the Apostle trembling and crying out Sir what shall I do to be saved To whom he was a Barnabas a son of sweet consolation and could so display the exceeding abundant riches of Divine grace in the Lord Jesus Christ as to draw and attract their hearts to a cheerful compliance with it and hearty acceptation of it He as a faithful Steward gave every one his portion terrour to whom terrour belonged and comfort to whom comfort whereby the Holy Ghost setting in with the Word a numerous issu of new born children were begotton to Christ. He preached there according to the command in season and out of season not only twice every Lords day but also every holy day and at Funerals though the persons interr'd were poor and nothing could be expected for his pains Whilst he was Minister of Otham many of Maidstone and others several miles about to my knowledge some seven or eight miles from Otham did ordinarily attend on his Ministry and joyn in Communion with him at the Lords Supper but the number that flockt after him which was so great that his Church would not hold them was a great eye sore to the prophane world and caused several of the Ministers about him to envy and maligne him CHAP. VIII His care to Sanctifie the Sabbath There was at Otham before his coming an ill custom for the Fulling Mills there abouts to work every Lords day but he convinced the owners so throughly of the unlawfulness thereof that they forbore presently and suffered their Mills to lie still on that day many years after he left them But the only wise God who governeth the world saw fit for some time to lay this usefull person aside for he had not been many years at Otham before the Book commonly called the Book of Sports on the Lords day came forth and was presented to him with a Command that he should publish it the next Lords day in his Church which he refused to do of which refusal he giveth the reasons which you may see in his answer to several Articles objected against him annexed to this Narrative and upon his refusal was suspended ab Officio Beneficio Upon his suspension his Cure was committed to such persons as he could not comfortably own or joyn with which caused him to remove his Habitation to Maidstone To the Christians there he was a great help whilst his suspension lasted and from them he received some support and supply for himself and his Family Whilst he was at Maidstone he still was solicitous for the good of his people at Otham and therefore to encourage them to unity and a Gospel conversation as also to convince his adversaries who had causelesly traduced him to be a savourer and a better of Schisms and Divisions he wrot a Letter to his Parish wherein the exhorted them to fear the Lord and the King and to walk in love c. and not to nourish in themselves any dislike of Government or contempt of those whom God had set over them c. Which Letter was read on a Lords Day in his Congregation by Dr. Tucke that all his Parishoners might know his judgement and the advice he judged necessary to give them without the appointment of Mr. Wilson The tidings of this Letter and the publick reading of it was soon carried to London and gave such a distast that both Mr. Wilson and Dr. Tucke were cited to appear before the High Commission Court and answer what they had done Both of them appeared several times to their great trouble and cost and were notwithstanding all they could alledge in their own defence forced to continue their attendance on the Court for the space of three years In this business Dr. Tucks trouble was the greater because his body unable to bear riding he was necessitated to make these long journeys of thirty miles and better on foot During Mr. Wilsons suspension a Neighbour Minister greedy of his Living commenced a Sute against him to eject him wholly out of Otham but his Patron Mr. Swinnoche made good his Title and so disappointed his Adversary CHAP. IX His appearance at a Visitation about the Prayer against the Scots HIs suspension continued till the year 1639. about which time the Scots entering England a Parliament was called and Archbishop Lawd took off his suspension But his sufferings were not at an end for in the year 1640. September 30. he and other Ministers were cited to appear at a Visitation of the Archbishops at Feversham in Kent to answer their not reading the Prayer against the Scots and also as they there heard to take the new devised Oath ex Officiam but when he and others of his Brethren presented themselves at the place they understood that the Oath should be wholly declined and the onely question should be why they did not read the forementioned Prayer Upon which they consulted together whether it were beâ—â— to appear before the Vicar General or no. â— was urged by some that the Parliament whom they apprehended would be some relief and shelter to them being to sit down on the 3 〈…〉 of November following it was but prudential for them to hold off at present and in case they were cited afterwards to Canterbury to appear only by a Proctour and protract time as much as might be But upon a serious weighing the reasons for and against their appearing it was concluded that they would appear and submit to the will of God however he should please to dispose of them Mr. Edward Bright of Gondburst and Mr. Wilson immediately repaired to the Inne where Sir Nathaniel Brent the Arch-Deacon and some inferiour Officers sat They no sooner appeared but Mr. Bright was pointed out by one present to the Arch-Deacon that knew him who presently asked him his name and whether he had read the Prayer against the Scots or no Mr. Bright answered No Whereupon the Arch-Deacon suspended him ab Officio Beneficio without admonishing him or giving him any time to consider of it which sudden act was deemed even by the Favourites of that Court to be neither prudential nor Canonical Though Mr. Wilson stood by when his Brother was suspended and perceived the service much hotter then he expected yet he did not flye from his colours or retreat in the least But being called answered to his Name and being asked whether he had read the Prayer gave a Negative answer with this reason Because in the Rubrick before the Common Prayer it was enjoyned that no Prayer should be publickly read except those that were in the Book of Common-Prayer but this Prayer against the Scots was not there This unexpected answer puzzled the Arch-Deacon being none of the readiest or accuted to reply and caused him to apply himself to Sir Nathan Brent who upon information of Mr. Wilsons reasons very ingeniously left the Arch-Deacon to himself and refused to meddle in it Upon which the Arch-Deacon the edge of his fury being
keep up the power of Godliness in our hearts and lives And as God on that day bestoweth great blessings on them that humbly and reverently worship him on that Queen of days that Market day of our souls Isa. 58. 13 14. So he hath inflicted dreadful Judgements on the profaners of that day and when men have neglected to punish them he hath taken the Sword into his own hand and done it himself One example whereof there was in Maidstone when I lived there In former time that day was much prophaned as I said before and children were wont to play in the streets on that day One Sabbath as children were playing near a wall against which Wagen-wheels were set up on a sudden there arose a great wind which blew down a wheel upon one of the Children and crusht it to death Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Besides on week days such was the blessing of God upon his preaching and example many Families Morning and Evening did set up religious duties who never minded them before You might there if you walkt in the great street about nine and ten a clock in a morning hear singing in many Families for they commonly sung Morning and Evening when they read the Word and Prayed CHAP. XIX His great Courage HE had a strong and undaunted Spirit not discouraged by any obstacles which were laid in the way of his duty He feared God and none else He was like that Ancient that when a threatning message of death was sent him bid the Messenger tell the Empress Nil timeo nisi peccatum I fear nothing but sin Or Rowland Taylor who being intreated to flie the Marian days said I know the cause so good and the truth so strong on my side it will by Gods grace-appear before their Beads resists their false doings for I believe I shall never be able to Good so good a service as now He discovered much courage in reproving sin for as Christ said of the Church of Ephesus he could not bear those that were evill were they never so great Elijah durst speak to Ahab and Mr. Wilson to the highest person by way of reprehension when there was cause for it If men were bold in sinning he was as bold in telling them of it and giving their sins their due accents yet as wise Physitian he could distinguish between Pimples and Plague sores between infirmities and scandals accordingly apply himself to his Patients CHAP. XX. Of his Zeal HE was one that abundantly discovered his zeal for God in embracing all opportunities to do him service in his great care where ever he came for the strict observation and right Sanctification of the Lords Day in his sense of the dishonour done to God by the prophaness and contempt of the ordinaces of God by some and by the errors and wilful withdrawings from the Ordinances by others which he bewailed bitterly to his dying day Some who its hoped had the root of matter in them questioned his call to the Ministry nay suspected his call to be Anti-christian and seperated from him though they themselves acknowledges that he was their Spiritual Father and had begotten them through the Gospel and he might say to them as the Apostles to the Corinthians Ye are the Seal of our Ministry do we need as some others Letters of Commendation to you ye are our Epistle known and read of all men For asmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ Ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in fleshly Tables of the heart 2 Cor. 3. 1 2 3. How frequently and affectionately did he urge that upon them that separated in my hearing Isa. 11 6 7 8 9. This causeless sinful separation lay near his heart even when he lay upon his dying bed The great danger of their souls as also of those that wholly cast of the care of their eternal good caused him in the course of his Sermons and Expositions when the Scriptures led him to it to reprove their sins sharply and indeed according to the command of the Holy Ghost he could do it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuttingly that they might be sound in the Faith Tit. 1. 13. It s reported of Bazil that one hearing much of him had a great desire to know what manner of man he was hereupon in a Vision was represented to him a flame of sire with this motto Talis est Basilius such a man is Basil. And truly such a man was Mr. Wilson meek and cold when at any time himself was reproached and abused but as hot as fire in the cause of his God The zeal of Gods house burnt him up Errors and Heresies were very odious to him such was his love to the truth It might be said of him as of Austin that was Malleus Haereticorum The Hamer of Heresies and Schismes I have heard him often quote and comment on those Scriptures Heb. 10. 25. and 1 Iohn 2. 19. With much warmth and vigour that if it were possible he might reduce those that went astray And though such as were toucht in their sores were angry and said it was passion and his natural heat was Kitchin fire the effect of his natural Spirit yet the judicious knew otherwise that it was a coal from the Altar true zeal the fruit of Gods Spirit in him knowing that he was set 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostle speaks Phil. 1. 17. For the defence of the Gospel Some of those that separated were very dear to him that he might say as David It was not an enemy that reproached me then I could have born it willingly was it he that hated me that did magnisie himself against me But it was my friend and my acquaintance we took sweet counsel together and formerly walked to the house of God in Company Psa. 55. 12 13 14. But as dear as they were to him the Truth of the Gospel were much dearer Amicus Socrates amicus Plato sed magis amica veritas And he was a man of such clear convincing light and as it is said of Apollos Acts 18. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 able strong mighty in the Scriptures that had they not been wilfully blind or very weak eyed they must have seen their errors It is observed by some as a special Providence of God that the same day in which Pelagius the Heretick was born in Brittain St. Augustine the great Confuter of his Heresie was born in Affrick God so disposing it that the Poison and the Antidote should come into the World together I am sure it was a good providence to Maidstone that when many errors sprung up there was such an able faithful Husbandman to watch them and root them out otherwise many more then did might have fallen from their own stedfastness and been led away with the errors of the times CHAP. XXI Of Faith and Heavenly mindedness HE was
holy and famous man writeth that Cutbert Tunstall Bishop of Durnham would have given Gilpin a Living and a Dispensation to hold it but he answered The Devil would not be held from destroying the people with a Dispensation and adds I fear it will be a vain answer when God calls me to an account to say I was dispensed with all I cannot in conscience reap profit and another take the pains when another was promised him to feed the people 2. Doctors Doctor Challener Math. 29. 6. saith If we budge from our station Sathan will immediately find entrance pronouncing a wo to the idle Shephard that leaveth the Flock adding before Gods Tribunal men must be proceeded against not by common Law Dr. Willet on 1 Sam. 17. 28. saith non residency and pluralities be the scandal of Gods Church hinders the due service of the Churches 't is Robbery worse then of goods excludes many sufficient men and so any step in that the Blind and the Lame keep sick as 2 Sam. 5.8 Saying to have many Cures is unlawful producing Iodocus Gallus They shall go to Heaven by their Vicar and to Hell in their Parsons Cannons Anno 1571. shew the absence of the Shephard from the Lords Flock and that careless negligence which we do see in many and forsaking the Ministry is a thing in it self to be abhorred and odious to the people and pernicious to the Church of God 4. Reasons against pluralities 1. Plurality men cannot do their duties which be mentioned in Ezek. 34. 4. Therefore may not hold the place 2. They that have pluralities feed themselves and not their Flock therefore they be base Shephards Ezek. 34. 1. 8. 3. A good Minister is to feed by example which requires residence and presence I Pet. 5. 8. Take heed to the Flock in your own person as Zyra Acts 20.28 And so I understand that place 4. They that love Christ themselves must feed the Flock of Christ themselves for loving Christ and feeding his Sheep be spoken both to one person Iohn 21. 15. Now a personal duty may not be put of to another as praying hearing reading receiving Sacraments and doing good works and I cannot see how feeding the Flock of Christ in a mans own person can be put off with the manifesting his love to Christ. 5. If our Church or Flock may need many Pastors then one Pastor is hardly sufficient for three Churches or Flocks twenty miles distant but one Church or Flock may need many Pastors Phil. 1. 1. Bishops plural musculus Calvin in locum Ergo one Pastor is hardly sufficient X. ART Scandalising Governours and Government of the Church of England as Persecutors of Gods faithful Ministers and people disgressing from the Text. RESP. 'T is not true in the whole nor any part thereof XI ART April 1633. Delivered a dangerous Doctrine that if a Magistrate make a penal Law if the Subject that transgresseth it suffer he is quit from sin RESP. I deny Time Month Year and Words for such a Doctrine I never taught nor read nor heard till I heard this Article and I abhor it and disclaim it as a dangerous Doctrine but May the 10 th 1632. handling those words Eph. 4. 6. There is one God and Father of all observing the Godly be all children of one Father I exhorted them not to censure rashly their Brethren for indifferent things XII ART April 22. 1634. Lecturing and expounding after Inhibition by the Vicar General REPS. 'T is not so I did not Preach but upon the Lords Days and Holy days neither did I expound yet I had a Licence to expound and was not forbid expounding but only Preaching for I heard not a word of the prohibition of it yet upon prayer days appointed by the Church viz. Wenesdays Frydays all the Eves constantly I did instruct by Question and Answer in the Catechism such as came to Prayers for which I had my Institution and Licence from which I never had prohibition nor is it any sin against God or Man so far as I can understand XIII ART Deemed and accounted a man against the Church of England and for Schism draw aside after me RESP. I deny the whole and every part XIV ART The promises be true by Voice and Fame RESP. I believe what is in the Answer confessed and deny what is in the Answer denied in any part Additional Answers I. ART BEing upon occasion absent I procured one to Read Prayers and Preach on Palm Sunday RESP. I was suspended ab Officio and so by the leave of Sir Nathaniel Brent who left it to me I procured one to supply the place II. ART A Letter scandalous and offensive was sent to Otham to nourish Schism and tending to confirm people in the dislike of Government RESP. A Letter was writ and sent to the Parishoners of Otham which I know not who hath nor did I keep any Copy of it but I know belief and remember the sum of it was to exhort them to fear God and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change to walk by Faith and in Love and to call upon God but I utterly deny all occasion of derogating from the Church of England or confirmation of any in the dislike of Government and protest against all such Aspertions and Imputations of Schism or scandal neither did I direct it to any to read it nor intended or desired it should be read at Church III. ART I or Dr. Tuck for reading the Letter in the Church against Orthodoxal Ministers and Cannons and Governours RESP. This Article appertaineth not to me at all further then is above answered IV. ART The premises be true by Voice and Fame RESP. 'T is contrary to truth in every part but as is above confessed Credo Credita nego negata Th. WILSON Rector de Otham in Kent On the much lamented Death of my sincerely honoured and beloved Friend Mr. Thomas Wilson Pastor of Maidstone in Kent and to many more reverend Minister IF grief can help to versify And passion Poets make I 'l try Though long diceased to sigh a Verse To offer at a Kingdoms Hearse And not sit mute in discontent Sorrow will kill that hath no vent I could my soul in sadness sleep I could whole Floods of Waters weep I could as Niobe bomoan My self till turn'd into a stone I could become an Heraclite And spend in tears each day and night Or Hermit like to some close Cell Retire and say Vain mirth Farewell Alas t'th World what can I view But what bid me bid joy Adien I see Monsters of vice abound Ev'n Hell appearing above ground And Devils of the humane race Daring the Almighty to his Fate Such as can teach Nero to sin To whom no past Age hath equal bin I see the Shephards laid to sleep Who tender were of th'harmless Sheep Whilst ravenous Wolfs and Bears survive Who onely to devour them strive I see to set the greatest lights