THE Old English Puritane was such an one, that honoured God Mat. [...]2.37, 38, 39. 1 Pet. 2.17 above all, and under God gave Rom. 13.7. every one his due. His Mat. 6.33. first care was to serve God, and therein he did not what was good in his Deut. 12.8.32 own, but in Gods sight, making the word of God the rule of his worship. He highly esteemed Col. 2.5. or­der in the House of God; but would not under colour of that, submit to superstitious rites, which are super­fluous, & Ver. 21, 22 perish in their use. He reverenced Rom. 13.1. Autho­rity, keeping within its sphere; but durst not under pretence of subjection to the higher powers Mat. 15.9 Col. 2 8., wor­ship God after the traditions of men. He made con­science of Acts. 2.42. all Gods Ordinances, though 1 Cor. 1.17 some he esteemed of more consequence. He was much in Col. 4 2. prayer; with it he Psal. 92.2. began, and closed the day. In it he was exercised in his Psal. 55.17 Mat. 6.6 closet, 2 Sam. 6.20 family, 1 Tim. 2.1, 2 and publike assembly. He esteemed that manner of praier best, where by the 1 Sam. 1.15 Rom. 8 26 gift of God, expressions were va­ried [Page 2] according to present wants and occasions; yet did he not account Numb. 10.35, 36 set-forms unlawful. Therefore in that circumstance of the Church he did not wholly 1 Co. 9.20, 21.22, 23. reject the Liturgy, but the corruption of it. He estee­med Acts 13.15 Psal. 1.2 reading of the word an ordinance of God both in private and publike; but did not account reading to be preaching. The Word 2 Tim. 3.13, 1 [...] read the esteemed of more authority, but the 1 Cor. 1.2 [...]. Rom. 1 16 word preacht of more effi­cacy. Mat 28 20 He accounted preaching as necessary now as in the Primitive Church: Gods 1 Cor. 1 21 pleasure being still by the foolishness of preaching to save those that be­lieve. He esteemed that preaching best 1 Cor 14 24, 25. 1 Cor. 2 1, 3, 4, 5 2 Cor 4 5. wherein was most of God, least of man, when vain flourishes of wit and words were declined, and the demonstrati­on of Gods Spirit and Power studied: yet could he distinguish between 2. Cor. 2.17 1 Tim 4 13 2 Tim. 2 15 Eccl. 12.9, 10 studied plainness, and negligent rudeness. He accounted 1 Cor 14.1, 2, 3, 4 5 6, 9 perspicuity the best grace of a Preacher; And that 1 Cor 14.25 method best which was most helpful to understanding, affection, and me­mory. To which ordinarily he esteemed none so con­ducible as that by Doctrine, Reason & Use. He estee­med those 1 Tim. 5.1 Sermons best that came closest to the con­science; yet would he have mens consciences awake­ned, not their persons disgrac't. He was a man of good spiritual 1 Pet. 2 2. appetite, and could not be conten­ted with Iam. 1.19 2 Tim 4 1 2 one meal a day. An Afternoon-Sermon did relish as well to him as one in the morning. He was not satisfied with Prov 28.9 prayers without preaching: which if it were wanting at Amos 8 [...]1.12 Mat 3.5. home, he would seek a­broad; yet would he not by 1 Cor. 3.21, 22. 1 Cor. 4.6 absence discourage his Minister, if faithful, though another might have quick­er gifts. A 2 Tim. 4.1, 2 Lecture he esteemed, though not necessa­ry, yet a blessing, & would redeem Eph. 5.16 such an oppor­tunity with some pains and loss. The 1 Cor. 16.2 Acts 20 7. Revel. 1.10. Lords day he e­steemed [Page 3] a divine ordinance, and Exod: [...] rest on't necessary, so far as it conduced to holinesse He was Exod. 20.8. very con­scientious in observance of that day as the Mart day of the Soul He was very carefull to 2 Chron. 2 2 2 [...]. Psal 91. remember it, to get house and heart in order for it: and when it came, he was studious to improve it. He Isa 58 13, 14 redeemed the morning from superfluous sleep, Exod 20 8 Acts 20.7 and watched the whole day over his thoughts and words not only to restrain them from wickednesse, but worldlynesse. Deut. 6, 7 All parts of the day were alike holy to him, and his care was continued in it in variety of holy duties: what he heard in publike, he repeated in private, to Isa: 58.13, 14 whet it upon himself and family. Lawfull Exod: 3 2 6 recre­ations he thought this day unseasonable, and M [...] 12.1 [...]7 unlaw­full ones much more abominable: yet he knew 8 [...] [...].12, 13 1 C [...]r 7.14. [...] 16.15 the liberty God gave him for needfull refreshing, which he did neither refuse nor abuse. The Sacrament of 1 Cor▪ 10: 6 Baptism he received in Infancy, which he looked back to in age to answer his ingagements, and claim his priviledges; b The Lords Supper he accounted part of his souls food: 5 Iohn 7.37. Iohn 6 48 to which he laboured to keep an appetite. 1 Cor: 10, 16 He esteemed it an ordinance of nearest communion with Christ, and so requiring most 1 Cor. 11: 28 ex­act preparation. His first care was in the 1 Cor. 5: 2.13 examination of himself: yet as an act of Revel. 2, 2 office or charity, he had an eye on others.

He endevoured to have the scandalous Revel. 2 25. cast out of Communion: but he Mat. 16.6 cast not out himself, be­cause the scandalous were suffered by the negligence of others He condemned that Acts 13.12 1 Cor. 7 5 superstition and vanity of Popish mock-fasts: yet neglected not one occasion to humble his soul by right fasting: Mat. 15 8 He abhor­red the Popish doctrine of opus operatum in the no­tion. And in practise rested in Ioh. 4.23, 24 no performance, but [Page 4] what was done in spirit and truth. He thought God had left a rule in his word for Heb. 3.2.5, 6. discipline, and that 1 Tim 5.17. 1 Tim. 4: 14 Act. 20.17.28. Act. 21.18. Aristocratical by Elders, not Monarchichal by Bishops, nor Democraticall by the people. Right Ioh. 11.51 Discpline he judged pertaining not to the being, but well-being of a Church. Therefore he esteemed those Churches most pure where the Goverment is by Elders, yet unchurched not those where it was o­therwayes. Perfection 1 Cor. 11.17, 18, 19. Rev. 2.14.20. in Churches he thought a thing rather to be desired then hoped for. And so he expected not a Church state without all defects. The 1 Cor. 5.2. Rev 2.5. Ezek. [...] 4. corruptions that were in Churches he thought his duty to bewail, with endeavours of amendment: yet would he not Heb. 10.25 Iohn 4.11. separate, where he might partake in the worship, and not in the coruption. He put not 1 Tim. 2.8 holinesse in Churches, as in the Temple of the Jews; but onely counted them convenient like their Synagogues. He would have them kept 1 Cor. 14.40 decent, not magnificent, knowing that the Gospel requires not outward pomp. His chiefest musick was Iam. 5. [...]3. singing of Psalm [...]: wherein though he neglected not the melody of the voice, yet he chiefly looked after that of the Col. 3.16. heart. He disliked such 1 Cor. 14.26. Church musick as moved sensuall delight, and was an hindrance to spirituall inlargements. He accounted Rom. 13 1. Iam. 1.27. subjection to the High­er Powers to be part of pure religion, as well as to visit the fatherlesse and widows: yet did he distin­guish between authority and lusts of Magistrates, to that he submitted, 1 Cor. 7.23 but in these he durst not be a ser­vant of men, being bought with a price. Rom. 13.5 Just Laws and commands he willingly obeyed not only for fear but for conscience also; but such as were unjust he refused to observe, chusing Acts 4 19 rather to obey God then man: yet his refusall was Ier. 26.14 15. modest and with submis­sion [Page 5] to penalties, unless he could procure indulgence from Authority. He was careful in all relations to know and do duty, and that with Eph 5.21.22, &c. singleness of heart as unto Christ. He accounted Col. 3.22 religion an engage­ment to duty, that the best Christians should be best husbands, best wives, best parents, best children, best masters, best servants, best magistrates, best subjects, that the 1 Tim. 6.1 Titus 2 9, 10
1 Pet 3.1, 2, 3
Titus 3 1.
Mat. 17.27 doctrine of God might be adorned Colos. 4 15 not blasphemed. His family he endeavoured to make a Church, both in regard of Ps. 1.1 2, 6 7 persons and exercises, ad­mitting none into it but such as feared God, and la­bouring that those that were born in it, might be born again to God. He 1 Chr. 16.43. blessed his family morning and evening by the Word and Prayer, and took care to perform those Ordinances in the best season. He Eph. 6 4 brought up his children in the nurture and admo­nition of the Lord, and commanded his Gen. 18 19 servants to keep the way of the Lord. He set up Psal. 101 discipline in his Family, as he desired it in the Church, not onely reproving, 1 Sam. 3.13 but restraining vileness in his. Tit 2.21, 12 He was consciencious Prov. 11.1 of equity as well as piety: Ezek. 36 26 knowing that 2 Cor. 1.17. unrighteousness is abomination as well as ungodliness. He was cautelous in promising, Psalm. 15.4 but careful in performing, counting his word no less engagement then his bond. He was a man of a ten­der heart, not only in regard of his own sin, but o­thers Lu. 10.3 [...].37 misery not counting mercy Mat. 25.34, 35
Iames 2.13 arbitrary, but a necessary duty, wherein as he prayed for Psalm 112.5 Wisdom to direct him, so he studied for Rom. 12.8 chearfulness and 2 Cor. 9.5, 6 7 bounty to act. He was sober in the use of the things of this life, rather 1 Pet. 5.8
1 Cor. 9.27 beating down the body, then pampering it; yet Eccles. 2.14 he denied, not himself the use of Gods blessing, lest he should be Deut. 8 10 11 unthankful; but a­voided excess lest he should be forgetful of the Do­ner [Page 6] In his habit he avoided 1 Tim 2: [...] 1 Pet. 3.3, 4 costliness and vanity, neither exceeding his degree in civility, nor declining what suted with Christianity, desiring in all things to express Phil 4 8 gravity. His whole life he accounted Eph. 6.10, 11 12 a warfare, wherein Christ was his Captain, his arms, Ephes. 6.18 Hosea 12.4
1 cor. 15.48
Ephes 4, 14
Cant. 1 7
Jer 6.16 prayers and tears. The Heb 2.9, 10 Cross his Banner, and his Luke 8 15
Rev. 12.11
and 14.12 word Vincit qui patitur.

He was [...] immoveable in all times, so that they who in the midst of many opinions have lost the view of true Religion, may return to him and there find it. Mat. 16 24
Gal, 6.14, 7

REader, Seeing a passage in Mr. Tombes his Book against Paedobaptism; wherein he compares the Non conformists in England, to the Anabaptists in Germany, in regard of their miscarriages and ill suc­cess in their endeavours, till of late years, I was mo­ved for the vindication of those Faithful and Reve­rend Witnesses of Christ, to publish this Character; whereof if any shall desire proof in matter of fact, as in matter of right the Margent contains evidence, let him either consult their Writings, or those who are fit Witnesses by reason of age, fidelity & acquain­tance, having fully known their Doctrine, manner of li [...]e, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, patience, persecution and affliction, &c. 2 Tim. 3.10, 11. And I doubt not but full testimony wil be given that their aim and general course was according to the Rule: Some extravagants there be in all professions, but we are to judge of a profession by the rule they hold forth, and that carriage of the professors which is general and ordinary.