the poor of their right that he added much of his own distributing sixpences and shillings even when he had no money in bank He had not onely the testimony of his own conscience and of good men for his upright and just dealing but even of such who had little goodness in them A prophane Gentleman jeeâ—ing at his heavenly discourses another of good quality though of little piety replyed Well Gentlemen you may laugh at him but on my conscience he meaneth well and whosoever of us goeth to Heaven shall meet Mr. Jurdaine there He was a man that made conscience of all the duties and exercises of Religion both in private and in publick His frequent discourses of Heaven and the way thereunto and assurance of his interest therein did declare that his heart and conversation were much in Heaven He used 〈◊〉 take occasion to confer of spiritual and heavenly things with all sorts of men that he conversed with One should seldome hear him speak but of heaven and heavenly things His heart was so full of heaven that he could not but utter and breath it forth in his discourses with men and especially with those whose hearts and faces were towards Heaven When he was at Table receiving his dayly food he did usually minister occasion of holy discourses and diverted vain and unprofitable talk to such edifying speeches as might minister grace to the hearers according to that exhortation Eph. 4. 29. He took occasion from earthly things to speak of heavenly as from the sweetness of the creatures to speak of the infinite sweetness which is in God from feasting on earth to the sitting down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of heaven Matth. 8. 11. and feasting with God and his blessed Saints there And when the Table-cloath was taken away he would often say In heaven there is no taking away here we are soon satisfied and cloyed but there will be such a feast that we shall be continually delighting our souls with it without any cloying And his manner was to close his meals with singing some short Psalm He delighted much in reading good and holy books and especially that Book of books the sacred Scriptures wherein he most delighted and thereby shewed that he had the property of a godly man set down Psal. 1. 2. 119. 97. The word of God was his meditation all the day long yea both day and night He did not onely read the Bible above twenty times over but he read it with special observation as appeareth by the Asterisks and marks in the Bible which he used making particular application to himself The like course he took in reading over that usefull Book of Mr. Rogers his seven Treatises and other practical books wherein he was very conversant and his collections out of several Authours do abundantly testifie And he took so much delight in reading that voluminous and excellent Book of the Acts and Monuments of the Church that upon occasion he told a Friend that he had read it seven times over His zeal for God and his glory and against Idolatry prophaneness and other evils whereby God was highly dishonoured was most eminent and remarkable He was a man of an Anti-Laodician temper he had well learned the Apostles direction Rom. 12. 11. To be fervent in spirit serving the Lord and not the time He was far unlike Ignatius Loiola the Founder of the Order of Jesuits who was a man of fire that was set on fire by â—ell to promote the cause of the Prince of darkness but he had an holy fire kindled in his heart from heaven whereby he did burn with zeal for the advancement of Gods glory and an holy indignation against sin and errour He would if it had been possible have burnt up all the dross and fiâ—th that corrupted the Truths of God and that was contrary to the wayes of holiness and therein he was very like to Ignatius the Martyr Neither did his zeal carry him beyond knowledge like that of the Jews Rom. 10. 2. when in his zeal he used often to cry out Fie upon discretion For he condemned only that counterfeit pretence of discretion which was taken up and pleaded against true and regular zeal And truly if carnal discretion be set up and cried up like the worldlings Idol it is the part of true Christian zeal to cry it down He was a very strict and conscientious observer and sanctifier of the Christian Sabbath or Lords Day He did then rise very early as on other dayes if not earlier and called upon those in his Family to rise early on that day saying This is Gods day and as we do expect that our servants should rise early to go about our work on our dayes so God expects our early rising on his Day to go about his work and service And he used carefully to attend upon Gods holy Ordinances The feet of them that dispenced the Gospel were beautiful in his eyes as Rom. 10. 15. more beautiful than their faces to many others He was one of those Saints that sate down at Gods feet to receive his word Deut. 33. 3. as Disciples used at the feet of their Teacher implied Act. 22. 3. and he was very desirous and willing to learn of any that came with the Lords message unto him He was a Mâ—ason an old Disciples Act. 21. 16. yea a Disciple when he was old It never came into his heart to cast off Ordinances no not when he had attained to an high measure towards perfection He was a constant writer of Sermons even when he was old and that not for his own benefit alone but for the good of his Family to whom he did constantly repeat the Sermons And if he found himself overtaken with drowsiness in hearing the word an infirmity incident to age his manner was to stand up and to rouse up himself that he might hear the more attentively He knew that Religion consisted not in hearing repetition and profession but in practice and therefore his care was to digest his hearing and knowledge into an holy conversation His love was so great to the Ministry of the word and the Lords holy Ordinances that he did intirely love and affect all faithfull and painfull Ministers though their gifts were but mean but he could not away with a lazie Ministâ—r though he was never so learned Where fidelity and learning meet together in one Minister Oh! how highly would he reverence him And being desirous not to go to Heaven alone but to draw others with him his usuall course was when he went with his Family to Gods house to make an exhortation to his children and servants that they should consider into whose presence they were going and whom they were to hear even that great God to whom they were to give an account of every word which they should hear and therefore he required them carefully to store it up for their practice and
forty seven years wherein he could give an account of above seven thousand elaborate Sermons preached by him are so well known not only in this or the neighbour Parishes but through the whole County and the Country round about that I need not mention them Few men ever ran so long a Race without cessation or cespitation so constantly so unweariedly so unblamably All which time he was a burning and a shining light joyfully spending and being spent for the good of Gods people Many many of whom he hath guided to Heaven before him who received the beginnings of spiritual life from his Ministry and many more shall walk in that light after him And from his splendent Lamp divers faithfull Ministers some Triumphant before him some Militant after him have lighted their Candles His Tuesdays Lecture being more profitable to teach usefull Divinity than an Academy whereby he did not only Dolare lapides sed artifices Two things rarely met in one man were both eminent in him A quick invention and a sound judgement and these accompanied with a clear expression and a gracefull elocution To which Integrity and Humility being joyned made him a transcendent Minister and a compleat Christian. In his sickness full of biting pains which he bore with great Patience it was his greatest grief that God had taken him off from his labour which was his life and joy His heavenly mind like the heavenly bodies counted his work no weariness If he were weary in work he was yet never weary of work His spirit was still willing when the flesh was weak And he often used to say in his health Si per hanc viam mors sum immortalis and in his weakness Odi artus fragilemque hunc corporis usum desertorem animi And when he saw no more ability for labors he accounted it superfluous to live and chearfully not only yielded but patiently desired to die in a satiety and fulness of life not as meat loathed as many times natural men do but as a dish though well liked that he had fed his full of He had his intellectuals strong in a weak body witness his last Swan-like song in this place the sweet Doctrine of our Adoption in Jesus Christ on Rom. 8. 16. so far he had gone in that Chapter most clearly and acuratly delivered and aptly distinguished from Justification and sanctification yet that day October 16. going to Church and sensible of his own weakness he said to a dear Friend who told him that he came to see and hear him perhaps it may be my last as to all our loss it was indeed And as if his motion in Gods work had been natural he was more quick more vigorous toward his Center and like the Sun shewed his greatest light when he was nearest his setting His last Ministerial duty privately done in great weakness of Body unable to go to the Church was the Baptizing of two children wherein he streamed such beames of Divinity sounded such bowels of Humanity shewed such sweetness of affection to his charge that I seriously wished his whole Congregation had heard him in this departing farewell And being told how well it was approved he replyed with tears in great humility Lord what am I What am I To diverse of his loving Neighbours visiting him he often protested that Doctrine that he had taught them was the truth of God as he should answer at the Tribunal of Christ whereunto he was hasting exhorting them to stand fast therein as he most affectionately prayed for them professing of them with joy I have kind friends kind neighbours Lord reward them all and grant they may find mercy with him in that day His desire was to give to his Neighbours if enough could have been had his Printed Catechism which to my knowledge hath had the approbation and commendation of the profoundest and accutest Judgements in both Universities and well it might being a compleat Body of Orthodox Divinity and to have this assertion of the Apostle Peter written before it Exhorting and testifying that this is the true Grace of God wherein ye stand and to subscribe his name to it After he had in himself received the sentence of death approaching which he chearfully did when he saw no more likelihood of Labour he desired his Friends not to pray for his life but pray God said he for Faith for Patience for Repentance for joy in the Holy Ghost and the Lord heard him in that he desired for he was a rare pattern in all these as amongst many others these gracious words of his may witness Lord said he cast me down as low as Hell in Repentance and lift me up by faith to the highest Heavens in confidence of thy salvation I wish our proud presumptuous impenitentiaries had heard him crying for Repentance and seen him weeping for Grace It might perhaps have melted their stony hearts As he was full of days so was he full of grace full of peace full of assurance The Tuesday before he departed This day seven night said he is the day on which we have used to remember Christs Nativity and on which day I have preached Christ I shall scarce live to see it but For me was that Child born unto me was that Son given who is Wonderfull Councellor the Mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace And no less full was he of true Honour for his worth and work sake in the hearts of all that feared God his memory shall be blessed and his name a sweet perfume to posterity when the names of his reproachfull scorners the last brood of Beelzebub shall rot and stink and be an abhorring to all slesh He is now come to the end of his labour and the beginning of his rest His work was with his God and his reward shall be from his God Now he sees the blessed and blessing face of God which is the glory of all sights and the sight of all glory Thus set this bright Occidental Star A Star of the first Magnitude One of the first and I dare say without envy of any that knew him and that knows himself one of the most glorious Lights that ever shone in this Orb or ever is like to arise in this Horizon O! how is such a publick loss to be lamented Of such a Champion of Christ Such an Atlas of the Truth that set his shoulders to support the shaken pillars thereof in these days of abounding and abetted errours Well may this Parish mourn well may this Country well may his Friends his Family well may we of the Ministry bewail it saying O my Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof Ah my Brother my Brother I am distressed for thee very pleasant hast thou been unto me Lovely and gracious in Life lovely and glorious in Death Heu tua nobis Morte simul tecum solatia rapta I end in one word of Exhortation You that have heard the joyfull sound of this
intercede for them The Bishop told him that such Conventicles were forbidden by the Law the State being jealous lest the seeds of Sedition or Heresie might be sown in them To whom Mr. Jurdaine replied My Lord Do you think that the Lord Jesus Christ when he comes to Judgement will say concerning these and such like poor Christians Take them Devil take them because though they sought me by fasting and prayer yet they did not observe every circumstance with so much prudence as they might have done Whereupon the Bishop dismissed them I am now come to the last act of his Life his sickness and the period of that his Death In his sickness which was very painfull he being sorely afflicted with the Stone and Cholick yet did he manifest more than ordinary patience not opening his mouth in any word that might savour of repining or discontent at his present condition but meekly and patiently submitting to Gods afflicting hand and waiting for his long-expected and much desired dissolution He did then much act faith in Jesus Christ and his gracious Promises and his assurance remained unshaken though Satan was then busie with him by his temptations But being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might he did resist him Some of his nearest Friends that observed his confident Assurance in the course of his life and of his happy estate in heaven after death did suppose that Satan would have set upon him with so much violence as to have shaken his Assurance as no doubt he had will enough to do but God who had him in chains would not permit him to do it But he went out of the world as a Conquerour out of the Field being through Christ victorious over all his spiritual enemies One particular in his sickness may not be omitted which was his taking all occasions of exhorting and encouraging others to constancy in the faith zeal for God and making sure of Heaven and when his spirits began to fail him he would say I cannot speak much more to you now Râ—member what you have heard from me in my health He was willing also to incite others that were absent to the discharge of their Duties The Mayor of the City that then was sending to see how he did he called the messenger unto him and said Remember me to Mr. Mayor and tell him from me that he have a special care of these three things To do Justice To provide carefully for the poor and to make sure of Heaven His gracious speeches in the time of his sickness were many and more than can be here expressed Having fought the good fight of Faith and finished his course he sweetly and quietly resigned up his soul into the hands of his blessed Saviour and Redeemer He departed this Life July the 15. Anno Christi 1640. being the Sabbath day The Sabbath was his delight on earth and on that day God gave him to enjoy an eternal Sabbath with him in Heaven As he had sweet communion with God in the use of Ordinances for many years on that day so he went to enjoy an immediate communion with God on that holy day and after all his labours he entred into rest even that glorious Rest in Heaven Heb. 4. 11. His departure hence was in the Seventy ninth year of his age and according to his account for the New-birth in the Sixty fifth year For so long he reckoned since the time of his effectual Calling At the celebration of his Funerals there hath not been known any man to be more lamented than was he the loss being so great not to the City alone but to all those Western parts the influence of his example as a zealous Magistrate and Christian reaching far and near After he had served his own Generation by the will of God he fell on sleep Act. 13. 36. The Life and Death of Mrs. Margaret Ducke who dyed Anno Christi 1646. THe Father of Mrs. Margaret Ducke was Mr. Henry Southworth a Gentleman of a good Family Her Mother was a vertuous and Religious Matron He was a Merchant and Customer of London by which means having acquired a plentiful estate he contented himself with it and withdrew from thence to a more quiet and retired that is a more happy life at Wells where he lived plentifully and having onely two Daughters his Co-heirs he gave them liberal and pious education in all those wayes which commend and accomplish well-bred Gentlewomen This Gentlewoman who was the younger of his Daughters was deservedly dear to both her Parents and lived with them till their deaths which fell out to be shortly one after another For as they were lovely and pleasant in their lives if I may so use the words of Davids lamentation over Saul and Jonathan 2 Sam. 1. so in their Deaths they were not divided She was then about the one and twentieth year of her age at which time she was desired in marriage by many younger in years and higher in means and lands than the Gentleman was unto whom with her great contentment even to her dying day she yeelded her self and her affections resolving as the vertuous Marcella in St. Jerom answered her young Woer Cerealis who was of a Noble and Consular race Si nubere vellem utique maritum quaererem non haereditatem that when she married she would marry an Husband not an estate though yet God had blessed her Husband with a competency of these outward things Their Marriage was celebrated by that incomparable and even in this age famous Prelate Bishop Lake in the City of Wells who never married any persons besides themselves where for some years they lived together and the Town to this day gives an ample testimony to their piety and charity For her part they say as Gregory Nyssen said of Placilla that if she prevented him not in any work of charity yet she was sure to concur with him therein and when she departed from thence they soon complained and lamented the want of her charity The blinde complained that they wanted an eye the lame a staffe the mourners one to comfort them the languishing one to visit them as St. Jerom said of Nepotian For indeed she was eyes to the blinde feet to the lame she was a mother to the poor and distressed and to those who had nothing to help them The blessing of those as Job saith of himself that were ready to perish came upon her and she caused the widows heart to sing for joy From Wells they removed to Blackfriers in London where she lived long under the powerful Ministry of the thrice worthy and learned Dr. Gouge a man famous for his pains in the Church of Christ. What her Life Faith Charity Patience was during her abode there was well known to all in general and particularly observed by that Reverend Doctor and abundantly testified at her Funerals by him so that nothing needs to be added to
Christ most perfect and comprehensive of all our necessities That you may be the better satisfied concerning his sense and judgement in this matter take this transcript out of his Printed Commentary upon Mat. 6. 9. Where after he hath set forth the excellency and perfection of Christs Prayer he addeth Christ now directs us to the right performance of the Duty of Prayer After this manner pray ye Or as St. Luke sets it down When you pray say Not binding us strictly to use these words always and none other but to use the matter manner and like affections But as for them who cannot so well enlarge their suits in other words or for those also who can and do it and yet remain still unsatisfied as not having done it sufficiently and who can do it sufficiently the Lord Christ hath left this most excellent help to use the very words of this Divine Prayer as the most worthy servants of God have ever used to do And learn we here by the way that an absolute necessity lyeth upon us which ought to be our greatest glory and comfort to pray in these words or in this manner For it is the undispensable Commandment of our Lord Christ After this manner pray He had a special dexterity in comforting afflicted Consciences resolving doubts and answering questions when some came to him not long before he changed this earthly for an heavenly Mansion and told him of the rigour of the Prelates how it grew higher every day how they persecuted conscientious Ministers and Christians Of their Innovations and of the Book for Liberty of Sports on the Sabbath days tending to the fearfull profanation thereof He used these expressions I have had a longing desire to see or hear of the fall of Antichrist But I check my self I shall go to Heaven and there news of it will come thick thick thick When others came to him and pressed him with importunity to tell them his Judgement concerning the future state of the Church saying to him that he had travelled much in the study of the Revelations and they were perswaded that God had revealed something more then ordinary to him What do you think said they shall we have Popery once again or no He answered You shall not need to fear fire and fagot any more but such dreadfull divisions will be amongst God people and Professors as will equalize the greatest persecutions A man meeting him near his house called to him saying Oh Mr. Carter What shall I do My wife is entring into her Travel and I think she will die with very fear Mr. Carter answered Make haste run to your wife and tell her that I am going to my Closet as fast as I can to pray for her therefore bid her not faint but to be of good courage and comfort The man accordingly ran to his wife and told her what had passed between Mr. Carter and him Presently her fears vanished God gave her strength and she was delivered immediately and safely and strait after her Husband went to Mr. Carter even before he came out of his Closet and told him what God had done for him Another time a poor man met him by the way and cryed to him piteously saying Mr. Carter What shall become of me I work hard and fare hard and yet I cannot thrive I continue bare and know not how in the world to live He answered him Yet still you want one thing and I will tell you what you shall do Work hard and fare hard and pray hard and I will warrant you shall thrive There dwelled in that Parish a Tanner that was a very godly man and one that had much familiar society with Mr. Carter This man as he was very busie in Tawing of a Hide with all his might not so much as turning his head aside any way Mr. Carter coming by accidentally came softly behinde him and merrily gave him a little clap on the back the man started and looking behinde him suddenly blushed and said Sir I am ashamed that you should find me thus To whom Mr. Carter replied Let Christ when he comes finde me so doing What said the man doing thus Yes said Mr. Carter to him faithfully performing the Duties of my Calling Being at Dinner at Ipswich at one of the Magistrates Houses divers other Ministers being at the Table also One amongst the rest who was old enough and had learned enough to have taught him more humility was very full of talk bragged much of his parts and skill c. and made a Challenge saying Here are many Learned men if any of you will propound any question in Divinity or Philosophy I will dispute with him resolve his doubt and satisfie him fully All at the Table except himself were silent for a while then said Mr. Carter when he saw that none else would speak to him calling him by his name I will go no further then my Treacher to puzzle you Here is a Sole Now tell me the reason why this Fish that hath lived always in the salt water should come out fresh To this this forward Gentleman could say nothing and so was laughed at and shamed out of his vanity At another time a certain man came to him and made his moan saying I have lost the greatest friend that I had in the world I had in a manner all my livelyhood from him To whom Mr. Carter answered When the Fountain is dryed up in one place God will open it in another To one of his Sons he said Son John God hath always brought water for me out of the hard stinty rock Those covetous hard hearted men who have been enemies to my person and Ministery have many times come in and given me countenance and maintenance His eldest son whom he had bred up to the Ministery and who proved a blessed Instrument in the Church of Christ being dead Mr. Carter took care of his eldest son sent him to Cambridge and walking with him towards the Stable took his last leave of him in these words in Latine Cave mi fili fastum ignaviam Antichristum My son beware of Pride Sloth and Antichrist His usual saying was a Traveller must have a Swines belly an Asses back and a Marchants purse Meaning that he must be content with any fare bear all injuries and provide for vast expences We are Pilgrims and Travellers here and we must prepare for wants wrongs and spoiling of our goods It might well be said of him Semper erat ubi non erat His heart was where his head was and now his soul is to wit in Heaven His whole life was nothing else but a Communion day Old Jacob seemed to live in him and sure the Spirit of God breathed as much in him in his words and writings holiness dropped from his Pen in every ordinary Letter that he wrote in his actions and Soliloquies as in any mans in these latter times He was always
thereof It is true he had an advantage above many in his natural constitution and it's influence from his education heightened intellectuals and moralities was not inconsiderable but that which gave the being of meekness which sanctified and perfected all was the Grace of Christ. He was of an accute apprehension and therefore sensible of but yet so little in his own sight that he was not easily provoked by an injury Sensibleness of dishonor done to God by sin or of what the offender had done unto himself by sinning left such impressions upon him as that his taking notice of any injury done unto himself was not usually taken notice of He had well learned that lesson of Gregory It is better many times to fly from an injury by silence than to overcome it by replying It was Grynaeus his manner to revenge wrongs by Christian taciturnity If inferiors expostulated unnecessarily with him he would patiently hear them and give them a brotherly account pacifying their minds with a gentle grave and respectivâ— answer Take one instance in this kind instead of many unto one of his hearers then sick of singularities and therefore the less able to bear sound Doctrine following him home after his publick labours in the Congregation and instead of better incouragement telling him that his Ministry was become either dark or flat He gently answered Both Brother without further opening his mouth in his own defence choosing rather to own the imputation than to expostulate with the Imputer Disputations are great trials of the spirits of intelligent men Hooper and Ridley were patient Martyrs but somewhat impatient Disputers The Synod held at Cambridge in New England as matters were then circumstanced was unto this good man an hour of temptation above what had ordinarily befaln him in his Pilgrimage yet such was his eminent behaviour throughout as argued in the consciences of the Spectators singular patience and left him a Mirrour for the temperament mildness and government of his Spirit Pious meekness fits for Church Society Yet though he was so gentle meek and flexible that men might perswade him above what could be expected usually from a man of his worth in the things of God he was steadfast and unmovable The Sanctuary cannot want the fire that is from Heaven neither may it be touched with the fire that is from Hell Gentleness of disposition when actuated by Christ makes us so much the more acceptable and profitable unto man But if the Spirit withdraweth his assistance we fall short of reaching Gods ends and the seasonable suppressing of exorbitancies If this good man had alwayes had that voice sounding in his heart which one wished that mild Lantgrave of Hessen might have heard from the Smiths forge Duresce duresce Utinam Lantgravius durescat Happily there are that think some disorders disturbances and irregularities might by Gods blessing have been prevented But ordinarily and in matters of greatest weight the Lord was with him Though his forbearance was both observable and very imitable in things that concerned himself yet he could not forbear them whom he knew to be evil An experience whereof he manifested some Heterodox spirits by their specious discourses about Free-Grace and subtle concealings of their Principles so far deceived him into a better opinion of them than there was cause as that notwithstanding they fathered their Errors upon him in general and abused his Doctrine to the countenancing of their denial of Inherent Grace in particular yet was he slow to beleeve these things of them and slower to bear witness against them But so soon as the truth herein appeared to him hear his own words taken out of his Letter to Mr. Davenport The truth is saith he the body of the Island is bent to backslding into Errour and Delusions the Lord pitty and pardon them and me also who have been so slow to see their windings and subtil contrivances and insinuations in all their transactions whilst they propagated their opinions under my expressions diverted to their constructions Yea such was his ingenuity and piety as that his soul was not satisfied without often breaking forth into affectionate bewailing of his infirmity herein in the publick Assemblies sometimes in his Prayer sometimes in his Sermon and that with tears He was a man of an ingenuous and pious candour rejoycing as opportunity was offered to take notice of and to bear witness to the gifts of God in his Brethren thereby drawing the hearts of them to him and of others to them and that to the encouragement of them and the edification of many He did not think himself a loser by putting honour upon his Fellow-labourers but was willing that they should communicate with him in the love and esteem of the people He was not only a son of Peace enjoying continually the feast of a good conscience with serenity and tranquillity of affections at home but also a peace-maker quallified by the graces aforementioned to be a choice Instrument in the hand of the Prince of Peace amongst the Churches where if any difference arose Mr. Cotton was ready being called thereunto to afford his help for the composin of them and had a singular faculty and ability therein by reason of that excellent wisdome and moderation of spirit which God in Christ had given him whose blessing also did ordinarily crown his endeavours with good success He was one the reality of whose profession gave many cause to bless God for the kindness of the Lord shewed unto all sorts by him His portion in the things of this life exempted him from being an object of envy in that behalf yet behold Quantum ex quantillo so much communicated out of so little we may not here be altogether silent concerning the Grace of God bestowed upon him whereby according to his power yea above his power he was benificent unto others but especially to those of the Houshold of Faith The Gospel opened his heart his lips and the doors of his house He well remembred that Scripture There is that scattereth and yet encreaseth and there is that withholdeth more than is meet but it tendeth to poverty As also The liberal soul shall be made fat Amongst others his Fellow-labourers in the Ministry were entertained with peculiar contentment By one instance see his spirit in the rest A certain Minister who had gotten into the fellowship of that eminent man Mr. Arthur Hildersham and many other godly Preachers being acquainted with their secrets betrayed them into the Prelates hands This man coming afterwards to Boston and meeting with Mr. Cotton this Gaâ—us had not the heart to speak to him nor to invite him to his house which he said he never neglected to his knowledge to any stranger before much less to any of his own order Some years since there was brought unto Boston a report of the necessity of the poor Saints at Sigataea a little Church whereof the Reverend Mr. White was their faithful
spoken came to him in private and asked him whether he meant this of the Ministry of England as now constituted He returned him this answer Although I will not justifie the calling of every individual Minister in the Church of England as you dare not justifie the Saintship of every member in your Independent Congregations yet I will be ready when and where you please to maintain the Office and Calling of Englands Ministry at this day And that he continued unmoved and unchanged in his judgement and esteem of the Ministerial Calling to the last may be manifested by this passage in his last Will and Testament which is here set down in his own words and written with his own hand For my Son Jeremiah my desire is that he be bred a Scholar and that the Lord would spiritually incline his heart freely to give up himself to the Lord to serve him in the work of the Ministry which Calling and Imployment though now despised I do esteem above all others in the world and do commend it to all mine that if the Lord bless them with Sons they would commend this Calling to their Posterity And truly this deserves seriously to be considered whether there be not herein much to credit and encourage the Ministry of the Gospel that a learned man and so eminent for piety who also had throughly studied the Controversie of the times and had heard and read what could be said against the Ministry should yet upon his Death-bed give such a Testimony unto it when he daily expected to make up his account before God and also give such great encouragement to his Posterity to addict themselves to this calling now even now when such disgrace is cast upon it and when the Ministers setled maintenance is threatned to be taken from them And may not those men who knew Mr. Whitakers worth be hereby awed and moved to take heed how they oppose or slight that Calling of men whom he living and dying judged to be so highly honoured by God himself To this also adde that it was an Ordained Ministry which he thus valued which appears by these two lively Testimonies 1. In that he joyned with that Classis whereof he was a member in Ordaining of Ministers 2. In that he had an hand in the Book not long since published by the Province of London in the defence of such a Ministry not onely by his assent to it but also by his assistance in drawing it up As Mr. Whitaker loved God dearly so God loved him which he manifested by those grace wherewithall he enriched him and truly love tokens are real Messengers of his love that sendeth them and what surer signs can we have of Gods love then when he bestows upon us the Graces of his Holy Spirit Now of these the Lord had given him a more than ordinary measure and besides what hath been said before there were five Graces more which were very Orient and shining in his Crown 1. His tenderness of heart Who ever knew a man of a more melting frame of heart before God whether in Confessions Petitions or Thanksgivings Is there any one living that can say that I have at sometimes joyned with him in Prayer and he shed no tears How did his own sinfulness though it was no more than the ordinary imperfections of the fairest Saint upon earth the evils of the times and the testimonies of Gods displeasure breaking out upon us break his heart into pieces We may truly believe that for the space many years he did never come off from the serious consideration of these things with dry eyes and how many thousands be there of Gods children that would account it a sign of much love from Christ if they could finde such thawings in their frozen breasts 2. His meekness of spirit with which precious Jewel he was richly adorned Who ever saw him transported by passion on a fire through foolish anger or disgused by discontent Though his zeal would waxe hot and burn in him for God and his Glory yet he was a man of a cool spirit and meek like Moses in all his own concernments and this he hath often manifested in a remarkable manner when disputing with men of dissenting Principles and opinions yet his spirit was so even that their unhandsome provocations could not discompose him and drive him into passion 3. For his Patience he may well be called a second Job Many who saw him under those racking pains in his last sickness so frequently reiterated and so long continued were confident that God did put him and keep him in his Furnace to be a pattern of patience unto Posterity It is confessed that he did roar many times till his throat was dry but who ever heard him speak any one word of murmuring or discontent because of Gods afflicting Providence He himself indeed would sometimes through tenderness of conscience charge himself of impatiency because he made a noise in his extremity but that expressed onely Natures sensibleness not sinful frowardnes and when accusing himself causelesly he was minded of Christs roarings yet free from all sin he would be silent I confess indeed that in his desires to be dissolved he would take up Jobs complaint Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in soul which long for death but it cometh not and dig for it more than for hid treasures c. For my sighing cometh before I eat and my roarings are powred out like waters Job 3. 20 24. But he alwayes concluded with submission to the good pleasure of God When he had been asked how he did this was frequently his answer The Bush alwayes burning but not consumed and though my pains be above the strength of nature yet they are not above the supports of Grace 4. The Lord was pleased to vouchsafe him such a measure of the Spirit of Grace and Supplications that his soul was never out of tune for that service Most of his words when he was under torment were holy complaints and prayers to God It will not be impertinent or unprofitable if I here set down some of them O my God help Father of mercies pity Do not contend for ever Consider my frame that I am but dust My God that hath made Heaven and earth help me Oh give me patience and inflict what thou wiâ—t If my patience was more my pain would be less Dear Saviour where are thy bowels why dost thou make me an astonishment to my self and others Why dost thou cover thy self with a thick cloud that our prayers cannot pass Blessed is the man that endureth temptation Lord this is a sad temptation stand by me and say It is enough Am I not thy servant Consider Lord that I am thy servant O these bitter waters of Marah Lord drop sweet comfort into these bitter water of Marah O the blood of sprinkling Lord the blood of sprinkling Lord That
Who did so meekly entertain all three Thus many Deaths Gods Israel did inclose The Sea before behinde a Sea of Foes On either side the jaws of Mountains high No way from Death but unto Death to flye Not to destroy them but to let them see The power of love which then would set them free Thus Jobs four Messengers which did relate The doleful story of his ruin'd state And his three Friends which acted Satans part He on his flesh and these upon his heart Who by disputing him unto a curse Would make his spirits torments the far worse Were by Gods wise disposal sent to show The strength he on his Champion would bestow Thus Painters put dark grounds where they intend To overlay with finest gold and lend By deeper shadows lustre to that face On which they mean their choisest skill to place Thus workmen season much with Sun and wind Those greatest beams which must the building binde Whilst smaller pieces haply are put in When they come bleeding from the wood and green Oft where is greatest grace God's pleas'd to send Great conflicts those great Graces to commend As the six-fingred Giants sword did bring The more renown to little Davids sling The vanquisht Lion and the conquered Bear Prepar'd that holy Head a Crâ—wn to wear The Angel wrestled first and then did bless And made the greater servant to the less Pain was too great for thee Gods grace for pain And made the greater serve the less again Thy pains serv'd thee for glory and did fit The Head on which a Crown of life must sit This is Gods method to fetch joy from grief To turn our sorrows unto our relief To save by killing and to bring to shore By the ships planks which was quite broke before And thus a barren womb first took the seed Which did six hundred thousand people breed That seed too must from knife and Altar rise And be before a fire a Sacrifice Great Preacher of thy Heavenly Fathers will Thy tongue did many ears with Manna fill Thy life out-preach't thy tongue O blessed strife Thy sickness the best Sermon of thy life Before each Doctrine must be prov'd a new Thine end was one great proof that all was true Before thou preach't by weeks but now by hours Each minute taught thy mourning Auditors Each patient groan and each believing eye Was a new Sermon in Brachygraphy When Nature roars without repining words Grace in the mouth when in the Bowels swords In midst of torments to triumph o're Hell To feel Gods Arrows yet his Praises tell Through thickest clouds to see the brightest light In blackest darkness to have cleerest sight And with our Lord to cry My God My God Upon a Cross under the sharpest Rod. This is indeed to preach this is to show Faiths triumph over Natures greatest wo. Then welcome fiery Serpents scorching sting Which did thee thus to th' Brazen Serpent bring Then welcome Whale which though it first devour Renders at last the Prophet to the shore Well might'st thou bear the stone which Death did throw Who had'st the white Stone the new Name to show Well might'st thou be with such an ulcer calm Whose soul was heal'd before with Heavens Balm When spirits wounds are cur'd though Nature groan An heart of flesh can heal a back of stone Let conscience have her feast and let flesh roar This pain shall make the others joy the more As many times those Flowers most fragrant smell Which nearest to some noysome weeds do dwell Thus have you seen the Forge most clearly glow On which the Smith doth drops of water throw Keen Frosts make fire the hotter and deep night Causeth Celestial Lamps to shine more bright And by a dear Antiperistasis The Childs distress sweetens the Fathers kiss A wounded body yeelds to a sound soul The joyes of this do th' others pains controle As in the day that the Sun beams appear All other lesser Stars do disappear When Heaven shines and Divine love doth reign The soul is not at leasure to complain Internal joyes his heart so well composes That they have judg'd their flames a bed of Roses Mr. Gataker Mr. Whitaker But what shall England do from whence are lopt Two if her richest Acres to Heaven dropt By loss of these two Acres she 's more poor Then if sh 'had lost an hundred Lordships more 'T were a good purchase to gain these agen By giving to the Sea all Lincoln Fen. Two little Mines of Gold do far surpass Huge Mannors where th' whole vesture is but grass Learn we by them what all men will once say One Pearch of Heaven 's worth the whole Globe of clay ED. REYNOLDS D. D. The Life and Death of James Vsher Dr. of Divinity Arch-Bishop of Armagh Primate and Metropolitan of all Ireland who dyed Anno Christi 1655. ALexander the Great commanded that no man should draw his Picture but Apelles the most exquisite Painter in the world and that his Statue should not be made in brass by any one but Lysippus the most excellent Work-man in that kinde So truly the Life and Death of this great and good man is fit to be written only by the ablest Pen that can be found Dr. JAMES USHER James Usher was born in Dublin the Metropolis of Ireland in the Parish of St. Nicholas January the 4 Anno Christi 1580. His Father Mr. Arnald Usher was a student in the Law one of the Clerks of the Chanchery in that Nation and a person of excellent parts and endowments His Mother was Mrs. Margaret Stainhurst who in her later time was seduced by some of the Popish Priests to the Roman Religion they taking their opportunity whilst this her Son was upon some occasion in England and they by their subtilty had engaged her in such vows that when her Son came back he could not possibly reclaim her which they have often boasted of in Print yet her Sons hope was at least upon her Death bed to have prevailed for the reducing of her to the Truth But it pleased God that she dyed suddenly at Drogheda when he was absent at Dublin whereby to his no small grief those his hopes were frustrated and disappointed His Grandfather by his Mothers side was James Stainhurst whose Christian name he bore who was chosen three times Speaker of the House of Commons in the Irish Parliaments in the last whereof he made the first motion for the founding and erecting of a College and University in the City of Dublin He was also Recorder of that City one of the Masters of the Chancery and a man of great wisdome and integrity His Uncle was Richard Stainhurst a man famous in France and other Nations for his great learning which he manifested in several Books published by him one of them when he was eighteen years old between whom and this Reverend person there passed many learned Letters His Uncle by his Fathers side was Henry Usher who was trained up at
discouragement which he called The childe of pride and unbelief He used to say that some duties which were oft in mens mouthes he found very difficult to him As 1. To deny himself in all his Selfs was a work to be learning whilst he lived 2. To live onely by faith and a bare promise without a pawn is a great work 3. To give all to free Grace and to Christ alone is a mighty work 4. To love where we meet with unlovingness and contempt is no easie matter 5. To do ones proper work without some present pay and countenance from God and man is a hard task 6. That it s far harder to adopt others comforts than their sorrows and to hold ones self exalted in anothers exaltation 7. That to dye in cold blood and to be active in it as an act of obedience is the work of a Christian. In his sickness he would occasionally vent himself thus It s a hard thing to think ill of our selves and well of God at the same time It s a hard thing for a Saint to forgive himself some faults when God hath forgiven them It s hard to think holy thoughts long and to confine them to anothers prayers We know but little of Christs love till all be perfected and spread before us in heaven For his children he referred them to an old Will which he had made Anno Christi 1636 when they were many and small which because it may be of use to many others it s here inserted The Advice and Counsel of Dr. Harris to his Family annexed to a Will made by him Anno Christi 1636. To my dear Wife and Children My dear Selfs I know not what leasure I shall have to speak unto you at my Death and I am not you know very free in speech especially in sickness and sadness and therefore now I will speak my heart to you and I would have you to hear me speaking whilst you live in this my writing which I divide amongst you all First for you my dear Wife you shall finde the substance of that I would say to you printed to your hand in the Book of Martyrs Vol. 2. p. 1744 to wit in John Careless his Letter to his Wife keep the Book and often read the Letter onely one thing I adde if you marry again remember your own observation viz. That second Husbands are very uxorious second Wives very prevalent and therefore take heed that you do no ill office in estranging your Husband from his natural children or kindred you shall thereby draw upon him a great sin and judgement if you kill in him natural affections I have said and do with all the strength and power that is in me thank you for your faithfulness and resign you to the Husband of Husbands the Lord Christ. Now my poor Children let me pour out my heart to you and speak to your Souls first For your Souls Trifle not in the main point the Soul is immortal you have to deal with an infinite Majesty you go upon life and death therefore here be serious do all to God in a serious manner When you think of him speak of him pray to him any way make your addresses to his great Majesty be in good earnest and have God and have all 1. More particularly get your pardon in Christ It is not impossible to get it assured to you if you will learn 1. To deny your selves 2. To live by faith 3. To understand the nature of the New Covenant Settle your judgements in these Points and the thing is feasible 2. Having gotten it be still adding to your evidence and enjoy your present Assurance Do all to God as to your Father Next to this think how you and I shall endure the sight the thought one of another at the last day if you appear in the old Adam much less shall you stand before Christ unless you shew the Image of Christ in you and therefore never cease till you be made New creatures and study well what that is In the last place strive for those Graces most which concern your places and conditions and make head against those sins which most threaten you As first Hereditary sins I was naturally Melancholy that is a humour that admits of any temptation and is capable of any impression and distemper Shun as death this humour which will work you to all unthankfulness against God unlovingness to man and unnaturalness to your selves 2. Of your times and habitations 3. Of your tempers and age 4. Of your Callings I have made my own peace my sins shall not hurt you if you make them not yours you need not fear the success if you will oppose to sin Christ is made sanctification to you he came to dissolve the works of Satan he hath overcome for you and hath made as many promises for your sanctification as your justification Gather those promises as they be set down especially in the Covenant with an oath Luke 1. Press these to God 2 Cor. 7. 1. In short do not talk and make a noise to get a name of forward men but do the thing be constant in secret duties and act Religion in your Câ—llings for it is not a name or notion It is a frame of nature and habit of living by Divine Rule What it is you will then know when you have it in truth first and in power next and not before Onely this for the present It is that you must live and dye by that you must rise and reign by therefore my Châ—ldren I give you that advice which I gave your Brother now with God Be more than you seem Do more than you talk of in point of Religion Satisfie your own consciences in what you do all men you shall never satisfie nay some will not be satisfied though they be convinced For your Bodies I was troubled with straightness of breath and breast which was also Hereditary and therefore you must fear it the more The Remedies are 1. Disclaim Hereditary sins 2. Keep Heads clean Feet warm and Hearts cheerful 3. Be more frequent than I and your Brother in exercise 4. Shun late drinking or studying 5. Use lighter Suppers For your Callings 1. Choose well 1. A profitable Calling for the publick 2. A full imployment 3. A Calling fit for your parts and means It is better to be a rich Cobler than a poor Merchant 2. Use a Calling well 1. Make it an help not a snare to your souls 2. Be 1. Diligent 2. Skilful Any honest Calling will honour you if thus you honour it and therefore you may be hopeful because my self who had not your parts and helps never fouâ—d any thing too hard for me in my Calling but discouragement and unbelief For your Company Abandon all infectious flattering self-serving companions when oncâ— you have found them false trust them no more Sort with such as are able to do oâ— receive good Solomon gives you the best counsel for this in
his own estate His infirmities were common to other men and must be acknowledged vitia naturae non animi as infirmities of nature not of purpose of minde If his fame rather mounted upwards than spread abroad we may thank the subtilty of those times who liked not that the splendor of his Religion should dazel their own and we may pity the distempers of those dawnings that knew not how to value that Morning Star till it was set It was Augustus his lot after a long and honourable Reign to dye and yet Tum quidem pauci luxerant postea temporis omnes Few mourned at his death but a while after all For Tyberius succeeded him who was as wicked as Augustus was good And whatever the people thought of Gustavus whilst he lived a while after when Ericus came to Reign they knew what it was to want their Gustavus Of whom it may truly be said that he dyed a King a a Patriot a Knight a Christian true and unconquered and yet lives a monument of the truth of that Golden Sentence uttered by the God of Truth Him that honours me will I honour Deo Tri-uni Gloria The Life and Death of Mrs. Jane Ratcliffe who dyed Anno Christi 1638. Mrs. Jane Ratcliffe was born of good Parents who were morally Civil and moderately Religious according to the temper of the times wherein they lived Her Uncle was Mr. Edward Brerewood a learned Professor in Gresham College London In her younger years she was rather Civil than Religious and sometimes rather merry than Civil yet lightsome without lightness or immodesty Though too much delighted with dancing Stage-playes and other publick vanities according to the fashion of young folkes especially in those times when these things were so well thought of that they were admitted to be acted in the Churches But it pleased God according to his election of Grace in due time to call her by the Ministry of Mr Nicholas Byfield who was a powerfull and a profitable Preacher of Gods Word at that time in the City of Chester which also was seconded by the afflicting hand of God who took away her first Child which she much took to heart but God made it an occasion to make her his own Child by Adoption and Grace For from that time the meanes of Grace had a more kindly operation upon her which made her ever after more to mind her Father in Heaven than any Child she had upon earth Yet at first she rather feared God than loved him whence were engendred many perplexing scruples in her soul which for the present were very grievous unto her For her Spirit was sore wounded and A wounded spirit who can bear Prov. 18. 14. The truth is the pangs of her New Birth were so painfull and bitter and sometimes so terrible that it was a difficult thing to fasten any comfort upon her But after the Lord had chastened her soul with his severe Discipline and thereby had prepared her for a Cure he shewed himself her most favourable and effectual Physician according to that Job 5. 18. He makeâ—h sore and bindeth up he wound and his hands make whole For he quieted her troubled spirit and setled it in the assurance of his love Being thus through Gods goodness converted and comforted it pleased him to bestow many excellent endowments upon her both Intellectuall and Morall For by her frequent and attentive hearing of Sermons and reading good Books the Bible especially unto which she was addicted with an incredible desire and delight and by moving Questions to such as she thought best able to answer them she became an excellent proficient in the most sound and usefull points of Religion yet took she not upon her to teach any but her own children and servants though an Apollos might not have disdained to learn of such a Priscilla Act. 18. 22. She medled but little in worldly matters and when she did she little minded them yet shadowing her self from acquaintance with the world she shined gloriously in her knowledge of God and Heavenly matters As she had occasion to converse with others she shewed her self a very prudent Abigail The Word of God as St Paul prescribeth dwelt richly in her in all wisdome which appeared in her speech in her silence in her carriage and in her actions In her speech for as the same Apostle requireth being enriched both in knowledge and utterance 1 Cor. 1. 5. She opened her mouth with wisdome as that rare woman Prov. 31. 26. having as St Jerome dictated to Celantia thought before-hand what she should speak and while she was yet silent forecasting that she might say nothing which afterwards she would wish to be unsaid again and so she was fitted and well prepared either to counsell or to comfort to reprove or to plead for as there was occasion Yet was she not as some women would have been with her abilities and some without them have been obstreperously talkative nor affected by her words to make any oftentation of her wit or other good parts but very sparing of her speech so that she was as much observed for her silence as for her discreet discourse when there was just occasion and opportunity For she had learned That In multitude of words there wants not sin Prov. 10. 19. That Whosoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul Prov. 22. 23. That Death and life are in the power of the tongue Pov. 18. 21. That Tatling women are condemned by the Apostle 1 Tim. 5. 13. That Of every idle word account must be given at the day of judgement Mat. 12. 36. And that they who profess Religion and refrain not their tongues their Religion is vain Jam. 1. 26. This moved her with David to resolve that her mouth should not offend Psalme 17. 3. Certainly such silence as she used in those that know how to speak is an argument of wisdome For a wise man saith Solomâ—n and it is as true of a woman holdeth his peace Prov. 11. 12. And he that rfrâ—â—ns his lips is wise Prov. 10. 19. And so far was she from speaking ill especially of the absent or of her betters that St Jeroms precept to Celantia was set forth in her practice which was rather to look to her own life than to carp at anothers And she well knew that where corrupt communication is restrained there that which is good to the use of edifying is required Yet was she so wise and wary even in the use of good words as to observe when and where and before whom to use them and the season when to give over as well as when to begin her discourse She gave farther proof of her prudence in her carriage and behaviour And Bishop Hall in his Contemplations makes this a very good proof of wisdome There are some saith he whose speeches are witty while their carriage is weak whose deeds are incongruities whilest their words
36. that then every man shall be judged Jude 15. and every secret thing shall be brought to light Rom. 2. 16. and that the judgement will be most just and so confessed by all Rom. 2. 5 6. why then should I fear the last Judgement seeing he shall be my Judge who is my Brother Advocate and Redeemer He that was willingly judged for me will give no hard sentence against me yea he hath already absolved me from my sins and given me the earnest of his Spirit and the seal of the Sacraments and I have judged my self that I may not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. 32. I do beleeve that the glory of Heaven is unspeakable and incomprehensible by us here on earth 1 Cor. 2. 9. that is it eternal Matth. 25. 45. and that it is the gift of God proceeding onely from his free Grace not our merit Luke 12. 32. his free gift bestowed onely upon the Elect Rev. 21. 27. O that I could by the effectualness of contemplation behold the greatness of this felicity which is provided for me yet as I can conceive it I cannot choose but long to be absent from hence that I may be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. whos 's admirable beauty I shall clearly see and know as I am known and that with a perfection both of holiness and happiness such holiness as will not onely free me from all sin but from all possibility of sinning such happiness as that ceasing from all labour and sorrow I shall enjoy an eternal Sabbath and shall be free to all the treasures of Heaven and with the fruition of Gods glorious presence shall enjoy the sweet society of all the glorified Saints and Angels And all this as it is unuterable so it is unalterable For as I cannot be disappointed of it because it is certain so I cannot be deprived of it because it is eternal How then should the hope of the future life but swallow up the afflictions of the life present and why should I fear Death when being dead I shall be so blessed Yet was not her Faith elevated so high but that she could readily apply it to promises of an inferiour degree For as she trusted in God at all times as David teacheth Psal. 62. 8. so did she in all things whether temporal or eternal In straits and difficulties for the affairs of this life she had that ready at hand Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass Psal. 37. 5. If at any time she was sinisterly censured by any one her faith applied that promise to her heart He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy judgement as the noon day Psal. 35. 6. And whatsoever it were that came upon her as a cross her faith was either as a wreathe betwixt her shoulders and it that it did not pinch her or a remover of it from her self to him who was best able to bear it by vertue of that Warrant Psal. 55. 22. Cast thy burthen upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee and that done her faith which teacheth to keep an eaven pace with the promises not making haste Isa. 28. 16. by anticipating the time of accomplishment taught her soul to wait upon God as Davids did Psal. 62. 1. to effect his own work at his own time in his own way and manner wherein she would not prescribe any thing at all By this daily exercise of her Faith she gained a great deal of freedome and lightsomness of spirit which admirably appeared in her deportment upon great disappointments of that which was her own due and unexpected payments unto others when she hath seen no way of supply for the present occasions she hath believed that Gods providence would effect what her forecast could not when she was not wanting in the use of means and that he could furnish her with that which should be sufficient albeit for the present she saw not how nor by what means it would come to pass and therefore when she had done what belonged to her duty in the affiance of her Faith she rested quiet and remained cheerful and slept neither the less nor the worse for it and that which confirmed her confidence the more was that she still found by experience that God was most worthy to be trusted That her Faith was as good as it was great appeared by the effect of it in her Devotion and Piety which was suitable to her knowledge of God and her faith in him by both which as she had a clear apprehension of him so none had more dear and devout affections to him or more assured signs of such than she as appeared in these particulars She was frequently and fervently conversant with God besides the publick in her private supplications and therein was he most favourably familiar with her for he sent forth his Spirit into her heart whereby she cried Abba Father Gal 4. 6. The Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zach. 12. 10. which enabled her in an extraordinary manner and measure to pour out her soul into his bosome and though she duely esteemed of the solemn prayers of the sacred Assemblies whereof a learned and pious Divine said that never any one prayed well privately who contemned or neglected the publick prayers of the Church and never sleighted or censured set forms of Prayer yet could she and that excellently well conceive Prayer and vary her Petitions as the present occasion did require Yea in this Devotion she was so abundant in apt and pertinent expressions that indeed it was admirable that one so silent in her common conversation with the world should be so fluent and eloquent in her entercourse with God Nor was she more copious in speech than fervent in spirit For such was her holy violence in Prayer as that she seemed not to knock at Heaven Gate for another to open it but to make a battery upon it her self and to break in by the powerful importunity of her supplications Her service also of God in this kinde was no dry Devotion but steeped and drenched in showres of tears and though her prudence used as much privacy as might be herein yet such a singular gift could not be hid from her servants and some secret female friends who sometimes when they were sick or possessed with fears or pains of child-birth they would move her with importunity to pray with them and when she yeelded to them and God to her by answering her request they were apt as there was cause to impute the good effect to her fervent supplications A female friend of hers who was her bed-fellow in London for many weeks together and thereby was a partaker of her daily Devotions professed that she was so plentifully furnished for utterance of her requests to God that she never wanted variety of meet words to be presented unto him but when a surcharge of sighs and
not to say My Father or my Master would not afford me time for if they did he would protest against them in the day of Judgement And as he was going to the Congregation on the week-dayes he would often finde some of the Country people that were come early to the Market and then would ask them where they did live and when they answered five or six or more miles off he would thence take occasion to shew them how vain a thing it was to pursue the world and to neglect the care of their precious and immortal souls and would ask them how they could rise so early to get the world and not rise as early to get interest in Jesus Christ and to attain the favour of God and assurance of eternal happiness And then looking back upon his Family he would say to them You see here how these people can rise betimes to get a little part of the world and you will hardly rise early to get the assurance of the favour of God which is far better than the whole world As he returned from Sermons he would be speaking to them that went with him of what they had heard exhorting them to be mindfull of it and to put it in practice and when one of the company was troubled hearing him to press such things upon them told him that he had heard many good Sermons at St. Peters the Cathedral but never heard one at the great Conduit before he presently replied Sirs are ye troubled to be put in minde of the word of God I pray God the time come not when you are in hell that you wish you had not onely practised the Sermons which you heard at St. Peters but had received good counsel from the Word at the great Conduit also Thus by his diligent attending upon and carefull applying the means of Grace and Gods blessing upon them he attained a very great measure of assurance even to a kinde Plerophory such as the Apostle speaks of 1 Thess. 1. 5. Much assurance and Col. 2. 2. Full assurance of understanding by which he was carried as with full â—ails to holy duties And truly if we connsider the measure continuance and constancy of it there are few Christians that have attained the like Assurance was much in his tongue and in his heart it was that which he earnestly laboured for and obtained by fervent prayer and diligent use of the means God gave him the Testimony and Seal of the Spirit and so assured him of his eternal love in Christ as also of his Adoption and eternal happiness in Heaven God gave it him as part of his reward for his sincere and faithfull service At sometimes he had more than ordinary comforts and incomes of the Spirit for the strengthning of his Assurance As for instance At a time he being at a Sermon and attending heedfully to those discerning and differencing marks of uprightness which were then laid down and one mark being more powerfully pressed and coming fully home to his condition he being in a deep and serious meditation and reflecting upon himself and finding it to be truly in him it seemed to him as if one struck him upon the shoulder encouraging and saying Be of good cheer thou art the man upon which he had presently such inward joyes and ravishings of spirit as were unexpressible And as by diligence he obtained so he carefully kept his assurance by frequent trial of himself and his spiritual estate towards God he used to try himself by all the marks of sincerity which he found in the Scriptures heard by the Ministry of the word or read in the books of godly Divines and thereby he did clear up his evidences for heaven and he did not onely try his estate by some marks but he kept a narrow watch over his heart and wayes and thereby his assurance was preserved and he kept it for a long time together even for thirty years and more and being asked whether he never met with any temptations of doubting of his estate towards God he gave this answer That he had been and often was sorely assaulted by Satans temptations which were set against his Faith and Assurance and that he had been foiled in respect of the application of some particular promises but he was not thereby driven from his hold-fast of Christ or from the assurance of his interest in the Covenant of Grace yet still he acknowledged that his assurance and all his ability in spiritual things was through Christ that strengthened him as Paul Phil. 4. 13. As he had this assurance himself so he was alwayes forward to stir up others to labour for it there were scarce any that he met with if he supposed that their faces were heaven-ward but he would be questioning with them about their assurance blaming them if they did not diligently seek after it and encouraging them to labour for it And when some did ask him how they should get it he gave them this answer that they should importunately seek it of God and not give him any rest till he granted it unto them I would said he lock or bolt my Chamber door and beg it of God and never give him rest till I had obtained it and then he advised them that they should daily try themselves by some marks and he often mentioned three that he used to try himself by 1. A sincere desire to fear the name of God as Nehem. 1. 11. 2. A sincere endeavour to do the will of God in all things required as Psal. 119. 6. 3. A full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord as Act. 11. 23. and these he did not onely speak of but pressed them with much earnestness as longing that others should partake of that high priviledge and heavenly gift with himself If he met with any Schollar and such an one especially as applied himself to the study of Divinity his usual question to such was What evidence have you for heaven You Schollars have the best opportunities of all men for the getting of assurance you are still looking into Gods book and into other good books and should acquaint your selves with your spiritual estate towards God and so have a greater measure of assurance than others The like course he took when he met with any others as occasion was offered or if he found none he would take it of himself Once when he was a Parliament man being at London and coming accidentally into the shop of an intimate acquaintance a man of great estate and imployment and an Alderman of the City he expressed his wondring at so great trading for the things of the world and thereupon demanded how he could in the midst of such wordly business attend the weighty affairs of heaven His Friend answered that he hoped he looked after the good of his soul. Mr. Jurdaine replied How can you attend upon the worship of God every morning His Friend answered that though he