never be taken from you I know no business of greater weight than this is therefore I beseech you do not slight it but lay it to heart Thus with due respects to you I rest Yours truly John Hieron Losco June 14. 77. THE only intent of this Paper is to give you a word of Spiritual Advice and Direction to carry your self so in this World that you may be happy for ever in the World to come You know every one hath a Soul an Immortal Soul which must live â—ternally either in bliss or misery And every one of us must be careful to save his own Soul Deut. 4. 9. Only take heed to thy self and keep thy Soul diligently The more precious any thing is the more careful we are to preserve it and more fearful to lose it In this respect the Soul deserves more care than all the things in the World besides for it is infinitely more worth What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his own soul Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul Saith our blessed Saviour Matth. 16. 26. Wherefore let my Counsel be acceptable to you and I will shew you the right way how you may save your Soul and be for ever happy which I shall do in two words First Be careful to shun and avoid whatsoever is destructive and dangerous to the Soul and that is sin and sinful lusts 1 Pet. 2. 11. Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul Dent. 23. 9. Keep thee from every wicked thing Jer. 44. 4. Oh do not this aâ—ominabâ—â— thing that my soul hates faith the Lord God For the soul that sinneth shall dye Ezek. 18. 4 And as you must watch against all sin so must you flee all occasions and temptations to sin Beware of ill example Follow not a multitude to do evil Exod. 23. 2. for the way to Hell is broad the gate that leadeth to destruction is wide and many there be that go in thereat Take heed of bad company which are infectioâ—s Shun them as you would shun the Plague For a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump He that walketh with the wife that is the Godly shall be wise But a companion of fools that is of wicked men shall be destroyed Prov. 13. 20. Be not among wine-bibbers Prov. 23. 20. Come not near the door of an Harlot or Harlots house Prov. 5. 8. Blessed is the man c. Psal 1. 1. This is the first part of my Advice which is the same you are engaged to by the Vow of your Baptism wherein you renounced the World the Flesh and the Devil and are under a solemn obligation to maintain a continual War against them as being enemies to your Soul And if you shall neglect to do it you would be a forsworn creature This is a consideration well worthy your laying to heart In the next place you must carefully use those means that God hath appointed to work grace and holiness in your heart for by this we are saved And without holiness no man shall see the Lord or be happy Heb. 12. 14. Let sin be the grief and burden of your heart yea sin original chiefly as well as actual sins for we are all born in sin and Children of wrath by Nature and must be born again that so Natural Corruption the plague of our heart may be healed in us by a new birth from Heaven If any man be in Christ he is a new creature For this you must pray to God earnestly and with importunity that he will create in you a new heart Psal 51. 10. and work in you a lively Faith that you may kiss the Son believe in Jesus Christ for pardon of Sin and Salvation For this end you must diligently and constantly attend on the Word which is the ordinary means which God hath appointed to beget and increase Faith Rom. 10. 17. Faith cometh by hearing Have a care to keep holy the Sabbath day constantly and no day neglect reading the Scripture And let fervent Prayer be your Morning and Evening Sacrifice continually and pray God to put his fear in your heart that you may never depart from him Blessed is the man tâ—aâ— feâ—reth alwayeâ— Prov. 28. 14. Daily be faithful and diligent in your Calling he courteous to all men do evil to none speak evil of no man live soberly be temperate in all things Let the chief care of your heart and endeavour of your life be to serve and please God that he may bless you here and save you hereafter So God shall have Honour your Friends Comfort in you and your Soul be eternally â—â—ved which is the desire of Your true Friend and Lover John Hieron Losco June 19. 1680. Thus this Holy Man was taking and making opportunities of doing good to Souls The conversion quickning and saving of Souls was the desire of his Heart what he earnestly prayed for and the design of his Sermons and of his Letters and of his private Discourse too and that to the last As a Kiâ—swoman coming to visit him not long before he dyed and staying all night when she came into his Chamber to take her leave after much good Counsel given her sayes he Are you going But who came along with you She answered Her Man And Payes he where is he I have something to say to him Then he was told that the Man was on Horse-back waiting for his Mistress He replyed Call him up Shall any one come and lodge a might in my House and I say nothing to him concerning his Soul Bid him alight and come to me for I must speak to him Thus he shewed his Care for the Soul of a Servant as well as of the Mistress his Love to the Soul of a Stranger as well as to any of his own Kindred FINIS Books Printed for and sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chapel A Second Volume of lives of sundry eminent persons in this latter agae in two parts I. of Divines II. of Nobilicy and Gentry of both Sexes By Samuel Clark M. A. sometime Pastor of Bennetsink in London The life and Death of Edmond Staunton D. D. to which is added I. his Treatise of Christain conference II. His Dialogue between a Minister and a stranger Octavo The true Dignity of St. Paul's elder exemplefied in the life of that Reverend Holy zealous and faithful Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Owen Stockton M. A. sometimes follower of Gonvile and Câ—jâ—s Colledge in Cambridge and afterward Preacher of Gods Word â—t Colchester in Essex With a Collection of his observations Experiences and Evidences recorded by his own hand to which is added his Funeral Sermon by John Fâ—â—rfax M. A. sometime Fellow of C. Colledge in Cambridge and afterward Rector of â—â—rking in Sâ—ffolk Invisible Realities demonstrated in the Holy Life and Triumphant Death of Mr. John Janeway Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge By James Janeway Minister of the Gospel A Narraitive of the Holy Life and happy death of that Reverend faithful and zealous man of God Minster of the Gospel of JesusChrist Mr. John Angier many years Pastor of the Church of Christ at Dunton near Manchester in Lancashire Wherein are related many Passaged that concern his Birth Education his entrance into the Ministry discharge of his trust therein and his Death Octavo A Believers Triumph over Death exemplified in a relation of the last hours of Dr. Andrews River and an account of divers other remarkable Instances being an History of the Comfortable end and dying words of several eminent Men. With other occasionall Passages attending to comfort Christians to the fear of Death and prepare them for a like happy Change The Life and death of Mr. Tâ—o Wilson Minister of Maidstone in the County of Kent M. A. A True History of the Capâ—ivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson a Ministers Wife in New England wherein is set forth the cruel and Inhumane usage she under went amongst the Heathens for cleven Weeks time and her delieverance from them Written by her own hand for her private use and now made publick at the earnest desire of some friends for the benefit of the Afflicted whereunto is anexed a Sermon of the possibility of Gods forsaking a People that have been near and dear to him preached by Mr. Josph Rowlandson Husband to the said Mrs. Rowlandson so it being his last Sermon Carracters of a Godly Man both as more and less grown in grace By Daniel Burgess Minister of the Gospel Octavo Of National Churches their description Institution use preservation danger Malides and cure partly applyed to England quarto Again the Revolt to a Forrain Iurisdiction which would be to England its Perjury Church R â—un and slavery in two parts I. the History of Mans endeavours to Introduce it II. the Confutation of all pretences for it Church Concord containing I. A Diswasive from unnecessary Division and Separation and the real concord of the moderate Independants with the Presbyterians instanced in ten seeming Differences II. the Terms necessary for concord among all true Churches and Christians These three By Richard Baxter Minister of the Gospel FINIS
well read in Books and good Authors a very studious man He was well seen in History and very frequently in converse made an excellent use thereof He had a sharp judgment he was a great Master of Method had digested his Tutors Method of preaching thoroughly He had a very strong memory which continued to the last so that if there were any doubt about the quantity of any Syllable he had a Verse ready to shew what it was He had searched into Chronology of Scripture knew much about it and was ready in it But he was almost a Non-such in his Bible you could not name a difficulty but he was ready to give the unfolding of it or what was said to it He was most ready in the references of one Scripture to another and could readily turn to them He had an excellent faculty in expounding Scripture in opening a Chapter he opened his Text with great clearness He had a gravity in Countenance and Carriage and in his Delivery He was a Mall of unsound Opinions though he did not delight in preaching Controversies yet when it fell in his way his matter naturally leading to it he would so distinctly state Controverted points and leave them so clear that there would scarce seem to be any thing of controversie in them He was a close and wise reprover He was a powerful presser to duty he was excellent in Instruction skilful to direct to means very compassionate in dealing with tender troubled Souls able to give strong Cordials and very discerning to know to whom to give them In a word he was a Scribe instructed to the Kingdom of God had Treasures and could bring forth things new and old He was a good and faithful Steward of the Mysteries of God he was able and apt to teach furnished both with an Heart well headed and an Head well hearted he was skilful and faithful a sound Believer of what he preached zealous for God no body that heard him could suspect him of being in jest all must conclude he was in earnest and that his words were in his heart and that they came out thence His breath was warm which testified Life within and heartiness for God Sect. 2. As to the discharge of his Ministry I must be a little more particular He did shew his qualifications his sincere ends in entring into the Ministry by his conscionable fulfilling his Ministry received of the Lord doing the work of a Minister making full proof of his Ministry he was a Workman and a working man a dextrous labourer in Gods Vineyard a painful and skilful Husbandman whom God had instructed to discretion and had taught him He dispensed Holy Mysteries the Word and Sacrament as a Minister of Christ and a faithful Steward of the Mysteries of God 1. He was well satisfied about the Doctrine of the Lords day as a Christian Sabbath and accordingly he did earnestly contend with the Profaners of the Lords day zealously prest its sanctification and in his own practice was a practical Sabbatarian This would appear both from what he did at Ashborne and also after at Breadsall But take for proof what follows Some time after his setling at Ashborne the Book for Sports on the Lords day came forth and presently was the fear of Gods Commandment cast off the applications of the Sabbath to the ends of it's institution being one of those bands and cords that corrupt nature would fain break and is glad of any pretence to cast away Unbridled youth presently took the liberty granted and Tidings being brought to Mr. Hieron he got to Mr. Pegge a Man of Authority in Ashborne to accompany him and coming to them they found Boys and Youths shooting at the Butts and only one man with them and being demanded why they did so The man answered that the Bishop gave them leave How doth that appear said Mr. Hieron The man answered on such a Sabbath day I came through Eccleshall where then the Bishops seat was and saw there a Bear baiting Mr. Hieron rejoyns that 's no proof for the Castle is at some distance from the Town and the Bishop might be said If it offended them he would forbear and so the Company parted But a while after he went to another Company got together on the like occasion where he met with a man who argued the King allowed it and those would not part Mr. Taylor in his Life having preached about the Observation of the Lords-day and therein reproved that bad Custom which the Butchers of that Town used of selling Meat on the Lords-days in the Morning When Bishop Wright afterwards came to visit there some who were loath to for go that bad Custom dealt with him in private about it and so far gained on him that in his Charge or Speech he mentioned it and used this instance Suppose a Labouring Man receives his Wages so late on the Saturday night that before he can get home the Shops are shut up and no Meat then to be bought shall not the poor Man therefore have a chop of Meat to his Dinner the next day with great noise the Bishop added God forbid Mr. Hieron well understood this reflection and others took so much notice of it as to take encouragement from it Yet notwithstanding Mr. Hieron preaching upon the Commandments when he came in course to the Fourth Commandment returned upon the reproof of this sin and raising an Objection but some may say my Lord Bishop gives us leave He answered Suppose that were so Whether is it reasnable to regard what one Bishop might say in a private place more than what that Bishop and all the Bishops in England had said in Parliament And having the Statute of 3. Caroli with him in the Pulpit he read it to them and told them there were but so many years passed since this was enacted by Kings Lords and Commons and that this Bishop on whose Authority they so much relied was one of the Number being then Bishop of Bristol This put them a little to a stand yet one of them said he would notwithstanding hear what such a Gentleman not far distant would say to it Whether they reformed or not I cannot well say but Mr. Hieron did his duty with Zeal and Courage These instances may suffice to illustrate and prove this head 2. He was a Man that filled the Sabbath with its proper Exercises It was a painful day to him yet not grievous because the day was his delight and holy employment was his refreshment He prayed he read the Scripture and expounded it he sung Psalms he catechised and expounded the Catechism he preached twice a day and this he did with that holy zeal and earnestness that sometimes especially in the spring of the year he hath been so sore upon the Mondays that he could not endure to sit but was forced to walk about in his Room whilst he was able and then to try if he could find out any other postures which might
encreased Grace Victory what gain Glory to God Edification to others what Almes What shall I render Further in his Private Notes A Catalogue of Sins Sins in Youth In another place Sins to be reformed by Grace walk humbly thankfully watch return not to folly after peace spoken May 16. 1658. If overtaken with Anger after a Sacrament A note thereon and once followed with a Miserere mei Deus These are things that discovered Grace and were exercises of it I now come to Experiences mentioned in his secret Record Octob. 27. 1658. I was not well had a pain in my Belly from side to side in the beginning of the Night I feared falling into Sickness Communed with my heart upon my Bed had thoughts of Death my Conscience spake peace to me the light of Gods Countenance shone into me I was fully assured of Gods Mercy to me if I had dyed at that time I had no doubt of my eternal happiness for which Mercy I give God praise and desire to record it with much thankfulness But I slept well that night was well next day continued well for which Mercy double Mercy the Lord be magnified January 1650. By night on my Bed I awaked had sweet comfort the King led me into the Wine-cellar Bless the Lord O my Soul April 10. A Communion in nostro Thalamo i. e. in our Bed-Chamber April 8. We fasted I was in a reasonable good frame but had some disturbance April 9. I was very dull no quickening no comfort I read I reviewed the Catalogue of my Sins but was still dull After five a Clock I went to secret Prayer for less than half an hour after which I was chearful full of comfort so continued that night and next day much enlarged in comfort God spake peace to my heart I was lively in Prayer in Administration in the whole Service Bless the Lord O my Soul August 2. 1664. I went to Bed with some pain slept not had no ease walked in the House all night dull at first but after chearful had some good thoughts the light of Gods Countenance shone on my Soul all night I was willing to dye not questioning my estate but if I dyed I should be happy About four a Clock in the Morning I had ease was well presently after fell to work all day at Night voided a Stone slept all Night very well so continue to this day August 10. Immortal Praise be to God that healeth me but I render not to God according to his benefits Decemb. 2. 4. 8. 1664. We sought God received Sacrament returned Praise I was dull before was graciously enlarged in Prayer in Administration had Comfort in Receiving I was dull again before Thanksgiving Read a while in Baxter and Harris and much enlarged in Duty had sweet Peace at Sacrament and after Praise the Lord sealed to me Jesus Christ Covenant of Grace and Pardon of Sin O bless the Lord O my Soul March 1. 1664. We spent some time in Humiliation at our House by Night was in some good measure enabled in the Morning in a good frame poured out my Heart in secret had much Comfort and Peace bless the Lord O my Soul and so have had ever since Also at Sacrament April 2. 1665. What shall I render So January 16. 1665. At Sacrament much enlarged in Administration and Comfort Praise to God June 6. 1666. Early at five I awaked had sweet Meditations of Gods Love and great Comfort after some clouds and scruples God enlarged my Heart and put gladness more then when Corn and Wine encreased Lord grant I may abide in his Love April 2. 1667. An Ague siezed me after four fits sent for Mr. Cranwell he gave me a bitter Draught which sweat me an hour before the Fit I had no more Fits nor Relapse I bless God In the beginning dull and dark but after a Night or two sweet Comfort and so continueth to this day blessed be God May 2. 1667. I returned thanks among Christians on this Text Psal 103. 3. Who healeth all thy diseases July 5. 1668. A Sacrament at our House I was much enlarged in Administration in Receiving in Meditation Examination a day or two before had sweet peace and full assurance Praise be to God March 3. 1668. I awoke at four in the Morning had sweet Meditations and Communion with God Peace and full assurance Blessed be God Feb. 11. 69. I awoke at six in the Morning had Peace full Assurance Joy in the Holy Ghost that God was mine all his Attributes Christ his Blood Holy Ghost Word Promises Providences Comfort in all in Death it self and Christs coming to Judgment What shall I render to the Lord. Feb. 8. 12. 1671. I prepared according to my wonted manner was assisted enlarged had a good day Praise to God May 12. 1672. I meditated on Gods Presence was Chearful and Heavenly enlarged in Heart all day it was Lords day Praise to God June 30. A Sacrament enlarged much had a good day Praise to God August 31. At Morning Prayer in the Parlour I was much enlarged with broken-heartedness had Joy and Peace of Conscience graciously Ever bless the Lord O my Soul Aug. 3. 1673. Sacrament as also April 13. in both I was much enlarged had sweet peace a good day Ever blessed be God Praise the Lord. And watch O my Soul against passion idle words vain thoughts in Prayer Novemb. 2. God graciously enlarged me in Administration Sealed me c. What shall I render to the Lord O bless the Lord my Soul See walk worthy of God So in Feb. 8. 1673. and May 24. 1674. and August 16. God was gracious to me then Decemb. 6. 1674. How excellent is thy loving kindness A good day Praised be God Jan. 11. 1676. A blessed day Praise to God June 13. 1680. A joyful day Praise to God These are some hints But Oh that I had his enlargements upon them to impart Surely these things are like small Points and Marks in Maps that stand for Towns and Countries But Spiritual Eyes can in these discern what Spirit Mr. John Hieron was off A Man that lived near himself by Observation and near God by Communion A great receiver from God and yet never so much as fingering any part of the Honour due to God CHAP. IX Of his drawing to his end of the Sickness of which he dyed of his Death and Burial DEath threw not this good Man down the stairs but he was led down by many declining steps He had little Deaths that were forerunners of great Death decayes before dissolution The foundation of his Distempers began in that sore Feaver which he had in Winter 1661. which followed an ill Fit which he brought upon himself by overdoing in Jan. 1655. The Feaver did in the thoughts of some endanger him but he broke through that brunt He had a second fit of the Stone 1664 and a third 1665. In April 1667. some fits of an Ague In March 67 68. Not
destruction is from your selves I did more for them than for you but the denyal of my Grace is not the Cause of your perishing but your own sinful wilful forsaking of your own Mercies 3. Do you not believe that he who testified Gods mind to you must one day come forth at the Call of God to testifie against you And they that have not â—â—â—nned to declare unto you all the Counsel of God will be as full in their Testimony against you For they will be so swallowed up with the Glory of God that they will speak out even against the dearest Relations they have And those that while they were here they could have gone upon their knees to to beseech them to be reconciled to God they will then have no such tenderness for but utter every whit that God may be justified when he speaketh and clear when he judgeth I pray you accommodate that part of Josephs Story Gen. 45. 3. when Joseph discovered himself his Brethren could not answer him for they were troubled at his presence how will it be at the great day with all his People in all places when you stand at the barr and this Witness is called against you Oh what trouble what consternation will you be in when Conscience within and such a Witness without appears against you and such a manifesting light is round about you But I do betake my self to you that made a good use of him that neglected him not but attended on nis Ministry that esteemed him highly in love for his Warks sake that gave your own selves to God and to him by the Will of God 2 Cor. 8. 5. To you I give a few hearty Advices and Counsels Advice the First 1. Admire that wise Providence of God that good Providence of God that ordered a tempest upon the Church to bring Mr. Hieron like the Goods of a shipwrackt Ship upon your Coasts The loss of other places was your gain An Instance you have which calls your thoughts to it Acts 8. 4. Acts 11. 19. 21. Philippi 1. 12. It was in greater Mercy to Greasley Parish that was first blessed with him because precious Mr. Smally outed of that place A man in whom a very found Judgment and lively Affections met finished his course something sooner than divers others of his Brethren Now for God to provide such a stake was an admirable Mercy And though he removed from you yet to be still within the reach of many of you was still more Mercy And that God found a resting place for him at Losco was a very great Mercy to them and that Parish and Neighbour places Second Advice Remember how you have received had heard and hold fash He gave you sound Bottoms continue upon them It is very grievous to hear of the waverings of some in Greasly Parish so well instructed by Mr. Smally built up by Mr. Hieron Let Children be tossed Let not Men of understanding be so Beware of defection Have you attained no discerning of Spirit Have you lost your Palate Cannot your taste discerne perverse things Will you bid them God speed that teach other Doctrine Have you not said when you have heard Mr. Smally Mr. Hieron Oh the Blessedness Shall any Body have occasion to say to you Where is the Blessedness you speak off Do you think if such things had been Truths that your dear faithful Ministers would have hidden them from you Do you not know they were no ignorant Men Do you not believe they were faithful Men Surely if such things had been bread they would have broken it to you If they had been food they would have set it before you Oh I beseech you believe that Doctrine can never edifie you that undermines the Doctrine taught you Believe all the Doctrines Strange that your Teachers did never acquaint you with I am well satisfied their Doctrine remembred believed and practised will bring you to Heaven Read and Apply John 6. 67 68 69. Third Advice Remember what of a Christian you saw in Mr. Hieron and imitate him Much of a Minister much of a Christian was with him When his heart was dull he went to some good lively Book so do you He went to Secret Prayer and found God answering by Fire so do you He kept by him a Catalogue of Sins to renew his Repentance for them before Sacraments so do you He had a Catalogue of Mercies he looked back even to his Childhood to stir up thankfulness particular thankfulness herein follow him He communed with his Heart in his Solitary Houres he looked up his Evidences and kept them fair he entred protests against special Sins upon special occasions and took notice how he kept touch with God follow him He never met with any Experience either in a way of quickning or comfort but he made quick returns of Praise Let every descent of Mercy return back in the quick ascent of Praise What shall I render Was his question let that be more familiar with you Teach your Tongues to praise as some teach their Tongues to lye and blaspheme He was a close walker an unblameable Conversation was with him turn not you loose Libertines now his Eye inspects you not Gods doth Do not that in Gods Eye you would not durst not have done in Mr. Hieron's If you feared his reproofs how should you dread the Reproofs of God Let that comprehensive Rule be before you Phil. 1. 27. Fourth Adviâ— Follow after all those wayes wherein he led you and accompanied you Meer still in days of Prayer keep up your Sacraments your Sabbaths as far as you can And if the Word be not so nigh you as it hath been make out for it as health and stength will permit Forget not the last Exhortation he gave you his farewel Speech Tho' you may go far and not meet with a Preacher like Mr. Hieron yet honour the Ordinances be thankful for meaner fare Ordinances Blessing is from their Institution and not the Excellency of him that administreth them Gods Blessing will be upon honest Endeavours and honest Attendances upon God in them If you were truly fed by him you will hunger after the Word The Thirst of Total Indigence is taken away by the Well of Water in your springing up by your first draughts of the Water Christ gives you but not the Thirst after sweeter and fuller Enjoyments David's sights of God in his Sanctuary set him a longing to see as he had seen Spiritual satisfactions satiate not glut not Gods people They rise with most appetite from their fullest meals Fifth Advice Pay your respects to his Name and Memory keep up Communion with him in your Thoughts and Mind cast no Reproach upon him by looseness lenity infalibility give no Body occasion to say with scorn justly This is a Hearer of Mr. Hieron's Loose not the things you have wronght Be not as Joash or Jehoash 2 Kings 12. 2. 2 Chron. 24 2. 16. that did what was right in the
man to make additions to Religious Worship Do you not find the contrary in those Scriptures Deut. 4. 2. Deut. 12. 32. Prov. 30. 6. Who gave Man power to adopt unnecessaries into Religion What bottom stands Magisterial Authority upon Ministerial Power is of God but for this Magisterial it wants Commission Matth. 23. 8 9 10. Quest 2. Is not the power of imposing as dark to thinking men as the power of inventing Whence did you learn to make burdens Whence to lay them on and bind them on We are tempted to think your Masters are Matth. 23. 4. Hath God given you power over the Consciences of men to ransack their Judgments and wrack their Consciences to ruin all that cannot agree to your Sentiments to undo all that cannot do what you will have them Do you not in this strike down the pin upon which the Law and the Prophets hang Would you that others should do so to you What stricture or beam of right Reason leads you to make your Judgment the publick standard Quest 3. What branch of Justice or Equity is there in so grievous Penalties for not conforming to such Impositions The fault is small if it be a fault Should mens brains be knocked out to kill a Fly on their forehead But the Dissenters judge it a Duty to witness against usurpations of Men. They think they are bound by Gods Law to preserve the purity of Christs Worship They think that a yielding in some things was as a stirrop by which Antichrist got into the saddle Are not these things judged by you indifferent And must men be punished as if they had denyed and razed the Fundamental Articles of Faith Should you make men spectacles the filth and off-scouring of all things upon these accounts Who can read either Christianity or Humanity in such severities Quest 4. What awe can be impressed or obligation fastened on a well informed Conscience from Humane Laws establishing backing and enforcing such Impositions Have not Magistrates supream and subordinate their Lines and Limits Provinces and Bounds set them by the God of Heaven Are they makers or only keepers of Gods Tables Did the People of England trust their Representatives to make snares for their Ministers and yokes for the People Were they impowered by them to prescribe and write the grievousness they had prescribed They were entrusted to be shields not swords healers not wounders they said to them Let our ruins be under your hands they never put themselves into their hands to ruine them Quest 5. What Spirit are you of when you make all Assemblies but your own Seditious Conventicles Schismatical Meetings Routs Riots Know you not that they which acknowledge God are bound to assemble to worship him Do you can you think it is better not to worship God at all then not to worship him in your way and mode Dare you undertake that this shall hold in the day of Judgment Are not you told by some great men of your own That he that gives the cause of the Schism is the Schismatick Do you think those you displaced took themselves to be disofficed Did their People desert them when you ejected them Was the Word of Truth utterly taken out of the mouths you stopped Was not Gods word in their hearts as a burning fire shut up in their bones so that they were weary of forbearing and could not stay Did their Breasts ake and must they not draw them out to the Babes that desire the sincere milk of the Word You have some of you called Conventicles the crying sin of England Oh! How crying a sin is it in you that have occasioned them yea necessitated them A Natural Mother turned out of her own House will suckle her Child in the Field or in the meanest coat or shed she can set her foot into Corners are not our choice but your force Quest 6. Have not you cause to fear that the blood of some of these dead Ministers will be upon you You judged them unworthy of the World and God hath thereby been provoked to judge the World not worthy of them You made their work much harder to them and by their journeyings and fastings and watchings in all likelyhood you did hurry and hasten them out of the World Oh that some of us might live to see a relenting Spirit in you It would be a joy to me and a token for good to you for otherwise I am greatly perswaded Judgment is towards you because Mercy is the promised portion of the Merciful and Judgment without Mercy hangs over the heads of them that shew no Mercy And so I have finished my Historical and Practical part of this Book And shall conclude it with only adding one Chapter more in communicating to you some Letters written by this Eminent Servant of God Mr. John Hieron which are as a Mirrour wherein you may see the Ability and Fidelity of the Holy Man of God CHAP. XI His Letters OF his Letters I promised to give some taste and make them the Coronis of this Work In publishing of which I conceal Names that I may not reflect upon the dead nor justly offend the living Again Let not the living be disturbed for though the Letters be published their Names are not exposed It will do them no hurt to read those Letters in Print which they have in Writing It may do others good to read Letters that were written to others possibly they may reach teach meet with others Hearts being much alike and the same Corruptions Temptations in one and another First Letter Christian Friend YOU desire that I would write to you about your Spiritual Estate which I take to be safe and comfortable so far as one is able to pass Judgment of another But no man knoweth certainly the things of another save the spirit of a man which is in him 1 Cor. 2. 11. You are then to commune with your own heart to search and try your wayes whether you walk after the Spirit be led by the Spirit Rom 8. 14. As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God If you ask How shall I know whether I am led by the Spirit I Answer If you bring forth the fruits of the Spirit if you follow after Holiness sincere Obedience to all Gods Commandments patience in Affliction love to God Christ all Saints love to the Word fear to offend God a care to please God and keep Conscience pure and void of offence toward God and Man Godly sorrow for sin forsaking every evil way and above all believe in the Lord Jesus Christ rest upon him trust in his all-sufficient satisfaction for pardon of Sin and Eternal Life And all this I doubt not but you do in some measure so that you may conclude as the Apostle doth Rom 8. 1. There is therefore no condemuation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit May you not comfort your self with
themselves under Judgments and pray and seek my face and turn from their evil wayes I will hear from Heaven I will forgive their sin I will heal their Land Job 33. 27. If any say I have sinned and perverted that which is right and it profiteth me not he will deliver his Soul from going into the pit And this is the use you and every one in your circumstances should make of Gods Correction to humble your self under his mighty hand To say as Job 34. 31. I have born chastisement I will not offend any more Ver. 32. That which I see not teach me if I have done iniquity I will do no more Commune with your own heart Psal 4. 4. Ask your Soul how it doth Am I in Christ Am I born again Is there a work of Grace wrought upon my heart That will appear by your walking Do you walk as becometh the Gospel Phil. 1. 27. Do you live soberly righteously godly Is this your constant walking Do you pray continually in your Family In your Closet Do you sanctifie the Lords day duely Do you teach your Children the knowledge and fear of God Do you Catechise them Do you set them a good Example Do you fill up every Relation with Duty Have you not sat with vain persons Psal 26. 4. Are you a companion to all that fear God Psal 119. 63. Do you honour such above others Psal 15. 4. Do you delight in their company Psal 16. 3. This is that we are commanded to do to bethink our selves 2 Chron. 6. 37. To consider our wayes Hag. 5. 7. To judge our selves 1 Cor. 11. 31. To examine our selves whether we be in the Faith or no. 2 Cor. 13 5. Now let Conscience speak deal faithfully and truly with your self and where you find Duty neglected Sin committed confess your faults to God freely bewail them with a broken and contrite heart pray earnestly for Grace and a new heart for power over your corruptions resolve on a new course of life to become a new man by the assistance of Gods Grace Abandon ill Company and all occasions of sin for the time to come run not into temptation but watch and pray and keep your self from your own iniquity Psal 18. 23. If I regard iniquity in my heart i. e. allow my self in any one sin God will not hear my prayer Psal 66. 18. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law and offend in one point i. e. wittingly knowingly he is guilty of all is obnoxious to condemnation as if he had broken the whole Law Jam. 2. 10. Let your future practice and reformation speak the truth of your Repentance And if you thus turn to God with your whole heart make application to Christ by Faith and his Bloud shall cleanse you from all sin So God will receive you to Mercy as the Father received the Prodigal Son with all expression of Love He that covereth his sin shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy Prov. 22. 13. If you dare not set up a Judgment-seat in your own Heart and keep a privy Sessions in your own Conscience how will you appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ and give an account of all your Thoughts Words and Actions at the great day For then must every one of us give account of himself to God Then blessed are they whose sins are forgiven They may lift up their faces at that day with boldness when impenitent sinners shall be confounded and call to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them They who live in sin are in danger to dye in sin and to be damned eternally for sin Sin will be sure to find them out to punishment who will not now search and find and cast it out by Repentance and amendment of Life Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine Ezek. 18. 31. Thus I have shewed you the good and right way to improve this present cross and to prevent worse things Joh. 5. 14. Sin no more lest a worse thing come to you If God give you an heart to imbrace and hearken to this advice you will have cause to say with David Psal 119. 67 71. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I have kept thy word And it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes And I beseech you do not reject the Counsel of God against your own Soul Put it in practice without delay Break off your sins by Righteousness forthwith to day while it is called to day lest your heart â—e hardened by the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3. 13. All flesh is grass And no man knoweth the day of his death But it may be said to any of us This night shall thy Soul be required of thee You seem to have a crazy Body You have had divers warnings of late to mind you of your frailty And it is an high point of wisdom to consider of a Mans latter end Deut. 32. 29. What if Death should come like a Thief suddenly and give no warning Then happy are all they who with the wise Virgins have got Oyl in their Lamps saving Grace and Sincerity If a Flood come happy are they who with Noah have prepared an Ark for the saving of their Souls Make sure of Christ keep Conscience pure so it will be peaceable keep integrity and uprightness so you may look Death in the face without fear I will conclude with the words of Solomon Prov. 19. 20. Hear counsel receive instruction that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end Tender Love and Compassion to your Soul was the only motive which set my Pen on writing these Lines Take them in good part and pass a favourable construction on them peruse them ponder them for they are of weight of worth the very Word of God useful and necessary to be followed nearly conducing to the Salvation of your Immortal Soul Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things 2 Tim. 2. 7. To his Grace I commend you being Your Servant for the salvation of your Soul BEcause my former Letter found so good acceptance with you I am incouraged once again to write to you to let you know how welcome and joyful a thing it is to your Friends to understand that you are become a new man that you have put off your former Conversation and abandoned all vain Company that you keep much at home and take delight in your Wife and Children as you have just cause for they are sweet Children Dutiful and Obedient also that you pray constantly with them and frequent the most lively and powerful and Soul-saving Preaching of Gods Word on the Lords dayes Oh how good and how pleasant a thing it is to all that love you that love your Soul to hear these things of you Now I pray you suffer a word of further Exhortation and give me leave to beseech you as