not only to blast those weeds in the bud and to rid up by the roots those Popish errours but to furnish his head and heart with such plants and seeds of grace and truth as did bring forth their fruits of righteousnesse and holinesse in due season The speciall instrument wherewith the Lord did worke Vide Aug. con l. 8. c. 2 De Victorino was his owne Word first opened to his eye and applyed to his eare by a companion of his a towardly young Gentleman and then accompanied by the Spirit unto his minde and heart for his father conviction and conversion The name of this his companion Meanes of his reclaiming from popish errors by his companion master Breerwood was John Breerwood an Aldermans sonne of the City of Chester who being then well grounded in the truth and seeing Master Bruen infected with some popish errours and lyes as the forbearing of meats and drinks for religion and conscience sake upon Fryday and other dayes and the forbidding of Marriage to Ministers as unlawfull by the Popes Canons and Constitutions and divers other erroneous opinions of the like nature was as willing to shew himselfe and adversarie to his errours as a friend unto his person and began to make an assault against his little Bable and mounted Gods great Ordinance against the Popish Canons and taking as it were his Powder and Shot from the Scripture and fire from the Altar he battered and beat down the strong hold of Sathan and laid levell with the ground every popish opinion and every high thing that had exalted tt selfe against the true knowledge of God and so brought every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ By the Scripture urged The Scripture which he principally pressed him withall was that I Tim. 4.1 2 3 4 5. against the Popish doctrine of forbidding of meates and marriage Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the later times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrine of divels and speaking lies through hypocrisie and having their conscience seared with a hot Iron forbidding to marry and commanding to abstaine from meats which God hath created to bee received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth for every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving for it is sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer A blessed Scripture marvellous plentifull for the truth and powerfull against a lye A word spoken in season saith Salomon is like appels of gold with pictures of silver giving great contentment both for profit and delight to those that have the grace to receive it Of such fruit and effect was this portion of Gods Word at that time to this young Gentleman which he doth thus ingenuously acknowledge in his owne words This when I saw Applyed and considered that this was a doctrine of divels taught and delivered by seducing spirits and such as speake lyes through hypocrisie c. I was then inflamed with zeale against that prophane beast of Rome and all Popery both persons and things with all their Monuments Rites and Ceremonies c. This was the Lords doing and it was marvellous in his and so it is in our eyes that of two friends and companions both of them but young and tender one should thus bee stirred up and strengthened by Gods Word and Spirit to draw out his fellow from such blindnesse and darknesse and to bring him into the light and liberty of the Sons of God The ordinary publike meanes of effectuall calling and conversion is I confesse the Ministery of reconciliation in 2 Cor. 5.18.19 Private persons may sometimes help one another for conversion and by the preaching of the Gospell yet can it not I thinke bee denyed but that the Lord doth sometimes furnish and imploy some private persons in this worke of winning soules either by enlightening their mindes or convincing their judgements or smighting their consciences or drawing them from the fellowship of sinne and sinners unto the use of Gods Ordinances and the fellowship of Gods servants The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life Prov. 11.30 Dan. 12.3 and hee that winneth foules is wise saith Salomon Daniel also hath the like saying They that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turne many unto righteousnesse as the starres for ever and ever And Saint James speaketh yet more plainly and effectuall to this purpose Brethren if any of dou doe erre from the truth and one convert him let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the errour of his way shall save
and welfare aswel in matters of religion tending to their salvation as in the affairs of this life to lead and guid them aright for their outward peace and contentment And wives As also for such good women that would be reckoned in the number of gracious and good wives that they be in meeknesse and humility ' so subject unto their husbands that they may bee teachable to learne and tractable to observe and obey whatsoever in and for the Lord they shall require of them This also discovereth the miserable condition of such families A discovery of the misery of unequall yokefellowes Manifested in foure instances where the governours are unequally yoked being diverse both in opinion and affection touching matters of Religion and so much distracted and disordered in the performance of such religious duties as the Lord in their families requires at their hands which I see not how it can possibly bee otherwise when the husband drawes one way and the wife another As first when the husband is an Atheist that calls not upon God no prayer in his family no thanksgiving at his Table for his meate no reading of holy Scripture the wife a Papist contenting her selfe with her blind devotions upon her beads and bookes in her private chamber and her closet to feed and cherish her seduced heart and corrupted humour therewithall Secondly when the husband is a prophane Esau minding only earthly things and embracing like Demas this present world followeth with great eagernesse the profits and pleasures of this life the wife a godly matron like Sarah in her Tent faithfull and painfull carefull of her familie and friends with Mart ha and conscionable of that one thing which is needfull with Mary having chosen the better part which shall not be taken from her Thirdly when one thinkes every little too much or enough at least in Gods service the other thinks againe all that they can doe too little to testifie their thankfullnesse and faithfullnesse to God in the religious duties of their families Fourthly when the one contents himselfe with a forme of godlinesse putting a shag-hared servingman to read a few cold prayers and a simple and silly childe to say grace and so slubber over their morning and evening service being as well pleased as if they had gotten Micha his Levite into their house or one of Jeroboams priests to do them service in worshipping the Calf which is set up amongst them The other is much blamed for that rejecting all pharisaicall formality in religion they desire such effectuall and powerfull meanes of grace as may enable them to shew forth the power and fruit of godlines in a good conversation Alas what distractions and contentions must here needs be what distemper and disorder both in the governors and government of such a family must needs arise where husband and wife who should being yoke-fellows draw equally in one yoke are yet unequally yoked â—oves qui jungit adaratruÌ„ equos ad currum pares eligit ut aetas conveniat forma Amb. lib. 8 Epift. 86. ad Paternum that when the one drawes forwards the other drawes backwards the one puts his shoulder to the burden the other withdrawes himself from it or stands in open opposition against the bearing of it It was far otherwise with this Gentleman and his faithfull yoke-fellow who being both of one mind and one heart in the profession of the Gospel and both well affected and acquainted with the power and practice of religion became as lamps and lights to the rest of their family by their holy example and godly conversation amongst them CHAP. XVII 2 In their godly education of their children THeir children they brought up in the knowledge and feare of God laying the foundation by continuall catechizing of them in the principles and grounds of true Christian Religion and building thereon farther by such sentences and portions of holy Scriptures 1 By instruction as might best fit their tender yeares and make the easiest impressions of grace and truth in their hearts And because he well knew that it was not enough for him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. to put good things upon their minds but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to nurture them by correction as occasion should require 2 By correction and so both by the word and by the rod to bring them up in the information of the Lord He therefore did not spare to use the rod of correction as Gods healing medicine to cure the corruptions of his children and to heale their soules of their sinnes by the same Wherein if at any time his heart were so over-heated by his hatred of their sin Wherein if his passions exceeded He was humbled and zeale for Gods glory that he did either speake unadvisedly with his lips or deale too violently with his hands He was afterwards much troubled at it and much humbled for it that going about to heale others he had so rashly procured a stroke and a wound unto himselfe Healed for which now he found no better remedy than to have recourse unto his heavenly Father by humble and hearty prayer who healeth all the infirmities both of Parents and children and forgiveth all their sinnes And bettered in 4. particulars Optabatur in eo quod in aliis timebatur ut irasceretur Amb. de obit Theod. when they seeke unto him The fruits of which his holy desires and endeavours he found and reaped in due season For first he became hereby more watchfull over his spirit and speech in all such occasions and provocations to passion and distemper Secondly he grew more moderate in correction keeping himselfe within the bounds of it discretion and compassion Thirdly when his passions were most vehement against sinne he much asswaged the heat thereof 3 In the governing of his servants by his love and tender affections towards the sinner Fourthly He lived to see those whom he most sharply corrected effectually converted and reformed CHAP. XVIII I Come now after the branches of his vine to the plants of his vineyard namely his men 1 In chusing and maid-servants amongst whom there was not one idle and unprofitable person Where I hold him worthy great commendation first for his godly care in chusing And secondly for his good conscience in ordering and using of them as he did so well both in their persons and in their callings As for their choice this was wont to be his course As he heard of any that began to set their faces towards Ierusalem or to look towards heaven as if they meant in good earnest to travell that way or of such as had travelled many Sabbath dayes journey that way already his heart was presently towards them so that by good and faire meanes he endeavoured to draw such into his service and if he had place of imployment for them to plant them in his family above any other persons whatsoever So that in a
thy poore children do humbly beseech thee graciously to assist us by thy holy Spirit in this our morning exercise that we may faithfully perform the same to thy praise and our comfort and that for Christ his sake our onely Saviour and Redeemer Amen This set forme of his short prayer before his Morning and evening exercise In a set forme I doe the more willingly set downe that they may see how farre they were deceived and what wrong they did him who held him to bee an utter adversary to all set formes of prayer who might also have received their answer and beene evidently refuted to their faces if they had but observed his ordinary practice every Lords day in the publike assembly where he did reverently accommodate himself to the publike prayers of the Church and religiously joyne together with Minister and people in the celebration of Gods service Certainly hee was not ignorant A set form of prayer justified that when our Saviour Christ taught his Disciples to pray hee gave them liberty to call upon the name of God their Father even in that set forme of prayer which he prescribed and in the same words when you pray say Our Father c. And yet for all that he knew well enough that he gave the Spirit of prayer also unto them and unto all believers children of the same Father that they might enlarge themselves according to those grounds and frame all their sutes after that forme and therefore hee gave this direction unto them After this manner pray ye By our Saviours institution of the Lords prayer and By his owne practice Mat. 26.44 Our Father c. yea Christ hath left us his owne blessed example for the warrant of both when in his Agonyhe praied three times using as the text saith the same words and when after his farewell sermon to his Disciples hee prayed for himselfe his Disciples and all true believers unto the worlds end in great variety of words and for many gifts and graces in particular which yet are not all mentioned but are all for substance contained in that patterne of true prayer None precisely bound to the letter of the Lords prayer but to the matter al. Peter Martyr hath made a collection of holy prayers out of Davids Psalmes and M. Perkins hath gathered together S. Paubs prayers out of his Epistles in both which there is great variety both of matter and words much exceeding the letter of the Lords prayer yet is there no Petition or thanksgiving in either of them which may not fitly be reduced to some parts and heads of the Lords Prayer For my part I shall never blame him that seeketh to help his understanding memory Set prayer a help and affection by such meanes if he bring new affections to renewed petitions and set his heart a worke to seeke more seriously for the best things such as the godly labours of good men have in print set before him But if any man will rest in his booke prayers and never strive to speake unto God out of his owne heart by his owne Spirit which teacheth every true child of God to cry Abba Father Heart prayer best of all Rom. 8. and helpeth our infirmities that wee may stand before him as his children Such a man in my opinion comes farre short of the power and practice comfort and fruit of true prayer and is not much unlike to an impotent and weake man that being lame of his limbes and having meanes of helpe and recovery tendred unto him had yet still rather use a paire of crutches borrowed of his neighbour to goe withall as he can than betake himselfe to his owne legges and feet to walke in his way which the Lord hath appointed for him as he might and ought to doe CHAP. XXIII AFter this short prayer because wee are all commanded to sing Psalmes unto God 2 His singing of Psalmes to testifie our rejoycing in him to instruct our selves in his mercies and judgements words and works and to make melody in our hearts before him as also to quicken our soules to praise and thanksgiving hee therefore did usually call the whole family to sing some of the Psalmes such as hee named unto them with grace in their hearts unto the Lord which they ordinarily performed with such melodious and sweet voices and affections himselfe beginning the tune and the rest in a sweet accord and harmony joyning with him as if they had desired to sing Davids Psalmes His delight in singing of Psalms not onely with Davids Harpe but even with Davids heart also With this exercise of singing of Psalmes hee was much delighted and oftentimes so ravished in his spirit with holy and heavenly joy in singing and sounding forth Gods praises that his heart would even spring and leape in his body as John Baptist did for the joy of Christ in his mothers belly Hieron in Epitaphio Fabiolae yea he was so much affected with the praising of God in this kinde that hee tooke the word Halelu-jah which is the title of nine Psalmes and the song of the Quire of Angles for his Poesie and usually writ it in the first leafe of all his bookes with his owne hand to provoke and draw on others into the fellowship of Gods praises with him and to set it forth as an impresse or character of his chiefe desire and delight Amalaris de officio mâ—ssâ—c 13. to have the praises of the Lord in his heart or in his mouth in his care or in his eye continually When the Psalm was ended 3 His reading of the Scriptures he read a Chapter himselfe out of the Bible keeping an orderly and constant course in his reading to make his family better acquainted with the order and matter of the Scriptures and to season their hearts with some portion of Gods Word in the morning as a preservative against all unfavoury thoughts noysome lusts rotten speeches and ungodly workes all the day after This hee knew was Gods holy Ordinance from which neither Kings in peace nor Commanders in warre were exempted wherewith all Governours of families are expresly charged Deut. 6.6 7 8. Deut. 17.18 19. Ios 1.7.8 Deut. â—1 18 19 20 2 Tim. 3.14 15. Ioh. 5.39 wherein both elder and yonger have beene exercised and whereunto all sorts are by our blessed Saviour exhorted Search the Scriptures c. And this hee duly performed with such reverence and conscience as might to his power best become the solemnity of the action which they had in hand and the majestie of his presence before whom they stood Now because he knew that all planting and watering was in vain unlesse God himself gave the blessing of increase and that the Prayer of faith availeth much for that end if it bee fervent hee therefore with all his family bowing the knees of their hearts as well as the knees of their bodies before the throne of grace did in
the next place commend themselves unto God in humble and hearty prayer making their requests knowne unto God 4. His humble and holy prayer with thanksgiving in all manner of supplications with thanksgiving which hee usually performed with that power and feeling fervency and sincerity faith and humility as the spirit of grace gave him understanding and utterance and their severall occasions and other necessities did require that hee was oftentimes much admired of them that heard him and by his holy petitions and gracious affections did much refresh the hearts and cheere the spirits of many of his neighbours and friends which joyned with him Gen. 32.26.27.28 Hos 12.4 Hee would so wrestle with God by prayers and teares like Jacob that hee would not let him go untill like an Israel he had by praying and weeping prevailed with him The fruits of which his holy desires and endeavours were so remarkable in that family whether hee prayed against sinnes or sorrowes or sought unto God for grace and good things that seldome did they meet againe to pray but they had some new and fresh cause of praise and thanksgiving unto him that had heard their prayers Having alwayes matter of praise as well as cause of prayer A godly and an holy course in prayer which I wish were as well performed as it is well worthy to bee observed Namely Not only to consider wisely what we ask in prayer but to observe carefully how wee speed after it for in so doing as we should still be stirred up and provoked to new praises so should wee be quickned and encouraged to seeke unto our God againe by continuing or renewing the same or the like prayers and requests unto him This was the practice of holy David that man after Gods owne heart who having called upon God Psal 41.1 did patiently wait upon him for hearing and diligently observed what successe he had and as hee found the fruit of his prayers did thereupon come againe into Gods presence with new and fresh praises Psal 66.17.19.20 I called unto the Lord saith he with my mouth and he was exalted with my tongue Verily God hath heard me he hath attended to the voice of my prayer Blessed bee God which hath not turned away my prayer nor his mercy from me CHAP. XXIV THus did he exercise himselfe and his family unto godlinesse every morning His evening exercise and after the duties of the day and their naturall refreshing and repast in the end thereof hee called them again to the like service and sacrifice in the evening which hee very religiously and constantly performed much after the same manner saving thaâ— then he tooke some more paines with them having more liberty In opening and applying the word and better opportunity so to doe for then he ordinarily instructed and taught his family out of that portion which hee tooke in the Chapter read at that time unto them propounding and applying some wholesome doctrine profitable for their godly edification as the tenor of the Scripture best served 2 Tim. 3.16.19 whether to convince any errour or to confirme the truth to rebuke any sin and to instruct in the way of righteousnesse to comfort the heart under hope in doing well and settle the soule by faith and patience in suffering ill This was his holy defire and delight to edifie his family in faith and love For the use of his Family and to traine them up in the true knowledge and feare of God so acquainting them with their duties towards God and man Tit. 2.10 11 12. that living soberly righteously and godly in this world they might beautifie their profession and adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour alwayes and in all things All which his godly paines and practices in the instructing of his family out of the Word of God as a pastor and teacher in his owne house Crowned with a blessing from God albeit they were through the blessing of God crowned with good successe at home yet were they much maligned reproached opposed and questioned abroad and that not only by the vulgar fort but even by some of our masters in Israel whose negligence was much rebuked by his diligence their prophannesse checked by his holy duties their government in their families not onely obscured but blemished Opposed much by some men of the world but blemished by the comely order and beautie of his government in his family which was so farre advanced above some of theirs as ever Bethell was above Bethaven Sion above Shilo or the Temple of God above the Temple of Idols Which malignity of the world His fortification against such assaults and enmity of godlesse persons against godly and good duties when he well observed and wisely considered of hee began to fortifie his building both for his judgement and practice as Nehemiah did the wales of Jerusalem against the assaults of Gods enemies which he did very faithfully and effectually by his painefull collections and observations which he made out of the Scriptures For justifying of his judgement and practice in thus teaching of his family and by the expositions testimonies and examples of godly and good men records of antiquity and evidences of worthy Writers and witnesses to the truth of God all sutable to the doctrine of our Church to justifie his course and stop the mouthes of all such as without any just cause did open them so wide against it I have seen and read what hee hath collected and set downe to this end and purpose under his owne hand which I approve of and like so well for his choice and paines in binding up together so many sweet and wholesome flowers of heavenly doctrine By his collections and observations out of godly and good authors for his owne confirmation and other mens satisfaction that I could have been well contented to have set downe these his collections and observations at large concerning this point of the masters duty in teaching and instructing his family in the feare of God and faith of Christ and in opening and applying some portion of the Scriptures to their mindes and hearts for that end but that I much feared lest my labour and paines herein at this time might be held not so needfull and lesse pertinent seeing many godly mens bookes are filled with the same or the like instructions since that time justifying the same point and practice and that the bulk and body of this little booke would swell too bigg if I should bring in another Treatise to stuffe up the bosome and brest of it CHAP. XXV And yet not usurping upon the Ministery Nor by aprivate spirit But by godly and good meanes Homines discunt prius quod doceant ab alâ—o accipiunt quod aliis tradant Amb. Coster us in eins Vita Amb lib. 1. de Offic. c. 1 NOw because some may mistake both him and me in this businesse as imagining
and place himselfe who knew right well what was worthy true praise and what it was that did make a mans face to shine in the mids of his own house and in the Congregation For as Laudari ab illaudato viro vituperiumest Vide Aul. Gell de Istaudate liâ—… 2. cap. 6. To bee praised of a man utterly unworthy of any praise himselfe is a dispraise So to be praised or a good man a messenger of God one of a thousand as he was and that with such ardent affection and heavenly rejoycing For the power of Religion and fruits of grace in that Family must needs advance the praise of this worthy Gentleman to a higher straine and pitch of his due and true commendation Thus it pleased the Lord every day more and more to crown this Gentleman and his house his desires and endevours with honor and favor beauty and glory Many Gentleme desire to so journe with him Insomuch that the eyes and hearts of many were towards him divers of the best ranck in the Country did much desire to have accesse and acceptance as some others had before to so journ with him His house being herein me thinks not much unlike unto a goodly Tower upon a hill Aspicis us veniunt adcandida recta collibae Accipior nullas sordida Turris 〈◊〉 faire built and richly beautified which doth easily invite and allure the Doves of the vallies to fly and flock unto it and for their better refreshing and repose to build their nests in it And so upon the sollicitation and importunity of his Cousins and Friends he entertained againe divers Families and personages of great place to partake of Gods meanes and mercies with him in his Family Who they were what successe they had what fruits they found what comforts and refreshings they reaped and enjoyed in their cohabitation and Communion one with another in holy duties he shall himselfe relate unto you in his owne words which he hath left upon record under his own hand to this purpose Afterwards saith he many more desired to table with me His owne Relation The Lady Egerton widow daughter in law to the Lord Chauncelour then being with her company And my consen Tho Dutton of Dutton with his wift son and daughter that now is the Lord Gerrards Wife being 10 of his Family And 4 Gentlewomen of Hatton being sisters and one maid attending on them Which maid was froward at the first against Religion and religious dutyes But God in his mercy began first with her For being in grievous affliction of conscience she was humbled soundly had a most comfortable conversion blessed be God Mary Sherington I think was her name And they 2 of the sisters had a more easie conversion but I believe true grace And the other 2 sisters convineed and very honest modest maids And for my cosen Dutton his condition with me was to keep the Lords Sabbath with my Family as well afternoon is forenoone which he and all his did in the publike Congregation All of us having then great help from a learned godly Minister M. Rob. Wats a Reverend Worthy man of God whom we called Old Eli for his gravity and faithfulnesse above many and being continually with us in my Family Observing this order for our Family exercises hee and I to pray in the family he one morning and evening and I another and both of us every evening to give a note upon a chapter and between nine and ten of the clock in the forenoone we agreed to have prayer again for the Tablers At the same time my cosen Dutton being pressed and charged by some of great place to mainteine his Royalty of Minstrelsey for Piping and Daunsing on the Sabbath day my Minister my selfe and my family were earnest against it and prevailed so far with my cosen Dutton that he promised that all Piping and Dauncing should cease on the Sabbath day both forenoone and afternoon and so his Licences were made and do continue so untill this day And so wee had great peace and comfort together blessed be God By all this we may easily see and perceive how graciously the Lord dealt with this Gentleman from time to time not only to blesse him and his family every day more and more but to make him a blessing also to many others of his kindred and friends which came but for a season to so journe with him CHAP. XLII NOW as sometimes it commeth to passe that in the fairest calme there may arise a violent and suddene storme to scatter A sudden storme and disperse such vessels as have laine for a while at quiet rode in the harbor So did it fall out by the Lords disposing hand in the mids of all these their sweet comforts to send amongst them a tempest of griefe Vpon the death of his deare wife and sorrow by the death of this Gent-gracious wife yokefellow which occasioned not long after a dissolving of his family and a dispersing of the whole Company The losse of this Gentlewoman was so much the more grievous both to her husband and the whole family because of the great help and comfort they had all by her She lived 10 yeares with this Gentleman her husband a faithfull helper and a fruitfull Vyne bearing unto him 9 Children sons and daughters and continuing with her husband in great peace and love a prudent wife and wise fellow-governor within his house much respected and beloved A great affliction to the whole family Prov. 31.10 11 12 Pro. v 31.26.27 28 29. Her vertues not only of her owne but of all these Gentlemen and Gentlewomen which did Table with them Who can find a vertuous woman for her price is far above Rubyes The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have not need of poyle She will do him good and not evill all the dayes of her life She openeth her mouth in wisdome and the Law of grace is in her lips She looketh well to the wayes of her houshold and eateth not the bread of idlenesse Her children arise up and call her blessed her husband also and he praiseth her many daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all A man may truly say without either fraud or flattery that in some good measure Such a woman such a wife such a mother such a governour was this Gentlewoman in her owne house and family Her due prâ—ises Fâ—â—ctum est prâ—cvâ—sissimum Margaritum Virens smaragdi gemma contrita est Hieron ad Para. deobitu Paulme uxoris She was also in her selfe of a gracious and amiable disposition having an humble heart and holy affections beautified and decked with that ornament of the hid man of the heart a meek quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price Yea she was one that was ripe in knowledg rich in grace full of Faith good Works One that held communion with God
every company either to do good unto others or to receive good from others 5 The fifth Iust dealing A good intention to deale justly honestly and uprightly with all men doing no otherwise unto them than we would have them to do unto us 6 The sixth Take all to the best An honest disposition to take doubtfull things in the best sense and best part so farre as well we may without wound of conscience in our selves or offence giving unto others 7 The seventh A carefull watchfulnesse over our heart and tongue spirit and speech that our words being powdered with salt Watchfulnesse may minister grace not griefe unto the hearers 8 The eight To bee sparing in speech A great willingnesse to be slow to speake and swift to heare yea sometimes to heare and see much and to say little unlesse we have a good calling thereunto 9 The ninth Renouncing all worldly fashions and humours An utter renouncing of all the vaine conformities of the world neither following the fashions nor serving the humours of vaine or vile persons nor staying longer than needs wee must amongst them if by occasion we be in company with them 10 The tenth Peaceable A good inclination to seeke and follow peace with all men so farre as in us lieth and so farre as it may be had and held with holinesse cutting off all occasions and provocations to strife and variance with all speed that may be 11 The eleventh Contentednesse in every estate A contented minde and good courage in every estate and condition of life entertaining all crosses with patience and turning them to their best use and embracing all comforts with thanksgiving bearing and bringing forth the right and proper fruit of them 12 The twelfth and last To keep our peace with God An unfained desire and endeavour to nourish our peace with God walking as Abraham did humbly and uprightly before him and referring all that ever we think speak or do to the furtherance of our own reckoning and to his farther praise and glory According to these and other the like rules of righteousnesse and holinesse he was taught of God to order his conversation aright in the feare of God Iam. 3.13 And thus he attained unto some measure and degree of that wisdome and grace which S. Iames commendeth so well and worthily in a found Christian Who is a wise man and indued with knowledge among you Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meeknesse of wisedome For so did this Gentleman work and walk even according to that wisdome which is from above the properties whereof are very precious For it is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated full of mercy and good fruits without partiality and without hypocrisie CHAP. LI. AND here I thinke it will bee well worthy our labour and paines if for the better confirmation hereof we measure this Gentlemans life by this line of heavenly wisdome and take a speciall view of these jewels of grace which being attendants upon it in his person did much beautifie and adorne that which now we speak of his holy and religious conversation He endeavoured to be pure First therfore according to this wisdome which God had given him from above he endeavoured to make his conversation pure and holy answerable to that religion which he did professe which by the testimony of the Holy Ghost is pure and undefiled before God and the Father and as here it is said it is first pure He was no doubt well atquainted with his naturall corruptions Psal 51.5 Rom. 7.20 23 24 Act. 1â— 15 passions and pollutions of sinne both originall and actuall inward and outward spirituall and corporall and knew that though hee should wash himselfe with snow water yet could he not say My heart is clean 2 Cor. 7. 1 Job 9.30.31 Zac. 13. 1. Ezek. 36. 26. Rev. 1.6 Rev. 7.14 1. Cor. 6.11 1 Pet. 1.15 I am cleansed from all my filthinesse so long as he did bear about with him a body of sin and of death And yet he knew as well also that the Lord having opened the fountaine of Grace unto him and powred cleane water upon him and washed him in the blood of Christ both for the remission of his sinnes and for purging away the pollution of them He was no longer to be held polluted and uncleane but holy and pure in his person through Christ and so ought to strive to be more and more in all manner of holy conversation And therefore hereunto Act 24.16 hee did ever most carefully and conscionably endeavour himselfe that being espoused to one husband 2 Cor. 11.12 hee might preserve and present himselfe as a chaste virgin unto Christ Jesus 1 Pure in heart Mat. 5.8 2 Cor. 7.1 Eph. 4.28 To which end he laboured to bee first Pure in heart knowing that Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God And this he did by faith and repentance and the helpe of Gods spirit every day purging out old sins and renewing the beauty of former graces 2 To be pure in hand free from all iniquity and injury and so washing his hands in purity 2 Pure in hand 1 Tim. 2.8 and innocency he was ever ready in every place to lift up pure hands unto God and to compasse his Altar 3 Pure in tongue Eph. 4.29 Esa 19.18 Psal 37.30 3 To be pure in lips and tongue never suffering any rotten speech or unseemely word to fall from him but having his language as pure as the language of Canaan his tongue did oftentimes speake of judgement and his speeches were sometimes as the very Oracles of God 4 To be pure in his senses 1 Pet. 4 11 Aug. Conf. lib. 10. Cap. 34. Iob. 31. 1. Psal 119.37 his eyes hee made a covenant withall to restraine them from wanton lookes and to shut up those windowes against all spectacles of vanity And then only or especially to open them when they might serve as necessary lights unto the body or to behold the workes of the Lord that so he might be the better by them His cares were circumcised Aug. Conf l. 10. c. 33. Rev. 2.7 Hos 14.8 1 Thes 4.4 nailed to the posts of Gods house bored by the spirit of grace for audience and obedience to heare what the spirit speakes unto the Churches What have I to doe any more with idols I have heard him I have observed him 5 To be pure in his whole body Iude v. 23. 2 Cor. 7.1 2 Tim. 2.21 ever preserving and possessing his vessell in holinesse and in honor and hating the very garment spotted by the flesh 6 To be pure in the whole man both soule and body which he performed very effectually when clensing himselfe from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit Amaremte Juelle si noÌ„ esses Zuinglianus â—e eticus fide vitâ certè videris angelus
honcslus es at â—â—…heranus Aumphâ—…iâ— vita â—uâ—llis Heb. 12.16 1 Ioh. 3.12 Gal. 4.29 Isa 36.4.7 2 Pet. 2.8 Isaiah 5â— â—5 he became a vessell of honour sanctified and meete for his masters use and prepared unto every good worke And thus according to that wisdome which was given him from above hee became first pure But here some man will thinke that to bee so pure in heart and life word and deed as you speak of him to his great praise will bee returned back both upon him and you to his just rebuke and your farther blame For are not we now fallen into those times and are wee not compassed about with such prophane Esaus murthering Caines scoffing Ismaels railing Rabsekahs filthy and cursed Sodomites that a man can hardly refaine from any wickednesse but he makes himselfe a prey as the Prophet speaketh nor seeketh after any goodnesse but they will bee ready to vexe and persecute him Psal 38.20 and will needs be his adversaries because hee followeth the thing that good is Doubtlesse it may be said of us Hermodorus E phe so pulsus quod fâ—ugi esset Cic. Tusc-Quaest l. 5. Sic Aristides Ostracismo pulsus Athenis Ostracism Arist Polit lib. 3. c. 9. Tertul. in Apoluget cap. 2. Ego Lucium virum sapientem repentè factum Christianum defero Tertul ib. 1 Cor. 4.13 Isa 8.18 Luc. 2.34 for many persons and places as once it was of Rome Omnia cum liceant non licet esse pium All things are there lawfull only to be a godly and a good man is held amongst them to bee unlawfull So Tertullian hath observed it to be the streyne and manner of those times Cajus Sejus bonus vir ideo tantum malus quia Christianus Cajus Sejus is a good man therefore evill only because hee is a Christian And even so the case stands with us at this day and that in our Israel where the children of God that desire to be as their father is and they are charged to be pure and holy are no better esteemed but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even as filth of the world and off-scouring of all things even untill this day Or at the best but as signes and wonders in Israel and markes to bee shot at as Christ himselfe was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Butt or marke to bee shot at by such as bend their tongues like Bowes to shoote out their arrowes even base and bitter words against him The Disciple is not above his master nor the servant above his Lord if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub Mar. 10.24.25 what better language can we expect from them being his poore servants in the same house But what good reason have these vaine or vile persons to open their foule mouths so wide against purity in religion and holinesse of life and conversation One of their best is that which they have borrowed of their father Caine and which he was taught of his father the Divel when hee slew his brother And what was his reason wherefore slew he him Because his own workes were evill and his brothers good 1 Ioh. 3. â—2 Is it then your antipathy against goodnesse and your enmity against the godly for their holinesse that provokes you to swell against them and so much to splene and spite them that you reproach and revile them Act 7.54 and are ready to burst with anger because you cannot wreake your malice upon them Isa 57.3 4. Gen. 3 15 â— Kin. 21 10. 2 Cor. 6.18 Gal. 4.29.30 If this be your reason of this your cruell dealing then judge you your own selvs of what breed you are Are yee not rather of the seed of the serpent than of the seed of the woman Are yee not rather sonnes of Belial than the children of God And are ye not rather the children of the bond woman with scoffing Ismael than children of the free woman with holy Isaac CHAP. LI. BUt why should it seem so strange a thing unto you that every true Christian should so carry himself as this Gentleman did that hee may shew himself pure and holy in all maner of conversation Doth not our heavenly father command it 4 Pet. 1.16 Be ye holy for I am holy Doth not the vertue of the death and resurrection of Christ require it that henceforth wee dye unto sin Rom. 6.5 6 11 13 â—8 and live unto him yeelding our members to bee servants to righteousnesse unto holinesse Doth not his blessed Spirit challenge it at our hands That we be sanctified throughout in soule spirit and body 1 Co. 6.12 1 Thes 5.23 and preserved blamelesse untill the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ Doth not the Word of God tell us that This is the will of God even our sanctification that every one learne to possesse his vessell in holinesse and in honour Heb. 11. 12.1 13.7 Eph. 2.19 Doe not the examples of all holy men call upon us to follow their faith and to walk in their wayes of righteousnesse and holinesse before the Lord all our dayes Doth not the communion of saints and citizens both in heaven and earth exact and expect of us Eph. 5.3.1 Tim. 2.2 such a conversation as becommeth saints in all godlinesse and honesty Again consider What is the true religion It is pure and undefiled before God Iam. 1.27 And who is a true professor of this Religion He that is pure in heart and undefiled in his way And what is the word Mat. 5.8 Psal 119.1 which is the rule of this Religion The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tryed in a fornace of earth purified seven times Psa 19.10 Pla. 12.6 And what are the Sacraments annexed to this Word They are sacred Signes and Seales of holy mysteries in heavenly things And what are the speciall priviledges of such as are pure and true Christians 1 Cor. 11.24 Rom. 4.11 Vnto the pure all things are pure they have a great liberty and large interest in all Gods blessings Tit. 1.15 1 Cor. 3.22.23 and in the use and comfort of them Their holinesse here is a pledge of their happinesse hereafter Having their fruit in holinesse and the end everlasting life Heb 12.14 Ro. 6.22 Ioh. 17.24 1 Ioh 3.3 2 Tim. 2.21 And what must then bee the conversation of every one that hath this hope to be with Christ where he is and as hee is for ever Hee must of necessity purifie himselfe even as hee is pure and so being a vessell of honour sanctified hee shall bee meet for his Masters use and prepared unto every good worke Such are the persons and such are the things which the Lord requires and expects in the profession and practice of every true Christian Mal. 3.17 And are not all these pure and precious in the eyes of Almighty God and in the sight of heavenly Angels and holy men Mat. 7.6 Hath God
given us these Pearles and dare any so play the swine as to trample them under feet and contemne them Doth the Lord reckon all holy persons Psal 13 5.4 pure and precise professors as his chiefe treasure the Church esteeme them as her holy children Gal. 4.26 and the true children of the Church take them as Christ himselfe doth for holy brethren Heb. 3.1 Heb. 2.11 12. Phil. 3.2 Gal. 5.15 And dare any be so vile as to fly upon these like dogs and that not only to bark against them but even to bite and to devoure them Are not all such persons and things as wee have named perfumed with the sweet odours of Christs offerings Rev. 8.3.4 1 Ioh. 2.20 and sufferings Are they not all annointed with the holy oyle of the Spirit as vessels and instruments of the Sanctuary from their head that holy one Christ Jesus If so they be as without all doubt they are Then who is he that bears the name of a Christian as if he were a partaker of this annointing dare cast any foule aspersions Act. 11.26 as of Singularity Schisme Puritanisme Precisenesse Hypocrisie and such like upon such persons because they frame their lives to bee pure and holy by exercising themselves unto godlinesse in these things Such may complaine with Tertullian Pro tanta innocentia pro tanta probitate pro justitia pro pudicitia pro fide pro veritate pro Deo vivo cremamur Tertullian lib. ad Scap. Cap. 4. Now because there bee some both in Court and Countrey City and Sanctuary that pretend greater wisdome and moderation they will not bee so prophane on the left hand as Esau neither will they bee so preciseon the right hand with Iacob but either just of Gallio his humour they care little for these things or of the Laodicean temper Act. 18.14.17 Rev. 3.16.17.18 Rom. 2.20 2 Tim. 3.5 neither hot nor cold yet thinke all is well and nothing amisse among them And these pretend that they have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a forme of knowledge and a forme of Godlinesse but wanting the fruit of the one and the power of the other they are no friends to sincerity and purity of religion in themselves and shew themselves great adversaries to the holy profession and practice of it in others that desire to conforme themselves to the tenour and truth of it Now because I say there are some such See the booke of Common prayer I would willingly demand of these so great opposites to a godly and holy conversation when they come before the Lord in the publike assembly and offer up their solemne prayers unto God with Gods Minister after confession of their sinnes that hereafter they may live a godly righteous and sober life and pray in another place that the rest of their life may bee pure and holy I would demand what their meaning is thus to pray unto the Lord If they pray in sincerity for a godly righteous and sober life why doe they reprove that in others which they would begge of God for themselves Why are they so great adversaries to the pure and holy profession of religion When they pray themselves that the rest of their owne lives may bee pure and holy Or if they pray otherwise in Hypocrisie they doe then but mocke God and dissemble with him in their double hearts and so deale wickedly and deceitfully both with God and men O yee formall Hypocrites pull out first the beame that is in your owne eye Mat. 7.5 2. Tim. 3.5 and then looke to the mote which is in your brothers eye You catch after a forme and shadow of Religion and content your selves with it Bee neither envious nor malicious against such of Gods children as being your brethren by Profession have gotten hold not of the shadow but of the substance of it and in a holy conversation otherwise than you doe shew forth the power and fruit of it Hee which is unjust let him bee unjust still and hee which is filthy Rev. 22.11 let him bee filthy still And hee that is righteous let him bee righteous still and hee that is holy let him bee holy still CHAP. LII THus have wee heard that this Gentlemans conversation in the profession of Religion according to that wisdome which God had given him from above I am 3.17 was first pure and so stands accepted of God and approved of all good men howsoever maligned and reproached by the wicked and prophane whose wisedome is from below only First Pure I am 3.15 and then Peaceable To be pure in heart and life breeds and brings forth true peace in both Rom. 5.1 1 Thess 5.13 for being so at peace with God we have peace with our selves and seeke for it with others and one for another also Heb. 12.14 This was a second grace which did beautifie this godly Gentlemans conversation Rom. 12.18 He was by grace of a very quiet and peaceable disposition which he did very graciously manifest in these particulars 2 Peaceable 1 He desired to keep peace with all men Heb. 12.14 and not to be at any difference or variance with any if by any meanes he could prevent it Gen. 13.8 1 Cor. 13.5 2 He would not be easily provoked by indignities nor injuries 3 He had rather forgive twenty wrongs than revenge one Num. 12.3 Rom. 12.19 4 He would very willingly purchase and buy out his peace sometimes with his owne losse Mat. 5.39 Gen. 13.8 9. and by parting with his owne right if otherwise he could not well procure it 5 He would shut his eares against tale-bearers having beene sometimes abused by them being the very seed-men of strife Pro. 26.20 21. and fire-brands of contention 6 He would ordinarily recompence evill with good frowardnesse with kindnesse Rom. 12.21 and fruits of passion and bitternesse with fruits of moderation and good affection To make all these or the most of them more evident by one instance in his own practice There was a Gentleman one of his neighbours A hard message who conceiving some great displeasure against him upon a very small occasion in his heat and ruffe sent his man to this Gentleman M. Bruen with this message That his Master did inhibit and forbid him to come upon any foot of his land or any of his servants or family whosoever upon their perill To whom he presently made this reply Tell your master A soft answer and wise for answer to your message only thus much That if it please your Master to come upon any part of my land or any of his servants o◠family to come into my fields at his or their pleasure they shall bee all very kindly welcome And that if he himselfe will come unto my house he shall be much more welcome also This answer savouring so well of grace and peace and being so wifely seasoned with discretion and good affection did
kill the heart of his adversary with kindnesse Pro. 15.1 Rom. 12.20 and as if coales of fire had beene cast upon his head did cause him to melt into teares and tendernesse and so having such a returne from so gracious a Gentleman of peace for warre of love for hatred of mildnesse for fiercenesse of discretion for foolishnesse of so great kindnesse for so great unkindnesse he presently changed his minde and being willingly reconciled became a faithfull and true friend unto him for ever afterwards Now as he was thus peaceable in procuring and preserving his owne peace with others so was he no lesse carefull of preventing or removing and occasions of variance and strife amongst neighbours and friends A peace-maker both neare about him and farther from him If he saw naturall brethren likely to fall out as even they are not alwayes the best friends he would lovingly and wisely admonish them for peace Gen. 45.24 as Joseph did his brethren You are brethren fall not out by the way If he saw two Gentlemens servants at strife and variance fearing least such sparks of contention begun by servants might kindle a fire and flame as many times they doe betwixt the masters He would begin to take up the matter with the Masters and then appease and pacifie the servants with meeke and gentle words of wisedome and peace for their better instruction and reformation following herein the example of holy Abraham who upon a strife betwixt his brother Lots heardsmen and his owne spake thus wisely and peaceably unto him Let there be I pray thee no strife betweene me and thee nor between my heardsmen Gen. 13.8 and thy heardsmen for we are brethren And as hee spake peaceably unto him so did he deale for peace sake as peaceably with him in giving him the choice of the right hand or of the left in all the land before them Gen. 13.9 though he were superiour both in place and grace unto him And so would this Gentleman make peace betweene Masters and servants If hee saw two Christians strive together as Moses did two Hebrewes he would take up him that did the wrong with the same or the like words as Moses did Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow And if somtimes he had no better recompence for his good mind and meaning than Moses had as commonly the most wicked and injurious are most rude and clamorous he would be content to sit downe with the worse as Moses did Thus have we seen that walking according to that rule of heavenly wisedome which the Lord had given him he was first pure in his conversation and then peaceable And so the fruit of righteousnesse was sowne in peace of him that made peace CHAP. LIII HE was also according to the same rule and quality of the same wisdome Gentle Gentle that is of a moderate calme and quiet temper meeke in spirit and mild in speech This was a more speciall work of God in him and a remarkable fruit of this wisdome and grace which the Lord had given him from above Not by nature For by his naturall constitution and in his naturall estate and condition he was of a passionate disposition somewhat froward and fierce angry and hasty but now having received not onely pardon for sinne in the value of the death of Christ 1 Ioh. 1.7 1 Cor. 6.11 Rom. 6.17 18 19 But by grace but power against sinne in the vertue of it he found his nature healed his passions subdued his frowardnesse changed into mildnesse his fiercenesse into meeknesse and his roughnesse into gentlenesse The power of grace had now abated much of the violence of his passions and the sweet influence of Gods Spirit had taken away the bitternesse and virulency of them so that now they were of a better temper ordered by a better rule and directed to a better end and were made as it were hewers of wood and drawers of water as Ioshua made the Gibeonites Iosh 9.23 for the use of the Tabernacle That is They became more serviceable unto God and more profitable unto men Paul when hee was a Saul was as cruell and fierce as a Lion Aug. Conf. l. 8. c. 4. Aug. Conf. l. 9. c. 9. but being a converted Paul he became as mild and meek as a lamb So it is recorded of Patricius Austins father as also Calvin that holy man of God that he was in his naturall disposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hasty and angry â—â—afervidus Beza in vit Calv. p. 109. which yet the Spirit of God taught him so to moderate that there was never any word heard from him which might seeme unbeseeming a good man And yet of this passion so subdued and seasoned the Lord gave him as he did also this Gentleman some good use when he dealt in the cause of God and of Religion and against refractory and obstinate offenders turning his naturall anger into spirituall zeale against them Many of the ancient Fathers were of violent and fierce spirits Many of the Fathers very passionate Vid. August Epist 14 15. Ep. 19. savouring much of pride and passion as they were men but being called and converted and become holy men of God were great Instruments of Gods glory the Lord making use of their naturall affections for spirituall services to give them thereby courage and boldnesse constancy and confidence to stand out against all such affronts and assaults of impieties and heresies as in their times did rise up and make head against them He that shall read some of their writings as of Hierome against Ruffinus Vigilantius Jovinian and against Austin himselfe of Austin also against the Pelagians and Donatists of Hilary against Auxentius and Constantius Socrat. Eccles Hist. l. 6. c. 16. Sozom. Eccles hist l. 7 c. 24. Yet well accepted of God and good men and of Chrysostomes sharpe invectives against Endoxia the Empresse and of Ambrose his severe dealing with Theodosius the Emperour may easily see as much as I say That as they were men subject to like passions as this Gentleman was and we are having some wilde fire mixed with holy fire in some of their best services so were they accounted and accepted as holy men of God both for their persons and imployments notwithstanding all their frailties and infirmities But to returne to this grace of Gentlenesse in this Gentleman Phil. 4.5 It is that which the Apostle Paul cals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a moderate and meeke both bearing and forbearing when indignities and injuries either in word or deed are offered unto us or intended against us His bearing and forbearing Thus did he make his patient minde knowne unto all men taking nothing that could possibly be well taken in ill part but interpreting all to the best would make the best of the worst In meeknesse like Moses Num. 12.1 2 3. and so abate the edge of mens
frowardnesse and fiercenesse with words of meeknesse and gentlenesse imitating herein the meeknesse of Moses against the bitter and insolent speeches of Aaron and Miriam when they rose up against him Iud. 8.1 2. And following the good example of Gideon who when the Ephraemites were very angry with him and did chide him most sharply did answer them againe with meeke and gentle words most courteously and wisely and so mitigated and asswaged the rage of their passions presently In mildnesse like his Master Christ Iohn 18 2â— 23. But above all remembring and expressing the mildnesse and meeknesse of his Master Christ who being checked and smitten on the face by an officer of the High Priest as having answered him otherwise than was meet never revenged the wrong but answered the party in great meeknesse of spirit and mildnesse of speech If I have spoken evill heare witnesse of the evill but if well why smitest thou me Many of a cruell and bloody dispostion O how farre short are all they of this his sweet behaviour and gentle carriage and conversation which usually carry with them and about them warre in their hearts strife in their tongues swords in their lips and blood in their hands 1 Ioh. 3.12 Gen. 4.23 24. Gen 49.7 Pro. 15.1 2 being as cruell as Cain as proud and fierce as Lamech as violent and raging as Simeon and Levi as churlish and foolish as Nabal who was so wicked that a man could not speak unto him 1 Sam. 25.17 A soft answer saith Solomon turneth away wrath but grievous words stirre up anger The tongue of the wise c. useth knowledge aright but the mouth of fooles powreth out foolishnesse CHAP. LIV. HE was also being taught and seasoned with the same wisedome which is from above 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 easie to be intreated of an ingenuous facility Iam. 3 1â— 4 Easie to be intreated either to be perswaded to any thing that was good or to be disswaded from any thing that was evill He needed not many reasons to presse him to that which was reason nor many retractives to draw him backe from that which he saw was otherwise An honourable Judge in open Court Iudge W. his testimony of M. Bruen when complaint was made of some wrong which he did to a neighbour-Gentleman by a water-course about his Mills out of that good opinion which he had and held of him gave him this worthy testimony I cannot thinke but that you wrong M. Bruen I will undertake for him make him but sensible of any errour or wrong which he hath done you and he shall both willingly of himselfe acknowledge it and make you double amends for it Iob 31.13 14. He durst not despise the judgement of his man-servant nor the cause of his maidservant when they contended with him For what then should he doe when God riseth up and when he visiteth what shall he auswer him Nay that which is more for such of his servants as were religious and wise he would give them good leave and liberty to advise with him as Abraham dealt with Eliezer and Cornelius with his servants to produce their reasons to perswade or disswade as occasion did require and. if there were cause would he rather follow their opinion than his owne and so suffer them easily to prevaile with him So did Naaman the Assyrian hearken willingly to the advice of his servants 2 King 5.12 perswading him with so reverent termes of honour and respect and upon so good reason to go and wash himselfe seven times in Iordan that he might be healed So did good David yeeld himselfe overcome by the seasonable and wholesome counsell of Abigail 1 Sam. 25 32 33. diffwading him by found reasons from shedding of blood so rashly without any great cause in so great a rage and passion against Naball who by his churlish answer and behaviour had provoked him to wrath against him And thus might this Gentlemans neighbours tenants friends adversaries finde him ensie to be intreated and so they did ingiving and forgiving bearing and forbearing borrowing and lending in doing any good or restraining any evill as they had occasion to make triall of him A good proofe hereof may be had in this one instance following There was a Portion of money a matter of forty shillings given to the use of the Parish and so put into the hands of some honest men to that end but through some neglect as the men failed the money melted away by little and little and was at last quite wasted and gone He easily intreated to his cost For redresse and repaire hereof M. Bruen was intreated to doe something by his owne or by some other means even as he thought good And here he shewed himself easie to be intreated for he made answer presently I meane not to presse upon any mans purse for this matter and so tooke to his owne purse and gave them forty shillings for supply of this want But some so hard they will give nothing A matter I confesse of no great moment yet such as if many of our Gentlemen of farre greater meanes were intreated unto A man might sooher wring forty pottles of water out of a flint or marble stone or draw forty pints of wine out of a Church-wall than get I say not forty shillings but forty pence from any of their hands for any Parish profit or Church uses Yea they are so stiffe and obstinate No nor pay their ovâ—ne 〈◊〉 tiâ—â— 2. that they will not be intreated to pay their owne layes and duties whereof they are convinced to their faces that they wrong the parish in detaining of them CHAP. LV. BUt now to proceed to some other graces and vertues of this worthy Gentleman which according to the properties of that wisedome from above which the Lord had given him hee expressed by his workes in a godly conversation Hee was as we have heard already first pure then peacable thirdly gentle fourthly easie to be intreated and fifthly as it now followeth full of mercy and of good fruits Full of Mercy and of good Fruits Iam. 3.17 Mat. 5.45 Luk. 6.36 He had learned this of his Heavenly Father to bee mercifull as he is mercifull and that not only in Affectu but in Effectu not only in Affection but in Action also A branch of the true vine Ioh. 15.1 2. Phil. 1.10.11 Num. 13.23 A tree of righte ousnesse Esay 61.3 Ier. 17.8 Psal 1 3. Ioh. 15.2.5.8 Psa 92.13 14. He was a Branch of that noble Uine Christ Jesus from whom he drew such sap of grace and vertue by the power of faith that hee was filled with the fruits of righteousnesse and holinesse to the praise and glory of God A Branch clogged with fruit like that which was cut downe at the Brooke Eshcol which was so loaden with one cluster of Grapes that it was enough for two men to bear it on a staffe betweene them
is offended and I burne not This fruit of his compassion and tender affection to Gods children did more especially appeare when he heard of heavy newes out of Bohemia Hungary Germany the Palatinate c. He was then so affected therewithall as good Nehemiah was when he heard by Hanani one of his brethren that the remnant of the Iewes were in great affliction that the wall of Ierusalem was broken downe And afflict him also and the gates thereof were burnt with fire For then he sate downe and wept and mourned certaine dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven 3 It did also no lesse evidently appeare His compassion in visiting the sick by his diligent and carefull visiting of the sicke and such persons and families as had some more heavie and extraordinary hand of God upon them He was held and reputed one of the best spirituall Physitians in all the countrey If any were troubled in conscience afflicted in soule for sin molested by Satan terrified by Gods judgements Happy then was he that could get M. Bruen to come unto him his very presence was some ease and refreshing unto them as to that godly and worthy Preacher M. Dickons on his death-bed His godly exhortations wholesome admonitions divine instructions sweet words of comfort but especially his faithfull and fervent prayers were many times as so many gracious remedies against their grievous miseries and maladies And to speak as the truth is as his gifts were rare and paines great in the performance of these duties so was the issue and successe thereof through the blessing of God many times answerable and effectuall either for some full release or some reliefe in due season Hereof he hath witnesses enow over all the countrey and many he hath written downe of such and such mercies obtained of God by his good meanes for such and such persons the glory where of he doth ever in great humility ascribe unto the Lord giving him all hearty thankes and praise that would manifest his great mercy grace power and goodnesse to so weake creatures by so weak meanes His antipathy against profanenesse Now as he held a holy Sympathy with the godly so had he a great antipathy against the profane both persons and fashions customes and courses of the world He knew well that the fashion of this world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever He knew well also that not onely he himselfe but all true Christians are forbid by the holy Apostle In garish fashions to fashion or conforme themselves to this world and injoyned to be transformed in the spirit of their minde that they may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God And therefore he could never be brought into any love or liking of the garish foolish vaine and new-fangle fashions of the world in attire or other ridiculous gestures and formall complements of the profane of this world but did in his heart abhorre them and in his life utterly shun and avoid them Being once at an high Sheriffes feast where there were some Lords Spirituall and Temporall as they are called and many other Knights and gentlemen of great place there was an health begun by one of the Lords In profane customes as in drinking of healths to the Prince which after the manner was entertained and maintained with a great deale of ceremoniall solemnity As it went along and drew neare unto him many observing what he would say or doe he cast out in a moderate manner some words of dislike to this effect Here is a solemne service to the Prince yet did he never require it nor will ever give you any thankes for it And when one pressed him to pledge and drinke to the Princes health he made this milde and gentle answer onely You may drinke to his health and I will pray for his health and drink for mine owne Nos cramus pro salute imperatoris c Tertull ad Scapul c 2. and so I wish you may doe for yours And so he put it off and passed it over never sorting with them nor yeelding to any one of their solemne ceremonies in that act He did beare a more generous minde than to be brought in subjection unto every idle fancy and foolery or to conforme himselfe unto the humours and customes of profane men The policy and power of Satan in healthing Certainly in this drinking of healths as now it is practised at our gentlemens tables there is the very power and policy of Satan set a work in them as to take up the time of their repast with such vanities and provocations to sin and to draw them to delight themselves in such base works of the flesh after the humour and pleasure of carnall men that all memory and mention of God or goodnesse may bee kept out and that no speech of the word or works of God at all may be had amongst them M. Bolton his Directions to wilke with God pag. 200 201 202 203 c. Had I not beene well prevented by the godly labours of a reverent and worthy Divine and my ancient and faithfull friend M. Bolton who hath spoken much both out of the Fathers and other good Authors against this drinking of healths and that to so very good effect and purpose I had taken a little more pains at this time to provide some rods of rebuke for this sinne purposing to whip it and scourge it round about the table in the sight of our bowzing gentleman that take such and so much pleasure in it But now I forbeare and referre them to his Booke praying them to read advisedly what he hath written learnedly of this matter CHAP. LVIII NOw to proceed As this godly Gentleman had and held an antipathy against all vaine and foolish fashions and humours of the profane men of the world so did he especially against the profane customes and corruptions usually maintained in great houses His antipathy against the profane customes and corruptions of great houses He offereth a remedy so as he had an holy indignation against them and would not spare where he had any hope to speed to admonish his friends by word or writing for the reformation of the same He knew it was written Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sinne upon him An evident proofe of his carefulnesse and faithfulnesse in this kinde he hath left us under his own hand in a portion and part of a letter directed to a Gent. one of his neare cosens His words be these The comparison I used was with M. Wilbraham of Woodhey to whom God gave repentance two or three yeares before his death by the Ministery of my B. H. His godly Letter for Christian admonition and reformation I have often compared you Cosen to Thomas Wilbraham whom the people of
God think to be in heaven For in many things you were like him but now you are broken off and in many things differ from him 1 As first he loved the Assembly of Gods people on the holy Sabbath forenoone and afternoone But you doe not though his body were as unwildy as yours is 2 He loved often to communicate His good opinion and testimony of Thâ— wilb Esquire which you doe not 3 Hee loved and often desired the company of the godly into his house which you doe not but rather glory to have your house made a through-fare of profane persons 4 He would have his family publikely catechised by a godly Minister which you will not 5 He had every day a portion of holy Scripture read and prayer morning and evening and often singing of Psalmes which you have not 6 He abandoned and kept out of his house all roguish Players which you doe not 7 He was usually at the publike exercises of religion at Torperly and often at Northwich which you are not 8 He had a liberall disposition to releeve the godly in distresse which you have not 9 Although hee had the world at will as you have yet he gloried not in it but honoured God with his substance which you doe not 10 He did grow in knowledge and in holinesse with an hatred of sinne and love to Gods servants and children which you do not I feare Cosen you are in a Lethargie or that the Alarum Bell of your conscience is silenced Take heed It is a dangerous thing to grieve the Spirit of God by which you are sealed to the day of redemption Try your selfe for if the Spirit be not quenched it will checke your conscience of all the premisses and of many more secret sins which do accompany such open and grosse faults and offences If the Spirit have any life in you it will stirre up your heart often to pray and that with teares for the reformation of these things You were best to looke well about you that you may work outs your owne salvation with foare and trembling Bro. 9.8.9.10.12 His indignation against sinne This Letter is a good evidence of his holy indignation against grosse sinnes in great houses and of his good affection and godly care to draw his friends out of the danger and from the contagion of them His love and care to reclaim sinners His joy in such as were converted It is also a worthy and honourable testimony of the gifts and graces of the effectuall reformation and godly conversation of that worthily honoured Gentleman Thomas Wilbraham of Woodhey Esquire whose name and memoriall he hath thus sprinkled and perfumed with so due and true praises And here O that the Lord would be pleased to grant me the prayer of my heart and the desire of my soule That the heires of this Gentlemans body would view their faces in their fathers glasse and diligently see and consider how neare they come unto him in the power and practice of Religion and that where they shall find themfelves to come short of him they would seriously addresse themselves to expresse the vertues of him that is gone before them Icr. 22.15 16 17. and carefully endeavour to follow the gracious patterne and president which he hath left unto them CHAP. LIX ANother one of the last Fruits of mercy towards his Tenants upon the least of those good fruits where with this goody Gentleman of whom we write was filled was his mercifull dealing with his Tenants towards whom hee did ever beare a very tender and compassionate respect and regard He did not grind the faces of the poore by great fines nor crush their bones by heary rents and rackes and sometimes three yeares rent together at the marriage of a daughter Amos 4.1 Mich. 2.2 Mich. 3.2 nor breake their backes with bundens of oppression in all manner of cruell services as the manner of many was round about him toyling the bodies and tyring out the beasts of their poore Tenants Hee did not use their labour without hire nor call for their worke without wages nor take the benefit of their travell without any allowance of necessary sastenance which is the sinne and shame of many Gentlemen amongst as But in all things concorning their profit their ease their peace their Christian comfort and contentment hee ever carried himselfe as a mercifull He was a mercifull Landlord and good Landlord towards them Yea it was the very joy of his heart to see his Tenants prosper and thrive in their estate under him and to entertaine them lovingly and use them kindly as they came unto him Hee was much of the fame minde towards his Tenants Sueton. in August as Augustus was towards his Subjects Hee would not have any to come in feare and trembling before him as if they came to an Elephant nor any to depart with a heavie heart of sad couritenance from him as if they had beene with a Tyrant How contrary to these mercifull courses are the rigorous and cruell dealings of some Land-lords with their Tenants who if they grow wealthly under them they are used and squrezed as spunges as Vespasian did his Officers Sueton on Vesp to wrest and wring what they can from them If their Leafes be expixed they will hardly renew them but upon such hard conditions as they shall never be able to live under them Nay it may be they will grant no Lease at all neither for yeares nor lives but thrust out the ancient Tenant and set his living upon a rack for the rack say they is the casiest pace and so pull downe other mens houses and families to build their owne nests on high impoverish others to inrich themselves thrust others into corners that they may enlarge their owne borders Mic. 2.2 and make other men their slaves and drudges Isa 5. that they may domineere and dwell alone as Lords of the land bound about them The woe that is denounced by the Prophet Isay and by others also as well as by him against such sins makes me to thinke that such cruell Land-lords will nor find in the end the racke to bee the easiest pace as they imagine nor the grinding of the poore to be their sweetest grist as some conceive No no I rather feare that all the ease of such a rack will be no other but to amble with the world to trot on with the wicked to gallop to the divel and to take up their lodging in hell where they have a place prepared for them But wee speake to them that have no eares to heare what the Spirit speakes unto the Churches but are rather like the deafe Adder Cassied in Psal 57. Lyva in Psal 57. of which Cassiodore reporteth that when she is likely to bee charmed shee makes her selfe deafe by stopping one eare with the earth and the other with her taile that shee may not heare the voice of the charmer
he would not confesse but onely told them in generall with great tendernesse of heart 2 Cor. 11 14. and many teares in his eyes teares of joy and teares of sorrow Pati timetis exire non vultis quid facium vobis Possid de vita Aug. c. 37. For now he had a strong perswasion that he should not live long and that within a while he should make a glorious change of this life with a better of earth for heaven of this world for another and of an estate of misery for an estate of glory And hereunto hee did very carefully addresse himselfe 3. Head His confidence of a happy exchange labouring for a gracious confidence of this blessed and happy exchange whensoever he should come unto it And this hee did by clearing his evidence and confirming his assurance of it His evidence he cleared by informing his judgment aright in the all-sufficiency and perpetuity of that blessed estate His evidence of it His assurance he confirmed by such faithfull records covenants grants gifts pledges earnests witnesses signes oaths seales His assurance for it fruits and marks of his interest unto that estate that neither sinne nor Satan law nor conscience death nor hell could infringe it nor finde any flaw therein to give either them any just occasion to except against it or him any cause once to doubt of it This his confidence was his comfort in all his sicknesse His confidence cause of his comfort which drew many comfortable and heavenly speeches from him Such as these and the like O how great is thy goodnes O Lord which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sonnes of men O how precious are thy thoughts unto me Psal 31.19 O God! O how great is the summe of them Psal 139.17 18. If I should count them they are moe in number than the sand when I awake I am ever with thee I trusted in the Lord Psal 31. I said thou art my god My times are in thy hand I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by my right hand Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell Psal 31.23 24 25 26 and afterwards receive me to glory Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever I know whom I have beleeved and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I have committed unto him against that day Psal 31. O love the Lord all yee his Saints for the Lord preserveth the faithfull and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God for the living god O when shall I come and appeare before God O let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth Cant. 1.1 2. for thy love is better than wine Because of the savour of thy good ointment Thy name is as an oyntment powred forth therefore do the virgins love thee Draw me and I will run after thee God is not unrighteous Heb. 6.10 to forget our worke and labour of love which we have shewed unto his name Faithfull is he that promiseth and calleth us 1 Thes 5.24 Neh. 5.15 and 13. v. 14.22 who will also do it Remember me O my God for good according to all that I have done for thy people and wipe not out my kindnesse that I have done for the house of my God for the Offices thereof Remember me O my God and spare me according to the greatnes of thy mercy Some of these holy and heavenly Speeches hee uttered at his first awaking in the morning some in Prayer with his Family some in his short Ejaculations some as the issue of his secret and silent Meditations some in conference and speech with such of his Christian friends as did come to visit him and to minister either other counsell or comfort unto him Yea and many hundred more than these which would be a matter of great difficulty if not of impossibility to call to mind and to record them His heart was as a fountaine full of the waters of life Iohn 4.141 full of the heavenly knowledge of the holy Scriptures and now being as it were broken open by affliction the riverets of grace and truth did issue out amayne He was full of matter like Elihu Iob 32. â—9 and the Spirit within him did constraine him Behold his belly was as new wine which hath no vent It is ready to burst like new bottles Psa 45.15 His heart was ever inditing some good matter and his tongue became the pen of a ready writer CHAP. LXIII His diligence and conscience in frequenting Gods house NOw although his bodily infirmities did increase and grow upon him yet would he not by any meanes bee kept from the house of God on the Lords day so long as either he could go or ride which was some eight or nine weekes before his death and departure out of this world His house was distant about a myle from the Church His cheerfull going to Church the way faire and large so that hee usually went afoot calling all his family about him leaving neither Cooke nor Butler behinde him nor any of his servants but two or three to make the doores and tend the house untill their returne Psal 122. 1 2. And then taking his Tenants and neighbours as they lay in the way along with him hee marched on with a joyfull and cheerefull heart as a leaden of the Lords host towards the house of God according to that of the Psalmist Psal 42.3 I went with the multitude to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with a multitude that kept Holy-day And so it was indeed his ordinary manner to call his company neare about him Singing of Psalms by the way and to joyne together with one heart and voice to sing Psalmes as they went along and that Psalme especially How pleasant is thy dwelling place Psal 84. which they performed with such a melodious harmony that the like may be said of them as was of the Jewes God made them to rejoyce with great joy the wives also and the children rejoyced so that the joy of Ierusalem was heard even afarre off Neh. 12.43 For although I cannot say as Augustine did that by such sweet singing of Psalmes divers were converted to the faith of Christ that were strangers to it Yet am I well assured by that which I have heard that many that heard but afarre off Some much delighted and some much bettered by this melody the pleasant sound onely of their delicate and sweet voices according so well together in Gods praises were much refreshed and delighted therewit hall and
off even the thoughts of my heart my taske is ended the Lord hath no more worke for me to doe my warfare is accomplished my race is run out and finished I now only hope for and wait for that crowne of righteousnesse which Christ hath purchased for mee and God hath promised unto mee CHAP. LXV Milke for babes that came to visite him OF those which came to visite him he observed that some were young professors and babes in Christ others were of riper age and better growth in Christianity and therefore he did apply himselfe unto them both To the babes hee would minister the sincere milke of the Word in wholesome and easie instructions in mild and gentle exhortations all sweetned with tearmes of tendernesse and love To them that were of riper age in Christ Stronger meat for strong men H. b. 5. ult His godly admonitions unto both hee gave as occasion required stronger meate as to stronger men even such as by reason of use had their senses exercised to discerne both good and evill Vnto them both he gave these and the like godly admonitions To hold on and hold out to bee stedfast in their profession and never to be weary of weldoing to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ to increase in faith and abound in love never to be discouraged by taunts and mocks railings and revilings and other persecutions for the name of Christ but as they have given their names unto him so to give their hearts also And then to be faithfull unto the death that they may receive the crowne of life And that these and other such like Instructions and admonitions might make a deeper impression in their hearts and bee a stronger provocation to Christian obedience in their lives Hee did very gravely and wisely He commends unto them his own experience and example as a Father commend unto their due consideration his own experience and example from the time that he first began to embrace and professe the Gospel His words were these or much to this effect When first I began to professe Religion there was almost none in the whole Shire that were acquainted with the power and practise of it I was Psa 102.6 8. as the Prophet speaketh like a Pelicane of the wildernesse I was like an owle of the desert Mine enemies did reproach me all the day and were mad against me I was a wonder of the world yea a monster of men Isai 8. and many did bend their tongues like bows for lyes and shoote out their arrowes even bitter words against me And yet for all this that came upon me I did not forget the Name of my God neither did I deale falsly in his Covenant Psa 44. My heart was not turned back neither did my steps decline from his way But being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might I found his Grace was sufficient for me both to confirm mee in the truth and to preserve me blamelesse and harmelesse without rebuke in the mids of a crooked and perverse generation And so through the good hand of my God which was upon me I did overcome For the Work of God did prosper in my hand and mine Adversaries did not prevaile against me But now Isay 54.1 that may be said to this Countrey which the Prophet spake unto the Gentiles Sing O Barren thou that didst not beare breake forth into singing and cry alowd thou that didst not travail with child for more are the children of the desolate than of the married Wife saith the Lord. O how goodly are thy Tents O Jacob Num. 24.5 6. and thy Tabernacles O Israel As the valleyes are they spread forth as gardens by the river side as the trees of Lign-Aloes which the Lord hath planted and as Cedar trees beside the waters Now the borders of the Church are much enlarged the number of Belecvers wonderfully increased and blessed be God every quarter and corner of the Country is now filled with the sweet savour of the Gospell O how it doth refresh my spirit Rev. 2.10 1 Cor. 16.13 1 Cor 15.58 and rejoyce my Soule to see or to thinke upon their sweet faces standing before the Lord in the day of Assembly as an Army in holy beauty Wherefore my beloved Brethren so are none of those things which you shall suffer Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quite you like men be strong be ye stedfast also and unmoveable always abounding in the worke of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. With such gracious Speeches of Counsell and Comfort of Admonition and encouragement did he stir up the godly minds of many Professors younger or elder as they came to visit him CHAP. LXVI BY all this wee may see 4. Head His constancy in Religion and observe an evident proofe of his constancy in the profession and practice of true religion being never wearie of well doing nor discouraged in suffering any ill that did befall him Hee was never unsetled in his course nor diverted from it 1 King 7.21 no not by the strongest oppositions and assaults that were made against it For this his constancy hee had obtained of the Lord two speciall pillars of support Boaz i. In it is strength Jachin i. he shall establish 2 Chron. 20 20. Isa 30.15 Heb. 10.35.36 like those in the Temple Boaz and Iachin namely confidence and patience knowing right well that by believing in the Lord hee should be established and that in quietnesse and confidence should bee his strength and that hee had neede of patience to keepe possession of his soule that having done and suffered the will of God he might receive the promise that is the recompense of reward according to the riches of his mercy and bounty in Christ Jesus And this may yet more evidently appeare Even unto the end by the last passages of his life being now growne very feeble and weake and much like a dying Lampe Great strength in great weaknesse the oyle wasting and the light decaying For though his afflictions were increased yet were not his consolations diminished though hee were weake in body yet was hee of perfect minde and memory feeble in the flesh but strong in the Spirit Yea his spirit did continually breath out such savoury and sweet words as his speech would serve him words of grace and peace words of joy and comfort His comfortable and savory speeches like a sweet perfume or some sweet odours out of a precious boxe newly broken up that all that stood by were much refreshed and comforted therewithall and were well assured that no paines of his body nor pangs of death drawing on did halfe so much trouble him or annoy him as his inward spirituall holy His consolations exceeded his afflictions and heavenly refreshings and rejoycings in his God and from his Christ and by
the Spirit did make his consolations to abound for increase of his joy and peace in Christ Jesus About the fifteenth of Ianuary his strength was much abated and his weaknesse increated by reason of a sore stopping in his breast and throate which did so trouble him that hee could take no food nor refreshing no not so much as a Spoone-full of any Syrup or broth or any other liquid thing but he was ready to faint and to be gone upon it It was much about this time Sir H. B. came to visit him that a worthy Knight his neare and deare Cosen came to see him one whom hee loved most intirely for his faithfulnesse in his place zeale unto Gods house and love unto Gods people Who when hee saw him in so great weaknesse could not refraine from teares but wept over him abundantly which when hee was aware of hee began to speake comfortably unto him saying Good Sir weepe not for mee for there is no cause of weeping His gracious words and exhortations unto him but of much rejoycing in my behalfe Turne your teares into prayers and let mee enjoy that fruit of your love Let them weepe that have no other hope but in this life only Let them weep that have no portion in the Lord nor any part in Christ Iesus But as for you and me let us in every estate and condition while we live together rejoyce in the Lord together You are in your way I am at my journeys end walke on still as you have well both begune Iosh 1.7 8 Heb. 13. and continued a long season And the Lord will bee with you hee will never sayle you nor forsake you And with many other words did hee exhort him and others that were with him to be Faithfull in keeping Covenant with God to continue in the grace of God whereunto they were cald in Christ Iesus His son and heire came unto him Vpon Monday being the 16 of Ian. his son and heire came unto him whom he rejoyced to see unto whom hee gave many wholsome instructions and gracious exhortations praying for him and blessing his children encouraging him to be constant in Religion and commending unto him the excellency His good counsel unto him and reward of the same Exhorting him also to uphold the worship and service of God both in the Assembly and in his Family When Theoà osius that good Emperour was dead and gone Ambâ—in Funere Theod Saint Ambrose at his Funerall went about to comfort himselfe and the people that they had not wholly lost him because hee did yet live in his good and godly sons Arcadius and Honorius whom as a part of himselfe hee had left behind him It was the godly desire wee may see of this gracious Gentleman His desire to have his heires to follow his steps that when hee should bee dead and gone he might yet live in his children especially in the heires of his body and Family that they might bee followers of his Faith and Religion both for the power and practise of it as well as Inheritors of his lands and possessions for the fruits and profits of the same This was their Fathers charge That being dead he might as it were live in them again the discharge whereof would bee their comfort and their crowne if the Lord give them grace thus to fulfill the desire of the dead and the joy of the living For so this gracious Gentleman should still live in his Posterity and Religion should neither dye nor decay in that Family And that Religion might never dye nor decay in that Family Liquefacta hac nive multum erit luti Soc lib. 3. c. 19. where it was maintained not only in life and strength but in beauty and glory full of all good fruits as we have heard already and free from all rootes of bitternesse and from all soure grapes of grosse Sins springing and arising from such roots CHAP. LXVII M.L. and my selfe came to visit him Ian. 16.1625 UPon the same day Ianuary 16. Master L. and my selfe came unto him And here what shall I say Recrudescit doloris vulnus My sorrow bleeds afresh I can now rather weepe than write mine eyes drop downe teares as my pen doth words and my writing rejoyceth as it were to mingle it selfe with my weeping to blurre and blot my paper that no more be said of these things Curae loquuntur leves Senec. ingentes stupent But I will indeavour to refraine and containe my selfe Juvat tanli viriobituÌ„ destendo scribere scribendo deflere Linthprand l. 1. cap. uâ—to and tell you as I can some few things of many which I saw and heard from him at that instant Vpon my comming unto him so soone as he saw me hee seemed to bee much cheered and comforted even in his very soule and so spake in such broken and short speeches as then he could to this effect unto me Oh brother H. you are a welcome man unto me I am here you see the Lords prisoner His patient waiting for release cast upon the bed of my sicknes and in great affliction yet waiting upon the mercies of my God for a comfortable release in due season And when he was asked of the estate of his faith and hope in Christ and whether his consolations did not abound in the middest of all his afflictions His con solations still abound Yes I thank God saith he they doe and farre doe exceed them Yea and that which is more remarkable the Lord of his mercy hath given me so strong evidence of his favour and love in Christ Without all trouble of mind or conscience that I am not troubled in mind nor conscience with any doubts or feares nor aâ—… other Satanicall molestations or tentations but rest and wait in patience for the accomplishing of his mercies upon mee according to his good pleasure towards me Hereupon We rejoyced in his joy although we were sorrowfull in his sorrow yet were we joyfull also in his joy and finding him so graciously setled and resolved concerning his peace and reconciliation with God in Christ and touching his assurance of his heavenly inheritance we resolved not to trouble him much with many words in his great weaknesse but demanded of him whether hee would not have us to commend him unto God in our prayers At which motion hee seemed to rejoyce in his spirit and answered yes he would and did much desire it Prayed with him and for him Egredere anima quid times Egredere anima quid dubitas septuaginta propè annis servisti Christo mortem times In haec verba exhalavit spiritum Hieron in vita Hilaâ—ionis And so he raised up himselfe in his bed and lifting up his heart with his hands to God in the heavens did as it were reach after the petitions that were put up to God for him and joyning in heart and spirit with
him that prayed could not containe himselfe but oftentimes with a cheerefull consent said Amen Amen unto the requests and supplications that were made for his good and comfort in Christ Jesus After this M. L. spake a word unto him to comfort him in the midst of all his sorrowes that hee knew that shortly hee should bee released and freed from all sinne and sorrow from Satan and this present evill world wherunto he answered most cheerfully and graciously I know I shall and bee with Christ which is best of all And now the messenger of death is upon me which he spoke of the hickock which had taken hold of him M. L. replyed I hope Sir that death is no scare nor terror unto you No indeed it is not I thanke God saith he for it is my way to life and I am now called of God unto it And thus he continued in great paine of body but yet in great peace of mind increasing still in consolations and enduring all his sicknesse with admirable patience not shewing any distemper nor discontent neither in word nor deed all the while in the troubles and sorrow of the same His care for prayer in the Family After this the same night he put it upon me to call his Family to Prayer and to performe the evening Sacrifice in the great parlour commading them to set open his little parlour doore adjoyning to it that he might heare us and joyne with us and partake of such mercies and meanes as the Lord should be pleased either to offer unto us or to accept at our hands The next morning though he did weare a way very much yet he called upon M. L. to pray with him Mindfull of M. L. being up very early to go a long journey to preach his ordinary Tewsday Lecture Of whom he was so very carefull that he caused some provision to be made for him especially a Posset that hee himselfe at their parting might drinke with him The same day I staid with him untill the afternoone A heavy Parting ministring such help and comfort as I could unto him And then mine owne occasions calling me home my wife being his former wives own sister and my selfe came to take leave with him which when hee heard and saw his very soule seemed to melt within him for both his and our hearts were full of griefe and our eyes full of teares and so mingling our sorrowes our teares and our prayers together be commended us to the grace and blessing of God as wee also did him And then falling upon his face and kissing his cheek we tooke our long leave with him leaving him yet in the hands of his heavenly Father that would never leave him CHAP. LXVIII Some ever ready to pray with him THe same afternoone he called for M. Lan. and M. Clerk his own Pastor to pray with him and was never at quiet unlesse hee were either Meditating and Praying himselfe or had some godly man or good Minister to pray with him and for him Divers desire a blessing from him Vpon Wednesday morning divers of those that were with him suspecting his death and dissolution to be neare tooke leave with him desiring at their parting a blessing from him Which he did willingly expresse by lifting up his hands and his heart unto Heaven for them Vttering also some words which they could not so well understand In the afternoone he overheard some making motion of blacks I wil have no blacks saith he I love not any proud or pompous Funerals neither is there any cause of mourning but of rejoycing rather in my particular After this he entreated a good Christian to pray with him which he did very willingly again and again to his good contentment And while they were in prayer in the Family they that were with him did imagine that he prayed himself silently and secretly He prayeth secretly himselfe by the pulling of his armes out of the bed and lifting up his hands and his eyes towards Heaven whence only he did looke for hearing and helping at Gods hands And now growing so weak that he was scarce able to speak a word those gracious people that were about him prayed him to lift up his hand if he understood them and would have them to pray for him Other gracious people pray with him which he did very willingly and readily and so he joyned with them and was heard to say Amen to the prayers that they made for him Afterward they perceived that he prayed himselfe again lifting up his hands and uttering these words with many other to the like effect The Lord is my portion His last Prayer my help and my trust his blessed son Jesus is my Saviour and Redeemer Amen Even so saith the Spirit unto my spirit Therefore come Lord Jesus and kisse me with the kisses of thy mouth and embrace me with the armes of thy love Into thy hands do I commend my spirit O come now and take me to thine own selfe O come Lord Jesus come quickly O come O come O come And so his spirit fainting His last end and his speech failing he lay quiet and still for a little season And then he meekly and graciously yeelded up his pretious soule into the hands of God his Father that gave it and into the armes of his Saviour that had bought it and redeemed it with his pretious bloud And thus having finished his course and run out his race the night of his death shutting up the dayes of his life Snaviter in Domino obdormivit He sweetly slept in the Lord. All Glory Thanksgiving and Praise bee unto our gracious God in and through his Son Christ lesus for ever and ever Amen Vae etiam laudabili vitae si remota misericordia discutias eam Aug. Conf. lib. 9. c. 19. Aug. Quisguis tibi enumerat vera merita sua Aug ibid. cap. 13. Quid tibi enumerat nisi muneratua FINIS Imprimatur JOH HANSLEY Jan. 16. 1640.