honcslus es at â—â—…heranus Aumphâ—…iâ— vita â—uâ—llis Heb. 12.16 1 Ioh. 3.12 Gal. 4.29 Isa 36.4.7 2 Pet. 2.8 Isaiah 5â— â—5 he became a vessell of honour sanctified and meete for his masters use and prepared unto every good worke And thus according to that wisdome which was given him from above hee became first pure But here some man will thinke that to bee so pure in heart and life word and deed as you speak of him to his great praise will bee returned back both upon him and you to his just rebuke and your farther blame For are not we now fallen into those times and are wee not compassed about with such prophane Esaus murthering Caines scoffing Ismaels railing Rabsekahs filthy and cursed Sodomites that a man can hardly refaine from any wickednesse but he makes himselfe a prey as the Prophet speaketh nor seeketh after any goodnesse but they will bee ready to vexe and persecute him Psal 38.20 and will needs be his adversaries because hee followeth the thing that good is Doubtlesse it may be said of us Hermodorus E phe so pulsus quod fâ—ugi esset Cic. Tusc-Quaest l. 5. Sic Aristides Ostracismo pulsus Athenis Ostracism Arist Polit lib. 3. c. 9. Tertul. in Apoluget cap. 2. Ego Lucium virum sapientem repentè factum Christianum defero Tertul ib. 1 Cor. 4.13 Isa 8.18 Luc. 2.34 for many persons and places as once it was of Rome Omnia cum liceant non licet esse pium All things are there lawfull only to be a godly and a good man is held amongst them to bee unlawfull So Tertullian hath observed it to be the streyne and manner of those times Cajus Sejus bonus vir ideo tantum malus quia Christianus Cajus Sejus is a good man therefore evill only because hee is a Christian And even so the case stands with us at this day and that in our Israel where the children of God that desire to be as their father is and they are charged to be pure and holy are no better esteemed but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even as filth of the world and off-scouring of all things even untill this day Or at the best but as signes and wonders in Israel and markes to bee shot at as Christ himselfe was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Butt or marke to bee shot at by such as bend their tongues like Bowes to shoote out their arrowes even base and bitter words against him The Disciple is not above his master nor the servant above his Lord if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub Mar. 10.24.25 what better language can we expect from them being his poore servants in the same house But what good reason have these vaine or vile persons to open their foule mouths so wide against purity in religion and holinesse of life and conversation One of their best is that which they have borrowed of their father Caine and which he was taught of his father the Divel when hee slew his brother And what was his reason wherefore slew he him Because his own workes were evill and his brothers good 1 Ioh. 3. â—2 Is it then your antipathy against goodnesse and your enmity against the godly for their holinesse that provokes you to swell against them and so much to splene and spite them that you reproach and revile them Act 7.54 and are ready to burst with anger because you cannot wreake your malice upon them Isa 57.3 4. Gen. 3 15 â— Kin. 21 10. 2 Cor. 6.18 Gal. 4.29.30 If this be your reason of this your cruell dealing then judge you your own selvs of what breed you are Are yee not rather of the seed of the serpent than of the seed of the woman Are yee not rather sonnes of Belial than the children of God And are ye not rather the children of the bond woman with scoffing Ismael than children of the free woman with holy Isaac CHAP. LI. BUt why should it seem so strange a thing unto you that every true Christian should so carry himself as this Gentleman did that hee may shew himself pure and holy in all maner of conversation Doth not our heavenly father command it 4 Pet. 1.16 Be ye holy for I am holy Doth not the vertue of the death and resurrection of Christ require it that henceforth wee dye unto sin Rom. 6.5 6 11 13 â—8 and live unto him yeelding our members to bee servants to righteousnesse unto holinesse Doth not his blessed Spirit challenge it at our hands That we be sanctified throughout in soule spirit and body 1 Co. 6.12 1 Thes 5.23 and preserved blamelesse untill the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ Doth not the Word of God tell us that This is the will of God even our sanctification that every one learne to possesse his vessell in holinesse and in honour Heb. 11. 12.1 13.7 Eph. 2.19 Doe not the examples of all holy men call upon us to follow their faith and to walk in their wayes of righteousnesse and holinesse before the Lord all our dayes Doth not the communion of saints and citizens both in heaven and earth exact and expect of us Eph. 5.3.1 Tim. 2.2 such a conversation as becommeth saints in all godlinesse and honesty Again consider What is the true religion It is pure and undefiled before God Iam. 1.27 And who is a true professor of this Religion He that is pure in heart and undefiled in his way And what is the word Mat. 5.8 Psal 119.1 which is the rule of this Religion The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tryed in a fornace of earth purified seven times Psa 19.10 Pla. 12.6 And what are the Sacraments annexed to this Word They are sacred Signes and Seales of holy mysteries in heavenly things And what are the speciall priviledges of such as are pure and true Christians 1 Cor. 11.24 Rom. 4.11 Vnto the pure all things are pure they have a great liberty and large interest in all Gods blessings Tit. 1.15 1 Cor. 3.22.23 and in the use and comfort of them Their holinesse here is a pledge of their happinesse hereafter Having their fruit in holinesse and the end everlasting life Heb 12.14 Ro. 6.22 Ioh. 17.24 1 Ioh 3.3 2 Tim. 2.21 And what must then bee the conversation of every one that hath this hope to be with Christ where he is and as hee is for ever Hee must of necessity purifie himselfe even as hee is pure and so being a vessell of honour sanctified hee shall bee meet for his Masters use and prepared unto every good worke Such are the persons and such are the things which the Lord requires and expects in the profession and practice of every true Christian Mal. 3.17 And are not all these pure and precious in the eyes of Almighty God and in the sight of heavenly Angels and holy men Mat. 7.6 Hath God
some as they drew nearer unto them brought to a greater liking and love of the company and societie of Gods children and of these and such other duties of Gods worship His early comming to Church as they did exercise themselves withall His comming to the Church with all his Family attendants and followers was constantly before the beginning of prayers or any part of divine Service that so hee might more comfortably joyne with Gods Minister and people in confession of sins in prayer and praise His reverent and holy carriage in it reading and hearing of the Word singing of Psalmes and partaking of the Sacraments all which hee did performe with such a reverent attention and gracious affection with so holy a carriage and so good conscience that as hereby hee did much increase his owne comfort so was his godly example no doubt a great encouragement to many others yea a very spurre and goade unto them to bee more religious and conscionable in Gods worship and service After prayers and Sermon were ended hee seldome went to dinner His dinner time hee bestowed well in the Church but abode in the Church to bestow himselfe and this interim in Gods Service with such good people as were willing to stay with him And this hee did by repeating the Sermon which hee had taken very exactly as usually hée did with his owne hand and by singing of Psalmes and by wholy and wholesome conference in and about good things The Evenin Sacrifice he performed in like manner And so waiting for the Evening Sacrifice after hee had with like care and conscience performed the publique duties of the Sabbath in the same hee returned homewards with his company with much comfort and joy in their hearts endeavouring as they went along to increase their Knowledge Faith and Obedience by repeating and conferring of the Evening Sermon and to inlarge their hearts in Gods praises ◠Sam. 12.24 by singing of Psalmes a fresh considering what great things hee had done for them Their returne homewards and mutuall care to do good And if any amongst them were afflicted they would bee ready to counsell him comfort him and pray for him And he himselfe especially if he heard of any such as were troubled in Conscience upon the hearing of the Word would be ever mostready and willing like the good Samaritane Luc. 10.34 Gal. 6.1 to powre wine and oyle into that wounded spirit wine that he might search and scoure it and oyle that he might supple and heale it After this manner did he frequent the House of God sanctifie the Lords day rejoyce in the Assembly of the Saints and refresh his own Soule with Heavenly Manna and other spirituall repast so long as hee could either goe or ride unto it CHAP. LXIIII. His private Evening exercise full of life ANd then in his Evening Exercise he was so full of life and zeale that besides his own family many of his Tenants and Neighbours did much desire and delight to heare him repeat the Sermons presse the speciall points urge the Conscience and powre cut his prayers unto God with so tender and sweet affections for them all that the heat of his spirit did cause their hearts as it were to melt within them The great joy he had in the Sabbath and Fasts The joy and comfort which he found in these holy duties both in publike and in private on the Lords day and in their Fasts was so exceeding great that he would often and earnestly wish O that every day were either a Sabbath-day or a Fast day for then I should be well His thankefulnesse for one Sabbath more And when the Sabbath was past it was his usual manner to blesse God with a thankefull and chearefull heart for that hee had given him one Sabbath more than he did looke for amongst his people The weeke dayes were somewhat more tedious and grievous unto him his bodily infirmities much increasing and his strength decaying and yet would he never be dejected but endevoured to quicken his own soule and raise up his heart by Faith and Hope speaking to his Family and Friends about him much after this manner The time is not long I must shortly lay down this my tabernacle and then I shall get the start of you all 2 Pet. 1.14 Heb. 4.9 11. and shall celebrate an everlasting Sabbath before the Lord with all his holy Angels and blessed Saints in the highest Heavens This he spake rejoycingly and yet with teares Weary of the world Hee grew every day more and more weary of the world and was then best contented when he could dispatch worldly businesses with fewest words He makes his Will Isay 38.1 It was his provident and godly care to set his house in order as good Ezekiah did to make his will and to leave all things in good tearms of peace and love Which he did with good successe accordingly And so by this meanes his mind and heart were disburdened and cased of many worldly thoughts and cares So hee was more free and more fit for Heavenly things Gal. 6.10 and he brought to a greater freedome and liberty both to think and speake of spirituall and of heavenly things Which in no sort he did omit but as he could stir abroad in the House either to the Fall Parlour or Kitchen He would drop some wholesome words of counsell or comfort amongst such as he met withall and never cease speaking of holy or of heavenly things amongst the rest of his Family When many came to visit him he would often say Alas good Soules what are yee come to see Iob. 7.13 19. a poore wretch a worme and no man or a poore dying man I may now say with Iob. If I waite the grave is my house I have made my bed in the darknesse I have said to corruption thou art my father to the worme thou art my mother and my sister Iob 19.15 16. And yet I know that my Redeemer liveth that he shal stand at the latter day upon the earth And though after my skin 2 Cor. 4.16 wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Therefore wee faint not but though the outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed daily And so our conversation is in heaven from whence also wee looke for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body Phil. 3.20.21 that it may bee fashioned like his glorious body according to the working whereby hee is able to subdue all things to himselfe Some that came unto him would out of their common kindnesse comfort him with some hope of health and recovery Si nunquā bene si aliquando quare non modo Posidon in vita Aug. Cap. 27. to whom hee would make this answer My time is in the Lords hand and it is not likely it can bee long my dayes are past my purposes are broken
Spring Seedings Summer Harvest Winter faire or foule weather and the like and to apply these to such places of the Scriptures as they had heard or read the same things in for their farther instruction and edification Now for their work what he saw was well for manner and matter hee did likewise well approve and accept and by a due and kinde commendation of their care and paines hee provoked them to continue in well doing What he saw was amisse if it were of small moment hee would wisely passe by it if of greater weight he would admonish them of and reprove them for it yet not with any railing or reviling words for ought that ever I could heare but in words of wisedome as became a holy man and a good Master sometimes it may be more sharpely because the nature of the fault and disposition of the offender might so require it and sometimes more mildly as hee found the party more sensible of his fault and more tractable for amendment There was not the meanest amongst them but hee would labour to cheare him and encourage him in his service and if hee saw them any more towardly in duties of Religion hee would so much the more kindly speak unto them and more willingly confer with them They did usually also exercise themselves unto godlinesse by mutuall exhortations and admonitions drawing on one another in every good way and praying unto God in their courses together in the evening for a blessing upon their desires and labours which they ordinarily performed in the Kitchen more privately after prayer in the Parlour with the whole family So that by this meanes the Master governing religiously His family a religious nursury and the servants obeying conscionably his family became a common nursury for the Churches of God in the whole countrey For 1. Such of his servants as were inclineable unto marriage hee provided well for them and sent them out being married in the feare of God to raise and establish the worship of God in their owne houses And such as were single persons By disposing as he had any mind to spare them and to part with them he either bestowed them in other families or suffered them to plant themselves in such houses where they might mutually both joyne and joy together in Gods service to the spreading abroad of Religion and farther inlarging of the kingdome of Christ Jesus Or dispersing his servants And then he made supply againe by taking out of the countrey such of their sonnes and daughters as were fittest for his planting or watering in that part of the Lords Vineyard or for sowing or setting in the Lords field CHAP. XXI THus farre we have heard in what manner hee governed His course in Family duties towards God and ordered his family in their severall places for the better discharge of their duties amongst themselves Now we are farther to observe his course and carriage in those exercises and religious duties which he daily and duely performed morning and evening with his family in the worship of God for their mutuall comfort and for Gods praise and glory This Gentleman knew right well that family exercises were the very goads and spurs unto godlinesse the life and sinnews of grace and religion The necessity and excellency of family duties Example in Abrah Gen. 18.19 in Cornelius Act. 10.2 in Lors Eun. 2 Tim. 1.5 the bonds and cords of love drawing or leading to perfection Like the coales taken from the Altar whereby both iniquity is purged and mens hearts are inflamed with holy and heavenly affections towards God and good things Like the planting and watering of the Lords Vineyard whereby every branch is made more fruitfull Like the private training of Christian Souldiers that they may be fit and more fit for publike service Like the nursing or nurturing of the children or heires of great families where some are fed with milke and some with stronger meat all with wholesome food untill they bee brought on to their Fathers house to bee farther refreshed and feasted at his Table Of the souldiers Harnesse Lastly hee knew well that Family exercises in religious duties were like the putting on and buckling unto us the whole armour of God that so being furnished with all offensive and defensive weapons we may stand fast in the evill day and goe through the duties of every day also with more ease and comfort His preparation in 4. things 1 In his vigilancy And upon these and such like serious considerations he exercised himselfe and his family unto godlinesse after this manner First for preparation and secondly for execution For preparation It was his ordinary course to rise very early in the morning before the rest of his family betwixt three and foure of the clock in Summer and at or before five in the Winter so that by this his vigilancy and industry hee gained the liberty and opportunity most commonly of an houre or two before he rung the bell to awaken the rest of his family which time he bestowed most graciously first in private prayer for himselfe 2 In his private prayer and for every soule in his family making mention of some more particularly by name as their occasions or afflictions might move him thereunto and giving thankes to God therewithall for such mercies and comforts as both hee and they had received that night past and formerly also from his hand Secondly 3 Meditation in meditation upon some part of Gods Word and works wherewith he did season his mind and refresh his heart endevouring so to set the Watch aright in the morning that the clock might go the better all the day after 4 Industry in writing Thindly hee did as hee had occasion usually write out faire some part of such Sermons as hee had by a running hand taken from the mouth of the Preacher for renewing and increasing of the benefit and comfort which hee had reaped and received by the same Thus did he watch over his family when they were at rest themselves and commend them unto God by his prayers before they could open their lips to speake unto him by their owne words Thus did he awake with God in the morning that he might the better awake unto righteousnesse and walke before God in holinesse and uprightnesse all the day after even untill the evening CHAP. XXII 2. Hisexecution and performance of his family exercise THis he did by way of Preparation Now for execution in the performance of his family exercises he did discharge himselfe after this manner After they were come together upon the ringing of the bell they did all very reverently frame and compose themselves to stand in Gods presence and then he himselfe lifting up his heart with his hands unto God in the heavens First a little short prayer began his morning exercise after this manner Blessed Lord God and our most mercifull father in Christ Jesus we
thy poore children do humbly beseech thee graciously to assist us by thy holy Spirit in this our morning exercise that we may faithfully perform the same to thy praise and our comfort and that for Christ his sake our onely Saviour and Redeemer Amen This set forme of his short prayer before his Morning and evening exercise In a set forme I doe the more willingly set downe that they may see how farre they were deceived and what wrong they did him who held him to bee an utter adversary to all set formes of prayer who might also have received their answer and beene evidently refuted to their faces if they had but observed his ordinary practice every Lords day in the publike assembly where he did reverently accommodate himself to the publike prayers of the Church and religiously joyne together with Minister and people in the celebration of Gods service Certainly hee was not ignorant A set form of prayer justified that when our Saviour Christ taught his Disciples to pray hee gave them liberty to call upon the name of God their Father even in that set forme of prayer which he prescribed and in the same words when you pray say Our Father c. And yet for all that he knew well enough that he gave the Spirit of prayer also unto them and unto all believers children of the same Father that they might enlarge themselves according to those grounds and frame all their sutes after that forme and therefore hee gave this direction unto them After this manner pray ye By our Saviours institution of the Lords prayer and By his owne practice Mat. 26.44 Our Father c. yea Christ hath left us his owne blessed example for the warrant of both when in his Agonyhe praied three times using as the text saith the same words and when after his farewell sermon to his Disciples hee prayed for himselfe his Disciples and all true believers unto the worlds end in great variety of words and for many gifts and graces in particular which yet are not all mentioned but are all for substance contained in that patterne of true prayer None precisely bound to the letter of the Lords prayer but to the matter al. Peter Martyr hath made a collection of holy prayers out of Davids Psalmes and M. Perkins hath gathered together S. Paubs prayers out of his Epistles in both which there is great variety both of matter and words much exceeding the letter of the Lords prayer yet is there no Petition or thanksgiving in either of them which may not fitly be reduced to some parts and heads of the Lords Prayer For my part I shall never blame him that seeketh to help his understanding memory Set prayer a help and affection by such meanes if he bring new affections to renewed petitions and set his heart a worke to seeke more seriously for the best things such as the godly labours of good men have in print set before him But if any man will rest in his booke prayers and never strive to speake unto God out of his owne heart by his owne Spirit which teacheth every true child of God to cry Abba Father Heart prayer best of all Rom. 8. and helpeth our infirmities that wee may stand before him as his children Such a man in my opinion comes farre short of the power and practice comfort and fruit of true prayer and is not much unlike to an impotent and weake man that being lame of his limbes and having meanes of helpe and recovery tendred unto him had yet still rather use a paire of crutches borrowed of his neighbour to goe withall as he can than betake himselfe to his owne legges and feet to walke in his way which the Lord hath appointed for him as he might and ought to doe CHAP. XXIII AFter this short prayer because wee are all commanded to sing Psalmes unto God 2 His singing of Psalmes to testifie our rejoycing in him to instruct our selves in his mercies and judgements words and works and to make melody in our hearts before him as also to quicken our soules to praise and thanksgiving hee therefore did usually call the whole family to sing some of the Psalmes such as hee named unto them with grace in their hearts unto the Lord which they ordinarily performed with such melodious and sweet voices and affections himselfe beginning the tune and the rest in a sweet accord and harmony joyning with him as if they had desired to sing Davids Psalmes His delight in singing of Psalms not onely with Davids Harpe but even with Davids heart also With this exercise of singing of Psalmes hee was much delighted and oftentimes so ravished in his spirit with holy and heavenly joy in singing and sounding forth Gods praises that his heart would even spring and leape in his body as John Baptist did for the joy of Christ in his mothers belly Hieron in Epitaphio Fabiolae yea he was so much affected with the praising of God in this kinde that hee tooke the word Halelu-jah which is the title of nine Psalmes and the song of the Quire of Angles for his Poesie and usually writ it in the first leafe of all his bookes with his owne hand to provoke and draw on others into the fellowship of Gods praises with him and to set it forth as an impresse or character of his chiefe desire and delight Amalaris de officio mâ—ssâ—c 13. to have the praises of the Lord in his heart or in his mouth in his care or in his eye continually When the Psalm was ended 3 His reading of the Scriptures he read a Chapter himselfe out of the Bible keeping an orderly and constant course in his reading to make his family better acquainted with the order and matter of the Scriptures and to season their hearts with some portion of Gods Word in the morning as a preservative against all unfavoury thoughts noysome lusts rotten speeches and ungodly workes all the day after This hee knew was Gods holy Ordinance from which neither Kings in peace nor Commanders in warre were exempted wherewith all Governours of families are expresly charged Deut. 6.6 7 8. Deut. 17.18 19. Ios 1.7.8 Deut. â—1 18 19 20 2 Tim. 3.14 15. Ioh. 5.39 wherein both elder and yonger have beene exercised and whereunto all sorts are by our blessed Saviour exhorted Search the Scriptures c. And this hee duly performed with such reverence and conscience as might to his power best become the solemnity of the action which they had in hand and the majestie of his presence before whom they stood Now because he knew that all planting and watering was in vain unlesse God himself gave the blessing of increase and that the Prayer of faith availeth much for that end if it bee fervent hee therefore with all his family bowing the knees of their hearts as well as the knees of their bodies before the throne of grace did in
and hardnes of the other I thinke no man may justly put them far asunder if he ever knew how well they did herein agree together Tuis oculis durities de genibus camelorum in illo Sancto Asellae corpuseulo prae orandi frequentia obcalluisse perspecta est Hieron ad Marcellum de laudibus Asellae The matter of his private prayers Now in these his private devotions his desires and endeavours were principally bent to search his heart and to examine his life to confesse and bewayle his speciall sins and infirmities craving pardon for them and power against them And as he found any thing to bee amisse in his Family by any transgression or affliction hee brought it in prayer before the Lord to procure some help and healing of the same from his hand Here also did he mourne for the sins of Sion Sins of Sion Ezek. 9.4 and take to heart the afflictions of Ioseph and desolations of Ierusalem Here did he bemone and bewayle the common and grosse sins of the Time Sins of the Time Psa 119.136 and afflict his heart for the barrennesse or backsliding of many professors of Religion for their embracing of the world and forsaking of their first love Praise and Thanksgiving Here did he also rejoyce in the Lord and praise his holy Name for earthly and heavenly blessings bestowed upon him and sometimes for great deliverances which hee had wrought for him And thus did he converse with his God in this third Duty of Prayer and Prayse in the Invocation of Gods Name every day CHAP. XLIX NOw followeth the fourth which was his holy Imitation of his heavenly Father every day And this hee endevoured by conforming himselfe unto his Image in expressing the Properties Vertues Affections and Actions of him that had begot him and called him to be conformable to the Image of his Son Christ Iesus To this end hee dayly laboured to be more and more renewed in the spirit of his mind in knowledge righteousnesse Eph 4.24 Col. 3.10 and holinesse of Truth according to the Image of him that created him And this hee knew was the Duty of all Gods obedient Children to bee holy as hee is Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1.14 15 16. Lev. 11. 44. because it is written Bee yee Holy for I am Holy This hee knew also was charged upon us Mat. 5.45 46 by our Saviour Christ Iesus that in all our Affections and Actions we should behave our selves like the children of our Heavenly Father and labour to resemble him in doing good unto all hurt unto none Amicos diligere omnium est inimicos autem solorum Christianorum Tertull lib. ad Scapull Cap. 2. yea in doing good unto the bad as as well as to the good and to our enemies as well as to our friends Mat. 5.48 Luke 6.36 Rom. 2.4 striving to be perfect as he is perfect mercifull as hee is mercifull righteous as hee is righteous wise as he is wise patient as he is patient faithfull as he is faithfull and endeavouring to hate iniquity which he hateth to love righteousnesse which he loveth to delight in the Saints in whom he delighteth and to hate the wicked Psalm 5 5 Heb. 1.9 2 Cor. 3. last whom his soule abhorreth After this manner did this gratious Gentle set the Lord alwayes before his eyes and following this blessed patterne and example of his Heavenly Father with all godly care and good Conscience and so with open face as in a Glasse the glory of the Lord he was translated into his Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. And thus have we declared unto you the first of those three generall heads proposed for the further opening and manifesting of the vertues of his life viz. his holy conversing with God which consisted in his Meditation Observation of Gods Mercies and Iudgements Invocation of his Name in Prayer and Praise and Imitation of his blessed example in his Properties and Affections Words and Works CHAP. L. NOw we come to the second which is his conversation in the world 2 His conversation in the world Cic. Tusc Quaest. lib. 5. in fol. p. 166. When Socrates was demanded what countreyman he was he answered that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a citizen of the world and so he might well knowing no other world but this present evill world But this Gentleman although by his naturall birth and condition of the same city and society with Socrates yet by his new birth and regeneration being called out of the world Ioh. 15.19 1 Ioh. 5.4 and having by his faith overcome the world though he were in the world yet was he not of the world and though he were amongst the children of the world a froward and a crooked generation Luk. 16.8 Eph. 2.19 yet was he even then a citizen of the holy city and of the houshold of God and a sonne of the heavenly Ierusalem which is the mother of us all And so being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he had his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 2.19 .i. his conversation in heaven even while he was in earth Phil. 3.20 So that of all that ever we knew in these parts he might have taken up the words of the Apostle with best warrant and most comfort Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world For such indeed was the course of his life that he did desire nothing more than to walk worthy God 1 Thes 2.10 11 12. endeavouring to expresse the very power of godlinesse in the fruits of righteousnesse and holinesse to the praise of his glorious grace Phil. 1.9 10 11. Phil. 2.15 16. And that he might so hold forth the word of life in his lampe and lanterne that he might both shine as a light in himselfe and be a light unto others also in this present world Now for the better clearing and manifesting of this point we will set downe certaine rules of direction which he much desired to follow partly as preparatives for a godly conversation in the world and partly as preservatives against the contagion and corruptions of the same 1 As first Resolution against the world God presence A holy resolution so to use the world as neither abusing it nor being abused by it but to keep himselfe unspotted from it 2 The second A full purpose of heart to keepe his heart alwayes in Gods presence knowing and beleeving that he heareth all his words and beholdeth all his works 3 The third Striving against sin A constant and conscionable standing and striving against all manner of sinne especially the sinnes of the time and the common corruptions that are in the world through lust 4 The fourth Desire to doe good A godly desire in
so much against him Si vult Regina me exulem agat in exilium Domini est terra plenitudo ejust si vult secare secet Chrys Ep. Cyriace Epise Tom. 5. idem passus est Isairs si vult in pelagus mittere Ionoe recordabor c. If the Queene will have me banished let her banish me the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof If she will cut me in peeces let her doe so The Prophet Isaiah suffered the same death If she will cast me into the sea I will then remember Jonah if she will throw me into a burning fornace the three children suffered as much before me Such like courage and resolution had this Gentleman against his naturall afflictions as Chrysostome had against violent persecution So that now he was able with valiant David to goe forth in the name of the Lord even against Goliah of the Philistims And grew resolute with Paul not to reckon his life deare unto him whatsoever afflictions might befall him so that he might fulfill his course with joy Act. 20.24 Ro. 8.18 Accounting all the afflictions of this world to be unworthy of the glory that shall be revealed and never fainting for any sorrow because although the outward man did perish and decay yet was his inward man renewed daily 2 Cor. 4.16.17 and all the afflictions of this life were but light and momentany to him that had an eye to the eternall vveight of glory laid up in heaven for him CHAP. LXI IT was observed by many of his friends His graces much increased in his old age both at home and abroad that in his declining dayes when he faw he was drawing on towards his journeyes end his faith was exceedingly increased his hope and rejoycing in God much enlarged his love and zeale wonderfully inflamed his affections towards God and the godly Theodosius senior aetate sed valìdius fide Amb. de Obit Theod. more holy and heavenly and his motions towards heaven more quicke and lively Much like the Elements and other such naturall bodies which the nearer they draw to their proper places are ever more violent and speedy in their motions till they come unto them So was it with this Gentleman for his spirituall estate the nearer he drew to wards his proper place his mansion house 2 Cor. 5. 1 Ioh 14. 2. Phil 3.13 Act. 20.24 Heb. 12.1 prepared for him in the heavens the more eager his desires were and his motions more vehement to dispatch his journey with all good speed to finish his course with joy and to runne out the race with patience vvhich vvas set before him Those that hee planted in the house of the Lord Psal 92.14.15 shall flourish in the courts of our God They shall bring forth fruit in old age and they shall bee fat and flourishing His laft dayes his best days Their last dayes shall bee their best dayes and their last vvorkes their best vvorkes and their fruit shall bee more and better at the last than at the first Isay 61.3 Such a tree of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord vvas this godly Gentleman whose fruit did not faile whose leafe did not fade no not in the winter of his age Psal 1. Ier. 17.8 Psa 92.13 14. Phil. 3.13 but did ever flourish in the courts of our God He was of Saint Pauls resolution forgetting those things which were behinde and reaching forth unto those things which are before he pressed towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus His Resolution and courage against all assaults And casting out as it were his gantlet of defiance against all the most sharpe and dangerous assaults that might encounter him and be made against him he challengeth them all as Paul did Who shall separate me from the love of Christ Shall tribulation on distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword Shall sicknesse or sorrowes feares or terrors pains or aches fores or swellings miseries of life or pangs of death so prevaile against me Nay in all these things I shall be more than a conquerour through him that loveth me And so from Pauls resolution he grew unto Pauls perswasion J am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. His hope and expectation Phil. 1.20 21. And from this perswasion to an earnest hope and expectation That in nothing hee should bee ashamed but that with all boldnesse as alwayes so now also Christ should bee magnified in his body whether it bee by life or by death For to him to live was Christ and to die was gaine Being now thus setled and resolved in patience and confidence to beare all afflictions and indure all grievances which might be either as fore-runners or attendants on his departure and dissolution It seemed good unto the Lord to visit him with sicknesse and that after this manner as his faithfull yoke-fellow hath reported and fent me in writing from her owne hand Her words be these CHAP. LXII His first sicknesse and visitation I Call to mind some words which he spake unto me alone at that time when it pleased the Lord to visit him which was upon the day after the Sabbath That morning he arose exceeding early and having beene in private prayer with God as his usuall manner was he performed afterwards this duty in the whole family This being done he went as he was accustomed into his Studie untill dinner time And having dined he went into his Study again And then it pleased God about an houre or two after to visit him as it were with an Ague after the manner of a shaking and so withdrawing himselfe thence into his little parlour he laid him down upon his bed Then said I unto him Sir I feare your early rising hath done you hurt Then he replied If you had seene wife such glorious things as I saw this morning being in private prayer with God â—ide Posâ—d de vita Aug. c. 27. you would not have said so For they were so wonderfull and unspeakable that whether I was in the body or out of the body with Paul I cannot tell Thus it hath pleased the Lord least I should be too much exalted by this glorious sight to give mee with Paul a buffet in the flesh All which things he spake with exceeding great joy unto me Non probo quod â—esero vix fas est credere visis Saepe Satan tali in lumine lucc nocet The like report of the like ravishing in spirit and such glorious sights which he saw not long before he himselfe made unto some of his friends after he had beene one day in private prayer with God in his grove The particulars
the Spirit did make his consolations to abound for increase of his joy and peace in Christ Jesus About the fifteenth of Ianuary his strength was much abated and his weaknesse increated by reason of a sore stopping in his breast and throate which did so trouble him that hee could take no food nor refreshing no not so much as a Spoone-full of any Syrup or broth or any other liquid thing but he was ready to faint and to be gone upon it It was much about this time Sir H. B. came to visit him that a worthy Knight his neare and deare Cosen came to see him one whom hee loved most intirely for his faithfulnesse in his place zeale unto Gods house and love unto Gods people Who when hee saw him in so great weaknesse could not refraine from teares but wept over him abundantly which when hee was aware of hee began to speake comfortably unto him saying Good Sir weepe not for mee for there is no cause of weeping His gracious words and exhortations unto him but of much rejoycing in my behalfe Turne your teares into prayers and let mee enjoy that fruit of your love Let them weepe that have no other hope but in this life only Let them weep that have no portion in the Lord nor any part in Christ Iesus But as for you and me let us in every estate and condition while we live together rejoyce in the Lord together You are in your way I am at my journeys end walke on still as you have well both begune Iosh 1.7 8 Heb. 13. and continued a long season And the Lord will bee with you hee will never sayle you nor forsake you And with many other words did hee exhort him and others that were with him to be Faithfull in keeping Covenant with God to continue in the grace of God whereunto they were cald in Christ Iesus His son and heire came unto him Vpon Monday being the 16 of Ian. his son and heire came unto him whom he rejoyced to see unto whom hee gave many wholsome instructions and gracious exhortations praying for him and blessing his children encouraging him to be constant in Religion and commending unto him the excellency His good counsel unto him and reward of the same Exhorting him also to uphold the worship and service of God both in the Assembly and in his Family When Theoà osius that good Emperour was dead and gone Ambâ—in Funere Theod Saint Ambrose at his Funerall went about to comfort himselfe and the people that they had not wholly lost him because hee did yet live in his good and godly sons Arcadius and Honorius whom as a part of himselfe hee had left behind him It was the godly desire wee may see of this gracious Gentleman His desire to have his heires to follow his steps that when hee should bee dead and gone he might yet live in his children especially in the heires of his body and Family that they might bee followers of his Faith and Religion both for the power and practise of it as well as Inheritors of his lands and possessions for the fruits and profits of the same This was their Fathers charge That being dead he might as it were live in them again the discharge whereof would bee their comfort and their crowne if the Lord give them grace thus to fulfill the desire of the dead and the joy of the living For so this gracious Gentleman should still live in his Posterity and Religion should neither dye nor decay in that Family And that Religion might never dye nor decay in that Family Liquefacta hac nive multum erit luti Soc lib. 3. c. 19. where it was maintained not only in life and strength but in beauty and glory full of all good fruits as we have heard already and free from all rootes of bitternesse and from all soure grapes of grosse Sins springing and arising from such roots CHAP. LXVII M.L. and my selfe came to visit him Ian. 16.1625 UPon the same day Ianuary 16. Master L. and my selfe came unto him And here what shall I say Recrudescit doloris vulnus My sorrow bleeds afresh I can now rather weepe than write mine eyes drop downe teares as my pen doth words and my writing rejoyceth as it were to mingle it selfe with my weeping to blurre and blot my paper that no more be said of these things Curae loquuntur leves Senec. ingentes stupent But I will indeavour to refraine and containe my selfe Juvat tanli viriobituÌ„ destendo scribere scribendo deflere Linthprand l. 1. cap. uâ—to and tell you as I can some few things of many which I saw and heard from him at that instant Vpon my comming unto him so soone as he saw me hee seemed to bee much cheered and comforted even in his very soule and so spake in such broken and short speeches as then he could to this effect unto me Oh brother H. you are a welcome man unto me I am here you see the Lords prisoner His patient waiting for release cast upon the bed of my sicknes and in great affliction yet waiting upon the mercies of my God for a comfortable release in due season And when he was asked of the estate of his faith and hope in Christ and whether his consolations did not abound in the middest of all his afflictions His con solations still abound Yes I thank God saith he they doe and farre doe exceed them Yea and that which is more remarkable the Lord of his mercy hath given me so strong evidence of his favour and love in Christ Without all trouble of mind or conscience that I am not troubled in mind nor conscience with any doubts or feares nor aâ—… other Satanicall molestations or tentations but rest and wait in patience for the accomplishing of his mercies upon mee according to his good pleasure towards me Hereupon We rejoyced in his joy although we were sorrowfull in his sorrow yet were we joyfull also in his joy and finding him so graciously setled and resolved concerning his peace and reconciliation with God in Christ and touching his assurance of his heavenly inheritance we resolved not to trouble him much with many words in his great weaknesse but demanded of him whether hee would not have us to commend him unto God in our prayers At which motion hee seemed to rejoyce in his spirit and answered yes he would and did much desire it Prayed with him and for him Egredere anima quid times Egredere anima quid dubitas septuaginta propè annis servisti Christo mortem times In haec verba exhalavit spiritum Hieron in vita Hilaâ—ionis And so he raised up himselfe in his bed and lifting up his heart with his hands to God in the heavens did as it were reach after the petitions that were put up to God for him and joyning in heart and spirit with