D{us} HUGO BROUGHTON THEOLOGUS LITERARUM ET LINGUAR: SACRARUM CALLENTISS

E. H Van. Houe. Sculp:

The Life of Mr. Hugh Broughton who Died Anno Christi 1612.

HUgh Broughton was born in Shropshire, in a Town called Oldbury, an Antient Seat, His Birth. upon the very Edge of Wales, towards Mountgomery. The Family from whence he Descended was Antient, and of a very great Rank, Worth, and Estate, and at the same time bred this great Scholar, and a Brother of his, who afterwards was a Judge.

This Family gave for its Coat of Arms Two Owls, which is the rather mentioned, be­cause His Parenta [...] this Hugh would sometimes say merrily, That it was a good Prognostick, that he should be a good Grecian, because his Coat did bear the Bird of Athens. And by this may [Page 2] [...] [Page 3] [...] [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 6] [...] [Page 7] [...] [Page 8] [...] [Page 9] [...] [Page 10] [...] [Page 11] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page 1] [...] [Page 2] be unridled that, for which, it may be, every one is not, or hath not at hand an Oediput ready, which is this; In some Editions of the Genealogies, set before some Bibles, you may find Two Owls pictured, holding either of them a Burning Torch; intimating, That it was Mr. Broughton that gave Light to that Work.

In what School he was Educated and brought up, is uncertain, though certain it is, that He goes to Cambridge. he was a good Proficient therein, and from thence was sent to Cambridge, where also he was so diligent, and industrious, and his Progress in Learning so signal, that in time he was chosen Fellow in Christ-Colledge.

Here he laid the first Foundation of his Hebrew Studies, under a French-man, who Read, He Studies Hebrew. and Taught the Language in the University to divers Scholars. This himself mentioneth, but nameth not the man, in his Prefatory Speech to his Lectures, which he Read in St. Paul's Church, of which we shall hear afterwards. I (saith he) being requested to Read, thought no place fitter than this, because I was informed that a Learned Man of France, about 23 years ago, did Read here in the Hebrew Tongue. At my first coming to Cambridge, I laid under him my first Foundations of that Study: And after him, it hath pleased God that I should come hither to revive his Studies. He was a very Learned Man, and in Cam­bridge was accounted Second to none in the Realm. A rare Man he was in that Study; and in Hebrew he would draw such a Study, that Men might Learn more of him in a Month, than others could teach in Ten Years: He, being requested by his Country-men, to return, and Preach the Gospel amongst them; and having gotten Leave of Her Majesty, he went; but being come thither, he was so Persecuted by Wicked Men, that he was driven to fly into the Hills and Woods, and thereby got an Ague, whereof he Died.

Mr. Broughton's Parts and Learning here began to be taken notice of; and among others, His Friends. the Earl of Huntington especially cast a favourable Eye upon him, with a Noble Influence and Encouragement of all his Studies and Proceedings.

From the University he came to London, where he Preached in Publick, and thereby Comes to London. increased the number of his Friends, and those some of the highest Rank and Degree; and he followed his Studies so close, that when Diversions did not withdraw and interrupt him, he spent twelve, fourteen, nay, very commonly sixteen hours in the four and twenty every Day at his Book. The way of his Preaching was this: He would take a Text out of the Old Testament, and another Parallel in the New, and discourse largely upon them together, and knit up all in a short Application. And thus he went over very many, if not all the Sections in Moses, and conferred them, and the Prophets with the New Testament. And one Passage in one of these Sermons, which he had in his Application, may not be omitted: It was in Eighty Eight, when the Spanish Navy was upon the Sea: All the time of the A Prediction. danger, when mens Hearts were full of fears and doubts what the Event might be, he en­couraged the People exceedingly, and once particularly thus: Now (saith he) the Papists knees Knock one against another, as the Knees of King Belshazzar did, and News will come that the Lord hath scattered that Invincible Navy. Fear ye not, nor be dismayed at these smoaking Firebrands.

But that which made him most known to the World indeed, was the Publishing of his Book called, A Consent of Scripture, which he put forth the same year 1588. himself be­ing then Thirty nine Years Old. Mr. John Speed (a Man well known) was Overseer of Consent of Scripture. the Press for its Printing; a Taylor he was by Trade: But by acquaintance with Mr. Brough­ton, he was grown very Studious in the Scriptures, and by his Directions was grown very skilful in them.

In the time while the Consent was in Printing, he, by Mr. Broughton's Directions, ga­thered all the Genealogies of the Bible into one view, and at the last they were Published un­der Genealogies Printed. his name, in the form we had then before our Bibles. But it was Mr. Broughton that directed, and digested them, and there are yet fair Manuscripts of them to be shewed, some whereof have the Names in Hebrew and Greek, and some in the Latine Letter, and some of them Mr. Broughton's own hand: And one that attended him, Dorman, or Dalman, or such a like Name, had made such a Collection by the Direction of his Master, before Mr. Speed had collected his One View. And yet when the Genealogies came to be Published, be­cause the Bishops would not endure to have Mr. Broughton's Name to be prefixed, Mr. Speed went away with all the credit and profit; so that he would confess, and it was no more than he had good reason to do; That Mr. Broughton was a means, under God, of great Blessings unto him and his Children for worldly Comforts. And therefore that act of his may be wondred at, which himself confessed to some of Mr. Broughton's Friends; namely, That he had as many Manuscripts of Mr. Broughton's as he could hold in his Arms, and he held his Arms encompassed: But, saith he, I have burnt them all; what reason moved him [Page 3] so to do, he best knew: But certainly standers by, will hardly be satisfied that it was done like a Friend.

No sooner was the Concent published, but it met with opposition by two eminent Men His Con­cent Oppo­sed. in the two Universities, Dr. Reynolds in Oxford, and Mr. Lively in Cambridge, who being Professors in those Universities, both of them read publickly against it. The Author of it did usually call it; His Little Book of great pains. And so it was indeed; for it cost him ma­ny years study, and when he Published it, his Pains was not at an end, but to begin anew. For the Lectures of those two Learned Men against it, put him to writing again in justifi­cation of what he had published, and what they excepted against.

It was some honour to Mr. Broughton to have two Opponents of so great Name, worth, and Learning: But the greater their repute (& that most deservedly) the greater was his dis­advantage that had to deal with them: And to this was added, that what he held, was Pub­lick, and in every Mans hand: But what they read to the contrary, was only among their own Auditors, and nothing was published by them, whereby others might judge of the Controversy betwixt them, of a long time. Dr Reynolds indeed sent some Notes of his Readings, privately to Mr. Broughton; but printed nothing of them all his time, what was pub­lished of them, was done after Mr. Broughtons Death, by Dr. John Burges of Sutton-Cofield, in Warwickshire. Mr. Lively was answered privately by Mr. Thornton a Country Gentleman, and a Friend, and Follower of Mr. Broughton, as he could come to the know­ledge of his exceptions. And so Mr. Broughton undertook them both himself, as he could come to understand what it was that they opposed, and spent much pains in confirming his own Tenets, and confuting theirs.

This opposition of his Concent, as also the intreaties of divers of his Friends, prevailed He explains it. with him to Read in private to them, his Explication of it, and he had Auditors to the number of eighty, ninty, or an hundred: sometimes more, sometimes less, and they kept their meetings weekly. At first indeed he Read in the East end of St. Pauls Church, where afterwards the Lord Mayor and his Brethren used to meet; and this he did with the allow­ance of the Queen and her Council, and some of the best Learned of the Bishops were his Friends. And the Council had the Names of those which were his Schollars, of what Cal­ling they were, how Qualified, and where they dwelt. But others of the Bishops would Opposed by the Bishops. not endure this, calling them Dangerous Conventicles, and complaining of them, caused them some trouble: so that at last they could read in Pauls no longer.

Afterwards he Read in a large Chamber in Cheapside, but tarried not long there, but re­moved to Mark-lane, and into some other places. And this was his course when he taught in private. His Auditors had every one of them The Concent before him, and he went on still in the exposition of it all along with the Bible, and bad his Auditors diligently to read the Scriptures, and keep themselves to the Chronology of it: and shewed what and how much they should Read against their next meeting, to be prepared for his discourse then. And withal handled the Geneallogies, as the matters of those Scriptures called for Explication for that time of the Chronology; that they might understand what Scriptures were contained within such a space of time. And still he shewed the Doctrine of Faith, and love of Christ Jesus in every Age; how believed and practised by the Faithful, and who dispised them. And in his Application he would sum up all in a quarter of an hour, or more, as the matter required.

Of these his Lectures there are still extant the Notes of four and thirty, and the Notes of nine of his Sermons, in which he Collated, the Sections of Moses and the Prophets, with the New Testament; all which were taken from his Mouth as he delivered them. An Extract out of which (of what is not in his other Writings) had been Printed and Published with his other Works, had not he that had the perusing of them in hand for that purpose, been prevented by a very long, and dangerous Sickness, with which he was seized at the very first setting of the Press on work.

Thus he abode in London divers years from his first coming thither, and procured many Friends in the City, and made his residence for a long time, more especially among the Fa­milies of the Cottons, who tendered and respected him very much, during his abode in En­gland, Bounty of the Cottons. and forgat him not when he was beyond the Seas, but sent him frequent and large to­kens of their Love, even sometimes a hundred pounds at a time. There were four Bro­thers of them; John, Roger, William, and Allen, which Allen was afterward L. Mayor of London; and he it was whom he meaned in those words in his Epistle to the Vice-Chancel­lor, and Governors of Oxford, saying; A Master of Art of your breeding being at London, and upon the Thames, Anno 1590. in a Boat with Mr. A. Cot: and others, &c.

Mr. Roger Cotton, a Draper in Cannon-Street, was a true Schollar of this Master, and so [Page 4] constantly plyed the sacred Scriptures, according to the Admonitions and directions that he had received from Mr. Broughton, that he Read over the Bible twelve times in one year, and what proficiency he made therein, he gave a Specimen of it in that little Book which he Published, called, Directions to the Waters of Life.

In Mr. William Cottons House he made his most constant residence, who also was a Dra­per, and where his Lodging and Library were. In this Family he undertook the Education of Mr. Cottons eldest Son [Rowland, who was afterward Knighted] in the Hebrew Tongue; which he prosecuted with such good success, that there were few places in the Bible, which he was not able readily to Read, and to render into English when he was but seven or eight years old, and could very well and readily speak the Hebrew Language.

The way which he used to bring him on so forwardly was this. First, Himself spake in Hebrew to him constantly, and taught him by heart the passages and speeches, which were most usual in his ordinary converse: As to call for his Food, Cloths, and other necessaries: Also Phrases of salutations, and entertainments: Expressions of his Duty, and Affections to his Parents and Relations. Yea, the very passages which were most usual with Children at their Play. These he taught him to utter readily in that Language, and had a young Man, skilful in that Tongue, who was ever with him to interpret for him. This Noble Knight would oft relate that his Mother would sometimes be ready to weep, when he came to do his Duty to her, or to ask any thing of her, and might not speak it in English to her, that so she might have conferred with him, and talked to him again.

To this, Mr. Broughton drew up a Vocabulary in Hebrew and English for him, out of which he was dayly learning words. And he framed it, not in an Alphabetical way, as Dicti­onaries and Lexicons usually are; But he first pitched upon a place or thing more general, and then named all the particulars in it, or belonging to it: As Heaven Angels, Sun, Moon, Stars, Clouds, &c. So a House, Door, Window, a Parlor, a Celler, &c. A Field, Grass, a Flower, a Tree, Hedge, a Furrow, &c. This Book is yet to be had, and might easily be obtained to be Printed, if it should be judged meet to be done.

And to compleat all, he had him constantly with him in his Study, where he instilled in­to him, first the Grammer, and then Read the Bible to him. And this learned Knight would often speak of one Book that he had in his Study, with which his Childish affection was then much taken, and that only for the Covers-sake. It was an old Manuscript, the whole Cover whereof was of Brass, as ours commonly are of Pastboard and Leather. And when he was come to Judgment, he concluded, that it was very likely to be some Manuscript of great rarity, and would often bemoan, that after Mr. Broughtons death, he could never hear of it.

He would also often speak of another Book, which indeed, in the intention of his Master, he should have had. It was a very fair New Testament, either Greek, or Syriack, he remem­bred not which, noted throughout very largely with Mr. Broughtons own Hand, as to the unfolding of the Language, and Sense, and Collation with the Old Testament. This Book in his later time he would often shew him, and say: This I will leave to you for a Legacy, when I die; and see that you make much of it. But upon his Death it so vanished, that he could never see, nor hear of it more, although he used all the diligent enquiry after it, that possibly he could, and offered a Hundred pounds for it, if that would have purchased it.

Mr. Broughton having thus spent several years in London, An. Christi 1589. he went o­ver He goes into Germany. into Germany, having before he went presented his Concent of Scripture to Queen Eliza­beths Majesty, to whom he had dedicated it. So he saith in an Epistle to Her Majesty: My pains in opening and declaring the Concent, which the Scripture hath, I humbly present to Your Majesty this, Novemb. 17. 1598.

His Companion in his Travels was one Mr. Alexander Top, a young Country Gentleman, who put himself under his Tutorage, and travelled with him that he might be constantly under his Instructions. And afterwards Mr. Broughton married a Neece of his, one Mrs. Lin­gen, a Gentlewoman that brought a good estate to him. And Mr. Top would oft tell him, that he knew not how otherwise to requite him for all the Love, Pains, and Observance that he had shewed to him in his Journey, and he doubted not, but he would find her such a Wife, as that he would account it a good requital. To this Gentleman it was that he di­rected his Treatise of Mordecai his Age under this Inscription, To his good Friend Mr. A. T.

This Gentleman would oft speak of Mr. Broughtons exceeding great courage and bold­ness, His Courage. and freedom in inveighing against Popery and Jesuitism among the Papists, and Jesuits, and against Judaism among the Jews. As once more especially at the B. of Mentz his Ta­ble, where also divers Jesuits were present, with whom he discoursed so freely, and sharply against the Papacy, as Antichristìan, and against the blindness and wickedness of the Roma­nists, [Page 5] that the Protestants who were present with him, were afraid that he would have en­dangered both himself and them. At another time, being in one of the Jews Synagogues, at the time of their Service, where their Publick Minister Read, and Prayed in a strange and uncouth Tone, one of the Jews, as he came out, said unto him; Did not our Minister Sing like an Angel? No (saith he) he Barked like a Dog: And so called for a Dispute with him, where they had long and much tugging.

Also Anno Christi 1589. he had a Dispute with Rabbi Elias in Frankford Synagogue, as His Dis­putes. himself relateth in his Tract, A Require of Consent, &c. Some of the best Learned Jews, (saith he) have greatly desired to be taught our Gospel. One Rabbi Elias of Germany did it whole one and twenty years, with whom in Frankford Synagogue (in the year 1589.) I Disputed, and drew all the Law to Christ; so that he denied nothing, but still desired to hear that matter enlarged. We Disputed under this Oath; That God would strike him pre­sently that should speak against his own Conscience; whereupon he never denied any thing that I spake, only requested leave to propound his Doubts, and departed with a Desire to be taught by Printing. This our Conference was reported by Jews as far as to Constan­tinople, and by farther Instigation, Rabbi Abraham Reuben, sent from thence his Epistle in­to England.

Anno Christi 1590. He was still in Germany; so himself saith in an Epistle to the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford. A Dr. (saith he) of yours told Dr. Reynolds, when I was in Ger­many, in the year 1590. thus; Inibis parvum gratiam à Christianis, qui conatus es hanc Prophetiam Danielis labefactare. Praeterea, qui istic mos est invehi in absentem? Ille cui con­tradicis, jam est in media Germania.

He also mentioneth his being at Worms this year in his Treatise of Melchizedeck. And this same year he wrote his little Tract of Mordecai his Age to Mr. Top, who was then with him in Germany, the young Gentleman desiring satisfaction in that point. Probably they had heard what Dr. Reynolds had said upon it.

Anno Christi 1591. He was again in England. Probably he came over, that he might His Return to England. make something of the Controversie betwixt that Dr. and him. They met at London, and referred the Umpirage of their Contest to the A. B. of Canterbury, and to Dr. Elmer, B. B. of London. See his Epistle to them, Dated in London Novemb. 4. 1591. But it seems that Reference came to nothing.

Anno Christi 1592. He was again in Germany, and (as it's likely) he continued there Then into Germany. after the Death of Queen Elizabeth. He had some potent Adversary in her Court, who was a means to hinder him from the Preferment which the Queen intended him, and to obstruct her favour to him, and that bred danger and unsettledness to him in England, and this caused him to spend so much of his time in a strange Country. It may easily be gathered out of his Epistle to Queen Elizabeth, (pag. 727. of his Works) that his great Antagonist was the then A. B. of Canterbury, who also had laid wait to apprehend him, and offered a Sum of Money to him who would discover where he was.

This year he published the Sinai-sight, which he Dedicated to the Earl of Essex, causing His Sinai's-sight. it wholly to be Engraven in Brass, which cost him about an hundred marks. The Plates are yet to be had in England.

In his Travels beyond Sea he was familiarly acquainted with Scaliger, Rephelengius, Ju­nius, His Ac­quaintance. Beza, and others the most Eminent for Learning in those Times. His Transactions with Pistorius, Nic. Serrarius, and other Jesuites, from whom he found more respect, than he did from some Protestants, especially from the Scholars of Geneva. His favour with the A. B. of Mentz, to whom he Dedicated his Translation of the Prophets into Greek. His having the offer of a Cardinals Cap in Rome; and his many Disputes with several Rabbins. His Discourse before the Duke of Bovillion about the Descent into Hell, in the Commence­ment at Mentz, and divers other things, of which it were but superfluous to discourse here at large, and would but anticipate him that hath, or will Read his Works; and our chief intent here, is not to speak of those things which are obvious in his Works, but of those which are known only unto few, the whole stock of his Disciples, being now wholly worn out.

Mr. Broughton in his Explication of the Apocalypse, speaketh of some Passages betwixt He is prof­fered a Car­dinalship. himself, and some Jesuits at the Towns end of Mentz; and, among other things, saith thus; Upon this we turned to Read the Proselytes Letter; for whose Testimony, I might have had a Cardinalship Principal of Rome, one Mr. Murton of Yorkshire, desired me to go to Mentz with him, to hear what they said of it; where one of them took occasion (as they were speak­ing about Cardinals) to ask, what mine would have been worth? The other answered, About Eighteen thousand French Crowns. This Mr. Murton, however then written, was no other [Page 6] than he who afterwards was B. B. Moreton, first of Chester, then of Coventry and Litchfied, and lastly of Durham. He would tell how he was with Mr. Broughton in Germany, and was continually proposing some thing or other to him, wherein he desired to be resolved: And when he understood not some of his Answers, but required farther Explication, Mr. Broughton would be angry, and call him Dullard, and Unlearned, and such like Names; whereupon Dr. More­ton took up this Custom, that, when he came to propose any Doubt to him, he would plea­santly say; I pray you, whatsoever Dolts and Dullards I am to be called, call me so before we begin, that your Discourse, and mine Attention be not interrupted thereby. And Mr. Broughton took it as pleasantly from him.

Mr. Broughton speaks oft of his Disputations with Rabbi Farrar, and to that which he writeth of it, thus much more may be added: That the same Rabbin wrote a Tract in La­tine, to have confuted Mr. Brougbton's Opinion about the Fourth Monarchy, which yet Mr. Broughton never answered, either conceiving that he had already said enough upon that Subject in his former Writings, or else because he wanted either health, or leisure.

Anno Christi 1596. came the Epistle of Rabbi Abraham Reuben from Constantinople, di­rected [...]istle [...] to him in London; but he was then in Germany. It was written in so harsh and st [...]ange an Hebrew Character, that, though it went through the Hands of divers Scholars in London, yet none could so much as Read the Endorsement, till at last it came to Mr. Top, who, as afterwards he confessed, could not at first know one Letter of it: But at last, with very much pains he found out the Character, and made a shift to Read it, and so sent it over to him in Germany.

At this time of his abode there, Mr. Isaac Genius became his Scholar, who afterwards turned his Concent of Scripture into Latine, which he published Anno Christi 1602. Mr. Broughton himself overseeing the Work all along: And thus much may be observed from those words of his in the Epistle to the Reader, where he writes thus; Translatione hac meâ, meâ inquam, majore ex parte; nam ei plurima Author stilo suo addit.

Mr. John Boreel had turned his Exposition upon Daniel into Latine some three years before.

Upon the Death of Queen Elizabeth, or shortly after, he returned into England, and was His Return to England. in London at the time when the Plague raged sore there; and Mr. Broughton going to visit Mr. Speed in that sad time, he was astonished to see him there in a time of so much danger. But Mr. Broughton was very chearful, and spake much to his Edification and Comfort con­cerning God's afflicting hand upon the City.

Anno Christi 1603. he Preached at Oatlands before Prince Henry, upon the Lord's Bible trans­lated. Prayer. Anno Christi 1607. the Translation of the Bible was begun: From which work, how he came to be secluded, whose Abilities that way were known so well, may rather be wondred at than resolved. He had spoken much concerning that Translation, for which he heareth ill of some, as if he shewed Indignation, because he was excluded; whereas Charity and Candour would construe, that what he had written, was in Zeal, and Vindi­cation of the Truth. And doubtless if his Advertisements concerning some particular Texts had been taken, they had not been useless.

He again made another Journey beyond the Seas, and made his abode there for a while, and was for some time a Preacher to the English in Middlebourg: And thither two of his He goes a­gain into Germany. Followers in London [Mr. Ayre and Mr. Perry] went purposely to give him a visit; whom at first meeting he did a little chide, for taking so long, dangerous, chargeable, and need­less a Journey. What? said they pleasantly; Is this the Entertainment you give us for our pains and visit? Then did he as pleasantly and lovingly embrace them, and entertained them heartily and affectionately during all the time of their abode with him.

Whilst he was now beyond the Seas, he wrote that very sharp and smart Discourse a­gainst A. B. Bancroft, and sent the whole Impression over to Mr. William Cotton (Younger Brother to Sir Rowland Cotton) then living in London; withal, intreating him, that if he durst adventure, he should deliver one of the said Books into the A. Bishop's own Hands. The Gentleman, though he foresaw the undertaking to be dangerous, because he could deny nothing to Mr. Broughton, undertook it, and made his Apology to the A. B. and told him that Mr. Broughton had engaged him to do it, and therefore he begged his Lordships Pardon and Excuse, which also he obtained, and was fairly dismissed.

But some Officers were immediately sent to his Lodging, to seize upon the Impression, which they did accordingly: But Mr. Cotton foreseeing what would come to pass, had con­veyed a Trunk-full of them out of the way, whereby he escaped.

Mr. Broughton having thus spent much of his time in Travels, at last he fell into a Cough His Sickness and Return to England. of the Lungs, which encreasing upon him, caused his Return into England, as being desirous [Page 7] to die in his own Country; and accordingly in the Month of November, Anno 1611. he came to Graves-end; which being speedily made known to his Friends in London, divers of them went down to him thither, and brought him to the City. He told them, that he was come to die in his own Native Country; and his desire also was, if the Lord had per­mitted, to die in his own Native County [Shropshire] and so had he oft told Sir Rowland Cotton afore this, that he intended to end his Days with him, if the Lord should permit, and so he told him now again at their meeting in London, that if his strength would give him leave, he would come down to him into Shropshire, and the noble Knight did accor­dingly accommodate Lodgings for him against his coming, suitable to his weak and sickly condition. But it pleased the Lord to prevent his Journey.

He lodged in London, and kept all Winter with an old Friend, Mr. Hill in Cannon-Street, and in the Spring he was removed for fresh air to Totnam-High-Cross, to the House of one Mr. Benet, a Linnen-Draper in Cheapside.

Although he had so tedious an infirmity, yet he spake, as he could, at times to his Friends His Spee­ches. about many things, giving them many pious, and godly exhortations. He used these short Speeches to them very much: Study the Bible. Labour to save one another. Be peaceable. Meddle with your own matters. Some great Judgment will come upon this Kingdom. Never fear Popery: It shall never overflow again: But the course, which the Bishops take, will fill the Land with Atheism. Meddle not with the quarreling. Teach not the unwilling: many other such speeches he used. He went over all the Books of the Old Testament in a brief discourse of the sum of every one of them: But he was now so weak, being near his end, that his strength served him not to do the like by those of the New.

When he drew near to Death, he told them that stood by him, that Satan had assaulted His Death. him: But (said he) the Son of God hath rebuked him, and hath spoken comfortable words to my Soul. A little before his Death two Friends came from London to visit him, and he could then speak to them, though very faintly. And after some stay with him, they took their leaves of him, not thinking that his end had been so near. But e're they came half way to London, a Messenger overtook them, and told them that Mr. Broughton was speechless, here­upon they hasted back again, and found it so; for they could get no words from him, yet when they asked him; Shall one of us pray by you? He, by lifting up his Hands, gave an evident sign of his consent, and fervent desire after it. And so they stayed with him till he Dyed: which was August the 4th, An. Ch. 1612. He being then in his Climacterical year, viz. 63.

His Corps was brought to London, accompanied with a great multitude of People, of whom many had put themselves into mourning for his sake. He was interred in St. Antho­lines Church, August the 7th, Mr. Speght, Minister of the Church in Milk Street, Preached his Funeral Sermon upon those words, John 11. 8. Lord, Behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. It was said that the Bishops would not suffer his Sermon to be Printed.

Of Personage he was graceful and comely: of a countenance that spake much studious­ness, His Chara­cter. and gravity, and the Picture of him prefixed before his Works, doth much resemble him, as such say who best knew him. He was indefatigably studious, which swayed his temper a little to austerity: and yet among his Friends, he was of a very sweet, affable, and loving carriage; sharp, and severe, and exceeding bold against Error, and Impiety, and would sharply reprove it, whatever it cost him. He was once travelling here in England, and being in his Inn, a Royster, in the room next to him, was swearing horribly, and at no measure: In went he boldly to him, and who art thou (saith he) thou Wretch, who darest His Bold­ness. thus to Blaspheme, and profane the glorious Name of the Great God? And some other like words, which he set on with so great an awe, and boldness, that the Roarer became calm, and took his sharp reproofs (especially when he came to understand who he was) in very good part.

He was free and communicative to any that desired to learn of him: But would withall be very angry with Scholars, if they did not readily understand him in his discourse, as thinking it a shame to them to be ignorant of such things. Among his Friends he would be very pleasant, especially at his Meals, at which time, if any at the Table proposed any serious Question to him, to be resolved on, he would commonly divert it with some other Questions, and that ordinarily, a pleasant one, to find the Table imployment in the discussi­on of it, till he had Dined, or Sup't, and then he would say: Now come and ask what Question you please: for now I am ready for you: and so would return to his serious discourse again.

His stile of writing was curt, and something harsh, and obscure, because he affected His Stile. [Page 8] to speak much in few words: and besides that his natural Genius inclined him to such a stile, it's probable, that his much conversing with the Judaick Learning, did something mould, and habituate him that way. His rehearsing the same things often over, was occasio­ned by the writing of his Treatises in several places, and having his discourses with several Persons, where the same things did almost inevitably occur and fall in: It were to be wished, that he had been more sparing in his own Praises, and less bitter in his invectives against his Antagonists: But if it be impartially considered how he was trampled under foot by some of the Bishops, and vilified by others upon their example, how he was by them kept from deserved Preferment, tossed up and down, troubled, disgraced, and endangered, you may very well allow some Grains of transportment, and liberty to so great a Scholar as he was, somewhat to forget himself. Those that read his Writings, which desire to profit by them, will pass over such things without offence, and cover such weaknesses with the Mantle of Charity, the rather because himself took notice of them, and upon his Death-Bed confessed, and acknowledged them to be his infirmities, whereof he repented. And withal he protested then, as he had often before, that they were rather strained from him by his Adversaries provocations, then flowing from his own disposition.

In his Writings the serious and impartial Reader will find these two things. First, as much Light given to the Scriptures, especially into the most difficult passages of it, as is to be found in any one Author whatsoever: Nay, it may be, in all Authors together. Secondly, a winning, and inticing enforcement to the reading of the Scriptures, with a greater seri­ousness, and more then ordinary searching into them. Among those that have studied his Books, many might be named, that have grown to be Proficients, so far as that they have attained to a most singular, and almost incredible skill, and readiness in his way, in the un­derstanding of the Bible, though otherwise unlearned Men. Yea, some such their were, that be­ing excited, and stirred up by his Books, applyed themselves to the study of the Hebrew Tongue, and attained to a great measure of skill and knowledge therein. Nay, a Woman might be named that did it.

Mr. Broughtons Writings do carry in them a kind of holy and happy Fascination, that the serious Reader of them, is won by a sweet violence, to look into the sacred Scriptures His Wri­tings. with the greatest diligence and seriousness that is possible, and cannot chuse but do it. Let any one but set himself to read his Books in good earnest, and if he find not, that he sees much more in the Scriptures, then ever formerly he did, and that he is stirred up to search much more narrowly into them then ever he was before, he misseth of that, which was never mis­sed of before, by any that took that course, if multitude of Experiences may have any Credit.

The Life and Death of Mr. Robert Boyd, who died, An. Chr. 1627.

RObert Boid of Trochreg, was descended of Robert Boid, Earl of Arran, and some­times His Paren­tage. Protector of Scotland, from whom in the fifth remove descended James Boid, Baron of Trochreg and Barniel, the Father of our Robert. He was born Anno Dom. 1578. and by his Father carefully educated in learning, and having profited in the His Educa­tion. study of the liberal Arts, he commenced Master of Arts in the University of Edinburgh; where also he was a diligent hearer of Robert Rollock, a famous Preacher in those daies.

Anno Christi 1604. or thereabouts, he travell'd into France, and came to Poictiers, where he staid but a while, because he had not the convenience there of frequenting religious exer­cises, to which he was much addicted: and going from thence, he went to Thoarse, where Dr. Rivet had been Minister for about 10 years; who most willingly entertain'd this learn­ed young Man, especially when he understood that he was willing to undertake the instruct­ing of certain noble Youths in a School lately founded in that place by him at the charge of the noble Duke Trumelian. This placc he discharged for a year and half with great pro­fit, His imploy­ment in France. and happy success; living all that while in great familiarity with Rivet, approving himself exquisite in learning unblameable in his Conversation, eminent in Piety, and of sin­gular modesty. He was so diligent and industrious in his studies, that he spent whole nights Industry. and daies, so far as bis School would give him leave, in reading and writing, and borrow­ing divers Books of Dr. Rivet, especially Greek Authors both in Prose and Verse, he made Proficiency. so good use of the same, gathering out of them whatsoever was worthy observation, that he throughly digested them, and became Master of them, whereby both Latine and Greek grew as familiar to him as his Mother Tongue; He was also no noviee in Hebrew, and in that short space he grew so exact in the French Tongue, that after a few years he might be reckon'd among the most eloquent, whether you respect the elegancies of that Language, or the pronunciation of it (a faculty, which few of his Countrymen use to at­tain unto) as many could witness, who a while after heard him Preach eloquently in the same.

From Thoarse he went to Bourdeaux, where Gilbert Primrose, his Countryman, was Pastor of the Reformed Church; a man deservedly famous; by whose means he lived there a year with a certain Nobleman, who desired to make use of his labours.

About this time the University of Mountauban wanting a Professor of Philosophy, sent for At Moun­tauban. him thither; where, according to the custom of the Academy, he taught and exercised his Scholars four hours every day, running over the whole body of Philosophy, whereby many of the Students took their degree with good approbation. While he was thus busily em­ployed in the Schools, all the rest of his spare time he spent in other Studies. He slept little, Industry. spending a great part of the night in the study of Divinity, which he propounded as his chie­fest mark: for he alwaies purposed, if God should give him an opportunity to be a Pastor of a Church, and a Professor of an University. But when certain Students, his hearers, re­turn'd from Montauban into Xantoin, and Angouleme, and there, to his great commendati­on, divulged how eloquently he spake the French Tongue, affirming further, that he carri­ed himself gravely and modestly, was of a most exemplary conversation, and that he had declared that he would embrace a call to the Ministry in the French Church, the Church of Verthole in Angouleme, having first advised with the Provincial Synod, cast their Eyes upon him, and sending delegates to Mountauban, they agreed with him that he should enter into the sacred Ministry, and undertake to be their Pastor: which he assented to, upon condition, that if he should have a call to any University, where he might exercise the Office both of a Pastor and Professor, that Church should be willing to part with him. And thus after due examination and ttial he was ordained by the Synod, and setled in that Church.

From thence he wrote often to Dr. Rivet, giving him an account of his Studies, who de­sired a visit from him; being but a day or two journies off. Dr. Rivet also informed the il­lustrious Lord Du Plessis of his parts, and excellent indowments, at what time a Professors place was void, William Crag, a learned Scothman. who had long been a Professor of Philoso­phy there, being now made a Professor of Divinity. When gone, Boíd came to him to Thoarse, Dr. Rivet sent him with his letters of recommendation to Samur to the Lord Du Plessis, who having conferred with him in private, and heard him Preach in publick, com­municating [Page 10] counsels with the Synod, he brought it about that Delegates were sent to his Church at Verthole, requesting that for the good of the University, and by the approbation of the Provincial Synod, they'd give way to his dismission; for which end also they wrote Letters to the Synod. This request was very grievous to his Church, which highly prized him; yet looking at the benefit of the University, though very unwillingly, they at last dismissed him, with ample testimonies, both from the Synod and themselves.

When he was come to Samur, he was admitted amongst the ordinary Pastors of the At Samur a Pastor, and Professor. Church, and besides, performed publick Lectures, and extraordinary Disputations in the University for some months, till a Synod of the Churches of Anjou, Coenoman and Tours, met together; whom the National Synod had appointed to provide fit Professors of Divinity in that University, and that they should carefully examine them, afore they admitted them. This was performed in Sept. An. 1608. at which time the Pastors of that Province met to­gether, to whom also were adjoined some Pastors of the neighbouring Provinces, among whom Dr. Rivet was one. There divers Theological points about the Church, and Church-matters, were propounded to be disputed on, and Robert Boid, who was to undergo his Trial, was appointed to answer before the assembly of Pastors and Elders: which place he so discharged, that by the unanimous consent of all, he was judged worthy of that Chair; which for the space of 6 years after, viz. till the year 1614. he supplied with the great applause of all, and to the great profit of the Students, with unwearied labour, and incredi­ble industry and diligence. So that by his excessive watchings, he contracted a weakness of stomack: yet would he not (though intreated) favour himself, nor be prevail'd with to His weak­ness. forbear his ordinary Lectures, though he had time most freely allowed him for the recove­ry of his health.

He alwaies observed this Rule, To fetch his Divinity from the fountains of the sacred Scrip­tures: for which end he made choice of the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, to expound it in his publick Lectures, because he saw that the Apostle had in this Epistle with admira­ble succinctness comprized all the chief Heads of the Christian Religion, relating both to Faith and Manners, and omitted nothing that was necessary.

In all his Disputations, which were many, he was solid and acute, and withal so clear, that he left no scruples remaining in the minds of his hearers.

Anno Christi. 1611. When that famous Assembly was held at Samur, in which appear­ed almost all the Protestant Nobility, and two Pastors delegated out of every Province, Mr. Boìd Preaching in his course among others, had this testimony from all, that so copious and His Ser­mons. eloquent language was admirable in a Foreigner, who had so lately learned their Tongue.

And having a great care to improve his learning, and a desire to settle himself in France, he began to bethink himself of a fit Yoke-fellow, and finding an honest Virgin of the Fa­mily of Malivern, he sought to her Parents for their consent, who having received a satis­factory testimony out of Scotland, of the Nobility of his birth, and competency of his Estate, they easily yeilded, and so he took her to Wife, with the great good liking both of the Church and University, who hoped, that by this means he would be fixed among them, so as never to entertain thoughts of returning to Scotland again, to settle there. His Marri­age.

But e're long things fell out otherwife; for King James taking care of the Universities within his Dominions, and hearing of Mr. Boid, what great credit he had at Samur, and being told by some noble Scotchmen, who were of kin to him, that he was most fit to be placed over the Colledge of Glascow, as one that was like to adorn the Divinity Chair there, they fo far prevailed that King James commanded him to return to his own Country; wri­ting also to the Lord Du Plessis, that with his and the Universities good leave he might come His return to Scotland. away. Thus his former purposes being overpowred, neither himself, nor they in France, to whom he was obliged, being able to resist, with much difficulty getting the consent of his Wife and her Parents, he bid Farewel to the University of Samur, who, sensible of their great loss, dismissed him with much grief.

This removal from Samur to Glascow was An. Dom. 1615. where for the first four years space all things went according to his own desire. His exemplary Holiness, singular Learning, admirable Eloquence; his Gravity, Humility, unaffected Modesty, extraordina­ry Diligence both in his Ecclesiastical and Scholastical Employment, above the rate of ordi­nary Pastors or Professors, drew all to a Reverence, Love, and Esteem for, and many even to an admiration of, him. Under his conduct, with the assistance of his Colleagues, Mr. His success there. William Blair, Mr. David Dickson, Mr. James Robertson, Mr. James Sharp, and Mr. Robert Blair, the affairs of the University flourisht exceedingly. From the very beginning of the Reformation, the credit and concerns thereof, were in a very good posture, by the care, and [Page 11] endeavours of Mr. Andrew Melvin, and Mr. Thomas Smeton the Presidents there, who were famous for their dextrous management of all things relating both to Discipline, Man­ners and learning: but after the coming of Mr. Boid, every thing grew to a far greater heighth.

His pains were unparallel'd, and indefatigable; for he sate daily at his studies, from mor­ning His Indust­ry. till midnight, and sometime longer, saving only a few hours for the necessary resection of nature, and dispatch of the Exercises of his Place. For his Diet, he was very strict and severe: yet in his private conversation, when at any time he unbended himself thereto (for he was neither a man for all company, nor for any company at all seasons) he was most ob­ligingly courteous, and among those with whom he was familiar, he was sometimes very pleasant and chearful, In all his publick Lectures, Piety, Learning and Eloquence strove His rare Parts, and Practice. which should get the Mastery. In the exercise of Discipline, whether in private Classes, or publick Assemblies, such was the severity of his Reproofs, the earnestness of his persua­sions, the authority of his Injunctions, the charity and prudence of his Counsels, and in all such a prevailing persuasiveness, that his looks and words were more powerful to reform what was amiss, than the sharpest corrections of others. And one Engine he had of grea­ter force than all the rest to work upon the most obstinate minds, and that was his solemn Prayers after the exercise of publick Discipline, and weekly censures, which he utter'd in Latine, with excellent and constant variety of composure, whereby he drew even rivers of tears from, and stir'd up troops of ardent desires in some of his hearers.

Samur had abundant experience for six whole years together of his solidity in modera­ting, and determining in their Disputations, and Glascow had no less trial of his subtilty and profoundness in his extemporary Disputations in the solemn and frequent examination of Students: for, as for the Problematical sporting with Divinity, by young Men, so much used in most Universities, he thought it below the Majesty of that sacred Art: and therefore, though he were a most acute and skilful Master in the art of Disputing, and inferior to none, if not superior to most therein, yet he seem'd to have a peculiar conversation from it, and saw so many things which he thought fit to be reformed in your ordinary Divinity Dispu­tations, that he resolved wholly to forbear that exercise at Glascow.

As for Conference and Discourse, though he condemn'd the practice of some in tri­fling Prudence. away their golden hours in frivilous chat, and impertinent prattle, yet if any one came to him either for satisfaction in any doubt, or for Counsel, or Comfort, or upon any such serious account, none did entertain them with greater humanity and humility, or more fully and freely open himfelf unto them.

But above all, his peculiar Excellency did seem to lie in Practical Divinity, and resolving Piety. Cases of Conscience; as appears not only by the whole contexture of his rare Comment on the Epistle to the Ephesians, but especially by that part of it on the 6th Chapter.

His manner of performing his Lectures was this; Twice a week he read for an hour and a half together; but he did not read out of his Papers all that he delivered, as the cu­stom of most is, but uttered all in a continued Discourse, without any hesitation, and with as much ease and freedom of speech as the most Eloquent Divine is wont to deliver his po­pular Sermons in his Mother Tongue. One thing especially was admirable and astonish­ing in him, that all his Quotations out of the Greek Fathers, which were frequent, and some­times very long, he repeated by heart, and never made use of any Notes in the Chair, ex­cept for an extraordinary long passage out of Chrysostom once or twice.

We come now to the last part of his Life. For the four first years, after his coming to Troubles begin. Glascow, all things ran smoothly, as was said; but afterwards the Clouds began to rise, and the Malice of the Devil did not suffer him to enjoy a much longer time of Peace. In the year 1618. as the Synod of Dort met together, which proved very happy and successful to the Reformed Churches; so there was held an Assembly at Perth, which proved as fatal and mischievous to the British Churches. King James, otherwise a most wise Prince, was fatally mistaken in this, in that he suffered himself; to be influenc'd so far by the Counsels of A. Bishop Bancroft, and other Court-Bishops, as to resolve either by art, or force, to con­form the Scottish Church to the English in point of Government and Ceremonies: And as a little before he had obtruded some Bishops out of England upon the Scotch Churches sore against their minds; so by means of that mock-counterfeit Synod at Perth, he appointed that five of the Chief English Ceremonies should be brought into use in Scotland. Hence came that train of quarrels, troubles and confusions, which overturned from the very Foun­dations, that flourishing Church. And though many, some out of one respect, some out of another, did submit their necks to this yoak; yet divers of the most Eminent Ministers, both for Piety and Learning, stood up in defence of the Liberty and Purity of the Scottish [Page 12] Church, against the Innovation and Violent Attempts of the Bishops and Court-Party: And though Mr. Boid did not publickly intermeddle with these Controversies, yet he did not obsurely favour the Dissenters: But however, he extended his Charity to the Bishops, as hoping well of them, not being as yet thorowly acquainted with their Designs and Pra­ctices.

But as soon as the Bishops perceived that he did favour their Opposers, they lookt upon him with an evil Eye, and by their Emissaries did wrest all his deeds and words to the worst sense. Robert Bruce, the Head of the Anti-Episcopal Party in Scotland, came frequent­ly to a House of his, which was near Glascow; thither Mr. Boid went once or twice to make him a Visit, they being of Antient Acquaintance. This the Prelatical pick-thanks laid hold on, not only to spread abroad Rumors among the common people, but to write to the King also, That Trochreg was gone over into the Tents of the Puritanes, as they called them. Hereupon, that he might decline the King's displeasure, which he was afraid of, and the Bishops hatred, he entertained thoughts of leaving his publick Employment, and retiring himself to his own Estate which he had in Carick; from which yet he was earnest­ly dissuaded by all his Friends; but all in vain; for he was fully resolved to lay aside both all his Academical and Ecclesiastical Imployments, which accordingly he did sore against He laid down his imploy­ments. the mind of all those that were well-wishers to him, notwithstanding all they could say to the contrary: Which course yet he soon after repented of; for he considered that no man ought voluntarily to put himself out of that Station and Employment wherein God by his Providence has plac'd him, except he be by violence forc'd thereto; and therefore he earnestly desired that God would open a Door for his return again to some Employment either in the Church or University, that so his Talent that God had intrusted him with, His trou­bles. might again be brought forth to publick use for the honour of his Lord and Master.

While he lived in this Privacy and Retirement, he kept correspondence with Dr. Rivet (as he had done all along from their first Acquaintance) and communicated all his Affairs to him; and among other things, he acquainted him how that some who had been his fa­miliars, and pretended friends formerly, now discovered much Enmity against him: Where­upon he wrote to them modestly and meekly, declaring his Judgment, and beseeching them by the bowels of Christ, to deal tenderly with their Brethren; and to use their best Endea­vours for procuring them liberty from that intollerable yoak which was imposed upon their consciences: This they took so heinously, and treated him so roughly afterwards, that he said he thought he might have found more favor from the General of the Jesuits, with his four Assessors, than he did from them: He added, that according to the present posture of assairs, he saw little likelyhood of obtaining any further publick employment; though there was fire kindled in his Breast ready to break forth, when as he saw and heard those things which daily occur'd to his Eyes and Ears.

While he was thus solicitous what to do, there came Messengers to him from Edinburgh, desiring him to come to them, and undertake the charge of the Presidentship of the Univer­sity, and of a Pastor of a Church, both which were then void. This wisht-for opportunity which thus unexpectedly offer'd it self, he readily embrac't, and came immediately to Edin­burgh, preparing himself to a diligent discharge of his undertaking. But the Devil fearing the ruine of his Kingdom by the singular accomplishments of this eminent Servant of God, laid a block in his way at his very entrance; for some of the Ministers of Edinburgh, who were leaven'd with pride and error, fearing the presence of so holy and learned a man, wrote letters to Spotswood A. B. of St. Andrews, and to the English Court, whereby they obtain'd from King James Letters to the Magistrates of Edinburgh, wherein he straitly charged them that they should by no means suffer Mr. Boid the use of either the Chair or the Pulpit in their City.

This holy Man had resolved to discourse upon the Gospel of St. John in his Sermons to the People, but being thus stopt at the very beginning, he composed these Verses with a sor­rowful heart, which he wrote at the end of the first Sermon he had prepared on that Gos­pel.

Thus he was sent a second time to his uneasy privacy, where he lived a kind of banisht or imprison'd life; though by the diligent endeavours of his Friends he was almost recal'd again to Glascow. At length the charge of the Church at Paslet was committed to him: but here new storms arose: for the Widow of the Earl of Abercorn, Baron of Paslet, who was neat a kin to Mr. Boid, being lately turned Papist, stirred up her Children and Servants to give this Servant of God all the disturbance they could, and so to tire him out, and force him to leave the place; the Baron of Streban, a rash young man, complying too much with his Mothers advice, took the opportunity of Mr. Boid's absence, his Kins­man, and brake open the doors of his House, and in a tumultuous and reproachful manner, threw out all his Houshold stuff into the Streets: whereupon it was observed that that Fa­mily never did thrive afterwards, but were in a decaying condition, till they were reduced almost to nothing. Mr. Boid being almost overwhelmed with these troubles, withdrew from all publick imployment, and continued at his own House in Carict, until at length by his continual watching, grief, and excessive studies he contracted a swelling in his Throat: whereupon he went to Edinburgh to consult some Physitians about it: but the distemper pre­vailing upon him, it put an end to his life.

He died Jan. 5. 1627. in the 49th year of his age, in the midst of the sighs and His Death. tears of his dear and neer friends, who were witnesses of those divine joys and consolations wherewith his Soul was filled, even amidst the assaults of Satan, and those other trials that befel him.

These following Verses I thought fit to transcribe, as containing in them a brief ac­count of the several places in which he had his residence from his Birth to his Death.

The Life and Death of Dr. Twiss, who dyed Anno Christi 1644.

DR. Twiss was an English Man, born of honest Parents, who yet lived but in a mean His Paren­tage. condition. His Grandfather was a German, who upon some occasion came over into England, and by a gracious Providence of God he left this his Grandson, never to be for­gotten among the Reverend Fathers of our English Church.

When he was a Boy, he was brought up in the famous Shool of Winchester, where were He went to Winchester School. Bred also those eminently learned Men Bilson, Lake, Hanmer, Wotton, Hoskins (who was our Twisses Uncle) and he was familiarly acquainted with the other.

When he was eighteen years old, he was sent to Wicham Colledge in Oxford; where he Thence to Oxford. applied himself, first to the Study of Logick, than of Philosophy, and afterwards of Divini­ty, in which Studies he continued in that University for about the space of twenty years.

He was taken notice of in that University for his acute wit, his solid judgment, his integ­rity, His excel­lent Parts. [Page 14] and pleasing behaviour, his pious, and humble mind, and at the last, he took his De­gree of Doctor, with a general applause. For he had before given a great manifestation both of his Learning, and Industry, in his Lectures, and Disputations; as also in transcri­bing, and judiciously correcting the Writings of that profound Doctor, Thomas de Brad­wardine, which were to be Published by Sir Henry Savil.

Neither was he less famous for his Sermons which he Preached in the University, though An excel­lent Prea­cher. some were not so well pleased with them, saying, that his Gifts were fitter for the Schools than the Pulpit. But how powerful he was in his Ministry, may appear by this instance? There was in Oxford in his time one Joseph Barnet, a Jew both by Nation and Superstition, who read Hebrew to divers young Students, and had cunningly pretended, and held forth, that he embraced, and believed Jesus Christ to be the true Messias: He professed that he was seriously and heartily grieved for his former Blasphemies against him. He mournfully be­wailed that the Eyes of his Brethren, and Countrymen were so blinded, and their hearts so hardened. He seemed to desire nothing more earnestly, than that he might be judged wor­thy to be admitted into the Christian Church by the Sacrament of Baptism.

By these tricks of Legerdemain he deceived many of the Learned Doctors, especially Dr. Lake, the worthy Provost of New Colledge, and afterwards B. B. of Bath and Wells. And a Sabbath was appointed publickly, wherein Baptism should be administred to this new Disciple in the University Church of St. Maries, Dr. Twiss was commanded to Preach before the administration of this Sacred Ordinance, to add the more lustre to it. But the very day before he was to be Baptized, this dissembling Jew ran away. Jewish Hy­pocricy.

Dr. Lake being informed hereof, sent some on Horseback, others on foot to pursue him, who overtaking him, brought him back, though against his Will, to Oxford, where, on his own accord, he professed that he was returned to his old Judaism, which he had forsworn: he jeared at Christ, and despised Baptism: For he had now filled his Purse.

Hereupon our Twiss laid aside the Sermon which he had prepared, and instead thereof Preached an excellent Sermon upon occasion of Barnets revolt, wherein he shewed Gods His great Labours. just Judgment upon that perverse Nation and People, whom he had given up to a repro­bate sense even to this very day. And this he performed with great applause, and to the ad­miration of the whole University: For that he had composed this in fewer hours, then the common Wits in the University could make a Sermon in so many weeks, yea months, and yet they consisted more in words then in profitable and useful matter.

Hence it was that those Catechistical Lectures, which he read every Thursday in Term time in the Colledge Chappel, and those publick Sermons which he Preached every Lords Day throughout the year, in the Parish Church of Olives, were so much frequented by the Scholars, as well as by the Townsmen. And though he lay hid, as it were, in quiet in his Academical Cel, yet was his Name so celebrated in King James his Court, that that Prudent Prince made choice of him to be Chaplain to his only Daughter the Lady Eliza­beth His Prefer­ment. to wait upon her into the Palatinat to Heidleberg.

Dr. Twiss being now to leave his Native Country of Great Brittain, before he went, he His Pru­dence. disposed of his Patrimony (which was about 30 l. per annum) and commended it to his Brother, requiring him, that out of the Rents of it, he should raise Portions for his Sisters. And thus having disposed of his small Estate, he went cheerfully with the Princess into the Palatinat: And to deceive the tediousness of the journy, he faithfully expounded some part of Holy Scriptures daily, whereby he prevailed with his excellent Lady, to moderate her grief, for leaving her dear Brittain, being taught by him, That here we have no abiding City, but we seek for a better in the world to come. By these and such like admonitions, he ar­med this rare Princess her mind to encounter with the strongest gusts of adversity with an undaunted mind. And ttuly she was put upon great trials, when, after she was Crowned Queen of Bohemia, she was forced not long after to fly out of that Country, being great with Child, and excluded out of the Palatinat, also (her Husbands Paternal Inheritance) and driven to live in exile all the remainder of her days, which sad dispensation of God to­wards her, she bore with a masculine, and undaunted Spirit, being forewarned, and fore­armed by Dr. Twiss, whil'st he waited upon her, against such changes, and occurrences:

For he had taught her, That Gods Divine Providence doth order all the Estates, and conditions of all Men, whether prosperous or adverse, according to his own good pleasure, and for the Eternal good of those that belong to him, according to that Promise. Rom. 8. 28. We know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the Called according to his purpose.

And probably upon this account it was that Prince Rupert, one of the Sons of this Il­lustrious Queen, in the time of our unhappy Civil War, coming unto Newberry, where [Page 15] Dr. Twiss was Minister, entertained him courteously, and used him familiarly, making large Promises to him, that he would be of the Antiparliamentarian side, and write in their defence, and live among them, but our Doctor neither could, nor was willing to live among Courtiers, especially when they were in Arms.

Before Dr. Twiss had continued two months in that honourable imployment in the Court of that Prince Elector Palatine, he was commanded back into England, not without the grief of that excellent Lady, and her Princely Husband, for the loss of such a Jewel, which the said Prince at the departure of Dr. Twiss, expressed, and professed in a Latine Oration which he made to him.

Dr. Twiss being returned into England, did not betake himself to a Court Life; but His return into Eng. wholly applied himself for the good of the Church, and in a Country Village fell more hard to his Scholastick Studies, and in a mean House, laid the foundation of those are works, which all the Reformed embraced, and admired.

After some years he was sent for by the Magistrates of the Town of Newberry to be their Pastor, that where he had first seen the Light, he might be a burning and shining Light Goes to Newberry. to go before, and to guide and direct them in the way to Heaven: And there passed his time to the great content, and satisfaction of himself, and to the great profit and edification of the People.

He was so far from seeking after Riches, and Ecclesiastical Dignities and Preferments, that he modestly refused them when they were offered to him. Yea, he often pleased, and Humility. congratulated himself in his low, and mean condition, as being therein exposed to fewer Temptations: And he did often solemnly profess, that he was much indebted unto God, for that he had graciously placed him in a low, but far safer condition from such dangers as an Episcopal Dignity might have exposed him to.

A great part of the Fellows of New Colledge in the University of Oxford (in whose power it was to chuse a Provost for the Government of the Colledge of Winchester) did earnestly request our Dr. Twiss that he would be pleased to accept of that Place whereunto they had chosen him, and which was equal to the chiefest Ecclesiastical Preferment, at least for matter of pro­fit: But he as earnestly contended against it, requesting them to confer and bestow it upon some other worthy Person: shewing hereby, that he rather desired to attend his Studies in private, then to wax old and idle in a more honourable Place. And which is more to be wondred at, his Wife, though she was the Daughter of one of the Prebends of Winchester, never repined, or was troubled at his refusing so fat, and plentiful a Place, and Estate. For this excellent Woman did seriously consider, that her Twiss should be nothing enriched thereby, but his Revenues would be spent upon others, and that her Husband would be occasioned to loose much time, which he esteemed most precious, and be impeded in his Studies, which he took so much pleasure in.

Not many years after a Prebendary at Winchester was laid at his Feet, which he, with an humble superciliousness kicked from him. And this he did the rather, because he foresaw that it would breed a quarrel between Dr. Moor, and Dr. Neal; the one of them a B. B. and the other a Prebend of Winchester, and Father in Law to our Twiss. And Dr. Moor had Preached freely against B. Neal in a certain Church, and had been forced to give in evi­dence to the Parliament against him for his innovations, though against his will.

The B. B. (by whose counsel it doth not appear) not long after, commanded Dr. Moor to Preach a Visitation Sermon before the Clergy at Winchester. After the Sermon, the B. B. complained that he had often been unworthily abused by Dr. Moor, and he was resol­ved to carry away a most Christian Victory over him. For now, having better knowledge of him, he would put him into the Catalogue of his chiefest Friends; and that there should be nothing which Moor should not be ashamed to ask, which he would not glory in gran­ting. Dr. Moor returned great thanks to the B. B. And only begged of him, that himself being now worn out with Age, and labours, he would be pleased to bestow his Prebendship upon one of his Sons in Law, either Dr. Twiss, or Dr. Metkerk, Dr. of Divinity, and some­times Professor of the Hebrew Tongue in the University of Oxford.

The B. B. readily granted this request, and designed Dr. Twiss for to be the Prebend: But he, returning his humble and hearty thanks both to the B. B. and to his Father in-Law, intreated them to give him leave to abide in Newberry to attend that Flock over which God had set him: judging himself unfit for a Cathedral employment, and saying, that it was hard for him, among such eminent Men, as were the Prebends of Winchester, either to sing Musically enough, or to Preach Rhetorically enough to their liking.

Not long after, the Right Honourable, Robert Earl of Warwick, designed him to a better Prudence. Rectory, but a smaller Parish than Newberry was; Dr. Twiss (considering that old Age [Page 16] was now creeping on, and his Strength was not like to hold out long) thankfully accepted Prudence. of it, provided that he would take care that his People of Newberry might be furnished with a godly and faithful Pastor at his leaving of them. Himself also went to the A. B. of Canterbury, with whom he had been familiarly acquainted while they had been Students in Oxford, and requested his favour therein: The Archbishop entertained him courteously and promised to grant all that he requested, adding that he would represent him to the King for a pious and learned man, and no Puritane: Dr. Twiss being of a quick and sagacious Wit, perceived that Snares were laid to entrap him; and therefore without applying him­self any more to the Bishop he returned to his former place at Newberry, and entertained no more thoughts of leaving it, and there he spent his time in Reading, Meditating, Preach­ing, Piety. and Writing, to his great Content and Satisfaction.

Surely many of the venerable Cathedral Doctors never preached so many Sermons as our Dr. published Books, and some never read so many Books as he composed: For besides what he Printed, he left about Thirty compleated behind him. The reason was, because he re­created his mind, not with playing at Cards as too many do, but with writing Books.

His Recreations were friendly to debate with, and confute the Enemies of Gods Grace, of the Sabbath, and of the Churches Peace. And his abilities always encreased with his work; and by how much difficult the questions were, by so much more they were pleasing to him: But of all his Adversaries none put him to greater trouble then Dr. Jackson, whose sense and meaning he could hardlier find out than confute his Errours: neither could he so easily overthrow his Arguments as he could those of Arminius, Corvinus, yea, and of the Jesuits themselves, all things in him being hidden in such dark Expressions, and deep ob­scurity.

After he had overcome and beaten down this veterane Enemy, who was a man of a greater His Abili­ties. and no less Industry, (yet who spent most of his time and labour in making clear things doubtful and obscure.) After Jackson there arose one Hord, a young Scholar (as he pre­tended,) but in truth this Hord was one Mason, a man of about Sixty years old, who in his young days had been well acquainted in the University both with our Twiss and Jackson, him also our Dr. Twiss encountred, whom he did not only weary, but wholly overthrew him.

After Mason there arose one Thomas Godwin, a very learned man, both in the antiquities of the Hebrews, Greeks, and Latines, but indeed fitter to instruct Grammarians, than to deal with Logicians, and who had more power as Master of the School in Abingdon, than as Dr. of Divinity: And our Dr. Twiss quickly whipt this old Schoolmaster, and that Fe­rula which he had used with Pride enough, he wrested it out of his hand, and exposed him to be derided by Boys.

After Thomas one John Godwin, the Minister in St. Stephens Coleman-street, London, came upon the Stage, whom Dr. Twiss encountred with, and condemned his Book of Justifica­tion, and easily discovered that that vainglorious Divine did but sell to his Disciples pomp­ous trifles, and guilded Coals to be adored by them.

Lastly, our Dr. did not abstain from dealing with Mr. Cotton, though his dear Friend, and an eminent Minister, about the Grace of God, (about which Mr. Cotton did somwhat err) with him he dealt gently: And because he knew that the very name of Cotton was more prevalent with the Godly, though otherwise weak, than other mens Arguments, he dealt very candidly and gently with him, as he also did with Piscator du Moulin, and Mr. Mead, all which he reverenced as his Fathers, at leastwise he loved them as his Brethren, and dealt with them accordingly, whilest he examined their Opinions, which he judged less sound. But in defending the cause of God and of his Grace, he feared not to encoun­ter with any man living.

Neither did he less strenuously contend for the Morallity of the Sabbath, and among others he handled Dr. Heylin according to his desert, whom never any other man meddled with with impunity.

About this there came forth a Proclamation, wherein the People were allowed to use some sports which they called Innocent, and all Ministers were commanded to read the same in their Churches, upon the pain of Suspension both from Office and Benefice. Dr. Twiss refused to read it, yea, he modestly declared against it; diverse other Ministers did the like, for which that severe Penalty was inflicted upon them: But Dr. Twiss scaped better: for King James being informed of his refusal, secretly commanded the Bishops that they should not presume to meddle with him.

The truth is, the King knew very well, that though Dr. Twiss had but a small Estate, and lived meanly at home, yet his Fame was great abroad in all the Reformed Churches, [Page 17] and that the Bishops could decree nothing hardly against him, but it would redound great­ly to their own disgrace. And truly it was no small disparagement to them that they suf­fered so eminently learned a man as Dr. Twiss to live without Preferment, who was so fa­mous abroad, and yet at home a poor Curate in an obscure Village. And Reverend Dr. Prideaux, upon an occasion, said, The Bishops did little consult their own Credit, for that they had not preferred Dr. Twiss (though against his Will) to some splendid Ecclesiastical Dignity, by which (though they dispaired to draw him to their Party, yet) they might at least have taken off, or mollified the popular Envy, and not have heard themselves to be exposed to scorn by the Curate of Newberry.

Anno Christi 1643. In the beginning of the year the Parliament designing to Reform Ecclesiastical Affairs, called an Assembly of learned Divines to advise and assist them there­in, and when they were met together with an unanimous consent, they chose Dr. Twiss to be the Prolocutor: But he, according to his usual Modesty, often refused it, yet was it in vain; for he was placed in the Chair: But after some Months being broken with labour Prolocutor; and Age, he fell dead in the very Pulpit.

For indeed he had long born with much grief the Discord and Divisions between the King His Death. and Parliament, which he foresaw would prove Fatal to both Parties: And he often wish­ed heartly that that Fire might be quenched, though with his Blood.

Neither was it a less Affliction to him to see the Contentions; whilest some would have nothing Reformed, others would have all things changed, and turned uplide down. And this added not a little to his grief, to see whither the evil Counsels of some that were not evil men tended; who under a pretence of purging the Church, would expose her to spoil and Rapine: For he feared that if the Church were robbed of her Patrimony, that Reli­gion also would be destroyed: And though himself had learned to live chearfully on a small Estate, yet he feared lest many of his Brethren in the Ministry, if they should be brought to the like straits, whilest they were solicitous about their worldly Affairs, would neglect their care of the Church of Christ.

And hence first it was that his thoughts were greatly disturbed, and his disturbed thoughts impaired his Health, and his Health being impaired, and his Private Studies and publick Employments not lessened, whilest he spake unto God in the name of the People, and to the People in the name of God, and raised up the hearts of his Hearers into Heaven, he fell down even in the very Pulpit: For his mind, whilest he was too much busied in spiri­tual Affairs, his weak Body was not able to bear up under it; for though his Constitution was naturally good, and he was of a chearful Disposition, yet Age had now made it heavy and somwhat burdensome.

Being carried out of the Church to his Lodging, and laid upon his Bed, there resorted unto him men of all sorts, who regarded either Religion or Learning, to whom for about a year together he gave notable Evidences of his Faith, and was a rare Example of Patience, at the end whereof God translated him from his narrow Lodging to a spatious and blessed Pallace in the Kingdom of Heaven: He seriously used these words, (which were almost his last,) Now at length I shall have leisure to follow my Studies to all Eternity.

The whole House of Commons in a certain sad and sorrowful Pomp, followed him to his Funeral. Dr. Harris preached his Funeral Sermon most eloquently upon that Text, Jos. 1. 2. Moses my Servant is dead. He was buried in Westminster-Abby, not far from King Henry the 7th's Chappel, where the Kings and Peers use to be buried. He needed neither Trophies, Marbles, nor Epitaphs. He provided Monuments for himself by every Volume which he wrote, which will be more durable than either Brass or Marble.

The day after the Parliament voted a Thousand Pound to be given to his Children out of the publick Treasury, but they never received any part of it, being cheated both of that; and of what else their Father left them, by some crafty Knaves: Yet it pleased God by his good Providence, so to provide for them, that they lived comfortably, and so as be­came Providence special. the Children of so great and eminent a Man.

Yet this excellent man was but a man, as himself oft confessed, and therefore thought nothing that was humane strange unto him. He had his infirmities, whereof the most vi­sible was this: That he was of a facile Nature, and too prone to be deceived by giving too much credit to those, whom, by Information from others, or in his own Opinion, he judged to be godly. Whence it came to pass that he was often imposed upon, especially by certain crafty Heads, who solemnly professed that their chiefest care was the preservation of the purity of Doctrine, and reformation of Discipline, whereas indeed and truth they sought the utter Subversion of both. Whilest he hearkened to these Dissemblers, who yet pre­tended that they studied nothing more than a purer Reformation, and gave too casie cre­dit [Page 18] to them, and became a Patron to them, he failed too much, and afterwards he was more troubled at it, because it was too late to help it.

Good God! How seriously, though too late, did he bewail the sad lot of the Church, which he foresaw to be in danger of Ruine in the very Reformation? How greatly did he grieve that the Reins were let loose to Heresies, whereas he presumed they would have been straitned? How grievously did he sigh for that cursed Liberty granted unto Blasphe­mers, whereas he thought that all their audaciousness would have been repressed? How heartily did he grieve to see the woful confusions both in Church and State, whenas he hoped that all in both should have been reduced into better order? How holily was he displeased that too much Liberty was indulged to the Pontifician Fooleries, when he had believed that they should have been deservedly hissed out of the Church? How grievously did he bear the neglect, and suspitions, raised against Godly and Orthodox Teachers, when he looked that they should have been more honoured and esteemed?

He solemnly professed his Fears, that if he had been advanced to the Episcopal Chair, he should have been insnared with the excesses of unworthy Bishops. And he gave hearty thanks to God, who had kept him, through his meer Grace, from such Honours, and Prelatical Temptations as he might have been exposed to. And in nothing it more appear­ed with what excellent Graces God had adorned Dr. Twiss, than by his frequent Confessi­on of the pravity of his Nature, which now he was astonished at. And out of his great hu­mility, he was still admiring the Gifts and Graces of God in others, and highly prizing and commending them, though they were far inferiour to his own. He reverenced and esteemed all good men, and only thought meanly of himself.

He constantly kept a Monthly Fast in his own Family, whereby he endeavoured to quicken his Prayers, by which with great importunity he sought unto God in the behalf of the afflicted Church of Christ, that God would be gracious unto it, and restore it to Peace in his own due time. Every day he applied himself with great Zeal and Fervency of Spirit to the Throne of Gods Grace by Prayer, and always before Dinner and Supper he read a Portion of the sacred Scriptures, expounding the more obscure and difficult pas­sages therein, for the Edification of his Family. And out of these Scriptures he prudently gathered Arguments, whereby he might the more abase himself and his, and with the greater importunity wrestle with God, for the obtaining of such mercies as he craved of him.

He was once sent for by the States of Frizland to be a Professor among them, which, in an Epistle that he wrote to them, he acknowledged with great Thankfulness; but prefer­red the Country Obscurity before the splendor of the University, which he also did when he was proferred the chief Professors place in Oxford. He never got any thing by the Books which he Printed, besides the applause of the Orthodox, and the Envy of the Inno­vators. His Pen was a Hammer to beat down the New Pelagians, as Truth was his Buckler. He dyed about the Year 1644.

The Life and Death of Mr. Thomas Wilson, who dyed Anno Christi 1651.

THomas Wilson was born at Catterlen, in the County of Cumberland, Anno Christi, 1601. His Parents were Sober, Honest Persons: His Father had a competent Estate, and was of the best sort of Yeomen in those Parts. When our Thomas was His Birth, Parentage, Education, Prosiciency, fit for it, he was sent to School to Blentow in the aforesaid County, where, under the care of Mr. Wilkinson, his Schoolmaster, he profited even beyond expectation, and far excelled all his Contemporaries. And he was observed in his Youth to have a sharp wit, a firm me­mory, and to be indefatigable at his Book, which occasioned his Friends to hope that in time, he would prove (as afterwards he did) an Instrument of doing much good.

His great Proficiency at School, encouraged his Father (when he was fit for it) to send him to the University of Cambridge, where he was admitted into Christs Colledge, when he He goes to Cambridge. was about seventeen years old; in which place he spent not his time, as too many others did [Page 19] in evil or idle courses, but devoted himself wholly to his Studies, insomuch as he was taken notice of, both by the Master and Fellows of the Colledge, for his great diligence and stu­diousness: It might have been written over his Study Door, Nulla Dies sine Linea: No Day passed over his Head without some progress in his Learning: But though he did spend His Studi­ousness. most of his time in Academical Learning (his acuteness, in which did appear above twen­ty years after he had left the University) yet did he not this while neglect the Study of Divinity but in order to his serving the Lord, and his Church in the work of the Ministry (if God should see it fit) he read both Positive, and Polemical Authors: But of all Books none was so esteemed, or read so much by him as the Holy Bible. So that it may be said of him as the Holy Apostle Paul saith of Timothy, From a Child he knew the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make us Wise to Salvation. Himself told an intimate Friend, that before Scriptures studied. he was Batchelor of Arts, he had read the whole Bible, with the Annotations of Junius and Tremelius three times over.

Some time after he had taken his Degree of Batchelor of Arts, he was removed from the University upon this occasion. Mr. John Bristow, a Reverend Minister, and Pastor of Chau­swod in the County of Surrey, wrote to Mr. Mead of Christs Colledge (that eminent Per­son for Learning, who was his Tutor) to send him an able and Religious Scholar, to teach He leaves the Univer­sity. School in his House, Mr. Mead soon pitched his thoughts upon his Pupil, Mr. Wilson, not knowing how hetter to fit and gratify Mr. Bristow, and glad he was that he could answer his request so well.

At Mr. Bristow's he continued about four years, instructing the Youths committed to his charge with great diligence, and faithfulness: He made conscience of improving his time, and trust reposed in him, and gave his Scholars more cause to bless God for their education His Faith­fulness. under him, then Secrates had for being brought up under such a Master as was Plato. He hath professed that he knew no calling, except that of the Ministry, wherein a Man might be more servicable to God and his Church, than that of teaching Youth, It is noted by some that one chief cause of Julians Apostacy and profaness was, that he was bred under two Heathenish Tutors, Libanius and Iamblicus: But it was the happiness of the Inhabi­tants of Chawswood that they had their Sons brought up by one who had both a dexterity, and fidelity, to instruct them both in Humane and Divine Learning.

Mr. Bristow observing Mr. Wilson's fitness, and Ability for a greater and higher em­ployment than that of instructing Children, and taking notice that his Heart was set up­on the work of the Ministry, (to prepare himself for which, he made use of all his vacant hours from the School,) he judged it not convenient to deprive the Church any longer of so able and worthy a Labourer, and therefore though it was a considerable loss to himself and the Parish, to loose so good a man, yet he preferred the publick good of the Church before his private, and advised Mr. Wilson wholly to betake himself to Preaching.

The first Candlestick wherein this Light was set, was Capel in Surry, where he conti­nued He enters upon the Ministry. for some time, directing his People by his holy Example, and judicious, diligent Preaching the way to Eternal Life. And though the Parish gave him little or nothing for his pains, yet was he never the less faithful and laborious for the welfare of their Souls: For he sought not theirs but them; not their Temporal Goods, but the Spiritual and ever­lasting His Faith­fulness therein. Welfare of their immortal Souls. Here he had the Love and Esteem of all godly People, both Ministers and private Christians, round about; and indeed by his holy, hea­venly, and humble Conversation he was such a Loadstone as wherever he came, he drew the Hearts of all sober Christians after him: What Nazianzen said of Athanasius may be truly said of him, that he was Magnes & Adamas; A Loadstone in his sweet, gentle Na­ture, and yet an Adament in his stout and resolute courage against all Errours and Pro­faness.

His continuance at Capel was not long, but upon some Reasons, by the means of the aforesaid Mr. Bristow, he was removed to Farlington (near unto Portsmouth in Hampshire) His Re­move. an ignorant, heathenish People, whom he endeavoured (so long as he staid among them) to Instruct and Reform. Though there was little of Religion amongst his Parishoners, nor scarce any savour of Good, yet whilst he abode there, the Church was much frequent­ed (Christians flocking in to hear him for diverse Miles round about) and when he was called thence, his loss was much bewailed by them.

He staid not long in Hampshire; and sure he had very good grounds for his frequent Removals, and afterwards it appeared that God intended so able and useful an Instrument His Re­move. for more publick and General Service, not thinking good to confine such great Gifts and Graces to such small Parishes.

His next Removal was to Tedington near to Kingston upon Thames, in which place he [Page 20] continued some Years, and (through the Blessing of God) his Ministry had great success, and much acceptance among such as feared God, during his abode at Tedington, he (being then about Twenty six Years old) had a desire to visit his Native Country, where his friends and Relations lived: And it pleased God so to assist him in his Labours among them, that in this journey he became profitable to the conversion of many Souls unto God. While He visits his Country. he was in Cumbarland he was requested to preach in Penroth, a great (if not the greatest) Market Town in the County, where, time out of mind, there had been a considerable Market of all sorts of Food kept every Lords-Day, till Nine a Clock in the Morning. But after he had preached two or three Sermons, he prevailed so far with the Ministers and chief of the Town, that it was proclaimed the Tuesday following, (which was on their Reforma­tion. Weekly Market-day,) That no Person, for the time to come, should bring any Victu­als or Ware whatsoever, to be sold on the Lords-day, but that Saturday should be the time for the sale of those Commodities. And for many years after the People did forbear to sell or buy any thing in the Town upon the Sabbath-day.

His next Removal was from Tedington to Otham, within two or three Miles of Maid­stone in Kent; the occasion whereof was this: There were many serious, understanding His Remove into Kent. Christians in Maidston, who were much troubled and dejected for the dulness and dead­ness of the Ministry under which they lived. The Children craved Bread, and their Spi­ritual Fathers (by Profession and Office) fed them with Stones, so that their Souls were ready to famish for want of Food: Hereupon Mr. Robert Swinnoch, an active godly per­son, and one of the Aldermen or Jurats of the Town, procured the Presentation of Otham upon the Death of the Incumbent: After which he consulted with his Friends and Christi­an Neighbours, how he might procure an able Minister for that place, herein aiming, not only at the Good and Benefit of that Parish, but of the Christians also of Maidston, who, with a little trouble and Travel, might reap the fruit of his Labours at Otham.

In pursuance of this Design, some of them repaired to London, where (by Gods Provi­dence) they heard of Mr. Wilson, to whom they presently took their Journey, and heard him Preach at Darking in Surry to their great satisfaction, After Sermon they acquainted him with the cause of their coming, and the sad condtion of the godly People in those parts where they lived, and requested him to accept of the Presentation of Otham. He who was never hasty and rash, especially in such matters of Weight and Concernment, asked the judgment of his Neighbour Ministers in the Country, and some in the City of London, who, after deliberation, did agree and concur in this, That in regard of the ne­cessities of those that feared God, in and about Maidston, and the great opportunities that he might now enjoy there, of doing good to many Souls, he ought to embrace this Call. And accordingly upon the Declaration of their Opinion, he was presented to Otham, where His great success. the Lord was pleased wonderfully to bless and prosper his Ministry, for the Conversion and Building up of many of his Hearers.

Mr. Wilson was a man that divided the Truth of God aright: A work-man that needed His Pru­dence. not to be ashamed: A Boanerges: A Son of Thunder in preaching the Law, to awaken se­cure, sensless Sinners, so that his Hearers might say of him, as one of the Antients said of St. Paul's Epistles, Non tam Verba quam Tonitrua audiebant: That they heard not so much Words as Thunderclaps, when they heard him open the dreadful Curses of the Law, and the terrible Wrath of God against Sin and Sinners. Many an one hath come to him as the Gaoler did to the Apostles, trembling, and crying out, Sir, what shall I do to be sa­ved? To such he was a Barnabas; A Son of sweet Consolation, and could so display that exceeding Riches of Divine Grace in the Lord Jesus Christ, as to attract and draw their Hearts to a ready and chearful compliance with, and a hearty acceptation of it. He, as a faithful Steward, gave to every one his own Portion: Terrour to whom Terrour belonged, and Comfort to whom Comfort, whereby (the Holy Ghost setting in with the Word) a numerous Issue of New-born Children were begotten, and brought forth to Christ. Here he preached, according to the Apostles Command, in season and out of season; Not only His Indefa­tigableness. twice every Lords-day, but also every Holy-day, and at diverse Funerals, yea, though the Person interred were so poor that nothing could be expected for his pains.

Whilst he was Minister at Otham, many from Maidston, and Seven or Eight Miles round about, did ordinarily repair to his Ministry, and joined in Communion with him at the Lords Supper. But the number of those that flockt to him was so great, that his Church could not contain them, which was a great Eye-sore to the prophane World, and caused several Ministers about him to envy and much to malign him. Envy.

Before his coming, there was an evil custom at Otham, for the Fulling Mills thereabouts Sabbath re­formed. to work every Lords-day; but he convinced the Owners so throughly of the Unlawfness [Page 21] thereof, that they presently gave over, and suffered their Mills to stand still on those days for many years after he left them.

But the only wise God who governeth the World, saw sit for some time, and for Rea­sons best known to himself, to lay aside this very useful Person: For he had not been ma­ny years at Otham when the Book for Sports on the Lords-days came forth, and was pre­sented unto him that he should publickly read it on the next Lords-day in his Church, He is sus­pended. which he refusing to do (whereof he gave divers Reasons) was suspended ab Officio & Be­neficio. Upon his Suspension his Cure was committed to such Ministers as he could not with comfort own, nor join with, whereupon he removed his Habitation to Maidston, Removes to Maidston▪ and he was a great help in private to the Christians there, whilst his Suspension continued, and from them he received some supplies towards the maintenance of himself and his Fa­mily.

Whilest he continued at Maidston he was still sollicitous for the good of his People at Otham, and therefore to encourage them to unite among themselves, and to a Gospel Conver­sation; as also to convince his Adversaries, who had causlesly traduced him to be a Favourer and an Abettor of Schisms and Divisions, he wrote a Letter to his Parishioners, wherein His Letter to his Peo­ple. he exhorted them to fear the Lord and honour the King, and to walk in Love each to­ward other, &c. And not to nourish in themselves a dislike of Government, or Contempt of those whom God had set over them, &c. This Letter was publickly read on a Lords­day to his Congregation, by one Dr. Tuck, which he did that so all his Congregation might know his judgment, and the advice which he thought necessary to give them; yet was it done without the Appointment of Mr. Wilson.

The News of this Letter, and the publick Reading of it was quickly carried to London, New trou­bles. where it gave such distaste to some, that both Mr. Wilson and the Dr. were cited to appear in the High-Commission Court, and to answer for what they had done. Both of them ap­peared several times to their great trouble and cost, and notwithstanding all they did, and could alleadg in their own Defence, yet were they enforced to continue their Attendance upon the Court for the space of three Years: In this case Dr. Tucks trouble was far the greater, because (his Body being unable to bear riding) he was necessitated to make these long Journeys of Thirty Miles at a time on Foot.

During Mr. Wilson's Suspension, a Neighbour Minister being greedy of his Living, com­menced a Suit against him, to eject him wholly out of Otham; but his Patron [Mr. Swi­noch] Malice. made good his Title, and so the malicious design of his Adversary was prevented.

His Suspension continued to the Year 1639. about which time the Scots entred into Eng­land, He is absol­ved. a Parliament was called, and then Archbishop Laud took off his Suspension. But his Troubles and Sufferings were not yet at an end: For Anno Christi 1640. Septemb. 30th, he, and other Ministers, were cited to appear at a Visitation of the Archbishops at Fever­sham in Kent, to answer for their not reading the Prayer which was made against the Scots, as also to take a new devised Oath, commonly called, The &c. Oath. But when he, and New trou­bles. his Brethren presented themselves at the place and time appointed, they understood that the Oath should be wholly waved, and the only Question should be, Why they did not read the aforementioned Prayer? Upon this they consulted together, whether it were best for them to appear before the Archbishops Vicar General or no: It was alledged by some, that the Parliament (which they apprehended would be some Relief to them) was to meet November the third following, and therefore they judged it prudential to hold off for the present; and in case they should afterwards be cited to appear at Canterbury, that they should only appear by a Procter, and so protract time so much as might, to see what the Parliament would do in this case.

But upon a serious weighing the Arguments on both sides, it was concluded that they should appear, and leave the success to God, however he should please to dispose of them. Hereupon Mr. Edward Bright of Gondhurst, and Mr. Wilson immediately repair­ed to the Inn, where Sir Nathaniel Brent [the Vicar General] with the Archdeacon, and some inferiour Officers sat. They no sooner appeared, but Mr. Bright was pointed out by one present to the Archdeacon, who thereupon asked him his Name, and whether he had read the Prayer against the Scots or no. Mr. Bright answered No. Whereupon the Arch­deacon presently suspended him ab Officio & Beneficio, without admonishing, or giving him any time to consider of it, which rash Act was deemed, even by the Favourites of that Court, to be neither Prudential nor Canonical. Though Mr. Wilson stood by, and saw His Cou­rage. such harsh dealing against his Brother, and perceived the Service much hotter than he ex­pected, yet did he not fly from his Colours, no, nor so much as make a Retreat; but being called, answered to his Name, and being asked whether he had read the Prayer, he gave a [Page 22] negative Answer, adding this Reason, because in the Rubrick before the Common-Prayer, it is enjoined, that no Prayer should be publickly read, except those that were in the Book His Pru­dence. of Common-Prayer, as this Prayer against the Scots was not.

This unexpected Answer so puzzled the Archdeacon, (who was not the readiest or acutest to make a Reply) as caused him to have Recourse to Sr. Nathaniel Brent for Advice, who, upon Information of Mr. Wilson's Reasons, very ingenuously left the Archdeacon to him­self, to do as he should see cause, refusing to meddle therein. Upon this the Archdeacon (the edge of his Fury being somwhat abated) proceeded more deliberately with Mr. Wil­son than he had done with Mr. Bright, and gave him fourteen days time to consider of it, and then to give in his answer at Canterbury.

But notwithstanding this intermission, the Archbishop had not yet done with Mr. Wil­son: For in March following he was again prosecuted by him. Upon a Holiday in that New trou­bles. Month Mr. Wilson Preacht in publick, and after Sermon he, with some other Friends, met at the Parsonage House, whereof one Mr. Butcher (a man eminent for Piety) had a part, to repeat the Sermon and to pray. After these Duties were ended, in a room, which was peculiar to Mr. Butcher, one knockt at the Door, to which Mrs. Wilson was about to go, but suddenly started back, fearing that it might be a Messenger sent to apprehend her Hus­band: But the Messenger immediately came into the Room where Mr. Wilson and his Friends were, and putting off his Hat, enquired which was Mr. Wilson, pretending that he had some private business with him. And though Mr. Wilson was there in his Gown, ha­ving newly Preached and Prayed, and thereby was easily to be distinguished from all the rest, yet God so ordered it by his good Providence, that the Messenger observed him not. A special Providence

Presently after the Messenger came in, Mr. Wilson stepped behind some of his Friends, and Mr. Butcher wisely stepped forward, and told the Messenger that the Room wherein they were was his, and bad him look for Mr. Wilson in his own Rooms. Upon this the Mes­senger withdrew into the Hall, and in the interim Mr. Wilson went up the Stairs into his Study, where he concealed himself until Night, and then escaped to the House of one Mr. Hall, in the Park of Maidston. The Pursivant looking about in vain, went again into the Parlor, and missing one whom he had seen there before, charged upon all there present that they had conveyed away Mr. Wilson, and told them that they must find him out. He produced also his Warrant, under the Hands of many of the Privy Council, of whom the Archbishop, and the B. B. of London were two, requiring him to attach the Body of Tho­mas Wilson, Rector of Otham, and bring him before them.

The Pursivant having shewed them his Warrant, required and commanded Mr. Butcher and one Mr. Morgsan to assist him in searching the House for Mr. Wilson; but notwithstand­ing all his diligent search, he missed his Prey: For Mr. Wilson could not be found. The Messenger was very angry that he should see, and yet thus loose him. But when, in some threatnings to the Persons present, he had vented his Choller, he grew somwhat cooler, and after some private Discourse with Mrs. Wilson, he took his leave, saying, that he had been a Messenger to the Council-Table Thirty six Years, and was never served so before. For he confessed that he heard him Preach that day in publick, and yet when he saw him so soon after, and that in his Gown, yet he did not know him. But God (who in the like sort hid Athanasius) had a Hand in it, Whose Kingdom rules over all, Psal. (103. 19.) He hath sundry strange ways for the Preservation of his People.

The Circumcellians laid an Ambush in the way where they knew St. Augustine was to go, Strange Provi­dences. but by a good Providence of God, his Guide, missing his way, led him about another way, whereby he escaped their Hands. In Qu. Maries days, Stephen Gardiner, B. B. of Winchester, sent after Mr. John Fox, who afterwards writ the Acts and Monuments, as far as Ipswich to apprehend him: The Barque in which he was was newly gone out of the Haven when the Messenger came to take him; the next day, by reason of Storms, he was driven back into the same place again; but before his Return, the Messenger (despairing to meet with him) was departed. And since those days Mr. Parker (a very learned and god­ly man) was prosecuted by Archbishop Bancroft, for his Book against the Cross, &c. On a time the Archbishop having Intelligence that Mr. Parker was in a certain Citizens House in London, thinking that now he was sure of him, sent one presently to watch at the Door of the House, to see that none should stir out, till others came with a Warrant to search it for Mr. Parker. The Person sent, sat him down at the Door, boasting that none should come forth but he would know what and who they were.

Mr. Parker and his Friends within, were much troubled what to do, and how Mr. Parker might be secured: At last it was resolved that he should attire himself like a Citi­zen, and so venture out: by this means he might possibly escape, and if he staid within, he [Page 23] would certainly be taken: Accordingly he came forth thus cloathed, and Gods Providence so ordered it, that the Waiter espying a Maid which he loved and courted passing by on the other side of the Street, stept over to her just as Mr. Parker came forth, so that though he stayed but a very little while with her, , and immediately returned again, yet the Bird was flown: Mr. Parker was gone: And when the rest came with Power to search the House, the Person whom they sought for was not to be found.

Thus Mr. Wilson hid himself in the Country from the Storm till the Parliament was be­gun; and then he repaired to London, and continued there, sometimes changing his Ap­parel, that he might not be commonly known, till his Liberty and Freedom was procured by the means of Sir Edward Deering, one of the Knights of the Shire for Kent, who, in one He is resto­red to his Liberty. of his Speeches which he made in the House, gave this Character of Mr. Wilson.

Mr. Wilson, (said he) for so is your Petitioner named, is a Man as Orthodox in his Do­ctrine, as conformable in his Life, as laborious in Preaching as any we have, or that I do know. He is now separated from his People to both their griefs; for 'tis not with him as with others, who are glad to set a Pursivant on work, that they may have an excuse to be out of the Pulpit. It is his Delight to preach.

By this means he obtained his Liberty, and returned to his Charge and wonted pains at Otham. But sometime after he was by the Parliament chosen a Member of that Reverend, He is one of the Assem­bly. Pious, and Learned Assembly of Divines which sat at Westminster; upon which he sedu­lously attended for the most part of the Week, and notwithstanding his pains there, sup­plied his Cure each Lords-day, though it was Thirty five, or Thirty six Miles from Lon­don. He was much esteemed in the Assembly for his solid, and judicious Discourses upon sundry occasions, and for his meek and humble deportment among them.

His last Remove was to Maidston, the Shire Town of Kent. And indeed who was so sit His Remove to Maidston. for so populous a place (where there is but one English Congregation) as one of such vast Parts, exemplary Piety, and of so strong a Constitution of Body as he was? And as soon as the way was open for his admission into Maidston, (through the Ejection of the former Incumbent by the Committee of Plundered Ministers) his old Hearers there, whose Hearts were knit close unto him, longed for his Settlement among them: But the Parliament having made an Order, that plundered Ministers should first be provided for, where any Livings were vacant, they of Maidston could not for the present obtain their de­sires: For one Mr. Smith (an able and holy man) was by the Committee of Plundered Mi­nisters sent down to that place, yet Mr. Smith had not been long at Maidston, before news was brought that the most able and eminent Ministers should be removed to Cities and great Towns, that they might be capable of doing the more good, and in particular, that Mr. Wilson should be transplanted from Otham to some more considerable place. Upon this Report the People of Maidston were much startled, fearing that they should lose their beloved Pastor.

To prevent which, they applied themselves to Mr. Smith, desiring him to accept of some other Living, that Maidston might be free for Mr. Wilson. Mr. Smith seriously con­sidering the vehement desires of the good People after Mr. Wilson, yielded to refer the busi­ness to six judicious Ministers of the Assembly, whereof three should be chosen by him, and three by them of Maidston. The Ministers met accordingly, and having heard what could be said of both sides, and weighed the matter throughly, gave their Advice that it would be best for Mr. Smith to leave Maidston to Mr. Wilson, which he did accordingly, having a considerable place [viz. Harrison] about seven Miles from Maidston provided for him, to which, so soon as he could with convenience, he removed. And thus at last, by Gods good Providence, Mr. Wilson, and the People of Maidston (who at first brought him into Kent, and who were long before joined together in Heart,) were now joined toge­ther in Relation, and Habitation, among whom he continued with much Love and Faith­fulness, till God called him out of this World.

Although Mr. Wilson now left Otham, yet did he not leave to take care for the Souls of his People there; but still retained his Title to that place, lest (if he had resigned it) the His Pru­dence and Piety. Patron should put in an insufficient or unworthy Minister, and himself provided for them a pious, learned, and painful man, to whom he gave the whole profits of the Living. For he held not the Title to the place upon any covetous or worldly Respect, but meerly up­on Respect to the good of the Peoples Souls.

When he had been sometime at Maidston, his first care was to promote the Reforma­tion A Reforma­tion. of the Church, and to see to the due Administration of the Sacraments, according to the Rule of Gods Word: For which end, in his Ministry, he discovered to them the ne­cessity of Church-Ordinances, and of Discipline, with the qualifications of the Subjects [Page 24] thereof, &c. And then (God accompanying his holy Endeavours, notwithstanding the obstructions he met with, not only from the prophane, but also from some that professed the Fear of God,) he in time brought it to a good Issue, and put it in practice, to the great Comfort of them who were truly godly. Upon the Dissolution of the Assembly, he being freed from his Attendance there, applied himself wholly to the work of the Ministry, with as great pains and diligence as a man could possibly do.

On Saturday Night he usually continued very late at his Studies, yea, often till Mid­night, that he might the better prepare himself for his Work on the Lords-day. On Sab­bath His great pains. Morning he usually arose by two or three a Clock, and was much displeased with himself if he passed that hour. About seven a Clock he came down to his Family, whom he called together, and read some portion of Scripture to them, which also he expounded, and required those that were present to give him an account of what they remembred of his Exposition: Sung some part of a Psalm: Prayed with them, and concluded all be­tween Eight and Nine a Clock, that they might be all ready to attend the publick Ordi­nances.

About Nine a Clock he went to Church, and commonly began with singing two staves of a Psalm; after which he Prayed briefly for Gods Assistance in, and for Gods Blessing Sabbaths sanctified. upon his own holy Ordinances; Then he read some part of the Old Testament, and ex­pounded (somtimes three, or four, or more Verses, as more or less matters was contained in them) for the space of an hour; For he had an Hour-Glass in his Desk to guide him therein: He had an excellent faculty and dextery in expounding the Scriptures. His custom was, first to Analize the Book, then the Chapters as he came to them; then he gave the several Readings, and Expositions of the Verses which he handled. He had Junius, Tremelius, Piscator, Calvin, Beza, and several other Comentators ad unguem, in­somuch that in the Assembly of Divines, if at any time they doubted what was the Opinion of any of the aforenamed Authors, Mr. Wilson was called forth to satisfie them. After he had declared the several Readings, and the Judgments of Expositors, as there was occasi­on, he drew Observations from the Coherence, Dependance, and matter of the verses which he briefly illustrated and applied.

Having ended his Exposition, he spent about an hour in the Pulpit: And when he came home to his Family, he constantly went to Prayer with them before Dinner, where­in he begged that the Truths delivered out of the Word might be written by the Spirit of God upon all their Hearts, so as to bring forth fruit in their Lives. Then, usually eating little or no Dinner, he went into his Study till his Family had dined: And then coming down he spent some time with them in singing, and other Religious Exercises. In the Af­ternoon at Church he did as in the Morning, only his Exposition then was upon some part of the New Testament.

After the publick Duties were ended, many of his Neighbours came to his House, where he called his Family together, required of them, and of others present, an account of his Sermons preached that day; and most of those that were present would tell him som­what; one what the Text was, another the Division of it, another the Doctrine, another the Reasons, and others the Explications and Uses, methodically as he had delivered them, all whom he would help and encourage. Hereby their Understandings and Memo­ries were much improved. For they, knowing before hand his custom, were the more attentive in hearing, and the more careful to remember what they heard, whereas when the Master of the Family repeats all himself, Children and Servants (who naturally have an aversness to, and hatred of all that is good) are usually heedless in hearing, and mindless both in publick and private of what they hear. After Repetition he sung a Psalm, and concluded with Prayer, and so went to Mr. Swinock's to Supper, who had been his quon­dam Patron. And by that time they had supped, there would be a hundred, or more, ga­thered together to Mr. Swinocks House, to join with him in the conclusion of the day: And among these were persons of all Ranks, the Mayor, Jurates, and their Wives, who by their Examples encouraged others to the service of the great God.

After Supper he came forth amongst them, began with a short Prayer: Then he read the Verses he had expounded in publick in the Fore and After noon, and asked them what Observations were raised from such and such a Verse, till he had gone over all the Verses. Then he enquired what the Texts on which he had preached were, what the Doctrines, Explications, Reasons, and Uses, all in order as he preached them: He seldom named a­ny one Head himself, but still heartened them to speak, and only assisted them when they were at a loss. Then they sung a Psalm, and he concluded with Prayer about Ten a Clock at Night.

Once a Month he administred the Lords Supper to a considerable number of solid, serious, Christians, which he performed with that Life and Warmth in Prayer, and opening the Scrip­ture, Monthly Sa­craments. that some of his Communicants have thought themselves in the Suburbs of Heaven when they have joined with him in that Ordinance; in which he usually spent about an hour and an half. Thus he sanctified the Lords-day, spending Nine or Ten hours in publick and private Worship, besides what time he spent in secret Duties, in which he was no Nig­gard: So that the Lords-day, which was a day of Rest to others, was a day of the greatest Pains and Labour to him; yet was it easie because delightful to him: And at the end of the day, when those that took not half his Pains, have complained of their weariness, he would be exceeding lively and chearful: Such was his great Love to his Saviour, and to the Souls of those that were committed to his Charge. The Sabbath was to him a Day of Light and Gladness, and a good Day.

Yet he thought it not enough thus to instruct his People on the Lords-Days, but the Town being very populous, and the Parish large, whereby he was uncapable of going His great pains. from House to House, in the Week-days he laid out himself in the service of his Lord for the Benefit of his People. For every Thursday (which was their Market day) he preached a Lecture, unto which many Ministers resorted, and sat with delight under his Ministry. On Fridays he met in private with as many of his People as would or could come toge­ther, unto whom he sometimes expounded the Word, sometimes Preached, and always sung and prayed with them.

Also upon Mondays or Thursdays (for he altered his day as he saw occasion) he appoint­ed Days of Conference. a Conference in the publick Meeting-place, where the Question, which before was made known to them, (as what was the Nature of Repentance, of Faith, &c. and what the Signs, what the Means, and what the Motives, &c.) His People were prepared to give in their Answers, and he so demeaned himself therein, that by his wise and courteous Deportment, and pleasing Language, he won their Hearts, and by this means he drew them to the study of the Scriptures, and other good Books, that so they might be able to speak to the purpose.

As they spake, when he saw occasion, he would help and assist them, still taking care to keep them in the way of Truth, and to see that none did go beyond their bounds by en­croaching upon the work of the Ministry. When they had done speaking, he would gather together their scattered Notions, bring them into an orderly Method, apply to them suita­ble Texts of Scripture, add of his own what he thought necessary, and so rendered the Meeting exceeding profitable and comfortable to his Flock. Christian Communion mana­ged with Prudence, is that which keeps our Religion in Breath, and without which it will be ready to die.

When he saw fit to lay down this way of Conference, instead thereof he took up Cate­chising He catechi­sed. in the Week-days in publick; and this he continued till he had gone through all the Town, except some few out-houses, whom also he intended to have Catechised, but was prevented. He did work the work of the Lord, who sent him into the World for that end: He spent himself, as the Silkworm to cloath, and as the Lamp to give Light, to others: He buried not his Talent in a Napkin of Idleness, like too many Ministers, who will rather suffer their Children (to whom they ought to be Nurses) to cry and starve, than be at the pains to draw forth their Breasts unto them.

Mr. Wilson was of a Noble and Communicative Disposition, very free upon all occasions to impart knowledg unto others; not like a Whirl-pool that sucks all to itself, but as a Fountain that disperses its streams for the Refreshment of many. Seldom were any in his His painful­ness. Company, but they might (if it were not their own fault) receive good by him. He was neither vain in Ostentation, nor niggardly in Reservation: Some may think that he did ill in taking so much pains constantly, both on the Lords-days, and on the Weekdays, and up­on all occasions, to the shortning of his Life; But he never thought that he could labour too much for his Lord and Master, and that God makes no difference between nequam and nequaquam: An idle and an evil Servant. And for this cause it was, that when he was ad­vised by his Friends to be mindful of his Body, and not to work it so hard, he was deaf to all such Counsel, and was ready to say with Mr. Calvin, (when he was persuaded by his Friends to take care of his Health) Would you have my Lord when he comes to find me idle? And with Dr. John Reynolds of Oxford, when the Drs. persuaded him non perdere substanti­am propter accidens, replied, ‘Nec propter Vitam vivendi perdere causas.’ Coming to a Friends House, when he had travelled neer Forty Miles that day, yet not­withstanding his great weariness, he would needs spend some time in Expounding a Portion [Page 34] of Scripture to the Family, besides Singing and Prayer (which he never omitted) before he would go to Bed.

St. Augustin's Wish was, That when Christ came to call him hence by Death, he might Time re­deemed. find him aut Precantem, aut Predicantem, either Preaching or Praying: And truly such seemed to be the desire of Mr. Wilson, by his Indefatigable Labours in his Masters business. He was never given to any Recreations (tho never so innocent,) but he was exceeding spa­ring in his Expence of time. A little after Dinner he would sometimes sit and discourse a while; but usually, if he was at home, his Study was the constant place of his Abode. He was Helluo Librorum, an Indefatigable Student, stealing time from his Sleep (and that when his Body needed and called for it) to his Book. It is recorded of Mr. Bradford, Martyr, that he slept not above Four Hours in a Night, and that his Book went not out of his Hand till Sleep came: And that Mr. Latimer rose, Summer and Winter, at Two a Clock in the Morning. And of another Martyr its said, he was spare of Meat, sparer of Sleep, but sparest of Time. So Mr. Wilson made much Conscience of his Expence of Time, especially upon the Lords-days.

When he was invited to a Feast, his Zeal for God's Glory, and the good of Souls was His Zeal. such, that commonly after Dinner he would call for a Bible, sing a Psalm, expound some Verses of Scripture, and pray with his Friends. Mr. Will. Fenner of Essex (that eminent Servant of Jesus Christ) meeting Mr. Wilson once at Mr. Butcher's House, was so extream­ly taken with his active, chearful Spirit for God and Godliness, that he said to Mr. Butcher, I am even ashamed of my self to see how Mr. Wilson gallopeth towards Heaven, and I do but creep on a Snails pace.

Though he was a good Linguist, and well read, both in ancient and modern Authors, yet (ordinarily) he Preached, though always with Evidence of Reason, yet still in a plain, His manner of Preach­ing. and clear Stile, by Doctrine, Reason and Use, that so he might be understood by the mean­est Capacity. His constant Preaching shewed that he was an able workman: His Doctrines were clearly raised from his Text: His Heads pertinent to his Subject, and he had a rare faculty in applying suitable Scriptures (which is the principal way of convincing mens Judgments, for it is the Authority of God that must do the Work) to all his Heads. On the Lords-days in the Afternoon, for some considerable time, he Preached over the Heads of Divinity, and therein he discovered so much Learning and Judgment in his plain Preach­ing, that if these Sermons had been preached in either of the Universities, they would have been highly approved.

He was so much esteemed for his great abilities, that there was scarce any publick Occa­sion for Sermons in the Country, but he was chosen to preach them. Somtimes he preach­ed His Family Duties. bfore the Judges of the Assizes, and twice before the Parliament. He was not of the number of them, who are zealous abroad to get themselves a name, but cold and careless at home, not much minding what becomes of their Families: But as David, He walked in the midst of his House with a perfect Heart, and brought up his Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. He was as good within as without Doors. Every Morning and Evening be read some part of the Scriptures, expounded it to them, sung part of a Psalm, and prayed. He used often to ask his Children Questions about the Principles of Re­ligion: Examined them on the Lords-days about his Sermons, and caused them to learn sundry portions of the Scripture without Book.

It is Recorded of B. B Hooper, that he so governed his House that in every Corner of it there was some smell of Virtue, of good Example, honest Conversation, and reading the Scriptures. If it was not so in Mr. Wilsons House, surely the fault was not the want of a good Governour. He Prayed often with his Wife apart from the Family, and himself spent much time in secret Prayer, knowing that of Lactantius to be a great Truth, Non est vera Religio quae cum Templo relinquitur: That's no true Religion, when we leave it behind us at Church.

He was very exact and watchful always to set a good Example before his Children and His holy Life. Servants, knowing that such are led and formed more by the Eye than by the Ear; and what their Superiours do, than of what they say: and indeed his whole Conversation was a practical Exposition upon the Gospel; and what he taught on the Lords-day in his Do­ctrine, he preached over all the Week in his Life. He was exemplary in his Converses with all men, and spake much by his carriage, even when he was silent, and spake not a word. His good works were unanswerable Syllogisms, invincible Demonstrations to con­vince his Neighbours, whereby he drew their Hearts, and engaged their Affections after the Beauty of Holiness. He practised what he preached, and did what he taught. See 1 Tim. 4. 12. Be thou an Example in words, in Conversation, in Charity, in Purity. Tit. 2. 7. In all things shew thy self a Pattern of good works

Maidston before Mr. Wilson's coming was a very prophane Town: They used to have Morrice-Dancing, Cudgel-playing, Stool-ball, Crickets, and mnay other sports openly, and Sabbath re­formed. publickly on the Lords-day; yea, they would jeer, and deride such as professed Godliness, and went abroad to hear Sermons on the Lords-days when they had none at home. Com­monly after the Evening Service, many used to go to the Ale house, others to walk in the Fields: And it was their constant custom to ply the Conduits on the Lords-day, for draw­ing of Water. Indeed the former vain, and sinful customs of Sports was reformed be­fore he came; But by his preaching he prevailed with them to forbear vain walking a­broad, fitting idly at their doors, as also to fetch their Water on Saturday Nights, which they were to use on the Lords-day: Insomuch that though the Town was large and full of People, yet you should hardly see one person in the Streets after the Sermons on the Lords­day: So that when the Mayor hath searched the Inns, and Ale-houses, he hath scarce found one Townsman there.

One of the Judges at an Assize taking notice of it, said publickly, That in all his Circuit he never came to a Town where the Lords-day was observed so strictly. Yea, by his Mi­nistry he so wrought upon the People, that the very Pot▪hearbs were gathered and made ready on the Saturday, and the provision for their Dinners was fitted for the Fire against that day. He was much of the mind of those Primitive Christians, who when any of them were asked, Servasti Dominicum? Hast thou kept the Lords-day? Answered, Christianus sum, omittere non possum: I am a Christian, I cannot neglect it. The Sanctification of that day is exceeding useful to keep up the power of Godliness in our Hearts and Lives. And as God on that day bestows great Blessings upon them that humbly and reverently wor­ship him, on that Queen of Days, that Market-day of our Souls, (a. 58. 13, 14.) so he hath inflicted dreadful Judgments on the Prophaners of it, and when men have neglected to punish them, God hath taken the Sword into his own Hand, and done it himself. See sundry Examples of it in my first Vol. of Examples.

One Example there was in Maidston before the Reformation wrought by Mr. Wilson. On a Sabbath day as some Children were playing in the Streets, near unto a Wall, against which some Waggon-Wheels were set up, there came a sudden gust of Wind, which blew down a Wheel upon one of the Children, and crushed it to death.

Upon the Week-days also (such was the Blessing of God upon his Ministry and holy Reformati­on in the Town. Example) many Families did set up Religious Exercises both Mornings and Evenings, so that if you had walked through the Great Street about Nine or Ten a Clock in a Morning, you might hear them singing in many Families: For it was their manner, together with Reading and Prayer, to join singing.

He was of a couragious and undaunted Spirit, not discouraged by any obstacles, which His Cou­rage. lay in his way of Duty. He feared God and none else: He was like St. Chrysostom, who, having a threatning Message sent him by the Empress, bid the Messenger return this An­swer, Nil nisi peccatum timeo: I fear nothing but Sin. And like Dr. Rowland Tailor, who in the time of the Marian Persecution, being persuaded by his Friends to fly, said, I know the Cause to be so good, and the Truth so strong on my side, that I will (by Gods Grace) appear before them, and to their Beards resist their felse doings; for I believe I shall never be able to do God so good Service as now.

He shewed his Courage also in his bold reproving of Sin: For as Christ said of the His Zeal. Church of Ephesus, He could not bear those that were evil. Elijah durst reprove Ahab, and Mr. Wilson feared not to reprehend the greatest, when there was cause for it. If men were bold in sinning, he was as bold in telling them of it, and in giving their Sins the due Accents. Yet as a wise Physician, he could distinguish between Pimples and Plague­sores; between Infirmities and Scandals, and dealt with them accordingly.

He was very zealous for God and his Glory, embracing all opportunities of doing him Service, and wherever he came he promoted the strict Observation of the Lords-day; and this he did the rather, because he observed what dishonour was done unto God by the pro­faness and contempt of Gods Ordinances by some, and by the Errours, and wilful with­drawings from the Ordinances by others, which he bewailed bitterly to his dying day He opposed Schisms. Some, who it's hoped had the root of the Matter in them, questioned his Call to the Ministry, nay, suspected his Call to be Antichristrian, and so separated from him, though they with­al acknowledged that he was their spiritual Father, and had begotten them to God through the Gospel, to whom he might say as the Apostle Paul did 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 as much as you are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us, written not with Ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God, [Page 36] 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 which separated from him, Isa. 11. 6, 7, 8, 9. This causless sinful Separation lay near his Heart, even when he lay upon his Death-Bed.

The great danger of their immortal Souls, as also of those who did wholly cast off the His Zeal a­gainst Here­sies and Schism. 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, according to the Command of the Holy Ghost, and he could do it [...], cuttingly, that he might be sound in the Faith, Tit. 1. 13. 'Tis reported of St. Bazil. that one hearing much Commendations of him, had a great desire to know what manner of man he was: Hereupon in a Vsion there was represented to him a Flame of Fire, with this Motto, Talis est Basilius: Such an one is Bazil. 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 God. The Zeal of God's House did even burn him up. Errours and Heresies were very odious to him, such was his love to the Truth. It might be said of him as it was of St. Austin, that he was Haeretico­rum Malleus, the Maul of Hereticks: And as of Mr. Arthur Hildersham, that he was Schis­maticorum Malleus, The Hammer of Schismaticks. He often quoted and commented upon those Scriptures, Heb. 10. 25. 1 John 2. 19. with much warmth and vigour, that, if it were possible, he might reduce and bring back such as went astray.

And though such as were touched in their sores were angry, and said it was passion, and that his natural heat was Kitchen-Fire, the effect of his natural Spirit, yet those that were judicious knew it to be otherwise, viz. That it was a Coal from the Altar; true Zeal; the Fruit of Gods Spirit in him; knowing that he was set up for the defence of the Gospel, as Phil. 1. 17. Some of those that separated were very dear unto him, of whom 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 magnifie himself against me? But it was my Friend and mine Acquaintance; we took sweet Counsel together, and (formerly) walked to the House of God in Company, Psal. 55. 12, 13, 14. But as dear as they were to him, the Truths of the Gospel were much dearer. Amicus Socrates, amicus Plato, sed magis amica Veritas. He was a man of such clear convincing Light, and as its said of Apollos, (Act. 18. 24.) [...], able, strong, mighty in the Scriptures, that had they been wilfully blind, or very weak Ey'd, they must have seen their Errours. It's observed by some as a special Providence, that the same day in which Pelagius the Heretick was born in our Britain, St. Austin, the great Confuter of his Heresie, was born in Africk; God so disposing it that the Poison and the Antidote should come into the World together: So was it a good Pro­vidence to Maidston, that in a time when so many Errours sprung up, there was such an able and faithful Husbandman to watch them and root them out; Otherwise many more than did, might have faln from their own stedfastness, and been led away with the Errours and Heresies of the Times.

He was not only sound in the Faith, and held fast the Form of sound words, (2 Tim. His Faith. 13.) But also, as Abraham, he was strong in the Faith, (Rom. 4. 20.) And in the great­est dangers and difficulties could rely upon God, and trust him with himself, and all that he had. He met with much opposition (as is before declared) both from open Enemies, and seeming Friends: For Satan knowing him to be so great an Enemy to his Kingdom of dark­ness, both by his Exemplary Life, and sound Doctrine, raised great Winds and Storms, if it were possible, to put out this burning and shining Light: Yet still he remained un­daunted in the midst of all, not moved by any of those things, neither counted he his Life dear unto him, so he might finish his course with joy, and the Ministry which he received of the Lord Jesus, (Act. 20. 24.) He minded his own work, consulted his Duty, and left Gods work (the Issues and Events of all) to God himself.

He was an immoveable Rock, though the Waters beat sore upon him, and had often His Cou­rage. that saying of Luther in his Mouth, Mallem ru [...]re cum Christo, quam regnare cum Caesare; I had rather fall with Christ than reign with Cesar. He knew God could and would take care of his own Cause and Interest, whatever became of him and other Instruments. His Spirit could argue as Luther did with Melancthon, Si piam & justam causam defendimus cur Dei Promissis non confidimus? Praeter hanc vitam misellam Satanas & Mundus nihil nobis eri­pere possunt: At vivit, & in sempiternum regnat Christus, in cujus tutela consistit veritas: Is nobis aderit, is causam hanc, quae non nostra, sed ipsius est, ad optatum producet sinem. If the cause be good that we defend, why do we not trust God, who hath made us such graci­ous Promises? The Devil and the World can take nothing but our frail and miserable Lives; but Christ lives and reigns for ever, &c.

Mr. Wilson was a Man that had lived much above the World; the great things thereof were little in his Eyes: Though his Habitation was on Earth, his Conversation was in His heaven­ly-minded­ness. Heaven. Indeed he had but a small Estate considering his great Charge; but a poor man may be as earthly and covetous as one that is rich: For Covetousness doth not lie in the Chest, or in Bags, or great Mannours, but in the Heart. But he was Master of, not Slave to that little which he had. His Mind was sitted to his Estate, and notwithstanding he had many opportunities and advantages for the getting of Riches, if he had sought after them, yet he never made use of them for that purpose. He was wholly taken up with his Trea­sure in Heaven, and was so far from minding of earthly things, that he seldom or never meddled with them, but left the management of them to his pious and prudent Yoke-Fel­low. His indifferency to the things of this Life was admirable. A little before the Insur­rection in Kent, Anno Christi 1648. there was an Hundred Pounds brought into Mr. Wil­son's Contempt of the world. House, being a Legacy given to his eldest Daughter, by Mr. Brigg, a gracious man, and one of the Jurats of Maidston, (which was the greatest Portion that any of his Children had,) which Money, in time of the Insurrection, was by the Souldiers (when they search­ed his House for Arms) discovered, and taken away, (though it was soon restored again) Mr. Wilson being then at London.

When afterwards the Country was quiet, and Mr. Wilson was returned to his House again, an intimate Friend asked him whether he was not much troubled when he heard that his Money was gone? He answered, That he was no more troubled when he heard that the Mo­ney was carried out of his House, than he was when he heard it was brought into his House. The same Friend asked him what frame of Spirit he was in when he went from Maidston? For the Town and County being in Arms, many of the mean and prophane Rabble re­proached him, when he was going out of the Town, and took his Horse by the Bridle, and twice or thrice led him back again, crying out, Wilson, Wilson, where is your God now? He answered his Friend thus: Truly I thought (when they blasphemously said un­to me, where is your God?) on that Text, My God is in Heaven and hath done whatsoe­ver he pleased. Psal. 115. 3.

Great were his Gifts as well as his Graces: God was pleased to bestow upon him very His natural Endow­ments. large natural Endowments, whereby he became much the more capable of doing good. He had a quick apprehension, a clear Understanding, a deep and sound Judgment, and a most tenacious Memory. He was none of those Preachers whose Tongues are galloping, whilest sober Reason and convincing Sense standeth still, or at best doth but creep. He dis­covered his strong Judgment in few words. His Body was of a strong Constitution, and truly so was his Soul. He would presently find out the meaning of hard Authors, and what­soever he read was his own: Few have the like strength of Memory. Though he was His Memo­ry. careful to write down his Sermons, Heads, Proofs, and Explication, yet in the Pulpit he ne­ver made use of any Notes.

He made a good use of his Memory; it was not like a Childs Pocket, stuffed with trash, but as the Ark, wherein the two Tables were laid up. He had scarce his equal for his Remembrance of the sacred Scriptures: He was tried for a good while together: One took a Bible and read a Verse in one Chapter, and another a Verse in another, and so went forwards and backwards, both as to the Books, Chapters, and Verses of the Scripture, and he all along told the Reader the Verse, Chapter, and Book, without mistaking any one Text; and himself said, That he believed he could tell the Book, Chapter, and Verse, which any should read to him all the day long: Much whereof appeared in his Prayers; For on a Fast day he hath prayed an hour together, and most of the time in Scripture Phrases. The Word of God was dear unto him, his daily Delight and Meditation.

And that which made all his parts useful, was, that he made Hagar to wait on Sarah; Prudence. and as David consecrated the Spoils taken from the Gentiles to the Temple: So he dedica­ted his natural accomplishments to his God, and made them serviceable before his own honour.

Notwithstanding all his great, natural, and gratious Accomplishments, he was cloathed Humility. with Humility: None thought so meanly of him as he thought of himself: His Face, like Moses's shined, so that all his judicious friends could not but observe and admire it, yet he knew it not: He had not the least affectation or shew of Ostentation in his deportment, Language, or any other way.

Empty Vessels make the greatest sound; those which are full are the more silent. Igno­rance and Pride, Emptiness and Arrogance are usual Concommitants: He knew much, yet the more sensible he was of his Ignorance, Nothingness, and Unworthiness, and walked the more humbly with his God. As a Bough laden with Fruit or an Ear with Corn, the fuller [Page 38] and weightier, the more they bend downward: He (as a Violet) hung down and hid his Head, though his Fragrancy and Sweetness discovered what he was.

In his Apparel he was always grave and sober, never minding the whimsical Modes or Fashions, but ever kept to the same manner of Attire. A Friend standing with him at his door, when a great Gallant antickly habited went by, whereupon he privately said, I have made a Covenant with mine Eyes, why should I behold Vanity?

This good Man was surely excellently accomplished, seeing he had such rich natural Gifts, and such great gracious Habits, which, as the Diamond to the Ring, added true His rare Ac­complish­ments. value to his Naturals. Alas! What are all natural Abilities without Grace, but as Ci­phers without a Figure, insignificant, and in Gods account standing for nothing? Nay, usually the greater Parts, the greater profaness: Satan makes much use of such acute Wits, as sharp Swords to do the more mischief: At best they are but as Toads with Pearls in their Heads, and Poison in their whole Bodys. But Mr. Wilson had this happiness to have his great Gifts adorned and enameled with great Graces, whereby he hourly became the greater Instrument of God's Glory.

When he was about Twenty six years old he married the Daughter of Sir—Zinzan, who being in a Consumption before she was married to him, (for Love of him, her Parents His Wives, and Chil­dren. judging him much below her,) died within seven or eight Months after she married him.

About a Year after her death, he married Mrs. Damaris Cable (Daughter of Mr. James Cable of London, Merchant,) who was a meet help to him both in his civil and sacred con­cerns: By her he had Eleven Children: His eldest Son [Samuel,] who feared the Lord in his Youth, died young, the other Ten he left all living at his death with his desolate Wi­dow. He had little of this worlds Goods to leave to his many Children, not above a hun­dred pounds a piece, and that after the decease of his Widow; yet he left them much if we consider the many fervent Prayers which night and day he poured out before the Lord in their behalfs. It's recorded of a good and gracious Woman, who, when she lay on her Death-Bed, said thus to her Children; I have little to leave you; but this I must tell you, there is not one room in the House which is not perfumed with Prayers for you. Often did this holy man cry out, O that my Children might live in thy sight! Lord come down by thy Spi­rit into their Hearts, lest my Children die, lest they die eternally. He had the happiness pro­mised to the good man, Psal. 128. 3. Thy Wife shall be as a fruitful Vine by the sides of thine House: Thy Children like Olive Plants round about thy Table.

That Piety which did shine so brightly in his Life did sparckle wonderfully at his Death. His Sick­ness. The Messenger which the Lord sent to call him hence (for Morbus est via ad Mortem) was a violent Fever, which he welcomed, as knowing it was sent by a gracious Father, to call him home to his Fathers House. No guest comes at any time amiss to him that keeps a constant Table: No Providence, no nor Death itself can come any time amiss to him that is always ready, and that dieth daily while he lives. Mr. Wilsons Lamps were burning, his Oil was ready in his Vessel, when the Bridegroom came.

His Fever had continued but a little while before his Friends did Prognosticate, that it His carri­age in his Sickness. would prove Mortal, and remove him from them, whom they loved as their own Souls, and under whose Ministry they had sat with so much delight. But what he had been in the course of his Life, the same he continued to be to his Death. Though his Disease was violent, and his Fits often acute and sharp, yet he never complained. Groan he might, yet he did never grumble. His pain might cause him to mourn, but it did not make him murmur: He reverenced the Rod in the Hand of his Father; and that Cup which his Fa­ther gave him to drink he submitted to. In his extremity his Faith and Patience did emi­nently shine forth to the Honour and Glory of God, and to the great comfort of those about him, and those that came to visit him.

Being sensible of his approaching Death, he was exceeding sollicitous for the Town and His care for his People. Parish whereof he was Minister. It is an excellent Speech of Laelius (in Cicer. de amicit.) Mihi non minori curae est, qualis Respublica post mortem meam futura sit, quam qualis hodie sit: My care is as great what shall become of the Common-Wealth when I am dead, as what it shall do while I live. So this good Man was very sollicitous what should become of his People when God should call him away. As Moses before he died was careful to ap­point a Successor that might lead Gods People (which he had brought unto the very Bor­ders) into the Land of Promise, the Earthly Canaan: So Mr. Wilson before he died took care for a Successor that might further that good work that he had begun, through Grace, in many of his People, and to be helpful to conduct them to their heavenly Canaan. And for this end he sent for some of the Town, who were prudent and gratious, and advised them to consider of some able and godly Minister to succeed in his place: And he com­mended [Page 39] unto them Mr. John Crump, a worthy Minister, as the fittest that he know, to be their Pastor; and accordingly Mr. Crump did succeed him, not only in his place, but also in his Faithfulness and Diligence, and Serviceableness to the great comfort, and advantage of the People.

And as Jacob before his Death called his Children together, to direct and foretel them He blesseth his Wife & Children. what should befall them, so Mr. Wilson called his Wife and Children to him, and desired his Wife not to be discouraged at his Death, nor to sorrow as those that have no hope; but to continue to serve God in Christ, to trust God, and be chearful in him; adding this for her comfort, that though now they must part for a time, yet that there was a time coming when they should be joined again, never to part any more, his Children were most of them young, but those that were capable of Instruction, he exhorted to labour for the Fear of God betimes; and directing his Speech to his elder Daughter, he said, Look you to it that you meet me not at the day of Judgment in an Unregenerate State. And so he commended all his Children to the Lord, and left them with him in much Faith in the Covenant which God had made to him and his.

When Christian Friends came to visit him, he always endeavoured to requite their His Counsel to his Friends. kindness by giving them godly Counsel and Exhortation: He advised them to be frequent in reading the holy Scriptures, to prize highly, and to meditate much upon the Promises; to be holy and blameless in their Conversations; by no means to forsake, but stick close to all Gods Ordinances, and to hold on in Communion with Gods People in the Town. 'Tis reported of Epictetus, that when he had broken his Leg, he discoursed with his Friends as if his Soul had been in another mans Body; and when the Bones of Mr. Wilson were fore vexed with the violence of his Disease, he used to discourse in such a composed Heavenly His pati­ence. manner, as if he had ailed nothing.

When one or two of those who had separated from Communion with him came to visit him, he did with much affection bewail their Schism, and prayed that God would bring them back again; and told them that he could willingly lay down his Life, so they might join in Communion with the other godly People in the Town. Schism re­proved.

As Jacob when he was dying worshipped, leaning on his Staff, (Heb. 11. 21.) so he on his Death-Bed was frequent in praying to, and praising God. Two nights before his death (though he was very sick and weak) yet he made his Bed his Pulpit, out of which he preached to some that came to see him, concerning the pretiousness of the Promises, and bad them to look on that Text, 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding rich and Promises commend­ed. pretious Promises, that by these you might be Partakers of the Divine Nature, &c. And con­cerning the pretiousness of Christ to believers, he desired them to turn to 1 Pet. 2. 7. Un­to you that believe he is pretious. And Oh, with what affectionate Expressions did this Mi­nister and Member of Christ commend his Head, the Pearl of inestimable value, and the Promise which he had so dearly purchased, saying to them, That one of those Promises was more pretious than all the World!

He kept a pure Conscience while he lived, and through Gods Mercy, had a peaceable Conscience good. Conscience when he died. 'Tis said of Oecolampadius, that being asked on his Death-Bed, whether the Light did not offend him, clapping his Hands on his Breast he said, Hic sat lucis: Here is Light enough within: Mr. Wilson all the time of his sickness manifest­ed much Calmness and Serenity of Spirit. 'Tis recorded of Dr. Taylor, Martyr, that when he came within two Miles of Hadley, the place where he was to suffer, he fetched a Frisk and said, God be praised, I am almost at my journeys End: I have but two stiles to go over, and then I am at my Fathers House.

The Apprehensions that Death drew near were very comfortable to Mr. Wilson. A Gen­tlewoman of his Society coming to take her leave of him, (being about to remove out of Comfort at Death. Maidston) he pleasantly said to her, What will you say (good Mrs. Crisp) if I get the start of you, and get to Heaven before you get to Dover? When another came to visit him, he ask­ed her what she thought of him: She answered, Truly Sir, I think you are not far from your Fathers House: To which he replied, That's good News indeed, and is enough to make one laugh for joy.

When others spake to him of his Death in a mournful way, he said unto them: I bless God who hath suffered me to live so long, to do him some service: And now I have done the work appointed me, that he is pleased to call me away so soon. Thus in the Breathings of his His death. Faith and Hope, he departed this Life, and commended his Spirit into the Hands of him that redeemed it, and that on the Lords-day, upon which Day he used to work so hard, which now was the day of his Eternal Rest, where he keeps an endless Sabbath, Anno Christi. 1657.

He needeth no Picture nor Monuments to preserve his Memory. His good Works (though transient in themselves, are yet permanent in the Hearts of many) and praise him in the Gate: For as Agesilaus dying said, If I have done good that will be my Monument; if ill, all the Statues you can make will not keep my Good Name alive.

When he died he was about Fifty two Years old; of a strang Constitution for strength, and might in the course of Nature (if God had so pleased) have lived much longer: But he brought forth good fruit early, and was ripe when others of his age began but toblossom, and therefore it was no wonder though God gathered him to himself so soon. He was in his Meridian, when others were but just peeping above the Horizon, and therefore might well set before them.

It was much desired and prayed for by many that he might have lived longer, but God's time is best, and his time is come: He had fought a good fight, he had finished his Course, he had kept the Faith, and his Master called him to receive his Crown. It may be said of him as one said of B. B. Juel, Diu vixit, etsi non diu fuit: He lived long and much in a little time. He did not waste out with the Rust of Idleness, but did wear out with Labour; yet he was a Light that did not blaze out needlesly and unprofitably, but burnt out for the en­lightning of many, and directing them in the way of Life; which Life himself now en­joyeth: And happy are they whom when their Lord comes shall find so doing: Of a truth I say unto you, he shall make them Rulers over all that he hath. Luk. 12. 43, 44.

VERA EFFIGIS SAMVELIS BOLTON S.S. THEOL: [...]: NVPER COLL C CANTAB: MAG:

Qui Obiit 15 Oct^brs: 1654 Aetatis 48.

F. H. Van Houe Sculp:

A brief account of the latter part of the Life and Death of Dr. Samuel Bolton, who died Anno Christi 1654.

I Have no Account of his Parentage, Birth, and Education in his younger Years: About the time that the All-wise God translated him hence, he was pleased, within a little space to take to himself many learned, godly, and able Ministers, which, without doubt, was a presage of the dreadful and terrible Judgments which ensued not long after: And it was the greater Judgment, because most People were so little sensible of it. Isa. 57. 1. The Righteous perisheth (saith the Evangelical Prophet) and no man layeth it to Heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the Righteous is taken away from the Evil to come. The Jewish Rabbins have a saying, Quando Luminaria patiuntur Eclipsin, ma­lum est signum Mundo: It is an ill sign to the World when the Luminaries of Heaven ar­eclipsed.

God extinguished many glorious Lights about that time, especially in and about London, as Dr. Gouge, Mr. Walker, Mr. Gataker. Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Strong, &c. And in the Uni­versity of Cambridge Dr. Hill, Dr. Arrowsmith, and Dr. Samuel Bolton, sometimes Mr. of Christ's Colledge there: Upon whose Commendation if we should enter, it may be truly said what Gregory Nazianzen said of his Sister Gorgonia, That there is more fear that we shoul speak too little, than that we should speak too much.

He was a Burning and a shining Light in this our Israel: An Interpreter one of a Thousand: A man of excellent Ministerial Abilities: A workman that needed not be ashamed, dividing aright the word of Truth. He was one that did study not only [...], but [...] not His Cha­racter. only to Preach well, but to Live well. His Life was an excellent Commentary upon his Sermons. As Nazianzen said concerning John the Baptist, (who is called, The voice of the Cryer,) that he was All Voice: A Voice in his Habit; a Voice in his Diet; a Voice in his Dwelling; A Voice in his Conversation as well as in his Preaching: So that it may be tru­ly said of this Man of God, he was Tota Vox, All Voice: A Voice in his Life as well as in his Doctrine. He lived his own Sermons, and preached louder by his good Conversation, than by his Heavenly Doctrine; Nam vita Praedicatorum est vocalissima: The Life of Mi­nisters is the Life of their Ministry, and Teachers Sins are the teachers of Sins.

What Ruffinus said of Gregory Nazianzen, may fitly be applied to this Reverend and ho­ly Minister; He did those things himself that he taught to others, neither did he condemn himself by practising contrary to what he preached. He had not only Dona honoraria, but Dona salutifera; Not only Gifts for the good of others, but Graces for the good of his own Soul. There are many Ministers that have rare Gifts, but they are like a Pearl in a Toads Head, a Pearl in the Head, but the Body all Poison, bec [...]use their Lives give a lye to their Doctrines: But this our Brother had not only Gratias gratis datas, but Gratias gra­tum facientes. He was not only learned, but religious, and (which is the highest commen­dation) he was an humble Saint. The Applause from others did not make him proud.

There are four things (saith Luther) that make a Minister; Prayer, Reading Medita­tation, What makes a Minister. and Temptation. Our Christian Brother was not only a man of Prayer, Reading, and Meditation, but a man assaulted with manifold Temptations; yea, probably with more than many hundreds of Ministers are. He was often buffeted by Satan, and therefore pro­ved H [...]s Temp­tations. the more able to comfort them that were in trouble, by the Comforts wherewith he was comforted by God. (2 Cor. 1. 4.) And he left a Writing behind him wherein he had re­corded all the outgoings of God towards him, and all the Experiences of Gods shining with the Light of his Countenance upon him; and also of his withdrawings, and hiding his Face from him. He hath written down both the Apogaum's and Perigaeum's (as I may so say,) both those times wherein God stood at a distance from him, and when he approached His Pru­dence. nearer to him.

His desire of winning Souls to Christ by his Preaching, was so great, that though he was His painful­ness. Head of a Colledge in Cambridge, and had no Ministerial charge of his own, yet notwith­standing he preached gratis once every Lords day for many Years together. The like is re­corded of that Reverend, Godly, and Learned Minister Dr. Hill, somtimes Master of Tri­nity Colledge.

This worthy Dr. Bolton, in the ordinary course of his Ministry, had a little before his Death preached over the third Chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians to the latter end of the Twentieth Verse, and was come to Verse the One and Twentieth; Who shall change our vile Body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body, according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself. And it pleased God by his Providence so to order it, that Mr. Edward Calamy preaching at his Funeral, happen­ed, that he made choice of this very Verse (though he knew nothing of this till after­wards) for his Text at his Burial. But though Dr. Bolton lived not to preach upon this A special providence. Verse, yet he now lives in Heaven, waiting for that blessed time when his vile Body shall be raised out of his Grave, and be made like unto the glorious Body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Before he was made Master of Christ's Colledge, he preached three or four Years at St. Martin's Ludgate, London: Also six or seven Years at St. Saviour's Southwark; And for some time at St. Andrew's Holborn, in all places to the great satisfaction of all the godly that waited upon his Ministry. And though he be now dead, yet he still speaks, not only by the Holiness of his Life, and graciousness of his Doctrine, but also by the many excellent Books which he hath lest in Print, in which may be beheld a fair Character of his Piety, and Ministerial Abilities.

He was very Orthodox and sound in his Judgment: He had no Spiritual Leprosie in his His works. Head, witness those two Books of his, called, The Arraignment of Errour, and A Vindica­tion of the Rights of the Law, and Liberties of Grace. He was of a publick Spirit, witness that Book of his, called, A Word in Season to a sinking Kingdom. He was very careful in admitting Men and Women to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; witness that Book of his called, The Wedding Garment.

The time of his Sickness was long, tedious, and costly: His Diseases many, very many, His Sick­ness. but his Patience was exceeding great. He would usually say, that though the Providences of God were dark towards him, yet he had Light within. A little before he died, he said to one that was lifting him up, Let me alone, let me lie quietly, for I have as much comfort as my Heart can hold. The last time that Mr. Calimy visitted him, he found him wonder­ously desirous to be dissolved, and to be with Christ: He said, Oh this vile Carcass of mine! Death desi­red. When will it give way that my Soul may get out and go to my God? When will this rotten Carcass be consumed, that I may mount up to Heaven? And when he saw any probable Symptoms of Death, (which he called, The little Crevises at which his Soul did peep out,) he was exceeding joyful.

It was his desire to be buried without any Funeral Pomp, which may mind us of a saying His humili­to. recorded by Melchior-Adamus in the Life of Pellitan, of an Uncle of his who would not be [Page 45] buried in his Scholastick Habit (as the custom in that Country then was) Testamento cavit (saith he) ne aliter sepeliretur quam simplex alius Christianus: He ordered it in his last Will and Testament, to be buried as a private Christian, and not as a Doctor, and the Reason he gave was, because he hoped, Resurrecturum se ad judicium, non ut Sacerdotem & Docto­rem, sed ut humilem Christianum; That he should rise at the day of Judgment, and appear before God, not as a Presbyter, or a Doctor, but as an humble Christian. This was the desire and hope of our Reverend Brother, and this Text preached upon at his Funeral was matter of great rejoicing unto him, whilest he thought on that day, wherein his vile Body, subject to so many Diseases, should be made like unto the glorious Body of Christ, accord­ing to the working, the mighty working (as he three times repeated) whereby he is able to sub­due all things to himself: And so he quietly slept in the Lord, and was honourably buried in His death. the Church of St. Martins Lungate, Octob. the 16th. Anno Christi 1654.

A brief account of the Life and Death of Mr. Richard Vines, who died Anno Christi 1655.

RIchard Vines was born at a Town called Blazon, in the County of Leicester, about His Birth & Education. the Year 1600. His Parents finding his Towardliness and Ingenuity, kept him at School till he was fit for the University, and then sent him to Cambridge, where he was admitted into Magdalen Colledge; In which place he soon discovered much quickness of Wit, and pregnancy of Parts, which, though they were lively and facetious, yet never sinful or prophane.

In that Colledge he followed his studies very hard, and profited much in the Arts and His profici­ency. Tongues: And after he had continued some good time in the University, going into his own Country, he was chosen to be a Schoolmaster at Hinckly, a little Market-Town, bor­dering upon Warwickshire.

There he continued for some good time, training up his Scholars in Religion and Learn­ing, till the Death of Mr. James Crunford, head Schoolmaster in the Free-School of Co­ventry, who also was Rector of Weddington in the same County; by whose death that Re­ctory He is chosen to Wedding­ton. falling void, Mr. Adderly, a godly and Religious Gentleman, who was Patron of the place, and lived in the Parish, presented Mr. Vines to it.

The Parish was very small, and the Ministers means of maintenance answerable, being not above 60 l. per annum, yet Mr. Vines accepted of it, and laboured faithfully in the work of the Ministry, with much Evidence and demonstration of the Spirit and Power, so that many reforted to his Ministry from places adjacent, and Mr. Adderly took such a Love and liking to him, that he bestowed his Daughter upon him, who proved a loving and loyal Wife unto him all his days. His Marri­age.

Having continued some time at Weddington, there was another little Parish within less than a Mile of it, called Cawcot, which falling void by the death of the Incumbent, the To Cawcot. Patron conferred that upon Mr. Vines also, because the Churches being but about half a Mile asunder, he might preach in the Morning at the one, and in the Afternoon at the other; or one Lords-day at one, and another at the other, yet the Profits of both did not amount to 100 l. per annum.

His Parts and Pains were so conspicuous that they were not fit to be bounded within so narrow a compass, and therefore at the request of divers Friends, he undertook a Lecture His Lecture at Nun-Ea­ton. at Nun-Eaton, a large Market-Town near unto him, and about seven Miles from Coven­try, unto which multitudes resorted, both of the Gentry, Ministry, and private Christi­ans, whereof many came from places divers Miles off, as I my self was somtimes a Wit­ness.

There he continued till the Civil Wars brake forth, Anno Christi 1642. between the King and the Parliament, at which time, for his safety, he retired with his Family into His remove to Coventry. Coventry, as divers other Ministers did; and considering the heavy Judgments of God up­on the Nation, and the great danger that they were in, they agreed amongst themselves to set up a Morning Lecture, which began at Seven, and ended about Eight a Clock, which they kept by turns, to the great Comfort and Edification of the Citizens, and others of the Gentry, that were retreated into the City. Mr. Vines was one that kept up this Le­cture, and preached also somtimes on the Lords-days, with great approbation, and content to his Hearers.

There he continued to the year 1643. at which time the Assembly of Divines was cal­led, Chosen into the Assem­bly. and he was chosen one of the Ministers for Warwickshire, and it was a Mercy to the Church of God that he was so: For how much good he did there about the matter of Church-Government, may safely be concealed, but scarcely be expressed without offence to some.

This occasioned his coming to London, and soon after he was chosen to preach before the House of Commons on one of their solemn Fast-Days, which he performed with much His coming to London. judgment, Masculine and Nervous Oratory, as may be seen in his Sermon, printed by Or­der of the said House: And he was taken so much notice of, that soon after he was chosen Minister of Clements Danes, a very large, and considerable Parish, wherein, besides Citi­zens, To Clements Danes. there were some Nobles, and Persons of Eminency.

And Essex-House being in that Parish, that Noble Earl was his frequent Hearer, with [Page 49] whose Ministry he was so pleased and taken, that he became his great Friend to his dying Day, and after his death Mr. Vines was made choice of to preach at his Funeral, which curious and ingenious Sermon is to be seen in Print. He was called often to preach before the Parliament, sometimes before the House of Lords, and sometimes before the House of Commons, all which he performed to the great Satisfaction of his Hearers, especially of the most judicious. And how effectual his Ministry in his own Parish was, some yet li­ving can, and have testified, not without many Tears, being much troubled for the dry­ing up of those Breasts, from which, for some years, they had such wholsom, pleasing, and profitable nourishment.

After some time spent in that place, by the sollicitation, and procurement of the Earl of Essex, (Clements Danes being so large and unweildy a Parish) he was removed to the Rectory of Watton, in the County of Hertford. The Parsonage was of good value, yet His Remove to Watton. much over-rated in the common Report, (as most Ecclesiastical Living use to be;) but it proved small to him, by reason of his great Charges in repairing a ruinous House; great Taxes (the tenth of all which was laid upon him by his Neighbours, who knew not how to value such a Pearl,) and (as himself told me) being forced to find a Horse and Arms without any other joined with him: Besides, in regard of his necessary absence sometimes, he was fain to maintain an Assistant to supply his room.

When the University of Cambridge was reformed by the noble Earl of Manchester, he was chosen, and appointed to be Master of Pembrook Hall: And sew there were more To Cam­bridge. fit for Learning, or a Spirit of Government, and for such a trust than he. When he came to it, he found the House very empty of Students, and the Buildings much out of Order, by abuse of rude Soldiers that had been quartered in it: But the Fame of Mr. Vines, now made Master, quickly drew Scholars; the Chambers were repaired, and made fit for their Entertainment, & the House flourished with godly, and learned Fellows, and Scholars. There he continued, promoting Religion and Learning to the utmost of his Power, till he was put out for refusing the Engagement, even that Engagement, which, though some did swal­low, yet to others it proved a stone of sttumbling, and a Rock of Offence to many other tender, Consciencious Heads of Houses, Fellows of Colledges, and Ministers in the King­dom.

From being Pastor of Watton (a place too mean for his Gifts) he had a fair Invitation and Call to the Pastoral Charge of Lawrence Jury, London, and so he returned to the Ci­ty To Law­rence Jury. again, where he exercised his choice. Talents to Gods Glory, and the great good of his People, and others that flocked to his Ministry: And God so blessed his Labours, and gave him such room and Interest in the Hearts of his People, that whereas his House was old and incommodious, they pulled it down, built it new, and enlarged it out of their own Purses, which cost them (as I was informed) about Five Hundred Pounds.

Whilest he was Minister there, he was chosen to be one of the weekly Lecturers at St. Michaels Cornhill, which Lecture was set up and maintained by some godly and well af­fected Merchants, who frequented the same, together with multitudes of other Citizens, out of all parts of the City, and it was a means (through Gods Blessing) to edifie many, and to settle and establish others in those giddy times.

As he was thus indefatigably spending himself, and labouring in the Lords Harvest work, it pleased God to afflict him with a great distemper, accompanied with much pain in his His Sick­ness. Head, which suddenly almost took his sight from him, insomuch (as himself told me, with whom I was intimately acquainted for about Fourteen years before his Death) that he could not see to read the largest Print, neither would any Spectacles help him. This occasioned a very great change; for whereas before he was of a lively, chearful, and active Disposi­tion, now he became dull, and Melancholly: whereas before he was of a strong, and healthful Constitution, now he became weak and crazy, yet would not be taken off from his Labours to the last; but was desirous to spend and be spent in the work of the Lord.

On a Sabbath Day he preached his last Sermon, and administred the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper, not finding any sensible change in himself, till about Ten a Clock at Night, when he was going to Bed, at which time he fell into a great Bleeding at the Nose, probably having over-heat his Blood by the labours of the Day; and having finished his course upon Earth, and faithfully discharged the Work and Errand for which God sent him into the World, between Two and Three a Clock that Night, he quietly and comforta­bly resigned up his Spirit unto God that gave it, and was honourably buried (multitudes His Death. attending his Corps to the Grave, with much Lamentation and Mourning) at Lawrence-Jury London, Feb. 7. Anno Christi 1655. and of his Age about Fifty Six: And from the Sanctification of the Lords-Day he went to his everlasting Rest.

He was (as John the Baptist) a burning and a shining Light: An Interpreter one of a His Chara­cter. Thousand: Of very great and eminent Parts: taller by the Head and Shoulders then most of his Brethren. A Man mighty in the Scriptures; Another Apollos in that; excellently and exquisitely accomplished in all parts of Learning. A perfect Master of the Greek Tongue; a good Philologer; an excellent Orator. He was a ready and piercing Disputant, and so he approved himself even to admiration, in those two famous Treaties, the one at Uxbridge, the other at Newport in the Isle of Wight; in both which places, being (with some other Di­vines) appointed to attend their Commissioners sent from the Parliament, in the former Place to treat with the Kings Commissioners, and in the latter with the King himself, he strenuously enervated the Arguments of those, who asserted the Divine Right of Prelacy, and assertest the Presbyterian Government.

He was a solid and judicious Divine, who read much, and concocted what he read; One who was able to give a weighty and pithy Decision in any controverted point: He was a notable confuter of Errours, he seldom spake to them, but hit the Bird in the Eye, and made him die, not a lingring, but a sudden Death. In the course of his Ministry he was highly Orthodox, sound in the Faith, very powerful, very spiritual; His whole design and drift in his Ministry was to clear up that great Doctrine of Justification (in which he was eminently, and throughly studied) to debase Mans Righteousnes, and to exalt the Righteousness of Jesus Christ; He was one that knew how to speak a word in season to wounded and bruised Spirits. There was a great Light, who is now with God, Mr. Angel of Grantham, who, being under a sore and grievous Desertion, did receive much Comfort by discourse with him.

His diligence in his Work and Calling was great in Labours much, in Preaching much, His Indu­stry. and towards his end his great weakness neither did, nor could hinder him from his Masters Work, with St. Austin, he desired, that when Christ should come, he might find him aut Precantem, aut Praedicat [...]m; Either Praying or Preaching. That which would have made some to keep their Beds, could not keep him out of the Pulpit. And as he Preached, so he lived, By his Parts he did [...]; By his Grace he did [...]: What he Preached to others he practiced himself, and was not like a Mercurial Post, that directs the way to o­thers, but never stirs it self.

For his natural temper, he was a Man of a Heroical and undaunted Spirit, some called Luther­like. him Luther, not being much unlike him (as it should seem by his Picture) and indeed he was another Luther; he feared not the Faces of any in the discharging of a good Consci­ence. In his Deportment he was somewhat blunt and inobservant, yet not in the least Proud, or morose, and supercilious. Two things were objected against him by some: First, his frequent removes from place to place, towards his latter end; And secondly, Co­vetousness, which they inferred from the former. But their is no question but that a Minist­er may have just and lawful occasion of removing from one place to another, especially in such unsetled times as those were (yet it is confessed that, for the avoyding of Offence, they should be very wary and circumspect therein) but for his particular case, after he had long continued in his Pastoral charge in the Country (tho the Place was obscure, and the means small) in all his latter removes, he can scarce be said to have undertaken a Pastoral Charge in any of them, except in the last of Laurence Jury.

As for the charge of Covetousness, I remember that Mr. Calvin had the same aspertion Vindica­ted. cast upon him, but his last Testament shewed that he dyed a very poor Man: For all his Goods, yea and his Library, being sold very dear (saith Mr. Beza) scarcely amounted to three Hundred Crowns. And Mr. Calvin himself in his life time, hearing of this impudent slander, answered, If I cannot persuademen whilst I am alive to believe that I am no great Monyed Man, yet my Death will shew it. And the Senate at Geneva could testify that his stipend being very small, he was so far from not being contented with it, that when they offered to enlarge his Pensions, he utterly refused the same: By this small estate which he left at his Death, it appeared that either his Gifts were not great, or else that he spent as God sent: So Mr. Vines by what he left at his death; made it abundantly appear, that his Heart was not much set upon the World; For if it had, sure there would have been more of the World in his Purse: for it may be confidently affirmed, that their was not a Minister of any repute in the City of London, for some years, that died with so small an Estate as Mr. Vines did.

If we take him as a Christian, he was another Enoch, a true Walker with God, a very Holy Man: more cannot be said of any Man; less cannot be said of him, without wrong­ing his his memory. His Life was like Enochs Life, and his Death was like Enochs Transla­tion; for he died suddenly. He went to Bed, slept, and dyed. His Death was a sleep in­deed: [Page 51] Being weary and spent with his Work, God took him to Heaven, there to give him a Cordial: From the Pulpit he went to the Throne: As soon as he had ended his Sabbath here, he entred upon his everlasting Sabbath in Glory. He went warm from his Work to his Wages. That's blessed thing for a Minister to be found by Death about his Lords business. Mr. Vines his work was done, he was weary and feeble, and God his good Master took him to himself, crowned him with Life and Immortality, and instead of hard Labour here, called him to that joyful work of singing forth Praises and Hallelujahs to his God and Father.

M^r Richard Blackerby Dyed in the yeer 1648 in his 74^th. year

F. H. Van Houe. Sculp.

The Life and Death of Mr. Richard Blackerby, who died Anno Christi, 1648.

THat eminently holy Divine Mr. Richard Blackerby, was born in the His Birth, Fa­mily and Edu­cation. year 1574. at Worlington in Suffolk. He was second Son of Thomas Blackerby, a person of good Estate and Quality, whose Ne­phew (the Worshipful Thomas Blackerby Esquire) was lately one of the Aldermen of the City of London, and afterward high Sheriff of Suffolk, and is yet living a Justice of Peace in that County; being Honoured by all men for his eminent Service to God and his Country, in all his publick stations; Richards Father had nine Sons and one Daughter; unto all whom he gave Pious Education: who designed his second Son (from the first) for the Ministry, and first put him to the School of St. Edmundsbury in Suffolk, where he profited so much, that at the Age of Fifteen years he was admitted a Student in Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge, where he lived nine years, and became an eminent Scholar in all parts of Learning, especially in his great skill in the Hebrew, Greek and Latine Tongues, being reckoned one of the best Hebritians in Cambridge in those days.

While he was in the University, famous Mr. Perkins was a Preacher and Lectu­rer in the Town of Cambridge, upon whose Ministry he diligently attended; He is first con­vinced of sin by the Mini­stry of Mr. Perkins. whereby his Soul (when he was middle Batchelour of Arts) was deeply wrought upon, and truly converted, but he lay some years in great distress of Conscience, and much perplexity of Spirit, when his Father took him for some time home to Worlington, to see if change of Air might a little relieve him in his Melancholy, which his Friends thought proceeded from temper of body, though it had another cause, which neither Air nor Company could remove.

After a short time, he desired to return again to Mr. Perkins, for satisfaction of Soul, and it pleased God (as he was returning to Cambridge, and Riding alone upon New-market Heath, bemoaning his sad condition before the Lord) to reveal his [Page 58] reconciled face in Christ Jesus to him, and to give him that Peace of Conscience (so well grounded, and so clearly evidenced) that he never lost it to his dying day.

From the University he went and lived first in the nature of a Chaplain in the House of Sir Thomas Jermin of Rushbrook in Suffolk, who was Father of the present Earl of St. Albans, in which Family he both Morning and Evening, not only prayed, but opened some Portion of Scripture, during the whole time of his abode there.

From thence he removed to live with the Renowned and Pious Knight, Sir Then with Sir Edward Lewk­nor at Denham, where he mar­ried the Daughter of a Reverend Di­vine. Edward Lewknor of Denham in Suffolk, (great Grandfather to the Right Honourable and Virtuous, the late Lady Townsend) with whom he lived till he married Sarah, the eldest Daughter of Mr. Timothy Prick, alias Oldman; which alias Oldman was assumed to the Family in the days of Queen Mary, the Father of the said Timothy, being forced then to abscond, and to change his name, being persecuted for the Protestant Religion.

Mr. Blackerby lived two years with his Reverend Father-in-Law, Minister of He was offer­ed the Living of Feltwell in Norfolk, but seats himself at Ashen in Essex. Denham, and from thence was called to be Minister at Feltwell in Norfolk, where he continued without Institution or Induction for some time, but then by reason of his Non-conformity, he was forced to remove, and hired a House at Ashen, a Vil­lage in Essex near Clare.

Here, not being capable to receive any Ecclesiastical Preferment upon the account aforesaid, he betook himself to the way of Boarding young men, and Educating of Youth, spending three and twenty years in that imployment in part; for du­ring the whole time, he almost constantly kept Lectures in some Neighbouring Town, Preaching weekly in one place or other; and for the last ten years of the forementioned time, he Preached statedly either at Castle Heningham, Stoke by Clare, or Hunden in Suffolk.

In the way of his life, he seemed never to lose one moment of time in idleness, His general course of life. or non-improvement thereof; and herein is wrapt up even all the practical wisdom of mortal man, viz. to improve time for immortality. He rose early in the Morning Winter and Summer, and spent the whole day in Reading, Meditation, Prayer, and teaching of others. After a competent time spent in his Study in the Morning, he would early call his Family (or any other Family in which he was, and wherein he had any influence) together, and as constantly as the Sun rose and set, he failed not Morning and Evening to spend some time in Reading and Ex­pounding some part of the Scripture and Prayer, unless in very extraordinary cases; and not being capable of a Benefice, because he could not subscribe, he spent much of his time in teaching young Schollars, Boarding in his House always a great number of youths, the Sons of Pious Gentry, Tradesmen, and Yeomen in the Country, whom he daily instructed both in Religion and Learning. They sate round about the Table at his Expositions; and if he saw any behaving themselves as not minding, he would call out to that Youth by name, and ask him what he had said last; by which means he made them continually attentive.

He was a great Walker, and, like the old Peripateticks, he would oft call forth He Educated and Instru­cted many persons after­wards Famous in their Ge­neration. his Scholars abroad, and teach them both Natural and Divine knowledge; fitting some for the University, and others for other Callings. He walked continually before them, as the Picture of Jesus among his Disciples, abounding in Wisdom, Heavenliness and Love. Many grew to be excellent persons in Church and State; and indeed, his example was enough to commend Religion to the Head and Heart of every spectator. The observance of his Life did seem immediately to dash all thoughts of Atheism and Irreligion, whenever they arose in the hearts of any spectatators, it was the saying of some of his Scholars, that they were as satisfied that he lived in the virtue of a Divine and holy principle, as that they did ever see men walking on Earth by virtue of a living Soul within. Divers young Students (after they came from the University) betook themselves to him to prepare them for the Ministry, whom he taught the Hebrew Tongue, to whom he opened the Scriptures, and read Divini­ty, and gave them excellent advice for Learning, Doctrine and Life; and many emi­nent persons proceeded from this Gamaliel; as Dr. Bernard, afterwards Dean and Bishop in Ireland, whom he commended to Archbishop Ʋsher, with whom he had great acquaintance; Mr. Prosse Minister of two Dutch Congregations, first in Colchester, then in London; Mr. Stone, afterwards famous in New England; holy and learned Mr. Fairclough, and Mr. Burrel, and many others.

He was a man much in Prayer, much in Closet Prayer, much in walking Prayer, Much in Prayer. much in solitary Prayer by himself; much in conjugal Prayer (for he daily prayed with his Wife alone) much in Family Prayer; daily with his own Family, and almost daily with some other Family; very much in Fasting and Prayer; for which he took all occasions that seemed in any measure to require it.

The instructing of his Family, and teaching youth, took him not off from his The way of his publick Ministry. publick Ministry: for though he could never have a Benefice, yet he usually Preached some Lecture in some Neighbouring place, as hath been told; and he also Preached frequently occasional Sermons. If he were suspended in one County, he would go and Preach in another; for his Habitation was near to two or three several Counties; he used much to Ride about from Family to Family (when pos­sibly he could be spared from his Scholars) and only alight and pray with them, and give them some heavenly exhortation, and then away to another Family. And in the next Neighbourhood to his House, where he could walk, he would frequently visit those near Inhabitants, especially the Poor, painfully instructing them, and fervently praying with them; and would give them Catechisms and Bibles, and money, if he had it, and they had need of it; by which his going about and doing good, many backs and bellies praised God in time, and more Souls will to all Eternity.

His Preaching was not altogether in the usual manner, but much in opening the The manner of his Preach­ing. Scripture, and making excellent, spiritual, short observations, and brief and close Applications. He had great skill in the Original Tongues, spent much Study to understand the Scripture, and lived much in Divine Converse; by all which he became a singular Textuary, and famous Divines would frequently send to him for his Opinion in Scripture difficulties. He was a mighty man in wounding Con­sciences by the Sword of the Spirit, and in healing them by the Blood of Jesus. His Voice used not to be very loud, but his Preaching was accompanied with such an Authority of the Divine presence and power of the Spirit, that Souls fell exceed­ingly under the Yoke of Christ by his Ministry; so that he has (being urged by some reasons thereto) been constrained to acknowledge to some intimate Friends, (though far from boasting) that he had reason to believe, that God had made him a Spiritual Father to above two Thousand persons. Indeed the Word of God in his Lips was so unmixt with any appearance of any self, or by-respects, and came so pure, as it were immediately from the Holy Ghost, that like the Word of God, Heb. 4. it was very quick and powerful, and men soon became, either Converts to it, or flyers from it; or with all their might fighters against it; The direct rays of Di­vine Light falling on the Conscience, will have a speedy and great effect; When 'tis mingled and diluted with a Carnal Spirit, or not directly levelled at the heart, it may fall, many years, upon the outward Ear, and may sometimes affect men, but never a piercing drop doth enter the Soul; or if it does, it is quickly choaked there, with the body of death and power of darkness; but his Preaching was such as must be yielded to, fled from, or fought against. Many prophane persons that could both hear other Pious Ministers, and would curse them bitterly when they had done; yet dared neither to hear him, or speak against him if they did. There was so much of God in him and with him, that he left a perpetual dread upon many Souls that would play with others Sermons, and with their names and per­sons. Multitudes of very prophane persons did fall under the power of the Word Preached by him; a particular instance whereof, happened in or near Castle He­ningham in Essex, where a Society or Club of young persons, (who used to have their set times to meet, and dance, and frolick it in their youthful sports, sins and vanities) were by his Preaching there, all or most of them converted, and became a company of gracious Christians, and used afterwards to joyn in Prayer, as before they had done in sin and folly.

Some whose Consciences were scared, would sometimes rise up against his Preach­ing Gods ven­geance on his Persecutors. with rage and violence; but the Wrath of God did often most eminently take hold of such. As in Hunden in Suffolk, where sometime he had a Lecture, he met with great opposition; divers persons of considerable Estate in the Town, joyned together, ond procured his suspension; but all of them were notoriously after­wards, blasted in their outward Estates; some brought to beggery, and all but one died miserably: One of them the next Lords-day after his Suspension, boasting in the Church-yard, That now they had got Blackerby out of the Pulpit; to which, [Page 60] a Woman standing by and hearing, replyed, Blackerby will Preach again in Hun­den Pulpit, when you are crying in Hell; and that very day eight years that man was buried, and the Lords-day after, Mr. Blackerby had liberty to Preach again, and Preached in Hunden Pulpit.

The particular acts of his great Religion, the little Piety of the next, and this The eminen­cy of his Holi­ness, and Hea­venly mind­edness in Ge­neral. present Age, have suffered many of them to slip out of their memories, and have been much wanting as to the copying of them out in their Lives and Conversati­ons; but there was yet never any person who had the happiness to converse with him (and some of them are yet living) who did not behold both his Heart and Life, so greatly sanctified, and so generally raised, to such an universality and heighth of true Christian Godliness, as cannot be equalized. Few persons have ever been acquainted with, or scarce ever read or heard of any meer man, that did exceed him, though others might equal him in some corporal severities, and seem more heated in some particular parts of Religion or Obedience, yet for the impartiality, constancy and sweetness of Holiness, very few have came near him, and none since the Primitive times did excel him. He (in good earnest) made it his business to live with God, and to his Glory, not as it is to be feared of too many Profes­sors, that they satisfie themselves in the frequent motions of their affections in some pangs of indigested resolutions, or some fits of Pious Conversation, as if these were the Life and Power of Godliness, all which are very good and desireable; but yet at best, they are but some seeds and blossoms of the Divine Nature, which is first conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Soul, in a real absolute Consecration of the whole Man to God, and grows in a diligent endeavour of perfect Conformity to this Consecration. He, the business of whose Heart and Life is not in all things (fetching strength from Christ by Faith, who is the careful and faithful Head of his Church) to live to God, is yet no living Child of God, what preparatories soever there may be in him towards it. It would make ones heart tremble to think what multitudes of half Christians drop daily down into everlasting destruction, cheat­ing themselves with pious sentiments, as if they were the life of Godliness, which cannot be but in an absolute Union with Christ, and living in the virtue of him, and faithful Obedience to him, as this Saint did. He lived not without infirmities, but in the eye of all knowing, impartial, daily spectators, he was free from the allowance of himself in any sinful act in the World, and without the visible acting of any sin of Commission, not so much as speaking of an idle, or an angry word (but in reproving of that which he accounted sin) or losing any moment of time that he could redeem, or that he was sensible he might better spend; and this by the space of above forty years, as by diligent inquiry, and personal acquaintance of many years, will be justified. His deportment was always such, as if at that moment he saw God, and had Gods Law, his own Covenant with God, and the day of account just then before his eye, so that whenever the Lord should come and call him, he would ever have been found so doing. To any understanding converser with him, there always appeared wrote in his face and demeanour, A sense of the Divine Majesty and Holiness a most pleasing consciencious, and full de­dication of himself to God, a watchfulness upon his own Heart and Life, least he should offend; a great mortification of heart to all the World; a wonderful pu­rity from sinful pollution; and an admirable transformation of Spirit unto the Divine similitude and converse. Indeed, constant Holiness seemed perfectly natu­ral to him, when it seems but laboured and endeavoured after by others. That he sinned, his conversers knew not, but by; First, the infinite due of God, and perfection of his Law, to which no depraved Son or Daughter of fallen man can (in his affections and operations) be adequate or exactly correspondent. Secondly, by some mistakes that some might apprehend in his Judgment in some disputable things. Thirdly, by the great complaints usually made of the Plague of his Heart.

For with this heighth of Holiness was joyned the depth of Humility. He has Great Humi­lity. sometimes, walking with his eldest Grand-child, then but a youth, took occasion to say (after other serious discourse) Oh Lad! thou little thinkest what a vile heart I have, how I am plagued with proud thoughts; Child (if thou hast acquaintance with God in Prayer) pray for me, that God would purifie this filthy heart; oh! if God did not enable me in some measure to keep a watch over it, I should act to the shame of my face; which expressions did greatly affect the heart of this young [Page 61] person, to hear one who lived so like an incarnate Angel, to speak at such a rate of his heart; to hear so grave on Apostle, who never used to speak unbecoming­ly, so talk to one but a youth, and his Grand-child.

And such discourses as these were frequent with him to other persons, when a fitting season offered it self. He seemed to have small sense of any self-excellency, though Satan would sain have defiled him with it (but he walked in continual ad­miration of the vouchsafements of free Grace unto him) from his Humility came that readiness in him to be perswaded or disposed of by others, much inferiour to him, in any thing (so Religion and Duty suffer not by it) little valuing in what place he was put, or what account was had of him, so he might keep close to his Duty, and enjoy the Light of the Divine Countenance.

And that which did set him most high above all others who lived in these later The impartia­lity of his Conscience. days, was the most impartial universality of his Obedience, joyned with the great­est Charity and Candour to all others, wherein was the least appearance of good. No hopes of preferment, or smart of suffering, could prevail with him to depart from his Light; he could not so conform to the Church of England, as the Law required, to make him capable of a Living, or secure from the punishment of some Laws; yet wherein he thought it his Duty, or becoming Religion to Conform, no man more exact than he.

And therefore being no Enemy to the greatest part of the Common Prayer, he would all days, Lords-days and Week-days, when Divine Service was read in the Parish-Church, go with his Family to the very beginning, and there behave himself with that Reverence and Heavenliness, as I never saw any like him therein.

That Religion will never stand before God, that by Zeal in some things thinks to purchase Liberty for transgression in others. It is a single eye that will reach Heaven, that aims only at Divine pleasure wherever he finds it; all the Will of God is amiable to it, unmingled with by ends or selfish concernments. Its true, circumstances of things may impose or discharge from the actual performance of positive commands; that act may be a Duty to day, and to this man, that all things considered, will be a sin to morrow, and to another person; and the heart may have a single eye, when that of the understanding may have a cloud of mi­stakes upon it; but integrity impartially inquires, chearfully embraces, and dili­gently pursues all Gods revealed pleasure.

And there is nothing more contrary to the Law of Christ, to the Eye of Know­ledge, His candid and charitable Spi­rit. and to the Nature of the Gospel, than to set my self down in an Infallible Chair, and pass sentence on the Light and Truth, Knowledge and Grace of all others, by the measure of my own sentiments; herein Pride, Folly and Cruelty are come to the heighth, when I would be a Prince, and judge not only over mens acts, but their heads and hearts, as though I were not fallible and corrupt as well as any of them. Blessed be God, who will in Christ accept of mens faithfulness to their Light, though their Neighbours see it not. This Saint was so far from the crime of censuring, that if any fault were visible in him, it was that of excessive Charity to all others, in whom there was the least appearance to him of good, which charitable credulity of his, some persons did abuse; with which, when he has sometimes been charged, he would usually repeat a saying of his Father in Christ, famous Mr. Perkins; That when a man is once acquainted with his own heart, he will be apt to think every one better than himself; an appearance of the love of God in any, would make him put the best construction on all their words and acts.

But he was as far from countenancing any known evil in any: I believe none that His faithful, kind and wise reproving. ever conversed with him, but will bare him witness, that he never suffered, what he thought sin in them, without admonition and reproof; as sure as he observed the evil, they should hear of it from him; but ever with so much evident love as well as seriousness, that at the same time, both their Consciences were awed by the gravity of his advice, and their Affections inflamed with the sweetness of his Spirit. His re­proofs were truly, as one well expresses, Nailes dipt in Oil, driven with power in­to the inmost of the heart, and received with all acceptation, because of the over­coming kindness they were accompanied with. Most mens reproofs by pride, pas­sion, or imprudence, bar the door against their own entertainment; but his Sun would woo away mens evil, when others violent Storms make them in rage hold [Page 62] it faster. When he has been in company, and heard great persons swear, or speak prophanely; he would with a sad Countenance (leaving the Table, or departing the Room) rebuke, and afterward privately address the great Person with so much seri­ousness and respect, that they would be much taken with his dealing with them, greatly thank him for his reproof, and the manner of it; and one told him, had you spoke to me at Table, I had stabb'd you, but now I heartily thank you. He would neither suffer sin in men unreproved, nor provoke to sin by his rebuke.

He was very zealous for the holy observation of the Lords-day. On Saturday at Sanctification of the Lords-day. four in the Afternoon, he constantly Preached in his Family, (to which divers Neigh­bours would resort) preparatory for the next day. Of all Mornings, he would rise most early on the Lords-day Mornings; and wherever he was, and had any power, would call up all the Family, but especially his own, to Prayer and Reading. He usually prayed six times every Lords-day in the Family. First, as soon as he had got them up in the Morning, expounding some part of the Scripture to them. Secondly, when he was going to the publick Congregation, he carried his Family with him, and before they went out of door, would pour out some Petitions for Gods assistance and blessing in the publick Worship of the day. Thirdly, when he returned again from Church in the Morning, he constantly prayed for a blessing on what they had heard. Fourthly, he led them out again in the Afternoon with Prayer. Fifthly, a while after they were returned in the Afternoon, the Sermons were repeated, the Family examined what they remembred; which they concluded with Prayer. Sixthly, after Supper, when the Family was ready to go to Bed, he commended them again to God by Prayer. But this must be observed, he prayed oft, but never (unless upon an ex­traordinary occasion) very long, neither Lords-days nor Week-days, at home or abroad, in Family or Congregation; nor in Preaching, would he ever be tedious or over-long; but the graciousness of his Spirit in the Ordinance, brought a peculiar de­light with it to all that joyned with him, and had any love to their God or Souls; so that his Exercises (though frequent) were never burdensome. On the Lords-day he was impatient to hear any idle word, or see any idle action, nor could he endure any worldly word or act, but what was of Charity or Necessity; but after Dinner he would call upon all, especially those that were apt to sleep at Church, to go and take a Nap, as he himself usually did, least they should prophane Gods publick Worship, or should hazard the salvation or edification of their immortal Souls, by sleeping in the Congregation; and therefore also he frequently inveighed against great Dinners on the Lords-day, as apt to make them heavy and dull on those glorious days, set apart for celebration of Divine praises, and edification of mens precious Souls. At a place called Linton in Cambridge-shire, there was a Fair usually kept on the Lords-day once a year; at which time he was once invited to Preach, and he then so plainly convinced the Town of the greatness of the sin, and evil of it, that they would never more keep the Fair on the Lords-day. Though he lived every day as sinless, and as heavenly as if it had been a Sabbath, yet he was very sensible, that our time is then much more to be spent in outward Religious Exercises, than on other days. The bu­siness of his Life, was all the Week to Obey, Glorifie, and have Communion with God; but on the Lords-day, the object of his acts was all Religious or Charitable performances.

He was much free from the stone in the heart, a man of a most tender and con­trite His tender frame of Spi­rit. Spirit. Any (greater than the most common) sins or providences, made deep impressions on him; if any such sin were committed in a Neighbour Town, or any Judgment fell out in the Vicinage, or in the Nation, he would be sure to get di­vers Ministers and Christians together, and keep a day of Fasting and Prayer. In Nights of great Thunder and unusual Tempest, he would call up all his Family to Prayer, and expound some part of the Scripture to them, to affect their hearts with greater Reverence towards God. Any notable Scripture, any eminent Providence deeply entered his Soul, and raised up his Graces into act.

As his Life was ever led as in the Divine presence, so his Heart and Tongue were His readiness for, and de­light in Gods Ordinances. ever ready for Prayer, or any holy Duty; and he so enjoyed God in every Religi­ous Exercise, that he would almost constantly say when he rose up from Prayer, or came from a Sermon, or any holy Converse, or any Religious Exercise (especially a day of Fasting and Prayer) that he must bless God for ever for such an Ordinance, and would not for many worlds, but have been in it; a frequent expression with [Page 63] him, and if an Hyperbole, the only one that he observed to use; but this worlds de­lights were so small, and Heavens so dear to him, that we might believe his ex­pression to be a truth (in the very Grammatical sense) and spoken from his heart.

When he awaked in the Night, he was ever in Meditation or Prayer His Night­wakings. he would oft at Midnight, make Greek, Latin, or English Verses, exalting the Praise of God, his Attributes, the Acts of Christ, or the Graces of his Spirit, or the like, and give them in the Morning to his Scholars.

His Dreams were usually such, as shewed a heart that lived with God, full His Dreams. of gracious Communications from God to him, and of Faith, Love and Obedience to God, and in abhorrence of sin; and he would in the Even­ing usually pray, that his Dreams might be holy; and usually holy Dreams are certain signs of much love from God, or gracious habits in the man.

He oft received immediate answers of Prayer. I heard an eminent Divine Answers to his Prayer. once say, he knew Eighteen Persecutors taken away remarkably upon his Fasting and Prayer. God seemed also to make a covenant for him with the Beasts of the Field: His Daughter Burrel was much affected with a remark­able Providence, which happened to him when she was waiting on him one day, to visit one afflicted in Conscience; and their way lying through a Field where was a raging Bull, that used to do much mischief; which Beast seeing them, made towards them with great Fury; and being come very near them, he put off his Hat, and prayed in these words, Lord, if our way be of thee, stay the Fury of this Beast; which immediately stopt its way, and Roaring, turned from them. They that believe our Saviour, who saith, Not a hair of our Head, or a Bird in the Air, falls to the Ground but by the Councel of Providence, will think she had cause to be affected with this mercy.

He kept three Diaries of his Life, one in Greek, another in Latin, a third His Diaries. in English, where he set down all the remarkable acts of God towards him, and of himself towards God; and had not those some way or other pe­rished, (it is supposed by a Fire that burned down the House where he lived not long before his death) we had not been so barren of memorable in­stances of his Life, as now we are; these he would oft read over to affect his Soul, and improve them to Divine Glory.

His heart was as Pauls, so crucified to the World, and the World to him, Mortification of inordinate affection. that all Worldly concernments seemed a perfect nothing to him; (but where Duty obliged him) the World seemed to have no temptation to him, and he no taste for the World. His Passions were so much subdued, that though he was one that was most tenderly affected to his Relations, yet their loss discomposed not his Mind, interrupted not his Communion with God. His eldest Daughter was a most excellent person, and one in whom he took great delight; who died a few hours after her last Child was born, and he being present at her death, commended her Spirit to God more affectionate­ly; but as undisturbedly, as when he gave her Person to her Husband in Marriage. He desired to Preach her Funeral Sermon, which he did; and therein gave her this Testimony, That he believed she had feared the Lord in sincerity, from three years old; yet Preached so, as shewed he had not lost his God, though he had lost his dearest Child. Nothing of Creatures could in the least draw him from his Life with God.

Living much in Divine Communion, he had great insight into Scripture His Propheti­cal Spirit. Prophesies, and had many future events deeply imprest on his Mind. Men know but little of Gods Mind, because they live but little in his Presence and Converse. He was one of the first that convinced men in those parts, [Page 64] of Gods intent to convert the Nation of the Jews. Famous Mr. Rogers of Dedham, and Mr. Stephen Marshall, and divers others, much opposed that Opinion at first, but were at last (by his Discourses) fully satisfied, and re­ally perswaded of the truth of it. He lived much in the foresight and de­light of the Glory and Peace of the Church in the last Ages of the World. He oft said (many years before it came to pass) to divers of his Friends, that they would, (and he believed himself should) live to see never a per­secuting Bishop in power in England; and so he did. The first time when the Scots Army came into England, in the beginning of our late Troubles, he said to some that were much troubled for it, That that Army should go back again without a stroke struck; and so they did. He said after the Battle of Naseby, that many strict Professors of Religion should have rest for a little time; but afterwards a blacker time would come unto them than ever they had; which was in part fulfilled: but he used to add, the Storm would not last very long. And these were his very last words which he spake at his Death, uttered to his Daughter Burrell, a little before he breath­ed his last; There is a sharp Storm coming, but it will be but short; the former part is in a considerable measure already proved true, God grant that (in the fulness of Gods time) the other part may also be accomplished, though the wretched decay of powerful Godliness among us may lengthen the Furrows on Professors backs, and put good things farther from them.

He used to say, God had two Sieves for the Professors in England, one of a courser make, and that he had used; but there would come a finer one, which all should stand ready for; and this its doubted, is in a great degree to come. He used to say, That it was very probable this Nation would be punished by the French, after whose Fancies they went so much a Whoring. And he much believed Popery would come in, but it would not last; for it could not recover its first strength again in England; which last part of the Prophesie I pray God fulfil.

He expressed at his death, great hopes which he had, that there would His hopes of his Posterity. be found many hundreds proceeding out of his Loins, standing at the last day at Christs Right Hand; and in all Charity, every one that have known them, must believe, that all his own Children were Heirs of Eternal Life; and there are great hopes of all his Grand-children, divers of whom are eminent and gracious persons; and some (of his fourth Generation) of his great Grand-children appear already most Consciencious and serious Chri­stians.

There were some particularities in him that may seem of lesser moment, but of good remarque. He could not endure to see any Bible lye contemp­tuously Some things were peculiar in him. about the House; but would have them carefully and cleanly used, or laid up; he thought there ought a negative Reverence to be given to the out-sides of such sacred Oracles.

He was exceeding careful to have none of Gods Creatures lost; he would always have a Fowl or two allowed to come familiarly into his Eating Room, to pick up the lesser Crumbs that would fall from the Table.

He was a great Enemy to vain Fashions, and in particular, to over long Hair; and would oft intimate, that excess of Apparel shewed great vanity of mind, and too great Conformity to the World; and it would be a fore­runner of much wrath from God; had he lived to see the mighty Towers and Mountains of Hair upon professing Men and Womens Heads, with the present decay of Piety, and the dreadful imminent Judgments, he would have greatly lamented it. Oh what amazement of Soul would he have been in, had he lived to see the Professors Garbes (in the best Congregations of Men) in the days wherein we live.

His Conversation was so in Heaven, and the Majesty of Holiness did so shine The awe his presence car­ried. in him, that that most famous Divine for Learning and Piety, Mr. Daniel Rogers of Wethersfield in Essex, told another Divine, that he could never come into the presence of Mr. Blackerby without some kind of trembling up­on him; because of the Divine Majesty and Holiness which seemed to shine in him.

The heighth and constancy of his holy and heavenly Converse was accom­panied with a setled peace of Conscience, and good assurance of Eternal Life; His constant and uninter­rupted assu­rance. for some years before his death, he would oft (upon seasonable occasions) declare, that for more than forty years he never had a doubting thought of his Salvation. It is our low, loose, unequal walking in Religion, that makes the sense of Gods love, peace with God, and evidence for Eternal Life, so rare a thing among us; Religion lying for the most part so weak among Professors, as if it were in a Swoon, no wonder if it be oft esteem­ed dead. A Summer glorious Noon-tide, abundantly shews the Sun to be up; but how can they that live far from God, behold the Smiles of his Face, or hear the Whispers of his Voice.

This holy Man was indeed an instance sent by God into the World, to shew A living pat­tern of Piety. to what Life of Holiness and Peace, Christians may on Earth certainly arrive, if hearty sincerity, deep mortification, diligent watchfulness, love of Divine Com­munion, and an humble and active Faith doth meet and concenter in the heart of any man.

When he was about the Age of Fifty five years, his Son-in-Law Mr. Christopher He removes to Great Wrat­ting with his Son-in-law. Burrell, was Presented to the Rectory of great Wratting in Suffolk; Mr. Burrell had lived some years as a Boarder with Mr. Blackerby, Mr. Blackerby now removes and continues a Boarder with him, and that for divers years; in all which time he continued Preaching the Gospel only occasionally (except at Gastingtherp in Essex, where he maintained a constant Lecture) until towards the close of his Life.

When Providence so ordered, that he took upon him a Pastoral charge over the He was chosen Pastor by a People at Thurlow, where he end­ed his days. Congregation at great Thurlow; And here his Master found him so doing, to wit, very busie in his Masters Service; for as he was Preaching on one Lords-day, he was took with a great weakness and fainting while he was in the Pulpit; so that being carried home, he continued very weak six Weeks, but kept his Bed but two days before he died, which was in the seventy seventh year of his Age.

He had seven Children who lived to be Men and Women, (two Sons, and five His Posterity. Daughters) his eldest Son was a gracious young man, and lived sometime a Stu­dent in Katherine-Hall in Cambridge, but died of a Consumption before he took any Degree. His other Son was also a very good Man, and an excellent Preacher of the Gospel, and died lately Minister of Stow-market in Suffolk. His eldest Daughter, and his third Daughter, were both married to two Divines, in whom Sanctity, Learning and Ingenuity, strove for victory; the eldest was married to Mr. Samuel Fair clough, the other to Mr. Christopher Burrell aforesaid; all his Daughters were also married to Pious persons.

And now all his Sons and Daughters, except one, and all his Sons-in-law, and Now all in Heaven with him. Daughters-in-law, are gone with him to Everlasting Rest; and it is most fitting that the World should know and remember, That there was a Man that lived Fifty years after his Conversion, doing good, and walking with God in the Eyes of the most strict Observers, without perceived voluntary actual commission of any known transgression, no, not so much as of an idle or sinfully angry word; but he seemed wholly dead to all the allurements and enticing vanities of this World.

His Countenance and Speech, his Deportment and Behaviour, was perpetually He had always a very plea­sing and grace­ful Counte­nance, con­joined with a grave and ho­ly Conversati­on, through the whole course of his Life. as before the Eye of God, in the Consciencious observance of all his Precepts, with a heart full of Love to him, having his Face awing with a Majesty, and shining with a sweetness and beauty of Holiness; who (to all appearance) spent every mo­ment of his time in his believed Duty, and in zealous doing of good, always rea­dy for, and having spiritual Communion with God in all his Ordinances, and all carried on with a deep and contrite sense, of the natural corruption of his heart, in lowest humility and condescension (with most transcendent Charity to all men, yet never suffering sin in his Brother unreproved) one that kept peace of Conscience, and assurance of Eternal Life, inviolate for forty years together; one who convinced all men (both good and bad) that knew him, that the power of God and Religion dwelt assuredly in him, and continually with him; the Divine Spirit and Power, beautifying and adorning him, and assuring both himself, and others, that he was born of God.

The Life and Death of Mr. Ralph Robinson, who died Anno Christi, 1655.

RAlph Robinson was born at a Town called, Heswall, in Wyrrall, which is one of the His Birth. Hundreds in Cheshire, being a Peninsula beyond West-Chester, of about Fourteen Miles in length, and Five in breadth, stretching it self between Wales and Lanca­shire. He was born in June, Anno Christi 1614.

His Parents seeing his Ingenuity, and that from his Childhood he was disposed to Learn­ing, His Educa­tion and In­dustry. kept him at School till he was fitted for the University, and then sent him to Cam­bridge, where he was admitted into Katherine-Hall, and made so good improvement of his time, with the helps which he there enjoyed, as that in a few Years he was furnished with good Abilities for the work of the Ministry.

In the beginning of our troubles, Anno Christi 1642. He left Cambridge, and came to He comes to London. London, where he exercised his Gifts in several Churches, and gained much respect among the Ministers, and other Citizens, for the rich Gifts and Graces with which God had fur­nished him: And thus he continued till the Pastoral charge of St. Mary Woolnoth in Lum­bard street fell void, unto which being called, he accepted of it, and was there ordained Presbyter, with solemn seeking the Lord by Fasting and Prayer, and by Imposition of Is Ordained Presbyter. His Chara­cter. Hands.

In regard of his Vocation: He was an able, Orthodox, and profitable Preacher of the Gospel. As for his Relations, he was a loving Husband, a tender Father, a careful and vigilant Pastor, a good Neighbour, a chearful Companion, and a faithful Friend. In his Judgment, Affection and Practice, he was a thorow, well grounded Presbyterian, and that upon a Scripture account, as deeming that way of Church-Government, to be most agreeable to the mind of God. He was true and steady to his Principles, without warp­ing and declining either to the Right Hand or to the Left.

He was unweariedly laborious in the work of the Ministry, both upon the Lords-days, His painful­ness and his weekly Lecture-days, which continued half the Year; as also for his Monthly pre­paration Sermon before the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. And truly there was scarce any Minister in London, that appeared more frequently than Mr. Robinson in the Exercises of holy Fasting and Prayer, for which work God had fitted him with Gifts more than or­dinary. There was scarce any man that ever found him unwilling to make one in ways of And Parts. extraordinary seeking the Lord, according to the necessities of the times.

Yet his high parts, great Services, besides many Expressions of Respect in the City, His Humili­ty. did not puff him up with Pride, but they were crowned with a meek and humble Spirit; For who ever saw him proudly passionate, or contemptuously insulting, either towards his Equals or Inferious? His conversation was holy, and unreproveable, the strength of Gods And unbla­mableness. His Zeal. Grace, securing him all his Life long, from the least taint of Scandal.

Ever since he set forwards in Heavens way, he was upon the Spur, and thence it was that he dispached his Journey so soon. When others supposed that he had not yet seen his Af­ter-noon, he had finished his Days-work, and went to Rest. He was suddenly and unexpect­edly taken away.

On Saturday, Three weeks before his Death, he came from Islington (where he had a His Sick­ness. Country House) to London, with a full purpose to preach twice, and to administer the Sa­crament of the Lords-Supper the day following in his own Church; but Friends and Phy­sicians disuaded him from it, discerning that he had some Feverish Distempers upon him, which himself was not sensible of. All the time of his sickness he was insensible of any pain, and unapprehensive of any Death-threatening Distemper, or Disease upon him­self.

Yet being moved to make his Will, his Answer was, I will do it with all readiness, though I perceive not in my self any danger of Death. And this he added, I pray you flatter me not, of my Physicians apprehend danger, let me know it; for (I bless God) the thoughts of Death Death not feared. are not dreadful to me.

A special Friend coming to visit him, he gave him hearty Thanks for remembring him His Spech­es. upon a Day of Prayer, adding farther, I have (I thank God) loved Fasting and Prayer with all my Heart. And when this his Friend asked him concerning the present frame of his [Page 58] Heart, his Answer was; Though I have not ravishing Joys; yet I enjoy an uninterrupted and satisfying Peace; Not questioning in the least, mine everlasting Happiness, through the Grace His Faith. of God in Christ.

At the same time also, when he had begged the Pardon of his Ministerial failings, he professed the comfort which he took, upon the Remembrance of his Uprightness and faith­fulness, notwithstanding his Weaknesses and Imperfections.

Being moved to relieve his own Spirit by silent and secret Ejaculations, because (in re­gard of his weakness) it might prove very prejudicial unto him to have any Friend to pray with him; his Answer was, There is no living without those Exercises.

Upon his tossings and turnings upon his Bed, he was put in mind of the Rest in Christs His Death. Bosom: Oh! (said he) true Rest can no where else be enjoyed. And thus quietly he slept in the Lord, June 15. Anno Christi 1655. and about the one and fortieth year of his Age.

The Life and Death of Mr. John Janeway, who died Anno Christi, 1657.

JOhn Janeway was born at Lylly, in the County of Hertford, October 27. Anno Christi His Birth & Parentage. 1633. of Religious Parents, to whom he gave early Hopes of much Comfort, and the Symptomes of somthing more than ordinary, quickly appeared in him, insomuch as some that saw him in his Childhood, much feared that he would not live long: But others thought, that God had somthing more than Ordinary to do for, or by this Child be­fore he died; And he soon made it to appear that neither of them were much mistaken in their Judgments.

When he first set forward he soon outran his Superiours for age in Learning: And some His ripe Parts. that were no incompetent Judges, thought, that for pregnancy of Wit, solidity of Judg­ment, vastness of Intellectuals, and firmness of Memory, he had no Superiours, and few equals, considering his Age, and means of Education.

He was first initiated in the Latine Tongue by his own Father, and then sent for His Educa­tion. some time to St. Pauls School in London, under the Inspection and Tuition of famous and industrious Mr. Langley, where he made a considerable progress in the Latine and Greek Languages; and when he was about Eleven Years old, he took a great fancy to the Study of Arithmetick, and of the Hebrew Tongue.

About this time his Parents removing into a Village called Aspoden, met with an oppor­tunity He studies the Mathe­maticks. of having this their Son to be farther instructed by a Learned Neighbour, who was pleased to esteem it a pleasant Diversion to read the Mathematicks to him, being now about Twelve years Old. And he made so rare a progress in these profound Studies, that he was able to read Oughtred with understanding before he was Thirteen years Old.

A Person of quality hearing of the admirable proficiency of this young Youth, sent for His Profici­ency. him up to London, and kept him in his House for some time to read the Mathematicks to him: And that which made him the more to be admired, was, that what he did, he did it with such great Facility. He had also no small skill in Musick, and in other concomitants of the Mathematicks.

Anno Christi 1646. he was, by that Learned Gentleman Mr. Francis Rous, Provost of He is cho­sen at Eaton. Eaton Colledge, chosen for one of the Foundation of that School, having been first exami­ned by the Provost and Posers in the Hebrew Tongue, which was beyond president. There he gave no unsuitable returns to those high expectations which were conceived of him.

After a little continuance at Eaton, he obtained leave of his Master to go to Oxford for the perfecting of his studies in the Mathematicks, where he was owned by that great Schollar His rare Progress. Dr. Ward, one of the Professors of that University, under whom he attained to a strange exactness in those Studies, their being nothing in them within humane reach, which he would not compass. This Great and Learned Dr. gave him great encouragements and helps, and looked upon him as one of the Wonders of that Age, loved him dearly, and for some time after his Death, could scarce mention his Name without Tears.

Having spent about a Quarter of a year with Dr. Ward, he was sent for back to Eaton, where he soon gave proof of his great improvement of that short time of his absence. For he made an Almanack, and therein Calculated the Eclipses for many years before-hand: So that, by this time he had many Eyes upon him as the Glory of that School: and that which put an Accent upon his Real worth, was, that in all this he did not discover the least Affecta­tion, or self-conceitedness, neither did any discernable Pride appear in these Excellencies; So His Humili­ty. that many others took more notice of his pregnant Parts than himself did.

When he was about seventeen years old he was chosen into Kings-Colledge in Cambridge, He is cho­sen to Kings-Colledge. at which time the Electors did each of them even contend for the Patronage of this Scholar. He was chosen the First for that year, and an elder Brother which he had for the sixth Place: But he was very willing to change places with his Elder Brother, suffering him to have the First, and himself thankfully to accept of the Sixth Place.

Besides his great Learning, he was endowed with many other Ornaments of nature. His His Moral Virtues. deportment candid and amiable: His demeanour courteous and obliging, and that even be­fore his apparent Conversion, so that many who had little kindness for Morality, and less for Grace, yet could not but speak well of him. His great Prudence and Learning did e­ven command respect where they did not find it. He had very much power over his Passions, and was in a great measure free from those Vices which commonly attend such an age and Place.

Yet probably all this while he understood little of the necessity and worth of Christ, and the pretiousness of his own Soul. He had indeed studied the Heavens, and knew the Moti­ons of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, but that was his Contemplation. He thought yet but lit­tle of God, who made all these rare Luminaries. He pried but little into the motions, and turnings of his own deceitful Heart.

He did not as yet much busie himself in the serious observation of the wandrings of his His Conver­sion. Spirit. The Creature had not yet led him to the Creator; But he was still too ready to be taken up with meer speculation. Yet God, who from all Eternity, had chosen him to be one of those who should shine as the Sun in the Firmament for ever with himself in Glory, did (when he was about eighteen years old) shine in upon his Soul with power, convin­cing him, and letting him see what a poor thing it was to know so much of the Heavens, and yet never to come there: And that the greatest knowledge in the World without Christ, was but an empty dry Business.

He now thought that Mr. Robert Bolton had good reason for it when he said, Give me the most Magnificent glorious Worldling that ever trod upon earthly mould, richly Crowned with all the Ornaments and Excellencies of Nature, Art, Policy, and Preferments; Or what Heart can wish besides: yet, without the Life of Grace to animate and ennoble them, he were to the Eye of Heavenly Wisdom, but as a rotten Carkass, stuck over with Flowers: Magnified Dung: Guilded Rottenness; And Golden Damnation. He now began to be of Anaxagoras's mind, That his work on Earth was to study Heaven, and to get thither: And that except a man might be admitted to greater preferments then this World can bestow upon her Fa­vourites, it were scarce worth the while to be born.

The great and Divine work of Conversion was not carried on in his Soul after that The man­ner and means of his Conver­sion. dreadful manner as it is upon some, who precedently have been very bad (as in the case of Mr. Rob. Bolton) or to whom God intends to communicate much, and to make great use of (as in the case of St. Paul) but the Lord was pleased, by gentle Draughts to dissolve the Stone, and sweetly to unlock his Heart by the exemplary Life, and Heavenly and powerful discourse of a young Man in the Colledge, whose Heart God had inflamed with a Love to this pretious Soul, whereupon he took the first opportunity to set upon this hopeful Plant, and Gods Spirit did so set home his wholsom instructions and counsel, with such evidence and power, that they proved effectual for his awakening out of his Spiritual Lethargy. The rather, being accompanied with the profitable, and powerful Preaching of those two able and worthy Divines, Dr. Arrowsmith, and Dr. Hill, together with his reading several Parts of Mr. Baxters Everlasting Rest.

Now a strange alteration might easily be discerned in the Man: He now looked quite a­nother way to what he had done formerly. He was now so much taken up with things a­bove His strange Change. the Moon and Stars, that he had little leisure, and less pleasure to think of those things, except it was as they pointed higher. He now began not to tast so much sweetness in those kind of studies which formerly he took so much pleasure & delight in. He now beganto pity them who were curious in their enquiries after every thing save that which was most needful to be known, Christ and Themselves: And that which sometimes he esteemed his Gain, he now counted loss for Christ; Yea doubtless he esteemed all things but as Dung and Dross in com­parison of Christ: And d [...]sired to know nothing but Christ and him Crucified. Not that he looked upon humane Learning as useless: But when fixed upon any thing below Christ, and not improved for Christ, he then looked upon Wisdom but as Folly, and upon learning as madness, and as that which would make one more like unto the Devil; and more fit for his Service, and as upon that which would put a greater Accent upon their misery in another World.

Now Mr. Janeway began to cast about how he might best improve what he did already His activity for Christ. know, and to turn all his Studies into the right Channel: Grace did not take him off from, but made him more diligent and spiritual in, his Studies: And now Christ was at the end and bottom of every thing. O how did he plot and contrive how he might most express his Love and Thankfulness to him who had brought him out of darkness into his marvellous Light, and translated him into the Kingdom of his dear Son! To this end he sent up and down Packets of Divine Letters, in which he did discourse so substantially and experimentally of the great things of God that it would not at all have unbecome a Gray-Head to have own­ed what he wrote.

He was very like unto young Elihu, in whose words he used to excuse his freedom with Persons of Gravity whose Souls he did deeply commiserate. He said, Days should speak, and His Zeal. multitude of years should teach Wisdom: But their is a Spirit in Man, and the Inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding: I am full of matter; The Spirit within me convin­ceth me: Behold! My Belly is as Wine which hath no vent; It is ready to burst as new Bottles: I will speak that I may be refreshed, &c. O then how sweet was the Savour of his Graces! How could he not but speak the things which he had seen and heard? And even invite all the World to tast and see how good the Lord was.

He began first with his near and dear Relations, wooing and begging of them to mind His Love to his Friends Souls. their pretious and immortal Souls, and speedily to lay in Provisions for a Death-Bed, and Eternity. O with what compassion did he plead the cause of Christ with their Souls!

What Pathetical expressions did he use? What vehement Expostulations? How frequent? How particular were his Applications unto them? O, with what Gravity, and Majesty would he speak of the Mysteries of the Gospel!

Read what his Language was (when he was between eighteen and nineteen years old) in a Letter to an Antient Minister, neerly related to him, who at that time walked very heavily.

He much feared decayes in Grace and Apostacy: Yea, of flatness of Spirit; either in himself or others. And if he suspected any such thing in his nearest Relations, he would do alI that possibly▪ he could to recover them out of these Snares of Satan, and to quicken them to more vigorous spiritual Acts of Religion. He laboured to His Zeal. maintain a constant tenderness upon his Heart, and to take notice of the least depar­ture of his Soul from God, or of Gods absenting of himself from his Soul. He had a godly Jealousie over his Brother, and desired by all means to carry on the work of Grace, which he had some hopes, was begun in him. He laboured to build sure, and to build up, that he might be rooted and grounded in the Faith, steadfast and unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord. Wherefore he followed him, not only with private warnings, and frequent Pathetical Counsel and Directions, but with Letters also. One of them here follows.

‘You live in a place where strict and close walking with God, hath few or no Ex­amples; and most are apt to be like their Company: And God's own Children are too apt to forget their first Love. Our Hearts are apt to be careless and to neglect our watch. We are ready to grow formal in Duty, and less Spiritual, and then (it may be) less frequent: And Conscience is put off with some poor excuse: And thus Religion withers, and one that seemed once a Zelot may come to be a Laodi­cean; and some that looked once as though they were eminent Saints, may fall to to just nothing. It's too common, To have a Name to be alive, and yet to be dead. Read this and tremble lest it should be your Case. When we are lazy and a sleep, our Adversary is awake. When we are slothful and negligent, then he is diligent. I consider your Age; I know where you dwell; I am not unacquainted with your Temptations: Wherefore I cannot but be affraid of you, lest both by inward and outward Fire the Bush be singed, though, if God be in it, it cannot be burnt.’

‘Give me leave to be in some measure fearful of you, and Jealous over you, and to mind you of what you know already. Principles of Civility will be but as bro­ken Reed to stay our Souls upon, without those higher Principles which are planted in the Soul by the working of the Spirit of God: O remember what meltings you have sometimes had? Remember how solicitously you did sometimes enquire after Christ: How earnestly you seemed to ask the way to Zion, with your Face thither­ward. O take heed of loosing those impressions you once had! Take not up with a slight work! True Conversation is a great thing, and another kind of thing then the most take it to be. O therefore be not satisfied with some Convictions; take them not for Conversion; much less, with resting in a Lifeless formal Profession.’

‘There is such a thing as being almost a Christian: Nay, as drawing back to Perditi­on, and some that are not far from the Kingdom of Heaven may never come there. Beware lest thou lose the Reward. The Promise is made to him holdeth fast, and holdeth out to the End, and overcometh, Labour to forget what is behind, and to press forwards towards what is before.’ He that is contented with just Grace enough to get to ‘Heaven, and to escape Hell, and desires no more, may be sure that he hath none at all, and is far from being made a partaker of the Divine Nature. Labour to know what it is to Converse with God: Strive to do every thing as in his presence: Design him in all. Act as one that stands within sight of the Grave and Eternity. I say again, do what you do, as if you were sure God stood by and looked on, and exactly recorded every Thought, Word, and Action; and you may very well suppose that which can­not be otherwise.’

‘Let us awake and fall to our work in good earnest. Heaven and Hell are be­fore us and Death behind us. What do we mean to sleep: Dulness in God's Ser­vice is very uncomfortable, and at the best will cost us dear; and to be contented [Page 73] with such a frame, is a certain Symptom of an Hypocrite. O how will such trem­ble when God shall call them to give an account of their Stewardships, and tell them that they may be no longer Stewards! Should they fall sick, and the Devil, and Con­science fall upon them, what inconceivable perplexity would they then be in!’

‘O live more upon the Invisibles, and let the Thoughts of their excellencies put Life into your Performances. You must be content to be laughed at for your preciseness and singularity. A Christians walking is not with Men but with God: And he hath great cause to suspect his Love to God, who doth not delight more in conversing with God: and being conformed to him, then in conversing with the World, and being conformed unto it.’

‘How can the Love of God dwell in that Man who liveth without God in the World? Without both continual walking with him in his whole Conversation, and those more peculiar visits of him in Prayer, Meditation, Spiritual Ejaculations, and other Duties of Religion; and the working of Faith, Love, Holy Desires, Delight, Joy, and Spiritual Sorrow in them. Think not that our walking with God cannot consist with Worldly Business: Yes, but Religion makes us Spiritual in common Actions; and there is not any Action in a Mans Life, in which a Man is not to la­bour to make it a Religious Act, by looking to the Rule in it, and Eyeing God's Glory; and thus he may be said, To walk with God. To this we must endeavour to rise, and never be content till we attain it: And if this seem tedious (as to de­generate Nature, it will) we must know that we have so much of Enmity against God still remaining, and are under depravation and Darkness, that we know not our true happiness. Such a Soul is sick, and hath lost its taste which doth not per­ceive an incomparable sweetness in walking with God, without whom all things else under Heaven are Gall and Bitterness, and to be little valued by every true Christian, &c.’

‘Rest not in any condition in which your security is founded upon the sure bottom, the Lord Jesus Christ. Labour to attain to this, To love God for himself, and to have your Heart naturallized, and suited to Spiritual things. O for a Heart to re­joyce and work Righteousness! O that we could do the Will of God with more activity, delight, and constancy. If we did know more of God, we should love him more; and then God would still reveal more of himself to us; and then we should see more and more cause to love him, and wonder that we love him no more. O this, this is our Happiness, to have a fuller sight of God: To be wrap­ped up and filled with the Love of Christ. O let my Soul for ever be thus imploid! Lord, Whom have I in Heaven but Thee, and there is none on Earth, that I can de­sire in comparison of Thee.’

By this we may perceive what it was that swallowed up his Heart; and where his Delight, Treasure, and Life was. His love to Christ and Souls made him very His en­trance into the Mini­stry. desirous to spend and be spent in the work of the Ministry; and accordingly he com­plied with the first clear Call to Preach the Everlasting Gospel, and though now he was but about Two and twenty Years Old, yet he came to that Work as one that understood what a kind of imployment Preaching was. He was a Workman that need­ed not to be ashamed; that was thoroughly furnished for every good Word and Work: One that was able to convince gain-sayers: One in whom the Word of God dwelt richly. One full of the Spirit and Power: One that hated Sin with a perfect hatred, and loved Holiness with all his Soul, in whom Religion did shine forth in its Beauty: One that knew the terror of the Lord, and knew how to beseech Sinners in Christ's stead to be reconciled unto God: One who was both a Son of Thunder, and a Son of Conso­lation: So that it might be said of him, as St. Paul spake of Timothy, That he knew none like-minded that did naturally care for Souls. He was one in whom Learning and Holiness did strive which should excell others.

He never Preached publickly but twice, and then he came to it as though he had been used to that work Forty Years: He delivered the Word of God with that Power and Majesty; with that tenderness and compassion; with that readiness and freedom, that it made his Hearers almost amazed. He was led into the Mysteries of the Gospel, and spake nothing unto others but what was the Language of his Heart, and the Fruit of great Experience; and which (one might easily perceive) had no small impression first upon his own Spirit.

His two Sermons were upon Communion, and intimate converse with God: Out of His Text. that Text, Job 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him, and be at Peace: Thereby Good shall come unto thee. A Subject that few were better able to manage then him­self: [Page 74] and scarce any could handle so feelingly as he: For he did for some considera­ble time maintain such an intimate familiarity with God, that he seemed to converse with him, as one Friend converses with another. This Text he made some entrance into whilst he was on Earth; but the perfecting his acquaintance with God was a work fitter for another World.

He kept an exact watch over his Thoughts, Words, and Actions, and reviewed all A Diary kept. that passed, at least once a Day in a solemn manner. He kept a Diary in which he wrote down every Evening, what the frame of his Spirit had been all that Day, especially in every Duty: He took notice what in-comes he had: What profit he re­ceived in his Spiritual Traffique: What returns came from that far Countrey: What answers of Prayer: What deadness and flatness of Spirit: And what Observable Pro­vidences did present themselves, and the substance of what he had been doing: What wandrings of Thoughts: What inordinate Passions, which though the World could not take notice of, yet he could and did: This made him to retain a Grateful Re­membrance of God's Mercies, and to live in a constant admiring, and adoring of Divine Goodness. This brought him into a very intimate acquaintance with his own Heart: This kept him Humble, and fitted him for free communications from God: and made him more lively and active: This made him to speak more affectionately and ex­perimentally to others of the things of God: Yea, this left a sweet calm upon his Spirit, because that every Night he made his accounts even, so that had his Sheet proved his Winding Sheet, it had been all one to him: For he could say, His Work was done, so that Death could not surprise him at unawares. Scriptur [...]s Studies.

He studied the Scriptures much, and they were sweeter to him then his Food, and he had an excellent dexterity in opening the mind of God in dark places. In the lat­ter part of his Life he seemed to be wholly taken up with the Thoughts of Christ, Heaven, and Eternity. And the nearer he came to his Journies end, the swifter was his Motion thitherward, and more the unmixed were his Designs for them: And he used much to perswade others to a Universal, and free respect to the Glory of God: in all things, making Religion their Business, and not to mind these great things by the by. Ministers Duty.

He was much concerned about Ministers, that they, above all Men, should take heed, that they carried not on poor and low Designs instead of wholly Eyeing the Interest of God, and Souls. He judged that to take up Preaching as a Trade, was alto­gether inconsistent with the Spirit of a true Gospel Minister. He desired that they which seemed to be devoted to the Ministry, would, first, heartily devote their All to God, and then have a dear Love to Immortal Souls. He was very ready to Humility. debase himself, and humbly to acknowledge what he found amiss in himself: and la­boured to amend himself and others.

He abounded in pitty and compassion to Souls, and yet was greatly grieved and Pitty to Souls. ashamed, that he did no more to express his sense of the worth of them, and that his Bowels did no more yearn over them, whom he had just cause to fear that they were in a Christless Condition. Though there were few of his Kindred, or Relations: Nay, of his Neighbours, and Acquaintance, but he made a particular Application to them, either by Letters or Conference; yet none were so forward to complain, and cry out of want of Love to Souls, and of unprofitableness to others in his Generation: That he was no fuller of compassion; and for that he made no bet­ter an improvement of all the Visits which he made; in which (said he) we should not make carnal Pleasure, and Recreation our End, but the imparting, and recei­ving of some Spiritual Gift. Visits to be improved.

He was not a little troubled at the barreness of Christians in their Meetings, and Discourses, not improving their Society for the quickning and warming of each others Heart. The expence of precious time, for which an account must be made: The ill managment of Visits, and the impertinency of their talk, he oft reflected up­on with an Holy Indignation. It was a great Grief to his Soul to see what Prizes were sometimes put into the Hands of Christians, and how little skill and will they had to improve them for the building up one an other in their most Holy Faith: And that they who should be encouraging one an other in the way to Zion, commu­cating of Experiences, and talking of their Countrey, and of the Glory of that King­dom of which the Saints are Heirs, could satisfie themselves with vain and empty Stuff, as if Christ, Heaven, and Eternity were not things of as great worth as any thing else, that usually sounds in the Ears, and comes from the Lips of Professors.

An other thing that he greatly bewailed was the want of Love among Christians, and thier Divisions: This cost him many Tears, and Groans, and he did what he Divisions bewailed. [Page 75] could to heal the Breaches by his Prudent and Christian advice and Counsel. He saw so much Pride, Peevishness, and such Divisions among Professors, that it did not a little vex his Righteous Soul, and made him even long to be in a calmer Air, where will be nothing but Union, Joy, and Love. He could not endure to hear Christians to speak reproachfully one of another, because they were of different Judgments and Perswasions. Where he saw most Holiness, Humility and Love, there he let out his Affections most freely. He was of that Holy Man's Mind, who said, That it is pitty that the very Name of Division is not wholly Buried, and that the time may come when we shall pay dearly for our Ʋnbrotherly, nay, Ʋnchristian Animosities.

In the latter part of his Life, he lived like a Man that was quite a weary of the His Hea­venly-min­dedness. World, and that looked upon himself as a Stranger hear, and that lived in the constant sight of a better World. He plainly declared himself to be a Pilgrim that looked for a better Countrey, for a City that hath Foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God: His deportment, his Habit, his Language, all bespake him a Man of another World. His Meditations were of intense, long, and frequent that they ripened him a pace for Heaven, and somewhat with all weakned his Body. Few Christians attain to such a Holy Contempt of the World, and to such clear believing, Joyfull, Con­stant His Com­munion with God. apprehensions of the Transcedent Glories of the other World.

He made it his whole Business to keep up sensible Communion with God: and to grow into an humble familiarity with him, and so to maintain it: And if by reason of Company, or any other necessary Divisions he was interrupted in his course, he would complain as one out of his Element, till his Spirit was recovered into a more delightfull, and free intercourse with God again. He was never so well satisfied as when he was more immediately engaged in what brought him nearer unto God: and by this means he enjoyed those Comforts more frequently, which other Christians meet with more rarely. His Faith grew up to a full Assurance: His desires into a kind of enjoyment and delight. He was oft brought into the Banqueting House, and there Christ's Banner over him was Love; and he sat down under his Shadow with great Delight, and his Fruit was pleasant unto his Taste. He had frequent Visions of Glory, and our John (as that Beloved Disciple) lay in his Master's Bosom. His Lord oft called him up into the Mount to him, and let him see his excellent Glory. O the sweet foretasts that he had of those Pleasures that are at the Right Hand of God! How oft was he Feasted with the Fat things of God's House, and with Wine on the Lees well refined! This made him rejoycingly to Run the Race which was set before him▪ whether of Doing or Suffering. He was even sick of Love, and could feelingly say to the Poor and Unexperienced World, O taste and see that the Lord is good: And to Christians, Come and I will tell you what God hath done for my Soul! [...]

He could take off those aspersions which the Devil and Athiest cast upon Godliness in the power of it: He could bring sensible Demonstrations to prove a Deity, and the Reality and Excellency of Invisibles, which there ignorant Fools and Mad-men make the Subject of their Scorn: He was one that would not change his Delights with the greatest Sensualists living, and could vie Pleasures with all the Jovial Gal­lants in the World: For which of them can say in the midst of their Jollity, This is the Pleasure that shall last for ever? Which of them can say in the midst of their Cups and Whores, I can now look Death in the Face; and this very Mo [...], I can be content; yea, Glad to leave these Delights, as knowing that I shall enjoy better. This young Man, in the midst of all his Worldly Comforts longed for Death, and the Thoughts of the Day of Judgment made all his enjoyments much the sweeter. O how did he long for the coming of Christ! When some discoursed of that great and ter­rible The Day of Judgment desired. Day, he would smile, and humbly express his delight in the fore-thoughts of it.

He said, What if the Day of Judgment were, as it will certainly come shortly? If I were sure that the Day of Judgment were to begin within an Hour, I should be glad with all my Heart. If at this very instant I should hear such Thundrings, and see such Lightnings as Israel did at Mount Sinai, I am persawded my very Heart would leap for Joy. But this I am confident of (through infinite Mercy) that even the Meditation of that Day hath even ravished my Soul, and the Thoughts of the cer­tainty and nearness of it, is more refreshing unto me then the Comforts of the whole World. Surely nothing can more revive my Spirits, then to behold the blessed Je­sus, the Joy, Life, and Beauty of my Soul. Would it not more rejoyce me then Joseph's Wagons did old Jacob? I lately Dreamed that the Day of Judgment was come: Methought that I heard terrible Cracks of Thunder, and saw dreadful [Page 76] Lightnings: The Foundations of the Earth did shake, and the Heavens were rolled together as a Garment; yea, all things visible were in a Flame. Methought I saw the Graves opened, and the Earth, and the Sea giving up their dead: Methought I saw Millions of Angels, and Jesus Christ coming in the Clouds. Methought I be­held the Ancient of Dayes fitting upon his Throne, and all other Thrones cast down. Methought I beheld him whose Garments were white as Snow, the Hair of his Head like pure Wool: His Throne was like the fiery Flame, and his Wheels as burning Fire: A fiery Stream issued and came from him: Thousands of Thousands ministred unto him, and Ten Thousand times ten Thousand stood before him; and the Judgment was set, and the Books were opened. O! But with what an Extasie of Joy was I surprized! Me­thought it was the most Heart-raising, and Soul-ravishing sight that ever mine Eyes beheld; and thereupon I cryed out, I have waited for thy Salvation, O God; and so I mounted up into the Air, to meet my Lord in the Clouds. His Com­forts.

He was in a comfortable condition for about Three Years before he died: Not but that he had some Clouds; but he usually walked in a sweet, even, humble, serenity of Spirit, and his refreshing Joyes were more considerable then his Despondings; and though he daily questioned many of his Actions, yet did he not question his estate, but had his Heart fixed upon that Rock that neither Winds nor Waves could shake. Death de­sired. His Senses were still so Spiritually exercised, as that he could look upon Heaven as his Countrey and Inheritance; to God as his Father; upon Christ as his Redeemer. And he counted it the highest Act of Patience to be willing to live, and a great pitch of Self-denial to be contented to be in this World, and to dwell on this side a full and eternal enjoyment of that Holy One, whom his Soul was so much in love with: He His Sick­ness. had vehement, and most earnest desires to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.

Now the time drew on wherein his Longings should be satisfied, wherein his De­portment was such, as those Christians which saw him, could not but admire God in him, and look upon him as one of the most singular instances of rich Grace, and bless God that their Eyes ever saw, and their Ears ever heard him. He fell into a deep Con­sumption, which Messenger of God did not in the least damp him. Spitting Blood was no gastly sight to one that had his Eye fixed upon the Blood of Jesus. Faint Sweats did not daunt him who had alwayes such reviving Cordials at Hand. It was mat­ter of Joy to him that he had now some Hopes that his longing desires should be satisfied. He rejoiced at Death approach­ing.

Having been a while sick, a sudden dimness seized upon his Eyes: By and by his Sight quite failed, and there was such a palpable alteration in him that he and others judged that these were Symptoms of his approaching Death; yet was he not in the least surprized hereby, but rather rejoyced to think what a Life he was going to: He looked upon Death as one of his Father's Servants, and his Friend who was sent to conduct him to his Saviour's Glorious Pallace.

When he found his Body ready to faint, he called for his Mother, and said, Dear Mother, I am Dying; but I beseech you be not troubled: For I am (through Mercy) quite above the fears of Death; It is no great matter: I have nothing that troubles me but the apprehension of your Grief. I am going unto him whom I love above Life.

Out of this fainting fit, the Lord was pleased a little to revive him, having some more work for him to do, before he received his Wages. For though his outward His Pati­ence. Man decaied, yet his Inward Man was renewed Day by Day. His Graces were never more active, nor his Experiences greater. For forgetting his pains and weakness he was so swallowed up with the Contemplation of the Life to come, that he had scarce leisure to think of his Sickness. For diverse Weeks together he was never heard to speak the least Word savoured of complaint, or weariness under the Hand of God, ex­cept his eager desire to be with Christ be counted complaining, and his hast to be in Heaven be called Impatience. His Faith grew exceedingly, and his Love was an­swerable, and his Joyes were equal to both.

O the high and Divine expressions that dropped from his Mouth! It was a very Heaven upon Earth to hear a Man admiring God at such a rate. His Soul for the Joy unspea­kable. Six last Weeks was almost alwayes filled with those Joyes unspeakable and full of Glory, which the Apostle mentioneth. How oft would he cry out, O that I could but let you know what I now feel! O that I could shew you what I see! O that I could express the Thousandth part of that sweetness that now I find in Christ! You would all then think it worth the while to make it your Business to be Religious. O my Dear Friends, you little Life feared. think what a Christ is worth upon a Death-bed! I would not for a World; nay; for a Million of Worlds be now without a Christ, and a Pardon. I would not for a World live any longer: The very Thought of a possibility to recover makes me to tremble.

One that came to visit him, told him, that it might please God to raise him up again, and that he had seen many a weaker Man restored to Health, and that lived many a good year after. And do you think (said he) to please [...] by such discourse as this? No, Friend, you are much mistaken in me, if you think that the Thoughts of Life and Health, and the World, are pleasing to me. The World hath quite lost its Excellency in my Judgment Contempt of the world. O how poor and contemptible a thing is it in all its Glory, compared with the Glory of that Invisible World which I now live in the sight of! And as for Life, Christ is my Life, Health and Strength, and I know that I shall have another kind of Life when I leave this. I tell you, it would more incomparably please me, if you should say to me, You are no Man for this World: You cannot possibly hold out long: Before to morrow you will be in Eter­nity. Death long­ed for. I tell you, I do so long to be with Christ, that I could be content to be cut in pieces, and to be put to the most exquisite Torments, so I might but Die, and be with Christ. Oh how sweet is Jesus! Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Death, do thy worst. Death hath lost its terribleness. Death, it is nothing: I say, Death is nothing (through Grace) to me. I can as easily Die as shut mine Eyes, or turn my Head and sleep. I long to be with Christ, I long to Die.

His Mother and Brethren standing by, he said Dear Mother, I beseech you as earnestly as ever I desired any thing of you in my life, that you would chearfully give me up to Christ: I beseech you do not hinder me now I am going to Rest and Glory. I am afraid of your Prayers, lest they will pull one way, and mine another.

Then turning to his Brethren, he thus spake unto them; I charge you all, Do not pray for my life any more; you do me wrong if you do. O the Glory! The unspeakable Glory that I Joy un­speakable. behold! my Heart is full: my Heart is full. Christ smiles, and I cannot chuse but smile: Can you find, in your Heart to stop me who am now going to the compleat and eternal Enjoyment of Christ? Would you keep me from my Crown? The Arms of my Blessed Saviour are open to embrace me: The Angels stand ready to carry my Soul into his Bosom. O! did you but see what I see, you would all cry out with me, How long (Dear Lord) Come Lord Jesus; Come quickly. O why are his Chariot wheels so long a coming!

A Reverend, Godly, and Judicious Minister came often to visit him, discoursing of the Excellency of Christ, and the Glory of the Invisible World: Sir, (said he) I feel something of Tasts of Heaven. it. My Heart is as full as it can hold in this lower State: I can hold no more here. O that I could but let you know what I feel! As this Minister was praying with him, his Soul was ra­vished with the abundant incomes of Light, Life, and Love, so that he could scarce bear it, nor the thoughts of staying any longer in the World from it; longing to be in such a condition wherein he should yet have more Grace, and more Comfort, and be better able to bear that weight of Glory; some manifestations whereof did even sink his weak Body; and had he not been sustained by God's great Power, his very Joyes would have over­whelmed him. Whilst he was in these Extasies of Joy and Love, he was wont to cry out:

Who am I Lord, Who am I, that thou shouldest be mindful of me! Why me, Lord, Why Free Grace admired. me! And pass by Thousands to look upon such a wretch as I! O what shall I say unto thee, O thou Preserver of Men! O why me, Lord, Why me! O blessed, and for ever blessed be Free Grace! How is it, Lord, that thou shouldest manifest thy self unto me, and not unto others? Even so Father, because it seems good in thine Eyes. Thou wilt have Mercy, because thou wilt have Mercy. And if thou wilt look upon such a poor Worm, who can hinder? Who would not love thee! O blessed Father! O how sweet and gracious hast thou been unto me! O that he should have me in his Thoughts of Love, before the Foundations of the World!

And thus he went on admiring and adoring God in a most high and heavenly manner. He was wonderfully taken with God's goodness to him in sending that Aged and Experien­ced Minister to him, to help him in his last great work upon Earth. Who am I (said he) that God should send to me a Messenger, one of a Thousand to assist me thus! Though he most­ly was in a Joyful, Triumphant frame of Spirit, yet sometimes he had some small intermis­sions, in which he would cry out, Hold out Faith and Patience: Yet a little while and your work is done. And when he found not his Heart wound up to the highest pitch of Thank­fulness, Admiration and Love, he would with great sorrow thus bemoan himself.

And what's the matter now (O my Soul!) What, wilt thou; canst thou thus unworthily sleight this admirable and astonishing Condescention of God to thee! Seems it a small matter that the great Jehovah should deal thus familiarly with his Worm? And wilt thou pass this over as a common mercy? What meanest thou, O my Soul, that thou dost not constantly adore and praise this rare, strong, and unspeakable Love! Is it true, O my Soul! doth God deal fa­miliarly with Man, and are his humble, zealous, and constant Love, Praise and Service too good for God! Why art thou not, O my Soul, swallowed up every moment with this free, unpa­rallel'd, [Page 78] everlasting Love! And then he brake out again into an other Triumpant Ex­tasie of Praise and Joy, thus:

Stand astonished ye Heavens, and wonder O ye Angels at this infinite Grace! Was Free Grace admired. ever any under Heaven more beholding to free Grace then I? Doth God use to deal thus with his Creatures? Admire him for ever and ever, O ye Redeemed Ones! O those Joyes of which I have the taste! Those Everlasting Joyes that are at his Right Hand for Ever­more! Eternity, Eternity it self, is too short to Praise this God in. O bless the Lord with me, and let us shout for Joy, and boast in the God of our Salvation. O help me to Praise the Lord for his Mercy endures for ever.

One of his Brethren (that had reaped much good by him) praying with him, and seeing him (as he judged) near to his Dissolution, desired that the Lord would be pleased to continue those astonishing, and Soul-supporting Comforts to the last Mo­ment of his Breath; and that he might go from one Heaven to another; from Grace and Joy imperfect, to perfect Grace and Glory. And when his work was done here, to give him (if it were his Will) the most easie and Triumphant Passage to Rest; and that he might have an abundant entrance administred into the Everlasting Kingdom of of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Prayer being ended, he brake out into a wonderful Passion of Joy, crying out, Amen, Amen, Amen: Hallalujah.

I (saith mine Authour) do verily believe that it exceeds the highest Rhetorick, to set out to the Life what this Heavenly Person did then deliver. We want words to declare it, and so did he; for he saw things unutterable. He talked as if he had been in the third Heavens, and brake out into such words as these: O He is come! He his come! O how Sweet, How Glorious is the Blessed Jesus! How shall I do to speak [...]o [...] unspea­kable. the Thousandth part of his Praises! O for Words, to set out a little of that Excellency! But it is unexpressible. O how Excellent, Glorious, and Lovely is the precious Jesus! He is sweet, He is altogether Lovely! And now I am sick of Love; He hath ravished my Soul with his Beauty! I shall Die sick of Love.

O my Friends, stand by and wonder: Come look upon a dying Man and Wonder: I cannot my self but wonder: was there ever a greater kindness. Was there ever more sensible manife­stations of rich Grace! O why me, Lord why me! Sure this is a Kin to Heaven; and if I were never to enjoy more then this, it were well worth all the Torments that Men and Devils could invent, to come through even an Hell to such unspeakable Joyes as these. If this be Dying, Dying is sweet: Let no true Christian ever be afraid of Dying. O Death is sweet to me! This Bed is soft! Christ's Arms and Kisses, his Smiles and Visits, sure they would turn Hell into Heaven. O that you did but see and feel what I do! Come and behold a Dying Man more chearful then you ever saw any Healthful Man in the midst of his sweetest Enjoyments! O Sirs, Worldly Pleasures are poor, pittiful, sorry things, compa­red with one glimps of this Glory, which shines so strongly into my Soul! O, Why should any of you be so sad, when I am so glad? This, This is the Hour that I have waited for.

About Eight and Forty Hours before his Death, his Eyes were dim, and his Sight Death ap­proaching. much failed; his Jaws trembled, and his Feet were cold, and all the Symptoms of Death were upon him, and his remoat Parts were almost Dead and Sensless; And yet, even then his Joyes (if possible) were greater still. He had so many Fits of Joy unspeakable, that he seemed to be in a continued Act of Love and Praise. He spake as one that was just entering into the Gates of the New Jerusalem: His greatest part was already in Heaven: Not a word dropped from his Mouth but breathed of Instructi­ons. Christ and Heaven. O, what encouragement did he give to them that stood by to follow hard after God, and to follow Christ in an Humble, Believing, Zealous course of Life, and of adding one Degree of Grace to another, and to use all Dili­gence to make their Calling and Election sure: Saying, that then they also should find a glorious Passage into Blessed Eternity.

But the most of his work was Praise: A Hundred times over he admired the bot­tomless Love of God to him, Crying, O why me, Lord, Why me? And then he would give Instructions to them that came to see him. He was scarce ever silent, the Love Christ dear­ly loved. of Christ, and Souls constraining him to do all the good that possibly he could: And that Holy Minister that was so much with him, perswaded him to be content to live a little longer, and patiently to wait Gods leisure, who sure had something for him to do, which was yet undone: Some word of Exhortation to some poor Soul that hi­therto was forgotten.

The Truth is, he was so filled with the Love of Christ that he could scarce bear to be absent from him for a moment. He knew that he could be capable of recei­ving [Page 79] greater Glory in Heaven, then he could here. Every Evening he used of his Friends, Hoping that he should see them no more till the Morning of the Resurrecti­on: And he desired them to be careful to make sure of a comfortable meeting at their Father's House in the other World.

When Ministers or private Christians came to him, he would beg of them that His Praises. they would spend all the time that they had with him in Praises. O (said he) Help me to Praise God, I have now now nothing else to do from this time to Eternity, but to praise and love God. I have what my Soul desires upon Earth. I cannot tell what to pray for, but what I have gratiously given in. The wants that are capable of being supplied in this World, are supplied. I want but one thing, and that is, a speedy lift to Heaven. I ex­pect no more here: I desire no more: I cannot bear more. O Praise, Praise, Praise that infinite boundless Love that hath, to a wonder, looked upon my Soul, and hath done more for me, then for Thousands of his Dear Children. O Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me, bless his Holy Name! O help me, help me, O my Friends, to Praise, and Admire him who hath done such astonishing things, and wonders for my Soul! He hath pardoned all my Sins, and hath filled me with his Goodness: He hath given me Grace and Glory, and no good thing hath he withheld from me.

Come, help me with Praises, yet all is too little. Come help me all ye Mighty and Glorious Angels, who are so well skil'd in this Heavenly work of Praise! Praise him, all ye Creatures upon Earth: Let every thing that hath being help me to Praise God: Halla­lujah, hallalujah, hallalujah! Praise is now my work, and I shall be engaged in this sweet Work forever. Bring the Bible: turn to David's Psalms, and let us sing a Psalm of Praise. Come let us lift up our Voices in the Praises of the Most High. I will Sing with you as long as my Breath doth last; And when I have none I shall do it better.

Then turning to some of his Friends that were weeping; he desired them to Re­joyce, rather then to weep upon his account. It was a wonder that a Man so weak could speak so much: But the Joy of the Lord was his strength. In hi [...] Sickness those Scriptures which he took most delight in were the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Six­teenth, and Seventeenth Chapters of St John's Gospel. Also the Fifty fourth of the Prophecy of Isaiah, was very delightful to him: with abundance of Joy he oft re­peated those Words, With Everlasting Mercies, will I gather you. He commended the study of the Promises to Believers, and desired them that they would be sure to make good their claim to them, and then they might come to the Wells of Consolati­on, and there drink their fill.

According to his desire most of the time was spent in Praises, and he would still be calling, More Praises yet: O help me to Praise God, I have now nothing else to do! I have done with Prayer, and all other Ordinances. I have almost done conversing with Mortals: I shall presently behold Christ himself that died for me, and loved me, and washed me in his own Blood. I shall before a few Hours be over be in Eternity, singing the Song of Moses, and the Song of the Lamb. I shall presently stand upon Mount Sion, with an innumerable Company of Angels, and the Spirits of Just Men made perfect, and with Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant: I shall hear the Voice of much People, and be one amongst them, which shall say Hallelujah, Glory, Salvation, Honour, and Power unto the Lord our God: and again we shall say Hallelujah. And yet a very lit­tle while, and I shall Sing unto the Lamb, a Song of Praise, saying, Worthy art thou to receive Praise, who wast slain, and hast Redeemed us unto God by thy Blood, out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation, and hast made us unto our God, Kings, and Priest, and we shall Reign with thee for ever and ever.

Methinks I stand, as it were, with one Foot in Heaven, and the other upon Earth Methinks I hear the Mellody of Heaven, and by Faith I see the Angels waiting to car­ry my Soul to the Bosom of Jesus, and I shall be for ever with the Lord in Glory. And who can choose but rejoyce in all this? Much of this he repeated over and over with greater Affections then can be expressed by Words.

The Day before his Death, he looked earnestly upon his Brother James, who stood by very sad, whom he judged to be putting up some Ejaculations unto God upon his account, to whom he said, I thank thee, Dear Brother, for thy Love: Thou art now praying for me: And I know that thou lovest me dearly: But Christ loves me ten Thousand times more then thou doest. Come and kiss me, Dear Brother, before I Die: And so with his cold dying Lips he kissed him, saying, I shall go before, and I hope thou shalt follow after to Glory. Though he slept but very little for some Nights, yet he was not [Page 80] in the least impaired in his Intellectuals; his Actions were all decent, and his Dis­course, to a Spiritual understanding, highly rational, solid, and Divine: And so he continued to the last Minute of his Breath.

A few Hours before his Death he called all his Relations, and Brethren together, He blesseth his Relati­ons. that he might give them one solemn warning more, and Bless them, and Pray for them, as his breath and strength would give him leave; which he did with abundance of Authority Affection, and Spirituality, as follows.

First, He thanked his Dear Mother for her tender Love to him, and desired that His Mother. she might be in Travel to see Christ formed in the Souls of the rest of her Children, see of the Travel of her Soul, and meet them with Joy in that Great Day.

Then be charged all his Brethren and Sisters in general, as they would answer it His Eldest Brother. before God, that they should carry themselves dutifully to their dear Mother. As for his Eldest Brother (at whose House he lay Sick) his Prayer was, that he might be swallowed up of Christ, and with Love to Souls, and be more and more Exem­plary in his Life, successful in his Ministry, and that he might finish his course with Joy.

His next Brother was Andrew, a Citizen of London, whom (though absent) His second Brother. he thus Blessed: The God of Heaven remember my poor Brother in London. The Lord make him truly Rich, in giving him the Pearl of great Price, and make him a Fellow Citizen with the Saints, and of the Houshold of God: the Lord deliver him from the Sins of that City: May the World be kept out of his Heart, and Christ dwell there. O that he may be, as his Name is, A strong Man, and that I may meet him with Joy.

Then called he for his Brother James (to whom he hoped that God had made him His third Brother a Spiritual Father) to whom he thus spake, Brother James, I hope that God hath given thee a goodly Heritage: The Lines are fallen to thee in Pleasant Places. The Lord is thy Portion. I hope the Lord hath shewed unto thee the worth of a Christ. Hold on, (dear Brother) Christ, Heaven, and Glory are worth striving for. The Lord give thee more abundance of his Grace.

His next Brother Abraham was called, to whom he thus spake: The Blessing of the His fourth Brother. God of Abraham rest upon thee: The Lord make thee a Father of many Spiritual Children.

His Fifth Brother was Joseph, whom he thus Blessed: Let him bless thee (O Joseph) who blessed him that was Seperated from his Brethren. O that his Everlasting Arms His fifth Brother. may take hold of thee! It is enough if yet thou maist live in his Sight. My Heart hath been working towards thee, Poor Joseph, and I am not without Hopes, that the Arms of the Almighty will embrace thee. The God of thy Father bless thee with Blessings of Heaven above.

The next was his Sister Mary, to whom he said; Poor Sister Mary, thy Body is weak, His first Sister. and thy Daies will be filled with bitterness: Thy Name is Marah: The Lord sweeten all with his Grace and Peace, and give thee Health in thy Soul. Be patient; make sure of Christ, and all is well.

Then his Sister Sarah was called, whom he thus blessed: Sister Sarah, thy Body is strong His second Sister. and healthful; O that thy Soul may be so too! The Lord make thee, first a wise Virgin, and then a Mother in Israel: A Pattern of Modesty, Humility and Holiness.

Then his Brother Jacob was called, whom he thus blessed: The Lord make thee an His sixth Brother. Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. O that thou mayest learn to wrestle with God, and like a Prince, prevail, and not go without the Blessing!

Lastly, He prayed for his youngest Brother Benjamin, who was but an Infant. Poor His seventh Brother. little Benjamin; O that the Father of the Fatherless would take care of thee, Poor Child, that thou which never sawest thy Father upon Earth, mayest see him with Joy in Heaven! The Lord be thy Father and Portion: Mayest thou prove the Son of thy Mothers Right Hand, and the Joy of her Age.

O that none of us all may be found among the unconverted at the Day of Judgment! O that every one of us may appear with our Honoured Father, and Dear Mother, before Christ with Joy, that they may say, Lord, here are we, and the Children which thou hast graciously given us! O that we may live to God here, and live with him hereafter. And now my Dear Mother, Brethren and Sisters, farewel: I leave you for a while, and commend you to God, and to the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an Inheritance among them which are sanctified.

And now Dear Lord, my Work is done; I have finished my course; I have fought the [Page 81] good Fight, and henceforth there remaineth for me a Crown of Righteousness! Now come Dear Lord Jesus; come quickly.

The afore-mentioned godly Minister came now to give him his last Visit; and when he spake to him, his Heart was in a mighty Flame of Love and Joy, which drew Tears of Joy from this Minister, and was amazed to hear a Man just a dying, talk as if he had been with Jesus, and came from the immediate presence of God. O the smiles that were then in his Face, and the unspeakable Joy that was in his Heart! O the Praises, the Triumphant Praises that were in his Mouth! And every one must speak Praises that were about him, or else they made a Jar in his Harmony.

A little before his Death in the Prayer, or rather Praises, which were returned for him, he was so wrapped up with Admiration and Joy, that he could scarce forbear shouting for Joy. In the conclusion of that Duty, with abundance of Faith and Fervency, he said aloud, Amen, Amen.

And now his longing Desires shall be soon satisfied. He sees Death coming apace to do his office; his Jaws were loosened more and more, and quivered greatly. His Hands and Feet were as cold as Clay. A cold Sweat was upon him. But O! how glad was he when he felt his Spirit just a going! Though the pangs of Death were strong, yet that far more exceeding, and Eternal Weight of Glory, made him bear those bitter pains with much patience and courage.

In the extremity of his pains, he desired his Eldest Brother to lay him a little lower, and to take away one Pillow from him, that he might Die with the more ease: His Brother replied, That he durst not for a World do any thing that might hasten his Death a moment. Then he was well satisfied, and resigned up himself wholly unto God's disposal. And after a few minutes, with a sudden motion, gathering up all his strength, he gave himself a little turn on one side, and in the twinkling of an Eye departed to the Lord, sleeping in Jesus. Aged between Twenty Three, and Twenty Four, in the month of June, An. Christi 1657

The Life and Death of Mr. John Machin, who Died Anno Christi 1664.

JOhn Machin was the Son of John Machin of Seabridge, near New-Castle, in the County His Paren­tage. of Stafford. His Mother Katherine was of the Vernons of Audley, in the same County. His Father was a wise man, of a good Estate, and an Antient Free-holder: That Estate of Seabridge having continued in the Name of the Machins, from the 23d of King Henry the Eighth, and our John was the Seventh Generation of the Name that have inherited that Estate.

This John was born at Seabridge, Octob. 2. Anno Christi 1624. and Baptized the same Birth. day at New-Castle. He was the only Son of his said Parents, and was therefore carefully brought up by them in his Youth at the best Schools that were thereabout; especially under pious Mr. Orme of New-Castle, and deservedly famous Mr. John Ball of Whitmore, who Education. brought up several Youths in School-Learning, together with his own Sons.

Our John was first intended to be sent to the Inns of Court; but his Parents tenderness of him, and unwillingness to part with him to such a distance, was, probably, a hinderance of that design. Whereupon being taken from School, he was imployed about Husbandry for some years, and followed some youthful Recreations. In particular, he was given to Cock-fights, whereupon himself (in some Memoirs) wrote thus: Twenty years did I live the Devil's Bond-slave, which indeed is Time lost, and not Living in a good sense, (Eph. 2. 1, 2, 3.) And he often said to one of his Dear Friends, as they w [...]re walking together about Seabridge, O with what an heart full of vanity have I in daies past gone this way! And at another time. This way have I followed sin, where I now follow Christ: I am now ungoing, and unravelling my sinful Journies: But I that have tryed both, find these the better waies.

He was then very ready to hearken to any motion of Marriage made to him, yet did not then close with any. One at Ʋtoxiter he was nearest to a conclusion with, but she dying in the mean time, it proved an occasion of his going to the Ʋniversity He goes to Cambridg. For his Father was induced, by the advice of a Friend to let him go to Cambridge for a Quarter of a Year: Scarce intending that he should be admitted into any Colledge, but to abide there for some short time to learn farther breeding; and he gladly accepted the Motion, and went thither in December, Anno Christi, 1645. And there finding some Kindred and Acquaintance, he was admitted into Jesus Colledge.

The first Year it pleased God to make a gracious change in him, of which he thus His Conver­sion. saith: The Time of my Conversion was in the Twenty first Year of my Age (as I remem­ber) The Place was Jesus Colledge in Cambridge. The Texts that most overturned me were, Eph. 6. 12, 13, 14 & 1 Cor. 16. 22. The one Preached on by Dr. Hill, the other by a Stranger. He often shewed some of his Acquaintance the Seat in which he was first wrought upon, and told them early be loved the sight of it, and that ever after he chose to sit in that Seat, rather than in any other, if possibly he could croud into it. This was one evidence, among many others, of the eminent success which God gave to that faithful plain Preaching of that Holy Man of God, Dr. Hill, who went over that whole Epistle to the Ephesians, in a Lecture, ever Lord's Day in the Morning at six of the Clock, which he continued for several Years.

Learned Dr. Arrowsmith also about the same time Preached over a succinct Body of Divinity in Aphorisms in St. John's Colledge, in the Evenings of the Lord's Day (part whereof is since published) of which our John hath often said, That he found his Heart so moulded to the Truths delivered, upon the hearing of them, that it was greatly to his Spiritual Joy, and satisfaction.

No sooner did he find this blessed change in his own Heart, but his Friends at Sea­bridg Fruits of it. found it in his Letters, which spake the new frame of his Soul, and were most instant and Pathetical perswasions to his Father and Mother and Sisters to look after their Souls, and to mind the things of Eternity: which also he seconded afterwards by his Holy, and Exemplary conversation, and Society with them; so that he was an Instrument to Convert all his three Sisters and that early, unto God: and to pre­vail very hopefully with his Parents in like manner, as appeared afterwards.

Whilst he was in the Ʋniversity he so followed his Studies, that being of ripe Years, and having very good natural Parts, and religiously making Conscience of his ex­pence His Indu­stry. of Time, he made a good progress in Learning, and was not inferior to any in the Colledge of his standing when he left the Ʋniversity. And though, in his Preaching, he made no shew of Learning, as some do: Yet he made good use of it, and understood well the necessity of it for the enabling of him to his work.

About the time of his Great Grandfathers Death, which in March, Anno Christi, 1647. he was sick of a dangerous Spotted Feavour at Cambridge, and that unto His Sick­ness. Death, as himself, and most about conclude, which he thus mentions: That it was in Jesus Colledge, in a middle Chamber, next to the Chappel on the Right Hand: But (saith he) God having some work for me to do, had Mercy on me (Phil. 2. 27.) saved me, and brought me back again: To say with the Psalmist, Thou hast delivered my Soul from Death: Wilt thou not deliver my Feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the Land of the Living? Psal. 56. 13. And again, I shall not Die, but Live, and declare the works of the Lord: The Lord hath chastened me sore, but he hath not given me over unto Death, &c. Psal. 118. 17, 18.

In this Sickness the Lord dealt most powerfully with his Soul, planting therein great and firm resolutions, of serving his God eminently in case of Recovery, which accordingly (by the assistance of his Grace) he faithfully performed: And hereup­on he set up a meeting of some Schollars for Religious purposes, which continued in the Colledge for several Years after his Departure, to the restraining (at least) of Piety. some, and to the great Spiritual advantage of many others; which he managed with such Prudence and Caution, that they could not easily become the Nurserys of Faction, or false Doctrine, what ever the Ignorance, and Malice of sensless frothy Persons did slanderously vent to the contrary, We may see a farther account of him, and of his His Pru­dence. usefulness in the Colledge in these few Clauses in several Letter that were sent to him from some worthy Members of that Society:

Dear Friend, I received your loving Letters, which breath nothing but Piety and good His Com­mendation. affections. The next Companion to him who is both the Founder, a Fellow and President of the Colledge of Graces, and Comforts of Believers, is he whom God hath warmed with the same Principles to be instrumental for the enlivening them in others—I bless God the So­ciety you were the Founder of in the Colledge, do grow hoth in Number and Mea­sure.—And you have here my real Thanks, in that you have been instrumental in set­ting Religious meetings on Foot, wherein you reap much of the answer of your Prayers, in that they carry it so Prudently yet, as I hear nothing but what Malice and Guilt tax them withal.—In all my serious Thoughts I see yo [...] represented to me, either as a Pattern of strict walking, or of upbraiding my little serviceableness; But alwayes a Blessing and Com­fort in this, that I have known you, and the manner of your Life, and that I reap the [Page 83] benefit of your Prayers and best Affections, which is a Treasury I alwayes desired to prize above all the Jewels in the World, &c. And from an other eminent Person thus:

My dear and precious Friend: I received yours, and your Lines sweetly refresh me. O that I could hear oftner from you: It glads my Soul to see your constancy. O that your Example might be a Motive and Incentive to me, to be more steady, setled, and fixed up­on God in the wayes of God, &c. These are but a taste of the many Letters he received from Cambridge, wherein several do bless the Lord that ever they saw his Face.

But his Activity in God's Service was not a little disturbed by the Malice of Tempta­tions. Satan, who frequently after his Recovery from Sickness, disturbed and tormented him dreadfully in his Dreams, so that he hath often, immediatly upon his waking, run in his Wastcoat into his Study, and betaken himself to his earnest and servent Prayers against that subtile and mischievous Fiend.

Anno Christi, 1649: he Commenced Bachiler of Arts, after which he went into He is Bat­cheler of Arts. Ordained. the Countrey, and spent part of a Year among his Friends, and in visiting some Neighbour Congregations where the Ministry of the Word was wanting. The same Year he was Ordained Minister at Whitchurch in Shropshire; before which he en­gaged all the Prayers that possibly he could, not only of Friends near-hand, but of some that were far distant, for a Blessing upon that Ordinance: And when we con­sider how Pathetically he engaged them (Thus in one of his Letters: Pray and pre­vail for us) what a conjuration of Prayers there was in several places upon that Day, and the rich Crop, and Harvest reaped afterwards, surely it deserves the reflection of those Ministers, who never won a Soul to Christ, from what Principles, in what manner, and for what ends they first entred into this surest Function.

Though he was not disposed for the present to settle in any place, yet was he un­willing to go about his work without Ordination; and that which induced him to continue unfixed for a space, was his enlarged desire to do good to Souls, and that not only of his Kindred and Friends, but also of all Neigbours so much, and so far as pos­sibly Zeal. he could. He even travelled in Birth for such as had not seen his, that Christ might be formed in them: And the largness of his Heart herein was frequently expressed in his most earnest Prayers unto God for the enlarging of his Kingdom in Countys, Towns, and Families, which he would name with the greatest Affections both in his Prayers and Letters, oft crying out, O that all Staffordshire and Cheshire might be saved!

By this time he had Acquaintance, yea, and intimacy with all that were eminent for Piety in all places thereabouts, and his great care was to stir up the Grace of God in them. And he was extraordinarily qualified and prepared by the Lord for this work, and that in a special juncture of time when the heat of Controversies were managed by Sword, Pen, and Pulpit, which had sadly prevailed to justle out the lively Sense of the main things wherein all were agreed: And diverse Ministers were so taken off from these greater matters by other work which the Enemy had found them, that to Preach Death and Judgment, of Christ and Conversion were al­most new things to many of the People. But this good Man was singularily fitted, to recal that great Work back again into the Hearts and Hands of his Brethren, him­self having never engaged into the Controversies of Church or State: And set out with all his might upon the main things, and did promote and drive on the Work of Conversion where ever he came.

And truly his Success was great: For in his Fathers Family in Seabridg, the Lord made him eminently instrumental in the Conversion of his three Sisters. His Parents too greatly favoured the wayes of God: and much furthered him in his work, and were chearful entertainers of such good People as upon sundry Occasions resorted thither: And there was such an habituated course of gracious Converse set up in the Family, by his staying with them the first Year; that an eminent Minister at his first coming thither, beholding their Order, Zeal, and forwardness in Christ, could not forbear to insist the next Day upon those words of Moses, Numb. 11. 29. Enviest thou for my sake? Which was the result of that dealing, he was forced to with his own Heart upon that occasion. And this Oyntment upon Aarons Head, ran down to the Skirts of his Cloathing: For he was a precious Savour to the very poor Ser­vants of his Father's House, with whom he was unweariedly importunate to labour for Holiness, and he prevailed with some of them, which was a notable presage of the future success of his Ministry upon others.

Himself takes occasion to write thus concerning his Father: My Father John Ma­chin [Page 84] did more for our Family than his Progenitors, building both the House and Barns from the Ground, &c. But most of all he may be remembred for bringing up me his Son to, and at the Ʋniversity, who was (through grace instrumental to bring the Gospel in its power into our Family, which was more Glory to the same then if the Materials of the House had been all turned into pure Gold, whereof let these Scriptures (upon the Chimny Stone in the Parlour) be Witnesses, where it may be said, Blessed be he and they who brought his Name hither to Record it. To God alone be the whole Glory.

The Scriptures upon that Stone were these: Gen. 28. 15-22. 2 Chron. 6. 7-42. 2 Sam. 7. 18.-25. 1 Chron. 29. 10-20. Psal. 116. 1. 12.-19. Psal. 118. 17. Gen. 32. 10. Jer. 30. 21. Ezek. 48. 35. 1 Sam. 7. 12. Exod. 17. 14, 15. Exod. 20. 24. 1 Cor. 15. 34. 1 Chron. 28. 9.

His usual way after Preaching was to Repeat, and to assemble together as many as Industry. he could to the Place where he lodged, and their to spend as much time as he was able, in pressing things farther upon them, and in holy and pertinent Discourses, with unspeakable heat and vigour; which made one of his Kindred say, That he liked his Cosin Machin well, but that he made his House a Chapple when he came to him.

All this time he was unfixed, as himself wrote to a Friend of his in Cambridge, thus: I am yet placeless, Charities Servant, desired to many Places, but in part resol­ved Charity to Souls. to fix at Ashburn for every other Sabbath, reserving the other for the service of Ne­cesity and Charity, which may be found in these Parts.

And this he did accordinly, as himself hath left upon Record. In the beginning of the year, 1650. (saith he) I was called to Ashburn in Darby-shire, where God was with me two Years, and though my labours were not in the Town so successful as I desired, yet I had God's presence much comforting my Soul, and the Souls of many Christian Friends there about.

During his abode there he was with a Quaker upon his Death-bed (presently af­ter A Quaker. the springing up of that Sect in Stafford-shire) and the more earnestly he prayed with the sick Person, the more he raged: which was an Argument to him, and to several other of the Company then present that Quakerism was a Degree of Pos­session.

Whilst he continued at Ashburn he was a painful and laborious Preacher, and very useful, and all his spare Dayes he laid out to the utmost advantage of the Gospel, by forecasting for Heavenly work in the Moor-lands, and other dark Corners in Stafford­shire, where the Gospel in the power of it, had scarce ever come before: So that he might truly say, with St. Paul, that he gloried not in another Mans Line: he sowed where few had effectually sowed before, nor did they then but by his procurement. There was no Man like minded in those Parts, who did so naturally care for the state of Souls: For indeed, he sought not his own, but the things of Jesus Christ. His man­ner Zeal. was, to engage his Brethren in the Ministry that were intimate with him, and that knew the sincerity of his Heart, and his gracious Design herein, to meet him in those Parts, and to Preach at several places near to each other, sometimes Three or Four Dayes together: And the People were ordinarily so tractable, that they (to his great Joy) would flock from place to place after the means of Grace: and he had the comfortable Testimony of God's approving his Work, in the great good that ma­ny Souls received thereby.

See his heavenly Spirit by this Letter which he wrote to one of the Ministers Wives that thought her Husband too long from her, when he was imployed with him in this work, in July, Anno Christi, 1652. Heavenly-mindedness

My dear Friend (saith he) I do heartily bless our God for what he hath done for you and especially for your Soul. I pray you believe that you heard these words following as coming out of the Mouth which first spake them, Psal. 27. 14. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy Heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord: And say in Faith as you may in his Language also, Psal. 138. 8. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord endureth for ever, &c. It is to me a great sign what the Lord hath done for you, that you are so willing to part with your (I know) dear Husband, for the Lord's sake, and his works sake, but He is, and it is worthy. Think still it is to the Lord: and should a Husband be between a gracious Heart, and Christ our Lord? God forbid that we should think so, who have had already in Hand for every Step, Word, and Thought for him, from him more weight and worth, then a Wedg of Ophir's Gold, besides those Thousands of Years in Glory, which are yet in Reversion, &c. And werein I cannot thank you and him, my Lord shall: For else his Words fail, and I will complain, as Heb. 6. 18. 2 Chron. 25. 9.

After two Years stay at Ashburn, the Lord cut out work for him elsewhere; and he saw no reasons why he might not part from them: Concerning which he thus He goes to Atherston. writes. From Ashburn I was called to Atherston in Warwick-shire, where I spent one Year in a Lecturers place, and the Lord did abundantly Crown my poor pains on a sud­den with Conversion-work, which made me say, as Cant. 6. 12. Or ever I was aware my Soul made me like the Chariots of Aminadab. But I saw not the Lord's mind, and will to continue me there, in which I saw the Lord's, and for the time was content; for I wanted nothing, having a Seabrig-home for supply: And I had my Hearts desire in Back to Seabridge. oportunities to extend my Labours in Stafford-shire and otherwise, some Lords Dayes, and many Week Dayes, no one gain-saying: which I saw was for the destruction of the De­vils work, and an aking Tooth he carried against me: But two things stay'd Thought in my Travels from Place to Place, and House to House: My Saviours leading the Way, (Act. 10. 38.) And this: the more the Devil hates me, the more the Lord loves me.

This Year was the time wherein he should have Commenced Master of Arts, which also he inclined to do, chiefly to give Testimony of his respect to Learning, and the Schools thereof, in a time wherein too many decryed them: But his Estate being enough to make him a Compounder, whereby some Extraordinary charges would be expected from him; more then he could well spare: And with this con­sideration he sat down, thinking that he might imploy that money more to the Ho­nour of God, and the Gospel, then to part with it for the Honour of a Degree, though he could willingly have been at the single charge upon the former account.

Concerning his Remove to Astbury in Cheshire, himself thus writes: I was ordered, and To Astbury. and called to Astbury in Cheshire, Novemb. 17. Anno Christi 1652. But exprest not my full consent till the Spring following, at which time I left Atherston.

About this time his Father Died, of which he thus saith; He Died March the 12th. An­no His Fathers Death. Christi 1652. Being the Sabbath Day, about Ten of the Clock at Night, and in the 55th year of his Age, with these words in his mouth, (Psal. 39. 5.) Behold thou hast made my Daies as an hand-breadth, and mine Age is as nothing before thee. Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. And said to his Mother and Sisters, who stood by weeping; Why do you weep? you have a God that will be better to you than Ten Thousand Husbands and Fathers

He wisely observed, when such an unthought of loss befel him, how he was employed▪ at that instant; concerning which he saith; At the time when my Father Died I was at Prayer, and that with the most remarkable impressions I ever had, both in pleading for mercy for him, and on a sudden I submitted to the Lord's Determination. Many observable warn­ings he had from the Lord of this Event before it came to pass: As, his serious and solemn Exposition, and Application of that portion of Scripture, Job 21. 23, 24. in the Family, before any Sickness appeared (March the 9th.) Secondly, His earnestness to know the state of his Fathers Soul before they parted the next morning: As also to thank him for his Love and Care in his behalf, and to understand his Mind and Will concerning himself and his outward Estate, whilst he yet continued in perfect health. Thirdly, The Day fol­lowing, having occasion to send home, he, by the Messenger, recommended to his Father that Scripture, Isa. 38. 1, 2, 3. These, with several other notable passages, and pious im­provements he made hereof, which gave him hopes that the sad Providence was in Love to him, and in mercy to his Father, unto whom he could not come time enough to see him in the Land of the Living.

Not long after he removed to Astbury, and changed his condition, concerning which himself thus writes: The good Hand of my everloving Father, so disposing it, I had some Ac­quaintance He Marries. in Derbyshire, and I especially found one forward in the Profession at Mickleaver, near Darby, who might be to me as Rebecca was to Isaac, by Name, Jane Butler (Daughter to John Butler) on whom my Thoughts much settled, with submission to my heavenly Father's Will, and she became my Wife, Septemb. 29. Anno Christi 1653. at Utoxeter; whom God gave to me, and with her what I expected in an humble, gracious Woman, (Prov. 31. 11, 12. & 29. 30, 31.) Her price was above Rubies; her portion of outward Estate very considerable.

His managing of this weighty business, was in such an holy and heavenly manner, that all their meetings on that account were improved to the utmost advantage of both their Souls; and their Marriage was fixed upon one of his Lecture-Daies, where two of his Bre­thren Preached, and joyned in the solemnization thereof. And after two Daies stay with his Wife, he went a long Journey about the work of the Lord for many Daies following, whereby he made it evident how much the greatest worldly comforts were made subordi­nate to God's Glory and Interest, and were so far from hindering, that he was rather en­larged, and fitted thereby to walk in the Waies of God.

His first contrivance of setting up a Lecture, was some months before his Fathers Death; A Lecture set up. and no sooner was the Estate fallen into his hands, but he resolved to consecrate a share of it to God, and would not serve the Lord with that which cost him nothing His intentions about it, himself thus expresses; I intend a monthly Lecture to be Preached in these following Towns of greatest concourse; viz. in New-Castle, Leek, Utoxiter, Lichfield, Tamworth, Wal­fal, Wolverhampton, Pencridge, Stafford, Eccleshall, Stone, Muckleston, in the County of Stafford, the last Friday in each month, allowing (of the Lord's fulness in my hands) thirteen shillings and four pence to the Ministers that Preach, to convert Souls, and one Shilling to be Liberallity. given to twelve of the Poorest People that come to Church: In all eight pounds twelve Shillings a year. This was the resolution of an heart engaged to him; of one that would honour the Lord with his Substance, and is J. M. July 31. Anno Christi 1652.

And presently after his Fathers Death he thus wrote concerning this business: I believe that the Lord could have given him more Daies; but yet do will that 8 l. per Annum for Zeal. ever be set apart for the Gospel, out of mine own Estate, that Immortal Souls may be won, and God's Portion in the World be encreased, to be disposed as aforesaid, or as my Brethren, Mr. N. and Mr. S. my Dearest Fellow-Labourers shall judge, and find most abundantly and effectually to accomplish Christ's end and mine, saying, as (Rom. 10. 1.) My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

This Lecture he set on foot this Summer. The first Day was at New-Castle, Aug. 4. 1653. where his two aforesaid Friends did Preach: As also the third course at Utoxiter Sept. 29. following, being the Day of his Marriage. And this business was so much in his Heart and purpose, that when some scruple was made about it in the settlement of his Land at Marriage, he wrote thus: Whether I change my condition or not, I have cause, and I call to mind my Promise to the Lord and his Gospel in the thing I intended, which I think will now be preferred before the change of my condition.

And that the Holiness of his Heart, and bent of his Soul in this business may appear, he inserted these passages into his Will, which he made Novemb. 16. 1653. not two months His Will. after his Marriage, he thus writes: I commit my Soul to God, my God, and my Saviour, that Created, and Redeemed it, even into the Bosom of the Father of Spirits: My Body to my Fa­ther Corruption, and to the Worms my Mother and Sister, (Job 17. 14.) In hopes that he will make good to me (who with them have sometimes endeavoured to serve him) his Promise of Eternal Life, Rom. 2. 7. As for my Dear Beloved Wife, I freely return (and I pray it may be with advantage) to him who hath lent her, to whom I leave, Joh. 17. 24. Rev. 21. last. Jude 24. Psal. 84. 10, 11. Hoping that I leave her an Heir together with me, or rather with Jesus Christ, of a Kingdom that cannot be removed. If the Lord shall graciously give me Issue (I pray it may be of his Herîtage, and prepared for a Room in Heaven) to it I would leave, 1 Chron. 28. 9. and I pray God see it executed according to my Will. And it is my willconcerning my Heir (if the Lord give one) that he may be a Samuel, lent to the Lord, and his Service in the Ministry: For I can say, he is an Asking of the Lord, as was Samuel: And that he may have mine Inheritance, performing my Will concerning my Lecture, &c. And concludes thus; Praying, that whoever rules here, may keep open House for God and his People, to whom I would in Faith say, as Psal. 31. 5. Into thy Hand I commit my Spirit: Thou hast Redeemed me O Lord God of Truth: Hereto subscribing with my Heart and Hand, J. M.

And in a Schedule of the same Date, he writes as followeth: Some particulars concerning the thing that hath long been in my Heart to do for God, written as my last Will, as an occa­sion of some standing Service when I am not. The Motives are God's Glory; Christ's Kingdoms encrease; and Poor Souls Salvation; an expression of my Thankfulness, for what God hath done for our Family, and for me the least and last of it. And the rather, because I am here, in mine own apprehension so little serviceable in speaking, doing, and suffering for him, and nothing at all advantagious in Writing, as others have been, and I could have desired. These Motives, together with that blessed Experience I have had of its advantage already, through God's sealing work with it, makes me to think my self favoured more of God, if I may do this for him: and I doubt not but he can and will, if need be, give me and mine, much more than this; as is said, 2 Chron. 25. 9. And if I could say as David, 1 Chron. 29. 13, &c. I would think it little betwixt him and me, who hath said; Whosoever shall give a Cup of cold Water to drink in my Name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. And my prayer is, that those which come after me (whose it might have been) may think that it's better bestowed than the rest.

1. The thing is a double Lecture, namely, of two Sermons once a month, chiefly intend­ing Souls Conversion.

2. The Ministers: The most Orthodox, Able and Powerful, that can be procured for Love to Jesus Christ and his Service, or the Will of the Dead; chosen by my Trustees successively.

[Page 87] 3. The Trustees: Four Ministers, and four Laymen. The Ministers I leave in Trust, and question not their faithfulness herein for Christ's sake, are my dearest fellow-Labourers in our Lord's work, Mr. N. Mr. S. Mr. B. and Mr. J. with whom I only leave for their direction, 1 Cor. 15. 58. Mat. 28. 20. The Lay-men whom I put in joint Trust are Mr. B. Mr. M. Mr. B. And plain-hearted T. H. all those Faces I hope to see in Heaven. With them I leave for their refreshment, when they take some steps about it. Mat. 25. 39, 40. For Eternity is the place I would be for, to which when gone, I am but a little before, and you but a little behind.

This Lecture by his constant cost and care, he kept up from August the Fourth, Lecture laid down: Anno Christi, 1653. Monthly, until January the Second, 1659. Whereof he kept an exact account in a Catalogue, wherein he took notice of the Day of the Month, the Place, the Persons that Preached, and their Texts, with some hints of the Congre­gations, their number, and seriousness: And he continued it, until the times would neither encourage, nor bear it, and thereupon it not only fell, but also (wanting Publick Liberty for such an Exercise, according to the purpose of his Heart) he sus­pended his intensions, and disposed his Land otherwise.

In May, Anno Christi, 1654: He began to keep House at Astbury, concerning which, he thus saith: I was intertained without exception, or interruption: And though for some Years we met with troubles, yet did the Lord stand between me, and all my troubles, so that many times I was as a Man wholly free, and was made amends for all my Sufferings of that Nature, by the Lord's Presence, sweet and Lord's Sup­per admini­stred. powerful in his Ordinances, especially in that of the Lord's Supper, which was there set on Foot in March, Anno Christi, 1654: and continued without interruption Monthly, or once in six Weeks till, Anno Christi, 1660.

The Lord did mightily strengthen his Hands and encourage his Heart in this Ordi­nance, and he took great care in Preparation for it, spending the Friday before the Sacrament in Publick Prayers and Preaching God's Words, and the Day after the Thanksgi­ving. Sacrament in Thanksgiving, in his own, or in some Neighbours Family, especially where there fell out in any Communicants Family, any occasion of special Thanks­giving: As recovery from Sickness, or the like.

By the coming of another Incumbent unto Astbury, he had only oportunity of Preaching there each other Lord's Day, and for the other he had liberty to Preach abroad upon Charity, which yet he heartily rejoiced in, and was ready freely to help Fasts. any of his Brethren, so that he was seldom a Day at ease. And now he had oportu­nity of being acquainted with the Ministers and Congregations in Cheshire, where Prudence. the Lord blessed his labours to the benefit of many Souls.

His labours here were much encreased by his assisting in many Fast-days unto which he was very ready, and would gather up such special things as any in or out of his Family desired to be recommended unto God in Prayer upon such days, & would press such as were present to perticularize their special things, that they might not come un­to God upon an uncertain Errand, which things he would usualy write down in a Paper, that so they which assisted in the duty might read it, and so be the better enabled pertinent­ly to Pray one for another. He did much desire to make these and all other Ordinances very serious, and to rescue them from that formality which two frequently accom­panied them, being little satisfied with the work done, unless he found somthing done thereby upon his own, and the Hearts of others. He knew that great benifit and comfort was to be had in these Duties and Ordinances, and he would not rest contented without it. He diligently also observed the success of them, and if God at any time with drew himself from him, he made it his Business to seek his God till he found him again, as also the Cause of his with-drawings.

What strong Affections he had in the Duties of God's Worship was manifest to all Zeal. that joined with him, that they might easily see and discern the ardency of them; especially in singing of Psalms, which he did with such apparent intension of of mind, and Heart as is not ordinary, and diverse yet living cannot but remem­ber with what Faith and fervency he would pronounce Amen, Amen at the end of every Prayer. And after holy Duties usually his Heart was greatly lifted up in the wayes of God: And though he sped never so well in it, yet he had not done with an Ordinance when it was over, but had both Heart and Art of improving it, and would then dexterously put on to holy Discourses: and not only Publickly urg things for fashion sake, but would afterwards follow it with all his might, as if (be­ing the Lord's Ambassador) he waited for an answer to him that had sent him.

He was most unwearied and indefatigable in holy Duties, and was never observed Prayers ar­dent. to give out in them, though somtimes upon special Occasions, they continued all Night therein. After one of these Dayes of special Communion with God he, toge­ther with two or three of his choice Friends, retired into private, and there he urged each of them to name some one thing that they would cheifly beg of God, and so each of them prayed over those particulars, and what impressions and affections were then raised in their Hearts cannot be forgotten: Also to promote and encrease Know­ledg and Holiness, he help up a Conference, both to his own and his Peoples great Benefit; and that no time might be lost, nor any ones Mite be neglected, he would take the Answers of those that were absent at the appointed times, as occasionaly Confe­rence. he met with them, and somtimes before the whole Assembly were met together up­on Dayes of Prayer, so that he was always doing, and designing the best advantage of the Peoples Souls upon all occasions.

Whilst he was Minister at Astbury it pleased the Lord to give him four or five Children, concerning whose Birth, he thus writes in his Memorials: The first Will I made was presently after our Marriage, and in it I spake of a Son Samuel, as if I had seen him by Faith, though he was not then in being, and it was full a Quarter of a Year, before we had any sensible hopes of a Child, which was given us about March the 9th. 1653. In May following we began Houskeeping at Astbury, we received the Birth of our asking of God, (1 Sam. 1. 20.) Samuel, who was Born, November the 13th. chiefly called Sa­muel, because he was asked of God by Father, Mother, and many Christian Friends there and elsewhere, with great Ends propounded at such times of Prayer: Namely, that he might be one to bere God's Name hear in his Church on Earth, and one to take up a Room prepared for him in Glory: The Lord be Surety for thee my Son: The Lord forbid thou should'st come short of these ends: Prayeth thy Father. Thus did he set upon his Head the Remembrance of the Mercy of God in his Birth, as the Servants of God of old did make the very Names of their Children the means of remembring the Signal Mer­cies Prayer pre­valent. of God to them: This Child in the first Year of his Life, was, by Sickness, twice under the Sentence of Death, but Prayer that obtained him recovered him.

An other great Deliverance to this Child he thus Recordeth: Memorandum (saith he) that July the 10th 1656. the Lord prevented the Death of my Son Samuel, which Providen­ces special in all probability might have been with my own Hand, bowling a Stone with all my might to­wards the Child (whether I saw him before it went out of my Hand I know not) But it's motion was directly towards his Face, coming up the steps in the Garden-walk; and the visible means of prevention in God's Hand was an other Stone, that turned it out of the way a few steps before it came to the Child. This was an awakening Providence to me and my Wife, and sent us to God on our Knees, partly for Humi­liation, partly for Gratulation. This Stone he kept in his Study, and (without Superstition) made it his Remembrancer to continue his Thankfulness to God for this great Deliverance. Some such observations he recorded about his other Chil­drens Birth and Names.

When this Winter was ended, he removed to Whitley, Anno Christi, 1661. May 17th: And of his success there he gives this account: After somtime I found that God was with me in his Ordinances, to make Conversion-work: And in Providences, to prevent evil, and to reach good things to us. Let it be remembred to his Praise, that October the 23d. 1661. my Son John was within a step of drowning, and Provi­dence ordered me to be within sight at that very time, though I had been from home the Fortnight before, And not an Hour after my Daughter Sarah was almost choked with a Thred, to our great affrightment: But we saw the Lord's Hand very notably in her pre­servation, as we had done the Spring before from Sickness, in answer to Prayers, Psal. 103. 4.

An other merciful Preservation of his Son John he thus Records. Memorandum, that our Son John had a notable escape from drowning as he and his Brother were coming from School, June the 18th. 1664. But Blessed be God who is present when Parents are ab­sent.

At this Place he continued to labour in the Lord's Vineyard till that black Day, August 24. 1662: at which time, he with very many of his Brethren were Civilly slain, being unsatisfied to conform as the Act of Ʋniformity then required. But no Man suffered his Death with less Reflection upon Superiors, or with more grief for so sad a dispensation. Yet there he continued, labouring for the advantage of the [Page 89] Peoples Souls with all his Strength, and the Lord made him a great Blessing to all the Country round about: And God's Providence so ordered it, that the Neighbouring Gentry (though of a differing Perswasion, yet) offered nor to molest him at all, being convinced of the Innocence and Peaceableness of his Spirit, and of the uprightness of his Ends therein.

Before I give an account of the last part of his Life, you may take this just Character of him. His Cha­racter.

1. He was of an excellent Spirit in Solomons sense, Prov. 17. 27. as slow to passion, as most have been known. One that lived some time with him, gave this testimony, that he Patience. remembred not that he ever saw him transported with Passion; but angry he would be at Sin, yet still after the example of his Lord and Master, Grieved for the hardness of their Hearts, Mark 3. 5. His Reproofs were always so moderated and mixed with Love and Compassion, that the Offender could not but see, that his great aim was at his good. Prudence.

2. He had good Natural Parts, and was no Novice in any of that Learning that might Learning. fit and qualify him for his Work. For tho he was more abundant in publick Preaching than most of his Brethren, which must needs hinder his Private Studies, yet what time of vacancy he had from this Work, he carefully redeemed for his Book, and took in Philosophy, the Tongues, History, Positive, and Practical Divinity in the course of his Studies, being never well unless at his Study, or in secret Duties, or holy Conference, tho (as it was once said of Industry. Plato's Houshold-stuff) it may be truly said of all his studies, there was Nihil in Pompam, Omne in Usum; nothing for Pomp, all for use. And like of one of the Architects in Plu­tarch, who, when another, had made an Artificial Discourse of his dexterity to contrive a new Building before those who were to make their choice of them; He only said, All that this Man hath said, I can do: So this Holy Man had the knowledge of doing, what others could learnedly Dispute and Discourse of: he could [...]earnedly live in every point as became a Learned Preacher.

3. He had an extraordinary Measure of Holiness and Heavenly mindedness, according Sanctifica­tion. to the observation which a judicious Divine sometimes made of him; That he had more than ordinary Degrees of Sanctification. He was of a quick understanding in the fear of the Lord, and had the Tongue of the Learned to speak a word in Season to the State of all Souls.

This indeed was his Master-piece, and was become natural to him. He had a singular In­genuity in improving Scripture Similitudes, and indeed every thing that did occur, with unimaginable dexterity: every Tree, and Bird, and Stone would be a Text, upon which he would aptly enlarge himself, having an admirable wit to spiritualize every thing, and to ga­ther occasion of profitable discourse in all companies, and almost upon every Subject, and it did clearly appear, That out of the abundance of his Heart his Mouth spake.

He had a great Holy Jealousy and Fear of himself: A dear Friend, that knew him well wrires thus of him. Never was any Man more watchful against Relapses, nor more jealous Holy Jea­lousie. to maintain his first love to the height, I have (saith he) sometimes told him that it was not u­sual for converts to retain that Land stood of Comfort, that intension of Zeal, and extension of Affection which flourished so in him, and was preserved in the height: and therefore must he ex­pect an abatement in time, and the current thereof to be contracted, and setled in a narrower Channel. He is his Letters often reflected on these words, Ore tenus, intimating that he still was what he was before, not without admiring God's Grace to him, whereunto he as­cribed Humility. all that he was. And indeed he was so habituated to Spiritual Communion with his God, that he could not with Patience endure his withdrawings: And he was far more sensible, and sooner aware of it than many others are, that can, to their great loss and prejudice, entertain other Delights instead of God's Face and Favour: But this holy Man did most eagerly seek, upon all occasions for him whom his Soul loved, and would not be satisfied till he found him.

He was a great Observer of the frame, and bent of his Heart at all times. A worthy Christan watchful­ness. Minister writes thus of him. I (saith he) have admired at the constant frame of his Spirit. He was not subject to that deadness and indisposedness, which other good Men seem to be troubled with: His Heart was continually burning with an holy Zeal. Take a taste of the excellent sweet frame of his Heart in this short passage in a Letter to a Friend: My dear, dear, dear Brother, I pray thee report the loving kindness of the Lord unexpressible, unto a poor, vile, empty, altogether undeserving Worm: For I have found an Answer this Day; this Day more then ever to our Prayers, and can say, The Lord's work Humility. will on, tho Hell, say No: And still Believe, Preach: Pray and Believe (Lam. 3. 25.) I am constrained to say as, Isa. 63. 7. Neither thou, nor any of my Friends can conceive [Page 90] how good the Lord is to me, even to me. I pray thee and others think and study how good he is to me, to me, to me!

He kept a constant watch over his Thoughts, especially over his last Thoughts His watch which slept with him, and his first Thoughts which he awaked with, and usually they were some precious portion of Scripture or other, which he would Discourse of with his Friends, with great content and chearfulness.

He kept a Diary of his Life which he wrote in Characters where ever he came, A Diary. wherein he set down what Scriptures he found most sweetness from; what was the state of his Soul towards God; and such other remarkable passages as did occur each Day, from the Year 1650. to the Year wherein he died.

His Love to the Word of God was Superlative: It was his Meditation Day and His Love to the Word. Night. Constantly every Morning he used to pitch upon some Verse, which he would endeavour to fix upon his Heart, and was ever unwilling to leave it, till he had sucked some sweetness, and Spiritual nourishment from it: by Meditation he was often chewing up the 119 Psalm, especially in the time of his sickness, daily draw­ing the Vi [...]ture of one Verse into his Soul, as appears by his Diary. And this he did, not formally as a Task, but with that effectuall seriousness and relish, that his Fa­mily at home, and his Friends abroad (by his Letters) might easily perceive what dainties he had been feeding upon. And at every vacant time he would be looking for a Word, and would find out by his casual turning down of a Leaf in his Bible, (which was his way) such passages as were very remakable, and not observed by him before. A Scripture thus met with was as Food to him, exceeding sweet to his Taste: He would make much of it, and usually would not leave it till he had improved it to the good and benefit of others; either by speaking or writing; endeavouring that others might see what he saw, [...]d feel what he felt in the Word of God.

An other Practice he had also wh [...] shewed him to be both a good Textuary, and a good Christian, and that was usually to take leave of his Friends and Relations, by leaving some Scriptures with them, and those, such as were most suitable to their condition. Nay, he hardly sent commendations to a Friend but it was accompanied with some pertinent Text of Scripture, so that he seemed, to breath no other Air but that of Scripture. His Bible was his constant Companion in the Day, and usually his Pillow at Night: and many scores of lively, Emphatical Expressions he had found His Pru­dence. therein, which his constant reading, and diligence of others could never light on. And where ever he came, he would engrave some Scripture or others upon the Chimny-pieces, Walls, and Trees, which was so constant, and peculiar a course with him, that his Acquaintance knew well that he had been in such a Place, by the Marks which he ordinarily thus left behind him: His delign herein being to do good to Souls; that the very novelty of seeing such things might set People upon enquiring and looking on those Texts in their Bibles, not knowing what good one such Verse of the Scripture might do, God setting it on.

At least he found this advantage to himself, that when he came to a review of them, he was put in mind of that frame of Heart he had when he wrote those things, and so might taste over again what he before felt in those passages of the Word of God: He sedom wrote a Note or Letter but he concluded with some suitable Text of Scripture (the Word of God dwelling plentifully in him.) And in the Memorials before mentioned, he intermixed them with Scriptures upon every occasion, adding in the Conclusion, The Texts of Scripture herein mentioned, are best worth thy finding, and noteing in thy Life, as they were in mine.

His Moderation to all sorts of godly People, though of differing Perswasions, was remarkable: his Heart and heat being wholly taken up with the great and necessary His Mode­ration. Points in Religion which all true Christians agree in: And, making the Substance of Religion, his work and business, he never had leisure, or pleasure to trouble himself with controverted Circumstances, nor would put his Soul out of tune with such things as had caused such jarrings and discord among Christians. He was never (or very seldom, and then not out of choice) heard to Discourse of the dividing Conrtoversies of the times.

He was exercised with a peculiar Tryal soon after his entrance into the Ministry, Temptati­ons. and that was by strong, and horrible apprehensions in the Night season, as if he were cut in pieces with Knives, or the like, and he was in as real Agonies, and di­stress as if he had felt the pain of such Torments indeed. This he apprehended to be the Buffetings of Satan: They used to follow Dayes of great pains, or Dayes of great [Page 91] inward Comforts, and he was often forced by them to leap out of his Bed in the Night, and to betake himself to Prayer for ease and delivery. He would very Pa­thetically bewail those gloomy Nights, and (what cause so ever they proceeded from) they were great occasions to realize the apprehensions of Hell to him, and to keep him humble.

Secondly, In his Relative Duties he was abundantly Diligent and Faithful.

First, In his Family; he walked in a perfect way in the midst of his House. There he constantly read the holy Scriptures: A portion of the Old Testament in the Morning, and of the New Testament in the Evening, and sung some Verses of the Psalms in Order.

After Reading, he examined every a one what they Remembred and Observed out Family Du­ties. of the Chapter, and would open and enlarge upon each Portion, and tell them what was most observable and Practical in that Scripture. Neither did he consine Religion to these Family Duties (as too many do, who from Morning to Evening Prayer scarce ever think or speak of Spiritual things) but he familiarized holy Descourse in his House all the Day long as there was any occasion and oportunity. He alwayes re­peated at home the Sermons which he heard abroad. The Lord's Day Sermon he used to repeat the Saturday in the Afternoon following, or some other Sermon as a preparation to the Sabbath following. Upon the Evening of the Lord's Day he would take his Children in private, and their instruct them and teach them how to pray.

He constantly Catechized his Children and Servants twice in the Week, and caused Fasts. them to get some Verses of Scripture by Heart, and also part of their Catechisms every day. He had often private Fasts with his Family alone, and was frequent in secret Humuliation also. His ardent desires aften the Sanctification and Salvation of his Children, and Kindred, was farther evident by a Discourse which he wrote for his Son, upon 1 Chron. 28. 9. And an other which he called A Word to my meer Natural Friends upon Isa. 55. 7. wherein the precious breathings of his Soul after their Spirirtual and Eternal welfare are largly manifested: And upon the same account he gave Twenty of Mr. Baxter's Call to the Ʋnconverted, among his Kindred and Servants, in diverse of which he framed and wrote such pertinent Dialogues as were most suitable to the State of their Souls.

2ly, In his Ministry he was indefatigable. He was in Labours oft: In Jour­nings His Indu­stry. oft. So that we may truly apply to him what the Apostle Paul said of Timothy, Phil. 2. 20. We have no Man like minded that doth naturally care for the State of Souls. His great forwardness and earness in this Work: his travelling, and toiling, and pro­curing all the help he could for the carrying on this Work, could not have been more if he had forseen the shortness of his own Days, or the length of our Night. And the more universal was the influence of his Labours, in that he was strangly stirred up to Preach in several parts of the County. Both Ministers and People generally pro­moting and accepting his holy and sincere Endeavours, where Envy or Prejudice did not manifestly interpose.

When other Ministers, or himself have been imployed in the usual Courses of the His Zeal. Day, he would often choose rather to stay and Repeat the Morning Sermon to the people at Noon, then go to his Dinner, according to the Example of his dear Master before him, Joh. 4. 33, 34. And indeed his Zeal for the work of God would carry him to do more then the strength of his Body, and the convenience of the people could well bear: But as it was sincerely meant by him, so it was generally well taken by them, and God made it answerably beneficial in the event.

Father Latimer having sharply reproved some great Offenders in his time, was com­plained of for lack of Discretion, which he hearing of, said, He was glad they had no­thing else to charg him with but want of Discretion, it being evident thereby that the sub­stance of his Reproof was true: So all that could be charged upon this worthy Man of God was, that somtimes he wanted Prudence in the length and frequency of his La­bours. A thing for which he might be well excused, seeing so few transgress in that kind.

This good Man, such was his heavenly Spirit and Way in his work, that though Conversi­ons. the matter he brought was ordinary, yet the manner that he delivered it in, was not ordinary, and he had great success in the Conversion of many Souls: One that knew him well, and oft accompanied him when he went abroad, saith thus: I cannot for­get how the People after Sermons would meet him with Tears in their Eyes, some following him, others thanking him for his pain, and shewing by their very Countenances that they [Page 92] had met with God in the Ordinances: And it's certain, that he that winneth Souls is wise. If that great Man on his Death-bed could profess, That one Soul converted by his means, ministred more Honour and Comfort to him, then all the Honour and Gran­deur which he had enjoyed; with what Glory is this holy Man gone off the Stage, who was an Instrument in the Hand of God's Spirit, to convert many, and to convince and quicken more.

His converse was a continual Sermon (as was old Mr. Dods;) he never went Conferen­ces. abroad but the Minister and the warm-hearted Christian went along with him. He was the same out of the Pulpit as he was in it, and a lively Comment upon those words of the Apostle: Let your Speech be alwayes seasoned with Salt, that it may mi­nister Grace to the Hearers.

Some that travelled with him many Miles, usually, upon a Religious account, have been almost ravished in their Souls with his holy and heavenly Discourses; and into whatsoever House he came, either publickly in the Family, or privately in his Cham­ber he would go to Prayer.

He was undauntedly bold in reproving Sin: Many that accompanied him in his Journeys, when in the Inn he hath heard any one Swearing, have observed how he Courage. would Thunder against the Swearer, thus: Who was it there that durst abuse the Name of the God of Heaven? And he would ever on purpose as he talked with his Friends on the way, choose some weighty Word to utter as he met with People that passed by, that so it might stick with them; and this Bread of his that was thus cast on the Waters, would somtimes return to him after many Dayes.

He had a singular presence and readiness of Heart, and Matter to speak to whom­soever he met on the way, and great condescention also to explain himself: wherein any Heavenly mintled­ness. one did not understand him: As once on a Snowy Day, meeting suddenly with a Man driving his Horses before him, who thus saluted him; Well met Sir: I but (said Mr. Machin) we shall be better met, if we met in Heaven. Few poor People ever went from his Door without a powerful spiritual Almes, and he would order them to have larger Relief who were most ready to attend to his heavenly Counsel.

He had an excellent faculty in Discoursing with People on the Way, into whom he would handsomly insinuate himself, and would deliver to them very material, and Prudence. yet familiar things of Eternal concernment; he would find out their Ignorance; mightily amaze and convince them, and thereby lay a happy Foundation of farther acquaintance upon this best account. And he framed diverse Dialogues on such occa­sions, which are dispersed in the hands of several Friends, which (if they were pub­lished) would shew his excellent Genius this way. One instance hereof is very re­markable.

Riding one Morning to a Lecture, he met with some young Men that were carry­ing their Cocks to a Cock-fight; he overtaking them, said thus to one of them: Note. Friend, our Lord and Master Jesus Christ never came into the World to set up such Sports as these. These Words, and some further Discourse (though the young Man went on to his Pastimes that day) stuck like an Arrow in his Side, and he could not be quiet till he had learned what Minister this was, after which he gained acquaintance with him, and so laid these and his other Sins to Heart as made a blessed change in his course of Life.

He was a Zealous improver of good Society: his ordinary Visits were seldom con­cluded without Prayer before he parted with his Friends. And when diverse good Zeal. People were all Night together, he would engage them to pray one for another, and one after an other: and he would cause them to produce their several Evidences for Heaven. He would somtimes raise up the Company an hour before Day that they might pray and weep together, that the Fire might not go out upon the Hearth of their Souls, being by these means so constantly blown up and kept alive: yea, the very Crumbs of Piety that fell from him at his Table, were most Heavenly and re­freshing, and a plain Argument that it was his Meat and Drink to do his Fathers Will, and to finish his work.

He had ingenious Devises and witty Artifices (flowing from his rooted affection to God) whereby, after some solemn Dayes, he would engage his Christian Friends to a closer walking with God: Take an Instance of one or two of them, as himself left upon Record.

• [Page 93]1. That we be his willing, loving, and obedient Spouses.
• 2. That we labour by all means to know more of his Mind, and then to tell it one to an other, and draw to the Practice of it.
• 3. That we be alwayes Jealous, lest each other take his room, and to be indiffe­rent and moderate in every thing and to every one but to him and his.
• 4. That whatsoever Creatures are betwixt us, they be improved to the highest advantage betwixt Cerist and our Souls.
• 5. That we connive not at Sin in each other, but be tender of one anothers Souls and Bodies.
• 6. That we love and live each Day as the last.
• 7. That we faithfully endeavour the performance of each others Will whilst living, and when dead, so far as Reason and Religion may bind.
• 8. That we be in every Condition more willing to go live with Christ, our Hus­band, then to stay here one with an other for Pleasure-sake.
• 9. That we endeavour seasonableness and suitableness in every Duty, &c.

An other was to this Effect.

Seabridg, October 8th, where God's Name was that day recorded. Before the Lord, and in his strength I promise to draw near to God, believing that he will draw near to me. I pass away and part with mine own power to him, that I may be his and not an others. Subscribing with Heart and Hand, Praying and Believing that the Lord will undertake for me, that I never go back in a Thought; or else this will stand in full force against me at that Great day to come, Phil. 4. 13. H. N. Can. 8. 5. J. M. Psal. 119. 106. J. M. Zech. 8. 21. M. M. Psal. 119. 80. N. B. Isa. 38. 10. E. H. 2 Cor. 3. 5, &c.

He highly esteemed the prayers of his Friends, and was a very faithful Remem­brancer of them that desired his prayers; which he used to do with that heartiness, Sympathy, and enlargedness of Heart, that it would work much upon their Hearts, His Pray­ers. and engage them to more seriousuess in their own business, and in Affection to him, that so kindly concerned himself in their Affairs. And he would plead with God very fervently in their absence, not only to satisfie his Conscience, and to make good his pro­mise of remembring them, but sought with strong cries to prevail for them. And be­sides that frequent course which he held, of puting all present to tell him, before Prayer began, what they would have chiefly beg'd for them at the Throne of Grace, by which means they were sent into their own Souls, to study their present, and spi­ritual Condition.

Concerning this a dear Friend saith thus: he gave this Rule touching praying for Friends, which I have ever since endeavoured to make my Directory in that case: Alwayes when you think of your Friends, let it be with a Praying Thought. He would Note. somtimes cause his intimate Friends to write down in his Day-book, what special things they should intercede for in one anothers behalf till their next meeting.

His Letters were frequent and very heavenly set: He commonly set time apart for writing such Letters; and he seldom wrote about any business, but Religion was His Let­ters. interwoven, and such plenty of apt and sweet Scriptures and Postscripts, yea, som­times some Texts of Scripture would be endorsed on the outside of his Letters, when they were sent by a Friends hand. In this profitable and useful part of friendship he was frequent and abundant. Probably there yet remain many Hundreds of Letters in the hands of his Friends where there was scarce a Word but about Religion.

He was eminent in real Charity. He sympathized with those that were in straits and affliction, and had a ready hand to help them. He was liberal according to his His Charity. power, yea, and beyond his power. In his accounts to his Father from Cambridg he seldom found less then Twelvepence a Week to the Poor, besides somtimes half a Crown at a time. After his coming into the Country it was his delight to engage others, and to stir them up by his own Example in his liberal Contributions upon good occasions, giving Twenty-shillings, yea, somtimes five Pounds at a time to Charitable uses. Somtimes he would make a stock for such as were poor and pious; somtimes to help a Minister out of his straits, which hath occcasioned the Bowels of many to bless God in his behalf.

To be brief; he was a Star of the first Magnitude in the impartial Judgment of those that knew him throughly. An eminent Divine, writing familiarly to him, saith [Page 94] thus: Dear Brother I earnestly desire corespondence with thee: Thy Letters are preci­ous and weighty to my Soul: Thou art more in my Heart, and Eye, and Thoughts than all the Acquaintance I have in the World: I have seen that in thee that hath not a little convinced me of the Reality of Religion. These are not the Words of a Flatterer, but the overflowing of a Sincere Heart, &c.

If we view him in his Natural and Moral accomplishments; in his Graces; in his Relations; in his Publick, and Private behaviour, and in his true Humilty and Sin­cerity, which crowned all the rest, we must needs say, That he feared God above many, and hath left but few such Ministers behind him.

He was very apprehensive of his Death long before it came. In a Letter, dated Death fore­seen. May, 1659: concerning an Old Disciple, he saith: Will he not let me see him before I die? And in an other in November following, he hath these Words, Lam. 3. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 32. To which let Thoughts be directed when no more is to be seen, or heard of me, but that I am Thy Friend in store: Not lost, but laid up, J. M. And in March, 1663. He complained of frequent dejectedness and Melancholly: And this passage he had in a Letter, June 28. 1664. I have been very Melancholy some while by fits, whence this pro­ceedes I know not: But the All-wise God whose ways are past finding out, knew well that the shadows of the Evening were coming upon him.

As he was removing to Seabridg, he took in his way the House of a worthy Gen­tleman, Death pre­pared for. where he treated of these Words, Act. 20. 24. Neither count I life dear un­to my self: So that I might finish my course with Joy, &c. Which he studied, and Preach­ed as his last farewel to this World, being in a weak and sickly condition: And not long before he had made many Sermons upon Revel. 22. 3, 45. which were a sweat pre­paration to Life everlasting.

At Seabridg he grew worse and worse, and in the issue it proved an high Malig­nant His Sick­ness. Feavor. Hereupon his Wife was sent for, who at her coming found him in his Bed, and he told her, that he was ill, but whether it were Life or Death he would not choose, but his Father should for him. The fit season of opening a Vein (by rea­son of the Physitians absence from home) was missed, and so his Distemper prevailed. Once looking his Face in the Glass, he brake out very affectionatly into these Words: Ah Adam, Adam, What hast thou done? What a beautiful, happy Creature wast thou; but now how Poor, and sorrowful art thou? Ah Adam, What hast thou done? These words greatly affected some that were with him.

His Distemper grew higher, and his Spirits lower, which were deadned in him, in­somuch as when his Wife and Children were about him, and she said to him, Love, thou saist nothing to me, nor to thy Children; he only answered, that he had said to her, and to them too. O how good therefore is it for Wives and Children to ob­serve and remember what Parents and Husbands say to them in health, not know­ing which Counsel may be their last, and that must stand for their Death-bed charge to them.

September the 4th. being the Lord's-day, though by reason of his Disease he was scarce sensible, yet perceiving it to be the Lord's-day, he would needs be holpen up, and supported by Pillows, that he might kneel, and be in a praying posture, though he was disabled from the performance of the Duty.

Upon Tuesday, September the 6th, Anno Christi, 1664: This Holy Man breathed his His Death. last, being the 17th day of his Sickness, and in the Fortieth Year of his Age; and was buried September the 8th at Newcastle, with a particular Eulogy by the Preacher, and with the deep grief of all the Congregation. Scarce any that began no sooner, and lived no longer, hath done so much good in the World, as he did, in his Capacity.

A Pious Divine, who at this time is a Dignitary in the Church, gives this Character of him; I am (saith he) so well satisfied, as to his extraordinary Piety in general, which I never yet heard, or believe, that he departed from, that I wish my everlasting Portion may be with him: And afterwards he adds: To conclude, I never knew one more publick spirited, more sensible of Mens spiritual necessities, and more ready (to his abil­lity) to supply them: More zealous for God's Glory, more delighted, incessant, importu­nate, and succesful in Prayer, and more thankfully sensible of the Returns thereof, then this Holy Person was; of whom this degenerate World was not worthy, and therefore, ha­ving been abundant in the work of the Lord, God hath satisfied him with never ending Expe­riences, that his Labour (from which he now rests) may not be in vain in the Lord.

Hallalujah

The Life and Death of Dr. Samuel Winter, who died An. Christi, 1666.

SAmuel Winter was Born Anno Christi, 1603 at Balsal, in the Woodland part His Birth, Parentage and Educa­tion. of Warwickshire, about Seaven Miles from Coventry, of Religious Parents; His Father was a Yeo man of good account. When our Samuel was about twelve Years old, it pleased God, by the Ministry ofone Mr. Slader, then Preacher at the Chappel of Knowl, in Balsal Parish (if I mistake not) who, in a special manner was brought thither by Samuel's Fathers Interest, and industry, to a waken his Conscience, His Conver­sion. and to make him serious about the things which concerned his everlasting Salvation; As also to stir up in him earnest desires of doing good to the Souls of others; for which end one Day as he came from School, about a Mile from his Fathers house he retired himself under a Hedge to pray; and among other Petitions, he begged of God His Prayer. that he would qualifie and fit him for the work of the Ministry and make his la­bours effectual, and succesful therein: At which time he (at least thought that he) heard a voice saying to him; God hath heard thy Prayer, and designed thee for that work, and thou shalt be an Instrument of converting many Souls to God: This exceedingly chear­ed God's an­swer. up his Heart, insomuch as, coming home, he applied himself to his Father, hum­bly requesting that he might be trained up for the Ministry. His Father asked him the reason of those desires? He told him, what a Prayer he had made to God, and what return he had from God to it.

His Father, being much affected herewith; soon after sent him to the Free-School Is sent to School and University. in Coventry, where, through his extraordinary diligence and industry, he made so good a progress in Grammer-learning, that, though at near Fourteen Years of Age, he understood nothing, or very little of the first Rudiments of Grammer, yet within a few Years he became fit for the University; and accordingly he was sent to Cambridg, and placed in Queens-Colledg, and had, for somtime, that famous Dr. Preston for his Tutor. At the Feet of that Learned Gamiliel, those Natural, and Gracious abilities His prosici­ency. which he brought along with him, were much improved; and partly by the dire­ction and help of so excellent a Guid, and partly by God's Blessing upon his unwearied studies, he attained to a great measure of Knowledge, both in the Tongues and Arts, and also in Divinity.

When he had Commenced Master of Arts, being as yet unwilling to enter upon that great and dreadful work of the Ministry, he left Cambridg and went to Boston in Goes to Bo­ston. Lincolnshire, where he lived under the Ministry of Holy and Learned Mr. Jobn Cotton, out of whose Family (somtime after) he married a Wife, one Mrs. Ann Beeston, a Gentlewoman of a good Extraction, and one that had a considerable Portion, that Match being of Mr. Cotton's contrivance.

After his Marriage, and his continuance with his Wife, in Mr. Cotton's Family, he fell into a dangerous, and violent Feavor, which, in the judgment of his Physicians, His first Wife. His Sick­ness. was desperate, and left no hopes of his Recovery. His Wife being much affected and afflicted herewith, he would often comfort her, telling her that he should not Die at this time; for that God had not yet fulfilled his Promise made to him in his Youth, wherein he had assured him that he should be an instrument of converting many Souls unto him. And accordingly he recovered, and then resolved to apply himself to the work of the Ministry.

And being more ambitious to do God and his Church-service, then to advance him­self His rocove­ry. His first Place. Ministry successful. in the World, he removed from Boston to a small Living, near Nottingham, called Woodborow, where by his painful and powerful preaching (many out of the Neighbouring Towns flocking to his Ministry, as the Doves to their Windows) the Seeds of Grace (through God's blessing upon his Labours) were sown in the Hearts of many, which sprang up, and some of them remain unto this Day. This place he always highly esteemed, and would often call it, His first Born.

From Woodborow he was removed to the City of York, in which great and populous City he continued a Lecturer for some time, and as there he had great opportunities His remove to York. for service, so had he great success, receiving there a manifest Seal to his Ministry, in the Conversion and Confirmation of many. But our Civil Wars breaking out about that time, he could stay no longer at York. Yet, though the Door was shut up against him in that place, an other large and effectual Door was opened for him elsewere. For Cottingham (a great Town within three Miles of Hull) being then de­stitute [Page 96] of a Pastor, thither he was (by a more than ordinary Providence) brought: And in that place, for about the space of Eight Years, he continued to be a burning and a shining Light, as it was said of John the Baptist: Burning in his Zeal and Doctrine, His Dili­gence. and shining in his Holy, and Exemplary Life and Conversation. There he was ex­ceeding Active, and Industrious for God.

He thought no pains too great whereby the Peoples Souls might be edified. He His Dili­gence and Faithful­ness. preached twice every Lord's day to them in publick: He expounded the Chapters which he read, and Catechised the younger Persons: In the Evening he repeated the Sermons in his own Family, to which many of the Neighbours also resorted. On the Week days he took occasion to go from House to House, instructing the Ignorant, and endeavouring to build up his Parishoners in their most Holy Faith; and God was pleased so to bless his Labours, that he became instrumental of begetting many Sons and Daughters unto God, as also of confirming many, who attained (partly by his publick Ministry, and partly by his private pains) a great measure of Grace and Gifts, so that they made Conscience of the strict Observation of the Lord's day, of Closet and Family Duties, and of other Spiritual Services required by God as fruits of His great success. their Faith.

He was so meek and affable in his deportment towards all Men, that his Company was pleasing and delightful, even to many of those that had no relish of his Doctrine. His Affabi­lity. At Cottingham he buried his loving and dearly beloved Wife, who left him five Sons: which loss yet was (through God's merciful Providence) abundantly repaired in his second Marriage about three Years after) with Mrs Elizabeth Weaver, the Daugh­ter His second Marriage. of Christepher Weaver, Esq; with whom he had a good Portion, and she proved to be excellently quallified, for the good and comfort both of him and his Children: And God was pleased so to bless her Prudent managment of his outward affairs, that when he died he left a plentiful Estate to his Children, besides all those Acts of more than ordinary Bounty, which, both in his Life, and at the time of his Death he testified his Faith by.

Anno Christi 1650. the Powers who were then in Being, resolved to send over four Commissioners into Ireland, for the settlement of that distracted, and almost He is order­ed for Ire­land. ruined Kingdom; and judging it necessary to send with them a godly, able, and Or­thodox Divine, they ordered that Mr. Winter should attend these Commissioners thi­ther. Which order of theirs, being sent to him to Cottingham where he then lived, he looked upon it as a clear Call from God. Yet for his better satisfaction, he ad­vised also with his Friends, and begged direction from God in a business of so weigh­ty concernment; after which he chearfully embraced this Call, hoping that God would bring some Glory to his own Name, by the Labours of him his unworthy Ser­vant, in that Kingdom. And so, not consulting with Flesh and Blood, which might have suggested to him that it would be an unadvised Act, and disadvantagious to him to part with [...]o tractable, and loving a People, and with so good a Rectory (it being above Four hundred Pounds a Year) and to cast himself upon Strangers, neither knowing, nor capitulating with them what his Salary should be for the maintenance of himself and his Family. And so, Resigning up his Living, he prepared for his Jorney.

At his coming over into Ireland, the Commissioners allowed him but One hundred Pounds for the first Year, which yet he chearfully accepted of though it did not de­fray the charges of his Transportation, with such necessaries as he provided for the He goes in­to Ireland. comfortable accommodation of himself and Family: Much less did it repair the losses which he sustained shortly after his Landing, when the Irish Army took from him diverse Horses of a good value, which he carried over with him. A great part of his worldly delight consisting in keeping good Horses.

In this his first Year he attended the Commissioners in several Journies, which they made into the Four Provinces of Ireland, was their Houshold Chaplain, performed Fa­mily, His frequent Preaching. Duties, and Preached in publick every Lord's day wherever they came: And in the City of Dublin (where they resided the greatest part of their time) he preached somtimes twice every Lords-day in Christ church before the Commissioners, the Lord Maior, & Aldermen of that City; many Gentlemen & others resorting to his Ministry.

Not long after, some other Ministers coming from England to Dublin, the Com­missioners (for the ease of Mr. Winter) used to request one or other of them to preach in the Morning, reserving Mr. Winter for the Afternoon, at which time was the greatest Auditory. But he, being willing to be out of imployment, set up a Lecture, where he preached every Sabbath Day in the Morning at Seaven a Clock, He sets up a Lecture. [Page 97] in the Church of St. Nicholas, within the said City: And this Lecture was frequent­ed by the Commissioners, Civil Magistrates, and many others, so that he had a very frequent Congregation; and to encourage poor People to come to Church, he caused some white Loaves to be distributed among them always when the Sermon was ended at his own cost.

About this time the Commissioners taking notice that Trinity Colledge by Dublin, through the iniquity of the Times, and the distractions of that Kingdom, was left de­solate by the Fellows and Students, and thereby brought almost to ruine, they thought it their Duty, for the advancement of Religion and Learning, to endeavour the restauration of the same: And for that end they appointed the said Mr. Winter, to be the Provost, or Master of it; where also, after a time, he commenced Doctor of Divinity, having with singular Applause and Approbation, performed all Acts and He is made Provost of the Colledg. Exercises belonging thereunto. He also out of his care and zeal to promote so pious and profitable a work, in a short time he encouraged, and procured the return of divers of the Fellows and Students to the Colledge, as also the coming over from England His Pru­dence and Faithful­ness. of several hopeful young Schollars, whereby the Colledge was suddenly filled and replenished with many Religious and hopeful young Men, who were likely to prove Instruments of God's Glory in the work of the Ministry and other ways.

And by the great pains which he took with them, instructing them, both in Hu­mane and Divine Learning, Preaching and Expounding the Sacred Scriptures to them, and often Praying with them both in the Colledge Chappel, and somtimes in his own Lodgings, he gave as great Hopes of the flourishing of that Seminary of Learning and Piety, as in any Colledge in Christendom. And there they to retaliate his care and pains, gave him an Honourable Testimonial under the Colledge Seal, which is here inserted.

Omnibus Christi Fidelibus ad quos praesentes Literae pervenerint, Salutem in Christo He is made Doctor. Domino sempiternam. Nos Vicecancellarius Ʋniversitatis, & Socii seniores Collegii San­ctae & Individuae Trinitatis juxta Dublin, Testanour Virum venerabilem Dominum Sa­muel Winter, Anglum, Verbi Divini Praedicatorem fidelem, verae Religionis vindicem acerrimum, & de Collegio S. S. Trinitatis in Illustri Academia Cantabrigensi Libera­lium Artium, & S. Theologiae olim studiosum, adductum fuisse ad nos cum uberrimis Testi­moniis ingenuitatis, probitatis, Doctrinae, & Scientiae, Theologicae (quorum meritorum suorum & studiorum luculentissimum Documentum jampridem, tam publice quam privatim in cele­berrima Civitate Dubliniensi laudabiliter & egregie dederit) ad capessendum Gradum Doctoratus in Theologia; & illorum, plurimorumque doctissimorum de meliore not a viro­rum, optime habilem, idoneum, & dignum testimoniis judicatum fuisse, munere; officio, dignitate, & honore Doctoratus in Theologia. Nos itaque quibus ejus virtutum excel­lentia, meritorum copia, diuturna studia, pervigilesque labores innotuerunt, habita ra­tione scientiae, eloquentiae, doctrinae, facultatis Theologicae, peritiae Disputandi, interpre­tandi, concionandi, & aliarum Viriutum, & morum ejusdem Samuelis Winter, quorum omnium certissimum specimen laudabiliter, egregie, magistraliter, & more Doctoreo dede­rit publice è suggesto per tres Dies in Collegii sacello. Nos igitur in venerando Ʋniversi­tatis nostrae consessu, eundem Samuelem Winter unanimiter, omniumque suffragiis in Christi nomine approbamus, & sic approbatum Doctorem in universa Theologia solenniter pronuntiavimus, declaravimus, & fecimus. Quod nostrum Testimonium ut omnibus innotescat, subscriptis singulorum nominibus, & publico Collegii nostri Sigillo corroborari & muniri curavimus: Decimo septimo Die Augusti, Anno Domini Millessimo; sexcentessimo quinquagessimo quarto. Hen. Jones. Pro-Cancellarius. Miles Symmer. Williamson. Nath Hoyle. Johannes Stearne, Adam Cusacke.

Whilst Dr. Winter continued Provost of that Colledge, he had occasion to go to a place His great Success. called Monouth, a populous Town, about ten Miles from Dublin; where (according to his custom in most places where he came) he Preached and found the People very atten­tive to his Ministry, and desirous to be instructed in the way to Heaven: whereupon, at the earnest request, both of the Minister, and of divers others of the Inhabitants he rode over to them every three Weeks, and Preached, which he conti [...]ed for some Years, and [Page 98] God was pleased to blessed his Labours for the Conversion of many English and Irish that flocked to hear him.

The Reason of his leaving that University and Kingdom is well known unto many, He comes back into England. and he came away to his great outward prejudice, the Colledge being indebted to him in a considerable Summ of Monies, which he had disbursed for the use thereof, some part whereof, since his Death they have paid to his Son.

Being returned into England, he and his Wife sojourned with some Friends, som­times in and about West-Chester: Somtimes at Coventry, and other somtimes with his Wives Relations in Hertfordshire, and Rutlandshire; in which places (through God's blessing) he became an Instrument of much good, not only in the Families wherein he abode, but also to several Neighbours with whom he conversed. His Indu­stry.

Thus we have a brief Narrative of the most remarkable passages of this Holy Mans Life; we are now come to the last Scene, wherein we shall find that saying verified and made good, Vita qualis, Finis talis: His Humble, and Holy Life being conclu­ded with a Comfortable and Glorious Death. His Sun did not set under a Cloud, but shone out with a more bright and greater lustre then is ordinarily seen. It was his main Design and Business to glorifie God in his Life, and God did highly honour him at his Death, as will appear by that which follows.

Whilst he was in Rutlandshire, on Thursday, October the 13th, Anno Christi 1666. he rode to a Neighbouring Town to assist in carrying on a day of Humiliation, where­in, His sickness. having wearied his Body and spent his Spirits, he was fain to defer his return home till the next day. On the Lord's day following, he exercised twice for the Instructi­on of the Family wherein he abode; and at his going to be Bed, he found himself not well. On Munday he continued ill, yet arose, came down and performed Family Duties.

At Dinner he could eat but little, and at Night went ill to Bed, yet slept pretty well, only both those Nights he complained of a pain in his right side, and he had frequent provocation to Vomit, but without effect. Oft he found himself a cold; yet when he came a little to the Fire, he was too hot in his own sence, insomuch as his Friends about him judged that it would turn to an Ague.

Wednesday and Thursday his Distemper continued, and on Friday finding himself still to grow weaker and weaker, he desired his Will might be fairly engrossed, which lay by him written with his own Hand, and withal, he laboured to perswade his Wife to be content and willing to part with him: Adding, That it would not be long e're they should meet again: and then he put up earnest Prayers unto God for her, and for other of his Relations.

Upon Friday he sat up all the Day, but still continued under his Bodily Distempers, and finding his strength to decay, he would often repeat that of the Psalmist, The Zeal of thy House hath eaten me up. On Saturday he Sealed and published his Will, complaing all that Day of the Cramp in his left Leg. In the Evening he went to Bed, and in the apprehension of those about him, slept well that Night.

About six a Clock on the Lord's day Morning, he raised himself up in his Bed, and with a chearful and loud voice called to his Wife, who lay in a Bed by him, saying, A Vision of Glory. Sweet Heart, I have been this Night conversing with Spirits. And, as in a Rapture, he cryed out, O the Glories that are prepared for the Saints of God! The Lord hath been pleased to shew me this Night, the exceeding weight of Glory which in Heaven is laid up for his Chosen ones. Saying further, That he had studied, and thought that he knew as much what the Glory which in Heaven was, as another Man: But he now saw, that all the Divines on Earth were but Children in the Knowledge of the great Mystery of heavenly Glory, which the Lord that Night had given him a clearer sight of, then ever formerly he had. That it was such a Mystery as could not be comprehended by the Wit of Man, with many other such like Expressions; and he had his Soul so wonderfully elevated, that he could not declare what he found and felt therein.

Then he desired that his Relations, and the rest of the Family might be called up, that so he might make known unto them that immense weight of Glory which that Night had been revealed to him. When they were Assembled he did with vehemency and intension of Spirit, endeavour to discover the same unto them in the expressions aforesaid: But he was so swallowed up in the Contemplation thereof that he could not utter what he desired.

And so he continued all that day, and even till he died in very high Raptures, and great acclamations by way of Thankfulness unto God for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Raptures. [Page 99] Fountain of that Glorie, and for those evident Discoveries of the same unto him.

Towards the Evening of the Lord's day, an honourable Person, together with his Lady, and some other Friends came to visit him, with whom he discoursed about Heaven and the things of God as understandingly, servently and fluently as if he had enjoyed his best Health: His understanding and Memory continuing as strong and vi­gorous as ever: In his Discourse he quoted sundry Texts of Scripture, citing the very Chapter, Verse, and Words, and explaining the meaning from the Hebrew and Greek Originals. After this Discourse, which continued about the space of two hours, finding himself weary, he betook himself to Bed, all the Company withdrawing into another Chamber. And after an Hours repose, he desired that the said Honourable Person, with his Lady, and other Friends might be called in again, that he might speak somthing more unto them, and when they, with the rest of the Family were come into his Chamber, he told them that he thought he had but a short time to live. That he was going unto Jesus Christ, with him to partake of the fulness of Joy, and of those Rivers of Pleasure, which God had so lately discovered unto him, and which he had reserved in Heaven for those that love him and keep his Commandments. O (said he) if you had but a thorough sight thereof, it would make you all to love the Lord Jesus Christ and Holiness, which is the only way prescribed by God to attain to this Happiness. And so he went on to magnifie the Riches of free Grace, through which alone the Saints do come to enjoy that exceeding, exceeding eternal weight of Glory, which neither Eye hath seen, nor Ear heard, nor can enter into the Heart of Man to con­ceive of.

He also exhorted them, not so much to trouble themselves in getting assurance of Good Coun­sel. Salvation, as to examine themselves carefully, diligently whether they were in the way of Sanctification: And for this end, he commended two things to their serious Meditations, about which he advised them dayly to ask their Souls these two Questi­ons: What am I? And where am I? What am I? Am I a New-Creature? Am I born again? If so, then I have New Thoughts; New Words; New Company; and a New Conversation: All old Thoughts, Words, and Actions will be done away. Secondly, Where am I? Am I in the narrow Path that leads to Life Eternally, or in that Broad Way that leads to Death and Damnation? He told them, that if any there present were still in the Broad Way, it had been better that they had never been Born. And (said he) If you will make this your continual Meditation, you cannot miscarry. And if you find your selves to be in the Narrow Way of Sanctification, let God alone with the Rest, to give you an Assurance of your future happiness, which he will certainly do in his own time.

He further declared to them, that as by all his Preaching, through all the course of his Ministry, he had discovered and published this way of Holiness through Christ to be the only way to Heaven, so could he now at his Death set out no other way: And that if he were again to begin his Ministry, he could hold out no other way to attain unto Glory. And so with much weariness of Spirit, looking up towards Heaven, he begged of God that the words of a Dying Man might make a deep impression upon the Hearts of his Hearers; and that as God had made him an Instrument of converting many Souls unto him in his Life, so he would bless what he had now spoken, that some one Soul might be brought to Jesus Christ, by this his last Sermon.

Then▪ he further proceeded to other Holy Discourses and Instructions, quoting sundry Texts of Scripture for the proof of what he spake naming the Chapters, Verses, and Words of the Texts, which he opened, and explained out of the Originals, with that accurness and strength of Words, with that Zeal and Fervency of Spirit as was admirable, so that he drew Tears from the Eyes of all that were present, whether Younger or Elder. And lest any there present should think that his Understanding and Memory were grown weak, or that he was overcome through the abundance of Re­velations which he had the Night before, to let them know that he had spoken un­to them the words of Truth and Soberness, and that with a perfect understanding of what he spake, he made to them this Narrative following.

He told them the manner of his Education in Religion from his Childhood, and of the Vanity which did attend his youthful Dayes; and where and how God did ap­pear unto him for his Conversion at Twelve Years of Age, and of the assurance which God had given him (as is before related) that he should be an instrument of Convert­ing many Souls to God: as also of his proficiency in Learning from that very time.

He further declared (with Tears trickling down his Cheeks) that he had many and many a time in private, before he went to Preach, put God in mind of his Promise so made unto him, and earnestly besought him to make good that Promise, by giving a Blessing to that good Word of his, which he was then going to deliver, that some Glory might redound to his Holy Name thereby: To which his Prayers God had often been pleased to give a gracious Answer, and to let him know it by the Conver­sion of some by those very Sermons.

One of his Relations then present, fearing that his Spirits would be weakened and spent by that his continued Discourse, requested him to repose himself for a while; to whom he replied with much earnestness and strength of Voice: No, were I sure that this should be my last Night (as indeed it proved) and the last Sermon that I should Preach, I would continue it two Hours longer: Adding, that he was not afraid of Death: And turning his Head backward, he said, Death is a Coward; he comes be­hind me: he dares not look me in the Face. And he further said, The Devil hath oft assault­ed me in my Life time; but God stood by me and gave me strength to resist him, so that he could never hurt me.

All the Day following he lay in heavenly Contemplations and Raptures, often break­ing forth in Praises unto God for Jesus Christ; and would somtimes desire his Wife, and other Friends to tell him whether he were in the Body or out of the Body, for he could not tell. And a Minister being then in the House, he desired that he might be called in, and when he was come, he propounded the same Question unto him, who answered, That he was in Life, and among his Friends on Earth, and therefore in the Body: To this he replied, It is true, and therewith rested satisfied, and desired the Minister to pray with him; which he did accordingly.

His Wife told him that some Friends there present hoped that he might yet recover and live: To which he answered, Can a dead Man live? Will God work Miracles? And shortly after he said, God is doing great things in the World: And he much be­wailed the sad estate and condition of the Church of Christ.

In the Afternoon finding Death to approach, he often cryed out, O the Power of Death! not that he feared it: For it shrunk from him: but he found such a Power in Death as none could know but those that were under it. He also wished that his Sons had been present that they might see what the Power of Death was, and what it was to die. He desired also that some Neighbours in the Town might be called in, that he might Preach his last Sermon to them: And indeed, to this very present time his Spirits, Speech, and Memory continued very active and strong.

About four a Clock in the Afternoon his Wife, and his Wives Brother and Sister, His Death. standing by his Bedside, asked him how he did? He answered, very weak: adding, That he was going to Jesus Christ; and bad them not to be afraid of Death: with which words he put forth his Hand, and said, Brother, Sister, take Death by the Hand: be not afraid; Death is a Coward; he flyes from me: They found that his Hands were cold and clamy, whereby they perceived that he grew near to his end: and himself not long after, feeling that the dissolution of his Earthly Tabernacle, was now ap­proching; lifting up his Eyes towards Heaven, he cryed out, Come Lord Jesus: And presently, with a smiling Countenance, he added, Art thou come? And so he breathed out his last, and fell a sleep.

Thus Reader, thou hast had a prospect of the more considerable Passages of this bles­sed Mans Life and Death. Pause hear a while, and take a second view of all again, and then surely thou canst not but wish (though it is desired for thee, that it may be from a better Principle then was in Baalam) Let me die the Death of this blessed Man, and let my last end be like his. But in vain shalt thou wish for this, if the Pattern of his Holy and Exemplary Life be neglected by thee.

We read of a Person of a loose Life, that hearing what a comfortable end St. Bernard made, said to his Companions; I would willingly die like St. Bernard, but I would live with and like you: 'Tis too certain that very many are of the same mind: But as it is impossible, but that an Holy Life should have a blessed and happy Death (Mark the perfect Man, and behold the Ʋpright: For the End of that Man is Peace, Psal. 37. 37.) So it is as impossible (in an ordinary way) that a loose and wicked Life, should have other than a miserable and uncomfortable Death, though some delusive, fading flashes of seeming Peace and comfort they may somtimes have which are but as a Blaze of Thorns which is suddenly extinct: For God himself hath said it, There is no Peace to the wicked (Isa. 48. 22.) And again: The wicked are driven away in their [Page 101] wickedness: but the Righteous hath hope in his Death. Impius dum spirat Sperat: Sed Justus cum expirat sperat. The wicked while they live, hope, but with a vain, and ungrounded hope: But the Righteous hope when they die, with a lively, and well grounded hope that never leaves them till it brings them to the fruition of the thing hoped for.

There yet remains somthings to be spoken which could not well be reduced to any one part of the Narrative of this worthy Persons life, because they did (like so many Golden Threads) pass through the whole Web: Or like the Spirits in the Blood, which run through the whole Body; and therefore these were thought fit to be reser­ved to the close of all, that the Reader may have a view of them altogether. And they are such Gifts and Graces as were very remarkable in this Man of God: For so I call him, not only because he was a Minister, and so God's Servant in a more peculiar sence; but also because of those eminent and excellent Virtues appearing in him, by which God did set his Mark or Seal upon him, as his peculiar Treasure. And these Graces were so conspicuous in him, that all that knew and were acquainted with him, will readily attest to the Truth of them: And they may be thus ranked in Order.

• 1. His great Humility and Meekness of Spirit.
• 2. His Diligence and Industry in his Calling.
• 3. His Zeal and Fervour, manifesting it self in his Praying, Preaching, Conference, and strict Observation of the Lord's Day.
• 4. His Liberality and Bounty upon all good occasions.
• 5. His great Candor, and Ingenuity.
• 6. His Faith and Patience.
• 7. His Power and Prevalency in Prayer.

First, To begin with his Humility: as that excellent Grace which embellished and His Humili­ty. gave a lustre to all the rest, and is often enjoyned and pressed in the sacred Scriptures, and was most admirable in the Life of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who proposes himself as a Pattern to us in that Grace especially. And surely all that knew this worthy Doctor, will readily acknowledge this to have been very eminent in him; and that, not only in his Words and Garb, and some trivial Actions, which may easily be personated and counterfeited (as they were in that Frier, who always went seemingly dejected, and looking downwards towards the Earth, until he was chosen and made the Abbot of the Monastry, and then he altered his Mode, and gave this Reason of it; That he had long been looking for the Keys of the Abby, and that now, ha­ving found them, he needed no longer to according to his former custom.

But in our Doctor, Humility was of an higher strain, of a more Noble Origi­nal, and deeplier radicated in his Heart. And truly it was the more admirable and Exemplary in him, having divers singular endowments which might have elevated and puffed up his Heart with Pride; as, a plentiful Estate; was of a considerable Rank in the World, and of great Abilities: But these were poor things in his esteem. He could condescend to Men of the lowest Rank. He used to magnifie the abillities of ohers whilst he thought and speak meanly of his own, and was not offended if others did the like. He could easily bear the Contradictions of others, and stoop to the meanest Of­fices if thereby he might do good to Souls. It's well known that he would go to the poorest Neighbours Houses in his Parish, and there sit and discourse with them about the great and weighty concernments of their Souls; Qustioning with, and instructing them in the Principles of Religion; and at his Departure would give them some Mo­ney, that by his Deeds he might add the more weight to his Words, and make his Prudence. next Return the more Welcome. And this he did, not to gain Proselytes to himself, or a Name among Men, but to win them to Christ, and to be a means in furthering the Eternal Salvation of their Souls.

Secondly, His Diligence and Sedulity in his Calling was very Great and Exemplary. A hard Student he was all a long, and so he continued to the last. 'Tis scare credible, Industry. but to those that saw and knew it, what a great number of Books were found in his Library, filled with Transcriptions out of the Authors which he read over; Besides, pieces of Controversies, and Observations of his own. And indeed, there were few Books that he Read, but he took Notes out of them, and made Marks in them of what was most considerable. To which if we shall add all his Manuscripts (which had been the Summ of near Twenty Years Study) lost in the time of the late Wars, we cannot but conclude him to have been a most Faithful, and painful Labourer in the Lord's Vineyard. His daily Practice declared him to be a Person very careful to re­deem time, and as fearful to lose, or mispend and waste it.

As soon as he was up in the Morning, whilst he dressed himself, either his Wife or Time im­proved. a Servant read to him some Chapters in course, out of the Old and New Testament. When he was drest, he retired himself into his Study, where he ordinarily continued till he was called down to Prayer and Dinner: After which, for better digestion, he intermitted his Studies, and took opportunities of Discourse with Friends and Neigh­bours that came to visit him, who knew that to be the only time wherein they might find him at leasure: For he used to forbid them coming to him in the Forenoon, that so his Studies might not be interrupted. And then after two or three Hours inter­mission, he returned into his Study again, where, for the most part, both in Sum­mer and Winter he continued till about Eight a Clock at Night, seldom eating any Supper, or very sparingly.

When in the Evening he was come down, calling his Family together, he read a Chapter in course, gave the Sense of it, went to Prayer, and so to Bed, often grudg­ing the time that he spent in sleep, and eating. Here also may be added, that as it was his ca [...]e to be well prepared before he went to Preach (for he would not offer either to God or Man that which cost him nothing) so did he strive to get his Heart into a right frame for Preaching, that from the Heart he might speak to the Hearts of his Hearers, as he used often to say: And to obtain assistance from God therein, he used by private Prayer to beg God's Blessing upon his Labours. It was his frequent saying, That he was as circumspect and diligent in studying what he was to deliver, as if he expected no assistance from Christ, yet when he came to Preach, disowning his own endeavours, he wholly cast himself upon Jesus Christ for strength and assi­stance as if he had not studied at all. And that God many times suggested such mat­ter into his mind in the delivery of his Sermons, as he had not thought on before, which also he observed, God did abundantly bless to the com [...]rt and edification of his Auditory.

He would often say, That his Opportunities were his Riches, and he was alwayes careful to improve them; whence it seldom came to pass that he Preached without making some real impression upon his Hearers, which was discovered by the Tears that fell from many of their Eyes.

Thirdly, His Zeal and Fervour deserves our serious consideration. It was the Coun­sel His Zeal. of a Grave and Holy Divine, That Christians should take heed that their Old Judg­ments did not abate their Youthful Affections: And certainly there was in this our Old Doctor, such warmth of Affections as is seldom seen in so ancient a Man, and yet it was mannaged with such Christian Prudence, that he exercised it, not about light and trivial matters, but about the greater and more substantial Points of Religion, and that through the whole course of his Life. Whether he Preached, Prayed, or Dis­coursed about Holy and Divine things, all was performed, and accompanied with much Zeal and warmth of Affections: He was Fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord, Rom. 12. 11. O how glad was he of an Opportunity of Preaching, and if (after the black day) his Liberty could have been purchased by Money, what would he not have gi­ven for it?

He was very affectionate in Prayer, and yet were his Affections so moderated and tempered with Prudence and Judgment, that though upon extraordinary Occasions, he could enlarge and exspatiate himself therein, yet in his Family Prayers he was usu­ally short, that so he might not make Religious duties a burthen to those that join­ed with him. And as his Prayers were fervent and mixed with Faith, so he had this Honour from God that he had many signal Returns and Answers to his Prayers, as shall be shewed afterwards, as can be attested by many yet living, who had benefit by them, or were Eye or Ear witnesses of them, and that both for Soul and Bodily Di­stempers and Afflictions.

He was Conscientiously strict and careful in the observation and Sanctification of the Sabbaths Sanctified. Lord's days; not permiting any Discourses in his presence, but such as were suitable to the Day, and to the Duties thereof: And he would Rebuke and Reproove such as took liberty to Discourse about their Worldly businesses upon God's holy Day.

Fourthly, His Liberality and Bounty were as Eminent and Exemplary as any other His great Liberality. of his Virtues and Graces. As God gave him a large and plentiful Estate, so he gave him a free and large Heart, which was a double Mercy. He was Rich in Good Works, ready to Distribute willing to Communicate: Laying up in store for himself a good Founda­tion against the time to come, 1 Tim. 6. 18, 19. He was often heard to say, That he could fare hardly and go meanly, that he might be the better enabled thereby to relieve the ne­ [...]ssities [Page 103] of them that were in want: And it is believed that few of his Estate and Rank [...]xceeded him herein. Seldom did any necessitous Persons come to him; seldom did he hear of the wants of others, though at a distance from him, but they tasted of his Bounty.

He gave large Summs of Money every Year for divers Years together, to Pious and Charitable uses, as his Wife can testifie, who kept an account in Writing of the several Summs so disbursed by him. Towards the relief of the Poor persecuted Prote­stants in Piemont he gave Thirty Pounds; and as much the same Year to another Charitable use. He gave also several considerable Summs yearly for the maintenance and encouragement of some poor Schollars in the Colledge by Dublin, besides a large Summ of Money disbursed out of his own Purse, towards furnishing the Library there with good Books. As as he had thus sundry ways exercised and declared his Bounty whilst he lived, so at his Death he gave large Legacies to Pious and Charita­ble uses, and God made good that Promise to him, Isa. 58. 10. If thou draw out thy Soul to the Hungry, and satisfiest the afflicted Soul: Then shall thy Light rise in obscurity, and thy Darkness be as the Noon day.

Fifthly, To this Grace of Charity may be added his Candor, and Courteous de­portment His Candor and Cour­tesy. in mannaging of it, which gave a great lustre to his Bounty, according to that of the Poet:

His Meekness was such that he was not apt to be offended with others, much less His Meek­ness. was he apt to offend others. He always interpreted to the best Sence that which might seemingly have ministred occasion of disgust, by which obligingness, and ex­cellent Temper, he drew Love and Respect to himself where ever he came, and with whom soever he conversed; whether in private Families, or in his more publick im­ployments.

Sixthy, His Faith and Patience calls for our serious consideration, of both which, Faith and Patience. as he had given good proof in the whole course of his Life, so they eminently shone forth when he came to die. In the time of his Sickness he shewed an humble, holy, and chearful resignation of himself to the Wise and Merciful disposal of God, his Hea­venly Father. Not one repining word was heard to proceed out of his Mouth: He was Dumb and opened not his Mouth, because it was the Lord that did it, Psal. 39. 9. There was not so much as an impatient or uncomly motion seen in him: But being full of Death not feared. Faith and Christian Patience and Courage, he feared not Death, but was well resol­ved and prepared against the stroke of it: And would often say, O how happy a thing is it, by Death to be above a possibility of sinning.

The Heathen Philosophers called Death, The most terrible of all terribles, and the Sa­cred Scripture calls i [...], The King of Terrors. It is storied, that one hearing a Person high­ly commended for his rare and excellent Virtues, said, Let us stay till his Death, and then we shall be the better able to judg of all these things which make such a glittering shew in him for the present. And certainly to be able to look the King of Terrors in the Face, without an appaled Countenance, and to meet the last Enemy [Death] with joy and comfort is no small evidence of a true and strong Faith: And this was evidently dis­cerned and seen in this worthy Doctor at the time of his Death.

He often declared in his Health, that in his younger Days, he had been sorely vexed and perplexed with Satana Temptations; but at last, meeting with a plain, honest Christian (such an other probably as was that Shepherd with whom Junius met) to whom, complaining of his Fears, he first rebuked him, and then instructed him, Good coun­sel. saying, You look at the Reward without minding and attending your Work, in that you desire and expect assurance, before you have well resolved of doing your Duty. My ad­vice therefore is, to mind what God requires of you in your present station, and be serious and diligent therein, and assurance will come in God's due time. This advice, he pro­fessed, was of great use to him all his Life after; so that from that time forward he was not troubled with such perplexing Thoughts as formerly he had been: But he lived and died in Peace both with God and Man in the Great Climaterical Year of his Age, October the 22th. Anno Christi, 1666.

7. And lastly, His power and prevalency in Prayer was very remarkable, and more than ordinary.

The wise Solomon tells us (Prov. 12. 2.) That a good Man obtaineth favour of the [Page 104] Lord, that is, he hath what he will of God. Id quod vult a Deo impetrat▪ quia ejus His Preva­lency in Prayer. voluntas est ipsissima Dei voluntas, nec aliud vul [...]; as Mercer hath it out of Rabbi Levi. 'Tis written of Luther, Iste vir potuit a Deo quicquid voluit: That by his Prayer he could prevail with God at his pleasure: Melancthon, and Myconius, being sick of de­sperate Diseases, were both recovered by Luther's Prayers. Sozomon, saith of Apol­lonius, That he never asked any thing of God in all his Life which he obtained not. Blessed is he that hath what he will, and Wills nothing but what he should. The Persons of Saints (saith a Reverend Divine) are like secret Pledges of common quiet, and their Me­ditations and Prayers are a Shield to the Earth against the Wrath of Heaven. Faithful Prayer (saith another) is able, after a sort, to alter God's mind, and to transfuse a Dead Palsy into the Hands of Omnipotency, as Exod. 32. 10. where God is fain to be­speak his own freedom, Let me alone, &c.

We have many Examples in Scripture of the Power and Efficacy of Prayer. Jacob would have a Blessing, and therefore by Prayers wrestles with might and slight; Prayer Powerful. and this he doth in the Night, when alone, and God about leaving him, and upon one Leg. He had a hard pull and yet prevailed. The Woman of Canaan (Mat. 15. 23.) came for a cure, and a cure she would have, and she had it at last, with an high com­mendation of her Horoical Faith in Prayer. God heaps Mercies upon his Suppliants, (as Naaman did upon Gehazi) and blames them for their Modesty in asking: Hitherto (said he) ye have asked nothing, that is, nothing to what you might and should. Ask and have, that your Joy may be full, Joh. 16. 24. Many other Scripture Examples might be produced, but lest any should think that those were extraordinary, and that the like are not to be found in our Days, take notice of these Instances follow­ing.

When Mr. Winter, in his younger Days was cast out of his Living, his first Wife, The first Instance. having many Children, fell into great Grief, and perplexity of Mind, fearing lest she and hers should come to want. Mr. Winter was much troubled to see his Wif's discontents, and thereupon plied the Throne of Grace for cure thereof; and one Day, as he was riding abroad, and crying earnestly unto God about this matter, he thought that he heard a Voice, saying unto him, Because thou hast not spared thine Estate for my Glory, neither thou, nor any of thine shall want. At his return home he told this to his Wife with Joy, saying, That he would not for all he was worth, want that comfortable an­swer to his Prayers.

When an Order was sent to Mr. Winter from the Parliament that then was, to attend A second Instance. their Commissioners into Ireland, his Wife was very unwilling thereunto, and some of their near Relations came on purpose to diswade him from going; himself also was very fearful of the Seas. In this his great strait, he retired into his Study (as his usual manner was in like cases) and there with much earnestness, he spread the matter be­fore God craving his Guidance, and direction therein. And the Lord was pleased to set it upon his Spirit, that he should go, and be carried in safety thither, and there become an Instrument of converting many Souls to God. When he had declared this to his Wife, and Friends, they acquiesced, and so he resolved upon that Journey: And according to this Gracious Promise of God, though they took Shipping in the midst of Winter, and went with a Master that was not very well acquainted with those Seas, yet they found the Seas calm, and their Passage so speedy, that whereas some other great Persons went out before them, and with a more experienced Master, yet they arrived in safety about four and twenty Hours before them, insomuch as the Captain of the Ship said, That in his whole Life he had never known so calm and speedy a Passage before.

Not long after Mr. Winter's coming into Ireland he went with the Commissioners A third Instance. unto Kilkenny, in which place Collonel Jones his VVife fell very sick of the Yellow Jaun­dise, and some other Distempers; for which cause her Husband invited certain Mi­nisters, and some other Friends to spend some Hours in Prayer unto God in her be­half. And Mr. Winter was the last Man that prayed. But before he began, he went to her and asked her, Whether she had Faith to be healed? She answered, She thought she had. Then he went to Prayer, and wrestled exceedingly with God for her reco­very: And when he had done, he went again unto her, and advised her to be very careful and diligent in the use of all good means for the recovery of her Health; ad­ding, That she should live, and not die at that time: at this saying of his, his Wife and Sister were much troubled, and told him in private, that they would have given much Money, rather then that he should have spoken so confidently of her recovery, [Page 105] there being so many Anabaptists present at that time: And they feared that if his Words proved true, they might thereby be confirmed in their Enthusiastical conceits; if otherwise, that then they might take occasion to scandalize his Person and Ministry: But he again told them that she should not die at that time.

Yet after this she continued very weak for a Month or more: her Doctors gave her up for a dead Woman, whereupon Mr. Winters Wife again blamed him, for his confi­dent saying, That she must live; to which he smillingly answered, Well, she is not yet Dead, At length her Disease so prevailed, that she lost the use of her Senses, and her Servants that stood weeping about her, said, Now she is near death indeed. The Sa­turday following, as Mr. Winter sat at Dinner, a Messenger came to him from Collonel Jones, to tell him, That if he would see his Wife alive, he must come away presently, for that she was now a dying. At this Mrs. Winter was much troubled, because of her Husbands former confidence in Promising her Life: But Mr. Winter made no great hast to be gone, saying, That he knew well when God answered his Prayers, and when not.

After he had dined he went to the House, where he found the Collonel sitting by her, ready to close her Eyes so soon as Breath departed out of her Body, for so she had enjoyned him in the time of her Health. She lay speechless and without the use of her Senses, not answering, nor moving her Eyes, though her Husband, and Mr. Winter called unto her, whereupon her Husband judged that she had lost her Hearing. Mr. Winter requested that he might pray with her; but her Husband refused, saying, That she was Sensless, and had been a dying all that Morning. Mr. VVinter urged again that yet he might pray with her: No (said the Collonel) it is to no purpose: She is now a dead VVoman. Yet Mr. VVinter urged the third time, that he might pray, say­ing, Her Life is yet in her; and whilst there is life, there is hope, and so he went to Prayer, which he performed with much earnestness and importunity, joyned with many Tears.

When Prayer was ended, Mr. VVinter, going to her Bed-side, she looked upon him, and with a smiling Countenance, said, O, see the fruit of Prayer! O, see the fruit of Paryer! Set me up, and give me something to eat: I am cured, but not by the Art of Doctors: only Free grace, and fervent Prayers have prevailed with God for me. They asked her, What she could eat? She answered, any thing. They gave her some Bread and Butter, of which she did eat pritty heartily. Then did her Husband send for her Doctors; but she had them not to provide any more Physick for her, saying, That she would take none; for she would not dishonour God: nor wrong prayer so much (by which she was now cured) as to take any more Physick: Nor could she, by any means be perswaded to it.

On Munday following in the Afternoon, Mrs. VVinter heard that Mrs. Jones was walking in her Garden, which she wondring at, went to see her, and found her there indeed. So soon as she saw Mrs. VVinter, she went to meet her, and said, O, see the fruit of Prayer! Mrs. VVinter, blessed God for her recovery; whereupon she said, My Doctors would have me take some more Physick of them: but it is God that hath cured me, and he only shall have the praise of it. I will take nothing of them: they shall not boast that they have cured me: For God by Prayer hath done it. It's Prayer alone that hath done it. And indeed hearin God made good that gracious Promise of his, Jam. 5. 15. The Prayer of Faith shall save the Sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.

Some Months after, Mr. VVinter with his Family, removed to Dublin; and after sometime the aforesaid Mrs. Jones fell sick again, and her Sickness prevailed so far up­on her, that, growing very weak, she was confined to her Bed; whereupon on a Lord's day, Mr. Winter and his Wife, and her Sister went to visit her: when they came, A fourth Instance. they found an other Minister with her; but she called for Mr. Winter to pray with her. A Lady that was present, coming to Mrs. VVinter's Sister, said, O! do you think this good VVoman will recover, or not? She answered, I know not yet: but when my Brother Winter hath done Prayer, I will tell you more. When Mr. Winter had ended his Prayer, she came to her again, an said, What think you now? She answered, She believed that she would not recover, and so said Mrs. Winter also. The reason whereof was, because they observed that in his Prayer, he was more earnest in Praying for the Spiritual, and Eter­nal welfare of her Soul, then for her Bodily health.

When they were returned home, Mrs. VVinter asked her Husband, what he thought of her? He answered, She will die. And this he said, Because when in prayer he would have begg'd of God to restore her to Health, he could not do it; but could only pray for her Eternal happiness. Faithful Prayer is ordained of God to be a means to obtain what we want and desire, and therefore 'tis never put up in vain, but shall have an [Page 106] answer, 1 Joh. 5. 14, 15. For where God gives a Tongue to speak, he hath an Ear to hear. 'Tis the Observation of a Reverend Divine of our own: That when God in­tends not to hear, he lays the Key of Prayer out of the way; as being loth that such pre­cious Breath as that of Prayer is, should be without it's full and clearest success.

After this Mrs. Jones grew worse and worse, and continued in a languishing con­dition for some Months. She had several Doctors, who sed her with hopes of re­covery, Mr Winter prayed oft with her, but still after the same manner, insomuch as his Wife told him, that she thought he did not love Mrs Jones as formerly, because he prayed not for her Life: he answered, that his Love was the same, but he was so bound up in his Spirit, that he could not pray for her recovery, and therefore he conceived that she would die.

At length Mrs. Jones finding her self very weak, sent for Mr. Winter to pray with her, and after Prayer, she said unto him: Sir, I fear you love me not so much as former­ly. God heard your Prayers for me when I was dying at Kilkenny, but now you do not Pray so earnestly for my life as you did then. No (said he) I neither do, nor can do it, tho I love you as well as ever: For when I would Pray for your Life, my tongue is turned to Pray for your Eternal Welfare. Therefore I believe that you are not a woman for this World, but will shortly be in a better. Think you so, said she, hereupon she sent for a Collonels Wife, between whom and her self there was some difference, and they were reconciled together. She sent also for her Husband, and imparted her mind to him: Adding, that she saw that she must die, for that Mr. Winter could not Pray for her, as he did in former Sickness: And it pleased God shortly to take her to himself.

At an other time Mrs Winters Sister going for England, left her only Son with her; A fifth Instance. And after a while the Child fell into an high Feavour, and one Morning the maid with whom the Child lay, came to her Mrs and told her, she feared the Child had the Plague, for that he had many Spots in his Bosom; And the Plague, at this time, was in Dublin. Mrs. Winter presently sent for a Doctor, who, when he had seen the Child, said, that they were either Plague Spots, or Feavour Spots, and that he much feared the Childs life. Hereupon Mrs Winter went to her Husband in his Study, and acquainted him with these things, requesting him that he would be earnest with God in begging the Childs Life. At Noon, when her Husband came down, we asked him, what he thought of the Child? He bad her not to perplex and trouble her self, for the Child would live: And before the next day the Child began to amend, and within a few dayes was perfectly well.

Mrs VVinter herself was somtime under a strong Temptation to become an Ana­baptist, A sixth Instance. being strongly perswaded that it was the way of God: And she proceed­ed so far that she had been Dipped, but that she feared it would reflect upon her Husbands credit. Her Husband took much pains with her to reclaim and settle her in the Truth, yet could she not be convinced of her Error, but continued Night and Day in great perplexity of Spirit, only she relyed upon that gracious Promise of Christ. John 7. 17. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God. And at last she resolved to set a day apart to seek unto God for satis­faction in this doubtful Case. But it fell out that, that very day, they were earnest­ly invited to dine wirh Doctor Jones, and Mr. VVinter had promised to go: But his Wife said, she could not go, because she had set that day apart upon such an occa­sion: Her Husband answered her; Thou must go, for I have been Praying for thee, and God hath assured me that thou shalt be satisfied, and that quickly too: And so ac­cordingly it came to pass. For she was so resolved, and satisfied from Heaven, that afterwards she was able to Dispute with the Female Anabaptists, yea, and to confute them; Insomuch as some of the Officers who were of that perswasion, would suffer their Wives to come no more unto her.

Whilest they were in Dublin Mrs. VVinters Sisters Husband, being upon his oc­casions A seaventh Instance. in London, he fell very dangerously Sick, Sr. Francis Pridjean, and an other Doctor were his Physitians, who after a time gave him up for Dead. An other of Mrs. VVinters Sisters wrot her word of it; Adding, that she believed before that Letter could come to her Hands he would be Dead and Buried. As soon as they received it, his Wife desired that that afternoon might beset apart to seek God, in her Husbands behalf; and accordingly some Ministers and Christians were in­vited to meet together for that end: When the time was come, Mrs. VVinter re­quested her Husband to come away, for that the company were met together: He [Page 107] bad her go before; For he must endeavour to know of the Lord whether he was yet living or no: For (said he) do you think that I will Pray for a Dead Man? when some of the Ministers had Prayed, Doctor VVinter came in. They Pray'd with submission, that if he where yet in the Land of the Living, the Lord would be pleased to be his Physician, and to direct and bless all good means to him for the recovery of his Health. But in the close of the day, when Doctor VVinter came to Pray, he shewed much confidence, that he was yet alive, to the amazment of all that heard him. But his Sister in Law who knew his manner, and had much experience of the succesfulness of his Prayers, between Hope and Fear could not contain herself from cry­ing out, when Doctor VVinter had concluded and was risen from his knees, he went to her, and took her by the hand, saying: Be of good comfort, for your Husband is alive, and shall recover, and you shall see him again with Joy. She crying out aloud, said, Ah, Brother, I fear he is Dead: Do you think he is alive? I know (said he) that he is alive, and repeated over his former words again: And accordingly in their next Letters they heard of his recovery.

At another time Mrs. VVinters Sister (who was with them in Ireland) fell into a dangerous Relaps after a Feavour, being great with Child, and within two Months An Eight Istance. of her time; At which time she fell into a great bleeding at the Nose. She had three Doctors and Chyrurgions, who used all their Arts, and yet could not stop it. At length she fell into Travel, and two Midwives were sent for to her: She was fain to sit upright in her Bed, and could not ly down because of her violent bleeding. Her Midwives and Doctors gave her up for a dead Woman; And she grew so weak, that her Sister VVinter not enduring to see her die, left her, and went to her own Cham­ber, were she found that her Sisters Husband had caused Doctor VVinter to arise (it being in the Night) and to Pray for his Wife, which accordingly he did with much earnestness; And it pleased God, that presently after news was brought them, that she was delivered of a dead Child.

Hereupon Doctor VVinter and his Wife went to see her, and found her still Bleeding; And the Doctors and Chyrurgians were sent for again, who agreed to open a vain and let her Blood: The Chyrurgion struck her right Arm, but no blood came, the Doctors bid him try the other Arm; He answered, That it was to no purpose, for she had no Pulse for some hours before; Yet the Doctors caused him to do it, and then some few drops of Blood came. But most of this time Doctor VVinter was Praying for her in the next room, and she somtimes over heard him, but could not speak. Afterwards she told them that these thoughts were in her Head; Yonder Good Man would fain have me live, but it will not be.

Indeed one of her Midwives bid her prepare for Death; For she could not live: To whom one of the Doctors said, that sure she had forgotten Lazarus: No (replied the Midwife) I have not forgotten him: But God must work as great a Miracle now, as he did then, if she recover. Yet for all this, it pleased God that she did recover, and afterwards one of the Doctors told Mrs VVinter, that he never saw one so near unto Death, to live; And that to him it was a Miracle. Here you see another sweet return to Doctor VVinters Prayers, and his Sister would often acknowledge that it was by the power and prevalency of his Prayers that she was restored to Life; and so others judged also. A Ninth Instance.

The last time that the Soldiers pulled the Parliament in Pieces, Doctor Winter and his Friends in Dublin were in great Fears of the Confusions that were like to follow; Whereupon he kept weekly Fasts with his Congregation for a great while together? And one time as he was Praying in imitation of Abrahams praying for Sodom, he used such like expressions: Lord wilt thou also destroy the Righteous with the VVicked? Peradventure there be fifty Thousand Righteous within these three Kingdoms: VVilt thou also destroy, and not spare these Nations for fifty Thousand Righteous tbat are therein, &c. And when he came to the last number of ten Thou­sand, as he kneeled against a Post in the Room, he saw a great shining Light about him, and heard perfectly a Voice saying: The Nations shall be spared for ten Thou­sand Righteous Persons sake.

Upon this gracious Answer, he turned his Prayer into Praises and Thanksgivings unto God for this speedy return to his earnest Request, insomuch as all the company could not but take notice of it, tho none of them heard the Voice but himself only. Mrs. VVinter upon some occasion was absent at this time; Yet a Gentlewoman that was present told her after, that her Husband that day was so enlarged, and [Page 108] Elevated in Prayer, that he exceeded himself, and that she never heard him do better as also that his Petitions were answered before he rose from his Knees. Mrs. VVinter, asked her, how she knew that, she answered, by his large Thanksgivings after he had done pleading with the Lord for these Nations. Also a while after, a Gentle­woman coming to see him, who had been present that day, embraced him, saying, that he was a man greatly beloved of the Lord, for he could no sooner ask but he was answered, and his Petition granted. And the very week after, they heard that the Pride of the Soldiers was abated, having meet with a check.

Doctor VVinter afterwards told his Wife, that he perceived that a Voice might be spoken to one in a Room, where many were, and yet none else might hear it. And when he lay upon his Death-Bed, his Wife asked him again about it, and he said that he did as certainly and plainly hear it, as he heard her then speak: She asked, if the Voice were like unto hers? No (said he) It was another manner of Voice. Thus we read, Act. 22. 9 That the men that went with Saul to Damascus, saw indeed the Light, and were afraid: But heard not the Voice that spake to him.

At Dublin there was one Mrs Smith, a Merchants Wife, who had been many A Tenth Instance. dayes in Labor, her Child was Dead within her, she had good experienced Midwives, and one Man-Midwife, and yet she could not be delivered. At last, one Morning they sent for Doctor Winter to pray with her, telling him, that she could not live till Night she was so far spent. But it fell out that he was out of Town, when they sent. At Night he came home, and then they sent again for him, her Husband sending him Word that she was not yet Dead, but very neer unto it.

Doctor Winter (tho he was very weary) went to the House, and Prayed very earnestly unto God for her. And when his Prayer was ended, he spake to the good Women about her, to raise her up, and to use all good means for her Delivery saying, That say should Live: But they (being hopeless of her Life and Delivery, desired that she might be no more tortured, but be suffered to Die in Peace.) Yet Doctor Winter importuned them to make one tryal more, which at last they consented to, and had good success: For in a short time she was safely delivered of a Dead Child. This Mrs Smith proving afterwards with Child again; a Friend of hers said to her, she hoped now it would be better with her then it was the time before: (said she) Doctor Winter is gone, and I must now Die: which also came to pass, for she could not be Delivered.

After Doctor Winter returned into England, he, with his Wife sojourned for a An Eleaventh Instant. Month in Doctor Drakes House, in which time his second Daughter fell sick of the twisting of her Guts: She had two able Physicians, Doctor Trench and Doctor Cox. She lay in very great Torments from Munday till Saturday Night, and the Doctors had very little Hopes of her Life. On Saturday in the Evening Doctor Winter came in, and meeting her Sister, he enquired how she did? Her Sister an­swered, that now she thought she was very neer unto Death; For that the Doctors haveing perscribed somthing to be given her in a Spoon, her Teeth were so set that her Aunt and she had much ado to open them to put it into her Mouth: But (said she) Sir, what do you think of her. Give me (said he) a Candle that I may go into my Chamber, and anon I will tell you whether she shall Live or Die. When he came down, she meet him at the Foot of the Stairs, and asked him, what he thought of her now? He answered, Your Sister will Live. And so going up into her Chamber, he spake to his Wife, and bid her use all good means possible for her recovery: For (said he) She must not Die at this time. His Wife begged of him not to be so confident, for that she was now very near unto Death, and there were no hopes of her Recovery; Yet he told her Mother and Aunt, that she should recover and live. His wife was much troubled at it, notwithstanding her many experiences. But the next day signes of recovery began to appear, and within a lit­tle space she was perfectly well.

Some other Instances of his Power and Prevalencie in Prayer might be given; But these may suffice, as evidently Demonstrating that the Lord our God is a Prayer-Hearing God: That, Never faith to the Seed of Jacob, Seek ye my Face in Vain.

Probably the incredulous World will not believe these things to be true: But Judge them rather to be Romances, and Fancies, then Realities: But there were so many Persons of Quality and Conscience at the first publication hereof, Living, who could, and would attest the Truth of them, that there is no place left of distruct [Page 109] and doubting to those that are Sober, and Judicious. Amos 3. 7. Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his Secrets to his Servants the Prophets. John 16. 23. Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my Name, he will give it you. v. 24. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my Name, Ask and you shall recieve that your Joy may be full.

The Life and Death of Mr. Thomas Tregoss, who died Anno Christi 1670.

THomas Tregross was born at Saint Ives, neer the Lands-end in Cornwal. The Family where of he was a Branch was not without Noble Blood running in His Pa­rentage. its veines. Some are of opinion that it is more Ancient then the Norman Con­quest, a Stem of the old Britans driven into and Planted in those parts. Our English History tells us that Duke William, commonly called The Conquerour, created John Tregoss a Baron, who tho he died without Issue, yet Henry Tregoss sat as a Baron in the Parliament in the Thirty Fift year of King Henry the first: And Ro­bert Tregoss was one of those Lords that sided with Simon Montford Earl of Leicester against King Henry the third.

As for the ruines of this Noble Family, the principal cause thereof is very Re­markable, and ought to be buried in silence. One Mr Roscadden going on Pilgri­mage, according to the blindness and Superstition of those times, his Wife had in his absence one, if not more Children: whereupon at his return, John Tregoss ad­vised and perswaded him to settle his Estate upon some Friend, for the use and benefit of his Wife and Children, lest after his Death, the Heir at common Law should turn his Wife and Children out a Doors.

Mr. Roscadden entertained, and approved the motion, and intreated him to ac­cept of the trust, which request John Tregoss readily embraced; But instead of a Perfidi­ousness: Deed in Trust, he made it absolute to himself and his Heirs for ever. And accord­ingly so soon as Mr. Roscadden was Dead, he entred upon all his Lands, and turned his Wife and Children out of Doors, who for some time, were sain to lye in an Hogstie, and every Morning went forth to the Dunghil, and there upon their Knees Imprecated and Prayed that the Vengeance of God might fall upon this Tregoss and his Posterity for this so perfidious and merciless dealing.

And after this Gods severe, but Righteous Judgments fell upon Tregosses Family. Plagued by God. For his Son Walter one day riding upon a Horse in a fair way, the Horse threw him, and broak his neck: And some of his Issue came to untimly ends, and it is observed that a curss hath remained upon the Estate ever since: And this Mr. Thomas Tregoss of whom we now write, was so sencible of it, that it cost him many fervent Prayers to God for the removal of that dreadfull Curse, as himself assured a bo­som Friend.

Notwithstanding the Judgment of God upon this Family; Yet Thomas Tregosses Parents were Godly Persons, and reputed to be of the number of Old Punitans. And this was much manifested in the Religious Education of this their Son, whose His Edu­cation. tender years they took care to have timely seasoned with the Principles of Reli­gion, and good Literature. At first indeed he seemed to be of a dull Capacity, till he was about the Age of seven Years, or somwhat after; But then he began to discover that he was of a quick apprehension and of a firm and tenatious Memo­ry. And indeed he had from his youth a strong inclination to the Work of the Mi­nistry, and would often (when he was but a Child) stand up upon a Stool, or Bench and after his manner Preach to his Play-fellows.

When he had attained to a compleat measure of Grammer Learning, he was sent He goes to Oxford. to Oxford and admitted into Exeter Colledge, under the Tuition of Mr. Francis Howel, then Fellow of the said Colledge; He soon percieved in him an awakned and quick Spirit, full of vivacity and serious intention, insomuch as he made good the [Page 110] Character which Aristotle gives of a hopefull young Man, [...], To act vigorous­ly, which he shewed in whatever Eercises he was engaged in. And he did not (as too many Youths do) frustrate, and abuse the expectations of his Friends and Re­lations, by squandering away those pretious oportunities, and encouragements afforded unto him, for the elevating of his Natural Capacity by the acquirement of Liberall Arts, and Philosophicall Sciences, wherein he made a very good Pro­gress. His Blam­lesness.

Neither was he without a good interest in the Judgment and Esteem of Judicious and Pious Persons, as appeared by the admittance which Reverend Doctor Conant gave him, in accepting him to be a Member of his Congregation. Also whilst he continued in the University, he began to be sensible of some woundings of his Con­sience. For one day hearing Doctor Conant upon that Text Hos. 6. 4. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? &c. Some passages of that Sermon made so deep an Im­pression upon him, as that his Conscience was filled with no small Terror. When he went to his Bed, he was not without fears that he should never live to see another day. When in his Study, that he should never come out alive. His Terror.

And so long as the terrors of his awakned Conscience, and Sick Nights for Sin continued, he could not endure to hear a vain word, or to be a Spectator of what had but the appearance of Sin in it. Yet by degrees these Lights and heats of Conscience disappeared, and vanished away. Neither did they at that time determine and end in a thorow Conversion, as will be made more clear here­after.

When he had spent some time in the University, he returned to Saint Ives, the place of his Nativity, and haveing there given them some tast of his Ministerial Gifts, His return to St. Ives. the Inhabitants of that place invited him to sit down among them, and to be their Minister. This request he at first modestly refused, but at length being overcome by their importunity, he consented to spend some time amongst them: Where His Ordi­nation. upon he was August the Seventeenth. Anno Christi 1657. in that Church solem­ly set apart for the work of the Ministry: And there he continued by the space of two Years: A hard and close Student all the week, and a faithful and constant Preacher twice every Lords Day. His Ma­riage.

Before his departure from this Place he took to Wife one Margret Sparman, who proved a Gracious, Meek, Humble, Affectionate, and equal Yoak-fellow to him. And whilest he continued in this Town, there were two remarkable Providences that ought not to be forgotten.

The first was this. The Summer after his abode among them, much of the Fish­ing A Special Providence season was expired, and no Pilchards appeared, the Sense whereof greatly af­fected and afflicted the Inhabitants of the Place; That Town depending much up­on the Pilchard Trade. Hereupon Mr. Tregoss advised, and perswaded them to joyn with him in Keeping a day of Humiliation and Prayer, unto which they con­senting, and the Duty being performed, the very next day came in a great Shole of these Fishes, whereof a considerable quantity was chaught.

The other Providential Dispensation was this. The Summer following the Fisher­men Another. having taken a great number of Pilchards upon a Saturday, all that Night was spent in ordering of them: And the Sea-men were very intent upon drying their Nets on the Lords day. This Mr. Tregoss rebuked them for: withall, giving them to understand, that they provoked the Lord deservedly to withdraw his Blessing from them, which fell out accordingly. For from that time to the end of the Fishing season they had no occasion, or oportunity of making use of their Nets again.

From Saint Ives Mr. Tregose removed in October Anno Christi 1659. To the His remove to Miler, Vicarage of Miler and Mabe where he continued in his constancie of Study, and Preaching till he was Ejected by the Act of Ʋniformity upon that dismal day August the 24th 1662. And then being prohibited, and excluded from the Publick Place of Prayer and Preaching, he ceased not to Preach in his own Family twice every Lords Day: which being known in the Neighbourhood, diverse who had the Comfort of his Ministry in publick, could not but Thirst after it in private.

This being divulged and known abroad, the news of it was carried to the Lord His first im­prisonment Lieutenant of the Country, who for his refusing to take the Oath appointed for the Militia, committed him to the Custody of the Mareschal, with whom he con­tinued about the space of three Months, yet not ceasing to Preach to his Fellow [Page 111] Prisoners, hearing others also that came to hear him. But at [...]an he was released by an order from the Deputy-Lieutenant. His indust­ry.

In September Anno Christi 1663. Mr. Tregoss removed his habitation to the Ba­ron of Kigilliack in the Parish of Badock near unto Penrin: where he still kept up his Lords-days meetings and exercises; unto which many came flocking as Doves to their Windows. And about the beginning of October Anno Christi 1664. He and his Wife lying awake in their Bed, they felt a great Earthquake, which made that Room to tremble and quake under them, as they apprehended. And that which ministred to them great cause of admiration, was, that no one else felt the same. But this was A Strange Providence but a Prognostick and Symbolick Image of that trembling Heart-quake which Mr. Tregos [...] shortly felt in his Conscience.

For on the first of January next following, it being a Lord's day, it pleased God to direct him to Preach on that Text Luke 12. 47. And that Servant that knew his His Con­version. Lords Will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his Will, shall be beaten with many Stripes. Upon which Text he shewed what a dangerous Sin it is to Sin against Knowledge. But when the Duties of the Day were ended, the Lord brought his old Sins into his remembrance, and set them in order before him, especially one aboue the rest. Hereupon he betook himself to Duties, but drove on therein very heavily: Yet did the Lord by his Omnipotent Hand draw him on to persevere in the same.

One day among the rest as he was in Duty, he was assaulted with a strong Temp­tation, grounded upon that Text. Heb. 12. 17. For ye know how that afterwards, Temptati­on. when he would have inherited the Blessing, he was rejected; For he found no place for Repentance, tho he sought it carefully with Tears. He frequently endeavor'd to shake off the Chains and Cords of the Spirit, grieving that he was bound up from the World: And his performance of Duties [...]s accompanied with deadness and unbe­liefe: Yet the Lord held him fast to his Work; forceing him to continue and persist in a way of Seeking.

Somtimes he feared that the Lord would leave him to run on in his former Sinfull The Spirit of Bondage. Courses; Yea, that he should not persevere to the end of one Day. But the Lord Magnified his Grace and Power above, and beyond his fears. Somtimes in reading the Holy Scriptures the Lord would set home Threatnings, and anon supported him by his Comfortable Promises, to keep him equally ballanced, between Hopes, that so he might not Sink, and Fears, that he might not Presume.

Thus for about the space of five Weeks, he was detained, and kept under the Spirit of Bondage and afflicting Terrors, having all this while no discoveries of Gods Gracious disposition towards him, till about the beginning of February following: At which time he took up a resolution to discover some Sins which most burdened his Conscsence: But then, by Gods good Providence he met with a passage in one of our English Divines setting forth the Greatness and Freeness of Gods Love, and of Christs Purchass; Which the Lord setting home unto him, he was somwhat quieted and refreshed in his Soul.

The next Day, which fell out to be a Lords-Day, he had a sweet, heart melting frame The Spirit of Adopti­on. of Spirit wrought in him for his Sins, together with a Lively Contemplation of Christs Sufferings, to which he was directed by an Eye of Faith. And now he, who form­erly thought it an hard matter to shed one Tear for Sin, had now plenty. The Spirit of the Lord also bringing that Promise to his mind: I will forgive their Iniqui­ties, and remember their Sins no more. And that of Christ to Thomas, Reach hither thy Finger, and behold my Hands, and reach hither thy Hand, and thrust it into my Side, and be not Faithless, but Believeing: And this was much promoted by his Reading the History of Christs Passion Yet was he not without some Fears and Doubtings still: Yea, at many times these Comforts, and Encouragements signified nothing at all to him. Yet after this, he was carried on in the exercise of Duties with more Enlargements, and Affectionate Workings of Spirit then formerly, especially at times.

And from this time he dated his Conversion. For albeit his Conversation, for some considerable time before was unreproachable, and his Labours in the Work of the Ministry indefatigable; Yea, and his Zeal for Non-Conformity remarkable, yet he judged the whole of his foregoing Life, Zeal, and Labors in the Ministry, to be no other then Splendida Peccata, Glittering Sins, and a continued series of Formality and Hypocrisie. And because some of his Friends, who well knew his former Con­versation, [Page 112] could not but conceive that he had the Truth of Grace before this great Turn; He discoursing with a Friend upon this point, peremtorily affirmed, that he knew certainly that he had nothing of Sincerity before this late and great Work: And withall, he bewailed the Condition of the Church of England, in that generally Men were made Ministers, before they were made Christians.

Yea, he was not without many and great Fears, that many who in the Judgment and Esteem of Men, go for good and able Ministers, will one Day be found to be, when they come to be weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary, not so much as good and sincere Christians. These his Fears we may presume, he grounded upon his own Ex­perience of himself (besides other common observations) who had the repute and esteem of, good and faithful Minister, before he was a sound and faithful Christian. And that which yet added further weight in his Judgment concerning himself, was this, in that though he had been painful, and constant in the work of the Ministry some years before this, yet he could not say, That God had made him the Instrument of the conversion of any one Soul, as the Seal of his Ministry, though afterwards he begat many Sons and Daughters unto God.

Some short time after this great change, which he strongly judged and concluded Strange Providen­ces. to be the first sincere turning of his Soul unto God: Being brought very low, both in his Body and Spirits, he apprehended that his Death drew near. But then was that Scripture brought into his Mind, Psal. 118. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord: Yet afterward being again under strong apprehensions of his Death ap­proaching, he, looking into his Bible, God directed his Eye to that Portion of Scrip­ture (Psal. 53. 5.) There were they in great fear where no fear was: which drove away that temptation: And not long after, with God's blessing thereon, by the use of means, he regained strength to go on in his Service.

Some short time after this, upon a Satu [...]ay, being very weak in Body, and almost despairing of recovery, he went up to his Chamber, as well as his seeble Legs could A strange Providence carry him, where he fell down upon his Knees in Prayer: And whilst he was in this Duty, he suddenly and sensibly found, at least in his apprehension, that a great mea­sure of strength was given in unto him, to his great astonishment. Whereupon he attempted to arise, and to walk, which he accordingly did, two or three turns about his Chamber, very strongly.

Finding this strange alteration, he called for his Wife to come to him, who soon espied the change, finding his pale Cheeks to be clothed with their wonted colour and complexion. And now he, that not many moments before, looked upon himself as drawing near unto the very brink of the Grave, was enabled to perform the Duties of that Evening; yea, the next days Duties (being the Lords day) with much vigor and strength. And after these signal marks of the Divine favour, and assistance, aford­ed both to his Soul and Body, he joyned with some other Ministers and Christians in keeping a Monthly Fast to humble and afflict themselves for their own sins, and for the sins of their Families, and of the Nation. And after these his first turning to God, he found a more then ordinary assistance, both in his Studies and Ministry, the Lord casting in abundant matter, and suitable Affections in the delivery thereof.

April the 30th i [...] Anno Christi 1665. being the Lords day, Mr. Tregoss, whilst he More of them. was in Prayer, was much distracted about his intended Preaching in Publick, whereunto he seemed to be drawn by a very strange, though manifest course of Pro­vidence, which he strongly resisted, till at last he was forced to yeild. That Week he had been wondering what the Lord would do with him. He could not study as for­merly, but was induced, and over-ruled to read a Practical Discourse of Self-denial: And the Lord furnished his Meditations with many passages about Sufferings, and the Creatures Duty to be, and live in the Will of his Creator, and to resign himself whol­ly to his disposal. And when he had ended his reading, casting his Eye upon his Bible, the first Words he met with, were those, Mat. 9. 36. When he saw the Multitude he had compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as Sheep having no Shepherd.

At the reading of this Text he inwardly trembled, and the Lord seemed immediatly to intimate to him, that he should put on the like Bowels. But hereupon he question­ed with himself, where he should find such an opportunity of Preaching in Publick? And presently Mabe (which is a Daughter-Church to Milar, and had Preaching in it; only every other Lords day) was presented, and suggested to his Thoughts: And after many Reasonings, and Disputes within himself, being backward to yield to the will [Page 113] of God: He at last resolved to send thither to enquire whether any Minister would be there the Lords day following? And answer was returned, that there would be none.

Yet still doubting whether he might look upon this as a Call from God, he cast his Eye upon his Bible, and met with that Text, Luke 11. 33. No Man when he hath lighted a Candle, putteth it in a secret place, or under a Bushel, but on a Candlestick, that they that come in may see the Light. This Scripture cleared all his doubts, and answered his objections, allayed all his carnal fears, and confirmed him in his resolution of Preaching in publick the next Lords day. And accordingly, when the Sabbath came, he went thither, and found the People willing to hear, and all things inviting him to embrace the present opportunity, and so he went on and preached without any distur­bance, and the Lord assisted him in all the Duties till he had concluded them.

The report of this Days work was soon spread abroad, and came to the Ears of Mr. Tho. Robinson, a Justice of the Peace. The next Lords day, being May the 7th, the Morning proving, rainy, Mr. Tregross preached in his own House, upon the Text, Luke 21. 19. In your Patience possess ye your Souls; not expecting any disturbance that Day by reason of the fowl weather. But after the Sermon was ended, Mr. Robinson came He is per­secuted. to his Door, and having entred, took the Names of those that were present: And re­quired Mr. Tregoss to put in Sureti [...]s for the Good Behaviour, or to render himself to the Constable upon his Order, the Munday Seven-night after; Mr. Tregross refus [...]d to do the former, but promised to perform the latter.

After Mr. Robinsons departure, they met again in the Afternoon, and went through with the Duties without any disturbance. The next Lords day he preached again at Mabe without interruption. But when the Exercises were finished, he was served His second Imprison­ment. with a Warrant to appear before Mr. Robinson at Hellestone on the Tuesday following. At his appearance he justified his Preaching with much evidence, and boldness. But notwithstanding all that he said, he was sent to Lancestone Gaol, there to remain for three Months. This he submitted to, not only patiently, but joyfully. In his passage to Prison he embraced all opportunities for the comfirming, and comforting of such Christian Friends as he met with by the way. And whilst he continued in Prison, his Spirit was very free, and much enlarged with those Divine influences, and refreshings which God gave in to him.

He spent his time in Prison in Reading the Holy Scriptures, in heavenly Meditations, in Fasting, Prayer, Holy Conference with, and Preaching to such as were his Prison Fellows, or that came to visit him. Few there were that came to him, but either they His Indu­stry. did, or might be great gainers by conversing with him. Now the time of his imprison­ment being expired, July the 29th, he was set at liberty, and after his return home he took the first convenient opportunity of keeping a Day of Thanksgiving, for the many experiences that he had of Gods goodness and mercies to him and his, during all the time of his Confinement.

But he had not been at home above four Days, when Mr. Robinson gave out, that he would'speedily send him back to the Place from whence he came: And in order thereunto, upon the Friday or Saturday after, he prepared himself to ride to the Market, there (as it were reported) to meet with another Justice of the Peace, who should joyn with him in a Warrant for a second Conviction of Mr. Tregoss for a Con­venticler, and to prosecute some others also.

But whilst he was at a Tenement of his, his own Bull (which was never known to have hurt any before) followed him in a Field with much fury, and gave him some Persecutors plagued by God. mortal Wounds whereof he died soon after.

August the 20th, Mr. Tregoss went again and Preached at Mabe Church, it being the Lords day; and he went through with his work without any disturhance: The like he did on that Day Fortnight after; spending the intervals with much activity in his Ma­sters Service elsewhere. Yet had he many disswasives by Christian Friends from Preaching publickly; but al [...] the Arguments which they urged, could not satisfie his Conscience: And therefore September the 18th, he was again committed to Lanceston Goal for publick Preaching: Whither he went with comfortable persuasions that God would be with, and carefully protect and provide for himself and his Family, which His third Imprison­ment. God made good to the uttermost.

This his Second imprisonment in that place, conduced much, through the Lords blessing, to the good of many Souls. For the report of his Bonds being spread abroad many came to visit him, to whom he imparted freely his Spiritual Gifts, and by God's Blessing upon his labours, some Onesimus's were begotten through the Gospel, in his Bonds.

During this Imprisonment he took several Opportunities of Visiting the com­mon His Indu­stry. Prisoners, whom he endeavoured to convince of their Sins, and there dangerous estate by reason of the same, &c. Also while he was under this Confinement he enjoy­ed many Divine Suavities, and Spiritual refreshments in his Soul, especially in the time of Duties: He had also many sweet and gracious returns to his Prayers; and some Prophetick intimations of future Providences. As

October the 2d. He praying earnestly that God would vouchsafe him opportunities A special Provi­dence. of doing him Service, the Lord was pleased to cause him firmly to believe that he should shortly be released from this restraint, and that he should be no more imprisoned in that place; which God made good unto him notwithstanding many attempts to the contrary. Also October the 7th, being much enlarged in praying for Patience, and submissi­on to the will of God, he grew very confident that e're long God would farther try him. So October the 23d. God seem [...] sundry ways to intimate to him, that some great Af­fliction was near at hand, but that he should be delivered from it, all which proved true, as will afterwards be shewen.

Again, October the 27th. Being earnestly praying for the Nation, he was sttongly induced to believe that some great Judgment was not far off: About which time there was often brought into his mind, and cast into his Thoughts that Text of Scrip­ture, Isa. 21. 16. Thus saith the Lord unto me, within a Year, according to the Years of an Hireling, and all the Glory of Kedar shall fall. He oft-times mentioned to some of his intimate Friends, what strong impressions this Scripture made upon his Thoughts, much wondring what it should mean: But a little before the Year exspired, the dread­ful burning of London hapned, which fully Interpreted those afore-named Impres­sions.

December the 14th. He was delivered out of Prison, and upon his return home he His delive­ry out of Prison. kept a Day of Thanksgiving; and shortly after he set apart every Tuesday, which he kept as a Day of Humiliation, or Thanksgiving, either with his Family, or with others more publickly. January the 8th, being the Lords day, he went to Mabe, where he Preached both parts of the Day without interruption, which was accom­panied with this remarkable Providence, that whilst he was at Mabe, a Constable, with an Officer from Pendennis Castle, came to his House to seek him, but by that A special Provi­dence. means missed of him.

January the 12th. He begun a Journey towards the East part of Cornwal, and from thence he went into Devonshire. And the Lords day, and the Wednesday following his Another. House was searched for him; but Providence ordering his being from home, he escap­ed their Hands. In this Journey he went forth on the South of Cornwal, and returned by the North, exercising in all Places where he came, and received great encouragement by the fruit of his Labours.

At his return, February the 4th, going to Preach at Mabe, the Constable served him with a Warrant, to carry him under the Custody of the Mareschal, as a dange­rous, and seditious Person; which yet he was so far from being guilty of, that nei­ther in his Preaching, nor Conference he ever medled with the present Discipline, or Liturgy of the Church, much less with any State-affairs. Nay, he perswaded others to be obedient to the Higher Powers: And in his dayly exercises he put up many fer­vent Petitions for the Kings Majesty.

Being now under the Custody of the Mareschal of Bodmin, this his imprisonment His fourth Imprison­ment. brought him into acquaintance with several Persons who reaped much good, and be­nefit by his Ministry. The Mareschal used him civilly, yet did he meet with more difficulties then in his former Confinements: But yet the Lord honoured him with the Conversion of many Souls. And he continued in this Prison till about the midst of Sep­tember, Anno Christi 1667. And being on a time very earnest in Prayer for his enlarge­ment, a portion of Scripture was presented to his Thoughts, which made so deep an impression upon him; as that he was raised to a great con [...]dence, that if he was deli­vered His release by the King. it should be by an Order from the Kings Majesty. And not long after, whilst he was under various Afflictions concerning his Family, the Mareschal received a special Order from the Kings Majesty for his enlargement.

In February, Anno Domini 1668. coming to Penrin to Preach his Munday's Lecture, His Sick­ness he fell sick of a Fever, which held him all that Week. And upon the Lords day Morn­ing, the sence of his own weakness did somwhat affect him, because the People, who at­tended upon his Ministry, had none to supply his room: whereupon he had that Scrip­ture impressed upon his Thoughts, Isa. 40. 31. They that wait on the Lord shall renew [Page 115] their strength, &c. This wrought so much upon him, that he resolved to arise: But all his Friends that were about him laboured to disswade him from his purpose, knowing His strange recovery. how weak he was, but they could not prevail. And when he had got on his Cloaths, he applyed himself to his Lords work; and as he proceeded, and went on in it, strength by degrees, was given in to him, so that he Preached thrice that Lords day, choosing that Text afore-named [Isa. 40. 31.] for his Subject; and to the great ad­miration and astonishment, as well of himself as of his Friends and Auditors, he found himself well at Night, neither did he feel so much as any relicts of his Distemper after­wards.

In the beginning of the Year 1669. the number of his Auditors was so much aug­mented, His remove to Penrin. as that the Rooms wherein they usually met would not contain them, which occasioned the removal of their Meeting into a large Barn, until, being summoned by the Proprietor of that Barn, to quit his House, he thereupon took up his Habitation in the Town of Penrin. Yet before his removal, a Mittimus came from the Quarter Sessions, grounded upon an Information given in by the Bishop of the Diocess, to send him to the Goal at Lanceston, for Preaching publickly.

The Constables coming to serve the Warrant, one of them more violent and furious A Strange Provi­dence. then his fellows, whilst he reasoned with Mr. Tregoss, holding the Mittimus in his Hand, sunk down in the place, seeming at the present to be dead: But by the dili­gent endeavours of those about him, he was brought to himself again, whereupon he departed without executing the Warrant. And that which made this the more re­markable, was, for that this Constable was a lusty strong Man, and never sainted in all his Life before. And though they came again, some days after, to execute the Warrant, yet had they not power to carry him to Prison: For which (as it was re­ported) the other Constable was Fined at the next Sessions.

At the Summer Assizes, Anno Christi 1669. Mr. Tregoss having some Affairs which called him to Lanceston, in his Journey he was invited to visit some part of the North west parts of Devonshire; from whence, for Preaching in a private House in the Pa­rish of Great Torrington, he was sent to Exeter Gaol, with several others of the He is sent to Exeter. Goal, but bailed. Town, and of Bideford; who being all Bailed, had for that time no other trouble then to Travers a Bill for a Riot, which was preferred against them.

In his return from Exon, he spent some few days at Crediton, in which place he contracted an intimate Friendship with a Person, who was Providentially cast there at that time, to whom he disclosed and unbosomed many of the choisest accidents, which befel him in most of his Life. And albeit they never saw each other afterwards, yet this Friendship was preserved inviolably, improved by Paper-Conversation, till Death made a disunion, or rather a Suspension for the present. This trouble which befell Mr. Tregoss in Devonshire, was an occasion of much good to many Souls in those parts; For it opened a Door to many Hundreds in Devonshire, who resorted to him in his Tra­vels, and so became partakers of his Ministerical Gifts, which (through the concur­rence of Divine Grace) were very effectual for the good of their Souls.

This made him to lay out himself Day and Night to the utmost of his Strength, His Indu­stry, and great suc­cess. allowing his Body no more then extream necessity required, that so he might im­prove all advantages and opportunitys for the advancement of his Masters Service. The Bill which had been preferred against him at Exeter, necessitated him to attend the two following Assizes, where he was at last freed by Proclamation. But in the mean while, his return into those parts was of no small advantage for the Propagation of the Gospel. Some of those Persons who discovered their Malice against Mr. Tre­goss, for Preaching at Torrington, were shortly after taken away by unnatural Deaths, not without some signal tokens of Gods displeasure against them, as will appear by this his following Letter to an intimate Friend.

Not long before his Death, he was strangly, he knew not how, taken up in con­versing with the State of the Saints departed, who were Martyred for the Testimony His heaven­ly-mind­edness. of Jesus, as he himself acquaints us in his Letter to his Bosom Friend; as followeth.

And this indeed was a Prophetick intimation of the nearness of his Dissolution, and entrance upon that Life, which he was immediatly more fully to partake of. It was an old Observation from a great Master of Wisdom (Padre Paulo Hist. Co [...]n. T [...]ent) That it is natural for Men near their Graves, from some intrinsick cause, unknown to themselves, to be distasted with humane affairs, &c. What this Wise Man observed of Men in general, I think, is most true of many holy Christians, who a little before their dissolution are frequently called off, and separated from humane affairs, to a fidu­cial converse with coming Glories, and the Life of just Men made perfect: which was the frame of Mr. Tregosses Spirit, not long before his Death, though he himself was not apprehensive that his change was so near.

After Mr. Tregoss came to reside at Penrin, he hired a House for a Meeting-place on the Lords day in the Parish of Mabe, where he Exercised without interruption, from Midsummer, Anno Christi 1669. to the Tenth of May, 1670. After which day there were two debauched Persons that turned Informers, hoping thereby to get God's Pro­vidence. fuel for their Lusts: who having procured a Warrant, required the Officers to at­tend them evety Lords day, and made Oath against Mr. Tregoss and some others for a breach of the Statute then in force against Conventicles: This scarred away most of his Hearers, especially those that had any considerable Estates. Yet, though there were many Fines laid upon him, which amounted to 220 l. yet the Lord so ordered things, as nothing he had was seized upon.

This Meeting being thus dissolved and broken, he resolved to drive the Nail that would go, and to Preach the oftner to a Statute-number: And herein his labours were so many and great, as though his Body were of Steel, yet could he not long hold out. For he Preached five times every Lords day, and in the Evening made Repetition His extra­ordinary. pains. of some part. He also continued the Tuesdays, and Thursdays Exercises, besides some others. He was often advised by his Friends to favour himself, and to moderate his pains: But the great Zeal he had for the keeping it on, and advancing the work of God did stop his Ears against all disswasives of this kind: But having at last worn out himself, and exhausted his Spirits, he fell into a Griping of the Bowels, occasioned by a Flatus Hypochondriachus, or Melancholly Wind, as his Physician affirmed; which brought him so low and weak, that his Friends judged him to be past recovery; and he himself expressed a longing desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.

But the Lord was pleased to reprieve him for a little longer, and set him once more upon his Feet, though he took not the Air. And as soon as he perceived a small re­cruit of his strength, he began to fall upon his work again: Yet this continued but for a very short time, before a Feaver seized on him, and put an end to all his La­bours His last Sickness. and Troubles. His deportment during both times of his Sickness was like his Life, very sweet and heavenly. Upon the 18th of January, perceiving the Hour of his Dissolution to draw near, and be at hand, he took his Farewell of his Friends in a long Speech, whereof you have a part: as followeth,

I thought I should have some more turns with my Lord in his Gallary, but he hath turn­ed His last Speech. his Back and is gone, and calls me to come after him. Indeed though I had some Di­stemper of Body, yet I did not think that Death was so nigh, till, putting my hand upon my Brow, I fel [...] the tokens thereof. Think, Think not therefore that it is a foolish phantasie that moves me thus to speak: For I know it to be right reason: And seeing the Lord hath left with me a few mouthfuls of Breath; Let me, who am your faithful Pastor, at the taking of [Page 118] my Farewel of you, drop a few words among you before he calls away this Breath of mine, and say, Breath no more through the Body, but lay it down in the Dust.

O my Friends! My Friends! You know that I have often warned you of evil Days, and n [...]w I must once more tell you that there is a dead Day, a dark Day a coming. O! what will this poor People do: O my Friends! Did we think that after so many Fasting, and Hu­miliation Days, after so many Thanksgiving Days, after so many Sacrament Days, we should see such a Day as this? O! But it may be, you will ask me such a Question as this: Do you realy believe that you shall Die? Indeed, Friends, there is nothing but Omnipo­tency that can bear me up. And if you ask what I think of my self? Truly Friends, I can say, that I have walked among you by the pure Copy of the Holy Scriptures, and Life of Christ: And through the Grace of God in Christ Jesus, I shall be presented spotless to the Fa­ther.

Indeed when I was young I had my youthly Vanities; but in the Year 1664. upon a New-years-day the Lord was pleased to meet with me, and then, and then, even then did he set all my Sins before me. And those very Sins which were small to me before, were, by the Spirit of the Lord in that Rod, made as bitter as Death it self: My slight Child-hood sins; my slender youthful sins, were now to me very hainous, and abominable. Wherefore, my Friends, I charge you to make Conscience of those sins: Yea, of the least of them which I have warned you [...]f.

Some may think me Passionate, and some may think me severe and uncharitable; but now I repent that I had not dealt more impartially and plainly with you. However, in the Truth of the Lord, according to mine ability, I have walked among you: And I hope that you will not think it tedious if I drop a few Words upon my Grave before I die. Then the Phy­sician stopping him, intending to desire him to leave off speaking, lest he should spend his Spirits too much, Mr. Tregoss said,

Give me leave to speak, for I am upon the borders of Eternity; and I think you all look upon m [...] as a dying Man: You may therefore suffer me to speak as much as I can. I am going to my great, to my dear Father, to my best Friend, to him in whom I have Believed His Face I hope to see; in his Bosom I hope to lye down this Day. Oh! What unspeakable Glory is it to see the Glory of mine Everlasting God? O my Friends! I must tell you the Truth: Though sometimes there have been upon my pbantasie strange black Clouds, which made me to speak somewhat inconsistent, and were suddenly blown off again; yet little doth any one know the reviving Incomes I had then, even then from my God: And the last Lords day at Nlght, the Lord gave me some sweet turns with himself: O! It was a pleasant N [...]ght with me: I was up with God: and God was down with me. O! It was to me as the going up to Paradise. O! how sweet was it to me?

And, now my Friends, I must tell you, that through many Tribulations you must enter into the Kingdom of God: Some of you have told me your Thoughts concerning me, That I have walked in all good Conscience towards God and Man. O Friends! Whatsoever things ye have seen in me that were honest; whatsoever things were just; whatsoever things were of good report, pursue those things. Rely not upon the World; for the World will leave you cold and helpless. And now Friends, I must go to see the Lord, and this Body of mine must be laid in the Dust, and never rise more until the Resurrection Day. And must ma­ny of you go from this place, and come naked before the Face of God? O Friends, If there be any Hope; if there be any Love; if there be any Consolation in you, think on these things? You know I have. When I came to this Town, some may think I came to fill an empty Bag, and to get a livelihood among this People: But, God is my Witness, I had not this in mine Eye. I sought not yours, but you. And now Friends, Flesh, and Blood will say, 'tis hard to part with dear Friends, to part with a Dear Wife, to part with Dear Children: But as the Lord hath given them to me, so I now leave them with the Lord.

And I call you to Witness that I leave this dear Wife of mine with the Lord: and these dear Children of mine with the Lord, and to be protected by him; to be maintain­ed by him; to be kept blameless to the Day of his appearance. Though Men may prove unkind unto them, as I suppose they will; yet the Lord, I know, will not. I must into Enternity. The Prophets do not live for ever; Neither can they Prophesie for ever. I have been but a young Branch, and you see, the Lord is cuting me down this. Morn­ing. O Blessed Lord God! shall there not be a meeting in Paradise? Shall not thy Ser­vant see thee, and love thee, and embrace thee, and be embraced by thee? Oh Lord! Give a good evidence to thy Servant, that he may know that he belongeth to thee.

Lord, thou hast given him the working of an Heart purifying Spirit. And are not these [Page 119] Tokens of thy free Grace? and of thine Eternal Love in Christ Jesus: And now Lord God, thy Servant must away, and be about other work, Thy Servant must away to holy Angels, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect. He must away to serve the Lord in his upper Cham­bers. He must away, Lord, and never look on these Earth things more. And, now O Friends, one I thing tell you; I shall come again with my Lord in most excellent Glory; and you then must come before him. But I fear, I fear, that then some of you will be in a very low, poor, and mise­rable condition. Well, I commend you to the Love, and Grace of God, the Eternal Father in Jesus Christ. And I pray you get your Hearts full of the Love of God, and of the Grace of God, and full of the Holy Ghost. And now think on these things that I have delievred unto you, in the Name of the Lord! I must go, and deliver up my accounts to God: And O, that I may deliver them up freely: That I may he able to say: I have run my Race; I have finished my Course: I have fought the good Fight: I have kept the Faith: And what remains but that I receive the Crown which the Lord Jesus, the Righteous Judge hath prepared for me. And now I commit my self to the Lord: And my Wife and Children to the Lord: I commit my Spirit to thee, O Father of Spirits. I commit my Soul to thee, O Dearest Lord: Keep these that do believe on thee.

These Words he spake with a more audible, and clear voice then he was wont to do in his ordinary Preaching. And about an Hour and an half after he had ended this His Death. Speech, he departed this Life, January the 18th. Anno Christi 1670.

Mr. Tregross was of a middle Stature, his Hair Black, his Face palish, not perfectly round, nor long. His Spirit was Masculine, Generous, and Great, agreeable to the His Chara­cter. Condition of his Ancestors. There was a sparkling vivacity apparent in most of his in­tense Actions. His natural Humour was not morose, but Assable; yet was he not with­out a tincture of dark Melancholly, which yet his Grace improved to a great measure of seriousness. He had also some sparks of Choller, which being spirited with warm Affections for God, brake forth in a pure Flame of Divine Zeal. His natural Judgment seemed deep and solid; his Will firm, and fixed; His Memory tenatious and faithful: His Affections tender and active. And the whole capacity of his Soul fit for great im­ployments.

But the more Illustrious and bright part of his Character regardeth his gracious Ca­pacity, and Dispositions. His Personal Holiness was eminent and remarkable. And pro­bably, His Holi­ness. few in this Age, have, for so short standing, made a larger proficiency in the Learning, and School of Christ, and his Service. After January, Anno Christi 1664. (From whence he Dated his Conversion) he banished both from his Heart and Life many Vanities whith he had been addicted to. Neither did he acquire his Godliness at so easie a rate as most Professors do. No, his Heart was first deeply wounded for sin, and afterwards delivered from it. He was for some while under many and great extremities by reason of a Spirit of Bondage, which yet made way for a Spirit of a Adoption. He was throughly and soundly convinced of his Spiritual Death by Sin, and that opened to him a Door of Life by Christ. And the intire change of his Heart much appeared, in the Change of his Life; and in his last end. Neither had he some particular Graces only, but a Combination, and complication of many amiable Graces, seemingly opposite, appeared visibly in him. How affable, and courteous was he, and yet how severe against Sin? What Meekness and Humility in his own cause? And yet what Courage, and Magnanimity in the cause of God, shone in him? How much fear, and Holy self-jealousie, and yet how much Christian boldness, and confidence was he possessed with? What an inflexible, and strong bent for God, and against sin seemed he to bave? And yet how flexible and complying with others for their Good was he?

He did not, as some, take Christ to ease himself of his work, or to secure his Lusts, but to kill them, and to quicken himself to Duty. His Peace of Conscience was main­tained, His Since­rity. not by Peace, but by War with sin: It was not only from, but in God: He had not only a form of Christ in his Life, and Picture of him in his Fancy; but also the Image of, Union with, and Love for Christ in his Heart. He affected not so much to entangle his Thought with Disputes about the Controversies of Religion, as to get the Power of it stamped upon his own, and others Souls. His Faith did not lye level with Worldly Interest, but was opposite thereto. He climbed not, as some, to the top of an high Profession, without laying a deep Foundation in Self-denial: He bor­rowed not, as too many do, the Mask of Religion to conceal a rotten Heart: but was unsatisfied in his Heart-enquires after Grace, till he arrived to such a full measure thereof, as is not attainable by any Hypocrite.

His daily Progress in the Mortification of Sin, was very remarkable, and conspicu­ous. His Mo [...]ti­fication. He knew full well that one reigning Lust would darken his Comfort, and harden his Heart; yea, bring all into Bondage and Captivity, and therefore he durst not gra­tifie any Lust in the least. He was content to give up every Lust to death for Christ, who gave up his Soul to Death for him. He thought it not much to part with any Be­loved Sin for him who was his Beloved Saviour. Yea, he seemed to take more plea­sure in subduing his unlawful Desires, then others do in gratifying, and fulfilling them. And lest his Flesh should impose upon his more noble part, he enured, and accustom­ed himself to many Bodily severities, and denied himself of such Natural refreshments, which most others indulge themselves in. Yet did he not content himself with exter­nal Mortifications, but maintained a daily Conflict with the whole Body of Sin in cor­rupt Nature. Yea, he would oft blame himself much for Spiritual sins; as Infidelity, Pride, unbelief, &c. Which others could least blame him for.

His weanedness from, and Crucifixion to the World was not less visible than his other His Cruci­fixion to the Wo [...]ld. Graces He seemed to have acquired a great indifferency of Spirit for things indifferent: To allow perishing things, but perishing Affections. As our blessed Lord Christ gave his Hea­ven for him, so he thought it not much to give his Earth for his Lord: He could not part with Christ for any Worldly Good, and therefore was willing to part with all for Christ. The firm, believing views he had of future Glories, obscured, and darkened the Worlds Glories to him, so that he seemed to admire nothing but approaching Glorys; or what related thereto. Poverty in Christ's way was great Riches to him; yea, far greater then a flourishing Estate in the ways of Sin. He knew how to abound in his wants, by contentedly wanting what the Lord though not fit for him; and thereby Crucifying his Desires, he made the Cross of Christ the more easie to him. His De­sires were low, and therefore his Spirit was high above the frowns, and flatteries of this lower World, He seemed far better pleased in his mean and low condition, then Worldlings are in their highest. His Mind was too great to put a great estimate upon the empty Nothings of this Life. He brought his Natural desires into a narrow com­pass, and thence gained a great enlargment of Spirit.

By his frequent and long Sufferings he gained a great skill and dexterity in bearing His art in bearing the Cross. the Cross. By starving sin, and crucifying his Heart to the World, he took out the stings of his Sufferings. He knew that the Divine Will was more eligible then his own, and there­fore he endeavoured to conform unto it, as well by Passive as by Active Obedience. He knew that he could not glorifie God more, then by being content that God's Glory should gain by his private losses. He durst not make Sin a shelter against Sufferings: Or bear false witness against God, by repining under the Cross. He was not so well pleased with sin, as to perfer it before sufferings: or so ill pleased with Sufferings as to fly from them, when he was called thereunto. Heinured himself to the Yoak of Christ, and so gain'd the Art of bearing his Cross. His Conscience continued under a lively sense of Sin, and that made him Dead, and in a measure sensless under sufferings. His will was so far broken, as that it could chearfully bend, and submit to the Cross; yea, to welcome Crosses, when in God's way he met with them. When God brought him into any Affliction, or Suffering, he waited there till God brought him out. He knew himself to be nothing, and that made him to bear any thing from God with contentment: And by knowing his own vileness, he learn'd to justifie God in every cross. His Spirit was generous & noble, like that of the Eagle which is not clamorous when it wants Food. He studied Passive obedience as well as Active: To be well pleased with what God did, as well as to do what was well-pleasing unto God.

He had a fit disposition, and qualification for the Cross, which made that easie to him which seemed intollerable unto others. As he durst not make men Lords of his Faith, so neither of his Happiness, by doteing on their Smiles, or fearing their Frowns; but as Worldy men content themselves with the World without God, so he en­deavoured to content himself with God without the World. He had his present wants supplyed, by Ordinary, or Extraordinary ways and means, and therefore conceived it to be his Duty to trust God for the future. He knew that he had more of the Creature then b [...] deserved, and therefore was not anxious, and solicitous about ha­ving more. He was much taken up about the weighty things of Eternity, and there­fore was little concerned about these lower, and baser things.

He had many Noble and Generous Dispositions, and Qualifications, but no one ap­peared more illustrious, and visible in him, after his Conversion, then his Zeal for His Zeal for God. and in, his Masters Service, and the good of Souls. O! What a rare, and excellent Qual­lity is a Publick Spirit for God? And how much was this holy Man invested, and adorned herewith? How little did his hot and flaming Zeal care to live, when the [Page 121] Honour of his great Lord seemed to bleed and die? How Moses like was he in Meek­ness, as to injuries done unto himself? And yet how impatient, and Elias like, as to injuries done unto his Lord? How modest and backward was he in his own cause? and yet how Magnanimus, and undoubted in the cause of God? How little was it in the power of the greatest men to frown him out of Duty, or to flatter him into Sin? what a Masculine Courage had he, joyned with a fixed resolution not to displease God to please Men? Yea, how much vigour, and strength did his Zeal gain by oppo­sition? He seemed indeed naturally to have an Heroick Spirit, put how much did Grace transform this natural quality into a Divine Zeal? How much of Divine flame, and how little of wild-fire, and sinful wrath was there in his Zeal?

But notwithstanding his ardent zeal for God, yet was he of a very quiet and peacea­ble Spirit. He did not (Salamanden-like) delight to live in the Fire of Contention, His Catholick Charity. but was of a uniting, healing Spirit. He was not only a Patient, but also an Agent in seeking after, and persuing Peace. He judged our Church-divisions to be one of our greatest Plagues. He had a Catholick Universal Charity, and love for all: And albeit he hated the vices of wicked and ungodly men, yet he loved their Persons. But he had a special and perticular affection for all Saints, and that as Saints, making their Graces not their Opinions, the measure of his love. His Spirit; and Principles were so peaceable, as that he desired to avoid all needless disputes, that might breed strife. But when he was called to dispute, or to confer with those of different Judge­ments, he shewed forth much modesty, and meekness; Arguing not for Glory and Victory, but to inquire into Truth; Wherein he affirmed nothing, but what he en­deavoured plainly and soundly to prove out of the Scriptures; and when he could not fully comply with other mens perswasions, yet would he not impose his own on them, as the Rule of their Faith, or Communion.

And tho he could forbear, and bear with all for their good, yet he could not bear with Sin in any, but was a severe Admonitor, and Reprover thereof in all. Yea, His dexterity in admonitions and reproofs his very presence was a powerful and perswasive admonition to such as he reprov­ed. For there was so much gravity and sweetness mixed in his countenance, that one word from him would oft effect more, then many from some others, especially by his Holy Conversation, exemplifying what he urged upon others. From the Word of God he much convinced such as were defective in their Duty, and subdued their wills to the will of God. I my self (saith mine Author) heard him, in the presence of several Ministers, sharply reproving the sins of Ministers in mispending their time whilst they were together, in frothy and unprofitable Conferences, which reproof he managed with so much majesty, and yet with so much Humility and submission, confirming all that he pressed from the Word of God, that all that were present could not but con­clude, that there was much of God in his so seasonable admonition and reproof.

Neither did his severity extend to the Sins of others only, but also to his own. He was a diligent, and curious observer of his own Spirit, its ends, intentions, His self exami­nation. inclinations, motions, risings and fallings, as to Sin, or Grace. He alwayes kept a vigilant eye over his Heart, and every Night made perticular reflexions, on the passages of the Day past, with a strict examination how he had spent it: What his Conversation had been towards others? and how he had demeaned himself in his pri­vate Duties towards God? He examined, not only what he had done, but also from what Principles he had done it. And thus, by the knowledg of what he had done, he came the better to know what he was to do; By studying well the book of his own Heart and life, he became a good Student, and proficient in the mystery of Godliness, and of Sin. He was a Man of great observation, and of nothing more than of his own Spirit, its various vicissitudes, turnings, and windings, &c. Thus he came to have an intimate, and thorow acquaintance with his own Heart, and an experimen­tal sense of the Holy Spirits working in him. Hence also he came to know what Sins he had to confess, and humble himself for. What Mercies to bless God, or to petiti­on for: What burdens to groan under. At sometimes he found himself under great deadness and distractions: At other times under sweet inspirations and breathings of the Holy Spirit, and enlargements of Heart. Sometimes he sighed under sinking despondencies, black unbeliefe, and base Fears; At other times he was upon the wing of Faith, and full of courage.

He had his stated times for private and Family Duties. Faith and Prayer were his chiefe refuge in all his troubles. And indeed he seemed to drive a great Trade with His private Duties. [Page 122] Heaven by Prayer, wherein he was very powerful and prevalent. He had a very strugling, wrestling Spirit in Prayer, bottomed upon a deep sense of his own need, large desires, and lively workings of Faith. What strength he gained by Prayer, he lost not by careless neglects after Prayer, but improved it for God. His Spirit seemed unsatisfied in duty till he had met with God or something from God. Sometimes he was dull and indisposed in the beginning of a Duty; but before he came off, he found great assistance. When he found weakness the Lord gave in unexpected supplies of strength. When he was dejected or cast or cast down under any perplexing, disturbing fears, or difficulties from within, or from without, he had recourse to his Bible, and thence received frequently such sweet, and encouraging Promises, set home by the Spirit of God, as afforded abundance of refreshing, and reliefe to him.

His Family Exercises and Discipline deserve a perticular remark. He gave no tol­leration to any known Sin, or omission of any Duty: He was very vigilant and dili­gent His Family Government. in preventing, or reproving the profanation of the Lords Dayes, even to idle words. Neither was he less careful of the Pious Education, and instruction of those under his Domestick charge. Every Morning and Evening, for the most part, he read, and expounded a part of the Sacred Scriptures, sung a Psalm, and Prayed with them. Every Friday night he examined their proficiency in learning, the Assemblies lesser Catechism, explaining some part thereof unto them. Every Lords day at night (besides other Duties) he delivered the substance of what had that Day been preached in the Sermons. And after such exercises he examined his Servants, and such chil­dren as were capable of what they remembred, not suffering any under his charge, who would not give an account of their Faith, and progress in knowledge. When he did not read a Chapter his course was to examine and instruct his Servants concer­ning the Fundamentals of Religion, which was a great means of improving their knowledge. And, besides his private retirements and Family Duties, he had his set and stated times every Day to spend with his Wife in private Prayer.

Neither was this his Religious care of instructing Souls confined only to his own Family, but it extended unto others also. He was endowed and invested with a sin­gular His holy Con­ference. Gift of personal conference, which talent he carefully imployed for the good of many Souls; Being ready to take, yea to seek all convenient opportunities to treat with them about their Eternal estate. He was much in pressing Men unto Holiness. He was wont to propose questions to those with whom he conversed, and desired the like of them, which course the Lord made very successful. He esteemed it no small burden to be cast into any Company, where his time was spent in unprofitable Discourse, and when he was, by Providence, cast upon such, his manner was to put a stop to such unedifying conference, by spiritual Divertisments, or turning it to some Holy Discourse. When he intended to visit any Christian Family, his Method was; First to call his Wife and Mother, that they might joyn with him in Prayer for a Blessing on his intended undertaking; And being greatly sensible of the advantages that are acquired by Christian conference, he gave those of his Hearers, whom he judged most judicious, diverse directions for the right management thereof upon all occasions.

He had a great tenderness and regard to such as were sick: And when he was in­formed of their sickness he stayed not till he was sent for, and invited to come to His visitation of the Sick. them, neither did he rudely intrude were he could not expect to be welcome; but first imployed a Friend that might intimate his willingness, and readiness to come to them; And then, where he might be received, he failed not to visit them, and to administer such spiritual advice and conusel as he judged to be most proper for the state of their Souls: And to those who wanted a competent supply of conveniences he imparted not only of his Spiritual, but also of his temporal Gifts, according to what God had blessed him withal. He failed not to pray with them before his departure, and not to spare any labor or trouble in the discharge of this Christian Office and duty.

As for other more extensive parts of his Ministerial Gifts and labors, they were also very remarkable. His preaching was sollid and practical. He had a great pathos His Ministerial Gifts and La­bours. and vehemency in seting home Truths upon the Conscience. His Sermons were full of plainness, and yet clothed with a Sacred Majesty. His words were familiar and yet very efficatious. He dwelt much upon awakning Truths, such as might pierce and sting the Conscience of secure Sinners. And yet to such as needed consolation, he was another Barnabas, full of sweetness. He had much of the Divine assistance [Page 123] as well in composing, as in the hearing Sermons. He oft said, That usually his Sermons were given him upon his knees. His manner and practice was, when he had pitched on a Text, to apply himself to Prayer, and whilst he was in that Duty, he had oft the Heads of his discourse given in unto him. As for enlargements, he was never barren, having a faithful Memory that treasured up all that he read, and an Elocution apt and able to deliver what he had so treasured up, upon all occasions. Those that knew him much admired that he could preach so oft, and yet so well. He was likewise endowed with a large and excellent Gift in Prayer, which he alwayes expressed in Scriptural Language, wherein he seemed to have much communion with God.

In brief, he was one of divine Lights and Heats for God. His zeal, in promoting His Characte [...] in brief. the wayes of God and his Glory, was ardent, and flaming. He was affable and courteous in his Speech; Serious and Grave in his carriage and deportment: Invinci­ble in his Courage; Charitable to such as differed from him in their perswasions, so long as he saw that their design was to promote Godliness and Holiness. Tempe­rate he was in the use of the Creatures. Frugal in husbanding of his precious time. Spending his spare Hours in walking, meditating, Praying, and conversing with Christians about their Soul-affairs. And indeed, he was of so Holy and Heavenly a disposition and temper, as all good Men, who knew him, reverenced him. To con­clude, his greatest ambition seemed to be this, to act and suffer something more than ordinary for God, that so he might by a singular exemplary conversation, silence the reproaches of ungodly Men, and give check to the pride, vanity, and carnality of too many Professors in these wanton Dayes, which he sadly bewailed, as a shrewd Prognostick and presage of future desolations: Only he hoped there were some, and that the Lord would raise up more young Converts, who should be furnished with Spirits, and conversations for the enlargement of Christs Kingdom.

But more of his Hopes, Fears, and frame of his Spirit will appear by, and in these following Letters.

The Life and Death of Mr. Richard Mather, who Dyed Anno Christi, 1669.

RIchard Mather was born in a Village called Lowton, situate in the Parish of His Birth and Parentage. Winwick, in the County of Lancaster, Anno Christi, 1596. His Parents Thomas and Margaret Mather, were of ancient Families in Lowton aforesaid; But by reason of some unhappy Mortgages, they were reduced into a low condition in re­gard of their outward Estate. Nevertheless; God so disposed and inclined their Hearts, that they were willing and careful to train up this their Son in good Li­terature: His Education. Concerning which he (after the Lord was pleased to bestow not only Lear­ning, but Grace upon him) hath sometimes expressed himself thus: By what princi­ples, and motives my Parents were chiefly induced to keep me at School, I have not to say, nor do I certainly know: But this I must needs say, that this was the singular good Provi­dence of God towards me (who hath the Hearts of all men in his Hand) thus to incline the Hearts of my Parents. For in this thing the Lord of Heaven shewed me such favour as had not been shewed to many of my Predecessors, and Contemporaries in that place.

And now his Parents being strongly bent to have this their Son a Schollar, they Is sent to School. sent him to the School at Winwick, which was about four Miles distant from their House. In the Winter Season they boarded him at Winwick; but such was his eager de­sire after knowledg and learning, that in the Summer time he went every Day thi­ther on foot. But whilst he was thus at School he met with no small discouragment from his School master, who tho he had an excellent faculty, and ability to teach, His Masters se­verity. and train up youth in Grammer Learning, and many were trained up by him, whom he sent to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, to make farther progress in higher studies; yet did he much discourage his Schollars by his too great severity, and partiality in his Discipline. Mr. Junius was almost discouraged in his studies, when being a School-Boy, his Master would beat him eight times in a Day, whe­ther guilty or not guilty of any fault: The like magisterial rigour caused young Mather earnestly to desire of his Father, that he would take him from School, and dispose of him to some other Calling.

Yet himself afterwards, when he had waded through these difficulties, would say, That God intended better for him than he would have chosen for himself; and therefore (said he) my Father (tho in other things he was indulgent enough, yet) in this he would never condescend to my request, but by puting me in hope, that by his speaking to the Master, things would be amended, he would still over-rule me to proceed in my studies. And good it was for me to be over-ruled by him, and his discretion, rather than to be left to my own affections and desires. But oh that all School-Masters would learn Wisdom, moderation, and equity towards their Schollars, and seek rather to win the Hearts, of Children by righteous, loving, and courteous carriage, and usage, than to discourage and alienate their minds by partiality, and undue severity, which had been my utter undoing, had not the good Providence of God, and the Wisdom, and authority of my Father prevented it. But thus was that of the Poet made good.

After he had spent sundry years in the School some Popish Merchants coming [Page 127] out of Wales to Warrington, which is but two Miles from Winwick, made diligent enquiry whether there were not some pregnant Wits in that School whom they might procure for Apprentices? Presently our Richard Mather was mentioned to them as a pregnant A special Providence. Youth; whereupon application was presently made to his Father to know whether he would thus dispose of him? who was found inclinable to accept of the Motion, because now his Estate was so decayed, that he almost desparied of bringing up this his Son as he had intended: But here the Finger of Divine Providence was very ob­servable; for when the Father was thus ready to part with his Son, and the Child to go, the Lord raised up the heart of his Master to be importunate with his Father still to keep him at School, professing that it was great pity that a Wit so prone to Lear­ning should be taken from it, (as indeed it was) or that he should be undone by Popish Education: And the perswasions of the Master so far prevailed, as that his Scholar was still continued under his care and tuition, until the fifteenth year of his Age.

It was a singular Providence, and a great Mercy to young Mather, for that whilst he was yet in his Minority, he enjoyed the publick Ministery of one Mr. Palin, who was then Preacher at Leagh, of whom he would say, that the Remembrance of that Man was comfortable and honourable in his thoughts, even in his Old Age, tho his knowledge of him was in his Childhood; for he observed then such a plain, powerful and piercing efficacy in Mr. Palin's Ministry, as was not to be found in the common sort of Preachers in those days, by means whereof some illumination, tho not a through Conversion was wrought in him.

Having thus continued long at School, he had a Call, and opportunity of leaving Called to be School-maste [...] his Fathers Family, the occasion whereof was this: At a place called Toxteth-Park, near unto Liverpool, there were many Prudent and Religious People, who being de­sirous of their own good, and of their Posterity after them, designed to erect a School among them for the better Education of their Children; and upon consideration, God put it into their minds to send to the School-Master at Winwick, to enquire whether he had any of his Schollars whom he would recommend unto them as fit for such a Service: And he having received such a message, presently communicated the matter to this his Schollar, and to his Father: The Son was rather desirous to have gone to the University, but the Father closed with the motion, and in conclusion, it was embra­ced by all: And now our young Mather left the School and his Fathers House, and re­moved to Toxteth, Anno Christi, 1611. there to teach School. Nor was it a disparage­ment to his worth that he was once a School-Master, for many eminent Divines even of our own Nation have been so; as Mr. Hieron, Mr. Jeremy Whitaker, Mr. Richard Vines, &c. But rather it was his high commendation, and the like seldom known, that one should be found fit to teach and govern a School at fifteen years of Age: And yet the Lord helped him in those his young years to carry it with such Wisdom, Love, and Gravity among his Scholars, as was to admiration; so as that he was by them both loved and feared, beyond what is usual, even where there are more aged Masters.

This his imployment was more ways than one advantageous to him; for by this The usefulness of it to him. means he became a more accurate Grammarian than Divines usually are: And being in­dustrious in his Studies whilst he continued in this kind of imployment, he became a good Proficient in other Arts, as in Logick Rhetorick and in Theology: Moreover it after­wards appeared to be of God, that he was called to such a work in such a place; for there the more effectual Conversion of his Soul unto the Lord was wrought in his tender years, even before his going to the University of Oxford, whereby he was pre­served His Conversion. from those Vices and Corruptions which undid many of his Contemporaries, thro the Temptations which they met with in that place.

The means of his Conversion was partly by observing a strange difference be­tween himself and sundry in that godly Family of Mr. Edward Aspinwal (whom I knew when I lived in Cheshire, as also Mr. Mather himself) This Mr. Aspinwal was a Learned and Religious Gentleman; and Mr. Mather took notice of the way and walking of that holy Man, which was such as himself had not yet been accustomed unto, which caused sad fears to rise in his Soul, lest haply he might not be in the right way which leads unto eternal Life: Also Mr. Harrison (whom I knew also) then a famous minister at Hyton, preaching upon John 3. 3. concerning the necessity of Regeneration, and Mr. Mather at the same time reading a Book published by William [Page 128] Perkins, shewing how far a Reprobate may go, and yet be damned: God blessed these three things, not only to Conviction, but to his Conversion also; which was Anno Christi, 1 [...]14.

The pangs of the new Birth were very terrible to him, insomuch as many times when others were at their Meals in the Family where he sojourned, he oft absented His Dejection. himself, to retire under Hedges, and in other secret places, there to lament his misery before God: But after sometime, the Lord revived his broken heart, by sending the Holy Spirit to accompany the Ministry of the Word, and to enable him to apply the precious promises of the Gospel to his Soul. His comfort.

Being thus become a new Creature, he was more eminently a blessing in that Family, and in that Calling which the Lord had disposed him in, and such notice was taken of him abroad, that even from places remote Children were sent unto him for Instruction and Education; and by Gods blessings upon his labours and en­deavours, His success. many were fitted for and sent to the Universities from his School. Ha­ving passed over some years in this imployment, he resolved ( [...]) to spend some time in one of the Universities himself; as apprehending that there, by conversing with Learned Men, by performing of Scholastical Exercises, and other advantages not elsewhere to be had, he might gain more profit than possibly he could by his pri­vate Studies in the Country.

Accordingly, in prosecution of his resolves, he went to Oxford, and was admitted into Brazen-Nose Colledge; and being settled there, he was variously affected: For Goes to Oxford. it much rejoyced him to find many there who had been his Quondam Scholars. It was also a joy to him, that he had now such leisure to follow his Studies; and by Disputations, Lectures, Conferences with learned Men, helps of Books, &c. He found marvellous advantages to obtain a rich Treasure of Knowledge: But his heart before this, being touched with the Fear of God, the superstition and prophaness which he was forced there to behold, was no small grief unto him.

Soon after his coming to Oxford, by a good providence, he came into acquaintance with learned Doctor Woral, who was very helpful to him by directing him in the course of his private Studies; and among other things, he advised him to read over the Works of the Learned Peter Ramus; which Counsel he followed, and saw no cause to repent of his so doing.

But having not spent so much time in Oxford as he could have wished that he might Called to Tox­teth Park. have done, the People in Toxteth, whose Children had been trained up by him, sent to him, desiring that he would return unto them, to instruct, not so much their Children as themselves, and that not in meer Humane Literature, but in the things of God: And this Call, after mature deliberation, he accepted of.

Being returned to Toxteth, he Preached his first Sermon, November 30. Anno Christi 1618. There was a very great concourse of People (the Word of God being precious His first Ser­mon. at that time in those Parts) to hear him, and his Labours were highly accepted of by those who were judicious. Such was the vastness of his Memory, as that the things which he had prepared and intended to deliver at that time, contained no less than six long Sermons. His memory.

The People having now had some taste and tryal of his Gifts, were the more im­portunate in their desires to have him continue and fix amongst them; and because that could not be without Ordination, they urged him to accept thereof; and he, having not at that time studied that part of Ceremonious Conformity, yielded unto the motion, and accordingly, he (together with many others on the same day) was ordained by Dr. Morton, the then Bishop of Chester, after the mode of those times. His Ordinati­on.

The Ordination being ended, the Bishop singled out Mr. Mather from among the rest, saying, I have something to say to you, between you and me alone. Mr. Mather was hereupon afraid, that some informations had been given in against him to the Bishop for his non-Conformity, and because of his Puritanism, thereby to prejudice him: But it fell out to be far otherwise; for when the Bishop had him alone, he spake Note. thus unto him: I have an earnest request unto you, and you must not deny me; it is, that you would pray for me: For I know (said he) the Prayers of Men that fear God will avail much; and such an one I believe you to be.

Being thus setled in his Ministry at Toxteth (where I was acquainted with him) he resolved to change his single condition, and accordingly he became a Suitor to Mrs. Katherine Hoult, the Daughter of Edward Hoult Esq; of Bury in Lancashire, she [Page 129] had (and that deservedly) the repute of a very godly and prudent Maid: But the motion for several years met with obstructions, by reason of her Father's being not affected towards Non-conformable Puritans (as in those days they were, by way of dis­grace, stiled) yet at last he gave his consent that Mr. Mather should marry his Daughter, His Mariage. and the Match was consummated, September 29th. Anno Christi 1624. And God made her to become a rich Blessing to him, continuing them together for above the space of thirty years.

By her, God gave him six Sons; four whereof, namely Samuel, Timothy, Natha­niel and Joseph, were born in Old England; and two, namely Eliazar and Increase in His Children. New. After his Marriage, he removed his Habitation three Miles from Toxteth to Much Woolton, having there purchased a House of his own; yet was he wont con­stantly, both Summer and Winter to preach the Word at Toxteth every Lords Day. Du­ring his abode there, he was abundant in his Labours in the Gospel of Christ; for His labors. every Lords-Day he preached twice at Toxteth; and once in a Fortnight, on the Tuesdays, he kept a Lecture at a Market Town called Prescot.

Also faithful and powerful Preaching being then somewhat rare in those Parts, he did frequently preach upon Holy-days (as they were called) being often thereunto His industry. desired by godly Christians of other Parishes in that Country; and this he did, not as thinking that there was any Holiness in those days, or in other days besides the Lords-Days, but because there would then be an opportunity of great Assemblies, and he judged it good to cast the Net where there were store of Fish. And probably for this cause it was that the Apostles of Christ preached mostly in populous Towns and Cities; as also upon the Jewish Sabbaths in their Synagogues, even after their Abrogation as to any Religious tye upon Conscience for their observation. Yea, and besides all this, he preached many Funeral Sermons.

'Tis true, Mr. Cartwright, Hildersam, and some other famous Non Conformists have scrupled the preaching of Funeral Sermons: Also in some Reformed Churches, that About funera [...] Sermons. practice is wholly omitted; yea, and Decrees of Councils have sometimes been made against it: But this hath been chiefly upon this account, because of the Custom of praising the Dead, and that many times beyond the truth, and their desert; which custom (as many Learned Men have observed) was Ethnical, having its rise from the Funeral Orations made at the Death of their great Persons. So Publicola made an excellent Oration in praise of Brutus, which the People were so taken with, that it became a custom that famous Men dying should be so praised: And when (as Plu­tarch in the Life of Cirmillus tells us) the Roman Ladies had readily and freely parted with their Gold-Chains and Jewels in a time of need for the publick Good; the Se­nate made a Decree, that it should be lawful to make Funeral Orations for them also. Hinc mortuus laudandi mos fluxit, quem nos hodie servanius, saith Polydor Virgil.

Nor indeed was this Rite practised in the Church afore the Apostasie began. See Magd. Cent. 4. Cha. 6. Wherefore this faithful Servant of the Lords avoided that practice, his Speech at Funerals being directed not to the praise of the Dead, but to the instruction of the Living; as concerning Death, the Resurrection, the Judgment to come, and such like profitable, seasonable and suitable truths. Thus did he preach the Word, being instant in season, out of season, reproving, rebuking, exhorting with all long suffering and Doctrine. In his publick Ministry in Old England he went over 2 Sam. Ch. 24. Psalm 4th. and Psalm 16. Proverbs Ch. 1. and Isa. Ch. 1. and Chap. 6. Luke 22, and 23 Chapters. Rom. Chap. 8. the Second Epistle to Timothy, the Second Epistle of St. John, and the Epistle of Jude.

After he had thus spent painfully and faithfully fifteen years in the Work of the Ministry; He that holds the Stars in his right Hand, had more work for him to do elsewhere, and therefore Satans rage must be suffered to break forth to the stopping of his Mouth. The Lecture which he kept at Prescot caused him to be much taken notice of, and so he became more, to the Adversaries of the Truth, an Object of Envy: Magnam Famam, & magnam quietem codem tempore nemo potest acquirere, saith Quint. Where complaints being made against him for his Non-conformity to the Ceremonies, he was suspended in August 1633. under which he continued till November following; Suspended and restored. But then, by means of the intercession of some Gentleman in Lancashire, and by the influence of one Simon Biby (who was neerly related to the Bishop) he was again re­stored to the exercises of his publick Ministry.

But this restored Liberty continued not long: For Anno Christi. 1634. Bishop Neal Again suspen­ded. (who was sometime by King James pleasantly admonished of his Preaching Popery, because by his carriage he taught the People to pray for a blessing upon his dead Predecessor) being now become Arch-Bishop of York, sent his Visitors into the Diocess of Chester; who being come into the Country, kept their Court at Wigan, where (among others) Mr. Mather was convented before them, and by them was suspended meerly for his Non-Conformity? And it was marvellous to consider how God was with him, causing a Spirit of Courage, and of Glory to rest upon him, and filling him with wisdom, when he stood before his Judges, who were not wil­ling that he should speak for himself, or to declare the Reasons which convinced his Conscience of the unlawfulness of that Conformity which they required: Concern­ing which himself wrote thus: In the passages of that day, I have this to observe, and to bless the Name of God for, that the terror of their threatning words, of their Pursevants, Gods mercy. &c. Did not so terrifie my mind, but that I could stand before them without being daunted in the least measure, but answered for my self such words of truth and Soberness as the Lord put into my Mouth, not being afraid of their faces at all, which supporting and comfor­ting presence of the Lord, I account not a much less mercy, then if I had been altogether delivered out of their hands.

Being thus silenced from publick Preaching the word, means was again used by Mr. Mathers Friends to obtain his Liberty. The Visitor asked how long he had been a Minister? Answer was made, that he had been in the Ministry fifteen years. And said the Visitor, How often hath he worn the Surplice? Answer was returned, that he had never worn it. What (said the Visitor, with an Oath) Preach fifteen years, and never were a Surplice? It had been better for him that he had gotten seven Bastards.

The Case being thus, he betook himself to a private Life: And no hope appearing that he should enjoy his Liberty in the Land of his Nativity; Foreseeing also the Sapiens Di­vinat. approaching Calamities of England, he meditated a Removal from thence into New-England. The principle Arguments whereby he was convinced that he had a Divine Call to engage in so great and hazardous a design, he drew up, and put them into form, which I shall not need to set down.

Being now fully satisfied concerning the clearness of his Call to New-England, He resolves for New-Eng­land. and his People at Toxteth, who did so dearly love his Person, and highly prize his Ministry, yet now thought that God called him to leave them; after many Pray­ers, and extraordinary seeking unto God he resolved, and engaged upon the Trans­portation of himself and family thither.

His parting with his People and Friends in Lancashire, was like Saint Pauls ta­king his leave of Ephesus, with much sorrow, many tears being shed by those that expected to see his face no more in this World. He began this Journy in April, Anno Christi. 1635. And Travelled to Bristow, purposing to take Shipping there: In this Journy he was forced (as sometime Brentius was) to change his outward Habit, that he might travel incognito, because Pursevants were designed to apprehend him; But by this means he came safe, and unmolested unto Bristow.

From Bristow they set sail for New-England, May the 23d. Anno Christi. 1635 And the Lord after manifold Tryals of their Faith and Patience, brought them in His Voyage. safety to their desired Haven. 'Tis seldom known, that a man designed in Gods E­ternal Counsel to any special services, doth not at one time or other experience emi­nent Deliverances of Gods Providence: And so it was with this Servant of the Lord not once, nor twice. Sundry eminent Salvations from deadly dangers did the Lord vouchsafe unto him in his Childhood, which he would speak of in his old age: But the most remarkable, and memorable of all others, was that which hap­pened to him on the mighty waters, where he that sits upon the flouds, and stilleth the raging of the Sea, when the waves thereof Rore, and whom the winds obey, shewed himself wonderful in Goodness. For when the Vessel that carried him was Providence extraordinary. upon the Coast of New-England, there arose a dreadful storm (called by the Marri­ners a Hurricane) by means whereof they were in no small danger: And had not the Lord strangely turned the wind in an instant, they had all perished upon the Rocks which were just before them, and within sight of them that were in the Ship. The Relation of this signal Providence, we will here set down in Mr. Mathers own words, left written by himself in his Jornal from Lancashire to New-England; where­in he thus writes.

August the 15th. Anno Christi. 1635. The Lord had not yet done with us, nor had he let us see all his power, and goodness, which he would have us to take notice of: And A Hurricane. therefore about break of day, he sent a most terrible storm of Rains and Easterly wind, whereby we were in as much danger, as (I think) ever people were. When we came to Land we found many mighty Trees rent in pieces in the midst of their bodies, and others turned up by the Roots by the fierceness of the Tempest. That Morning we lost three Anchors and Cables, one of them having never been in the water before. Two were broken by the strength and violence of the storm, and the third was cut off by the Marriners in extremity of distress, to save the Ship, and their own, and our lives. And when our Cables and Anchors were all lost and gone, we had no outward and visible means of deliverance, but by hoising Sail, if so be we might get to Sea from among the Islands, and Rocks where we had Anchored.

But the Lord let us see that our Sails could not save us neither, no more than the Ca­bles and Anchors: For by the force of the Wind and storm the Sails were rent assunder, and split in pieces as if they had been but rotten rags, so that of divers of them there was scarce left so much as an hands-breadth that was not torn in pieces or blown away into the Sea; so that at that time all hope that we should be saved, in regard of all outward appearance, was utterly taken away, and the rather because we seemed to drive with full force of wind, directly upon a mighty Rock standing out in sight above water, so that we did but conti­nually wait when we should hear and feel the doleful crashing of the Ship upon the Rock.

In this extremity, and appearance of death, as distress and distraction would suffer us, we cryed unto the Lord, and he was pleased to have compassion upon us. For, by his over­ruling Providence, and his own immediate good hand, he guided the Ship by, and past the Rock, asswaged the violence of the Sea and of the wind. It was a day much to be remem­bred, because on that day God granted us as wonderful and as signal a deliverance, as I think ever any People had felt: The Seamen confessed that they never knew the like. The Lord so imprint the memory of it in our hearts, that we may be the better for it, and be careful to please him, and to walk uprightly before him so long as we live: And I hope we shall not forget the Passages of that Morning, until our dying day. In all this grievous storm my fear was the less when I considered the clearness of my Calling from God this way. And in some measure (the Lords Holy Name be blessed for it) he gave us hearts con­tented and willing that he should do with us, and ours what he pleased, and what might be most for the Glory of his Great Name, and in this we rested our selves: but when News was brought into the Gun-room to us, that the danger was past: Oh how our Hearts did then Thankfulness. relent, and melt within us! We burst out into Tears of Joy amongst our selves in Love unto our Gracious God, and admiration of his kindness, in granting unto his poor Servants such an Extraordinary, even and Miraculous a deliverance. His Holy Name be blessed for ever.

Thus far is Mr. Mathers Relation of this signal Providence, as left written with his own hand. And this is the more to be taken notice of, because the lives of ma­ny choice Instruments of Gods Glory were then saved. For not only Mr. Mather himself, but two of his Sons, who afterwards were faithful Ministers of the Gospel, were in that Vessel: And so likwise was that worthy Minister of Christ (Mr. Jonathon Mitchel) the late faithful, and famous Pastor of the Church in Cambridge in New-England, he being then a Child of eleven years old. Also this deliverance was the more remarkable, in that several Vessels were cast away in that storm. As

A Ship called the Angel Gabriel, which set out from Bristow with the Vessel where­in Mr. Mather was, being then at Anchor at Pemequid, was broken in pieces; And the very same strange and sudden turn of the wind, which saved the Ship in which Mr. Mather was, ruined the other which came from Old-England at the same time with him. Also there was then a Ship going between Pascataqua, and the Bay, which was cast away in this storm, and all the People therein lost, except two who were spared to report the News. And among others in that Vessel which then peri­shed, there was a precious Minister of the Gospel, namely on Mr. Avery, who with his Wife, and five Children, all perished. This Minister every moment expecting that the next wave would be a wave of death, lifted up his eyes to Heaven and said, Lord I cannot Challenge a Promise of the preservation of my life, but according to thy Co­venant Providence special. I challenge Heaven. Which had no sooner spoken, but a wave came immediatly, and swept him away, and so wafted him to Heaven indeed. And by the way, let it be farther noted, that this was the only Vessel which at that time had miscarried with Passengers from Old-England to New: So signally did the Lord in his Provi­dence own the Plantation of New-England.

But to digress no farther; this storm being allayed, the Lord brought them safe to an Anchor before Boston, August 17th. Anno Christi, 1635. And Mr. Mather abode with his Family in Boston for some Months; And both he, and his gracious Consort joyned to the Church there.

Being thus by a mighty hand, and out-stretched arm brought safe into New-England, He is chosen to Dorchester. Motion from sundry Towns were soon presented to him, desiring that he would im­ploy the Talents which the Lord had enriched him with, for the work of the Ministry amongst them. At the same time he was desired at Plimouth, Dorchester, and Roxbury. But being in a great strait in his own mind which of these invitations to accept of, considering that in difficult Cases Counsel is an Ordinance of God, whereby he is want to discover his Will, he therefore referred himself to the advice of some Judi­cious friends, among whom Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Thomas Hooker, were the Chief, who accordingly met to consult of this weighty affair. And the result of their ad­vice was, that he should accept of the Motion from Dorchester. Which according­ly being accepted of by him, he did by the help of Christ, set upon the gathering of a Church there. The Church which was first planted in that place being removed with the Reverend Mr. Warham to Conecticot.

There was an essay towards gathering a Church April 1st. Anno Christi, 1636. But by reason of the Messengers of some Neighbouring Church, who were not satisfied concerning some that were intended for Members thereof, the work was deferred till August the 23d. when a Church was constituted in Dorchester, and Mr. Mather was chosen Teacher of that Church.

Being thus again setled in the Lords work, he therein continued to his dying day; the Lord making him an eminent blessing, not only unto Dorchester, but to all the Churches, and Plantations round about him, for the space of almost four and thirty years. Its a true observation which many from Luther have taken up, to wit, that three things make an able Divine; which are

First, Meditatio, Study. Such an one must give himself to Reading and Meditation. What makes an able Mini­ster. Secondly, Oratio, Prayer. A Man of God must be a Man of Prayer; ever anon upon his knees before God, and Bene orasse est bene studuisse: He that Prays well, studies well: Mr. Bradford, and Mr. Cartwright studied kneeling.

Thirdly, Tentatio, Temptation. As when our Lord Christ was to enter upon his Publick Ministry, he was grievously tempted by Satan: So it is wont to be with his Servants, and so it was with this good Man. The Lord having great services for him to do, he must undergo great Temptations, that he might be the better fitted for that work whereunto he was called.

Wherefore before, and for some years after his accepting the Office of a Pastor in Dorchester, he was in much Spiritual distress, by reason of uncertainty co [...]cerning his His Tempta­tions. own Spiritual Estate. He did (as in Wisdom he was bound to do) keep these troubles secret from Men, only he revealed the distress of his Soul to that Great Divine Mr. Norton, then Teacher to the Church in Ipswich, unto whom (under And Comfort. Christ) God gave the Tongue of the Learned to speak a word in season, whereby his Soul was comforted. The Lord giving him to see that he was walking towards Heaven in the same way that David, Asaph, Heman, and many other Worthies had gone before him.

During the time of his Pilgrimage in New-England he underwent not so many Changes, as before he had done. For he never removed his Habitation out of Dor­chester, albeit that he had once some serious thoughts that way. When Prelacy was voted down by our English Parliament, some of his old People at Toxteth, sent to him, desiring him to return to them. But Dorchester was in no wise willing to forego their interest in him; And therefore he left them not. Nevertheless in New-England (as in a Wilderness might be expected) he had experience of many Tryals of his Faith and patience. That which of all outward afflictions did most grieve him, His Wife dies. was the death of his dear Wife, who had been for so many years the greatest out­ward Comfort and Blessing which he did enjoy. Which affliction was the more grievous unto him, in that, She being a Woman of singular Prudence for the Manag­ment A good Wife. of his affairs, had taken off from her Husband all secular Cares, so that he had leisure and opportunity wholly to devote himself to his Studies, and Sacred employ­ments.

After he had continued in the State of Widdowhood for the space of an year and His second Marriage. [Page 133] a half, he again changed his condition, and was married to that pious Widdow, the Relict of that deservedly famous Man of God, Mr. John Cotton; and her did God make a blessing and comfort to him all the remainder of his days.

Old-Age being now come upon him, he was sensible of the infirmities thereof, being in these his latter years somewhat thick of hearing: Also (as it was with great Zanchy) the sight of one of his eyes failed seven years before his death; yet God gave His healthful­ness. him much health of Body, and vigor of Spirit in a wonderful measure, so as that in fifty years together he was not by sickness detained so much as one Lords-day from his publick labors; which continued health (as to natural causes) proceeded partly from the sound and strong constitution of his Body, and partly from his accustoming himself to a plain, wholesome, and temperate Diet: And Bona Diaeta est potior quovis Hippocrate: A good Diet is the best Doctor. He never made use of any Physitian, nor was he in his whole life ever sick of any acute disease; only the two last years of his life, he was sorely afflicted with that disease which some justly call Flagellum Stu­diosorum, the Scourge of Students; namely, the Stone, which at last brought him to an end of all his labors and sorrows.

Concerning the time and manner of his sickness and death; thus it was, there His sickness. being some difference sprung up in Boston, Counsel from Neighbour Churches was by some desired, to direct them in the Lord what should be done; and accordingly the Churches sent their Messengers; and Dorchester Church, amongst others, sent Mr. Mather their aged Teacher, who (with the rest) assembled in Boston, April the 13th Anno Christi, 1669. And Mr. Mather by reason of his Age, Gravity, Grace and Wis­dom, wherewith the Lord had endowed and adorned him, was chosen Moderator in that Reverend Assembly.

For divers days after his being thus in Consultation, he enjoyed his Health as for­merly, or rather better than for some time of late: But as Luther, when with others he was assembled in a Synod, was surprized with a violent fit of the Stone, whereupon he was forced to return home, his Friends having little hope of his life; So it was with this holy Man: For April the 16th. Anno Christi, 1669. He was in the Night, being then in his Sons house in Boston, taken exceeding ill with a total stoppage of his Urine: the next Morning therefore he returned home to Dorchester: And truly great was the favour of God towards him, that he should be found about such a blessed business as he was then engaged in; for the Lord found him sincerely and earnestly endeavouring to be a Peace-maker. His being thus taken when at a Synod, A Peace-ma­ker. brings to mind that of the German Phoenix [Philip Melancthon.]

Now, as usually Providence ordereth, that they who have been speaking all their Lives long, shall not say much when they come to dye: Blessed Mr. Thomas Hooker in his last sickness, when Friends would have been answered to some enquiries which might have made for their Edification after he was gone; he referred them wholly to the things which he had taught them in his health, because (as he said) he had then enough to do to graple with his bodily weakness, &c. Neither did this good man speak much in his last sickness, either to Friends that visited him, or to his own Children; only his own Son, who is now Teacher of a Church in Boston, coming to visit his Father, and perceiving the Symptoms of Death to be upon him, said unto him, Sir, if there be any special thing which you would recomend unto me to do, in case the Lord shall spare me upon Earth after you are in Heaven, I would intreat you express it: At which, his Father making a little pause, and lifting up his Eyes and Hands towards Heaven, replyed, A special thing which I would commend to you, is, Care concerning the rising Generation in this Country, that they be brought under the Government of Christ in his Church; and that when they are grown up and quallified, they have Baptism for their Children. I must confess I have been defective as to practice; yet His Advice to his Son. I have publickly declared my Judgment, and manifested my desires to practice that which I think ought to be attended, but the dissenting of some in our Church discouraged me: I have thought that persons might have right to Baptism, and yet not to the Lords Supper; and I see no cause to alter my judgment as to that perticular: And I still think that persons [Page 134] qualified according to the fifth Proposition of the late Synod Book, have right to Baptism for their Children.

His bodily pains continued upon him until April the 22d. when in the morning his Son aforementioned, coming to visit him, asked his Father if he knew him? To whom he replied, that he did, but was not able to speak any more to him: Whereupon his Son saying, now you will speedily be in the joy of your Lord: His Father lifted up his hands, but could not speak: Not long after, his Son again spoke to him, saying, you will quickly see Jesus Christ, and that will make a mends for all your pains and sorrows: At which words, his Father again lift up his hands; but after that he took no notice of any person or thing, but continuing speechless until about ten a clock that night, he quietly brethed forth his last. Thus did that Light His death. that had been shining in the Church above fifty years, expire, April the 22d. Anno Christi, 1669. And of his Age Seventy three.

As some of the Lords precious Ones have had a real apprehension, and fore-sight of their approaching dissolution imprinted upon their Spirits; So its noted of St. Am­brose, and of Gorgonia of Old; and of Gesner, Morney, Melancthon, &c. among Mo­dern Death fore­seen. Divines and Christians: Thus it was with this holy Man sometime before his Departure. The last Text which he preached upon, was that, The second Epistle to Timothy 4. 6, 7, 8. I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good Fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the Faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. And the Portion of Scripture, which before he had insisted upon, was Job 14. 14. All the days of mine appointed time will I wait till my Change come. And the Lord found this his blessed Servant so doing.

Also the last Conference-Meeting which he was at in Dorchester, he had prepared to speak something upon those words, 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know that if the Earthly House of this Tabernacle were Dissolved, we have a Building of God, an House, not made with Hands, Eternal in the Heavens, But his bodily pains prevented him from speak­ing what was in his Heart to have delivered; The Lord intending that he should no more speak of, but see that place which he had so much, and so oft thought on, and long prayed for, and which he longed to enjoy.

He was, especially in his last Sickness, a Patern of patience. For altho ex­tremity Death desired. of pain, without any acute disease, was that which brought him to his Grave, yet did he never so much as once cry out from first to last; And it was very rare to hear him so much as groan (but never to grumble) under his His patience. dolorous griefs. In his Sickness whereof he Dyed, he was much delighted in reading Dr Goodwins Discourse about patience; in which Book he [...]ad till the very Day of his Death.

Once in his Sickness, his Son saying to him; That in as much as several small Stones were come from him in his Urine, now possibly he might have some ease: His Father answered, with an affecting kind of earnestness: As for that matter, the will of the Lord be done; Such was his Grace and patience. And at the same time his Son saying to him; God hath shewed his great faithfullness unto you, having upheld you now for above the space of fifty years in his service; and hath implo­ed you therein without ceasing, which can be said of very few Men upon the face of the whole Earth: His Father replyed, You say true; I must acknowledge the Mercy of God hath been great towards me all my days; But I must also acknowledge that I have had many failings, and the thoughts of them abaseth me, and worketh patience in me. His humility. When any one asked him, how he did? his usual Answer was, Far from well, yet far better than mine iniquities deserve. Thus did he (like Old Augustine, who dyed reading the Penitential Psalms) keep up a Spirit of Repentance to the last.

As he was a Man faithful, and fearing God above many, so the Lord shewed great faithfulness unto him, both in making him serviceable unto the very last; yea, and continuing the vigor of his Spirits, and power of his Ministry until his end. Few Men tho young, are known to preach with such vigor as he did but ten days before his death. The Lord also was faithful and gracious to him in respect of his Chil­dren.

It was a special token of Divine Favour to some of the Ancients, that their Sons after them succeeded in the Ministry: So it was with the Fathers of Gregory Nazian­zen, [Page 135] Gregory Nysen, Basil, Hilary, &c. And the Lord cheered the heart of this his Servant in his Old Age, by giving him to see most of his Sons imployed in the Mi­nistry many years before the decease of their dear and precious Father: He left four Sons in the Work; One of them, to wit, Mr. Eliazer Mather, late Pastor of the His Children. Church of Northampton in New-England, went to his Rest about three Months after his Fathers Death, with him to sound forth the Praises of God among the Spirits of just Men made perfect. The other three surviving were Mr. Samuel Mather, Teacher of a Church in Dublin: Mr. Nathaniel Mather, Minister of Barnstable in the County of Devon, and afterwards in Rotterdam in Holland; and Increase Mather of Boston in New-England.

Mr. Richard Mather's way of preaching was plain, aiming to shoot his Arrows not over his Peoples Heads, but into their Hearts and Consciences; whence he studiously His manner of Preaching. avoided obscure Phrases, Exotick words, and unnecessary citation of Latin Sentences, which some men too much adict themselves unto. Holy Mr. Dod was wont to say, that so much Latin was so much flesh in a Sermon: So did this humble Man look upon the affectation of such things in a Popular Auditory to savour of Carnal Wisdom. And the Lord gave him an excellent faculty to mak [...] Abstruce things plain, that in handling the deepest Misteries he would accommodate himself to Vulgar Capacities, so that even the meanest might learn something. He knew how to express, [...]. He would often use that saying, Artis est celare artem: 'Tis a great piece of Art to conceal Art. And he much approved that of Saint Austin. If (said he) I Preach Learnedly, then only the Learned, and not the unlearned can understand and profit by me: But if I Preach plainly, then Learned, and unlearned both can understand, and so I may profit all.

He was mighty in the Scriptures; whence Holy Mr. Hooker would say of him, Mighty in the Scriptures. My Brother Mather is a Mighty Man. Also his usual way of delivery, was very powerful, awakning, and zealous; especially in his younger years, there being indeed few Men of so strong a Body as he, which, together with the Natural fervour of his Spirit, being sanctified, made his Ministry the more powerful: And the Lord blessed his Labours to the Conversion of many, both in Old, and New-England.

Tho his way of Preaching was plain and zealous, yet was it substantial, and very Judicious, even in his younger dayes, Mr. Gillibrand (A famous Minister of War­rington in Lancashire: And the more famous, for that, tho he did much stammer in his ordinary Discourse, yet would he pray and Preach very fluently) having once heard him Preach, asked what his Name was? And answer being made that his Name was Mather: Nay (said Mr. Gillibrand) call him Matter; For believe it, this Man hath substance in him. Yea, such was the sollidity of his Judgment, that some who were his opposites, did yet therefore respect, and honour him. Dr. Par (who was then Bishop in the Isle of Man) having heard that Mr. Mather was silenced, la­mented it, saying; If Mather be silenced I am sorry for it; for he is a solid Man, and the Church of Christ hath a great loss of him.

He was very diligent as to the duties both of his General, and perticular Calling, His diligence. which indeed are the two Pillars upon which Religion doth stand. As to his Ge­neral Calling: He was much in Prayer, especially in his study, where he oft-times Prayer fre­quent. spent whole days with God, in suing for a blessing upon himself, and his Chil­dren, and upon the People to whom he was related, and upon the whole Country where he lived. The requests which upon such occasions he put up to God in Jesus Christ, and also how his heart was moved to believe that God heard him, he left (many of them) in writing among his private papers; probably that so himself might have recourse to those experiences in the times of Darkness, and Temptations: As also that his Sons after him might see by their Fathers example, what it is to walk before God. It must needs therefore be a great loss to the world, when such Righteous Men are taken away. Well might Philo, Jerome, George Prince of Anhalt, &c. Weep bitterly when they heard of the death of any such men; because it portends evil to the places where they have lived, and served God. As he was much in Prayer, so he was frequent in hearing the word. For his manner was to frequent several Lectures in Neighbouring Congregations, untill his disease made him unable to Ride: Yea, and usually even to his old age (as it is Recorded of Mr. Hildersam) he took Notes from those whom he heard, professing that he found profit therein.

As to his perticular Calling, he was ever from his Youth a hard Student. Yea, Studious. [Page 136] his mind was so intent upon his Work and Studies, that in the very Morning be­fore he dyed, he importuned those Friends that watched with him to help him in­to his Study. And they urging that he was not able to go so far, he desired them to help him that he might try, which they did: But e're he was come to the Door of his Lodging-Room; I see (saith he) I am not able; Yet I have not been in my Study several dayes, and is it not a lamentable thing that I should lose so much time?

After his entrance upon his Ministry, he was not only in Old England (as hath His Industry. been said) but also in New-England abundant in Labours. For (except when he had an Assistant, which was seldom) he Preached twice every Lords-Day, and a Lecture once in a fortnight, besides many occasional Sermons, both in publick, and in private. Also he was much exercised in answering many Practical Cases of Con­science and in Polemical, especially Disciplinary Discourses. In his publick Ministry in Dorchester, he went over the book of Genesis to Chapter 38. As also Psalm the 16th. The whole Prophesie of Zechariah, Saint Matthews Gospel to Chapter the 15th. 1 Epistle to the Thessalonians, Chapter the 5th. And the whole second Epistle of Saint Peter.

And yet notwithstanding those rare gifts and graces wherewith the Lord had a­dorned His great Hu­mility. him, he was exceeding low and little in his own eyes. Some have thought that his greatest errour was, that he did not magnifie his office as he might, and some­times should have done. If a Man musterr, tis good erring on that hand. Humble enough and good enough was the frequent saying of a great Divine. And Dr. Harris used to say, that every Man hath just so much, and no more of true worth in him, as he hath of Humility. Saint Austin being asked which was the most Excellent Grace? Answered Humility: And which was the next? Answered, Humility: And which was the third? Replyed again, Humility. For this indeed is comprehensively All, being of great price in the sight of God: And if so, Mr. Mather was a Man of much real worth.

It hath been the manner of some, in writing Lives to insert the Wills of those whose Lives and deaths they have published. The last Will and Testament of him whose Life and Death is here related, breathing forth a most Humble, Holy, and Gracious Spirit, we shall here subjoyn the Preface and Conclusion of it. It was written with his own hand, October 16th. 1661. Thus

I Richard Mather, Considering the certainty of Death, and the uncertainty of the His Last Will. time thereof: And withal, knowing it to be the Will of God, that a Man should set his House in order before he departed this Life, do make this my Last Will, and Testament in manner following. First of all I acknowledge the rich and wonderful Grace and Mercy of Almighty God, whose Hands have made and fashioned me, and who took me out of my Mothers Womb, and hath made me a Man, who might have made me a Beast, or other Creature. He hath also by his good Providence preserv­ed the Being and Comfort of my Life all the dayes of my Pilgrimage until now, even for the space of sixty five years: During all which time he hath not suffered me to want either Food or Raiment, or the service of any Creature, which hath been re­quisite for my Comfortable subsisting in this world, which I acknowledge to be the bounteous gift of him who is Lord of all Creatures, and the high Possesser of Hea­ven and Earth.

Next of all, and more especially, I am bound to give thanks, and praise to him whilst that I have any Being, that I being a Child of Wrath by Nature as well as o­thers, and being born in a place of much Profaneness, and Popery, he hath of his a­bundant Grace vouchsafed to draw me out of that woful estate of Sin and Ignorance wherein I lay, and to make himself and his Christ known unto me by the Gospel, of which Grace I was most unworthy; and in his great patience and Mercy to bear with my manifold and great Offences, both before and since the time of his gracious Calling of me, tho for my unworthy walking in many perticulars, I might justly have been for ever rejected of him. Yea, and such hath been his rich Grace, that he hath vouchsafed to put me an unworthy Creature into the Ministry of the Gos­pel of his Son, that I should not only know and profess the same, (which yet is an unspeakable mercy) but be also a Preacher of it unto others. In which imploy­ment if any thing hath been done, which hath been pleasing to him, or any way beneficial to any Child of his, it hath not been I that have done the same, but the Grace of God which was with me.

For I must needs acknowledge, to the praise of his patience and Grace, that in my poor Ministration, for the space of these forty and two years and upwards, I have been much defective in Wisdom and watchfulness over the Peoples Souls, in purity, in faithfulness, in uprightness, in meekness, humility, and zeal: And because of these, and many other my defects, and offences against the Lord, I stand in much need this day of Mercy, and forgiveness through his Christ, and have no cause to look for any acceptance, either in this, or in another world, for any Righteousness of mine own, either as touching my Ministry or otherwise, but disclaiming all thoughts in that kind, mine only trust and hope is to be accepted of him, and (when this Life shall be ended) to be saved in his Heavenly Kingdom, meerly by his free Grace, and the Obedience, and precious passion and intercession of his dear Son.

And as concerning Death, as I do believe that it is appointed for all Men once to die: So, because I see a great deal of unprofitableness in mine own Life; and be­cause the Lord hath let me see such vanity, and cmptiness even in the best of those Comforts which this Life can afford, that I think I may truly say, that I have seen an end of all perfection: Therefore if it were the Will of God, I should be glad to be removed hence, where the best that is to be had doth yield such little satisfaction to my Soul, and to be brought into his presence in Glory, that there I might find (for there I know it is to be had) that satisfying, and Al-sufficient contentment in him, which under the Sun, is not to be enjoyed. In the mean time I desire to stay the Lords leisure. But thou O Lord, how long!

Now concerning mine outward Estate, sith the Earth is the Lords, and the fulness thereof, the Habitable World, and all that is therein; to him therefore belongs the praise of all that I possess in this kind: And for the Portion thereof which he hath given me, it is my mind and Will (if so be, it please his Highness) that after my Decease, the same may be disposed of as followeth, &c.

Having thus graciously expressed himself, he proceeded to the disposal of his Temporal Estate, which being of private Concernment, we shall not here trouble the world therewith. But, after the disposal of that, he concluded with a most solemn charge to his Children, with the Rehearsal whereof we shall finish this dis­course. It is this

Concerning my Son Timothy, with all the rest of my Beloved Sons, as I hope, God hath already made them pertakers, at least sundry of them, of his saving Grace in Christ, for which they, and I have cause endlesly to be thankful; so I think it not amiss, for the furtherance of their Spiritual good, to lay upon them this serious and solemn charge of a Dying Father, that none of them presume after my Decease, to walk in any way of sin and wickedness in one kind, or another, or in a careless neglect of God, and the things of God, and of their own Salvation by Christ. For if they shall so do (which God forbid) then, and in such a Case, I do hereby testifie unto them, that their Father which begat them, and their Mother which did bear them, with all the Prayers which they have made, and Tears which they have shed for them; their Example, their admonitions, and Exhortations which they have ad­ministred unto them, together with this my last Will, and solemn Charge; All these will rise up against them as so many Testimonies for their Condemnation at the last Day. But I have better hopes of them: And do hereby declare unto them, that if they shall seriously repent of their sins, believe in the Lord Jesus, and by his Grace, walk in all the wayes of God, and as becometh the Gospel of Christ, as this will be to the Honour, and Glory of him that made them, so it will redound to their own unspeakable Comfort, and benefit in this, and in another World: And their Fa­ther that now speaketh unto them, with their Dear Mother, now with God, shall exceedingly rejoyce in the day of Christ, when we shall receive our Children unto those everlasting Habitations: And shall see, not our selves alone, but those also who have proceeded, and come forth out of our own Bowels to have their part and Por­tion in that Eternal Glory. In desire and hope that it may be so, I Commend them all to the Lord of Heavens blessing: And let the Blessing of God in Jesus Christ be poured out, and remain upon them all for evermore, Amen.

The Life and Death of Mr. Joseph Allein, who Died Anno Christi, 1669.

JOseph Allein was born in the Devizes, in Wiltshire, Anno Christi 1633. In his His Birth. Childhood he shewed forth a singular sweetness of disposition, and a remarkable diligence in every thing he was imployed about. When he was about eleven years old he was noted to be very constant in private Prayer, and so serious and intent in it, that he would not be diverted, or taken off by the coming of any ac­cidentally His early seek­ing of God. into the places of his retirement. This and other fruits of a serious and gracious Spirit were the concurrent observation of those in the Family. From this time the whole course of his youth was an even-spun Thred of agedly conversation, which was rendred more amiable by his sweet an pleasant deportment towards all with whom he conversed.

About this time, his Brother, (Mr: Edward Allein) a worthy Minister of the Gos­pel, dyed. whereupon our Joseph earnestly desired that he might be trained up to succeed him in the Work of the Ministery; which request was readily hearkned unto by his Father, who accordingly set him to School; and such was his diligence and industry there, that the time alotted to recreation was by him spent at his Book; His diligence and industry. insomuch as in the space of about four years, he attained to such a measure of Know­ledge and Learning in the Latin and Greek Tongues, that he was judged by his Master to be fit for the University: After which, he abode for some time with his Father; and a worthy Minister of the Place read Logick to him.

When he was about sixteen years old he went to the University, and was placed in Lincoln Colledge in Oxford, where he had not been long, before a Wiltshire Place He goes to the University. becoming void in Corpus Christi Colledge, he was chosen Scholar of that house, his own merits and worth, not any sinister, or indirect means bringing him in.

Being thus setled there, he gave early and excellent proofs of his indefatigable­ness and industry in his Studies, accounting it his great happiness that he had His industry. gained this opportunity of improving his Learning: And truly he spared no labour day nor night; he thought all time too little, no pains too great which he imployed for that end; by his good will he would do nothing else but pray and study: If Friends came to visit him in studying times, (tho at other times he was very civil and sociable in his converse with them) tho they were sure to find him within, yet not sure that he would let them in. He could seldom be found in Bed after four a Clock in the Morning, no, tho sometimes he went not to Bed till about One; and when he had opportunities of procuring sleeping days for others, yet would he not indulge one to himself.

So covetous was he of time, that as he could scarce spare any for sleep, so neither for food: It was common with him to give away his Commons, at least once a day, Time precious. that he might gain the more time to his Study. When he had left the University and was married, an intimate Friend of his (who had thoughts of changing his condition) wrote to him for an account of the inconveniences of Marriage; to whom he merrily returned this Answer, Thou would'st know the inconveniences of a Wife, and I will tell thee some of them; Whereas now thou risest constantly about four a Clock in the Morning, a Wife will keep thee till about six; whereas thou usest to study about fourteen hours in a Day, she will bring thee to eight or nine; and whereas thou art wont to forbear one Meal a Day at least for thy Studies, she will bring thee to thy Meat; and if these be not mischiefs enow to affright thee from Marriage, I know not what will.

By this his diligence and sedulity in his studies, he came on (through Gods blessing) exceedingly in Learning, so that his profiting appeared unto all men. He would His proficiency. often say, that he cheifly affected Rational Learning, valuing Skill in the Languages only for the sake of Things, and those things most, which were of all most likely to improve his Judgment; and the truth of his words was sufficiently evident; for all that were acquainted with him knew him to be, as a good Linguist, so an acute [Page 139] Disputant, and an excellent Philosopher: When he performed any Academical Exer­cises, either in the Hall or in the Schools, he always came off with Applause, or at least with the Approbation of all but the Envious, who yet had nothing to say against him.

His pregnant Parts and early Accomplishments where so taken notice of, that no sooner was he a Batcheller of Arts, but he was even compell'd to become a Tutor, and presently was intrusted with as great a number of Pupils as any in the House: Some of his Scholars were Graduates in Divinity, and singular Ornaments to that Society, and profitable Instruments in the Church of Christ. During his abode there, a Chaplain's Place falling void, he chose that before a Fellowship, which, he knew, in a little time would fall unto him of Course; and this choice he never repented of; yea, he oft reflected upon it with a great deal of content and comfort; For he had always a very ardent affection for Prayer, insomuch as he and his Friend could hardly meet, but before they parted, at his request they must also pray together: What a pleasure than was it to him, twice a day to engage a whole Society in so dear and be­loved His love of Prayer. an Exercise: And well was it for the Colledge that he so esteemed it: Scarce was it possible that any could have performed that Office better than he did; He did not trouble them with a great deal of noise, vain Tautologies, crude Effusions, unin­telligible sense, or mysterious nonsense instead of Prayer: His Spirit was serious, his Gesture reverent, his Words few, but premeditated and well weighed, pithy, solid, and fully expressive of his truly humble and earnest desires: He hated the sauciness, which some call holy bouldness, and drew near to God, not as if he had been going to play with his Mate, but as became a Creature over-awed with the Majesty of his His manner of praying. great Creator: He prayed with the Spirit, and with the Understanding also: He con­fessed Sin with real grief, inward hatred and detestation of it: He craved mercies like one that felt the want and worth of what he begged, with faith, fervency and humble importunity; his affections working, but working rationally as well as strong­ly.

And this (as doubtlesly it prevailed above) so on the Hearers it had the more power­ful insluence, because they found it to be no meer Religious fit but exactly agreeable to His Devotion. the habitual frame and disposition of the Speaker. There are too many, who whilst praying and preaching appear very demure, and mighty devout; but take them out of the Pulpit, and they are as light, vain and frothy as any others; But it was far otherwise with Mr. Allein; he was always composed, serious and grave, above his Age; he set God always before him, and where ever he was, he still laboured to walk as in his presence: It was his care to make Religion his business, and his great endea­vours to walk by Rule: His main design in all his ways, was to approve himself to his Heavenly Father which saw all in secret; and his Exercise was, to keep a Conscience void of offence, both towards God and towards Man.

As for the pleasures and delights of Sin, he utterly abhorred them: yea, was so much Sin abhorred. above them, that he could not endure them. How sweet was it to him (as Saint Austin said) istis suavitatibus carere, To want those sweets? And as for lawful delights and pleasures, tho somtimes he entertained himself with them, yet was his Heart little taken with them. His conversation being in Heaven his sweetest Comforts, and most Divine refresh­ments were holy and heavenly: His Soul took many a delightful prospect of Eternity, and hugged herself in a comfortable perswasion, that ere long she should enjoy those glorious Mansions; and this made him little to mind earthly Glory, or the poor emp­ty delights of Sense.

He was of a very sweet disposition, and of as highly civil a Conversation, as a His Assability. Man subject to the common frailties of humane Nature could be: He had scarce a Gesture which did not seem to speak, and by a powerful and charming Rhetorick, affect all whom he conversed with: Besides other moral perfections that he was en­dowed with, it might be truly said (as the Historian said of the Emperor for his Clemency) that he was Totus ex Commitate, made up, as it were, of nothing else but courtesie and affability.

He was a true and faithful Friend to those who had interest in him, and withal, as pleasant as a serious Christian could well wish: He was not rash in choosing, but A true Friend having chosen he loved intirely. There was no more but one only thing which he thought too much for any, for whom he thought not his Love too good; He could not sin (knowingly and willingly) for any Friend he had on Earth: He was a Friend [Page 140] Ʋsque ad aris; So far as lawfully, and Conscientiously he might do any thing, he stuck at nothing, wherein he might serve or gratifie those whom he loved.

Yet whilst to his Friends he shewed himself Friendly, good Nature as well as His Charity. Christianity, obliged him to be kind to all, and (according to his ability) to the poor, bountiful. He was too frugal to misplace his Charity, yet not so Covetous as to withold it when he met with fit objects. He did not think the little he had so much his own, as that his necessitous Brethren might not claim a part in it, and there­fore he gave to them as if he had been paying a debt, and not bestowing an Almes. But above all, his Love and Affection to the Souls of others was most admirable, Charity to Souls. to whom he desired and endeavoured to do all the good possible, insomuch as some there were, and are, who do verily think that they should never have found the way to Eternal Life, if he had lived to himself, and not for the good of others. His Cha­rity to the poor Prisoners in Oxford Gaol was very eminent, amongst whom (as Holy Mr. Perkins did at Cambridge) of his own accord, he began to Preach, and held on constantly (whilst he remained in the Town) once a fortnight, for above the space of twelve Months; encouraging them to give attendance upon his Mi­nistry, by a considerable allowance of Bread, (that week he Preached) at his own cost and charges. He used also at other times, frequently to visit others, who in the world were but mean and low: His main design (together with the Relieving of their Temporal wants) being to assist their Souls in the way to Heaven. Indeed in all his converses, where ever he came, he was like fire, warming, refreshing, and His Commu­nicativeness. quickening all that were about him; kindling in them the like zeal for God and goodness, which he had in himself: None there were that came to visit, or to be acquainted with him, but (if the fault were not in themselves,) they might get much good by him; yea, so much as to be for ever the better for him. It was hardly possible to be in his Company, and not to hear such things from him, as (if well weighed) might have been enough to make one out of conceit with sin, and in love with virtue so long as one lived. He thought that day wholly lost wherein none had got some good by him. He lived as if he had been quickened with that saying of Tertullian, Quid prodest esse, quod esse non prodest? To what pur­pose is it to Live, and not to live to some good purpose? His ardent Love to Souls hastened his remove into the Country, where he might have opportunities of doing much good.

Mr. Richard Allen, a near Relation of his, gives this Character of him.

As a Man (saith he) he was of quick natural parts, and of great acquired abili­ties. His Character. Of a grave, composed, and serious temper and behaviour: Not Morose, but full of Candour, Free, Affable, Chearful, and Courteous.

As a Christian, he was in Holiness, Heavenly-mindedness, and Exemplariness of Life, much clevated above the ordinary sort of Christians. He had much delight­full Communion with God, his Soul was much exercised in Divine Contempla­tion: And to provoke others to the like exercise, he would often speak what inef­fable sweetness and satisfaction his Soul had found in his stated Meditations upon the Divine Attributes distinctly, one by one. In Prayer he was not ordinarily so much in Confessing of sin, and complaining of Corruption and Infirmities (tho he expres­sed a due sense of these) as in admiring and praising God in his infinite Glorious per­fections, and in the mention of his wonderful works, perticularly of those wonders of his Love revealed in Jesus Christ.

His whole Life also was beautified and adorned with the admirable Lustre of his perticular, Personal Graces. As

First, He was made up of Love. His sweet, amiable, and courteous carriage was such as made him the delight of his acquaintance, and it made way for the entertain­ment, His Love. both of his serious Counsels, and severe reproofs. His compassion to those in distress: His bounty to those in want, His forbearance in case of offences: His af­fectionate Language, and deportment: His readiness to all obliging Offices of Love to all sorts with whom he conversed, did evidently shew how he loved them. Especially his Love was more fully let forth to the Congregation where he exerci­sed his Ministry. His ardent Longings after their Souls: His rejoycings in the Pros­perity of their Souls: His bleedings, and heart-breakings for their falls and in­firmities: His uncessant Labours among them, both publickly, and from House to House: His frequent and affectionate Letters to them when he was absent: His [Page 141] earnest desire to Live, to die, and to be buried among them, do all shew what a great room they had in his heart.

Secondly, He was a Man of Courage: He feared no danger in the way of his His courage. Duty, knowing that he that walks uprightly, walks surely. In doubtful Cases he was inquisitive; but when once resolved, he was fearless. He feared not the faces of Men, but where just occasion was, he would boldly admonish, and faithfully re­prove what he saw amiss, which ungrateful duty he managed with so much pru­dence, and with such expressions of Love and Compassion to their Souls, as made His prudence. way into their hearts, and made his work the more successful.

Thirdly, He was a Son of Peace: A zealous peace-maker among Bretheren in case of dissention: And of sober and peaceful principles: Of a healing Spirit as to His peaceable­ness. factions upon the account of Religion. He had a Reverend esteem of Magistrates, abhorring all provoking and insolent Expressions, or Mutinous actions against them.

Fourthly, He was a great lover of Truth and Righteousness in his own practice, His righteous­ness. and a great presser of them upon others, especially upon Professors of Religion; whom he exhorted to be just in their dealings, and true in their words: Wary in promising, and punctual in performing. Oft did he bewall and sharply reprove promise breaking, and deceitful dealing.

Fifthly, His patience was very Exemplary. Not only in his sufferings from Men; His patience. But in the time of his long and great weakness and Languishing distempers, which lay upon him for some years, yet all that while he had a constant calmness and serenity of Spirit, and was so far from murmuring, or discontent, that he was still blessing God for dealing so gently, and tenderly with him.

Sixthly, He was eminent in Liberality: He not only did, but devised Liberal His liberality. things. He studied, and considered how he might both give himself, and how he might procure others to give relief to those that were in want. He dayly gave much Almes, both in the place where he lived, and where ever he came. When Collections were made for Pious, or Charitable uses, he stirred up others, both by his Exhortations and Example; and sometimes made addition in secret to what he had given publickly. He was very bountiful to many of his Relations who were fallen into decay: Yet his means was not above eighty pounds a year: Only his Wife, for divers years kept a Boarding School, which did considerably enlarge his Estate. He took great pains in Riding abroad to Gentlemen, and other rich Men to procure a standing maintenance for Non-Conforming Ministers that were in want.

Seventhly, He was of an active Spirit: He went about doing good; and as he His activity. was incessant in his Labours in the Congregation where he lived, so where ever he came he would be scattering some good seed, not only among those of riper years, but among the Children where he came, asking them Questions; giving them Counsel, which sometimes he left in writing among them. Especially in his own Family, among his Wives Boarders, he so deported himself that in many of them he begat the awe and Love as of Children to their Fathers.

Whilst he lay sick at the Bath he sent for many poor persons, both Aged, and Children, and gave them Catechisms, engaging them to learn, and to give him an account of their proficiency therein, and they came chearfully and willingly to him, being encouraged thereunto by his Familiar and winning carriage, his giving them Mony, and by feeding and feasting them.

Eighthly, He was very Humble. Tho God had highly exalted him in the hearts His humility. and Judgments of others, yet was he low in his own eyes, and despised the praise of Men. His whole deportment favoured of Humility, and he was of a great Con­descention to the weekest and meanest,

As a Minister, besides his Labors in that great Congregation where the Lord had His great la­bors. placed him, the care of many other Churches lay dayly upon him. He went abroad frequently into other Parishes about the Country, amongst poor ignorant People that lived in dark Corners, having none to take care of their Souls, preached to them himself, and stirred up many of his Brethren to do the like, whose forward minds readily joyned with him in setting up Lectures in several places. He had an Eye to the poor Welch, and had an influence upon sending some Ministers among them, Intending also to have spent some time among them himself, and was hardly with­held [Page 142] from it by all the perswasions of his friends, who told him his inability to Travel by reason of the great weakness that he lay under.

The reading of this did so inflame the zeal of my Reverend Brother Mr. Thomas Gouge (as himself told me) that he was restless in his Spirit, till (having setled his affairs about London) he had liberty, and opportunity to prosecute this design: Since which time he hath made many Journies both into South and North Wales, where he hath done much good, and by the help of divers of his Reverend Brethren in the Ministry, and many others, hath placed out many Hundreds of poor Children to School to learn English, hath given them Catechisms, and other good Books: Be­sides Bibles and New-Testaments in Welch, and hath procured the Printing of Welch Bibles (whereof there were very few to be had,) of the Practice of Piety, &c. To be distributed among them, as is well known to many who have put to their helping hands to promote so excellent, and worthy a work:

See what Testimony Mr. George Newton, the Reverend Pastor of Tawnton, gives of Mr. Newtons Testimony of him. Mr. Jos. Allein, whose assistant he was. Mr. Joseph Allein (saith he) came to my assistance, Anno Christi, 1655. being then about one and twenty years old, and we continued together, till the Black day came. He was a young Man of singular-accomplishments, both natural and acquired. His intellectuals solid, his memory strong, his affections lively, his learning much beyond the ordinary size: And a­bove all, his holiness was eminent; his conversation exemplary; and in brief, he had a good head and a better heart.

Much of his time he spent in private converses with God and his own Soul: His secret duties. He much delighted to perform secret Devotions in the sight of Heaven, and in the open air, when his opportunities served. Many dayes he kept alone, and then (by his good will) he would betake himself to a solitary House, probably, that he might freely use his voice as his affections led him to, (which he could not have done where there were Inhabitants) and that he might converse with God without avocation and distraction.

His society with others was alwayes mingled with holy and heavenly discourses. His reproofs. He took all opportunities to instruct, exhort, and reprove, which he never failed to do (when he judged it necessary) whatever the event might prove. And tru­ly his reproofs were accompained with such humility tenderness, Self-Condemna­tion, and compassion, that they seldom, if ever did miscarry.

In the Houses where he sojourned his Lips fed many, God freely poured grace in­to His usefulness where ever he came. his lips, and he freely poured it out to others. None could live quietly in any open sin under his inspection. When he came to abide in any House, he brought Salvation with him, and when he departed, he left Salvation behind him. When he was transplanting himself from one Family to an other, (as his occasions some­times required) he would call all the People, one by one into his Chamber, from whence (it was observed) that scarce any one returned with dry eyes.

In the duties of the first Table he was very exemplary, and near to rigour. His He respected all Gods Com­mandments. Righteousness exceeded even tha [...] of the Pharisees: Yet also was he as exact in the duties of the second Table: A Man of morals; Never spotted with any unjust, or uncharitable act. The failing of many Professors in this kind, drew from him many Prayers, Tears, Complaints, and Lamentation.

He had an eminent free and bountiful heart, to his power, yea, and beyond his power, as is before expressed. He did good to all; especially to the Houshold of His bounty. Faith: He was full of holy projects, for the advancement of both Spiritual and Tem­poral good of others, which he so vigorously and prudently prosecuted, that they seldom miscarried.

He was a Man of extraordinary condescention to the Infirmities of weaker Brethren, His humility. and used to deal with them in so humble, loving and sweet a way, as considering him­self, lest he also might be tempted. In their Confessed failings he was not Supercilious and censorious, but laboured to restore them with the Spirit of meekness. He believed and hoped all things that were to be believed and hoped: And when he deeply con­demned the action, he would not Judge of the Estates of the Person. And tho he was sufficiently mild in his Judgment of others, yet was he severe enough in his Judgment of himself.

In matters doubtful and disputable, he was not peremptory: He laid not more His holy pru­dence. weight and stress upon Notions, and Opinions in Religion than belonged to them: [Page 143] He was not like many who are over-confident in their determinations, that they will hardly hold Communion, nay, scarce so much as a pleasing Conversation, with any Man (how gracious soever) who cannot think, and speak, and act as they do in every thing. He would freely and familiarly converse with those, who were sound in the Faith (as to the Fundamentals of Religion,) and Holy in their lives, of all perswasions.

His Ministerial imployments were more facile to him than to many others, being His Ministerial abilities. of a quick conceit, of a ready, strong and faithful memory; of a free, and nervous expression; and (above all) having a holy heart that was alwayes boiling up with good Matter. He was apt to Preach and Pray, and ready on all occasions to lay out himself in such work; tho his warning sometimes was very short, he confidently cast himself upon the Lords assistance, who had never failed him, and so went free­ly about his work without distractions.

He began upon a very considerable stock of Learning, having gifts both Mini­sterial His learning and improve­ment. and personal, much beyond the proportion of his years, and grew exceed­ingly in his abilities and graces in a little time, so that his profiting appeared unto all Men; and he waxed very rich in Heavenly Treasure, by Gods blessing on a diligent hand, so that he was behind in no good gift. God blessed him with all Spi­ritual blessings in Heavenly things, and he returned all to Heaven again. He ser­ved God with all his might, and with all his strength. He was abundant in the work of the Lord: He did not go but run the wayes of Gods Commandments. He did run, and was not weary; He did walk and was not faint. He pressed hard to­wards the mark till he attained it. His race was swift and short, and his end glorious.

He was insatiably greedy of the Conversion of Souls, wherein he had no small His zeal. success in the course of his Ministry: And to promote this end he poured out his very heart in Prayer and Preaching. He imparted, not the Gospel only, but his own Soul to his hearers. His Supplications and Exhortations were many times so affecti­onate, so full of holy zeal, and Life, that they quite overcame his Auditors. He so melted over them, that he thawed, mollified, and sometimes dissolved the har­dest hearts. But while he melted others he wasted, and at last consumed himself.

He was not satisfied with these his publick employments, but constantly went from House to House, and there perticularly (where he had a free Reception) dealt He went from house to house. both with Governours, Children and Servants, instructing them especially in the great fundamentals, both of the Law and Gospel, whom he found to be ignorant: Gently reproving where he found any thing amiss: Exhorting them to diligence, both in their general and perticular Callings. And where he found any defective in it, he earnestly intreated them to set up the Worship of God in their Families, and to make them little Churches by their constant reading of the Word of God, that so the Word of Christ might dwell Richly in them; as also by a careful Cate­chising both of Children, and Servants, and (according to the Governors abili­ties) that they should, by conference, Repetition of Sermons, and especially by Mor­ning and Evening Prayer, avoid that dreadful indignation which hangs over the heads of those families which call not upon the Name of Lord. He inspected, so far as he could, into the state of every perticular person, and accordingly Re­proved, The benefit of it. comforted, and encouraged as he found occasion: Yet all, with so much tenderness, humility and self denial that he gained much upon the affections of all that entertained him, and wrought them at least to an outward Conformity; insomuch as such as were not visited at the first, at length came forth and called upon him to come and help them also.

Thus did he wear out himself to give light and heat unto others. He allowed himself too little sleep to Recruit those Spirits which he had wasted with labor His early rising. and wakening. He rose constantly at four a clock in the Morning at farthest, and that in the cold winter time, that having had Communion with God he might be the earlier at his other studies and imployments.

He was a very grave, strict, serious Composed young Man, yet not rigid in his principles. His Moderation was known to all that knew him. He held that Separa­tion His moderati­on. in a Church was many times necessary, from the known corruptions of it: But allowed not separation from a Church, where active compliance with some sinful evil, was not made the condition of Communion.

When he Catechised the greater sort in publick, he began with Prayer for a His Catechi­sing. blessing upon that duty. Then having propounded some Questions out of the Assemblies Catechism, his care was, not only to make them perfect in rehearsing the Answers there set down, but also to bring them to a clear understanding of the sence and meaning of the said Answers, and of all the Terms and Phrases in which they were expressed: And to draw some practical inferences from the same. He farther instructed them, by proposing several other Collateral Questions. besides those in the Catechism, which himself had before drawn up, and sent them in writing.

In the Evening of each Lords day, he used to repeat his Sermon in the Church to which very many people resorted, and when he had done, some Youths were His Repetiti­ons. called forth who gave him an account of all the Heads of his Sermon by their Memories.

When he went from House to House, he used to give them notice the day before: Desiring that he might have admitance, and that they would have their whole Family together against he came: Which being done, he used to instruct the young­er His private instructions. sort in the principles of Religion, by asking Questions out of the Catechism, the answers whereunto he used to open, and explain. He used also to enquire of them about their Spiritual Estate, laboring to make them sensible of the evil and danger of sin. Of the Corruption and depravation of our Natures, the misery of an Unconverted state; provoking them to look after the true Remedy propo­sed in the Gospel, to turn from all their sins unto God, to close with Christ up­on his own terms, to follow after holiness, to watch over their hearts and lives, to mortifie their Lusts, to redeem their time, and to prepare for Eter­nity. These things he explained to their understandings, and pressed upon their Consciences with the most cogent Arguments and Considerations he possibly could; Shewing what great priviledges they did injoy, the many Gospel Sermons they did or might hear, the many Talents they were entrusted withal; and the great account they were to give unto God of the same, &c. Besides, he left with them several Counsels and Directions to be carefully remembred and practised for the good of their Souls.

Such as were serious and Religious he used to help forward in Holiness, by an­swering His prudence. their doubts, resolving their cases, and encouraging them against their difficulties and discouragments: And before he left them he used to deal with the Governors, and with such as were grown up to years of discretion singly and a part, that so, (as much as possibly he could) he might know the condition of each perticular person, and the better apply himself to each of them. If he found them to neglect Family duties, he used to press them to set them up, by reading the word of God and Prayer, giving them directions therein, and exhorting them to the practice of secret Duties. He also perswaded Mistresses of Families to give their Children and Servants time for such secret duties, and to encourage them therein: And sometimes himself would pray with them before his departure. If the Family where he came was ignorant, he would insist the longer in instructing, and Catechising: If loose, in reproving and convincing; if Godly in encouraging and directing.

He used to spend five afternoons every weak in these exercises, from one or two His great suc­cess. a clock till seven: In which space he used to visit thr [...] or four Families, some­times more as they were Greater or less. Thus he went through the whole Town, and then presently began again: And he did often bless God for the great success that he found in these Exercises; saying, that God made him hereby as instrumen­tal to the good of Souls as by his publick Ministry.

He was a faithful Reprover of the miscarriages of Professors, whether high or His reproof. low, Ministers or private Christians; Yea, tho they were never so dear unto him, or never so obliging in their carriage towards him, whatsoever the issue and event might prove. Tho he was but a young Man, yet was his deportment very seri­ous and grave. He was Humble, Courteous, and Affable, Condescending to dis­course with the Poorest and meanest for their Spiritual good, as soon as with the highest and richest. He was full of Holy projects by what wayes and means he might most effectually promote the Honour of Christ, and the Salvation of Souls, and what he judged to be conducing to these ends, he prosecuted with the [Page 145] Wisdom and vigour, that he seldom failed to accomplish it.

He considering how much the Conscientious and frequent performance of the About selfe examination. duty of Self-examination might tend to the weakning of sin, and to the furthe­rance of Holiness both in Heart and Life, he earnestly pressed this practice in his publick Ministry; directing his hearers for the performance of it: He dealt also with them in private about it, and drew a promise from most of them, that they would every night, before they went to sleep, spend some time in secret, to call them­selves to an account how they had spent that day, by proposing several Questions to their own hearts, which he had drawn up in writing, and Communicated unto them under several Heads; and many confessed that this practice had been very ad­vantagious unto them in their Christian walk.

Before the Act of Uniformity came forth, he was very earnest with God day and night, to make his way plain unto him, that he might not be deprived of his pre­sent advantages of saving Souls, with any scruple upon his Conscience: But when His Non-Con­formity. he saw those Clauses of Assent and Consent, and renouncing the Covenant, he was fully satisfied against it; whereas before he was so doubtful that his intimate friends thought that he would have conformed, saying that he would not leave his Mini­stry for small and dubious matters: Yet tho he must quit his Station, he judged that the Ejection of the Ministers out of their places did not disoblige them from Preaching to their people, nor the people from attending upon their Ministry: And tho upon that Black and Dismal Sabbath, he took his leave of his beloved People; yet he firmly resolved to go on with his work of Preaching in private, and Visiting from House to House, till he should be sent to Prison, or into Banishment. And accordingly he prosecuted this resolution, appointing the Thursday following to be a day of Humiliation, where he Preached in his own House to as many as durst ad­venture to hear him; but there was not such an appearance as he expected: Where­upon he applyed himself to those who were most timerous, labouring to give sa­tisfaction to their scruples, and it pleased God, in a short time to give him such good success, that his own people waxed bold, and Multitudes resorting to his Meetings, whether they were by day or night, which so encouraged him that he went on vigorously in Preaching, Visiting, and Catechising from house to house.

He went also frequently into the Villages, and places about the Town, whence most of their Ministers were fled, or at least, desisted for some considerable time; His indesatiag­bleness. and where ever he came, the Lord was pleased to give him great success: Many were Converted, and the generality encouraged to cleave close unto the Lord.

This much heigthened the rage of some Neighbour Justices, who much threat­ned His Enemies. and oft sought for him: But it pleased God that he was preserved out of their hands longer than he expected. His usual saying was, that if it pleased the Lord to grant him but three Months Liberty before he went to Prison, he should account it a great favour, and should more willingly submit to it when he had done some work. Then did he sell off his Goods the better to prepare for a Gaol or Banishment, only he was desirous that his Wife should accompany him, which also was her great desire, it being more grievous to her to think of being absent from him, than to suffer with him.

The Lord was pleased so far to indulge him, that he went on in this course from Bartholomew day, til May the 26th. following, tho he was often threatened, yet was he never interrupted, tho many, both of Town and Country came flocking to his His frequent Preaching. Meetings at what time soever they were held. He seldom missed of Preaching twice a Sabbath, and often in the week. Sometimes he Preached fourteen times in eight days: Often ten, and ordinarily six or seven, either at home or abroad, during all this time, besides his frequent discoursings with such as resorted to him: And for the better enabling him hereunto, he laid aside all his other Studies, expecting that his time and liberty would be but short. And truly the Lord did more than or­dinarily assist him, as himself took notice, as well as all that heard him and con­versed with him.

Upon a Saturday in the Evening, about six a clock, he was seized upon by an Officer of Taunton, who professed that he had rather have been otherwise employed, but that he was urged to a speedy Execution of the Warrant, by one who was sent on purpose to see it Executed, because they feared that none in the Town would do it.

The Warrant was signed by three Justices, who required his present appearance His apprehen­sion. at one of their Houses, about two Miles off from Taunton. He desired liberty to stay and Sup with his Family, expecting but hard entertainment whether he was going; yet this small courtesie was denyed him, till one of the Chief in the Town was bound for his speedy Appearance: At Supper he fed heartily, and was very chearful, yet full of holy and gracious discourses, suitable to the time and Company that were with him. After supper, having prayed with his Fa­mily and Friends present, himself with the Officer, and two or three friends that accompanied him, went to the appointed place, where they charged him with break­ing the Act of Ʋniformity by his frequent Preaching since it took place: This he de­nyed, saying, that he had neither Preached in Church, Chappel, nor in any other place of publick Worship, since that time, and that what he did was in his own Fa­mily, and with such friends as came to hear him.

Then they charged him for being at a Riotous Assembly: He answered, that at their Meetings were used no Threats, no dangerous Words, no Staves, or Weap­ons, neither were any put into fear, their only employment being Prayer and He is abused. Preaching. Here they much abused him with Scoffs and Scorns, the very Justices themselves with their Ladies, and such others as came to hear his Examination. One of them called him Rogue, and said that he deserved to be hanged, and that if he were not hanged, he would be hanged for him; and many other scurrilous expressions they used, which would but defile the paper if they were set down. They urged him much to be his Self-Accuser, but could not draw him to it, not­withstanding which, they made a Mittimus to send him to the Gaol upon Munday Morning after they had detained him with them till twelve a Clock in the night. Commited.

When he came home, which was about two a clock in the Morning, he lay down on his Bed about two or three hours, and then arising, he retired himself with God till about eight a clock: At which time several Friends were come to visit him, to whom he would have Preached, but that he was not suffered by the Officer, who had a strict charge to the contrary: Yet he spent the day in discoursing with the several Companies of his Friends, who out of the Town and Country came to Visit him; and as he could be permitted, he prayed oft with them. All this while he was very chearful in Spirit, admiring Gods Mercies to him, and encouraging all that came to see him to be bold and resolute in the cause of God and his Gospel, and for their Souls, and not to be discouraged for what befel him for their sakes. As for himself, he said, that he was nothing at all moved for it, nor did in the least, repent of any thing that he had done, but accounted himself happy, and under that promise which Christ makes to his Mat. 5. 10. &c. That he should be doubly and trebly happy, now that he was to suffer for his sake. He was also earnest with his Brethren in the Ministry that came to see him, that they should not at all desist from their Labours when he was gone, and that there might not be one Sermon the less in Taunton for his absence. He exhorted also the people, that they should at­tend upon the Ministry with greater ardency, dilligence, and courage than before, assuring them how sweet and comfortable it was to him to consider how much he His courage. had done for God in those last Months: Adding that he was going to Prison full of Joy, being confident that all these things would turn to the furtherance of the Gospel, and the glory of God.

Mr. Allein was not satisfied to go away till he had left some Exhortations with his people, and therefore requested them to come to him about one or two a clock in the night, and notwithstanding the unseasonableness of the time, many Hundreds of old and young repaired to him with whom he spent about three hours in Prayer and Preaching. And so with many yearnings of Bowels they took their leaves each of other, wherein a more affectionate parting could scarce be seen.

On Munday Morning about nine a clock, he with two or three friends that de­sired He goes to Prison. to accompany him, went for Ilchester. As he went, the Streets of Taunton were beset on both sides with people, and many followed him on foot, some Miles out of the Town with great Lamentations, which he could scarce bear: Yet the Lord so strengthened him that he went through them all with great courage and Joy, endeavouring both by his words and countenance to encourage and chear them up.

He carried his Mittimus himself having no Officer with him, and when he came Himself carri­ed his Mitti­mus. thither the Jaylor was not at home, which opportunity he took to Preach before [Page 147] he went into Prison, which his Adversaries accounted a great addition to his former Crimes. The Jaylor being come home, he gave him his Mittimus, and was by him put into the Bridewel-Chamber, where he found Mr. John Norman, late of Bridgwater, His Prison fellows. Committed a few days before him for the same cause: A Man he was of singular abilities, fervent in zeal and holy boldness for the cause of Christ: Constant to his principles in the most wavering times, and one, who for his Godly and Exemplary Conversation, was much esteemed among the people of God; and few that knew him, either of the sober Gentry or Commonalty, but for his choice parts, and spot­less life had great respects for him.

There were also five more Ministers, and fifty Quakers, which had all their Lodg­ings in the same room, parted only with a Mat, which they had hung up for a little more retirement. Soon after Mr. Coven, Mr. Powel, and eight more were brought into the same place, being taken at Meetings. This added to the straitness of their room, and it was so nigh to the top of the Prison, that as they lay in their Beds they could touch the Tiles with their hands, which made it very irksome, the Sun lying upon the House all the day: Being so many of them together, besides the re­sort of many friends to them, they much wanted fresh air, till they had taken down His convenient Lodging. the glass and some of the Tiles, for their better refreshment. In this Room they were forced to lie, and to eat their food, having no other place to retire into but a little Garden, adjoyning to the place were all the Common Prisoners were. In their Chamber they were molested with the noise of those wretches, the ratling their Chains, the Blaspheming of their Tongues, their Roaring and Singing night and day being a great trouble to them. And if they went into the Courts of the Prison, there they met with the sent and sight of their Cloaths hanging full of vermin, and of the Prisoners in their Rags and Chains.

That also which most troubled them was that they had no place to retire into, neither alone nor together wherein they might have Communion with God. The Quakers Quakers wickedness. also much molested them, disturbing them with their Cavils in the times of Prayer, Preaching, and Singing, and would come and Work in their Callings just by them at such times, to their great grief. Want of air was most offensive to Mr. Allela, who had accustomed himself both in Oxford and the Country, to spend most of his secret hours in by-places in the fields or woods.

So soon as Mr. Allein came into Prison, he Prayed and Preached, which he cal­led, He consecrates his Prison. the Consecration of it. And after a day or two he desired to have his Wife with him or near him in the Town, to attend him, and to keep Company with such Friends as came to visit him: Whereupon he prevailed with the Keeper to have one Corner to himself wherein to set his Bed, which was more private than the rest. About this he made a Partition with some Curtains, whereby he might be the more private, and it was a great comfort to him: And after a few weeks he procu­red leave of his Keeper, to walk out a Mile or more, Morning and Evening constantly, except the Weather, or his Keepers Churlishness did hinder him.

Their Diet was good and sufficient; sometimes abundant, by their Friends kind­ness Kind friends. to them. Here they Preached once a Day constantly: Sometimes twice, and many resorted to their Sermons, of which some came eight or ten Miles round a­bout out of the Country, and multitudes came to visit them. Their Friends were exceeding kind to them, endeavouring by their frequent visits, by provisions of Food, and supplies of monies to take away the tediousness of their Imprisonment. Mr. His great la­bors. Alleins Labours were the greatest, who spent almost all the day in conversing with his friends, and a great part of the night in his studies, and secret duties.

Thus they continued for about four Months, and were tossed from Sessions to the He is brought to the Sessions. Assizes. July 14th. Mr. Allein was brought to the Sessions held at Taunton, and Indi­cted for Preaching on the 17th. of May precedeing; but the Evidence was so slender that the Grand Jury would not find the Bill, and thereupon, by the constant practice Acquited and yet impri­soned. of the Court, he should have been freed by Proclamation: Yet was he returned unto Prison till the Assizes: And to his Friends, who had hoped for his Deliverance, he said, Let us bless God that his Will is done, and not the Wills of such worms as we are.

August 24th. He was Indicted at the Assizes, and tho the Evidence was but the same with the former, yet now the Grand-Jury found the Bill, and he was brought To the Assizes. to the Bar, and his Indictment was Read, which was, that May 17th. 1663. He, [Page 148] together with twenty others to the Jurors unknown, did Riotously, Routously, and Seditiously assemble themselves together, contrary to the Peace of our Sove­raign Lord the King, and to the great terrour of his Subjects, and to the evil Ex­ample of others, &c. To this he Answered, That as to Praying and Preaching he Found Guilty and [...]in [...]. was Guilty, and did own them for his Duty: But as for Riotous, Routous, and Se­ditious Assemblies, he abhorred them from his heart, and of these he was not Guilty. Yet was he found Guilty by the Petty Jury, and by the Judge Sentenced to pay a hundred Marks, and to continue in Prison till it was paid. To this he only re­plyed: That he was glad that he had appeared before his Country: And that, whatsoever he was charged with, he was Guilty of nothing but doing his Duty; His Speech to the Judge. and that all which did appear by the Evidence was only that he had Sung a Psalm, and instructed his Family, where some others were, and both in his own House: And that, if nothing which had been urged would satisfie he should with all chear­fulness and Thankfulness accept, whatsoever Sentence his Lordship should pronounce upon him for so good, and Righteous a cause. From hence he was carried back to Prison, where he continued a whole year wanting three days.

Winter coming on, which they feared would make this place as cold as it had been hot in Summer (the Chamber having no Chimney in it) they endeavoured, and His remove to the Ward. with some difficulty obtained to be removed to the Ward, where they had more com­fortable accommodations in all respects. Here they had very great Assemblies, both on week days and Sabbaths, and many days of Humiliation, and Thanksgiving; and tho they were much threatened both by the Judges and Justices to be sent be­yond-Sea, or carryed to some remote Island, where they should be kept close Pri­soners; yet the Lord prevented it, and so ordered it, that their Imprisonment tur­ned to his greater glory, and to the furtherance of the Gospel, by their great la­bors, to which God added a great Blessing: And Mr. Alleins sufferings did not in the least abate his Zeal, and Activity for God, but he embraced all opportunities His zeal and activity. of doing good. The Minister who was appointed, at some times to Preach to the Felons, falling sick, Mr. Allein freely supplyed his room as long as he could be per­mitted, earnestly exhorting them that by Repentance, and Faith they would secure the Eternal welfare of their Souls. He was very forward to promote the Educa­tion of young persons, both in Ilchester, and in the Country adjacent; for which His care for young persons. end he gave Catechisms to many Poor Families, that they might be instructed in the principles of Religion, exhorting the Elder to teach and encourage the Younger. He was a serious and faithful Monitor to his Fellow-sufferers, if he saw in them any thing which became not the Gospel for which they suffered.

He was now, as formerly, a careful Redeemer of his time, rising about four a clock Redeeming time. in the Morning, and spending a considerable time in Meditation and Prayer, and then following his studies close in some Corner of the Prison where he could be pri­vate: And sometimes he spent almost whole nights in these exercises, only lying down in his Cloths for an hour or two, and then up again. Those which visited him he did not entertain with frivolous and frothy discourses, but with such as His prudence. were profitable, and for their Edification, applying himself unto them according to their several capacities, exhorting them to such gracious practices, which by Reason of their age or temper, Calling or Condition, he judged them to be most defective in, and dehorting them from such evils, as he thought them most prone unto. He rejoyced that he was accounted worthy to suffer in the cause of Christ, and encouraged the timerous; by his own and others experience of Gods goodness beyond what they could have expected.

He carefully observed that Rule, Mat. 5. 44. Love your Enemies, bless them that His candor. curse you; Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despightefully use you, and persecute you. He never exclaimed against those who were the chiefest instru­ments of his Sufferings, but pityed and prayed with Saint Stephen; Lord lay not this sin to their charge. The greatest harm he wished them, was that they might be Con­verted, Sanctified, and their Souls saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

During the time of his Imprisonment it could not be discerned that his health was impaired notwithstanding his incessant Labors. Yet, probably (as the Physicians afterwards judged) the foundation of that weakness which presently after surprized him, and occasioned his death, was then laid.

At his enlargement from Prison he was more earnest in his work than before: [Page 149] Yet willing to preserve his liberty among his people, who had no Minister that had the oversight of them, tho some came and Preached to them in his absence: And Multitudes resort to his Ministry. such Multitudes resorted to him, that he judged it necessary to divide them into four parts, resolving to Preach to them four times each Sabbath; But finding that to be beyond his strength, which was much decayed, he was fain to forbear it, and Preached only twice on the Sabbaths, yet oft on the week days besides, at home or abroad. He pressed all that feared God, especially such as were of a timerous Spirit, to be couragious and active for God, and to be much in mutual conversings toge­ther, now that their Ministers were withdrawn, and to be much in praises and Good Counsel. thanksgivings unto God, delighting themselves in him, and denying themselves for him, and resigning themselves, and all they did enjoy, to him, that the world might see, that they could live comfortably on a God alone, on his Attributes and promises, tho they should have nothing else left.

He much pressed the Unconverted to be more careful for the Salvation of their Charity to Souls. Souls, especially considering, that those were now removed, which longed for, and watched over their Souls, and they were fallen into the hands of such as wanted either skill or Will to promote their welfare: Shewing them, with most tender affections, what miserable Creatures they were whilst Unconverted, and how his heart did yearn for them: How he did pray and weep for them when they were asleep: How willingly he had suffered a years Imprisonment for them, nay, how readily he would shed his blood to procure their Salvation.

But it pleased the All-wise God to take him off from this eager pursuit of his work His first sick­ness. and designs for him, by Visiting him (in the latter end of August) with much weakness, within three Months after he came out of Prison. For being requested by a people, whose Pastor was absent, to Preach, and Administer the Sacrament unto them, the place being sixteen Miles off, he was so disabled by the Journy, that he could not perform both; yet, because many of them came far, he forced himself to Preach to them, tho to his great prejudice, and after three or four days, with much difficulty he returned home, and had the advise of the best Physicians thereabout, who, all of them judged that it proceeded from his abundant Labors, and Preaching too soon after his Meals, as he did, when he Preached four times a day. This had so abated the natural heat of his stomack that no food would di­gest, nor oft stay within him.

He felt no pain, but had a constant discomposure in his Stomach, and a failing of his His great weakness. Appetite, that for many weeks he could not bear the sent of Flesh-Meat, nor retain any Liquors or Broths, so that he consumed so fast, that his Life seemed to draw near to an end: But God was pleased so to bless the means that after two Months, he recovered of this distemper; yet, so lost the use of his arms that from October till April, he could neither put on or off his Cloaths, nor write any thing. His Physicians and Friends earnestly besought him to intermit his Labors, but could not prevail. For he continued to Preach once, and sometimes twice every Sabbath, and to visit from House to House all that Winter.

In the Spring God was pleased to restore unto him the use of his Arms, for Hopes of his Recovery. which he was exceeding thankful, and they had great hopes of his Recovery: And the Summer following, by making use of some Mineral Waters, near the Devizes, his strength was much encreased, and he found much good by them. But trusting too much to that strength, his weakness returned often upon him the next Winter, and more in the Spring following. Yet his fits continued not long at a time, so that he Preached, not according to, but even beyond his strength, at home and a­broad: His indefati­gableness. Sometimes going into remote places, where they had had no Meetings since the removal of their Ministers, which was about the space of two years: And he engaged some of his Brethren also to take their turns, which they did with great success.

Now was he again much threatened, and Warrants were often out for him, which He is threaten­ed but deliver­ed. he rejoyced at, that when (by reason of his distempers) he could do little for God, God would so honour him, that he should suffer for him in a Prison; and would of­ten say with much chearfulness, that they could not do him a greater kindness: But God not seeing him fit for the inconveniences of a Prison, was pleased to spare him.

The Five Mile Act now taking place, he removed to a place called Willington, five [Page 150] Miles from Taunton, to a Dyers house in a very obscure place, where he preached on the Lords Days as he was able: But the vigilent eyes of his Enemies soon found him out there, and resolved to remove him, and a Warrant was put in the Con­stables hands to apprehend him: And the Dyer was threatned to be sent to the Goal for entertaining him: Hereupon he returned to Mr. John Mallack's house, a Merchant, who had oft solicited him to take his house for his Home, and he now accepted of his courteous offer: But many of his Friends in Taunton were so earnest, that to sa­tisfie them, he went to their houses and stayed with some a Fortnight, with others three Weeks or a Month, yet still taking Mr. Mallack's for his Home: And he went from no house without serious Counsels, Comforts or Reproofs, as their Condition required.

He went from no house that was willing to part from him; nor could he satisfie the requests of one half that invited him to their houses: So that he would often His usefulness in all places. bless God, and say with holy Mr. Dod, That he had a hundred houses for one that he had parted with: And that tho he had no Goods, yet he wanted nothing, his Fa­ther careing for him in every thing; so that he lived a far more pleasant Life, than his Enemies that had turned him out of all.

He was exceedingly taken with Gods Goodness in Mr. Mallacks bountiful enter­tainment of him, whose House, Gardens and Walks were very delightful to him, being so pleasant and curious, and all Accomodations within suitable thereunto; Gods faithful­ness. which made him often to say, that he did [as Dives] fare deliciously every day; but hoped to improve it better than he did: And that God had inclined his heart to care for many Poor, and for several of his Brethren in the Ministry, and that now God did reward him, not suffering him to be at any expence upon himself or Wise.

He was a great Observer of each Days Providences, and would every Night be­fore he went to sleep, reckon them up to his Wife, to raise his own and her heart to Providence observed. praise the Lord, and to trust to him, of whose care and goodness he had such mani­fold experiences.

The time for his going to the Waters being come, he desired to keep a Day of Thanksgiving for all Gods Mercies to him and his Friends; and accordingly July the 10th. 1665. divers of his Brethren in the Ministry, and of his Friends in Taunton met at Mr. Mallack's House, about a Mile from the Town; where, af­ter they had been a while together, came two Justices, with others attending them with Swords, and brake open the Doors by force (tho if they had pleased, they might have unhatched them) and with much dirision and threatning Language, took their Names, and committed them to some Constables, charging them to bring His apprehen­sion. them the next Day to the Castle-Tavern in Taunton, before the Justices of Peace there. The next Day the Prisoners were broughr forth, and answered to their Names as they were called; and after two Days tedious attendance, were all convicted for keeping a Conventicle, and sentenced to pay three Pounds a piece, or to be committed to Prison for threescore Days: But few of them either payed their Fines or suffered their Friends to pay it for them. Whereupon Mr. Allein, and seven Ministers more, and forty private Persons were committed to Ilchester Goal. When Mr. Allein Imprisonment. came to the Prison, his Deportment, and Conversation was every way as exemplary as it had been in his former confinement. And notwithstanding his great bodily weakness, yet he constantly took his turn with the other Ministers in preaching, which they performed, mostly, twice a Day, besides other Religious Exercises, Painfulness. wherein also he did bear his part.

Tho he had many of his Flock imprisoned with him, whereby he had the fairer Care of his people. opportunity of instructing and watching over them; yet was he not forgetful of the rest that were at liberty, but wrote many Letters to them, full of serious and pro­fitable matter, from which they might reap no small benefit, whilst they wanted his bodily presence: He was also very solicitous for those that were with him, that they might be the better for their Bonds, walking worthy the many and great Mer­cies they had enjoyed during their Imprisonment; that so, when they returned to their Houses, they might speak and live forth the Praises of God, carrying them­selves in every respect as became the Gospel for which they had suffered; which he made to appear by that wholesome Counsel which he gave them the Morning wherein they were delivered, which consisted of two Heads.

The first was of Exhortation. His advice at their delive­rance.

First, to rejoyce with trembling in their Prison Comforts, and to see that they kept them in a thankful Remembrance all their Lives.

[Page] 2. To feed and feast their Faith upon Prison Experiences.

3. To let Divine Mercy be as Oyl to the flame of their Love. O love the Lord all ye his Saints.

4. To keep their Manna in a Golden Pot, and not to forget him, who hath said so often Remember me.

5. To let the Bonds of their Afflictions strengthen the Bonds of their Affections, to love one another the better.

6. To let present indulgence fit them for future hardships.

7. To cast up their accounts at their return home, and to see whether they have gone as much forward in their Souls, as they have gone backward in their outward Estates.

8. To see that the Snuffers of the Prison make their Light to burn the brighter; and that their course and discourse be the more savoury, serious and spiritual for this present Tryal.

9. To see that they walk accurately as those that have the Eyes of God, Angels, and Men upon them, to see what Gainers they have been by this Affliction.

The second was of Dehortation.

First, Revile not your Persecutors, but bless and pray for them, as Instruments of conveying great Mercies unto you.

2. Let not the humble acknowledgment of Gods Mercy, degenerate into proud, vain-glorious boasting, or carnal.

3. Be not prodigal of your Liberty upon a conceit that the Prison will be easie, nor yet fearful of adventuring in a way of Duty.

4. Do not load others with censures, whose Judgment and Practice differs from yours, but humbly bless God that hath so happily directed you.

Having spoke thus to his fellow Prisoners, he spake thus also to Friends and Bre­thren His Speech to Friends. with them.

First, Let our experience be your encouragement. O love the Lord, ye our Friends; Love the Lord; Fear him for ever; Believe in him; Trust him for ever for our sakes. We have tasted of the kindness of God. You know how good God hath been to us both in Spirituals and Temporals. Encourage your hearts in the Lord your God: Serve him the more freely and gladly for our sakes. You see we have tryed, we have tasted how good the Lord is. Do you trust him the more, because we have tryed him so much, and found he is a Friend so faithful, so gracious, that we are utterly unable to speake his Praise. Go on and fear not in the way of your Duty: Verily there is a Reward for the Righteous. God hath given us a great Reward already; but this is but the least; we look for a Kingdom.

2. My desire to our Friends is, that they will all help us with their Praises: Our Tongues are too little to speak forth the Goodness and the Grace of God: Do you help us in our Praises: Love the Lord the better; praise him the more, and what is wanting in us, let it be made good by you. O that the Praises of God may found abroad in the Country by our means, and for our sakes.

His Imprisonment prevented his going to the Waters, which was the cause of the His distempers encrease. increase of his Distempers all the Winter following, and more in the Spring; yet not so much as to take him wholly off his work, but that he preached, kept many Days, and administred the Sacrament to his People.

Going to the Waters in July, 1667. they had a contrary effect upon him to what they had at first; for after three days taking them, he fell into a Fever, which Gods Mercy. seized on his Spirits, and his strength decayed so exceedingly, that he seemed to be near Death; but the Lord was pleased to spare him, and so far to restore him, that at six weeks end he returned to his People; yet then finding a great decay in his strength and weakness in all his Limbs, he was willing to go to Dorchester to advise with Dr. Lose, an able Physitian, from whom he had received many Medicines, but had never any converse with him, nor had seen him.

The Doctor soon perceived his weakness, and therefore advised him to stay there He goes to Dorchester. for a Fortnight or three Weeks, that he might direct him the better, and alter his Remedies as he should see occasion, which he readily assented to. He had not been there above five days, but the use of all his Limbs was suddenly taken from him; first his Arms, then his Legs, that he could neither stand, nor move a Finger, nor His great weakness. turn him in his Bed. He was given over by Physitians and Friends, that saw him [Page 152] for some weeks lying in cold sweets night and day; and often, for some hours His great weakness. half his body was cold, so that in their apprehensions he was dying, and receiv­ed nothing but strong Cordials and Broths.

Thus he lay from September 28th. to November 16th. before any amendment ap­peared, all which time he was very chearful, praising and admiring God for his mercies: But his Spirits were so low that he spake seldom, and then softly. He was free from pain, and when his Friends admired his patience, he would say, that God had not yet tryed him any thing, but in laying him aside from his work, and keeping him out of Heaven. Being asked how it was with his Soul in all his His inward peace. bodily weakness? His answer was, that he had not those Ravishing Joys which he expected, and which some did pertake of: But he had a sweet serenity of heart and Conscience, and a confidence in God grounded upon the promises of the Gospel, and did believe that it would be well with him to all Eternity.

The Ministers and Christians of that place were very compassionate unto him, Great kindness to him. Visiting, and Praying with and for him often. And Dr. Lose visited him twice a day for about a Quarter of a year together (except when he was out a Town) and yet would never take any Fees of him. The Gentry also in and about the Town, sent in whatsoever they imagined might be pleasing to him: So that he neither wanted food nor Physick, and he much delighted himself in the consideration of the Lords kindness to him, in the Love which he received from them, and would often say: I was a stranger, and Mercy took me in: In Prison, and it came to me: Sick and weak, and it visited me: There were also fourteen young Women that took their turns to watch with him.

In this condition he kept his Bed till December 18th. And then, beyond hope, His amend­ment. in the depth of Winter he began to revive and to get out of Bed: Yet could he neither go nor stand, nor move a finger, having sense in his limbs without motion. But it pleased God that by degrees his strength increased, so that he could with help, walk a turn in his Chamber, and when (after a time) he could do it without help, he was wonderfully taken with the Lords mercy to him: And by February, with a little help, he could walk in the streets, being asked how he could be so well con­tented to lie so long under so great weakness? He answered, What? Is God my Father, Jesus Christ my Saviour, and the Spirit my sweet Friend, my Comforter, and Sanctifier, and Heaven mine Inheritance, and shall I not be content without His patience. Limbs and Health? Through Grace I am fully satisfied with my Fathers good Pleasure.

To another that asked him the same Question, he answered: I have chosen God, and he is become mine, and I know with whom I have trusted my self, which is enough. He is an unreasonable wretch that cannot be content with a God tho he hath nothing else: My interest in God is all my Joy.

Some of his Friends of Taunton coming to Dorchester to see him, he was much revived, and causing his Curtains to be withdrawn, he desired them to stand round about the Bed, His Speech to his Friends. and caused his Wife to hold forth his hand to them, that they might shake him by it, and as he was able, he spake thus to them. O how it rejoyces my heart to see your faces, and to hear your voices, tho I cannot as heretofore speak to you. Me­thinks I am now like to Old Jacob, with all his Sons about him. You now see my weak estate, and thus have I been for many weeks, since I parted from Taunton; but God hath been with me, and I hope with you. Your Prayers for me have been answered many wayes. The Lord return them into your own bosoms. My friends, Life is mine, Death is mine, in that Covenant I was Preaching of to you is all my Salvation, and all my desire: Altho my Body doth not prosper, I hope my Soul doth. I have lived a sweet Life by the Promises, and I hope (through Grace) I can die by a Promise. The Promises of God are everlasting, and will stand by us. Nothing but God in them will stand us instead in a day of Affliction.

My dear friends, I feel the power of those Doctrines which I Preached unto you, upon my heart. Now the Doctrines of Faith, of Repentance, of Self-denial, of the Covenant of Grace, of Contentment, &c. O that you would live them over now that I cannot Preach to you. Its a shame for a believer to be cast down under afflictions, who hath so many glorious Priviledges, Justification, Adoption, Sancti­fication, and Eternal Glory. We shall as the Angels of God within a little while; nay, to say the truth, Believers are, as it were, little Angels already, that live in [Page 153] the power of Faith. O my Friends! Live like Believers: Trample this dirty World under your feet. Be not taken with its Comfort, nor disquieted with its Crosses: You will be gone out of it shortly.

When they came to take their leaves of him, he Prayed with them as He blesses them. his weak state would suffer him: And in the words of Moses, and the Apostle, he blessed them in the same words as he used after the Sacrament. The Lord bless you, and keep you: The Lord cause his face to shine upon you, and give you peace. And the God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his Will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be Glory for ever and ever, Amen. Adding, Farewel, Farewel my dear Friends: Remember me to all Taunton. I beseech you and them, if I never see your faces more, go home, and live over what I have Preached unto you; and the Lord provide for you when I am gone. O Let not all my Labors and Sufferings: Let not my wasted strength; my useless limbs rise up in Judgment against you at the great day of the Lord.

At another time some coming to visit him, he spake thus to them. O my Friends; Counsels them. Let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ, whether I am present or absent. Live what I have spoken to you in the Name of the Lord: Now that I cannot Preach unto you, let my wasted strength, and useless limbs be a S [...]rmon to you. Behold me! I cannot move a finger: All this is come upon me for your sakes and the Gospels. It is for Christ and you that I have thus spent out my self, I am affraid lest some of you after all that I have spoken to you, should be lost in the world. There are many Professors who can pray well, and talk well, whom yet we shall find at the left hand of Christ, another day. You have your Trades, your Estates, your Relations: Be not taken with these, but with God, O live on him? For the Lords sake go home and take heed of the World, of Worldly cares, of Worldly Comforts, Worldly Friends, &c. And then he added.

The Lord having given Authority to his Ministers to bless his People, I accor­dingly Blesses them. bless you: And so he did in the words formerly recited. And he conversed with all that came to visit him as he was able, looking alwayes chearfully upon them, and never in the least complaining of his Afflictions, except to his Taunton Friends to excite them to their duty.

In February he was very desirous to return to his People, which his Doctor assented His return to Taunton. to; fearing that Dorchester Air in March would be too sharp for him: And Judged that it might conduce to his cure to have his mind satisfied. At his return he was much pleased with the sight of that place and of his people, who came flocking a­bout him, and he so increased in strength that within a week after he was able to feed himself. But to pr [...]ent any prejudice that might come by the frequent visits of Friends, he removed to Mr. Mallacks House where he found most kind enter­tainment.

There he increased in strength till the beginning of April, and then he declined a­gain, and was soon after taken with Convulsion fits, whereof he had divers the first He hath Con­vulsion fits. day and night: But by Gods blessing upon means, he was freed from them for a­bout three weeks, and then, being alone in his Chamber, he was taken with a Fit, wherein he fell to the ground and hurt his Face; and his Nose bled much, which blood was clotted and corrupt, which made his Physicians to conclude that that fall saved his Life: For probably had not that blood come from his head, he had died in A special Pro­vidence. that Fit. Going to Bed he slept so well that night, that he awaked in the Mor­ning much refreshed, and full of the praises of God for his mercies to him.

After this he lived alwayes in the expectation of death, saying often, It is but a He prepares for death. puff and I am gone, and therefore every night after Prayer he used to bid all the Fa­mily Farewel, saying he might be dead before Morning. Whilst he was undres­sing he would be discoursing of Spiritual things, and when he lay down to his rest, he used to say to his Wife, we shall shortly be in an other Bed. Farewel my dear heart, the Lord bless thee: His first Speeches in the Morning usually were, now we have one day more, here is one more for God, now let us live well this day, Work hard for our [...]ouls, lay up much Treasure in Heaven this day, for we have but a few to live.

Hence forward the strength of his Limbs were so repaired, that they feared not [Page 154] his relapsing again. But about May 6th. he began to find weakness in his stomack, His relapse. which quickly so grew upon him that he lost the use of his Limbs again, and May 12th. having lain some dayes and nights in cold sweats (as formerly) he was again taken with Convulsions, and having continued in a trance about four hours, his friends weeping about him, he at last spake thus unto them, weep not for me: My work is done: And immediatly fell into a violent Convulsion fit, that held him two hours, and presently after fell into another, wherein he ratled and was cold, insomuch as they thought every breath would be his last. His Physicians said, that his pulse was gone, and that he would be dead in a few Minutes: But God shewed his power in reviving him beyond all expectation; yet was he not able to speak to them till the next day, nor did he perfectly recover till four days after. Thus he continued every weak until July, mostly confined to his Bed, yet chear­ful, and free to discourse with any that Visited him, as long as he was able.

A Proposal was made by his Wife to the Doctors, whether the Bath was not fit for him? Some were for it, others against it. But he himself was very eager for it. And a Horse-Litter being provided for him, tho he had not for many dayes been out of He goes to the Bath. his Bed, yet did the Lord so strengthen him that in two days he went almost forty Miles to the Bath. The Doctors there wondered to see such an object, and marvelled that he came such a Journy alive, and were very doubtful to put him in: But, a­gainst their Judgments he resolved to adventure himself.

At his first appearing in the Bath he was such a Skelleton that the Ladies were af­frighted to see him, as if Death had come among them, and they could not endure to look upon him. When he went first in he could stay but a very little while, yet found much refreshing by it, and had no Symptoms of his Fits as was much feared. By Gods blessing upon this means, and drinking Goats Milk, in three weeks space, he could He somewhat Recovers. walk about his Chamber and feed himself: His appetite came again, and his strength increased: And thus he continued till his death drew near.

During this time he grew exceedingly in Grace to the Joy and Edification of His growth in grace. those about him. He had much Communion with God, and often such Ravish­ments of Spirit from the Consolation of the Holy Ghost, that he was not able to ex­press them, nor his week Body to bear them. He was more chearful than former­ly, and exceeding affectionate to his Wife, and to all his Friends, especially to such as were most Heavenly: And the Lord was pleased so to order it by his Providence that many such came to make use of the Bath, as Mr. Fairclough, Mr. How of Torríngton, Mr. Joseph Bernard, and divers of his Taunton Friends, and of Bristow Ministers, which was a great Comfort to him in that strange and wicked place.

Here he had many Visiters both friends and strangers, who came to see and dis­course with him, having heard what a Monument of mercy he was; and to all of He is oft visi­ted. them he would so enlarge himself, upon all the passages of Gods dealing with him, as gave much content to all that heard him: And it did much affect many, who were Strangers to God and Religion as well as unto him. He found much fa­vour even amongst the worst, both Gentry and others: Such as would make a Scoff at Religion in others, would hearken unto him; yea, tho he faithfully reproved His prudence and faithful­ness. them for their Oaths, excessive drinking, wanton carriages which he observed in the Bath, and there was none of them but did most thankfully accept it from him, and shewed him more respect after than they had done before. In which he ob­served much of Gods goodness to him, and would often say, O how good is it to be faithful unto God: One of the vilest of these Persons said of him, that he never spake with such a Man in his Life.

His reproofs were managed with so much respect to their persons, and places, that they said, they could not but take them well, tho they were sharp and plain: His reproofs. And his manner was before he intended to reprove them, often in the Bath to dis­course with them of such things as might be pleasing to them, which did so engage their affections that they delighted to converse with him, who was furnished with matter of discourse for any Company, designing to make use of it for Spiritual ends, by which means he caught many:

Here tho he had many Diversions, by his constant bathing every day, and fre­quent Visits, besides his weakness, yet he kept his constant Seasons, four times a day, for his holy Retirements. First in the Morning from five a Clock till seven, [Page 155] at which time he was carried to the Bath, and again before Dinner, but then he spent less time, and about half an hour before two, just before he went abroad, He appointed his Chair-man, that carried him to the Bath, to fetch him about three a Clock, and to carry him to the Schools and Alms-houses, and to the Godly Poor, especially the Widdows, to whom he gave Mony: And would pray and confer He goes abou [...] doing good. with them about their spiritual State as their necessities required, engaging the Teachers and Governors to teach them the Assemblies Catechism, whereof he bought and gave them many dozens for the use of their Scholars, and many other small Books which he judged useful for them; and about a Week or Fortnight after he would again visit them to see what progress they had made.

He also engaged several Persons to send their Children once a Week to him to be Catechised by him; and he had about Sixty or Seventy Children that came to him every Lords-day, who profited much by his Instructions, till some took such offence at it, that he was forced to desist, and the Schoolmaster was threatned to be brought into the Bishops Court at Wells for it, which frighted him and some others. He also sent for all the Godly Poor he could hear of in the City, whom he entertained at his Chamber, and gave them Mony according to his Ability, as a Thank offering His Charity. unto God for his Mercy to him, and procured two of the aforenamed Ministers to assist him in keeping a Day of Thanksgiving for the same. Tho his Sickness had been long and his Expences great; yet, he thought he could never do enough for him from whom he had received all. He always gave Mony or Apples to all the Children that came to be Catechised by him, besides what he gave to their Tea­chers and the Poor; and having made Provision for his Wife, he resolved to lay up the rest in Heaven; often saying, that having no Children of his own, Gods Children should have his Estate.

His next work was to send Letters to all his Relations and intimate Friends, whom His Letters to his Friends. he exhorted to observe his Counsel, for it was like to be his last to them. He had a great desire to go to Mr. Joseph Bernard's, which was about five Miles from the Bath, to promote the Exercise of Catechising in Sommerset and Wiltshire. Mr. Ber­nard having had a great Deliverance as well as himself, he proposed to him, that by way of Thank offering unto God, they should mutually engage to joyn in the prin­ting His Thank-Offering. of six thousand of the Assemblies Catechisms, and to raise some Mony among other Friends to send to every Minister in those Counties that would engage in the Work, and also to give to the Children for their encouragment in learning of it: which Work was effected by Mr. Bernard, after Mr. Alleins Decease.

Mr. Allein finding himself again to decline, judged that it proceeded from want of Bathing, and therefore returned to the Bath again, where (by the advise of the Doctor) he made use of the Hot-bath, the Cross-bath being now too cold for him, and for four days seemed to be refreshed by it; but upon the 3d. of November there appeared a great change in his Countenance, and he found a great alteration in himself; and some Friends coming to visit him, he desired them to pray for him, for his time was very short.

After they had dined he was in more than an ordinary manner transported with Affections to his Wife, whom he thanked for all her care and pains about him, put­ing His love to his Wife. up most affectionate Petitions to God for her; and the like also he did after Supper.

After this, he called for a Practise of Piety, and turning from his Wife, he read to himself the Meditation about Death in the end of the Book; which his Wife taking notice of, He prepares for Death. asked him if he judged his End to be near? He answered that he knew not, but within a few days she should see. Then he desired her to read two Chapters to him, as she usually did every Night, and so he hasted to Bed (being not able to pray with them) undressing himself, more than he had done of many Months before. In Bed he complained of a stoppage in his Head, and had something given him to prevent his Fits, yet within a quarter of an hour he had a strong Convulsion, and God was pleased to deny success, notwithstanding all means used to remove it; these Fits con­tinued for two Days and Nights without an hours intermission.

His Fits were very terrible to behold; but Prayer being made, that if the Lord Prayer powerful. saw fit, he would so far mitigate his hand upon him, that he might yet utter his mind unto them before his departure; the Lord was pleased to return a gracious Answer; For whereas before he had not spoken from Tuesday Night before, upon [Page 156] Friday Morning about three a Clock, he called for his Wife, speaking very under­standingly (by times) all that Day; and that Night after he spake with an audible Voice for sixteen hours, such like words as you had formerly an account of: This continued, with some little intermission, till Saturday in the Evening, at which time he departed. His Death.

About three a Clock that Afternoon, he had (as those about him conceived) some conflicts with Satan; for he uttered these words, Away thou foul Fiend; thou His temptati­on and victory. Enemy of all Mankind; thou subtile Sophister: Art thou come now to molest me? Now that I am just going? Now I am so weak, and when Death is upon me? Trouble me not, for I am none of thine. I am the Lords; Christ is mine, and I am his: His by Covenant: I have sworn my self to be the Lords, and his I will be: Therefore be gone. Which words he repeated oft over, Be gone, Be gone. In his converse with his Wife he spent most His holy speeches. of that time in heavenly and profitable discourses; speaking much of the place to which he was going, and his desire to be gone. I was thinking (said he, as he was dressing) of my Marriage Day; it will be shortly: O what a joyful Day will that be!

Having some Broth brought him, he said blessed be the Lord for these refreshments in the way home: But, O how sweet will Heaven be! And at another time he said, I hope to be shortly where I shall neither need Meat, nor Drink, nor Cloaths.

When he looked upon his weak and consumed hands, he said, these shall be changed; This vile Body shall be made like unto Christs Glorious Body.

And again, O what a Glorious Day will the Day of the Resurection be! Methinks I see it by Faith. How will the Saints then lift up their Heads and rejoyce? And how sadly will the wicked World look then?

O come, let us make haste! Our Lord will come shortly, let us prepare for him.

If we long to be in Heaven, let us hasten with our Work; for when that is done, away we shall be fetcht.

O this vain, foolish, dirty World! I wonder how reasonable Creatures can so dote upon it! What is in it worth the looking after? I care not to be in it longer than my Master hath doing or suffering work for me; were that done, then fare­well to the Earth.

He was oft in commending the Love of Christ, and from that, exciting himself and others to Obedience to Christ; often speaking of his Sufferings and of his Glo­ry: He admired the Love of Christ. As also of his Love-Letters; for so he stiled the History of his Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascention, and of his second coming; the thoughts of which, he was oft much ravisht withal.

He would be often reckoning up the choice Tokens which Christ had sent him; As First, Pardon of Sin. Secondly, A Patent for Heaven. Thirdly, The Gift of the Spirit. Fourthly, The Robe of Christs Righteousness. Fifthly, The Spoils of Enemies. Sixthly, The Charter of all Liberties and Priviledges. Lastly, The Guard of his Angels; and this last he did frequently solace himself in, in the times of Imprisonment, and else where; and would say to his Wife, tho we have not such Attendants and Servants as the Great Ones of the World have, yet we have Gods blessed Angels still to wait upon us, to minister to us, and to watch over us while we are sleeping; to go along with us in our Journies, and still to preserve us from the Rage of Men and Devils.

He was very much affected with the three last Chapters of St. Johns Gospel, espe­cially with Christs parting Words and Prayer for his Disciples. In brief, his Heart, his Lips, his Life was filled with Grace, which did radiently shine forth both in Health and Sickness, in Prosperity and Adversity, in Prison and at Liberty, in his own House and in Gods House; so that few that conversed with him, but they would acknowledge that they were Gainers by him.

At Mr. Allein's first coming to Taunton, he so journed with Mr. Newton, and after his Ordination, administred all Ordinances joyntly with him, tho he were but an His first com­ing to Taunton. Assistant, who highly esteemed and dearly loved him. At this time he was in League with her whom afterwards he married, and Mr. Newton observing his restless Spirit, which put him upon many tedious Journies every Fortnight of twenty five Miles, to give her a Visit; thereupon he perswaded them to consummate their Marriage, which they did accordingly, October 4. 1655. After which they lived with Mr. His Marriage. [Page 157] Newton almost two years, and were very kindly entertained by him.

At the end of this time, conceiving that they might be more useful by turning House-keepers, they took an House, and Mrs. Allein having been bred to her Needle, Had many Tablers. set up a Boarding-School, and had many Tablers and Scholars: Their Family was seldom less than twenty, sometimes thirty; and her School usually contained fifty or sixty, many coming out of the Town and Neighbourhood besides their Tablers. And the Lord was pleased exceedingly to bless their Labours and Endeavours, so that within a few years space many of them were converted, who before were Strangers to God. All the Scholars called Mr. Allein Father; and indeed he had far Did much good among them. more care of them than most of their Natural Parents had, and was very tenderly affectionated to them, especially to their Souls.

His Practice in his Family was twice a Day to read the Scriptures, to sing a Psalm, and to Pray; except when he Catechised, which was constantly once, if not twice a Week. Of every Chapter that was read, he expected an account, and also of every Sermon. He dealt with both his Servants and Scholars frequently, together and apart about the spiritual Estate of their Souls, pressing them to perform all Duties, both of the first and second Table: He also gave them sundry Books sutable to their Capa­cities and Conditions, of which they gave a weekly account how they had profited by the same.

His Lords-Days work was very great; for tho he preached but once in Taunton, yet he constantly was employed the other part of the Day, either in assisting some His frequent preaching. of his Brethren that stood in need of his help, or else went to such Places where a Minister was wanting. In his publick Repetitions and in his Catechising, his own Family, both Scholars and Servants answered him when their turn came as well as others,

He was an holy and tenderly affectionated Husband towards his Yoke-fellow, to whom he expressed his Love by his great care for her both in Sickness and in Health; His Love to his Wife. in his provision for her after his Decease; in his delight in her Company, saying often that it was irksome to him to make a Meal without her: He used to impart unto her all his Affairs that were fit for her to be acquainted with, and to consult with her about them: He spared not to reprove her faithfully for whatsoever he judged amiss; and if himself had at any time given her offence, he would desire her to pass it by, professing that he was restless in his Spirit till he had done it.

He was frequent in keeping Days of Humiliation, especially before the Sacrament. Sanctified the Sabbaths. He was a strict Observer of the Sabbaths, the Duties whereof he did perform with such joy and alacrity of Spirit, both in publick and private, as tended much to the Edification of those that joyned with him; the like practice he pressed much upon Christians, that they should spend the Sabbaths more in Praises and Thanksgivings, as being days of holy rejoycing in Christ our Redeemer.

During the time of his Health, he rose constantly about four a Clock in the Morning, and sooner on the Sabbaths if he did awake. He would be much troubled His industry. if he heard any Smiths, Shoomakers, &c. at work in their Trades before he was in his Duties with God, saying, O how this noise shames me! Doth not my Master de­serve more than theirs? From four a Clock till eight he spent in Prayer, Medi­tation and singing of Psalms, which he much delighted in, and did daily practice when alone as well as in Company; then having refreshed himself about the space of half an hour, he [...]ent to Family Duties, and after that, to his Study till about eleven or twelve a Clock.

Having refreshed himself a while after Dinner, he retired into his Study to secret Prayer, and then went abroad amongst those Families which he was to visit, to His visits from house to house. whom he always gave notice the day before: He went forth about two a Clock, and seldom returned before seven: He would often say, Give me that Christian that ac­counts his Time more precious than Gold. He Catechised once a Week in publick, and repeated the Sermon which he preached on the Lords-Day, on Tuesdays in the Even­ing.

In his visiting from house to house he found much difficulty, it having not been practised formerly; yet after in publick he had preached up the Ministers Duty to their People, and theirs to receive them when they came to promote the good of their Souls, he presently set upon the work, wherein his manner was thus;

He took a Catalogue of the Names of all the Families in each street, and a day or two before he intended to visit them, he used to send them word that so they might be at home, and that he might know whether they were willing to receive him or no? Such as sent slight excuses, or did obstinately refuse to admit him, he would notwithstanding go to them; And if they shut their doors against him His prudence. (as some would) he would speak some few affectionate words unto them, or de­nounce Gods Threatnings against the obstinate that despised Christs Ministers, and so depart: And shortly after he would write to them with words so full of Love, and expressions of his great desires of doing good to their Souls, as did often mol­lifie and overcome their hearts, so that many of them did afterwards entertain him readily. And in the practice of this Duty he baulked not; but visited the poor as well as the rich, tho some of their houses were very noisome and offensive to him: Impartiality. And tho his Labors were so abundant, yet for nine years together, he was not under the least distemper for the space of one Quarter of an hour.

His Wise, suspecting that his extraordinary labors would bring him into diseases, labored to perswade him somewhat to abate of them, he answered, what have I strength for, but to spend it for God? Thou art like unto Peter, still crying, O spare thy self, but I must not hearken unto thee no more than my Master did unto him.

He was very temperate in his diet, and tho he had a sharp Appetite, yet he would moderate it, knowing that it would much conduce to his health. His converse at His Tempe­rance. Meals was very profitable and pleasant: Whether he was at home or abroad he would take opportunities of speaking something to the Edification of others.

He was much in commending and admiring the Mercies of God in every Meal: Was still so pleased in the provision that was made for him, that he would often say, he fared deliciously every day, and lived far better than the Great Ones of the world, whose Tables were far better furnished. For he enjoyed God in all, and saw his Love and bounty in what he received from him every Meal. Whence (speak­ing to his Wife) he would say, O wife, I live a Voluptuous Life: But (blessed be God) it is upon Spiritual dainties: Such as the world neither knows nor tastes of.

He was much in minding the poor that were in want of all things, often won­dering His charity. that God should make such a difference between him and them, both for this world, and for that to come: And his Charity was ever beyond his Estate. There were but few (if any) Poor Families, especially of the Godly in Taunton, but he knew their necessities, and did either by himself or by his Friends relieve them; So that his house was seldome free from such as came to make their complaints to him. He used to buy Pease and Flitches of Bacon, and distribute them twice a year in the cold and hard seasons. He kept several Children at School upon his own cost: Bought many Books and Catechisms, and had many thousand of Prayers Printed which he gave away among the poor. And when his Brethren of the Ministry were cast His bounty. out of their places, he himself gave 4 l. per annum towards making a publick stock for them, by which example he excited many others to do the like, yea, upon other occasions (which frequently fell out) he was so open-handed that he gave offence to his friends: So that many in the Town grudged to give what they had agreed with him for, because he gave so much. Besides all this, the necessities of his Father, and of many other, his Relations, where still craving his help, and he Ministred un­to them without grudging. And when he had received a more than ordinary mercy, he would set apart some portion of his Estate, which he dedicated to the Lord as a Thank-offering, to be imployed in pious and Charitable uses.

When his Wife would have moderated him in these expences, his answer was, that he was laying up for God, and God would repay him. And that by liberal things he should stand, when others that censured him for it should fall. That if he sowed sparingly he should reap sparingly: If bountifully he should reap bountifully. And not­withstanding God blesses him the more. all that he did in his Life time in this kind, yet when he came to die he had something left to dispose of to his Relations, and to his Brethren of the Mi­nistry, besides the comfortable provision that he had made for his Wife.

In brief, his whole Life was a continued Sermon, holding forth the Doctrines which he Preached, of Humility, Self-denial, Patience, Meekness, Contentation, Faith, Love to God, his Church, and People, the blessed fruit of all which he now reaps in Heaven, where he is singing praises unto God and the Lamb, which was his great delight whilst he lived in this world.