there was a Conventicle that Night there were so many Dissenters about the Fire How reproachfully so ever these might speak I believe Mr. Mayor then Parker at Hencross was more serious when he told me the Town of Nottingham was much beholden to our Conventicle for the timely stopping of those Flames 12. The 3d of December 1685. this Night through extraordinary Drowsiness at Family-Prayer I slep'd 2 or 3 times and awaking again did not use the best means I could and should of standing up to prevent the Drowsiness I hop'd might go off without it Upon which being dropt again asleep to my Apprehensions something gave me a great Blow upon the Middle of my Back which presently awaked me in a Fright which I did really feel paining me some Minutes after I was awaken I have purpos'd upon it and hope through Grace to perform it to be always more watchful for the future against such a Sin This brings to my Mind another Providence of like nature My eldest Brother being to repeat a Lecture-Sermon one Night in my Father's Family I being then very young and not liking that Work cry'd to go to Bed and to have my Brother with me in which after some repulse I was gratifi'd in my Desire to our Chamber we went and into Bed I got but before I could drop asleep I felt the bottom of the Bed-clothes lift up where presently something pull'd me by the Toe but nothing there was to be seen this affrighted me exceedingly and though young I could conclude it a Rebuke to me for hindring that pious Exercise of Repetition and durst never do it after Some good Sayings of good Men I find collected in my Diary out of Sermons I have heard viz. 1. THere 's few if any whose Joys in a comfortable Communion with God are not sometimes clouded with Sorrow 2. Where the Minister's Work ends there the Hearer's begins 3. It shows but little Love to God in Duty when we come with Unwillingness stay with Weariness and go away with Gladness 4. A Man may be fat in Gifts yet lean in Grace 5. In the want of all things we may taste and see how sweet the Lord is 6. It 's comfortable Musick to hear the Bird in the Breast singing whatever we suffer for it 7. That Repentance is seldom true-hearted that is gray-headed 8. Let our Thirst to worldly things be cold to heavenly things inflamed 9. It 's easy for Men to fly from Duty but impossible to avoid their Account 10. Accustom thy self to Duty but do not Duties customarily 11. Entertain none in your Houses that shut God out of their Hearts 12. Associate not your selves with those as Friends that are God's Enemies 13. They cannot be true to Men that are false to God 14. Dare not to decline Duty to preserve Liberty 15. Let the present Day 's Practice be still the Mending of the past Day 's Errors 16. I fear my Duties more than my Sins Duties lift me up but my Sins humble me 17. It 's well if Rome's Reliques amongst us do not keep Possession for Popery 18. Give not way to sleep any Night till thou hast particularly inquired into thy Carriage the Day past 19. Family-Passions cloud Faith disturb Duty and darken Comforts 20. He never wants Comfort that lives content 21. That Man never wants his own Will that makes God's Will his 22. They need not drink of another's Bucket that have the Fountain nor use Stilts and Crutches that have Spiritual Strength 23. Let Parents and Governours by their Examples endeavour to influence Children and Servants into a good Practice 24. Sanctified Troubles are Tokens of special Love 25. If your Houses be not Nurseries for Heaven they 'l be breeding Places for Hell 26. Whatever Evil we would reprove in another we must be doubly watchful against it our selves 27. Early beginnings in Goodness makes an easy Death-Bed 28. Put not that of to last that cannot be done too soon 29. We have no more to live upon to Eternity than what we lay up in Time 30. It 's better to be reproached for being too soon than damned for being too late in Heaven's ways 31. Good Families make good Churches and good Education good Families 32. The contented Man is never poor let him have never so little and the discontented Man never rich let him have never so much 33. There are two Jubilees kept in Heaven one at the Conversion of a Sinner on Earth the other at his Glorification in Heaven 34. Bad Times to live in are good Times to die in 35. Afflictions are hard Meat but Patience a good Digester 36. The best Trial of our Spiritual Estate is by the tenure of our Actions not by this or that particular Action 37. Though a sincere Christian will not overtake a Sin yet the most sincere may be overtaken with a Sin 38. Sad Conclusions might be drawn against eminent Saints if some particular Actions were a Rule to judge by 39. It 's good to be as charitable to others as ordinarily we are partial to our selves 40. The best of Saints would never arrive at Assurance if it did not consist with many Imperfections 41. A sanctified Cross hath more of Mercy in it than an unsanctified Comfort 42. The Company a Man keeps is a Commentary upon his Life 43. Persecuted Godliness is far more eligible than prosperous Prophaneness 44. It 's the very Nature of true Faith to make future Things present 45. It 's very difficult for one to be angry and not sin and very dangerous to sin in being angry 46. It 's good Scripture-Logick to draw Conclusions of Confidence from Premises of Experience 47. The poorest in the World has more than he had when he came into the World and more than he can carry out when he leaves the World 48. Duties rested in as well as Sins unrepented of are dangerous 49. If Mercy be not a Load-stone to draw us nearer to God it will be a Mill-stone to sink us deeper into Hell 50. It 's sad to lose good Men in the best Times but looks like a Judgment to lose them in the worst The Surviving Advice of a Deceased Husband to a Surviving Wife Or a Call from the Dead to the Living Written January the 30th 168 and intended for my Dear Wife's Perusal if it shall please the Lord She survive Me. Note This was written some time before the Death of his former Wife Dearest on Earth I Having of some late Months been imploy'd in setting not only my Heart which I accounted my greatest Work but my House in order which I judged likewise absolutely necessary in order to my great Change I could not but leave a few Lines of Advice to thee my best Friend on Earth which whilst I live I hope to follow with my Prayers to the great God and our heavenly Father for his Blessing upon This I was the rather induced to do now when through Mercy in perfect Health that I might
Carriage to her was too high and peevish apprehending her too little submissive to me as a Husband and too ready to invade the Authority I thought my self to have a Right to here I might mistake but however by it see abundance of Pride and Corruption in my Nature the Good Lord humble me for that 6. My not discharging it may be all marriage-Marriage-Duties as I ought might provoke the Lord. 7. It may be I have done this in cumbring my self with so much worldly Business in bad times and when I had no need Now the Lord seems to knock me off from such Cumbers by taking from me her that was wonderfully assisting to me in them Present Thoughts I have had with reference to my Removal since the Death of my Wife as to a retired Life After my seeking God by Prayer about my Settlement the Encouragements for my continuing at Ollercarr were such as these 1. THE Lord's Providence bringing me to this Place more particularly manifest in my Diary in the first part of my Life and his giving me great Encouragement in my enjoying Gospel-Ordinances here without very much Interruption or Disturbance 2. The Favour and Respect he has been pleased to give me from the whole Neighbourhood 3. A Settlement by House-keeping Necessaries being concerned to take care of some whom I would provide for according to my Ability 4. My having a great Husbandry upon my Hands and eleven Years Lease of this Estate 5. The Capacity I am in of serving this Neighbourhood by the publick Opportunities the Lord has blest me with here Reasons and Encouragements for Removing from Ollercarr 1. THe Loss of my Dear Wife upon whose account at first I was chiefly induc'd to this Place but now very uncomfortable to me 2. The irregular Carriages and Behaviour of Servants in Family-Affairs and my Unfitness to manage and look after them 3. In regard that I have Encouragement enough that I may let this Land or else manage it with two or three faithful Servants in my Absence and it may be more to my advantage than now 4. The very great Unsetledness of Present-times and my Obnoxiousness to their Effects seems to call me to a more retired way of Living than here at Ollercarr 5. The Debts which at present I am in I am apprehensive can no better way be soon discharged which I much desire than by giving up House-keeping at least for some time 6. By a more retired way of Living I may have greater advantage for Self-Reflections and more time than here I can have for the Management of Soul-Concerns 7. The Cumbers of the World will ill sute me in my solitary and lonesome Condition when the Language of present Providence seems to call me off from these things 8. By giving up House for a time I shall have the advantage of Visiting Conversing with and serving some Relations that need Help and Assistance and I have been too much wanting to 9. Because my present Purpose after seeking the Lord in the case is but to leave my House here for the Winter half-year it being uncomfortable enough then 10. Mr. Coats and his Dear Consort whom I heartily love and honour need be no Losers by this Alteration they may here keep House take Tablers serve their Generation and live at as little charge I believe as any where else and if so then the great Objections I have against leaving this House will be removed and my leaving it encouraged and the Ordinances of God will still be kept up here to the Refreshment of this hungering Neighbourhood 11. I may the rather go upon this account that Mr. Coats the last Year had given me notice to remove from me The Author having gone so far by his own Hand in the Account of his Life to June 86 some farther Passages since that time to the time of his Death be pleased to take a view of in the Preface written by his Worthy and Reverend Pastor In which Place it was thought best to insert them rather than to interrupt what he had collected and recorded himself LETTERS A LETTER to a Relation inviting him to forsake Sin and to pursue Holiness April 1685. SIR COnsidering the ill use you have made of some former Advice given you I have not upon that account much encouragement to make further Attempts of that nature yet knowing that the Work of Convincing and Converting is the Lord's and that the Wind blows where and when it listeth I may not despair but some Good through the Blessing of the Almighty may yet be done upon you I do indeed purposely conceal my Name at present lest you should despise or slight the Advice upon the account of the Adviser whom you have too lavishly and unjustly reproached though I am confident I have deserved better Treatment at your hands But this is not the thing such Passages I can pass by yet sadly bewail them in you as knowing them to be some of the dismal Effects of your drunken Frolicks but remember for these and the like things God will bring you to Judgment I am not ignorant that many of those that wish you well have advis'd and reprov'd you again and again for your sinful Follies and would fain have you as well remember that terrible Threatning That he that being often reprov'd and hardens his Heart shall suddenly be destroy'd and that without Remedy Wherein you have injured me by your Tongue I can pass it by I would not return Slander for Slander nor answer Railing with Railing nor Reproach with Reproach I have not so learned Christ I can heartily pity you forgive you and pray for you and would now fain perswade you to be good and what can be more your Interest than to be so Come Sir if you have any respect to a dear and tender Wife that lies in your Bosom to a small Babe to indulgent Parents to well-wishing Friends to your own Soul Body or Estate but above all to the Commands of a great God you must be good make a stand consider and take up in time It 's my Love to you makes me thus plain with you for I dare not flatter Whatever you may think or however others may endeavour to palliate great Sins by giving them easy Names Sin will be called Sin and Wickedness Wickedness Drunkenness will be call'd Drunkenness and Sweating Swearing at the Great-day and punished as such and why not now Repentance is your Duty and that can never be right and evangelical without Reformation I do believe it is your desire to be eternally happy and can you expect it if you be not holy Without Holiness no one shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Can you ever expect to get in at the Strait-gate while you walk in the Broad-way no Strait is the Gate and narrow the Way that leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it O that you may be one of those few Will you do the Devil's Work and expect the Lord's
thô you would not see 't Then take them Devils bind them Hands and Feet Persecutors Come forth you Persecutors now you 'l know What 't was for to oppress my Friends below You did not only mock and scoff but when You pleas'd you did imprison th' best of Men. Not only did you wound them with the Tongue But Scorpion-like you many of them stung Some Judas-like you wickedly betray'd And others with your Treats you made afraid You banish'd some and others spilt their Blood Because they durst not sin but would be good Many you hal'd to Prison whom you knew In all their Pray'rs to me forgot not you You would not walk your selves in th' Narrow-way And such as would you often caus'd to stray You thought herein you serv'd me but now see It was the Devil's Work with him you 'l be Take them then Devils let those Monsters know Their Folly's great who serv'd my Servants so Licentious Licentious ones come forth for you have been Allâ—vers of your selves in every Sin You never laid Restraints upon your Will But always would your Appetites fulfil Your Lusts must be indulg'd your Sins allow'd The least Advance on Earth has made you proud If others would be bad you 'd not forbear With Drunkards would be drunk with Swearers swear With haughty Spirits you could rant and huff And with the vilest would be vile enough Then take them Devils let them ever burn In Hell's devouring Flames and ne're return Gluttons Come forth ye Gluttons you that must be fed With best of Dainties and the finest Bread Who could for th' Body lusty Morsels carve Whilst a neglected Soul was like to starve Whose Cry was always Give come give us more Thô Beggars went but empty from your Door If Paunches were not swell'd to th' biggest Last You always thought you had a poor repast If Bellies were not fill'd up to the Brim And you in Liqour almost fit to swim You thought Provision mean and you must starve Thô Scraps indeed were more than such deserve Well take them Devils give them now their fill Let swinish Tempers have their swinish Swill Drunkards Drunkards come forth who did your selves besot By drinking Wine in Bowls Pot after Pot Who did unman your selves debase your Reason And this not seldom but at every Season You knew you sinn'd by every such Excess That Nature would be satisfi'd with less And that such Drunkards must their Portion take In the infernal Pit and fiery Lake Yet drink you would and Drunkards you would be And in excuse would say some tempted me Others thus pleaded that as for their share They overtaken were before aware But these things will not do your Pleas are naught And all your drunken Frolicks dearly bought Then seize them Devils let them ever take Whole Draughts of Vengeance in a flaming Lake Adulterers Come forth Adulterers that cursed Seed Who were unchaste in Thought or Word or Deed For all these things by my Command I did Most strictly all the Sons of Men forbid You Wantons knew these things most sinful were And yet to act them seldom would forbear You sought out secret Corners where to sin And act your lustful Wickednesses in You dreaded humane Eyes and watch'd for Night That Works of Darkness might not see the Light But ne're consider'd my all-seeing Eye Could Wickedness thrô thickest Darkness spy Then take them Satan rack them in each part That they may ever know I search the Heart Covetous Come forth those worldly Muck-worms that took pleasure In nothing more than heaping up a Treasure In this vain World but never did know why Or who should afterwards the same enjoy Who fixt your Hearts on Earth but would not know When God does blow on such things all must go Your Thoughts were so on Earth you never could Think once of Heav'n at least you never would Bestow a Thought about your future State And Sinners now you see it is too late Then take them Devils ransack all your Hoards And give them Treasures such as Hell affords Unmerciful Come forth all those who would no Mercy show Nor pity take on needy ones below Who would not spare some Pence out of their Store But sent the Hungry empty from their Door And churlishly would at the Beggar scoff Or else would look at him a great way off Had Bowels always shut against their Cries And no regard would have to weeping Eyes Well take them Devils to eternal Pain Let those who shew'd no Mercy seek't in vain Unrighteous Come forth unrighteous Persons and unjust Who in their Dealings here betray'd their Trust Widows and Orphans by their louder Cries Have rent the Heavens and have pierc'd the Skies Your over-reaching Neighbours heretofore And grinding of the Faces of the Poor Oppressing some who ever you thought fit And vexing others whom you could out-wit All these and other such unrighteous Gains Is known to me your Judg and for your Pains Take them now Devils hurl them into th' Fire That 's kindled and increased by my Ire Liars Come forth you Liars that would not refrain To tell a Lie at any time for Gain Who were so much accustom'd to this Sin As if your training up in Hell had been Affirming for a Truth the thing which you At that time did well know to be untrue But this you oft have done without a Thought That such a Practice loved is stark naught You have reported Lies but that 's not all You often have invented them withal O what a Case are you in who as soon As you could almost speak were Liars grown Too often have you by this Lying trade A Fault that was but single two Faults made Then take them Devils for a common Liar Is Fewel very proper for Hell-fire Slanderers Let Slanderers come forth and now appear Who always to Back-biters lent their Ear And then would Stories here and there soon scatter Which whether true or false they did not matter Thus you have liv'd and hereby oft have ta'ne Vnjustly from your Neighbours their good Name Your very Language is of such a sort Let Neighbours but report and we 'l report Such Persons surely never yet well knew The Duty to a Neighbour that was due Thô know they might and ought that in their Station They should not blast but help his Reputation Take them then Devils down to Hell them bear And let them tell those Fiends what now they hear Ambitious Come forth Ambitious Persons and the Proud Make room for them they are too great to crowd Come you who built your Nests on Earth so high As if you meant most proudly thence to fly To Heav'n but this can't be you knowing well 'T was Pride threw Angels down from thence to Hell Many a dirty Step you took to th' Seat Of Honour when on Earth to make you great And tow'ring were your Thoughts and swelling Pride Admiring of your selves but none beside Others you scorn'd and always thought unfit At any
hath done great Things for us of which we are glad O that we would put on all the Strength we have and put it forth and go to God for more and be exalted in our Desires and Zeal and Endeavours and do to our utmost for God O that all those who name the Name of Christ would part from Iniquity and labour to stand compleat in the Will of God filling up their Days and Places and Relations with Duty and leading such unblameable and exemplary Lives as may condemn the wicked World and be expressive of God and shew forth the Vertues of him that hath called them out of Darkness into his marvellous Light O that I could see the Church the Lamb's Wife in her Bravery in her Garments of wrought Gold as a Bride made ready for her Husband and so the Beauty of the Lord our God upon all those who own themselves his Children begotten to him by the Gospel Reader The worthy Author of this small Piece which is noâ— put into thine Hands by an Hand of Love was one of mine intimate Acquaintance a Gentleman yea and more than so a Godly Man a Man in Christ of a Worshipful Family and which is yet more of the Houshold of Faith one that could fetch hiâ— Pedigrâ—â— from Heaven and call God Father He had a good Temporal Estate the Câ—…ouâ—s of this Life having been boâ—…fully dealâ—â—ut to him but he did not take up with them nor value himself by them for he was rich toward God rich in Faith and good Works After many Troubles which he met with divers tosses and tumblings which disturbed that sweet Repose he otherwise would gladly have taken he did by the good Hand of God upon him fix in this City where he had a comfortable enjoyment of himself sitting with great delight under the refreshing Shadow of his dearest Lord in the most precious Ordinances of the Gospel It pleased God after a considerable time to direct and incline his Heart to join himself to that Flock of Christ over which the Holy Ghost hath made me Overseer In which he was very eminent for his constant Attendance and serious Attention and great Affection He took the Sermons deliver'd verbatim read them to his Wife and Family when he came home and several of them he wrote out in a very fair Hand that he might leave them behind him for the benefit of others He was an humble and holy Christian no Busy-body not captious nor quarrelsom a Companion of all those that feared God for in them was all his Delight as the Excellent Ones of the Earth Most willing to condescend to and be familiar with Persons of low Degree not valuing any so much by what they had of the World as by the Relation in which they stood to Christ and by the Spirit Grace and Disposition of Christ which discover'd it self in them He was no Fashion-monger Genteel but not Gaudy Neat but Modest and Sober so adorning himself as that he might adorn the Doctrine of his God and Saviour putting on Christ and Mercy and Bowels and over all Humility that was the upper Garment through which the rest were seen being immovably resolved to keep the Commandments of God He bid Evil-doers depart from him and was a Companion of them that would walk with him in the Way everlasting They and none but they were the Men of his Choice When our publick Liberty was by our good God graciously given us after very long and furious Storms had been upon us he soon made choice of me for his Pastor and that Flock of Christ which I am appointed to water and lead into green Pastures and by the still Waters he did as I said before choose to walk in a Holy Communion with And with them he continued until the Great God in whose Hand our Times are was pleased to remove him to the Church Triumphant in Heaven During all that Time he was very exemplary to others and no less pleasant to me I being desired one Day to preach the Morning-Lecture in Southwark he would needs accompany me We together crossed the Water and either going or returning he got Cold which was obstinate and kindled in him a Feaver and that Feaver consumed him his little Oil spent aspace and the Lamp of his precious and much desired Life was soon extinguished But O how did he shine and glorify God in that Fire How sweetly did he carry toward him without any Quarrelling or the least spice of Discontent I heard not the least word that spake a Dislike of the Providence No no his Spirit was as it ought to be submitted to the Divine Will and he at God's disposal ready to die for Preparation had been his Work and willing to die for that would be his Advantage His submissive Resignation to the Holy Will of God herein see in the Record he left in his Diary in the beginning of his Sickness thus March 10 Through Mercy this Day much better with me than my Desert tho I find my self somewhat indispos'd by Cold full of Aches and Pains and Chilliness and sore Eyes the Lord if it be his Will heal me this Night or grant a Preparedness for his Pleasure and that as the outward Man decays the inward Man may be renewed day by day The Lord pardon my Sin and accept of Praise for all Mercies And the Night following which was the last he writ in his Diary he recorded it thus March 21. This Day some Distemper seems to hang upon me thô not worse blessed be God than last Night The Lord in Mercy heal me and recover me or fit me for thy Pleasure The good Lord fit me for the approaching Sabbath and make it a good Day to my Soul for Christ's Sake Pardon my Sin and take Praise And God was exceeding gracious to him for he chained up Satan so that he could not throw one fiery Dart at him and he enabled Conscience to bear its Testimony to his filial State and having led his Conversation in the World in Simplicity and godly Sincerity not with fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God and also he lifted upon him the Light of his Countenance shed abroad his Love in his Heart by the Holy Ghost which had been given him and furnished him with such an Anchor of Hope as was fixed within the Vail and both sure and stedfast And all this being done for him it was not in the power of the King of Terrors to affright him but in his nearest Approaches he could look him in the Face without any Discomposure and not only triumph over him as a baffled and conquer'd Enemy whose Teeth were broken and Sting lost but likewise bid him welcome as a Messenger sent by his Father to do him a real Kindness And knowing whom he had believed he could with Joy breath out his Last and take his Flight to the unseen World where as he was sure his dearest Lord had taken up his own Rest at
in the Evening of it take one or other of us to walk with him in the Garden where he would always commune with us of Heavenly Matters would enquire into our Proficiency by the Means of that Day would try our Knowledg in Spiritual Things and as carefully instruct us where he found Ignorance prevailing But above all which I must never forget he has so awakingly and pathetically discoursed to us about the Joys of Heaven and the Happiness of Souls being arrived there that I can say I have even longed at such a time to he out of the Body and to be with the Lord have been filled with hungring Desires to forsake the World's Husks and to taste those Dainties of my Father's House which indeed my Brother did most lively and sweetly represent to us I well remember I have then been ready with Paul to desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ At other Times he would in so sweet yet startling manner discourse to us about the Pains of Hell and the Eternal Misery of Damned Souls would so lively set forth Sin in its Black and Bloody Colours as that which brings Souls to that place of horrid Darkness that I and I believe others of my Brothers and Sisters were sussiciently startled and frighted for that Time It made me whilst the Thoughts were afresh upon me much afraid of Sin my main Reason alas being then only as I well remember that I might escape those dreadful Miseries he had represented to us I can say to the Glory of God that thorow his Blessing upon my Brother's Discourse I have had good Impressions sometimes upon me which I must sadly say too soon wore off again being but as the Morning-Cloud and as the Early Dew He would with some others of his School-Fellows who were of the same Form with himself such as Mr. John Reyner that most eminent Servant of God now in Heaven Mr. Jonathan Robinson that Pious Christian now a Bookseller in London Mr. Thomas Peachall an Attourney and divers others then well disposed frequently meet together and kept Hours nay often whole Afternoons in Religious Exercises by themselves They took their Turns for the carrying on that Work and usually discoursed from some Text of Scripture at such times and this they did from House to House doing good it 's hoped wherever they came admitting constantly of some Auditors of the House where they were My Brother was several Years at the University of Oxford and a Member of Corpus-Christi Colledg was an Universal Scholar and supposed to have but few Equals in Learning As for Physick he somewhat delighted in that Study and proved not a little useful to some upon that account I remember I my self being much out of order and weak tho not Sick at about 13 or 14 Years old many thought I was going into a Consumption the Distemper of our Family I spit Blood and had other Symptoms that he discovered he perceiving me discouraged at such their Apprehensions told me I was not far gone in that Distemper and tho it should prevail might live 20 or 30 Years He advised me to eat Raisons frequently and some time to drink my own Water every Morning which I did for several Days and through the Blessing of God most successfully Unhappy Differences when my Brother was grown a Man did too frequently fall out betwixt my Father and him which did arise sometimes a considerable height some thought my Father too strict with him in his Years of Manhood and others thought him abundance too stubborn and rebellious in his Carriage towards my Father but further mention of this matter will not become my Pen. Those Differences reduced my Brother to great Straits and I heartily blame my self who too often occasioned the Quarrels for want of Brotherly Compassion and Tenderness towards him when in Distress and I my self tho a Child in some Capacity at London to do it the Lord forgive me My Brother John died at about the Age of 16 Years at Swinderby of a deep Consumption And tho I having for some Years before been an Apprentice in London had not the advantage of intimate Acquaintance with him nor therefore of making Remarks upon him for some Years before his Death yet this I was certainly assured of by those who knew him best that he lived a very blameless and unspotted Life and died a most comfortable and happy Death resigning his Soul into the Hands of God his Faithful Creator and leaving a vain World with Joy and Comfort My Sisters Elizabeth Mary and Dorcas were all Persons that had the Fear of God before their Eyes were exemplary in Holiness and truly serious and gracious they were usually under the Eye Care and Conduct of our godly Parents and in this respect had the Advantage greatly beyond some others of us of Parental Instructions and Admonitions being constantly under a Religious Discipline their good Education the Lord gave them Hearts to improve and Grace to answer they were of good natural Tempers Lovers of God's Ordinances conscientious in the Discharge of Duties both Religious and Relative and strict in the Sanctification and Observance of the Lord's Day Elizabeth married to John Hatfield Esq of Laughton in Yorkshire Mary to Mr. Jonathan Stanyforth then of Rotheram in the same County and after of Firbeck Dorcas to Mr. Joshua Wigley of Cliff in Derbyshire All very eminent for Holiness had very competent Estates kept up Religion in the strictness of it in their Families maintained a strict Discipline and endeavoured to train up all under their Care and Charge in the Fear of the Lord. These my Sisters lived but a few Years after their Marriage with their Husbands and left them for their Lord Christ one much better My Sister Mary I think only left a Child to survive her viz. Disney Stanyforth and now under my Tuition as one of his Guardians he is at my writing this about the Age of 15 Years a comely Child of sweet Disposition extraordinary Solidity observant of Friends not morose but kind to Enemies and which crowns all one I think I may say truly fears God My Parents for whom I bless God being truly religious themselves took great care by a religious Education to make us their Children so too and that whilst young and afterwards were as careful and circumspect in the disposing of us in Marriage and Imployments to such as feared God And truly God did wonderfully answer their Prayers and bless their Endeavours for we were all of us setled and disposed herein to our Parents great Satisfaction and our own great Comfort Too few I fear consider and improve the Advantage of a religious Education though certainly a most singular and distinguishing Blessing Not to be born of Popish Pagan Turkish or Debauched Parents must needs be esteem'd a great Mercy and surely will be by those the Lord does savingly enlighten such will know how prone Corruption within will be to
encline to an Imitation of what 's bad and sinful But now to be born of Christian Parents yea such who are of the stricter sort surely this can be no less than distinguishing Mercy If it be a Mercy to Children to be train'd up in the Nurture and Fear of the Lord to be taught to be Religious by the Example of such Parents If a Mercy to Children to be in Covenant with God to have a Stock of Prayers laid up in Heaven for them to have wholesom Counsel serious Instructions pious Reproofs refreshing Comforts and necessary Corrections If these things be Mercies as surely none will deny certainly then the Children of religious Parents have cause all their Days to bless God for such a Mercy Here 's now the advantage of Religious Education when a Parent or Governor's Conduct of Children committed to their Care is moderated betwixt the Extreams of an unwarrantable Indulgence and cruel Rigor when Parents so deport themselves in their good Conduct and Government that Children may both love and honour their Presence when they are not too fond lest Children should not fear them nor too stern lest they should fear them too much Well! good Parents I bless God for As to my Brother Daniel in his younger Years he and I being both Abroad and at great Distance each from the other I had not the advantage of making particular Remarks He had his Learning and Education in part at the Lady Hussy's with Mr. Birkitts and after that with Mr. Ferguson both of them Non-conforming Ministers He marry'd pretty young Katherine one of the Daughters of Henry Fynes of Kirkstead Esq a Coheir by whom he had several Children four of them yet living and hopeful She proved a most tender loving Wife a dear Parent and a gracious Christian for many Years before she was summoned from Earth to Heaven which was on May the 16th 1690. A farther account of her some Letters in this Book contain I the said Gervase Disney being but a weak Child while young by reason of the Rickets I had in a high degree was as tenderly regarded and brought up much Care was taken of me especially by my Mother than whom I believe there can't be any more loving kind and tender-hearted breathing I could not by reason of my Weakness go till about eight years Old but long before that I fear could run swiftly enough in the Ways of Sin and Vanity In these Years I cannot say that I had the least sense of the Corruption of my Nature and the Evil of Sin upon my Heart Several Years I was carried in the Arms of one Anne Carlton a Servant in our Family who constantly attended me Bent enough I was to play and therefore for some Years had a constant way of Hitching about upon a Cushion the better to follow and join with my Brothers and Sisters in their Sports when by reason of the Rickets my Legs would not carry me The first Tidings of my Walking alone was welcome Tidings to my Father and Mother and brought by my Uncle Lee then a Tabler at our House at Lincoln for the Benefit of Free-School-Learning It seems he and the other Children were engaged in some kind of Sports that I had an Eagerness to pursue when finding I could not follow fast enough by Hitching did strangely and suddenly adventure a trial of Skill after them upon my Legs holding by Tables and Stools as I went along But O what a Miracle of Mercy am I to the Glory of God be it spoken who am now arriving the 48th Year of my Age having for most of these Years been healthful and strong and little acquainted with Sickness when as for several Years when a Child I was so weak that few thought I could live many Months O that I should out-live Seven of my Brothers and Sisters so many Years who were all of them so much stronger and most of them so much younger than my self But God's Ways and Thoughts are not as ours Surely as some times yea often I have thought God has something extraordinary for me to do tho the meanest and unworthiest of all his Servants only this I have learn'd through Grace to say heartily and chearfully Speak Lord for thy Servant desires to hear send me Lord upon any Errand and set me about any Work whether doing or suffering and I thy Servant desires faithfully to attend it If I may have but thy Presence with me and thy Supports and Comforts to refresh me in my way I shall be content I being in Childhood so long weak was not sent to School till about 12 or 13 years Old and then to the Free-School at Lincoln but did not altogether lose my time before for my honoured and good Aunt Thorneton who was with my Mother mostly from her Marrying with my Father did instruct me in my English Learning Indeed to most if not all of us she was both Nurse and Instructer my Mother having Children thickly and nursing us all herself was rendred less capable and therefore my dear Aunt 's Service was much more grateful and acceptable I went not to School of several Years and when I did made but little Proficiency having an aversness to-Learning or rather to Study the burdensom part of it my Inclination and Fancy working rather to other Things as Writing Herauldry Musick c. and these Exercises I used not only as Diversion but spent all the Time I could ever be Master of in them My Father therefore perceiving me to decline Learning gave me my choice of any Trade I inclined most to a Herauld-Painter having by frequent Practice arrived at tolerable Perfection in that Art But that Employ being judged to be too burdensom to an Apprentice I inclin'd to be bound to a Bookseller the advantage of many Authors and a good Library being to me the main Inducement But that Mr. Robinson told my Father was a declining Trade At last it was concluded with the Approbation of all concerned for me that I must be bound for 7 Years to my Cousin Mr. Martin Oglethorp a Silk-man and Merchant in Lombard-street London And there I was placed about the Year 1661 and about the 18th or 19th Year of my Age. There alas my Carriage and Deportment was such that I have cause to bewail my Folly being not so diligent and careful in my Service as I ought to have been in answer to a good Education the Lord had blessed me with These particular Sins I remember I was too frequently guilty of viz. wasting my Master's Time by employing too much in my own Service and that generally to my Disadvantage neglect of Duties Equivocation studiously contrived for the covering concealing and hiding other Faults which then I remember the Devil and my own naughty Heart perswaded me was not Lying yet since through Grace I have learnt to know was no better being intended and contrived for the deceiving of others And thus I have most wickedly
have no Worldly Affair unsetled to disturb and distract my Mind withal when upon the very Confines of another World and lying upon a Sick-Bed or Death-Bed when I desire God may have all my Thoughts and all my Time and would fain be most serious and intent upon Soul-Concerns This little Treatise in three Parts containing the most remarkable Passages of my Life that occurr'd to Memory and collected out of my Diary written in Short-hand as a last Legacy I heartily commend to thy perusal and other Friends that survive me In it I have endeavoured impartially to God's Glory to give the darker Side of a vile Wretch on Earth as well as the brighter I was long thou seest a Wanderer from God and in a most bewildred Condition on that account I knew not where to rest till I anchor'd on the Rock of Ages had no true Peace till through Mercy I clos'd with Christ the Prince of Peace Conscience then often spoke when it was not heard and flew in my Face when my Study too much was to check stifle and hush it I was then a Terror to my self and perhaps to others about me especially observing Christian Friends who fain would but then could not prevail with me to be serious strict and good I was too long God knows in the Gall of Bitterness and in the Bonds of Iniquity and O what rich Mercy was it I was not then taken from Earth and thrown into Hell that through Grace I did out-live the Years of a loose carnal freshly and unregenerate State O my Dear I cannot express the Sorrows the Terrors the Heart-break and Trouble that my youthful Follies cost me in Riper-years My Closet was witness to something and my God to more but alas all too little if Free-Grace save me not I must yet perish but of this I nothing doubt through the Merits and Mediation of my blessed Redeemer to whom I hope in Heaven to Eternity to give the Glory of what he has been pleased to give me the comfort of The Lord has fully convinc'd me that all my Prayers and Tears my Searchings and Watchings can nothing avail me without Christ God shew'd me my lost and undone Condition before I had thought of enquiring what I must do to be sav'd or of looking out after a Saviour And this through Mercy I can say that I could never have truly a quiet Minute till I was most sweetly perswaded and powerfully enabled to close with Christ as offered in the Gospel O Rich-Grace Free-Grace And now Dear-heart let me invite thee into the Embraces of blessed Jesus Come taste and try how good God is to returning Sinners I believe thou hast Well be more and more in love with Christ enter into Covenant with God and frequently renew thy Covenant-Engagements and labour to perform Covenant-Promises never think thou can'st do enough for that God thou expectest so much from nay indeed thy all that can either make thee happy here or to Eternity Some few Heads of Advice out of tender Love both to thy Soul and Body I leave with thee 1. SEttle thy Temporal Affairs and Wordly Concerns betimes that upon a Death-bed thou maist not be distracted and diverted with them from higher and more besitting Employment I delay'd making my Will too long which was no small Perplexity to my Mind till the Year 1685 when I did it 2. If thou can'st think me worthy thy Remembrance forget not shewing some Kindness to such Relations and Friends of mine who I need not name being known to thee who are Objects of Pity and need thy Charity 3. If thou do'st not incline to a Settlement in Nottingham in the House I leave thee for thy Life then be with or as near as may be some of thy Religious Friends such as may be Helpers and Promoters not Hinderers of thy eternal Welfare 4. If the Lord should again incline thee to marry dare not to join thy self in that Relation to any that is not join'd to the Lord marry one I say who in the judgment of the best of Friends as well as thine own which may in such a case deceive thee do's truly fear God nay I would advise thee to marry one of a healthful strong and sound Constitution by whom if the Lord please thou may'st have the Blessing of Children for I have reason to suppose that some Weaknesses and Infirmities whilst a Child and Young might render me less capable in that respect 5. If thou shouldest have Children train them up in the fear of the Lord help to fill Heaven with thy Off-spring 6. Having marry'd own thy Husband as thy Head submit to the Duties of a Wife for the Lord's Sake labour and pray for a meek and quiet frame of Spirit which is in the sight of the Lord of great price 7. Have some eye over and inspection into the Behaviour and Conversations of those I were some-time intrusted as Guardian for Jog and quicken Loyterers Heaven-wards mind them of their Education Counsels and Instructions and how hopeful their Beginnings were and especially regard our Child and dear Niece Brain 8. Be much in Reading and Studying good Books these I commend to thee especially viz. The Holy Bible with Pool's Annotations Swinnock's One Cast for Eternity Barrett's Christian Temper Heywood's Heart-Treasure Reyner's Precepts Dunton's Heavenly Pastime Case's God's waiting to be gracious Flavel's Fountain of Life Bolton's Tost Ship R. Allen's Rebuke to Back-sliders Janeway's Heaven upon Earth Swinnock's Regeneration Love on Heaven's Glory c. Flavel's Saint indeed Steel of Vprightness Calamy's Godly Man's Ark Hooker's doubting Soul c. Hardcastle's Christian Geography Watson on Contentment Mede's almost Christian Doolittle on the Sacrament His Call to delaying Sinners most of Bunyan's Works very useful if read without Prejudice These Books amongst others I have had much Refreshment from and heartily commend them to thee 9. Do all thou dost either in Religious or Civil Actions with an eye at Eternity thus pray and hear and read and meditate and converse and engage in all secular Affairs and discharge all relative Duties with an eye at Eternity and this will help to make thee very serious and strict 10. Spend thy Week-days well in the discharge of Duties publick and private keep an exact Diary of any sinful Miscarriages and be humbled every Evening for them take notice of God's Mercies every day and labour to have thy Heart sutably affected with the Lord's Goodness observe and pen down God's Dealings with thee and thy Carriage and Behaviour towards God this the Lord has enabled me to practise with good Success 11. Esteem of Sabhath-Days as the best of Days these are the Market-Days of thy Soul make good Provision on them for it hear the Word meditate on it digest and practise it neglect no Duties of the Day in private but most highly value Publick-Assemblies God being by them most honoured 12. Redeem Time I can from my own Experience tell thee a Review in
which time I was afraid mine to you had miscarry'd I heartily rejoice at the Lord's Goodness to you and yours and through Mercy can give you the same Account concerning me and mine though a sickly Season in many Places We have through the Goodness of God of late enjoy'd very comfortable Opportunities at my House for which I desire to bless God But the last Meeting we had here being rather too large was disturb'd the Mayor having notice of Peoples coming in sent his Serjeant who when the People were disperst and the Minister gone came in and desired Liberty to search my House which I giving him he told me if upon my word I would say there was no Minister at my House he would neither trouble me nor himself I assured him there was none he then only went into the Garden where he pretended he saw 300 but however they not being able to make a Conventicle of it nor a Riot the Jury found it an unlawful Assembly the which they prosecute and I intend to traverse for they cannot make out any unlawful Act. The Day is yet dark and the Sufferings of many great and Sin at the bottom of all If the Hearts and Lives of Professors were better we should soon see better Times It 's repenting Work and reforming Work is our Duty O that we could see the Hand of God in all that befals us and turn to him that smiteth O that we could with Faith and Patience look up to the Rock of Ages when Foundations seem out of course c. A Copy of a Letter to Madam L. upon the Death of her Kinswoman and the Birth of her Child Honoured Madam I Did at the same time by the Pen of Mrs. Green receive the sad Tidings of the Death of your dear Kinswoman Mrs. M. and the joyful News of your safe Delivery from the Pains and Peril of Child-bearing the one I know would be afflicting enough to you the other I can assure you was welcom Tidings to me and a Mercy I hope and believe you will endeavour to improve towards your Support and Comfort and the Glory of the great Jehovah See dear Madam the Lord's Tenderness and Goodness to you in late Dispensations your Afflictions are mix'd and allay'd with Mercies You may experience what patient Job says The Lord gives and the Lord takes and I believe with him likewise you desire to bless his holy Name He has taken away your Kinswoman but he has given you a Child has taken away one that was very useful faithful and necessary to you and given you one who through his own Blessing upon a religious and pious Education you may comfortably hope he will make so Let not blubber'd Eyes for a Comfort lost prevent your chearful fruitful and thankful Notice of what remains pour not so much upon the dark-side of present Dispensations as to hinder your taking the Comfort of and heartily blessing God for the bright-side and Shinings of Mercy Dear Madam I am a hearty Sympathizer with you in your Trouble and desire to bear my part in blessing the Lord with you and for you with reference to Mercy show'd you You have now obtain'd a new Mercy from the Lord and I believe know well that new Duties are incumbent upon you c. A Letter to my Mother upon the Death of my Sister D. May 24 1690. Ever honoured Mother STill the Lord is pleased to make Breaches upon our Family the suddain and surprizing News of our dear Sister's Death came to us this Day by Mr. B. and I could not omit sending a few Lines to you by Post this Night I know Honoured Mother the Stroke lies exceeding heavy upon you I am afraid much too heavy being very well acquainted with the Tenderness of your Affections and the Workings of your Bowels to Relations But I pray dear Mother refuse not to be comforted I am perswaded you have no reason to sorrow as one without hope for her who I believe now sleeps in the Bosom of her and our dear Redeemer Our God has done his Pleasure let us now labour to do our Duty and be content We heartily wish our selves with you but can't as yet accomplish that Desire being unprovided of Horses and a Servant but as soon as may be we do purpose it The good Lord sanctify this Stroke to us all and â—it us for our latter End and grant that we may be Followers of those who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises The Inclosed I desired may be sent to my poor afflicted Brother to whose Relief and Support I desire to contribute something Though Shortness of Time suffers not Enlargement farther than to present all our humble Duties to your self and honoured Aunt with Service to all Friends I rest Honoured Mother Your Obedient Son G. D. A Letter to Brother D. upon the Death of his Wife May 24 90. My Dear Brother I Heartily lament the sad Breach the Lord has been pleas'd to make upon you and am the more a Sympathizer with you as knowing by my own Experience what such a Stroke and Dispensation means The Lord has I know taken away the Delight and Desire of your Eyes this is your Misâ—ry but having taken her to himself let that be your Comfort he has snatch'd at a Stroke a Wife out of your Bosom which certainly is most grievous but has he not taken her into his own let this be your Support She was well provided for on Earth and had as much Satisfaction aâ— I believe any on account of a tender Husband sweet Children deaâ— Relations and other comfortable Accommodations but much better now in Heaven has better Place better Company better Employment tâ—an a vain World evâ—r did or could afâ—ord What occurs in 2 Cor. 7. 29 31. equally concerns both you and me whose Conditions in this case havâ— been the very same though now different you must labour to be and carry as if you had not lost a Wife and I as if I had no Wife Time is short and Life shoâ—t and relative Comforts are transient and fluid things thereforâ— your Sorrows must be moderate for your Loss and my â—oys be as if they were not seeing we and ours are to fall and part and pass away in our Courses My dear Brother labour â—or a Christian-Carriage under so sad a Cross O that what you want in the Creature may be abundantly made up by a Creator and that what you have lost as to Streams may be supplied from a Fountain God's Rod has a Voice as well as his Word and I believe you 'l labour to hear it and him that has appointed it O Brother we must have a care of â—nterâ—aining hard Thoughts of God who does all thingâ— in Righteousness and afflicts his Children in very Faithfulness My Bowels really yearâ— towards you now Wifeless and your poor â—aâ—â—s now Motherless the Lord be a Comfort and Support to you all and make up this astonishing Breach
stand At th' Bar of Prisoners holding up his Hand Methinks I see and doleful Sight it is Judas betraying Jesus with a Kiss I hear them mock and jear the glorious King Instead of Scepter they a Reed him bring They spit on 's Face and 's blessed Head adorns With nothing but a pricking Crown of Thorns The Souldiers wag their Heads and on him rail'd And forc'd him bear the Cross to which he 's nail'd They pierc'd his Sides with Spears and at him wink And gave him Vinegar and Gall to drink I see the Virgins following with their Cries With Countenances sad and bleared Eyes I see my Lord look towards them and say Weep not for me but for your selves I pray I hear them quickly making this Reply How can we chuse but weep when thou must die Our Hearts are full and must have some Relief They either now must burst or melt with Grief O wicked Tyrants cursed bloody Jews Knew you but who it is that you thus use You would weep too and could no longer grudg To shed some Tears for him who now you judg Meditations in Verse upon John 6. 36. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out GOod News indeed from Christ I hear That all the Father has given Vnto my Blessed Lord shall come And never miss of Heaven Then come O Soul and coming know Thou hast no cause to doubt For he that cannot lie hath said He will not cast thee out Object 1. Ah says the Soul I 'm cloy'd with Sin Can such an one as I Take any saving step to Christ No surely I must die By Adam's Fall I lost my Strength Ability and Power And how can I move after Christ Who'm sinning every Hour Answer Well yet take Courage thou mayst come The Master calls Arise They that but come he never will Cast off in any wise Object 2. Tell me says Soul but how I may Know when I come aright Resolve me this and then through Grace I 'le come with all my Might Answer Well Sinner see thy self then lost And wretchedly undone Till Heart and Mind be both inclin'd To rest on Christ alone Does now thy Heart work after Christ Is Sin thy burthen Soul Then come away for now thou mayst Vpon thy Saviour roul Object 3. Ah says the Sinner though I find A willingness to come To Jesus Christ as being lost Yet all my Work 's not done My End I fear cannot be good Self in this choice I cherish I take a Christ to give me Life As knowing else I perish Answer Well Sinner yet though this be all Thy present End and Aim In taking Christ thou welcome art For he has said the same The Argument that Christ does use Encouragement to give To Sinners to come in to him Is that they turn and live Yea he upbraids the Jews though they Were now with him at Strife Ye will not come to me says he That I may give you Life Come then for Life though that be all At present in thine Eye Thou dost believe that Christ can save And therefore to him fly Object 4. Ah! but I find says one poor Soul My Pace to Christ so slow That I can hardly sometimes tell Whether I come or no. Answer Well we 'll admit that this poor Soul Be verily thy Case Yet canst thou say Lord draw me on And I shall mend my Pace Thy Frame in Duties thou find'st sad Thy Pulse beats very slow Yet if but beating after Christ Take Courage Soul and go Come on to Christ bewail thy Sloth If he but see thee weeping For those faint Steps thou tak'st to him He 'll welcome thee though creeping Object 5. Ah! says another coming Soul Here 's this does sorely out I come so late to Mercy 's Gate I fear the Door is shut Answer Well coming Sinner come away Though thou but come at last To Christ thou' rt welcome if thou dost Come now more quick and fast He that came in at th' eleventh Hour Though idle all the Day Being sent to work with other Men At Night had equal pay The Thief that hung upon the Cross Did late for Mercy cry Shew Mercy Lord to me a Wretch And that before I die Welcome says Christ I 've heard thy Prayer And happy thou shalt be I 'm going up to Paradise And thou shalt be with me He stood it out to th' very last Yet Mercy did obtain O then delaying Souls to Christ You cannot come in vain Object 6. Well says another I am fall'n Since I began to come To Jesus Christ and therefore fear For such there is no room Answer Why truly Falls poor Soul are sad They wound the Conscience sore And cause the Enemies of God Reproachfully to roar Yet know O Soul thou arguest wrong For want of Scripture-Light Thus to conclude because of Falls Thy coming was not right If David and King Solomon And Peter that bright Star Had argued thus against themselves They'd mist the Matter far Thou' rt coming unto God poor Soul And may expect it well The Devil will do what he can To trip thee down to Hell The World the Flesh the Devil all Will now against thee roar Then wonder not at single Falls But that thou gets no more The Child i' th Gospel you shall find To Christ no sooner coming But th' Devil threw him down and tore For to prevent his running The Lord upholdeth his that fall So much he does them prize That though by sinful slips they fall Through Grace he 'll makethem rise Well falling Sinner haste to Christ Thou never needs to doubt But he that helps thee up when down Will never cast thee out Object 7. But I am dead the Sinner says What Comfort can you give Answer The Dead shall hear my Voice says God And they that hear shall live Object 8. But I 'm a Captive bound in Chains And fettered by Sin Answer Yet this Word Shall come unto Christ Will quickly fetch thee in Object 9. I 'm blind and cannot see my way Through th' Darkness of my Mind And how can such come unto Christ The way he cannot find Answer Thy Blindness Soul cannot obstruct If thou thy Blindness see I 'le lead says God in Paths untrod To bring such Souls to me I will make Darkness Light to them And crooked Things most streight And this benighted Souls shall find If they upon me wait Object 10. Ah but my Case is still far worse I have not sinn'd alone But others by Example I The way to Sin have shown They that turn many Souls I find To Righteousness shall shine As Stars above for ever more But this Case is not mine Answer Well here 's yet Comfort in those Days Says he that cannot lie Iniquity shall sought for be But none shall it espy Object 11. Well but methinks I hear a Soul Bemoaning thus and cry It 's Faith I
seal To which the Priests and Jesuits might appeal That they were Agents free and never knâ—w Till now the Popish Way was right and true That 't was not forced but a free Consent As by their Hands and Seals is evident Some alas did it and most foully fell To th' Grief of all their Friends that wish'd 'em well And after all if these did e're repine 'T was soon imputed to them as a Crime If publick Mass was scrupled any way Or dropping Beads when e're they went to pray Nay if a Sigh escap'd them this vile Rout Judg'd it Dislike to what they were about They fin'd them presently and did amain Send Soldiers to be lodg'd with them again All Sea-port Towns are stopt that none might go To tell the dismal Stories that they know All hopes are gone of making Scapes by flight The frontier Countries watched Day and Night There 's now no passing by a fain'd Excuse Vnless they could Certificates produce It would not do and these must also say The Passengers are of the Romish Way Vessels and Ships were search'd and Coasts thoughout Bridges High-ways and Rivers round about Guards almost every where did lurking lie To see if they could Protestants espy Holland's requir'd as it has been said To give up those that there for refuge fled And strictly charg'd they barbour should no more Nor entertain his Subjects rich or poor Nay some Attempts were made to bring those home Who into foreign Parts were fled and gone That they returning might exposed be Vnto the greater Wrath and Cruelty Of hellish Monsters who by every Dart Do shew the greater Malice of their Heart Whilst these things acted were i' th Kingdom round A new Contrivance in the Court was found To justify their Doings and to fix Their former Cruelties by new Edicts For th' nulling of the Edicts late of Nants The Wits are all at work i' th Court of France Much time was spent in drawing up the Form Which threatned their Estates another Storm Some mov'd the King should by his Power try Not only for to force the Laiety But Clergy-men a Truth thô very strange Their old Religion now at length to change And all Refusers sentenc'd to be sent Into perpetual Imprisonment ACROSTICKS GERVASE DISNEY Anagram I Sinner saved Yes JERVASEDISNEY I Sinner saved Yes through Grace Eternally to sing Rich was the Love of Christ who dy'd Valuing so mean a thing Ah Sinner stop here make a stand See but how once it was Enough thou ' lt see to humble thee Dejected Soul alas In Sin conceiv'd in Sin brought forth So many Sins so great Nought to be seen but Filthiness Ev'n this was thy sad State Yet notwithstanding God's Free-Love Now pitying thy Case Has snatch't thee Brand â—ut of the Fire Admire then Free-Grace GERVASE DISNEY Anagram I see Sin die ever JERVASEDISNEY IT 's Sin O Soul would ruin thee Ah then most constantly Endeavour to oppose thy Sins That thou mayst see them die Rich was the Love of Christ above to shed his Blood for thee Value O value this rich Grace Which thus has made thee free Ah sinful Soul consider well And think but of thy Case Salvation then thou soon wilt say Can only be of Grace Escap't thou art give God the Praise Eternally now Sing Dear Christ did bleed and die for me For me so vile a thing In Sin I dare not wallow now This shall be my Endeavour Since in my Blood God did say Live To see my Sins die ever Now mount O Soul in highest Praise Let Heaven hear thee sing Endless and Matchless was the Love Of Jesus Christ my King Yea but dear Lord I am so clogg'd By Sin the Sinner's Fetter I cannot praise thee as I would In Heav'n I 'll do it better An ELEGY on my Honoured Uncle Mr. GERVASE DISNEY who died April 3 1691. SAints here on Earth find still no Resting-place Heav'n ripen'd Souls ascend to Heaven apace Whilst Others do below with mournful Cries Thus celebrate their Fun'ral-Obsequies This has been England's case long latter Years Oft' yielding Matter of fresh Grief and Tears How many Jewels have we lost of late Which did adorn our English Crown and State But have by hasty Death been snatch'd away Their Bodies now reduc'd to Dust and Clay Yet thô such Losses Eriends on Earth must bear The Saints themselves the greatest Gainers are Whose Bodies more refin'd again shall rise Stript of their Dross and their Infirmities Vnited to their Souls again shall sing Eternal Hallelujahs to their King J. D. FINIS BOOKS lately Printed for and Sold by Jonathan Robinson at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-yard HEarts-Ease in Heart-Trouble Or A Sovereign Remedy against all Trouble of Heart that Christ's Disoiples are subject to under all kinds of Affliction in this Life prescribed by the great Physician the Lord Jesus Christ which hath never failed those that have used it or ever will to the end of the World By J. B. a Servant of Jesus Christ Price 1 s. The Barren Fig-Tree Or the Doom of Fruitless Professors By J. Bunyan A Discourse of Closet or Secret Prayer from Matth. 6. 6. By Samuel Slater Minister of the Gospel Price 1 s. The Holy History in brief Or An Abridgment of the Historical Parts of the Old and New Testament By Samuel Clark Author of the Annotations on the Bible lately published Price 1 s. Christ's speedy coming to Judgment c. By William Bates D. D. Price 1 s. Christ alone our Life Or without Christ no Life By Edward Pearse Minister of the Gospel A Present for Children being a brief but faithful Account of many remarkable Things uttered by Three young Children to the wonder of all that heard them To which is added a Seasonable Exhortation to Parents for the Education of their Children Price 6 d. The Right Method for the Proving of Infant-Baptism By Joseph Whiston Minister of the Gospel Price 6 d. The Great Concern and Zeal of a Loyal People for a good and warlike King in the Hazards of War and the Duty of such a People opened and enforced in one of our Monthly Fasts Price 6 d. England's Call to Thankfulness for her great Deliverance from Popery and Arbitrary Government in the Year 1688 by the glorious Conduct of King William Price 6. Union pursued Or a Letter to Mr. Richard Baxter about the Agreement between the Presbyterians and Independents c. An Enquiry into the Constitution Discipline Unity and Worship of the Primitive Church that Flourish'd within the first Three Hundred Years after Christ Faithfully Collected out of the extant Writings of those Ages by an Impartial Hand In Two Parts The Conformists Reasons for hearing and joining with the Nonconformists St. Paul and St. James reconciled in the Point of Justification and the Controversies about it among Christians amicably composed A Defence of the Catholick Faith concerning the Satisfaction of Christ Written Originally by the Learned Hugo Grotius And now Translated by W. H. A Work very necessary in these Times for the preventing of the growth of Socinianism The Faithful Souldier's Reward Or a Glimpse of the Saints Happiness Discovered in two Sermons occasioned by the Death of that truly Vertuous and Religious Gentlewoman Mrs. Katherine Disney By William Scoffin Minister of the Gospel To my Friends that arc iâ— Christ To Carnal Friends Birth Sarah Samuel Cornelius John Elizabeth Mary Darcas D. S. Parents Daniel Gervase Apprentice Sins Work of Grace Grounds of Salvation Marriage Benefits by Afflictions Mat. 20. Luke 9 42. Isa 42. 16. Jer. 32. 30.