was sound and orthodox in his judgement An able and resolute Champion against all manner of Popery and Arminianism as also against Anabaptism and Brownism which did then begin to peep up and infest the Church to tear and rent the seamless coat of Christ. He was always a Non-conformist one of the good old Puritans of England He never swallowed any of the Prelatical Ceremonies against his Conscience So that he was often troubled by the Bishops but God raised him up friends that always brought him off and maintained his Liberty He was prudent and of a peaceable spirit and never censured any that could and did conform if he judged them consciencious and saw any thing of God in them At his first coming to Bramford he saw of the travel of his soul. He had a plentifull harvest many souls being daily added to the Church by his powerfull Ministery and holy life But after he had abode many years amongst them the people began to be glutted with heavenly Manna and loathed it so that there grew a great decay in their first love and about the year 1615. or something before there arose up a generation of malignant spirits who were haters of a plain powerfull and searching Ministry and of the life and power of Godliness These were the Gentry and chief of the Parish These rose up against Mr. Carter pressed him to Conformity complained of him to the Bishop and threatned that they would either bring him to conformity or eject him At this very juncture of time through Gods gracious Providence the Rectory of little Belsted fell to be void A very small Village some three miles from Ipswich and a solitary place the means indeed was better then Bramford yet short of a competency and of the deserts of so eminent a Pillar in the Church of Christ it being but about fifty pound and at the most not worth above sixty pound per annum The Patron Mr. Bloss became a Suitor to Master Carter to accept of it which he refused again and again being resolved rather to endure persecution at Bramford to grapple with all difficulties and to die there rather then to remove But Gods providence over-ruled him At Bramford he saw that he must be outed and Mr. Bloss would take no denial yea and he found favour in the eyes of the Bishop so that he was instituted without subscription or submitting to the Ceremonies and then at last God as it were taking him by the hand and pulling him whether he would or no he removed from Bramford after he had done faithfull Service in the work of the Ministery for about thirty four years in that place and was setled at Belsted Parsonage where be continued eighteen years before God caused him to rest from his Labors and in all that time he discharged his holy Function just as he had done in Bramford in his younger years though his Congregation here was but small yet it pleased God that many Fish came within the compass of his Net from Ipswich and other neighbouring Towns where they were destitute of faithfull Shepherds so that his later Crop in Gods Harvest-field was very considerable Little Belsted was a Tusculanum to him where in his old age he had much secret and sweet communion with God in the house and as an Isaac with him in the Fields which was a beginning of that glorious Communion which he now enjoyes with God in the mountains of Spices He being dead yet speaks and his works praise him in the Gates For from the Press we have his Learned and pithy Commentary on the Sermon of Christ in the Mount and two short but substantial solid and profitable Catechisms one Milk for children the other Winter evenings Communication His pains in the study of the Revelations were indefatigable He wrote much in a little room but these Labours of his yet never saw the light Many Ministers that privately did converse with him lighted their candles at his For his carriage and deportment in his Family it was sober grave and very Religious He there offered up the Morning and Evening Sacrifice of Prayer and praise continually so that his House was a little Church Thrice a day he had the Scriptures read and after that the Psalm or Chapter were ended he used to ask all his children and servants what they remembred and whatsoever Sentences they rehearsed he would speak something out of them that might tend to their edification For his own and his Wives habit it was very plain and homely of the old Fashion yet very cleanly and decent insomuch that all that came to his house would say they had seen Adam and Eve or some of the old Patriarchs In all his house also there was nothing but honest plainess He was such an one as Jacob a plain sincere I had almost said a perfect man I am sure a true Nathaneel in whom was no guile He never used any Plate in his House but Vessels of Wood and Earth Pewter and Brass were the highest Mettals for his Utensils All the time of his house-keeping he used constantly at his Table a little wooden Salt which with age was grown to be of a duskish black which was much taken notice of by all Comers He never made Feasts yet always had wholsom full and liberal Diet in his house and all fared alike He and his wife did never think that his children and servants and poor folk did eat enough The righteous man saith Solomon is mercifull to his Beast So he was carefull even for the bruit Creatures that they should be fed to the full All his cattel were like to the first Kine that Pharaoh saw feeding in the Meddow they were fat-fleshed and well favoured insomuch as some godly people used to say merrily If they would be a Cow or a Horse or a Hog or a Dog they would choose Mr. Carter for their Master He had a sharp wit and was sweet milde affable and pleasant in his conversation yet were there not any of his most facetious passages that did not savour of holiness His communication and discourse was always heavenly and his eyes were frequently lifted up towards heaven He did not eat or drink without praising God with his mouth and eyes His whole Conversation was in Heaven Besides his Family Duties and Prayers he prayed constantly in his Closet at his first going to his study and before he came forth to Dinner and Supper He prayed very loud and mostly very long for the extension of his voice he had a double reason one that by his earnest speech he might quicken and raise up his own heart and devotion the other that he might give a good example for secret prayer to his children and servants and he never closed any Prayer without adding the Lords Prayer and his ground for that practise was this He judged his own best Prayers imperfect and that of
of Faith Patience Contentment and spiritualness which he had formerly preached to and pressed upon others he was very profitable unto them who visited him and might also prove very advantagious unto others who might be acquainted therewith through Gods grace by Christ. So great was his tender respect to his friends that when his pains were coming with violence he would intreat them to withdraw from him that they might not be grieved with his roariâ—gs and he used often to bless God that his compassionate friends were not necessitated to abide within the reach of his doleful lamentation As his death drew more nigh so his fits of pain were more frequent either every half hour or many times every quarter yea two or three in a quarter of an hour which did exceedingly abate his strength The night before God took him out of this vale of tears Mr. Ash hearing that he was not likely to live another day went early in the morning to take his leave of him whom his soul loved at which time he found his bodily strength much decayed and perceiving that he could not speak without much difficulty Mr. Ash spake the more unto him in reference to the approach of his happy hoped for change and his discourse through Gods mercy was very refreshing his spirit He told him also that many of his friends intended to set apart that day in seeking the Lord for him and asked him in what things eâ—pecially he desired to be remembred before the Throne of Grace His answer was Do not complain but bless God for me and intreat him to open the prison door Then Mr. Ash laying his hand upon his cold hand covered with a clammy sweat took his last farewell of him with an aking heart and upon his departure from him the last words which Mr. Whitaker spake to him were these Brother I thank you I pray God bless you and I bless God for you That day was spent in addresses to God for him at Peters Cornhill where Mr. Newcomen quickned and guided our prayers in his Sermon upon Joh. 11. â— Lord Behold he whom thou lovest is sick and Mr. Jenkin endeavoured to moderate and regulate our sorrows from Luke 23. 28. Weep not for me Thus his friends having by prayers and praises on his behalf given him to God and having prepared their hearts for the loss of him the Lord was pleased that evening to take him to himself June 1654 being above Fifty five years old After his death Mr. Holiard opened his body in the presence of Dr. Cox Dr. Micklethwaite and Dr. Bevoir some other more ancient Doctors would have been there if either their being out of Town or present urgent occasions had not hindred being opened they found both his Kidnies full of ulcers and and one of them was swelled to an extraordinary bigness through the abundance of purulent matter in it Upon the neck of his Bladder they found a stone which was about an inch and an half long and one inch broad weighing about two ounces when it was first taken out and withall they found an ulcer which was gangrenized and this was judged to be the cause of his death All other parts of his body were found firm and sound He was so humble that he feared lest Gods people praying for him should speak too well of him before the Lord. He was a self-denying man never daring to look after great matters in this world whereby he condemned many whose self-seeking in earthly advantages renders them very offensive and unsavoury in the Church of Christ. Mr. Calamy speaking of him saith If I should enter upon his Commendations I might truly say what Nazanien doth of his Sister Gorgonia that I have more cause to fear lest I should speak below than above the truth For he was a burning and a shining light in this our Israel A Messenger and an Interpreter one amongst a thousand A Bazalâ—el in Gods Tabernacle A true Nathaniel that by his integrity humility constancy charity publickness and peaceableness of spirit and by his diligence and fâ—ithfulness in preaching the Gospel made his life both amiable and desirable I will say of him as it was said of Athanasius that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Adamant and a Loadstone To all that conversed with him he was as a Loadstone to draw their hearts to love him But in the cause of God and in reference to the truths of Christ he was as an unconquerable Adamant He was a Jeremy both in mourning for and in witnessing against the sins of the times He was a second Whitaker though not so eminent in Learning as to be what is said o◠〈◊〉 Mundi miraculum Academiae Oraculum the miracle of the world and the Oracle of the University yet he was which is also said of him sound in the Faith one that had no private opinion that did not in veteri viâ novam semitam quaerere seek out new paths of his own but kept the old way and the old path That had a great wit without any mixture of madness He preached no less by the heavenliness of his Doctrine than by the holiness of hâ—s life yea he preached as effectually by his death as by his life or Doctrine for so great was the patience which God measured out to him that though in his extremity of torments he groaned yet he never grumbled Though he often mourned yet he never murmured nay though he often roared by reason of the greatness of his pain yet he alwayes justified and mâ—gnâ—fied God therein and this he did so constantly and in such a measure that as it is said of Job so it wiâ—l be said by the Saints that succeed us for their mutual consolation and encouragement Ye have heard of the Patience of Whitaker He had indeed an ulâ—â—rated flesh but a sound and whole spirit and that inabled him to bear his infirmity he had a stone in the Bladder but a very soft and tender heart he had a gangreene in his body but a sound soul unstained by sin I heard him often say with thankfulness that under all his bodily sufferings he had a blessed calmness and quietness in his spirit that God spâ—ke peace unto him that though he roared for pain yet the Devil was chained up from roaring upon him On the Death of my dear Friend Mr. JEREMIAH WHITAKER IF Death be but a servant sent to call The souls of Saints to their Originall Dear Saint thine was a Noble soul to whom Three Messengers were sent to call thee home A Stone an Ulcer and a Cangreene too Three Deaths to hasten that which one should do ' â—was not because thy soul was deeper set Than ours within its house of clay nor yet Because thou wert unwilling to depart Thither where long before had been thine heart They were not sent to hale by violence A soul that lingred when 't was called hence God shew'd how welcome one Death was to thee
forget to acknowledge Gods goodness in bestowing any of these outward things upon him He found by experience that they were but uncertain riches 1 Tim. 6. 17. And that they had wings and would fly away Prov. 23. 5. But he did not run crying after them as they use to do who set their hearts upon them whereas he saw and acknowledged Gods hand as well in taking away as in giving as Job did Job 1. 21. and therefore was quiet and content having experimentally learned in some good measure that excellent lesson with St Paul I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content Phil. 4. 11. By vicissitudes and changes of estates God did exercise his faith patience and contentation Having passed through the severall inferior Offices he at last ascended to the highest place of honour in the City to be Mayor there wherein as hath been shewed he demeaned himself as became a Christian Magistrate and his ambition therein was highly to honour God who had thus honoured him And afterwards he was twice chosen to be a Burgess of Parliament wherein his zeal for God and against the corruptions of the times was abundantly manifested He was a great stickler to have the Bill passed for the punishment of Adultery with death but those times would not bear it Surely some of the Lawmakers knew some speciall reason for it When he made a motion for the passing of that Bill one or more of the Members in the House cried out Commit it Mr. Jurdain commit it upon which a great laughter was occasioned whereupon he presently said unto them in a zealous manner like himself Do you laugh when a man speaks for Gods honour and glory Upon which there was a more than ordinary silence in the House The Bill was at that time laid aside but in a following Parliament it was called upon by the name of Mr. Jurdains Bill He was also as it 's said the first man that promoted the Bills for the more strict sanctification of the Sabbaths and against Swearing Yea God did not only advance him to places of honour and dignity in the eye of the world but gave him an high place also in the hearts of his people and therein God made good his promise 1 Sam. 2. 30. Such as honour me I will honour His name was very precious in the esteem of those that knew his worth both whilest he lived and since his death Indeed it is confessed that he was a by-word unto many and that his name was taken up by way of reproach but it was by such as were upbraided and reproved by his holy and gracious conversation And he valued not their reproaches knowing that his Lord and Master did suffer much more in this kind and that this was but a Chip of that Cross which as he was commanded he was willing to bear Yea he was well content to drink of this bitter Cup after his Master and with him he despised the shame Heb. 12. 2. which the men of the world cast upon him Nay he accounted it his honour to suffer shame for the Name of Christ as the Apostles did Act. 5. 4. But some there were that brought shame upon themselves whilest they thought to cast contempt and scorn upon him Amongst other instances this one was remarkeable That being chosen Burgess for the Parliament not without much opposition and going up to London to clear the Election at which time there was an accusation sent up against him by a man of no mean place and power That he was the Host of the Schismaticks Whereupon some presumed that he would have been sent back with disgrace and accordingly there was a Sermon prepared by one to jeer him at his return this being his Text Psal. 114. 5. What ailed thee thou Jordan that thou wast driven back Thus men of prophane spirits will dare to make the sacred Word of God to serve their own base lusts and ends But Mr. Jurdaine instead of being driven back was confirmed in the place to which he was chosen and so shame was cast into the face of this wicked scorner and his Sermon or Invective rather proved abortive And as Mr. Jurdaine stood up boldly for God so did God stand by and for him and assisted him and carried him through many troubles and dangers that did threaten and even compass him about One act of Gods providence amongst many others was most notable in delivering him out of trouble He having done an act of justice as was hinted before in punishing an unclean person whose offence was aggravated by some hainous circumstances being moved with an holy indignation against the offence he went as it seems besides the letter of the Law in some circumstance Whereupon some friends of the person punished being stirred up with fury for the disgrace that reflected upon them without weighing the dishonour that was done to God and the foul blot that was cast upon Religion resolved to prosecute him to the uttermost for it wherein they put him to great charge and trouble by prosecuting him in the Star-Chamber and when the cause was to come to a finall determination it was much feared by many of his friends and through the boastings of his adversaries that some heavy censure would have passed upon him to his crushing if not to his utter undoing But when his friends on earth failed he flees to Heaven for succour and defence and cried unto God in Davids words Psal. 22. 11 19. Be not far from me O Lord for trouble is near for there is none to help O my strength hast thou to help me And he set apart the evening and a great part of the night by fasting and Prayer to engage God of his side who hath the hearts of all men even of the greatest in his hands to turn them as he pleaseth Prov. 21. 1. And behold the next morning he received a reall and gracious answer from Heaven being not only acquitted but commended by the Lord Keeper God stirring up the hearts of divers in that high and arbitrary Court to speak for him Thus the Lord was a very present help to him in the time of trouble Psalme 46. 1. After he was thus through Gods mercy freed and returned to his house he piled up the Books and Papers of all the proceedings in that troublesome and vexatious business under his Cupboard in his Parlour which was the place to which he did often resort and where he had that daily sweet and heavenly communion with God aforementioned and being asked the reason why he left so many Books and Papers to lie in that manner His answer was These I keep in my sight as memorials and monuments of Gods mercy in freeing me from my troubles Many other particulars might be instanced in but by that little which hath been said you may guess at the great worth of this holy man Only give me leave to adde the observations and testimony
University being a means to set up Lectures in many of them and very often assisting in them and as our Savior is observed by some Divines to have preached more frequently the nearer he was to his departure so this his faithful servant as it were presaging that his day would be but short towards his evening he made the more haste and speed in his journy towards his end and yet more abounded in this work of the Lord and now findes That his labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. Thus of him as a Minister And lastly as he was a Christian he was active for God as his Saviour Act. 10. 38. Going up and down and doing good and though otherwise modest yet when the case required it bold in a good cause He was spiritual in communion and a quickner of those with whom he conversed Fruitful in discourse by which the frame of his spirit might easily be discovered Frequent in asking questions which was both his humility and Christian good husbandry thereby to improve himselfe his time and company Affable he was to others of much humility and low thoughts of himself and of great integrity and singleness of heart towards God his Truth Ordinances wayes and servants of a very publick spirit and much affected with the various conditions of the State but especially of the Church and people of God He was a most loving Husband to his wife and a dutiful son to his Parents and in his life time very helpful to his other Relations Many poor both of the University and Town do now feel the want of his bounty which they tasted of in his life time and both they and others had done more at his death as appeared by his intentions of it in the draught of his Will had not the suddenness of his change prevented it In a long continued Quartan God had knocked at his door which in the interim of his recovery awakened him to get all within ready against the coming of his Lord which though to his friends was unexpected yet found not him unprepared In his short sickness he expressed to an intimate Friend his great comfort and joy in Gods discriminating electing-love and to a Reverend Doctor about half an hour before his departure who enquired of him about the setling of his outward estate and inward peace he readily and without the least hesitancy answered that throâ—gh the mercy of God in Christ his peace was made and that he quietly rested in it whereby it seems as was said by one he had his Faith at his fingers ends and having before given all diligence to make his calling and election sure though he was somewhat suddenly called out of this life yet had he an abundant entrance set open to him into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ departing quietly in the Lord Decem. 18. 1653. As to himself he had lived a fruitful and gracious life and therefore as Clemens Romanus speaks of some of the first and best Bishops he closed up all with a happy and blessed death and as to others he lived approved and dyed desired and very much lamented He was a great Friend to the publication of the lives of godly and eminent Ministers and Christians and assisting to me in procuring information concerning the Lives of some of those Worthies whom I have formerly printed Dr. WILLIAM GOUGE The Life and Death of Dr. Gouge who dyed Anno Christi 1653. WIlliam Gouge was born in Stratford-Bow in the County of Middlesex Novem. 1. Anno 1575. His Father Mr. Thomas Gouge was a godly Gentleman His Mother was the vertuous and pious Daughter of Mr. Nicholas Culverel a Merchant in London and she was sister to those two famous Preachers Mr. Samuel and Mr. Ezekiel Culverel she had also two sisters who were married to those two famous and learned Divines Dr. Chaderton the Master of Emanuel College in Cambridge and Dr. Whitaker the Regius Professor of Divinity in the same University so that by the Mothers side he came of a stock of eminent Preachers Our William Gouge in his younger years was first trained up in Pauls School London and was afterwards sent to a Free-school at Felsted in Essex where he was trained up three years under the publick Ministry of his Uncle Mr. Ezekiel Culverel by whose labours he was much wrought upon and if not first begotten yet much built up in his holy Faith as himself often expressed From thence he was sent to Eaton where he was educated other six years during all which time he was more than ordinarily studious and industrious for when other boyes upon play-dayes took liverty for their sports and pastimes he would be at his book wherein he took more delight than others could finde in their Recreations whereby he profited beyond many his equals At this time whilst he was a Schollar at Eaton he was possessed with an holy fear of God was conscionable in secret prayer and in sanctifying the Sabbaths and was much grieved at the ordinary prophanation thereof by sports and pastimes which were then and there too much allowed as he did oft-times in his life with much thankfulness unto God express From the School at Eaton he was chosen to Kings College in Cambridge whither he went Anno Christi 1595. and at the first entrance of his studies he applied himself to P. Ramus his Logick and grew so expert therein that in the publick Schools he maintained and defended him insomuch as when on a time divers Sophisters set themselves to vilifie Ramus for which end the Respondent had given this question Nunquam erit magnus cui Ramus est magnus which some of the Sophisters hearing and knowing the said William Gouge to be an accute disputant and a stiff defender of Ramus they went to the Divinity Schools where he was then hearing an Act and told him how in the other Schools they were abusing Ramus he thereupon went into the Sophisters Schooles and upon the Moderators calling for another Opponent he stepped up and brought such an argument as stumbled the Respondent whereupon the Moderator took upon him to answer it but could not satisfie the doubt This occasioned a Sophister that stood by to say with a loud voice Do you come to vilifie Ramus and cannot answer the Argument of a Ramist Whereupon the Moderator rose up and gave him a box on the ear then the School was all on an uproar but the said William Gouge was safely conveyed out from amongst them When he was Senior Sophister he was chosen Moderator of the Sophisters Acts in the publick Schools which was a place of great credit and he began every Act with a solemn speech in Latine which was not usual in those dayes and it added much grace to the Act. The said William Gouge took his degrees in order performing for every one of them all those
Thus whilst he condescended to them and they submitted to him both parties were gratified Though he had a numerous issue yet through Gods blessing upon his estate he disposed of them to no mean imployments Many he sent to the Universities some to Merchandise c. To his Sons whom he bred in the University his Rule was Study work more than wages To those whom he bred in the City he would say Do not waste a halfpenny and you will not want a penny And truly so well did they all improve as his advice so their own time and parts that they became Masters of their particular Callings which ministred unto him no small comfort He acknowledged it a great mercy to his dying day that none of his children were blemished either in their bodies or in their reputations He was one of them in whose children that Popish slander concerning the ungraciousness of the children of the married Clergy received a real confutation Many of his Sons he buried in their prime some at home others in forreign parts and some dyed shortly after himself yet all of them gave comfortable hopes to conclude upon a rational charity both by the pious Letters of those which dyed abroad and from that particular account which they gave of themselves who dyed at home that they all meet in Heaven they which survive need not this attestation Amongst the dead there was Mr. Tho. Harris of Magdalen College in Oxford who was eminently learned beyond his age an Ornament to that Noble Foundation whereof he was a member once the joy of his friends and still their sorrow and probably this arrow from Gods hand stuck deep in the Fathers heart to his dying day For his servants there are some yet living that served him in his younger dayes who still bless God that ever they came under his roof where they received the beginnings of Grace and such a measure of knowledge as kept them from warping in the late giddy times Whilst he remained with his antient Flock his constant manner was to keep a Religious Fast before his administration of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper And after he came to his small College he so prudently managed all his affairs that he was both feared and loved Indeed his government there was such as caused a wonder For whereas that College before was famous for factions during his time there was never any complaint made to any Visitors and no marvel for the Foundation there honoured him as a Father and he looked upon and loved them as his Children and accordingly he scaled up his love to them in his last Will and Testament He called Gifts Bribery and hated the very shadow of it Examples are known in the College of Gratuities refused long after faire and free Elections But look upon him as a Schollar and there we have him in his proper Element Though he left the University early and preached constantly yet being of a retired disposition a constant student and endowed with great parts he became Master of all manner of Learning to qualifie a Divine In the sacred Languages especially in the Hebrew he was very exact His Conciones ad Clerum declare him to have been a pure and Polite Latinist His first which was preached and printed long since hath undergone the test and gained the approbation of all knowing men in that Language the younger by full forty years is of as good a complexion and of as vigorous a constitution as its elder brother and it s hoped that in due time it may be made as publick What his abilities in Disputation were hath upon several occasions been made to appear in that College Exercises in the Chappel where oft-times in the unexpected absence of the Opponents himself would ex tempore take up the Cudgels and make good their ground In which Exercises he approved himself a subtle clear and ready Disputant without any grains of allowance either for his age or discontinuance Indeed his chiefest Learning lay where he made least shew of it in publick viz. in Chronology Church-History Councils Case-Divinity and his insight into the Fathers But his parts were best seen in the pulpit His gifts in Prayer were much more than ordinary wherein his affections were warm and fervent his Petitions pithy and substantial his language pertinent unaffected and without Tautologies Oh how would he raise up a dull and sinking spirit How would he warm a cold and frozen heart How would he carry a man out of himself and by degrees mount the soul heaven-ward His Sermons in Print are well known to the world and his works praise him in the Gates The particular excellencies of Nazianzen Basil Chrysostome Austin Ambrose Bernard seemed all to conâ—enter in him He taught Rhetorick to speak in our Mother-tongue and without falshood or flattery he may be stiled The English Orator His Doctrines carried light with them and his Uses heat His Reproofes were weighty and his Exhortations powerful But enough of this lest we hear as he did who spake much in commendation of Hercules Quis unquam vituperavit who ever dispraised him yea what either Christian or Schollar but approved or commended him If you would know the worth of his Sermons read them though read they come short of what they were when preached yea read them again and again and endeavour to read them with the same spirit they were preached and you cannot but acknowledge an excellency in them Amongst other his excellencies in preaching which were many these were not the least that he could so cook his meat that he could make it relish to every pallate He could dress a plain discourse so as that all sorts should be delighted with it He could preach with a learned plaineness and had learned to conceal his Art He had clear Notions of high Mysteries and proper language to make them stoop to the meanest capacity His way in contriving and penning his Sermons was this 1. He so contrived the parts of his Text and points of Doctrine as might afford him most scope in his Application wherein his and indeed a Sermons excellency doth consist and therefore he used to say That in a Sermon he contrived the Uses first He did often handle the same Texts and the same Points and yet still would pen new Applications which might be most suitable to the quallity and condition of the Auditory 2. In penning when he once began he would never take Pen from paper nor turn to any Book till he had written all All his younger dayes for about twenty years together he wroâ—ght all and could without much difficulty preach the same verbatim He was wont to say That he had a fluid and waterish memory I can said he quickly remember any thing of my own and as quickly fâ—rget it again Yet questionless his memory was vast and tenacious for though sometimes he had but short Notes in his Bible and that
was offered with strength of Argument against gain-sayers She was eminent for the grace of Humility and when I have said that she was of an humble spirit what can be said more This the Apostle would have us to be cloathed withall 1 Pet. 5. 7. Humility is the ornament of all Graces It s that Salt that seasons the best parts and graces So humble was the spirit of this excellent Gentlewoman that the poorest might have free access unto her and receive curteous language from her mouth and liberal almes from her heart and hand both being opened wide for their relief The observation of this humble deportment from her child-hood gained the heart of her dear Husband unto her long before she was ripe for her Marriage Her humble spirit evidently appeared by her condescending to them of low estate the servants in her Family the poorest and meanest in the Parish where she lived will bear witness to the truth of this particular She was of a meek and quiet spirit which as the Apostle saith 1. Pet. 3. 3. is in the sight of God of great price All her Relations will attest her meek deportment and how much she hated brawls and contentions Her very enemies if they would speak their consicences can testifie her readiness to pass by injuries So far she was from rendring reviling for revilings that she endeavoured to recâ—mpence â—vil with good and prayed for such as despitefully used her professing that it was the desire of her â—â—ul to do her very enemies all the Christian offices of love which lay in her power Special notice ought also to be taken of her Wisdome and Gravity in the ordering of her conversation Her discourses were savoury administring Grace to the hearers and tending to edification Her behaviour was modest and grave though she was of a cheerfull spirit yet it was without levity She was no tatler busie-body no medler in the affairs of others She was no gadder up and down from house to house hearing and telling of news as too many do to the wounding of the reputations of others The vain and frivolous discourse of some who came to visit her was an heavy burden and affliction to her spirit The dicourses of such as tended to the defaming and blasting others reputation were a great grief and trouble unto her and when she heard such discourses she would endeavour to turn the stream another way and move such discourse as might be profitable for the souâ—s good Her Love was very eminent towards all those that feared God she was with David a Companion to such a lover of their acquaintance who were the Saints the excellent ones Psal. 16. 3. Insomuch as when she apprehended any thing of God though in persons inclining to separation and of a contrary judgement from her she was so compassionate as to labour with much sweetness and candour to convince them of their errours and to wâ—n them to the truth imitating herein the holy practice of learned Musculus who gained some Anabaptists and Sectaries by kindness and benefits and 〈◊〉 them as much by love as by arguments Her holy Courage deserves special notice for though she was humble meek and loving yet she was stout and couragious in declaring her judgement upon just occasions before those whom she knew to be contrary minded hating compliance against conscience and doubting alwayes the soundness and sincerity of those who duâ—st not own their opinions She was much of her worthy Fathers temper in that particular who hath been often heard to say that a Coward can hardly be an honest man and much of Esters resolution desiring rather to suffer her self than sluggishly and silently to see the truths of God to suffer She was a praying Christian She was much in prayers and tears much in a sacred acquaintance and holy communion with God Her gift in prayer was very great She was much in her Closet alone and there much upon her knees An excellent patern for womens imitation which by no means should suffer that great duty to be omitted It was a Character of Paul when converted Act. 9. 11. Behold he prayes Praying Christians are the best Christians they are prevailing Christians and as Reverend and holy Mr. Dod was used to say Never dâ—spair of that person who can but pray She was â—ixed and 〈◊〉 in Religion having frequently read the Scriptures 〈◊〉 many â—ound orthodox and practical Divines she became settled rooted and grounded in the truth She was one that held fast her profession without wavâ—ing She was not 〈◊〉 about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 14. neither was she of their humours who for politick ends comply with all companies in their opinions She kept close to the publick Ministry where she lived there she heard the word faithfully dispensed She neither was of their opinion nor practice who out of I know not what kinde of singularity separate from the Ministry of a godly Pastor and Husband Her delight was very great in Gods Ordinances and she was glad when they said Let us go to the house of the Lord in company She had such an high esteem of and longing desire unto the house of God that when her strength failed her she would be carried thither by reason of lameness the feet of her body were weak but the feet of her soul her affections were strong nimble and vigorous Look upon her in her Relations as a Wife a Mother and Mistress and you shall see she was mindefull of her duty to God in them all Her great care and endeavour was to set up God in her Family in order whereunto she bestowed great pains in Catechising of her children and other near Relations committed unto her charge Her great design was to bring them all up in the fear and admonition of the Lord and to inculcate again and again that main and needfull lesson of Remembring their Creator in the dayes of their youth Much pains she took in Catechising and instructing her servants especially before they were to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper She used to examine them of the Sermons they heard and she customarily read over those Sermon Notes to them which she had taken â—t Church that so they might be the better prepared to give an account thereof to her Husband God was pleased to give her several Olive branches round about her Table well bred well Catechised and well governed and of very great hopes As Eunice and Lois instructed young Timothy so she instructed those hopefull little ones in the holy Scriptures and acquainted them with the knowledge of God in their tender years Thus according to Solomons counsel they were trained up in the way wherein they should walk Prov. 21. 6. and that even from their childhood insomuch as one of them though very young hearing a neighbour using the name of the Lord upon a sleight occasion reproved him for it alleadging the Commandement
my work wipes off my tears S-ighs are all turn'd to songs all tears to wine K-ings favour crowns my heart what should grieve thine A-re we not both of the same houshold still I-at the Banquet and thou at the Mill B-oth fellow-fellow-servants I my Pension now N-ext thine work on the Feast succeeds the Plow E-ach of us yet in hopes my Dust to win S-alvation from the Grave thy soul from sin T-hings worth the waiting for Christ comes to save O-mourn no more but write this on my Grave H-ere lies Mother and Babe both without sins N-ext birth will make her and her Infant twins Her Childe was buried with her Thus interwoven were our Names till death Left Wilkinson without Elizabeth Wee 'l joyn again 'T was Man and Wiâ—e before 'T will then be fellow-Saints for evermore ED. REYNOLDS On the truly Vertuous and Religious Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson To her Husband Say shall I speak or hold my peace That seems more due but this more ease Where what to speak is hard to say For should I utter all I may 'T were endless And to praise a Friend By halves is but to discommend And would I speak To whom and what To those that knew or knew her not Who knew her need it not for they Know more than I am like to say Who knew her not may think that she Deserv'd but what they hear from me And so instead of setting forth Her praise I should but wrong her worth He that adores with silent view Doth not detract from what is due But all that while his silence sayes He knows not how enough to praise So might I choose I would adore Her speaking worth and say no more But since I must for so you say Not hold my peace I must obey Yet 't is I say too hard a task To answer fully what you ask To know what first I should commend And harder where to make an end Should I begin where first appear Her worths I must begin with Her Higher than so I need not go Tho whence she came be worthy too From first her own deserving merit Claims more than others do inherit Nor is it easie to express What age of hers was spent amiss Her temper meek Her carriage such Her language good and not too much Her habit comely more than brave Her conversation humbly grave What vertues deck't a single life Were doubled when she was a wife How good a wife I need not tell To him who knew her worth so well Nor what was her Maternal care To whom her children were so dear Nor was her good confin'd to home But challenged a larger room To heal the sick the hungry feed And succour those that stood in need Good both to soul and body too Of those with whom she had to do To rich to poor to great and small But in her Closet best of all Which was her Christian daily walk In doing that which others talk Forward to good without constraint And as she liv'd she dy'd a Saint But this to speak at large would crave A Volume not an Epitaph And were it done I might offend By shaming many left behinde Tho more there may be found I fear That will commend than follow her Some minde good words more than good lives Some are good women not good wives Some neither this nor that and some Abroad are better than at home Some hope to dye like Saints although 'T is too too plain they live not so 'T is rare in all respects to see A Wife a Woman like to thee At home abroad in life in death Like unto our ELIZABETH I. WALLIS D. D. A Table of the chief things contained in the first Part. A ADvice to children page 323 c. Affability 118 Afflictions of Gods Ministers 45. 62 65 80 280 290 B Books which are best 314 C Candour 77 Charity 1 4. 41 93 116 149 174 239 303 Comforting afflicted consciences 10 41 114 Communion with God 7 Conjugal love 14 40 139 Constancy 258 Contentment 30 Conversation in Heaven 9 Conversion 57 Courage 287 302 D Diligence 99 132 202 Divisions lamented 227 E Envy 107 211 F Faith 120 150 172 281 Family duties 7 28 101 145 162 Family government 307 Fasting and pâ—ayer 15 63 70 119 162 Fruitfulness in conversation 13 264 G Gratitude 28 H Heart tâ—nder 169 Hospitality 8 34 42 78 Humility 8 20 37 42 68 118 148 172 216 240 269 297 304 Hypocrisie complained of 261 I Ignorance 276 Independency 〈…〉 approved 319 Industry 2 30 34 56 62 63 86 88 105 109 129 137 165 195 219 Justice 14 150 L Life holy heavenly 9 30 40 107 148 268 Love to the Saints 174 M Meekness 74 114 169 Memory good Ministry highly esteemed 101 160 163 167 Ministry successfull 67 105 212 228 234 Moderation 73 271 Modesty 75 251 P Painfulness in the Work of the Ministry 4 32 91 106 132 162 204 212 223 262 263 284. Patience 121 150 169 272 306 Peace-makers 78 115 239 Persecutors plagued by God 22 65 Piety 68 96 147 160 194 Popery not to be tolerated 220 Prayer frequent and servent 9 15 38 69 103 171 219 254 310 Prayer succesfull 11 192 204 230 Set forms of Prayer lawfull 255 Preaching plain best 252 Predictions 10 201 225 226 Providences remarkable 2 6 4â— 56 64 66 79 129 191 207 215 234 235 27â— Prudence 30 36 57 74 229 S Sabbath sanctified 69 102 298 Satans malice and subtilty 191 192 Self-denial 35 105 135 142 205 268 Sermons which are best 313 Single-heartedness 261 Slanders 290 Speeches gracious 11 122 178 299 304 317 c. 320 Studiousness 40 67 97 116 Sympathy 45 120 174 T Temperance 117 305 Temptations 61 249 294 Temptations resisted 199 Thansgiving page 119 Tithes asserted 266 W Wives vertuous 14 32 Word meditated on 98 World contemned 196 269 Z Zeal 5 113 148 163 166 201 226 239 A Table of the principal things contained in the second Part. A Afflictions of Gods children p. 497 514 Anabaptists raise troubles 374 Assurance 457 B Bible translated into Suedish 387 Bishops temporalties given to the King 382 Bounty 431 C Charity 438 470 507 Comforts of Gods children 424 494 518 522 Constancy 446 505 Conversation heavenly 452 Conversion 415 502 512 515 Covetousness 342 Courage of Gods children 384 466 468 477 505 Cruelty 341 342 D Death desired and why 432 460 Death not feared and why 435 Devotion 499 E Enemies loved 439 F Faith of Gods children 420 424 496 519 523 Family government 506 Fasting and prayer 429 Fidelity 400 G Gods mercy to his children 516 517 519 526 Growth in Grace 447 513 H Heavenly-mindedness 416 461 Hospitality 473 Humility 425 444 503 Hypocrisie 342 I Joy unspeakable 457 518 Justice 462 463 465 L Life holy 449 491 Love to Gods children 428 437 50â— Love to Gods house 490 M Meekness 492 503 Mercy to souls 465 Ministes loved 45â— Modesty 44â— P Patience 440 485