these words Do not hearken to Satans suggestions to the contrary he is an Adversary If he cannot hinder your Salvation he will do what he can to damp your joy and peace in believing You ought not to give heed to him but to repel him as our Saviour did Get thee behind me Satan Your own unbelieving Heart for Faith is mixed with unbelief even in Gods Children also will raise Objections against you thus I have many Corruptions in me unruly Passions I am hasty to Anger Ignorant have little Knowledge considering the time and means I have enjoyed I am dull in Duty I Pray without any life or heat I am cold in love to God and Jesus Christ I grow not in Grace I am blockish and remember nothing I hear And many such things you have to say against your self To which I Answer Grant all this to be true These are Sins of Infirmity which may consist with true Grace Psal 40 12. David saith My sins are more then the hairs upon my head Psal 73. 22. So foolish was I and ignorant even as a beast before thee Read Heb. 5. 11 12. Ye are dull of hearing c. whom yet he highly commends Heb. 3. 1. and 6. 10. So long as sin reigneth not hath no dominion over you you need not question your interest in Christ and you may know that sin reigneth not when you are grieved for it confess and bewaâ—l it and pray for grace and help against it strive and watch against it and do what you can to keep your self from your iniquity Psal 18. 23. Consider that none are justified or saved because they are sinless pure and perfect but blessed are they whose sins are forgiven Psal 32. 1 2. And to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness Rom. 4. 5. What was the end of Christs coming but to take away sin Mat. 1. 21. Joh. 1. 29. Also a chief branch of the Covenant of Grace in Heb. 8. 12. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness And therefore be not faithless but believing as Christ said to Thomas John 20. 27 28 And let your heart make the same Answer that he did My Lord and my God It may be that your present condition is a grief to you that you cannot worship God as you desire or as in your Health you can do God no service Let not your heart be troubled at this for God requires no more than he gives And it may be no small comfort to you that you were diligent to attend upon God in your Health and when you had Legs you used them to Gods glory And now you are serving God in another way in the way of Passive Obedience in which if you submit to Gods will with Meekness and Patience you may do God as good service as they that preach or hear or travel far to the Word â— will conclude with those sweet words of Christ John 14. 1. Let not your heart be troubled Believe that God is yours Christ is yours the Covenant of Grace is yours your Sins are forgiven the Promises are yours even the great Promise 2 Cor. 6. 18. I will be a Father to you And that also Rom. 8. 28. We know that all things shall work together for good to them that love God Even all the exceeding great and precious promises in Christ 2 Pet. 1. 4. which are yea and Amen true and faithful O bless God that ever you were born Spiritually that you were born again Say and sing with David Psal 103. 1. 2 3. Bless the Lord O my Soul And Psal 32. at the latter end Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart Psal 48. 14. This God is our God for ever and ever he will be our guide unto death And with the Church Isa 25. 9. Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation But I may save further labour and indeed might have spared this pains for you have a Book by you which contains all that I now write and much more to the same purpose The scope and substance of it is to chear up and comfort poor Souls that walk sad and sorrowful when they have no other cause but to rejoyce and serve the Lord with gladness in which kind of service the Lord is well pleased I pray you peruse it and read it through till you have got your Heart into a joyful frame Now I pray and let it be your Dayly Prayer That the God of Love fill you with Joy and Peace in believing to whose Grace I commend you Yours Vnfeignedly IT grieves me much for your sake that the hand of the Lord is gone out against you in so dreadful a â—rovidence that it puts me hard to it how to minister a word of Consolation to you in this your sad condition A wise Son maketh a glad Father but a foolish Son is the heavyâ—ess of his Mother I have no greater joy than to hear that my Children walk in the Truth So I know no greater affliction that can befall Parents then to have Children walking contrary to the Truth and dying in their Sins Yet is not your Case in this respect singular No Temptation hath befallen you but what is common to men to good men witness Aaron Ely David with many others whom I could name known both to you and me You are to acquiess in Gods Providential Administrations and not to disquiet your Soul with the doubtfulness of his Eternal Estate But to ascribe Righteousness to your Maker and say with the Psalmist Righteous art thou O Lord and upright are thy judgments How unsearchable are his judgments and his â—aâ—es past finding out Take the Example of the Prophets and other Holy Men in Scripture for an example of suffering Affliction and of Patience Set before you the Patience of Job who besides the loss of so great an Estate lost all his Children seven in number cut off by untimely death yet how Religiously doth he demean himself how Patiently to admiration Two of Aarons Sons in the flower of their Age and in the beginning and very first entrance upon that Sacred Function perish by fire from Heaven a heavy stroke arguing great indignation yet mark the Fathers pious behaviour under such a mark of Gods displeasure Aaron held his Peaâ—e As for Davids lamentation over Absalom it is not to be drawn into imitation For the bottom of his grief was not purely nor chiefly as far as appears sorrow for his sin and the eternal condition of his Soul but rather proceeded from Natural Affection and over much fondness and indulgence because of his exquisite Beauty which the Scripture doth highly extol For he takes not one sigh at the death of Ammon who also dyed in his sin and also by a violent
some smaller things till some took occasion to deny them to be due and then being obliged to maintain the Rights of the place he ordered his Clark to demand them He was forbearing After his ejection he found many had not reckoned with him of several years he sued only one not of his Parish that denyed any Tithe to be due to him and led away as much at one time as was of a considerable value This he might not bear so applyed to the Justices who upon the hearing adjudged him his own with the penalty upon the unjust with-holder but he only took his own and what he had spent and a Shilling to his Servant and returned the rest If it might not have been a detriment to the place for the future I am apt to think he would have sitten down with loss for his design was the Peoples benefit he sought not theirs but them and that he might gain upon them he ws content to be a Looser He was a good Towns-man as well as a good Minister There are two clear Instances 1. He procured a Relaxation and Mitigation of their Assessments by clearing it to them then in power that there was reason for it and improving his interest in them procured ease 2. There was a Town-Stock in Breadsall which being sent out among them in small summes was frequently endangered to come lame home Mr. Hieron oft advised it might be laid out in Land which they never would yield to but when there was a prospect of his going out he having promised them Ten â—ounds if they would buy Land they accepted and he as good as his word gave them his Ten Pounds and so there is Land that yields Three Pounds per Annum setled on Trustees for the use of the poor of Brâ—adsall 7. His Heart was much set upon Success and Fruit among his own People that in that place he might be able to say that there was Fruits yea all manner of pleasant Fruits new and old laid up for thee O beloved Cant. 7. last This appeared sundry ways 1. He was pleased that God had given him a People that were frameable to an outward conformity but Oh! where is the Jew inwardly The power of Godliness He was no Formalist himself and he could not take up with shapes of Christians but longed to see real Heart-Christians 2. He was full of thoughts of heart when he found not his desired success attend his work and would break out thus How shall I do more How shall I do better How shall I pray more How shall I preach better 3. The Fruit he had in Breadsall as blessed be God he had some Oh! it was as the first ripe Fruits Oh! a Breadsall-Christian was as a Joseph as a Benjamin to Old Jacob They were in his Bowels his Soul cleaved to them they were his Joy and Crown 8. He was a man of Hospitality and Charity Strangers and Friends found him so in courteous entertainments No good man needed to seek a publick House in Breadsall to lodge in nor strain to reach Derby The Church had a Gains at Breadsall And for his Charity his lending and his giving was considerable It extended it self to all the Poor in Breadsall in Bread in Coats in Corn in Money yea it extended to poor Christians distant from him After he had left Breadsall-Living he sent Money thither to be disposed as he directed He devised liberal things forecasted in hard years to reserve Corn for the poor though it sometimes proved to his outward loss Thus was he full of the good Word of God and of good Works His Acquaintances Neighbours Kindred will testifie these things I could on this head be more large and particular but this taste may suffice they that knew him can inlarge upon these hints they that knew him not may take their measures from these short touches To conclude he was a good man and that his Religion was not barren but had the most undeniable Evidences even those that Jesus Christ will go upon in the day of Judgment 9. He was a bold sharp close reprover of sin and yet very tender and compassionate in dealing with tender Consciences afflicted wounded Spirits Some of his great Neighbours while at Ashborn did profane the Sabbath and openly drunk healths in the Market place he as boldly reproved it as they did impudently commit it and this when the War came on made him to be represented as a Round-head and by the instigation of those Neighbours he was one of the first in Ashborn that had his House broken in upon by Sir Francis Wortleys Party he taken and imprisoâ—ed by them and as by the words they let fall he understood it was in revenge of his Reproofs He was an hearty enemy to sin struck at it with his spiritual weapons with all the strength of his arm He launced festered sores He attacked sturdy resolved sinners with resolute charges He beat down sin so that some touched with Antinomianism thought him too legal and aâ—ked him by what warrant Ministers under the Gospel preached the Law so much he readily answered The words of their Commission were a sufficient warrant citing that Scripture Mark 16. 15 16. and added Is not that as terrible a preaching of the Law as any Minister now doth or can practise To which the Objecter made no reply But on the other hand though he lifted up his voice against sin like a trumpet yet he neither cryed nor lift up his voice when he had to deal with bruised reeds then he bound up their Wounds charily and had the Oyl of Joy for them that were in the Spirit of Hâ—aviness He feared to make the heart of the righteous sad Here he preached the Gospel he beat down profaneness but lent an hand to them that were cast down for sin to lift them up Many disquieted hearts would make to him and he would counsâ—l and comfort them and shew them where the Rest for their Souls was 10. He backed his Doctrine with a good Life He was the same man out of the Pulpit that he was in it He was a Preacher and a Pattern what People heard from him they saw in him He was all Voice Mouth and Life his Conversation was a visible Sermon He was a follower of Christ mighty in word and deed He manifested a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. We may say of him as the Woman of her dead Husband Thou knowest that thy Servant did fear the Lord. No profaneness went from him into any place where he taught His Doctrine was a pure lip and his Life exemplary his Doctrine was pure and savoury his Breath sweet and his Life tinctured with holiness in every turn of it He came as John Baptist in the way of Righteousness he lived in all good Conscience his walking was in simplicity and godly sincerity not in fleshly wisdom He condemned not confuted not his Doctrine by contrary practice but he confirmed
follow his Faith his Practice Which I hasten to CHAP. X. Of the Vses to be made of the Life of this Man of God in certain Reflections and Corollaries Sect. 1. MEthinks I should be greatly wanting to my Duty in writing this Life if I should not add something by way of Improvement of it I have endeavoured to make this good Man known to them that knew him not and to make him better and more fully known to them that knew him but what is all this to the main purpose if I should not say something to make him known for good that we may be something bettered by this knowledge I have ever judged a Sermon lame let the Doctrinal part be never so well handled if it wanted its Application I know this Narrative that speaks of him speaks to us but alas who is not wanting to himself in Applicative knowledge What a vast distance do many of us find betwixt our Heads and our Hearts How little do we carry on of a practical design in our reading of dead Ministers or in our hearing of the living Ministers The Man here mentioned Reader is a part of the Cloud of Witnesses wherewith we are encompassed Suffer me to do what I can to put some Life into this Life I know I cannot do it all quickning comes from God yet in Ministerial Excitations God many times shews himself a quickening God I will lay my Wood in order and wait for Heavens Fire I will prophesie according to my slender proportion and will hope for Gods commanding the Wind to blow that brings the Breath of Life with it I know every Letter I have written or can write is dead but whilst I am stirring up my self and you God can if he so please make words spirit of Life make them quick and powerful I fain would speak write nothing but words of truth and soberness I am sensible in some things I must say I shall not please some but I must please God in uttering the deep thoughts of my heart upon this occasion Bear with me suffer my heart to have a little vent If you will interpret as charitably as I hope I mean honestly you will take no offence at any thing that falls from my Pen who have followed inoffensiveness so far as I could do it with faithfulness COROLLARY 1. Sect. 2. Suffer me to prevent prejudice and anticipate some Objections or Exceptions that I easily foresee may be made Obj. 1. Oh may some say how do you know these things you write of Mr. John Hieron Answ Many things I know of mine own knowledge and for things that I do not know I have very credible Information from them that have reason to know My minutes concerning him are from a very knowing friend one of highest advantages to know a Man of great Observation and hath a good Memory but trusts it not one of great veracity that is too well bred a person to use any impious frauds and so much an honest man and truly tender that he dares not use any of those that are called though miscalled Pious Frauds deceitful talk for God He cannot dare not love nor make so much as an officious lye Obj. 2. Oh but you Nonconformists lean to your Party and magnifie your own out of measure Answ 1. We love our Party but we confine not our love within our Party We love all good men and do them right own that of God that is in them We love the amiable according to the degree of Divine Goodness that is impressed on them We should not love God sincerely nor them aright if we did not do so We never had been a distinguisht Party if you had not forced us to be so by imposing terms we cannot bear We stand to it we are no Sectaries nor Schismaticks In Gods Judgment we shall not be called so Answ 2. We love dear now blessed Mr. Hâ—eron he was a glory to his younger fellow-sufferers his gray head was a Crown to our green hâ—ads but yet we love the Truth better We can do nothing against the Truth ought to say nothing prejudicial to Truth we will not break a Commandment of God to set off a man Answ 3. My Heart reproacheth me not about this Life of his that I have drawn any Line but what was in his Face That I have laid on any false Colours but what were agreeable to his Complexion Look how much I have fallen short I am not sensible that I have exceeded we must have leave to magnifie them that God hath magnified we must not obscure them that God hath made to shine I have only transcribed my own apprehensions of him without any love of error and as far as I could have kept from errors of love I must confess my great affections to him and veneration of him but I have watched against my Affections bribing or byassing my Judgment COROLLARY 2. Sect. 3. Let me hence plead with men of Antiministerial Principles If this Book fall into your hands read and consider to your Conviction Oh go not on to deny and decry the Office and the Officers Lay your hands upon your mouth Cease to vilifie Gods Ministers and the Ministry Let your Ignorance drivel no more Let your rancorous Minds vomit no more Reproaches Let your spightful envious Minds full of malignity belch out no more unsavoury noysome Language Lo here is a man that we offer to you as a proof of the Ministry We have many such as he Our Quiver is full of such who make us not ashamed to speak to the enemies of the Ministry in the gate Will you call Mr. John Hieron a Wolf that did so feed the Church of God Will you call him an Hireling that Preached as many Sermons for nothing as when he had his place that made the Gospel without charge Will you call him a limb of Antichrist that was a pleader against Babylon Will you Blaspheme the Holy Ghost in the Gifts and Graces bestowed on him the apparent fruit of Christs Ascension Will you say he cast out Devils by Beelzebub Will you question his Call that Heaven hath put so many Seals to Shall a Man of God be called a Priest of Baal Shall a Priest cloathed with Salvation by God be called by you a Chemarim Do you seek a proof of Christ speaking in a man Lo here it is Do you not know he was no reprobate however he and others have been reprobated by you Oh return to more sober Minds and pass a better Judgment on the Ministry Why will you be guilty of so great ingratitude as to account this great gift of Christ as filth off-scouring refuse Why will you strengthen the prejudices of a carnal corrupt World against those that would awaken and mend them Why will you lend your mouths to Satan to reproach the Servants of the most high God For if your Language be not the hissing of the Serpent I know not what is Can wrath clamour bitterness be
Many thinking men judge a plurality of Minister's needful in most places and know not how any Minister of Conscience can accept plurality of places but it seems you thought there is such plenty of Ministers as to disband so many good Souldiers was no loss When in Queen Elizabeths time she was instigated by some ill affected to the Ministry very probably the disguised Papists that the Reverend Dr Burnet suggests to abridge the number of Preachers E. G. then Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was much troubled at it and wrote a serious zealous learned strenuous sinewy Letter to her urgeth the many hands used about Solomons Temple and many very pertinent Scriptures to prove that the Gospel should be very plentifully preached and that plenty of Labourers should be sent into Gods Harvest so great and large as that it requires not few but many Labourers Oh cast your eyes upon that Letter it may make you mourn for what you have done and melt you into great tenderness Furthermore perceive you not how unprosperous your method hath been see you not how you prevail nothing If you thought to rip up the womb of Puritanism you have but made it more fruitful There is ten of the Puritan perswasion for one formerly I wish though that one of the ten were the true old Puritan See you not since this Liberty what flocking there are to the Ministry And if People were freely and fully at liberty to act according to their Judgments and Inclinations you would soon see a very great encrease of these numbers See you not how many young men God hath raised How he hath blessed their private Education And what gifts they are enriched with See you not that Providence hath been instead of Livings to those whom you cast out of Livings drove from Corporations from their kind Neighbours entred Cautions against them in all wayes of Livelyhood that they were capable off left many no way unless they could dig in the Town-ditch Ye dealt worse with us then Josiah did with the Priests of high places 2 Kings 23. 9. They did eat of the unleavened bread with their brethren but for us we must neither have Altar nor Bread The Priests of the high places had broken a positive Law of God yet Josiah moderated their punishment though he shut them out from Spiritual Services yet he allowed them Natural and Necessary Provisions I do not know that our crime was so great but our punishment was greater We found no such moderation yet we have found Mercy from God we have turned no stones into bread View our faces we are fair liking Mr. Hieron had an Estate and God gave him an heart to live on it and no need nor mind to be burdensome and for others in meaner circumstances yet God hath abundantly blessed their provision and hath satisfied his poor with Bread Nay let me close this Corollary with that which may most convince and melt you and make you smite upon your thigh hath not God been near them Hath not God met with them whom you have cast out of the Synagogues Have not their parts been increased Have not their Graces flourished hath not God spoken peace and lift up the light of his countenance upon them See you not in Mr. Hierons Life an intercourse betwixt God and him How did his beloved Jesus show himself yea flourish thro' the lattess COROLLARY 4. Sect. 5. O you that are the Ministers of God let me call your eyes to behold Mr. John Hieron Mr. Bowles hath written an excellent Book for Ministers called Pastor Evangelicus lo here I present you with a Ministers Life that wrote after that Copy and his Life is a praxis upon the Book His Preaching was the praxis upon Bishops Chappels Methodus concionandi an accurate Ramist Mr. Hieron was and his management of his Ministry was a Transcript of Reverend Mr. Bowles his Pastor Evangelicus and those few hints that we have of his converse with his heart and God give us some resemblances of great and good Mr. Corbets Self-imployment Brethren I do not ostentare virum sed ostendere I do not make a proud ostentation of Mr. Hieron but I do shew him as a good pattern to Ministers I presume not to teach you but I may be allowed to be your Remembrancer I may stir up your minds and I do beseech you mind his Qualifications for the Ministry and labour you to be so qualified this will make your inward call clear and without that your outward call will afford your minds little satisfaction nor can you with that confidence expect a Blessing You have the same Father of Lights to go to All his Gifts and Graces were borrowed Where he borrowed his you must borrow yours If good men much more a good God is ever merciful and lendeth he gives Wisdom liberally and upbraids not You may light your candle fetch fire to warm your heart from him whose fire is in Zion and furnace in Jerusalem Isa 31. 9. The better qualified the more hopes of success Qualifications beget us a Reverence in People The Sanctuary Weights and Measures were bigger Ministers should out-part their People else they are disdained Qualifications approve the Minister a workman in his Services God ordinarily works according to the aptness of means good men full of the Spirit of God have the presence of God ordinarily most with them I further exhort you to have an outward Call the People have a right to choice the Ministry a right to examine judge and separate The Magistrate may claim confirming And oh that the Spirit of this Worthy Man was in us that though he doubted not of his own Episcopal Ordination so he questioned not Presbyterial Ordination I wish moderation in this point The Younger Clergy are very intemperate But I pray you if you do read what I write consider that they that are much Elder than you are convinced by their Bibles that a Bishop and a Presbyter are the same Office And let me add they that have searched into true Antiquity and have perhaps read more Books then either you or I have ever heard of dare assert that they find no evidence of Diocesan Episcopacy I should much question Episcopal Ordination if Bishops were not Presbyters But above all I desire all Ministers to mind and follow his Exercise of his Ministry I have laid before you his Diligence his Faithfulness his Laboriousness I have shewed you how instant he was at home and abroad Preaching in season and out of season When he was fixt he setled to his work when tossed he was fixed for his work throw him as men would he fell upon his square he run all hazards endured hardship as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ O follow him You find in his Life that when he heard of Grace eminent in a Minister or read of their Graces he bespoke himself to go and do likewise So let Ministers that read his Life charge themselves to Preach as he
into the Ministry but his Youth was not despicable being grave serious and savoury He was forced from his publick Ministry which he exercised at Sandiacre by the Act of Uniformity spent the residue of his time in divers private Families in Praying Preaching Catechizing all which he performed far beyond what might be expected from his years He was an hard Student a searching Man a pertinent profitable Preacher lived well and dyed happily Novemb. 27. 1684 Interred in Carsington Church 7. 8. The two Stanyforths Mr. Jonathan and Mr. Timothy one served Jesus Christ in the Gospel at Allestrey the other at Hogneston both their mouths stopped by the Act of Uniformity They were the Children of an Antient Godly Minister and an eminently pious and found Mother They were two good Men gave much attendance to Reading had a good Library After their outing and the entrance of the Oxford Act they were driven from pillar to post yet I find that in all places they were at work and the Lord gave them success I hope there are divers about Heage will bless God for their Night-labours There are some that look white for the Harvest and several Families long and follow after the Word These two Brothers lived some years together and dyed very near one to another They made their last remove to an honest but an obscure Family And from thence they took their flight one after another from that obscure corner to a lightsome and large place They dyed both of them with much inward satisfaction that they were going to that Heaven they had chosen and long laboured for They had lively hopes in their dying Moments 9. Mr. Samuel Hieron Brother to Mr. John Hieron made no great figure in the World but was an honest man and an useful Preacher he had a room in the hearts of Gods people amongst whom he laboured Few mens outward circumstances more pressed their Conformity than his did yet he followed his Conscience and left a pretty Living at Shirley upon August 24. 1662. and threw himself and all his into the hands of Gods Providence And though he removed from place to place and every where met with hard penny-worths yet he found God pityful and of tender compassion had enough to carry him to his Journeys end and through the workings of Gods good Providence his that he hath left behind him I hope will not be exposed to poverty or coutempt He dyed March 24. 1687. 10. Mr. Samuel Wright outed at Heanor a good Man a very able Preacher Lived in much weakness for divers years after his outing He could not preach as the rest of his more healthful Brethren but when he did he preached to very good purpose 11. Mr. John Bingham outed from Marston upon Dove A Man of much Integrity Zeal and Faith hearty for God and in worst of times and things kept up his heart waiting for and confidently expecting the Salvation of God Thus he hoped to the end and lived to see some dawnings of light which he hoped would grow to a more perfect day and so departed in peace 12. Mr. Joseph Sweinam was not formally put out by the Act of Uniformity but really he was for foreseeing that Acts commencement at Bartholomew day he thought good to make a mixtly voluntary secession sometime before its taking place and so was not and yet was expelled by it He was a Man very well qualified to fill so august a place as Allhallows in Derby a very able Preacher a great Master of Language and lives in his Son Mr. Thomas Swetnam whose abilities are well known by some few Sermons he hath Published and by his frequent labours 13. I mention not divers driven out of the Country men very valuable viz. Mr. S. B. Mr. R. M. Mr. S. C. who though they be alive yet are dead as to the Country and Places of their usefulness Thus have I done something to do my dear Brethren right and pay my respects to them And this I have done partly to provoke others to do the like in other Countries and especially to stir up those that are able to decypher the Brethren I have mentioned or any of them to write their Lives more fully than I have done Partly to stir up Derbyshire Christians to dear remembrances of their dead Ministers to reflect upon their Doctrine and Life and to stir them up to a Duty which I fear is much neglected of visiting their Fatherless and Widows in their distress Read the History 2 Kings 4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. They were offered upon the sacrifice and service of your Faith in some sense you ought as David once did Ask whether there be any of theirs who need your kindness and show the kindness of the Lord unto them for their worthy Husbands and Fathers sake Their love to you like Jonathans to David passed the love of Women And furthermore to call upon you to adore and admire Gods goodness that hath raised you up many young Men that preach pray and live at a great rate that hold fast and hold forth the form of sound words which they have heard of Gods Servants in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus Oh when you consider this Sing because so many are the Children of the desolate Ministry Their Rod hath blossomed and brought forth Almonds Say in your hearts who hath begotten me these Who hath brought up these seeing I am desolate a captive removing to and fro left alone Isa 49. 21. Oh you are not straitened in Ministers Cry to God that you may not be straitened in your own Bowels Yea lastly If it were possible to bring the rigid Men for Uniformity to repent of their great sin in composing and imposing such things as stopped the mouths of such Servants of God I have shewed you what mouths it stopped in Derbyshire and if you ask what it hath done in other Provinces Cities Towns and Counties you will find alike if not a sadder account So that as one opening the mischiefs of War concludes his paragraph hâ—c sunt Belli Decora so I may say when I have mentioned the outed Ministry these are the Decencies the Graces the Triumphs and Spoils of Uniformity What hath cast away vilely the shields of the mighty Uniformity What hath slain the Beauty of England and made the mighty fall Uniformity What hath despoiled the neck of the Church like the Tower of David builded for an Armoury whereon their hangs a thousand Bucklers all shields of mighty men Uniformity When the very ingenious Esquire Evelin in his Book of Forrest-Trees mentions the goodly Oaks of England he cannot forbear to pronounce his Dirae upon Iron Masters and Iron works in England that have made such wasts I am for no imprecations but expostulations with Men for rigid Uniformity And give me leave to close this Discourse by laying before you some sober thoughts by way of Question Quest 1. Where do you find in Scripture a power given to
themselves under Judgments and pray and seek my face and turn from their evil wayes I will hear from Heaven I will forgive their sin I will heal their Land Job 33. 27. If any say I have sinned and perverted that which is right and it profiteth me not he will deliver his Soul from going into the pit And this is the use you and every one in your circumstances should make of Gods Correction to humble your self under his mighty hand To say as Job 34. 31. I have born chastisement I will not offend any more Ver. 32. That which I see not teach me if I have done iniquity I will do no more Commune with your own heart Psal 4. 4. Ask your Soul how it doth Am I in Christ Am I born again Is there a work of Grace wrought upon my heart That will appear by your walking Do you walk as becometh the Gospel Phil. 1. 27. Do you live soberly righteously godly Is this your constant walking Do you pray continually in your Family In your Closet Do you sanctifie the Lords day duely Do you teach your Children the knowledge and fear of God Do you Catechise them Do you set them a good Example Do you fill up every Relation with Duty Have you not sat with vain persons Psal 26. 4. Are you a companion to all that fear God Psal 119. 63. Do you honour such above others Psal 15. 4. Do you delight in their company Psal 16. 3. This is that we are commanded to do to bethink our selves 2 Chron. 6. 37. To consider our wayes Hag. 5. 7. To judge our selves 1 Cor. 11. 31. To examine our selves whether we be in the Faith or no. 2 Cor. 13 5. Now let Conscience speak deal faithfully and truly with your self and where you find Duty neglected Sin committed confess your faults to God freely bewail them with a broken and contrite heart pray earnestly for Grace and a new heart for power over your corruptions resolve on a new course of life to become a new man by the assistance of Gods Grace Abandon ill Company and all occasions of sin for the time to come run not into temptation but watch and pray and keep your self from your own iniquity Psal 18. 23. If I regard iniquity in my heart i. e. allow my self in any one sin God will not hear my prayer Psal 66. 18. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law and offend in one point i. e. wittingly knowingly he is guilty of all is obnoxious to condemnation as if he had broken the whole Law Jam. 2. 10. Let your future practice and reformation speak the truth of your Repentance And if you thus turn to God with your whole heart make application to Christ by Faith and his Bloud shall cleanse you from all sin So God will receive you to Mercy as the Father received the Prodigal Son with all expression of Love He that covereth his sin shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy Prov. 22. 13. If you dare not set up a Judgment-seat in your own Heart and keep a privy Sessions in your own Conscience how will you appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ and give an account of all your Thoughts Words and Actions at the great day For then must every one of us give account of himself to God Then blessed are they whose sins are forgiven They may lift up their faces at that day with boldness when impenitent sinners shall be confounded and call to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them They who live in sin are in danger to dye in sin and to be damned eternally for sin Sin will be sure to find them out to punishment who will not now search and find and cast it out by Repentance and amendment of Life Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine Ezek. 18. 31. Thus I have shewed you the good and right way to improve this present cross and to prevent worse things Joh. 5. 14. Sin no more lest a worse thing come to you If God give you an heart to imbrace and hearken to this advice you will have cause to say with David Psal 119. 67 71. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I have kept thy word And it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes And I beseech you do not reject the Counsel of God against your own Soul Put it in practice without delay Break off your sins by Righteousness forthwith to day while it is called to day lest your heart â—e hardened by the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3. 13. All flesh is grass And no man knoweth the day of his death But it may be said to any of us This night shall thy Soul be required of thee You seem to have a crazy Body You have had divers warnings of late to mind you of your frailty And it is an high point of wisdom to consider of a Mans latter end Deut. 32. 29. What if Death should come like a Thief suddenly and give no warning Then happy are all they who with the wise Virgins have got Oyl in their Lamps saving Grace and Sincerity If a Flood come happy are they who with Noah have prepared an Ark for the saving of their Souls Make sure of Christ keep Conscience pure so it will be peaceable keep integrity and uprightness so you may look Death in the face without fear I will conclude with the words of Solomon Prov. 19. 20. Hear counsel receive instruction that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end Tender Love and Compassion to your Soul was the only motive which set my Pen on writing these Lines Take them in good part and pass a favourable construction on them peruse them ponder them for they are of weight of worth the very Word of God useful and necessary to be followed nearly conducing to the Salvation of your Immortal Soul Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things 2 Tim. 2. 7. To his Grace I commend you being Your Servant for the salvation of your Soul BEcause my former Letter found so good acceptance with you I am incouraged once again to write to you to let you know how welcome and joyful a thing it is to your Friends to understand that you are become a new man that you have put off your former Conversation and abandoned all vain Company that you keep much at home and take delight in your Wife and Children as you have just cause for they are sweet Children Dutiful and Obedient also that you pray constantly with them and frequent the most lively and powerful and Soul-saving Preaching of Gods Word on the Lords dayes Oh how good and how pleasant a thing it is to all that love you that love your Soul to hear these things of you Now I pray you suffer a word of further Exhortation and give me leave to beseech you as
22. Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me Job 10. 2. If your Heart do not condemn you for any particular sin yet renew your Repentance for all sin labour to excite and stir up the Grace of God within you Be more fervent in Prayer diligent in hearing more watchful over your hearts and all your wayes mortifie corruptions and walk more closely with God and pray that this Affliction may be sanctified to you that you may come forth as gold after God hath tryed you Job 23. 10. That you may be able to say as David Psal 119. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes This is what I thought good to say to you Parents Now I speak to your Son Though God does sometimes visit the iniquity of Parents upon Children yet there is none upon Earth so just or innocent as to be Naturally pure and free from sin All are born in sin The imagination of the Heart of Man is evil from his youth You are therefore to be humbled for Original Sin the Corruption of your Nature the Mother of all abominations And pray that you may be born again with a new birth from Heaven David confesseth Psal 51. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me Every one therefore must be renewed taken off the stock of old Adam and ingrassed into Christ 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature Make sure of this that you be in Christ In him God is well pleased and with all that are in Christ If you may say with David Psal 118. 6 7. The Lord is on my side I will not fear what men or Devils can do unto me The Lord taketh my part with them that help me Again Psal 56. 11. In God I put my trust I will not fear what man can do unto me Psal 27. 1. The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is my strength of whom shall I be afraid Rom. 8. 31. If God be for us who can be against us He that spared not his own Son c. Make sure of Gods love and then you need not fear the Devils malice For first the Devil is a conquered Foe He is a Dragon or Lyon in chains Rev. 20. 1. Christ that owns the Cross hath overcome and subdued him Heb. 2. 14. Through his death he hath destroyed him that had power of death that is the Devil He cannot go one link beyond his Chain He could not touch one Lamb of all Jobs flock till God gave him leave He could not enter into the Herd of Swine till Christ permitted him He cannot appear to you nor hurt you except God suffer him The very hairs of your head are all numbered Matth. 10. 30. By fearing him you do him too much pleasure and honour And will you pleasure a cruel enemy An enemy to God and your Soul By so doing you dishonour God and Christ who is your strength and Redeemer You do in effect say I doubt the Devil is too hard for God I fear God cannot deliver me out of his hands Whereas it is promised Rom. 16. 20. The God of peace shall tread Satan under your feet shortly 1 Joh. 4. 4. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world How foolish a thing is it to fear that which never did befal you nor any man not one of ten thousand What did you see the Devil or have you known one man or woman that ever did see him except Witches who call him in to their assistance His suggestions or temptations cannot harm you but molest and trouble you They are not your sins you may still keep your integrity for all them as Job and Christ did And if God should suffer him to appear to you yea and carry your Body from place to place as he did our Saviour yet it is not in his power to hurt you I have read of a Godly Minister that for want of a better was forced to dwell in a House that was haunted and one night when he was in Bed the Devil appear'd to him standing like a Man at his Beds feet The Minister saw him but was not affrighted only said to him If thou have nought else to do thou mayest stand there still I will betake my self to my rest and so he did and heard no more of his guest The Devil is a proud Spirit and loveth to domineer and have men stand in awe of him to fear him instead of God and this he triumpheth in But the best way is to slight and contemn him as the Minister did so shall you be sooner rid of him Leave thinking of him and have God more in your mind his Mercy Love and Care to all that fear him his Promises Providence These call to mind Gods Attributes his Allsufficiency his Almighty Power I am the almighty God Gen. 17. 1. and Gen. 15. 1. Fâ—ar not Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward Josh â— 5 6. I will be with thee I will never fail thee nor forsake thee Be strong and of a good courage These Promises though made to Abraham and to Joshua belong to every believer Believers are Heirs of the Promises Heb. 6. 17. And Paul applies them to all believers Heb. 13. 5. And so doth Peter 2 Pet. 1. 4. Do you act faith in the promises and reason thus Is God my God my Heavenly Father in Jesus Christ Doth he love me Psal 146. 8. Doth he care for me 1 Pet. 5. 7. Watch over me is he my shield and buckler Psal 121. 3 4 5. Prov. 2. 7. My strength rock fortress high tower my deliverer Psal 18. 1 2. Shall I then be so cowardly as to fear a creature the Devil all the Devils in Hell when God is for me God keepeth careth for me watcheth over me night and day Isa 27. 3. Where is my faith Check your self for unbelief as Christ did Peter Matth. 14. 31. O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt And as David did his own Soul Psal 42 Why art thou cast down O my Soul c. Lastly If you are in Christ then are you dear to God though you be never so poor you are a member of Christ of the family of Heaven of the Houshold of Faith a Lamb of Christs flock a Child of God an Heir of Heaven Will God suffer the Devil to harm any so dear to him Joh. 10. 28. My sheep shall never perish nor shall any man or devils be able to pluck them out of my fathers hand Christ is a good Shepherd Isa 40. 11. He will gather the lambs in his armes and carry them in his bosom He will not quench the smoaking flax nor break the bruised reed As a Father pityeth his Children so the Lord pityeth them that fear him He may suffer men to ride over their heads Satan to buffit them 2 Cor.
12. 7. but still his eye of Fatherly care is on them Psal 34. 15. and all things shall work together for their good Now lay all these things together 1. Satan is a Conquered a Chained Enemy 2. By slavish fear you do him too much honour 3. You wrong God and Christ as if they were not able to save you 4. Call to mind Gods gracious Attributes Providence Promises 5. Your relatian to God and Christ to whom in Baptism you were devoted and so are a Member of Christ one of Gods Children whom he loves pityeth and careth for Say now as Nehemiah Should such a one as I flee should I fear the Devil No fear God fear to displease him by sin by this immoderate fear Resist the Devil by Faith and fervent Prayer Lay hold on Gods promises Apply them to your self by Faith as if they had been made to you by Name Hold no dispute with Satan he will be too hard for you But take the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God Answer his Cavils with that as our Saviour did Avoid solitariness as much as you may When you are alone yet remember you are not alone Believers have fellowship with the Father and the Son by the Holy Ghost And alwayes remember that the Holy Angels encamp round about them that fear God Turn to those Scriptures Psal 34. 7. and 91. 11. Get acquainted with Gods people hear their advice and beg their Prayers Wait on God be sure to keep in his way and the issue will be good Psal 40. 1. So the God of Peace grant you Peace by all means and the Peace of God which passeth understanding keep your hearts through Jesus Christ To his Blessing and Grace I commend you Yours Mar. 30. 1680. I Must desire to see you but it is thought not advisable for me to take such a journey at first not having been on horse back since my late sickness I am sorry to hear you are ill again being but lately recovered from an ill fit Man that is born of a woman is of few days and is full of trouble And because it is unknown to us which sickness is or may prove our last it is wisdom to improve the present as a warning to us So to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts to wisdom to consider our latter end and Eternity that follows after Set thy house in order for thou shalt dye and not live saith the Prophet from God to Hezekiah much more should we set our Souls in order and see that we be on good terms with God ere we appear before his judgment-seat Which we must do the first moment after the departing of the Soul out of the body Heb. 9. 27. This is a work so necessary to be done in time that it is not ought not to be put off till a sick bed yet it must then be revived and renewed and then done in the best manner as being the last time of doing it and what is then done is like to stand for ever In order thereunto reflect and look back into the former part of your life Begin at your birth sin and corruption of nature Bewail that and lament over it so go on to the sins of youth and be humbled for them and so come a long to the sins of age and riper years confess and bewail them with their agravating circumstances as being committed against light knowledge and checks of Conscience and done with deliberation By this means you will find ease and rest to your Soul according to that promise Mat. 11. 29. If you cast your weary burden upon the Lord Jesus Christ he will stand between you and his fathers wrath he will take all your debts upon him and say as Rebeckah to Jacob upon me be thy curse my Son Fresh sorrow for old sins Repentance renewed will make Christ sweet and sin bitter to you and affect you more in his love in dying for you This will be a good evidence to you that your sins are forgiven Namely if you confess them with a broken and penitent heart and forsake them with detestation And now is a fit time for you to look up your evidences for Heaven that so you may not be afraid to dye but may look Death in the face with comfort If you say how may I be assured that my sins are forgiven and that Christ is mine To the first I have answered already He that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall find mercy Prov. 28. 13. If we confess our sins by faith resting on Christ for pardon he is faithful and just to forgive us To the second How may I know that Christ is mine Thus Are you you his Are you willing Do you consent to have him on his own terms for your Lord and do you obey him as your Lord Do you take his yoak upon you have you respect to all his commandments Do you hate every evil way John 15. 14. You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you Do you chuse the Lord for your portion Christ for your bliss and happiness Do you more highly prize him and desire to enjoy him more than all riches Do you account all things but loss and dung in comparison of him Had you rather be the most holy person upon Earth than the greatest or richest that ever was And do you use diligence in the means of grace to attain to more holiness If so you may without doubt be well assured your Estate is good and safe For you could not have chosen God and loved Christ unless he had chosen and loved you first Dwell therefore in the thoughts and tastes of Gods love to you Say how wonderful is Gods love to a poor worm and silly dust That the contrivance of infinite wisdom should be taken up about me That the eternall Deity should consult about my salvation ere the world began That God should pass by many wise men after the flesh many mighty and noble who if they had been converted might have done God better service an hundred times then I and make choise of me a dispicable sinner to be an Heir of salvation Lord what is man c. Thus raise up your heart in thankful admiration of Gods wonderful love to your Soul And Thirdly the assurance of Gods love will incourage your heart against the fear of death and give you confidence against the King of terrors I shall be glad to hear of your recovery though I thus write I commend you to God and if I never see you in this world I hope to meet you with other dear friends who are gone before in those mansions which Christ hath purchased and prepared for all those that love him to whose grace I refer you Yours J. H. May 31. 81. They are blessed that do hunger and thirst after Righteousness after Christ for justification and sanctification Do not you so Are not you empty naked barren of grace in your self a dry tree
Are not you sensible of your your wants and of your beggarly condition Do not you not say with David I am poor and needy Psal 70 5. And with Paul Rom. 7. 18. in me dwells no good thing Is not your appetite and thirst after grace as strong as Sampsons was for water or Rachels for Children give me Children or else I dye Do you not thirst after more grace and covet earnestly farther degrees of holiness and wish you were the holiest rather than the richest or greatest Lady or Princess in the world If so then I question it not but you are one of the blessed ones in the judgment of Christ who is infallible and cannot mistake What have you to say against this I hope you rest satisfied about vile and vain thoughts which do not lodge in you but you repel them and reject them These may be your grief and affliction but are not your sin cannot prejudice your good estate nor ought your imperfections passions corruptions from which the best on earth are not free to cause you to question your justification or your being in Christ So long as you bewail them strive against them and are humbled for them your desire is to reach after perfection and further Measures of holiness These desires are of and from the Spirit of God And he accepts the will for the deed as was shewed in divers instances Nay this to me makes it clear if God account impious desires vicious ungodly inordinate lusts for the sin it self or deed done as Hatred with him is imputed Murder 1 Joh. 3. 15. Lusting after a woman though she remain chast is Adultery in Gods account in the man So much more longing and thirsting desires after grace are beginnings of grace and such desires God accepts and will fulfil them Psal 145. 19. provided they be gracious and holy desires humble desires springing from a broken heart from one that is poor in Spirit if they be constant unsatisfied vehement in the use of means and that a man so prize Christ and his grace that he be ready to sell all to buy the Pearl Now this being your condition what cause have you to leave your doubting and spend your dayes in rejoycing and praising God for his singular Mercy in conferring on you so excellent a gift as is saving grace which is so rare a gift like gold to be found with few persons but more excellent than millions of gold and silver Let your meditation of God be sweet and admire his wonderful love to you in Christ and how great things he hath done for you Yours I Am sorry that the Sun and Stars are darkened with you and that the Clouds return after the Rain But be not discouraged this is a case common to many good Christians and no other than befalls the best of Gods people Do not fear but the light will break forth again though you be under a cloud at present The Son of Righteousness will arise upon you with healing in his wings Be sure you regard no iniquity in your heart Keep you from every accursed thing Wash you make you clean cease to do evil learn to do well and mark what follows If your sins were as scarlet they shall be as white as snow if they be as crimson they shall be as wooll If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin Again If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous He is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole World Now reach out the hand of Faith and lay hold on the promises and apply them for they are exceeding great and precious promises and they are all in Christ yea and Amen true and faithful And they are your promises yea directed to you in particular as if your name was put to them O be not faithless but believing And if you do believe with all your heart then are your sins forgiven according to the tenour of these promises Now are you justified and at peace with God through Jesus Christ O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt Doubts in Gods people may arise from one of these causes The heinonsness of Sin the imperfection of Duties or the weakness of Faith For the first of these know that the Lord thinks never the worse of any for what they have been for any sins they have lived in when once they have truly repented of them Ezek. 18. 21 22. You may observe in the Church that Christ never shewed greater kindness to any than to such as had been most notorious As the woman of Samaria Zacheus the Publican Mary Magdelen And whereas there is but four women mentioned in the Genealogy of Christ Mat. 1. not one of them but the Scripture sets a mark of infamy upon them for some notorious sins Ruth was a Heathen an Idolater Tamar Rahab Bathsheba you know what they were yet these only have the honour to be upon record when Sarah and women though more spotless are passed by in silence What may be the reason thereof Take it from Mr. Hildersam To teach us that penitent sinners shall have never the less honour with God shall be never the less esteemed for that they have done after they have once truly repented and turned to the Lord So you see there is no cause why you should be dismayed at the hainousness of your sins having repented of them For the next True it is that after Conversion we are but in part regenerate and so our best Duties are imperfect and stained with many corruptions Isa 64. 6. yet God doth not reject them nor us for these defects but accepts them 1 Pet. 2. 5. delighteth in them Cant. 2. 14. will reward them Col. 3. 24. Heb. 11. 5. and not so much as take notice of the blemishes that are in our best services Mic. 7. 18. Cant. 4. 7. Thon art all fair my love there is no spot in thee Let not the poorness of your Duties discourage you but remember Christ sits at the right hand of God to make intercession for you By whose merits Saints Prayers are perfumed as it were with incense and so are made a sweet savour to God Rev. 8. 3. And for the third know that it is not the strength but the truth of Faith that giveth us acceptance with God through Faiths acceptance of Christ Joh. 1. 12. As many as received him c Now a weak hand may receive a gift as truly as a strong A single penny may be as good and clear Silver as a bigger piece Among Believers Heb. 11 some whose sincerity we should have doubted of so weak was their Faith if the Holy Ghost had not put them in the Catalogue of the Faithful As Gideon Barak Sampson Jeptha Rahab Him that is weak in Faith we are bidden to receive Rom. 14. 1. Sure God
a Conscience sprinkled with Christs Blood a Life full of good Works and Almsdeeds will be more comfortable in the review than Lands and Lordships and bags full of Money â—et us be wise in time Let us make to our selves friends of the unrighteous Mammon that when these things fail we may be received into everlasting habitations There be dead at London within twelve Moneths twelve worthy Ministers of the Gospel and Judge Hales that upright Judge that scorned to take a bribe the Honour and oracle of the law is dead also pray that these deaths of righteous men â—resage not evil to come Thus with due respects to you both I commend you to God resting Yours J. H. Losco February 15. 1676. Because I have nothing to write to you about worldly matters I would give you a word of spiritual advice which as it is not to me any trouble so I would hope it is neither unprofitable nor unaceptable to you That which I have thought fit at this time to impart to you is the sinfulness of sin the danger and damnation that accompanieth every sin every disobedience which without true and sincere repentance and amendment of life will be the eternal ruin of the Soul One actual sin is enough to destroy a man as is apparent in Adam Lots Wife Ananias and Saphir a And many others in scripture and how much more then will a course of sin a way of wickedness as the love of the world a form of godliness hypocrisie an unregenerate estate if continued in undo a man everlastingly Yet how little is this laid to heart What favourable thoughts do most people entertain of sin As if it were at light matter not to be so much dreaded since Christ died for sin what need we so much fear to live in it Seeing God is merciful why may not we take liberty to live as we list As if the Son of God came down from Heaven not destroy the works of the Devil but to establish the Empire of sin as if God were not as just as merciful whose most pure and holy nature can never be reconciled to sin Sin is the transgression of law And the great Lawgiver who is able to save or destroy will never suffer sinners to trample on his authority and cast his Commandments at their heels and hold them guiltless Sin provoketh God the God of patience to anger And the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against sin in all ages What strange confusion and horrid destruction hath sin introduced into the world it cast thousands of lapsed Angels out of Heaven into the dreadful Tophet where they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day This viper stung our sirst Parents outed them of Paradise brought in sorrow sickness a thousand diseases and death into the world drowned all the Earth with a flood turned Sodom to ashes brought on Jerusalem such calamities as were not inflicted on any Nation under heaven And which is more what is it but sin that kindles the flames of Hell fire and which yet further declareth the hatefulness of sin it crucified the Lord Jesus Christ without shedding whose blood no remission How much then is every one concerned to get out of a state of sin to commune with our hearts and trye if we be converted And to see that no iniquity have Dominion over us Let us Judge our selves that we be not â—udged Make sure our eternal estate live we not in sin lest we dye in sin and be damned for sin let 's follow holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. We are all in good health blessed be God to whom I commit you and with all due repescts to you both rest Yours c. J. H. Losco July 24. 1677. WE are all well praised be God I have nothing of outward matters to present you with which makes me fill my paper with better things The going out of the old year should minde us of puting off the old man and the coming in of the new year that we put on the new man that we purge out the old leaven of corruption that we may be renewed in sincerity and true holiness We are one year nearer to our grave and eternity then we are the fast year at this time have we got one years growth in grace What progress have we made in sanctification in mortification this year What corruptions have we subdued Have we put off our worldly mindness lukewarmness formality in worship Are we become more holy humble heavenly have we added one Cubit to our spiritual stature It is not unlikely but we can tell whether we decline and go backward or whether we go forward and increase in riches and our outward estate And the Soul is more excellent then the body and grace then gold Let us take a view of the state of our Souls and observe what mercies we have received this year from how many evils and calamities we have been preserved and sad breaches which have been made upon other families which we and ours have been freed from that so we may be thankful and give to God his praise Let us review our sins of the year past how many ways we have miscarried and offended God that so we may be humbled and renew our repentance How oft have we received the sacrament of the Lords supper So many obligations we lye under the vowes of God are upon us and tyes to better obedience Thus oft reflecting on our selves is a good way to know our spiritual estates A Christian should be no stranger to his own heart and state in reference to eternity self-judging discovers our selves to our selves encreaseth grace inlargeth comfort weakeneth corruption keepeth peace with God and our own consciences casteth out sin prevents mistakes which are dangerous in soul-affairs prepareth to every good work If we were as the Apostle saith Gal. 6. 14. Crucified 〈…〉 of the earth would affect and afflict us less and our hearts would be more above where our treasure is or should be So wishing you a good new year especially that your souls may prosper I commit you to God and with all due respects to you both remembered I am Yours Truely J. Hieron Decem. 28. 1676. My very good friend I Understand that you and your whole family are in great sorrow and heaviness through your Wises miscarriage of a child and truly I and our family do grieve with you for so we are commanded to weep with them that weep and be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love But I pray be wise and take heed lest you over-grieve and so offend God by immoderate sorrow which you may easily do and so provoke his wrath against you and bring a heavier cross upon you Let them that weep be as if they wept not 1 Cor. 7. 30. If it should please God to make a greater breach among us by taking from any of us a dear friend we
ought to submit to Gods will with patience and silence As we see in Job who beside the loss of all his cattle had all his Children at mans estate taken from him by a violent stroak yet how religiously he behaved himself under the hand of God you may read in his story So let us humble our selves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt us in due time 1 Pet. 5. 6. What said the prophet to the King of Judah asking how shall we do for the hundred Talents The Lord is able to give the much more then this 2 Chron. 2. 25. 9. Gods hand is not shortened He can abundantly recompence a greater loss then this But I would not have you too earnestly set your hearts upon any outward blessing nor too eagerly desire issue but with submission to Gods will so far as may be for his glory and your good and comfort For though Children are an heritage from the Lord as it is Psal 127. 3. that is when God giveth them in love and blesseth them not when he giveth them in anger as he gave Israel quails Psal 78. 30 31 and gave to Ephraim Children Hos 9 13. for the murtherer Better it is to be barren then fruitful in Children that may be crosses to fathers and heart breakings to Mothers by their wickedness Prov. 17. 25. or by the evil of the times If Popery should come in or the sword of war should rage in the land we know not what evil may be in the earth But such times have been and we know not what may be when it shall be said Blessed are the barren that never bare and the paps which never gave suck Luk. 23. 29. Let me give you wholsome counsel which if God give you hearts to embrace it will be to your comfort And it is that which you find Lam 3. â—9â— 40. Wherefore doth a living man complaint a man for the punishment of his sins Let us search and try our wayes and turn again to the Lord. Leave off grieving for the affliction and inquire into the cause of it as Rebekah did being with child she inquired of the Lord why am I thus Gen. 25. 22. Go you and do likewise pray to God as Job 10. 2. Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me Search your hearts and ways Have you wrastled with God in prayer for the fruit of the womb and for a blessing on it Have you set up prayer in your family or neglected it If not then have you robbed God of his due and no marvel if he deceive you of your expected comfort You know or may know that family prayer is a duty commanded of God and put in practise by all Gods people And those are no Christian families that do not call upon God nay the wrath of God hangs over them Jer. 10. 25. pray turn to all these scriptures and weigh them well Eph. 6. 18. Luk. 18. 1. Jos. 24. 15. Job 1. 5. Act. 10. 2. Gen. 18. 19. And mark this one Instance Jsaac had a promise that his seed should be as the Stars of Heaven for multitude yet his wife was barren and without issue Twenty years until he prayed more earnestly and then Rebekah conceived and bare twins Gen. 25. 22 As blessings are obtained by prayer so are they sanctified to become blessings indeed by prayer 1 Tim. 4. 5. It is sanctified by the word and prayer Every creature is so our meat our labours our enjoyments our relations are sanctified to us by prayer Otherwise the curse abides on them Prov. 3. 33. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked Tit. 1. 15. To the pure all things are pure but to them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure These things I pray lay to heart and resolve to reform and amend whatsoever is amiss as you would have Gods blessing and favour both here and hereafter And consider whether this neglect of family-prayer he not the thing which troubles M. and the grief of it be not the cause of her miscarriage For I really believe she hath in all other things as much content as her heart can wish a loving Husband a loving relation and fulness of all things that the earth affords but she cannot be satisfied to live in a family where God is not worshiped she with Mary in the gospel having chosen the good part which shall not be taken from her Therefore I earnestly desire she may be gratified in this one request if you think I speak reason resolve to put this advise in practise and begin presently and continue to the end They that call on the name of the Lord shall be saved pray let this Letter be read to or by your whole family So praying God to open your ears and heaâ—ts to hearken to the counsel of the word I leave it and you all to the blessing of God and with my love to you all I rest Your faithful friend I. Hieron Losco Feb. 21. 1679. THis is to let you know that your Aunt W. dyed yesterday after about ten dayes lying sick Thus we part with our loving Neighbours and Friends one after another till Death at length knocketh at our door And what better use can we make of every such occasion than to consider our selves and seriously to mind our own latter end Let us put this question to our Souls Soul art thou ready to depart Art thou in such a posture as thou wouldst be to appear befoâ—e the Tribunal of the great Judge Hast thou on the Wedding garment Take heed thou be not found naked to thy shame O put on the Lord Jesus Christ his Righteousness by Faith to Justification his Holiness to Sanctification Every one would have comfort and hope in Death but then we must lay up a good foundation of it in Life No man is like to find that treasure at or after Death which he never laid up in his Life time For what a man soweth that shall he certainly reap He that soweth to the flesh or to the world shall reap corruption damnation eternal O that we were wise O that we would consider the end of our wayes Whither are we going Heaven or Hell is before us To which of these doth my present way lead Resolve this Question ere you sleep because Time tarries for no Man Life is uncertain and upon this moment depends Eternity Time is irrevocable When once it is past it cannot be recalled not if you would give thousands of Gold and Silver for one day or hour longer Let every passing peal you hear ring every Grave you see opened preach to you this Doctrine Be ye also ready Those to whom those Skulls and Bones you see turned up belong were in their time as good Men as you perhaps What we see them to be now others will see us to be shortly The fashion of this World passeth away but Godliness Grace Holiness endureth for ever Choose with Mary that good part which shall
never be taken from you I know no business of greater weight than this is therefore I beseech you do not slight it but lay it to heart Thus with due respects to you I rest Yours truly John Hieron Losco June 14. 77. THE only intent of this Paper is to give you a word of Spiritual Advice and Direction to carry your self so in this World that you may be happy for ever in the World to come You know every one hath a Soul an Immortal Soul which must live â—ternally either in bliss or misery And every one of us must be careful to save his own Soul Deut. 4. 9. Only take heed to thy self and keep thy Soul diligently The more precious any thing is the more careful we are to preserve it and more fearful to lose it In this respect the Soul deserves more care than all the things in the World besides for it is infinitely more worth What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his own soul Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul Saith our blessed Saviour Matth. 16. 26. Wherefore let my Counsel be acceptable to you and I will shew you the right way how you may save your Soul and be for ever happy which I shall do in two words First Be careful to shun and avoid whatsoever is destructive and dangerous to the Soul and that is sin and sinful lusts 1 Pet. 2. 11. Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul Dent. 23. 9. Keep thee from every wicked thing Jer. 44. 4. Oh do not this aâ—ominabâ—â— thing that my soul hates faith the Lord God For the soul that sinneth shall dye Ezek. 18. 4 And as you must watch against all sin so must you flee all occasions and temptations to sin Beware of ill example Follow not a multitude to do evil Exod. 23. 2. for the way to Hell is broad the gate that leadeth to destruction is wide and many there be that go in thereat Take heed of bad company which are infectioâ—s Shun them as you would shun the Plague For a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump He that walketh with the wife that is the Godly shall be wise But a companion of fools that is of wicked men shall be destroyed Prov. 13. 20. Be not among wine-bibbers Prov. 23. 20. Come not near the door of an Harlot or Harlots house Prov. 5. 8. Blessed is the man c. Psal 1. 1. This is the first part of my Advice which is the same you are engaged to by the Vow of your Baptism wherein you renounced the World the Flesh and the Devil and are under a solemn obligation to maintain a continual War against them as being enemies to your Soul And if you shall neglect to do it you would be a forsworn creature This is a consideration well worthy your laying to heart In the next place you must carefully use those means that God hath appointed to work grace and holiness in your heart for by this we are saved And without holiness no man shall see the Lord or be happy Heb. 12. 14. Let sin be the grief and burden of your heart yea sin original chiefly as well as actual sins for we are all born in sin and Children of wrath by Nature and must be born again that so Natural Corruption the plague of our heart may be healed in us by a new birth from Heaven If any man be in Christ he is a new creature For this you must pray to God earnestly and with importunity that he will create in you a new heart Psal 51. 10. and work in you a lively Faith that you may kiss the Son believe in Jesus Christ for pardon of Sin and Salvation For this end you must diligently and constantly attend on the Word which is the ordinary means which God hath appointed to beget and increase Faith Rom. 10. 17. Faith cometh by hearing Have a care to keep holy the Sabbath day constantly and no day neglect reading the Scripture And let fervent Prayer be your Morning and Evening Sacrifice continually and pray God to put his fear in your heart that you may never depart from him Blessed is the man tâ—aâ— feâ—reth alwayeâ— Prov. 28. 14. Daily be faithful and diligent in your Calling he courteous to all men do evil to none speak evil of no man live soberly be temperate in all things Let the chief care of your heart and endeavour of your life be to serve and please God that he may bless you here and save you hereafter So God shall have Honour your Friends Comfort in you and your Soul be eternally â—â—ved which is the desire of Your true Friend and Lover John Hieron Losco June 19. 1680. Thus this Holy Man was taking and making opportunities of doing good to Souls The conversion quickning and saving of Souls was the desire of his Heart what he earnestly prayed for and the design of his Sermons and of his Letters and of his private Discourse too and that to the last As a Kiâ—swoman coming to visit him not long before he dyed and staying all night when she came into his Chamber to take her leave after much good Counsel given her sayes he Are you going But who came along with you She answered Her Man And Payes he where is he I have something to say to him Then he was told that the Man was on Horse-back waiting for his Mistress He replyed Call him up Shall any one come and lodge a might in my House and I say nothing to him concerning his Soul Bid him alight and come to me for I must speak to him Thus he shewed his Care for the Soul of a Servant as well as of the Mistress his Love to the Soul of a Stranger as well as to any of his own Kindred FINIS Books Printed for and sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chapel A Second Volume of lives of sundry eminent persons in this latter agae in two parts I. of Divines II. of Nobilicy and Gentry of both Sexes By Samuel Clark M. A. sometime Pastor of Bennetsink in London The life and Death of Edmond Staunton D. D. to which is added I. his Treatise of Christain conference II. His Dialogue between a Minister and a stranger Octavo The true Dignity of St. Paul's elder exemplefied in the life of that Reverend Holy zealous and faithful Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Owen Stockton M. A. sometimes follower of Gonvile and Câ—jâ—s Colledge in Cambridge and afterward Preacher of Gods Word â—t Colchester in Essex With a Collection of his observations Experiences and Evidences recorded by his own hand to which is added his Funeral Sermon by John Fâ—â—rfax M. A. sometime Fellow of C. Colledge in Cambridge and afterward Rector of â—â—rking in Sâ—ffolk Invisible Realities demonstrated in the Holy Life and Triumphant Death of Mr. John Janeway Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge By James Janeway Minister of the Gospel A Narraitive of the Holy Life and happy death of that Reverend faithful and zealous man of God Minster of the Gospel of JesusChrist Mr. John Angier many years Pastor of the Church of Christ at Dunton near Manchester in Lancashire Wherein are related many Passaged that concern his Birth Education his entrance into the Ministry discharge of his trust therein and his Death Octavo A Believers Triumph over Death exemplified in a relation of the last hours of Dr. Andrews River and an account of divers other remarkable Instances being an History of the Comfortable end and dying words of several eminent Men. With other occasionall Passages attending to comfort Christians to the fear of Death and prepare them for a like happy Change The Life and death of Mr. Tâ—o Wilson Minister of Maidstone in the County of Kent M. A. A True History of the Capâ—ivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson a Ministers Wife in New England wherein is set forth the cruel and Inhumane usage she under went amongst the Heathens for cleven Weeks time and her delieverance from them Written by her own hand for her private use and now made publick at the earnest desire of some friends for the benefit of the Afflicted whereunto is anexed a Sermon of the possibility of Gods forsaking a People that have been near and dear to him preached by Mr. Josph Rowlandson Husband to the said Mrs. Rowlandson so it being his last Sermon Carracters of a Godly Man both as more and less grown in grace By Daniel Burgess Minister of the Gospel Octavo Of National Churches their description Institution use preservation danger Malides and cure partly applyed to England quarto Again the Revolt to a Forrain Iurisdiction which would be to England its Perjury Church R â—un and slavery in two parts I. the History of Mans endeavours to Introduce it II. the Confutation of all pretences for it Church Concord containing I. A Diswasive from unnecessary Division and Separation and the real concord of the moderate Independants with the Presbyterians instanced in ten seeming Differences II. the Terms necessary for concord among all true Churches and Christians These three By Richard Baxter Minister of the Gospel FINIS