honcslus es at â—â—…heranus Aumphâ—…iâ— vita â—uâ—llis Heb. 12.16 1 Ioh. 3.12 Gal. 4.29 Isa 36.4.7 2 Pet. 2.8 Isaiah 5â— â—5 he became a vessell of honour sanctified and meete for his masters use and prepared unto every good worke And thus according to that wisdome which was given him from above hee became first pure But here some man will thinke that to bee so pure in heart and life word and deed as you speak of him to his great praise will bee returned back both upon him and you to his just rebuke and your farther blame For are not we now fallen into those times and are wee not compassed about with such prophane Esaus murthering Caines scoffing Ismaels railing Rabsekahs filthy and cursed Sodomites that a man can hardly refaine from any wickednesse but he makes himselfe a prey as the Prophet speaketh nor seeketh after any goodnesse but they will bee ready to vexe and persecute him Psal 38.20 and will needs be his adversaries because hee followeth the thing that good is Doubtlesse it may be said of us Hermodorus E phe so pulsus quod fâ—ugi esset Cic. Tusc-Quaest l. 5. Sic Aristides Ostracismo pulsus Athenis Ostracism Arist Polit lib. 3. c. 9. Tertul. in Apoluget cap. 2. Ego Lucium virum sapientem repentè factum Christianum defero Tertul ib. 1 Cor. 4.13 Isa 8.18 Luc. 2.34 for many persons and places as once it was of Rome Omnia cum liceant non licet esse pium All things are there lawfull only to be a godly and a good man is held amongst them to bee unlawfull So Tertullian hath observed it to be the streyne and manner of those times Cajus Sejus bonus vir ideo tantum malus quia Christianus Cajus Sejus is a good man therefore evill only because hee is a Christian And even so the case stands with us at this day and that in our Israel where the children of God that desire to be as their father is and they are charged to be pure and holy are no better esteemed but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even as filth of the world and off-scouring of all things even untill this day Or at the best but as signes and wonders in Israel and markes to bee shot at as Christ himselfe was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Butt or marke to bee shot at by such as bend their tongues like Bowes to shoote out their arrowes even base and bitter words against him The Disciple is not above his master nor the servant above his Lord if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub Mar. 10.24.25 what better language can we expect from them being his poore servants in the same house But what good reason have these vaine or vile persons to open their foule mouths so wide against purity in religion and holinesse of life and conversation One of their best is that which they have borrowed of their father Caine and which he was taught of his father the Divel when hee slew his brother And what was his reason wherefore slew he him Because his own workes were evill and his brothers good 1 Ioh. 3. â—2 Is it then your antipathy against goodnesse and your enmity against the godly for their holinesse that provokes you to swell against them and so much to splene and spite them that you reproach and revile them Act 7.54 and are ready to burst with anger because you cannot wreake your malice upon them Isa 57.3 4. Gen. 3 15 â— Kin. 21 10. 2 Cor. 6.18 Gal. 4.29.30 If this be your reason of this your cruell dealing then judge you your own selvs of what breed you are Are yee not rather of the seed of the serpent than of the seed of the woman Are yee not rather sonnes of Belial than the children of God And are ye not rather the children of the bond woman with scoffing Ismael than children of the free woman with holy Isaac CHAP. LI. BUt why should it seem so strange a thing unto you that every true Christian should so carry himself as this Gentleman did that hee may shew himself pure and holy in all maner of conversation Doth not our heavenly father command it 4 Pet. 1.16 Be ye holy for I am holy Doth not the vertue of the death and resurrection of Christ require it that henceforth wee dye unto sin Rom. 6.5 6 11 13 â—8 and live unto him yeelding our members to bee servants to righteousnesse unto holinesse Doth not his blessed Spirit challenge it at our hands That we be sanctified throughout in soule spirit and body 1 Co. 6.12 1 Thes 5.23 and preserved blamelesse untill the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ Doth not the Word of God tell us that This is the will of God even our sanctification that every one learne to possesse his vessell in holinesse and in honour Heb. 11. 12.1 13.7 Eph. 2.19 Doe not the examples of all holy men call upon us to follow their faith and to walk in their wayes of righteousnesse and holinesse before the Lord all our dayes Doth not the communion of saints and citizens both in heaven and earth exact and expect of us Eph. 5.3.1 Tim. 2.2 such a conversation as becommeth saints in all godlinesse and honesty Again consider What is the true religion It is pure and undefiled before God Iam. 1.27 And who is a true professor of this Religion He that is pure in heart and undefiled in his way And what is the word Mat. 5.8 Psal 119.1 which is the rule of this Religion The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tryed in a fornace of earth purified seven times Psa 19.10 Pla. 12.6 And what are the Sacraments annexed to this Word They are sacred Signes and Seales of holy mysteries in heavenly things And what are the speciall priviledges of such as are pure and true Christians 1 Cor. 11.24 Rom. 4.11 Vnto the pure all things are pure they have a great liberty and large interest in all Gods blessings Tit. 1.15 1 Cor. 3.22.23 and in the use and comfort of them Their holinesse here is a pledge of their happinesse hereafter Having their fruit in holinesse and the end everlasting life Heb 12.14 Ro. 6.22 Ioh. 17.24 1 Ioh 3.3 2 Tim. 2.21 And what must then bee the conversation of every one that hath this hope to be with Christ where he is and as hee is for ever Hee must of necessity purifie himselfe even as hee is pure and so being a vessell of honour sanctified hee shall bee meet for his Masters use and prepared unto every good worke Such are the persons and such are the things which the Lord requires and expects in the profession and practice of every true Christian Mal. 3.17 And are not all these pure and precious in the eyes of Almighty God and in the sight of heavenly Angels and holy men Mat. 7.6 Hath God
some as they drew nearer unto them brought to a greater liking and love of the company and societie of Gods children and of these and such other duties of Gods worship His early comming to Church as they did exercise themselves withall His comming to the Church with all his Family attendants and followers was constantly before the beginning of prayers or any part of divine Service that so hee might more comfortably joyne with Gods Minister and people in confession of sins in prayer and praise His reverent and holy carriage in it reading and hearing of the Word singing of Psalmes and partaking of the Sacraments all which hee did performe with such a reverent attention and gracious affection with so holy a carriage and so good conscience that as hereby hee did much increase his owne comfort so was his godly example no doubt a great encouragement to many others yea a very spurre and goade unto them to bee more religious and conscionable in Gods worship and service After prayers and Sermon were ended hee seldome went to dinner His dinner time hee bestowed well in the Church but abode in the Church to bestow himselfe and this interim in Gods Service with such good people as were willing to stay with him And this hee did by repeating the Sermon which hee had taken very exactly as usually hée did with his owne hand and by singing of Psalmes and by wholy and wholesome conference in and about good things The Evenin Sacrifice he performed in like manner And so waiting for the Evening Sacrifice after hee had with like care and conscience performed the publique duties of the Sabbath in the same hee returned homewards with his company with much comfort and joy in their hearts endeavouring as they went along to increase their Knowledge Faith and Obedience by repeating and conferring of the Evening Sermon and to inlarge their hearts in Gods praises ◠Sam. 12.24 by singing of Psalmes a fresh considering what great things hee had done for them Their returne homewards and mutuall care to do good And if any amongst them were afflicted they would bee ready to counsell him comfort him and pray for him And he himselfe especially if he heard of any such as were troubled in Conscience upon the hearing of the Word would be ever mostready and willing like the good Samaritane Luc. 10.34 Gal. 6.1 to powre wine and oyle into that wounded spirit wine that he might search and scoure it and oyle that he might supple and heale it After this manner did he frequent the House of God sanctifie the Lords day rejoyce in the Assembly of the Saints and refresh his own Soule with Heavenly Manna and other spirituall repast so long as hee could either goe or ride unto it CHAP. LXIIII. His private Evening exercise full of life ANd then in his Evening Exercise he was so full of life and zeale that besides his own family many of his Tenants and Neighbours did much desire and delight to heare him repeat the Sermons presse the speciall points urge the Conscience and powre cut his prayers unto God with so tender and sweet affections for them all that the heat of his spirit did cause their hearts as it were to melt within them The great joy he had in the Sabbath and Fasts The joy and comfort which he found in these holy duties both in publike and in private on the Lords day and in their Fasts was so exceeding great that he would often and earnestly wish O that every day were either a Sabbath-day or a Fast day for then I should be well His thankefulnesse for one Sabbath more And when the Sabbath was past it was his usual manner to blesse God with a thankefull and chearefull heart for that hee had given him one Sabbath more than he did looke for amongst his people The weeke dayes were somewhat more tedious and grievous unto him his bodily infirmities much increasing and his strength decaying and yet would he never be dejected but endevoured to quicken his own soule and raise up his heart by Faith and Hope speaking to his Family and Friends about him much after this manner The time is not long I must shortly lay down this my tabernacle and then I shall get the start of you all 2 Pet. 1.14 Heb. 4.9 11. and shall celebrate an everlasting Sabbath before the Lord with all his holy Angels and blessed Saints in the highest Heavens This he spake rejoycingly and yet with teares Weary of the world Hee grew every day more and more weary of the world and was then best contented when he could dispatch worldly businesses with fewest words He makes his Will Isay 38.1 It was his provident and godly care to set his house in order as good Ezekiah did to make his will and to leave all things in good tearms of peace and love Which he did with good successe accordingly And so by this meanes his mind and heart were disburdened and cased of many worldly thoughts and cares So hee was more free and more fit for Heavenly things Gal. 6.10 and he brought to a greater freedome and liberty both to think and speake of spirituall and of heavenly things Which in no sort he did omit but as he could stir abroad in the House either to the Fall Parlour or Kitchen He would drop some wholesome words of counsell or comfort amongst such as he met withall and never cease speaking of holy or of heavenly things amongst the rest of his Family When many came to visit him he would often say Alas good Soules what are yee come to see Iob. 7.13 19. a poore wretch a worme and no man or a poore dying man I may now say with Iob. If I waite the grave is my house I have made my bed in the darknesse I have said to corruption thou art my father to the worme thou art my mother and my sister Iob 19.15 16. And yet I know that my Redeemer liveth that he shal stand at the latter day upon the earth And though after my skin 2 Cor. 4.16 wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Therefore wee faint not but though the outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed daily And so our conversation is in heaven from whence also wee looke for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body Phil. 3.20.21 that it may bee fashioned like his glorious body according to the working whereby hee is able to subdue all things to himselfe Some that came unto him would out of their common kindnesse comfort him with some hope of health and recovery Si nunquā bene si aliquando quare non modo Posidon in vita Aug. Cap. 27. to whom hee would make this answer My time is in the Lords hand and it is not likely it can bee long my dayes are past my purposes are broken
in spirituall strength the better to encounter all sad and sharpe occurrents which either in doing or in suffering the will of God he might meet withall This hee knew was the speciall meanes prescribed by God himselfe unto Joshua Josh 1.78 The necessity and excellency of Mâ—ditation that hee might make his way prosperous and have good successe namely to meditate in the word of God day and night and not to turne aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left This hee knew was the mark and character of a blessed man Psal 1.2 Da mihi magistrum Gen. 24.63 to delight in the law of the Lord an in that law to meditate day and night And therefore for the better practice of this holy duty he did usually carry about him some part of the Bible Means and helpes which hee used or his Sermon Note booke if he went abroad into the field to meditate as Isaac did in the evening or were upon a journey as the Eunuch was when he was reading and meditating in his chariot on the prophecy of Isaiah concerning Christ Jesus Acts 8.28 Or if he were within doores he gave himselfe much to the reading of the Word and to make collections of promises Reading of the word precepts comforts prohibitions mercies judgements marks of Gods children brands of wicked men and many other good things as he found them in the way And these he made the matter or ground of his meditation and the means to inlarge himself in this exercise And of godly mens writings His Cammon-place book To which end also he did very diligently reade and peruse the workes of divers learned and godly men and drew unto certaine heads and Common-places what he thought most worthy observation and of best use in them Amongst the rest hee was much delighted and refreshed with D. Hals Contemplations and Meditations M. Greenhams workes M. Rogers his Seven Treatises which for his better helpe and greater comfort he had abridged and drawn into an Epitome almost all untill he was informed that another godly man a worthy Divine had already done it to his hand M. Baine His following of the rules of direction Afterwards when M. Egertons practice of Christianity containing the summe and substance of that booke came forth he addressed himself to make his best use of that part of it touching the art and exercise of this divine Meditation wherein he profitted so well that he was very able according to those places and rules of direction to enlarge his meditations upon any subject that did usually fall within his reach and compasse So that now hee might say after a sort with holy David Psal 119.97.54 O how love I thy law O Lord It is my meditation all the day I have made thy statutes my song and my meditation in the dayes of my pilgrimage The gaine of godlines 1 Tim. 6.6 The gain which he got by this exercise of holy meditation was an increase of godlines and godlinesse we know is great gaine having all sufficiency in it self for true comfort and contentment The fruits which he reaped of this his planting Many benefits and fruits of it and watering were very gracious and precious As 1. the killing or quelling of many noysome lusts 1 Killing of lusts which like caterpillars or cancker-worms are wont to breed in the best trees 2. The dislodging and driving out many unsavoury and worldly cares and thought 2 Driving out evill thoughts which bring nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit with them 3. This bred in him a godly watchfulnes over his words 3. Watchfulnesse and works heart and life 4. It wrought in him a gracious aptnesse 4. Aptnesse to good duties and chearefulnesse unto all good duties wherin he might be either serviceable unto God or profitable unto men 5. It ministered unto him counsell and strength for the spirituall war 5 Counsel strength that he might stand fast in the evill day against all his and Gods enemies 6. It brought him to a heaven upon earth 6 Conversation in heaven teaching him so to have his conversation in heaven that he might go about earthly affaires with a heavenly mind as he saw hee had calling thereunto 7. It kept his heart in possession of his integrity and sincerity 7 Possesing of his integrity ever calling upon him to keep faith and a good conscience alwayes and in all things 8. It wrought his soul to a gracious tendernes lowlines and meeknes 8 Sensiblenesse of sins and sorrowes to be very sensible of other mens sins and sorrows as wel as of his own 9. It was unto him as a sweet perfume composed of many delicate and costly spices 9 A perfume to all his actions which made all his thoughts words and works more sweet and savoury so that where ever he came he left no ill sent but a sweet savour of his graces and vertues behind him 10. And lastly 10 A preservative against secret and open sins this exercise of meditation was unto him a soveraign preservative not only against secret and open lesser and grosser sins but against all the inticements and allurements of the pleasures and profits honors and favors of this present evil world so that he was neither intangled in them nor inveagled by them O how great is the difference betwixt this Gent Great difference and many others of his rancke and of greater and meaner estate also I which professing themselves to be Christians Many enemies to it Psal 2.1.2 Psal 36.4 Zac 8.17 Ge. 27.41 1 Sam. 18.1.23.25 2 Sam. 17.23 2 Sam. 16.3 Ps 52.1 2 Ioh. 13.2 Acts 5.1 2 3. Many of the better sort fail in it are yet either enemies or strangers to this Christian duty required at their hands Some there be so empty of grace and goodnesse and so full of malice lust pride covetousnes and voluptuousnes that they cannot fix their minds nor settle their hearts upon any good thing to any good end but if they meditate it is but upon vaine or vile things devising mischief upon their beds and imagiving evill in their hearts against their brethren Such were Esau Saul Achitophel Ziba Doeg Indas Ananias and Saphira all of which had their musings and meditations their severall imaginations and consultations but never a good man nor any good matter of meditation amongst them all Some other there are of better minds and hearts who yet for want of good acquaintance with this holy and heavenly exercise of meditation for the nature and manner helps and meanes end and use of it have little experience of the benefit which comes by it and so deprive themselvs of many sweet comforts and refreshings which otherwise they migh enjoy by the practise of it Who is wise and he shall understand these things Hos 14 9. prudent and he shall know them for the wayes of the Lord are
right and the just shall walke in them but the transgressors shall fall therein Thus much of his first dayly duty namely his holy and religious Meditation CHAP. XLVI THe second followeth which was his diligent His observation of Gods works Psa 64.7 8 9 10. Psa 66.3.5 and carefull observation of the ways works mercies and judgments of the Lord. It was the antient profession and practise of the people of God to waite upon the Lord and to observe his dealing with the just and with the wicked in the world The way of the Just is uprightnesse thou most upright doest weigh the path of the just Is 26.7 8. Yea in the way of thy judgments O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our soule is to thy Name Ver. 9. and to the remembrance of thee With my soule have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me wil I seek thee early for when thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learne righteousnesse Let favour be shewed to the wicked Ver. 10. yet will he not learne righteousnes in the land of uprightnesse will hee deale unjustly and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. See the memorable judgment of God against Vigetius Saâ—â—…niâ—us Claud. Herminianus observed by Tertullians Scapul A book of Rememb lob 35.24 25. Much after this manner did this faithfull Servant of Christ raise up his thoughts and quicken his soule to a diligent and due observation of the ways and works of God both in his mercies towards the godly and in his judgements against the wicked To which end and purpose he hath observed and recorded divers and sundry of the workes of the Lord which he calleth a declaration of some of the works of the Lord to the praise of his glorious Name power and mercy adding and annexing that admonition and exhortation out of Iob Remember that thou magnifie his works which men behòld Every man may see it man may behold in a far off To set down all such works of God as he hath observed See some examp of Gods mercies to Christians observed by Tertull. ad Sca c. 4. Some mercies of God observed I now cannot to passe over all in silence I may not I meane not And therefore to give a taste of some for the clearing of this point and the farther satisfaction of such as delight therein I think it very meet and convenient at this present To observe Gods mercies faith he with all humble praise and thanksgiving to God only Some few yeares before my brother Hardware dyed he had R.K. to his servant who is now an In-holder in Chester The said R. was as many thought bewitched and waxed weaker and weaker So as my Brother Hardware sent unto mee and my family to spend a day with him in prayer and fasting At that time I had good M. Wats the Preacher with me To R. K. his sick neighbourâ— whom I brought with me and others of my family to the Peele and there we found the said R.K. exceeding sick and weake and like an Anatomy of death nothing to look to but skin and bones and not likely to live a day all hope of life being gone He was brought and laid in a bed in the chamber where we prayed And in the same evening hee began to amend and the next morning did walke abroad and the third day began to be so strong that he fel to his work and labour with much rejoycing to the Family All laud and praise to God therefore To his Setvant Anno Domini 1601 and in the Summer time John Robinson my servant going with his teame the cart loaden and he falling by some occasion the wheele went over his legge being iron bound yet hurt him not any thing at all Laus Deo Anno Domini 1602 and in Iuly my son Iohn To his Son in danger being in Peaksmoore took up a seith to see how he could mow and the scith entered in at his stocking upon the shin bone and followed his leg shaving the haire and came out at the backside of his leg and toucht no flesh nor skinne Laus Deo The same Month and in the same Medow To a Labourer One casting a pikell up and down before him and behind him one being behind him the two greins of the pikell ran on both sides of his leg and hurt him not Hallelujah Memorand in Anno 1613 and in the Hey-Harvest One Richard Rogers Some Iudgments of Godremarkable that dwelt in my farme at Wimble Strafford under Master Thomas Puleston my tenant there seeing two godly persons going in the way said to one with him Now will I dance and swagger and sweare to anger and make mad yonder two Puritans Nö sint inulta esse diu DivinuÌ„ Numen scelera vid Herb. departioda popelo à mâ—ribus devorato Hist Pol. lib. 1 cap. 11. Vide simile de Hatto E. Mog apud O. a mag lib. 17. c 21. And did so to the great grievance of those two godly persons And presently the revenging hand of God was upon him so that this wicked fellow fell so sick that he was carried home in a Cart and within three dayes died most fearefully All glory to God These are some of those Memorable mercies and Iudgments of the Lord which he hath carefully observed and recorded I will let all the rest alone saving one which being the most remarkable of all other hee hath taken greatest paines to observe and set down in all the parts and passages of it The hand of God upon the Boy at Northwich This was concerning the boy of Northwich his name Thomas Harrison about 11 or 12 yeares old who was so strangely and wonderfully afflicted and tormented that many held him to bee really possessed with a Devill Others thought he was bewitched Some ascribed all to naturall causes few did endevour to see and acknowledge as this Gentleman did that though Satan might have a finger Satans Malice Gods Mercy yet the Lord had a chiefe hand in this Iudgment and that where Satan would shew himselfe cruell and malicious to vex and destroy a poore child there the Lord was pleased to manifest and declare himselfe to be mercifull and gracious in susteining and preserving of him CHAP. XLVII IT would be too tedious to set down one quarter of that which he hath written of this child partly from that which he himselfe saw and partly from that which he heard and received under sufficient and faithfull witnesses having spent above 14 leaves in 4 0 in recording of these things All that he hath observed of him may be drawn to these 3 heads 1 0 his violent and wonderfull fits and passions 2 0 his strange and horrible gestures and actions 3 0 his admirable and almost incredible sayings and speeches and all these without any naturall understanding sense or feeling for the most
so much against him Si vult Regina me exulem agat in exilium Domini est terra plenitudo ejust si vult secare secet Chrys Ep. Cyriace Epise Tom. 5. idem passus est Isairs si vult in pelagus mittere Ionoe recordabor c. If the Queene will have me banished let her banish me the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof If she will cut me in peeces let her doe so The Prophet Isaiah suffered the same death If she will cast me into the sea I will then remember Jonah if she will throw me into a burning fornace the three children suffered as much before me Such like courage and resolution had this Gentleman against his naturall afflictions as Chrysostome had against violent persecution So that now he was able with valiant David to goe forth in the name of the Lord even against Goliah of the Philistims And grew resolute with Paul not to reckon his life deare unto him whatsoever afflictions might befall him so that he might fulfill his course with joy Act. 20.24 Ro. 8.18 Accounting all the afflictions of this world to be unworthy of the glory that shall be revealed and never fainting for any sorrow because although the outward man did perish and decay yet was his inward man renewed daily 2 Cor. 4.16.17 and all the afflictions of this life were but light and momentany to him that had an eye to the eternall vveight of glory laid up in heaven for him CHAP. LXI IT was observed by many of his friends His graces much increased in his old age both at home and abroad that in his declining dayes when he faw he was drawing on towards his journeyes end his faith was exceedingly increased his hope and rejoycing in God much enlarged his love and zeale wonderfully inflamed his affections towards God and the godly Theodosius senior aetate sed valìdius fide Amb. de Obit Theod. more holy and heavenly and his motions towards heaven more quicke and lively Much like the Elements and other such naturall bodies which the nearer they draw to their proper places are ever more violent and speedy in their motions till they come unto them So was it with this Gentleman for his spirituall estate the nearer he drew to wards his proper place his mansion house 2 Cor. 5. 1 Ioh 14. 2. Phil 3.13 Act. 20.24 Heb. 12.1 prepared for him in the heavens the more eager his desires were and his motions more vehement to dispatch his journey with all good speed to finish his course with joy and to runne out the race with patience vvhich vvas set before him Those that hee planted in the house of the Lord Psal 92.14.15 shall flourish in the courts of our God They shall bring forth fruit in old age and they shall bee fat and flourishing His laft dayes his best days Their last dayes shall bee their best dayes and their last vvorkes their best vvorkes and their fruit shall bee more and better at the last than at the first Isay 61.3 Such a tree of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord vvas this godly Gentleman whose fruit did not faile whose leafe did not fade no not in the winter of his age Psal 1. Ier. 17.8 Psa 92.13 14. Phil. 3.13 but did ever flourish in the courts of our God He was of Saint Pauls resolution forgetting those things which were behinde and reaching forth unto those things which are before he pressed towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus His Resolution and courage against all assaults And casting out as it were his gantlet of defiance against all the most sharpe and dangerous assaults that might encounter him and be made against him he challengeth them all as Paul did Who shall separate me from the love of Christ Shall tribulation on distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword Shall sicknesse or sorrowes feares or terrors pains or aches fores or swellings miseries of life or pangs of death so prevaile against me Nay in all these things I shall be more than a conquerour through him that loveth me And so from Pauls resolution he grew unto Pauls perswasion J am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. His hope and expectation Phil. 1.20 21. And from this perswasion to an earnest hope and expectation That in nothing hee should bee ashamed but that with all boldnesse as alwayes so now also Christ should bee magnified in his body whether it bee by life or by death For to him to live was Christ and to die was gaine Being now thus setled and resolved in patience and confidence to beare all afflictions and indure all grievances which might be either as fore-runners or attendants on his departure and dissolution It seemed good unto the Lord to visit him with sicknesse and that after this manner as his faithfull yoke-fellow hath reported and fent me in writing from her owne hand Her words be these CHAP. LXII His first sicknesse and visitation I Call to mind some words which he spake unto me alone at that time when it pleased the Lord to visit him which was upon the day after the Sabbath That morning he arose exceeding early and having beene in private prayer with God as his usuall manner was he performed afterwards this duty in the whole family This being done he went as he was accustomed into his Studie untill dinner time And having dined he went into his Study again And then it pleased God about an houre or two after to visit him as it were with an Ague after the manner of a shaking and so withdrawing himselfe thence into his little parlour he laid him down upon his bed Then said I unto him Sir I feare your early rising hath done you hurt Then he replied If you had seene wife such glorious things as I saw this morning being in private prayer with God â—ide Posâ—d de vita Aug. c. 27. you would not have said so For they were so wonderfull and unspeakable that whether I was in the body or out of the body with Paul I cannot tell Thus it hath pleased the Lord least I should be too much exalted by this glorious sight to give mee with Paul a buffet in the flesh All which things he spake with exceeding great joy unto me Non probo quod â—esero vix fas est credere visis Saepe Satan tali in lumine lucc nocet The like report of the like ravishing in spirit and such glorious sights which he saw not long before he himselfe made unto some of his friends after he had beene one day in private prayer with God in his grove The particulars