Sir your head doth not lye right he answered It will lye right in my Coffin July the 25 at one a clock in the morning Death began to seize on his left foot from which the spirits retiring he felt the deadness of that part and a very sharp pain in the part of the leg adjoyning to it Hereupon he called for his Son and told him He feared that he should have a difficult death He then commanded two Surgeons to be sent for to look upon his leg whom he required to tell him whether or no his Foot were any whit discoloured It seems he had conceived some fear of a Gangrene but being satisfied by them that there could not be any ground for such an apprehension he rested with patience In the evening of that day being visited by Mr. Santhil and lying in great anguish by reason of the violence of his heat he prayed for pity and patience support here and a comfortable issue July 26. Early in the morning being full of pain gasping and panting he cryed out How long Lord How long Come speedily But though Death had made an encroachment upon his outward perishing part yet his inward man felt no decay For with a full use of reason he that morning ordered the continuance of a weekly relief to certain poor persons as also ofâ—some small monethly Pensions to some widows for a season He also caused his Physitian to be consulted with about taking something that might procure rest and was erected to a more cheerful disposition He also enquired after News and dicoursed freely yet confessed himself to be in pain About three a clock that afternoon feeling some great change after the putting forth of Nature he called his Sister Son and Daughter to receive his last charge and when they were come he thus spake unto them My heart fails and my strength fails but God is my Fortress and the strong Rock of my salvation Into thy hands therefore I commend my soul for thou hast redeemed me O God of truth Then turning his discourse to his Son he said Son you have a great charge look to it Instruct your wife and family in the fear of God and discharge your Ministry conscientiously To his Sister a Gentlewoman two years elder than himself he said Sister I thought you might have gone before me but God calls for me first I hope we shall meet in Heaven I pray God to bless you His Daughter he admonished to minde the worldless and God more for that all things without Piety and the true fear of God are nothing worth He advised also that his Son Draper being a man of means should entertain some godly Minister into his house to teach his children and instruct his family He exhorted them all to love and concord which he said he hoped the rather because he had cleerly settled his estate so as to prevent differences He inlarged himself in each of these a little wishing them all to lay to heart the words of a dying man After this he desired that all should withdraw and leave him to his rest which he hoped was at hand But all his conflicts were not yet accomplished July the 27 His voice began to be less intelligible the putrid preternatural heat having furred up his mouth as is usual in Feavors yet both his understanding and senses were very quick and active About six of the clock in the evening he called for his Son to recommend his soul unto God by prayer and endeavoured to express what he desired but could not do it so clearly as to be well understood yet by his gestures he gave assurance that he understood perfectly and concurred fervently with the devotions used on his behalf Within an hour after Nature being quite spent he gave up the ghost and was translated into that Rest which he so often and earnestly had desired to finde in another World because he could obtain none in this Thus after forty three years inspection of this pious and diligent Pastor of Redrith he left his Flock returning to the great and chief Shepherd of our souls from his gracious hands to receive an incorruptible Crown of glory having almost compleated fourscore years For his Person the express whereof though he was often importuned by dear Friends he would never allow to be taken either by pencel or sculpture He was of a middle stature of a thin body and of a lively countenance of a fresh complexion that looked young when he came to preach at â—incolns Inne and yet was grey betimes which made him to be thought elder than he was because he had long appeared ancient in the eyes of the world of a choicely temperate diet of a free and cheerful conversation addicted much to study yet not secluding himself from fit company He was of a quick apprehension sharp reason solid judgement vast memory which through Gods mercy continued fresh to the last of his dayes He was Helluo librorum one that did not vainly encrease his Liberary for ostentation but chose books for use which also he made of them so happily that he had conquered a strong portion of learning which he made to serve him upon all occasions He was not so great a treasurer as a free dispenser of those riches of the minde which he did communicate readily expeditely and cleerly He was an ornament to the University and of that Society designed for the study of the Law a Light of the Church the salt of the place where he abode a loving Husband a discreet Parent a faithful Friend a kinde Neighbour a courteous entertainer of strangers a candid encourager of Students a stout Champion for the Truth yet a lover of peace preserving the unity of Charity even where there was difference of judgement an Adversary to novel fancies as well as to antiquated superstitons in Religion of a Christian Magnanimity in despising the world and therefore resolute through bad report as well as good to maintain a clear conscience In brief he was a faithful Shepherd and a fit mirrour for Pastors as well as an exact patern for people who having almost compleated eighty years departed full of 〈◊〉 but being dead yet speaks in his living Monuments of sound Learning His Printed Works are these Of the Nature and use of Lots in 4o. A Just Defence of the same against Mr. Jo. Balmford in 4o. Tho. Gatakeri Londinatis Antithesis partim Guilielmi Amesii partim Gisberti voetii de sorte Thesibus reposita in 4o. A Discourse of Transubstantiation with a Defence thereof in 4o. Davids Instructer The Christian mans care The Spiritual Watch. The gain of Godliness with Self-sufficiency The Just mans joy with signs of Sincerity Jacobs Thankfulness Davids Remembrancer Noahs Obedience A Memorial of Englands Deliverance in 88. Sorrow for Sion Gods Parley with Princes with an appeal from them to him Eleazers Prayer being a Marriage Sermon A good Wife Gods gift A Wife indeed Marriage
conscience pure and intire he gave up that which was intended as a baite to Apostacy But the Lord who hâ—â—h promised to his faithful followers reparation and satisfaction for all their losses for his sake raised him up Friends by whose assistance and encouragement he pursued his studies at Oxford and in process of time when not onely the clouds of ignorance and superstition were dispelled but also those bloody storms in the Marian dayes were blown over he took upon him the publick Ministry of the Gospel and was houshold Chaplain to that great Favourite Robert Earle of Lecester and afterwards Pastor of St. Edmunds in Lumberd street London In which Parsonage house by his wife who was of an honest Family of the Pigots in Hertfortshire amongst other children he had this Thomas who was born September the 4. Anno Christi 1574. In his Childe-hood he was so addicted to those means which his Parents applied him unto for the implanting in him the seeds of good Literature that he rather needed a bridle than a spur For his love of learning equal to that admirable capacity wherewith the Father of Lights had furnished him was so active in the acquiring of it that his Father was fain often gently to chide him from his book Neither were his nimble wit sharp judgement and vast memory perverted to be the instruments of that debauchery wherewith the corruption of our Nature doth too often stain and desloure our first dayes For he had a lovely gravity in his young coversation so that what Gregory Nazianzen said of the great Basil might be averred of him That he held forth Learning beyond his age and a fixedness of manners beyond his Learning Having happily finished his Tyrocinnia of first exercises in the Grammar-Schooles wherein he overcame by his strange industry the difficulties which thâ—se times destâ—tute of many helps which our present dayes do enjoy conflicted withall and outstripped many of his fellows which ran in the same course before he had compleated sixteen years viz. Anno Christi 1590 he was by his Father placed in St. Johns College in Cambridge Not long after his settlement there his Father being called by God to receive the reward of his labours left him not wholly destitute and yet not sufficiently provided for any long continuance of his studies in that place But God who hath engaged his truth and mercy to the upright and even to his seed also Ps. 112. 1 2. especially when the Son doth not degenerate nor thwart the Providence of God by a forfeiture of his title to the Promises provided friends and means for him who was by an hidden counsel then designed to be an instrument of doing much service to the Church of Christ. Thus the fruit was not nipped in a promising bud by the Frost of want Now not from meer favour but from merit upon the proof of his Learning he was 〈◊〉 chosen Scholler of that worthy Society wherein he continued his studies with unwearied diligence and happy success till he with abilities answerable to his Degree commenced Master of Arts. For an instance of his industry take this viz. That he was a constant Auditor of that eminent Light of Learning Mr. John Boys who read a Greek Lecture in his bed to certain young Students that preferred their nightly studies before their rest and ease The notes of those Lectures he kept as a treasure and being visited by Mr. Boys many years after he brought them forth to him to the no small joy of the good old man who professed that he was made some years younger by that grateful entertainment About this time was contracted that streight friendship betwixt our Mr. Gataker and that faithful servant of Jesus Christ. Mr. Richard Stock which continued to the death of this Reverend Minister as appears by Mr. Gatakers testimony given unto him at his Funeral An evidence of that good esteem which Mr. Gataker had now acquired for his Learning and Piety was this That a College being then to be erected by the Munificence of the Countess of Sussex the Trustees of that Foundress being persons eminent for Prudence and Zeal did choose him for one of that Society and they transplanted him into that new Nursery of Arts and Religion being confident that he would as indeed he did by Christs assistance prove very fruitful both for the ornament and benefit of that Seminary Indeed they laid hold of him before the house was fit for Inhabitants fearing lest so fair and promising a Flower should be taken up by some other hand But while the College was in building that he might not lose any opportunity of doing good he retired himself to the house of Mr. William Aylofes in Essex who had prevailed with him to instruct both himself in the Hebrew Language and his eldest Son in that Literature which was proper to his age In this Family partly by his own inclination and partly by the encouragement of the Governours thereof he performed Family Duties for the instruction and edification of the whole houshold expounding to them a portion of Scripture every morning that the Sun of Righteousness might as constantly arise in their hearts as the day brake in upon them In this Exercise whereby he laboured to profit both himself and others he went over the Epistles of the Apostles the Prophesie of Isaiah and a good part of the Book of Job rendring the Text out of the Original Languages and then delivering cleer Explications and also deducing usefull Observations Dr. Stern the Suffragan of Colchester on a time visiting the Mistress of the Family to whom he was nearly related happened to be present at one of these Exercises at which time Mr. Gataker explicated the first Chapter of St. Pauls Epistle to the Ephesians which is known to be most pregnant of Divine My steries But this portion of holy Writ he treated upon with such happy elucidations that the judicious Doctor was much satisfied with his pains therein and admiring the endowments of Mr. Gataker exhorted him instantly to be Ordained to the work of the Ministry whereby those his gifts might be authoritatively exercised for the publick good and improved for the building up of the Church and withall offered him his assistance in that business But Mr. Gataker well weighing the burden of that Calling and judging modestly of his own abilities which he conceived disproportionable for that Office to the full discharge whereof the Apostle hath set 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who is sufficient thanked the Doctor for his kinde offer but deferred the matter to further consideration But afterwards by the advice of the Reverend Mr. Henry Alvey formerly his Tutor and whom in this business he now took for his counsellour upon his remonstrance of divers reasons and the importunity of Dr. Stern afresh re-iterated he assented to be Ordained by the said Suffragan The Fabrick of Sidney-Sussex College being now finished
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
been made happy in the enjoyment of two such Husbands as few women in our times have attained to Whilst he was labouring as aforesaid in the work of the Lord for more publick service he was chosen by the Parliament for one of that County to attend and assist in the Assembly of Divines called together by their Authority at Westminster where being of very good use he was often ordered by the Parliament to preach before them at their publick Fasts and upon other their more solemn occasions He was also chosen by them to be one of their Morning week-dayes Preachers in the Abbey at Westminster besides his constant Sabbath-dayes labours in another great Congregation St. Martins in the Fields where he was a blessing to many thousands From thence he was ordered to be Master of Emanuel Colledge in the University of Cambridge which being not a sphere large enough for his activity he was after a while removed to the Mastership of Trinity Colledge where what great good he did many that lived under him can give an ample Testimony and that happy change proclaimed from that confusion by reason of those distracted times in which he found it to that orderly composure and frame in which through Gods blessing he left it How sollicitous he was for their best welfare his frequent preaching in their Chappel to them all and his writing to their Seniors speaks out fully and many can bear witness how humble and loving he was to them in his carriage how studious to keep up College-Exercises how zealous to advance Piety and Learning and for that purpose to countenance and prefer such as he observed to be eminent in either As he was a University-man he was zealously carefull 1. Of its Honour which the Parliament can witness in an unkindly contest about it and also his care in collecting the decayed Antiquities of that University whose pains in that Argument it is pity but that they were communicated to the world 2. Of its Priviledges as alwayes so especially in those two years together in which he was Vice-Chancellor for which he suffered in some mens reputes unjustly 3. Of its Profit and Emolument being a special means of procuring to it from the Parliament the Lambeth Library which of right as it was judged fell to that University as also from a worthy Knight Sir John Wollaston Alderman of the City of London a yearly stipend for a Mathematick Lecturer and also large summes of money for the fitting of the Publick Library that it might be of general use for the accomplishment whereof the University is more wayes than one his Debtor 4. Lastly Of the general good and well-ordering of it Surely it was his careful thought in private with himself as appeared by his making it the subject of his discourse with others scarce was there a time wherein he met with his intimate and judicious friends but he would be asking or proposing something that way By this it appeared that his care was to keep up those Universities which some in those times would have ruined upon which occasion Gâ—â—tius pronounceth many Christians to be worse than the Philistines for they 1 Sam. 10. 5. would let the company of Prophets alone even where they kept a Garrison As he was a Divine he was sound in the Faith orthodox in his judgement firmly adhering to the good old Doctrine of the Church of England even that which in that University was taught and maintained by famous Whitaker Perkins Daunant Ward and many others in their times and in the other University amongst other great Names there he was a great admirer of the Right Reverend and Judicious Dr. Robert Abbot Bishop of Salisbury and well were it if there he had many more such Admirers The Doctrines of Gods Sovereignty in his Decrees Of his In-conditionate Free-electing-love Of his Free-grace against Free-will and the power of Nature in Spirituals Of justification by the imputed Righteousness of Christ against the perfection of inherent Righteousness now attainable by us in this life Of perseverance in Grace against the Apostacy of the Saints and the like were not with this pious and learned man as they are now called by some Sects and Notions matters onely of learning and curiosity and of the Presbyterian Faction But of the life-blood of Faith which at his death as he expressed to a Friend of his he had singular comfort from and in his life firmly beleeved constantly preached and by his Pen endeavoured to maintain and defend and that against the great daring Champion of the contrary errors whom the abusive wits in the University with 〈◊〉 impudent boldness could say none there durst adventure upon whose immodest scurrility his learned ananswer to that daring adversary which he had made so fair a progress in had shortly consuted had not he by his more sudden death been therein prevented As a Minister of the Gospel In his preaching he was plain powerful spiritual frequent and laborious For besides what in that kinde he did as to the University in St. Maries and in the Colledge Chappel which was very happy in his often pains there In the Town he set up one Lecture every Sabbath morning in the Parish Church of St. Michael performed only by himself and cheerfully frequented by a great confluence both of Schollars and Townsmen and another in the Church of All-Hallows every Lords day in the afternoon in which he did bear at least the fourth part of the burden and both of them Gratis as there were many more such Lectures there performed much about the same rate weekly by other pious learned men and more indeed than are in any Town or City upon those tearms in all England or are like to be there again which is mentioned that God may have the glory in the first place and then for the honour of that Reformation which so many do traduce and spit at as also of those more noble spirited Preachers who so freely offered unto God that which did cost them so much for which of men they received nothing But that place of Cambridge did not bound the course of this our laborious Preachers Ministry but as it is said of our Saviour Matth. 9. 35. That he went about all Cities and Villages teaching and preaching and of St. Paul Rom. 15. 17. That from Jerusalem and round about and that to Illyricum which was in right line three hundred and thirty German miles as Pareus upon the place computes it he did fully preach the Gospel imitating herein as Jerom observes his Lord and Master that Sun of Righteousness whose going forth is from the ends of the Heaven and his circuit unto the ends of it Psa. 19. 6. In these their blessed steps our Brother trod and followed them in his painful Ministry diligently preaching when he had occasion to be abroad in remoter parts but especially in many Towns and Villages nearer hand round about the
he handsomely fish out the business from the Bishop wherefore he went another way to work and indeed the surest way by seeking counsel from God communicating the matter to Dean Hill a very godly man whom he requested that with some others they would seek unto God for his assistance for he believed that something was in brewing that he might not know of Herein imitating the practise of wise Daniel Chap. 2. 17 18. This done he studied the Rights of the Irish Church some fruits whereof we have in that Learned Piece of his called The Religion professed by the ancient Irish and Britains Yet he heard nothing till the Assembly was summoned and himself the next day was to be present at it then went he to the Lord Deputy to know the occasion of their meeting The Lord Deputy would not believe at first that he could be a stranger to it but afterwards when Mr. Usher had assured him that he had no information from the Bishops about it he was much displeased and told him that without him all the the rest were but Cyphers for that the King had referred the whole business to his judgement whether the power of the Hierarchy should be established there as it was in England The next day the Kings Commission and Letters were read in the Assembly and Speeches were made concerning the excellency of the Kings intention to reduce that Kingdome to one uniformity with England in Ecclesiastical Government they also told him what honour the King had put upon him whose esteem learning and judgement the King so much depended upon for the promoting so great and good a work Mr. Usher replied that he believed that in a business of so great concernment wherein he was so far interested the Kings intentions were that he should have convenient time to consider of it before he delivered his opinion which he also humbly desired The Bishops answered that his judgement was sufficiently known by his practise and that they expected no more from him but his consent and concurrence with them He replied that the matter concerned more than himself For said he if I had all mens consciences in my keeping I could in these disputable cases give Laws unto them as well as unto my self but it s one thing what I can do and another thing what all other men must do Then they asked of him if he had any thing to say why they should not satisfie the Kings desire He after a short pause wherein he lifted up his heart unto God for direction told them that if they would grant him no longer time he would as well as he was able give them his judgement if that Honourable Assembly would grant him three Requests 1. A free hearing without interruption 2. Liberty for him to answer any man that should be unsatisfied 3. That there might be a final determination of the business at that meeting These being all granted Mr. Usher undertook to prove that such a Jurisdiction could not be introduced into that Kingdome neither by the Laws of God nor by the Civil or Ecclesiastical Constitutions of that Kingdome nor yet without the violation of the Kings Prerogative in that Nation All which he performed to admiration But before he descended to particulars he shewed the difference between Conformity as it was set up in England and as it would be if it were set up in Ireland The Kings saith he and Queen of England imposed those Ceremonies that thereby they might decline the charge of Schismaticks wherewith the Church of Rome laboured to brand them seeing it did appear hereby that they left them only in such Doctrinal points wherein they left the truth Again hereby they would testifie how far they would willingly stoop to win and gain them by yeelding to meet them as far as they might in their own way But saith he the experience of many years hath shewed that this condescention hath rather hardened them in their errours than brought them to a liking of our Religion This being their usual saying If our Flesh be not good why doe you drinke of our Broth As for Ireland wherein the English Canons were never yet received and the generality of the Inabitans were Popish Recusants and even in Popish Kings times there was no receptions of the Popes Ecclesiastical Constitutions because he encroached upon their temporals if such Laws now should be set up under so Religious a Protestant King this would be to set the Pope on Horse-back amongst them which needed not The Lord Deputy when he had finished his Speech and answered what was objected against it told him that he was much affected with every part of his learned speech but that he was more especially concerned in that which touched upon the Kings Prerogative part wherein he had discovered such hidden flowers of the Crown as he thought the King himself knew not and therefore he said as he would endeavour to preserve his Majesties right therein whilst he was his Deputy so he would present them to the King and take care that it should be very hard for any that came after him to rob him of them By this we may easily see that he was then so far from a Prelatical spirit that on the contrary he was an Advocate for and Patione of godly and conscientious Non-Conformists Anno Christi 1612 he proceeded Dr. of Divinity being created by Archbishop Hampton his Predecessor one of his Lectures for his Degree was upon the seventy weeks to the slaying of the Messias mentioned Dan. 9. 24. the other out of Rev. 20. 4. concerning the meaning of the Prophesie that the Saints should reign with Crist a thousand years which in these times would be very seasonable but it s lost Dr. Hoyle who died Professor of Divinity in Oxford after he had many years been the like in Dublin said that when he went out Dr. of Divinity he thought Tully himself could not have excelled him in Eloquence had he been alive not only in his composed speeches but in those which occasionally fell from him upon the by Anno Christi 1613 He published his Book De Ecclesiaram Christianarum successione statu magnified so much by Causabon and Scultetus in their Greek and Latine verses before it It was solemnly presented by Archbishop Abbot to King James as the eminent first fruits of that College at Dublin Indeed its imperfect for about three hundred years from Gregory the 11 to Leo the 10 viz. from the year 1371 to 1513 and from thence to this last Century which he intended after the finishing of a Book which he was now about to have compleated But the Lord prevented him Anno Christi 1615 there was a Parliament in Dublin and consequently a Convocation of the Clergy at which time those learned Articles of Ireland were composed and published and Dr. Usher being a member of that Synod was appointed to draw them up they were highly approved of the
mâ—st Orthodâ—x Divines They determine according to St. Austin against the Doctrine of the Pelagians Prove the Man of sin spoken of 1 Thess. 2. to be the Bishop of Rome and for the Morality of the Sabbath of both which this most learned Doctor was very confident and oft wished that some of our learned men of late had spared their pains when they went about to prove the contrary In defence of the last of these he wrote a most excellent and learned Letter to Dr. Twiss who had desired his judgement about it He wanted not enemies who sought to scandalize him to King James under the Title of a Puritan which was very odious to him in those dayes seeking hereby to prevent his further promotion but God so ordered it that it proved an occasion of his advancement for King James being jealous of him upon that score by reason of the eminency of his learning fell into serious discourse with him and therein received such abundance of satisfaction both of the soundness of his judgement and piety that notwithstanding the opposition made by some great ones without his seeking he made him Bishop of Meath in Ireland which just then fell void whilst he was in England and the King often boasted that he was a Bishop of his own making Whilst he was thus Bishop Elect he was chosen to preach before the House of Commons Feb. 18. 1620 in Margarets Westminster The Sermon by order of the House was printed and it is a most learned one Upon his return into Ireland he was consecrated Bishop of Meath at Droheda by Archbishop Hampton with the assistance of two Suffragan Bishops according to the custome at which time there was given him an Anagram of his Name as he was then to write himself which was this James Meath I am the same and he made it good ever afterwards His preferment did not cause him to grow slack in his constancy of preaching as it did too many who having caught the Fish laid aside the Net But as Possidonius saith of St. Austin he was still the same which he bound himself the rather unto by the Motto of his Episcopal Seal Ve mihi si non Evangelizavero Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel which he continued in the Seal of his Primacy also He had many Papists in his Diocess whom he endeavoured to reclaim by private conferences and at length they were willing to hear him preach so it were not in a Church which he condescended to and preached in the Sessions-house and his Sermon wrought so much upon some of them that their Priests forbad them hearing him in any place ever after Anno 1622 there were some Papists censured in the Star-chamber for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy at which time he was called thither to inform them of it before the sentence passed which occasioned that learned Speech of his upon that subject since printed with his English works While he was Bishop of Meath he answered a challenge sent him by the Jesuite Malone and his going over into England to Print it occasioned another learned Tractate of the Universality of the Church of Christ and the Unity of the Catholick Faith in a Sermon preached before King James on Eph. 4. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the Faith c. And Gods providence so ordered it that whilst he was thus busied in England Archbishop Hampton dying he was made his successour Primate of Ireland Anno Christi 1624 and he was the hundreth Bishop of that See Being thus promoted to the highest preferment his Profession was capable of in his native Country he was so far from being puffed up with Pride that he was more humble and frequent in preaching and it so fell out that for some weeks together overtoyling himself in the work of the Ministry to the overwasting of his spirits whic he did at the request of some Essex Ministers who importuned him to preach on the week dayes because they could not come to hear him on the Sabbaths he fell into a Quartane Ague which held him three quarters of a year After his recovery the Lord Mordant afterwards Earle of Peterborough being a Papist and desirous to draw his Lady to the same Religion he was willing that there should be a meeting of two eminent persons of each party to dispute what might be in controversie between them The Lady made choice of our Lord Primate and prevailed with him though newly recovered from the aforesaid long sickness and scarce able to take such a journey The Jesuite chosen by the Earle went under the name of Beaumond but his true name was Rookwood brother to Ambrose Rookwood one of the Gunpowder Traitors The place of meeting was at Drayton in Northamptonshire where there was a great Library so that no Books of the ancient Fathers were wanting upon occasion for their view The points to be disputed on were concerning Transubstantiation Invocation of Saints worshipping of Images and the visibility of the Church Three dayes they were in this Disputation three hours in the forenoon and two hours in the afternoon each day and the conclusion was this After the third day of meeting the Lord Primate having been hitherto opponent now the Tables were to be turned and the Jesuit according to his desire was to oppose and the Lord Primate to answer But when the time came and the Jesuit was expected instead of coming he sent his excuse to the Lord Mordant which was that all the Arguments which he had framed in his head and premeditated so that he thought he had them as perfect as his Pater Noster were now slipt from him and he could not possibly recover them again and that he believed it was a just judgement of God upon him for undertaking of himself to dispute with a man of that eminency and learning without a licence from his Superiour The Lord Mordant seeing his tergiversation upon some further discourse with the Lord Primate was converted and became a Protestant and so continued to his death One Challoner a Secular Priest afterwards writing a book against this Beaumond by way of scorn bids him beware of coming any more to Drayton lest he meet with another Usher to foil him again to the dishonour of his profession and himself The Lord having made his labours so succesful the Countess of Peterborough had him alwayes in great respect and upon his losses in Ireland and other distresses here she took him home to her owne house with whom be lived about nine or ten years and then died there Anno Christi 16â—6 in August he went back into Ireland where he was entertained with all the expressions of love and joy that could be The discourses which daily fell from him at his Table in clearing difficulties in the Scripture and other subjects especially when learned men came to visit him tended exceedingly to the edification
him frequently Magnum Usherium Usher the Great Morus in his Oration at Geneva dedicated to him stiles him The most Excellent servant of God The most Reverend man of God the Athanasius of our Age. Thy breast saith he is a breathing Library Thou art to Britain as Austin was to Hippo Farewel Britains great Honour Ludovicus de Dieu in his Animadversions on the Acts dedicated to him entitles him To the Excellent Prelate worthy of an Eternal memory c. Paulus Testardus Blesensis stiles him Seculi Ecâ—clesiae decus eximium the greatest honour of the Church and Age. Arnoldus Bootius saith of him That he did excel with a most singular Judgement in the Oriental Languages and in all other abstruse and deep learning Venerable to all Europe whose Authority prevails much with all men c. Mr. Selden saith of him The most Reverend Prelate James Usher a man of great Piety singular Judgement learned to a Miracle and born to promote the more severe studies c. Dr. Prideaux calls him The most rich Magazine of solid Learning and of all Antiquity Dr. Davenant speaks thus of him A man of singular Piety abounding with all manner of Learning Sir Roger Twisden acknowledging the assistance he had from him in his History saith thus This we owe to the most worthy Archbishop of Armagh in whom with incredible learning and rare knowledge of Antiquity his most courteous conversation and wonderful sweetness in instructing the unskilful mixed with a certain serious Episcopal gravity were seen to strive one with the other c. There was an eminent Character given of him by a the whole University of Oxford in the year 1644 by solemn Order in the Convocation which was given in charge to sixteen eminent persons of whom seven were Doctors chosen with the Vice-Chancellor Proctors to see his Effigies cut and an Elogium worthy of him to be prefixed to his Annotations on Ignatius his Epistles there then in the Press and at the charges of the University and in the publick name of it Indeed it was omitted to that book but was aftewards affixed to his Book De Symbolis the Elogium is this James Usher Archbishop of Armagh Primate of all Ireland the most skilful of Primitive Antiquity the unanswerable Defender of the Orthodox Religion the Maul of Errours in preaching frequent eloquent very powerful a rare example of an unblameable life Yea for his learning his very Adversaries being Judges those of the Church of Rome have acknowledged A certain Jesuit in a Book called Hyberniae Vindiciae writing against Dempster a Scotchman who had undervalued the Irish for learning after he had reckoned up many Learned men of his own and other Orders of that Nation at length he addes this of our Primate And if I should put in men of a different Religion I might truly say Scotland never saw another Usher whose sublime wit and most curteous behaviour I wish that unlucky education amongst Sectaries had not been his stepmother Divers others of his Popish Adversaries might be mentioned but I forbear and shall adde onely the Testimony of Dr. William Chappel sometime Fellow of Christs College in Cambridge and afterwards Provost of Trinity College Dublin who was very judicious and a great learned man He gave three reasons why he thought our Primate to be the greatest Schollar in the Christian world 1. Because of his rare natural parts having a quick invention a prompt wit a strong memory a clear understanding a piercing judgement and a ready utterance Seldome said he do all these meet in an eminent degree in the same person but in him they so concurred that it is hard to say in which of them he most excelled 2. Because few men had made so rich an improvement of these parts nor indeed had such means by reason of the choice Libraries which he had the use of viz. his own Dr. Challoners the University Library at Dublin which he had frequent access unto besides the University Libraries and Sir Robert Cottons in England He had also taken indefatigable pains in studying and that for many years together which few other mens bodies and brains could bear 3. Because in these and in the Universities beyond the Seas he was so esteemed and whosoever conversed with him found him a skilful Linguist a subtile Disputant a fluent Orator a profound Divine a great Antiquary an exact Chronologer and in brief a living and walking Library Insomuch that the greatest Professors admired the concatenation of so much learning in one person A Catalogue of the Books published by him De Ecclesiarum Christianarum successione statu in 4o. Epistolarum Hybernicarum Syloge in 4o. Historia Goteschalci in 4o. De Primordiis Ecclesiarum Britanicarum in 4o. Ignatii Epistolae cum annotationibus in 4o. De Anno Solari Macedonum in 8o. Annales Veteris Testamenti in Fol. Annales Novi Testamenti c. in Fol. Epistola ad Cappellum de variantibus textus Hebraici lectionibus in 4o. De Graeca Septuaginta Interpretum versione Syntagma in 4o. A Sermon before the House of Commons Feb. 18. 1618. A Declaration of the Visibility of the Church in a Sermon before King James June 20. 1624. A Speech in the Castle in Dublin the 22 of Nov. 1622. An Answer to Malon the Jesuit in 4o. 1631. The Religion professed by the antient Irish and British in 4o. 1631. Immannel or The Incarnation of the Son of God in 4o. 1639. A Geographical Description of the lesser Asia in 4o. 1644. Confessions and Proofs of Dr. Reynolds and other Protestant Divines about Episcopacy in 4o. 1644. A Discourse of the Original of Bishops and Archbishops in 4o. 1644. His small Catechisme reviewed in 12o. 1654. His Body of Divinity in part his but published without his consent in Fol. A Method for Meditation or a Direction for hearing the Word Annals of the Old and New Testament with the Synchronismes of Heathen Story to the destruction of Jerusalem in Fol. The Life and Death of Mr. Richard Capel who dyed Anno Christi 1656. Mr. Richard Capel was born in the City of Gloucester Anno Christi 1586 of good Parentage descended from an ancient Family of the Gentry of his own name in Herefordshire and of alliance to the Lord Capel but he had learned with brave Philpot to tread that under his feet His Father was a stout man and an Alderman of that City a fast friend first to Mr. Thomas Prior and afterwards to Mr. John Workman having had a principall hand in drawing of him thither both of them men of great sufficiency for the preaching of the Gospell and instruments that the Lord made much use of for the advancement of the true saving knowledge of himself and for the setting up of the reall and substantiall power of godliness in that City during the time that they exercised their Mâ—nistry there His elder Brother yet lives and is an Alderman in that place
with ample requitâ—ls from the good Gentleman and his Wife and great encouragement from the people About this time there was a fearful Eclipse upon the Church many eminent Ministers were suspended both from their Office and Benefices and amongst them those three bright shining Stars Mr. Dod Mr. Cleaver Mr. Lancaster Upon this occasion Sir Anthony Cope who had formerly placed and now lost Mr. Dod at Hanwell and Mr. Cleaver at Drayton became a Suter to his brother Doyly for so he was by marriage for the enjoyment of Mr. Harris Mr. Doyly entertained this unwelcome motion with great regret as being wholly unwilling to part with one whom he so much prized yet after a long debate it was judged most beneficial for the publick and therefore could not be resisted Mr. Harris went to Hanwell with much grief and fear where he found the temper of the Country to be this Preach he might and welcome but they would own no man for their Pastor but those who were ejected At last it was concluded that Mr. Harris should preach to both Congregations whilst Authority would permit and so long as there was any hope of recovering their former Pastors this gave some satisfaction yet was it not sufficient becasue Mr. Harris was not fully of their former Pastors minde Just at the same time it fell out that Mr. Whately came to Banbury and met with no less a share in the peoples displeasure who though they could not except against his Ministry he being endowed with excellent parts yet they quarrelled because his judgement about Ceremonies was not the same with that of their former Teachers and the truth is they both had a sad time of it for a great while notwithstanding all the prudence and moderation which Sir Anthony Cope and Mr. Dod shewed to the quieting of them After a while Archbishop Bancroft finding that the silenced Ministers would not yeeld presented two Chaplains to Hanwell and Drayton upon pretence of a lapse But Sir Anthony Cope sitting then in Parliament took one or two of the House with him and presented his two Clerks to the Archbishop who after a long contest was content to admit his presentation but Sir Anthony having spoken in that Parliament against insufficient Ministers not without reflexion upon the Archbishops and Bishops Archbishop Bancroft could not but resent this and therefore referred his Clerks to be strictly examined by his ablest Chaplain The Chaplain having as it seems his lesson before-hand brings in the Clerk designed for Hanwell which Mr. Harris had declined as altogether insufficient though a grave and discreet Divine Mr. Harris was returned mediocriter doctus moderately learned The Archbishop being not satisfied with this last account desires Bishop Barlow who was present with him to make some further proof of Mr. Harris and the Bishop being an active and witty man was glad of the opportunity and deals with Mr. Harris first in Divinity but most in other Learning and Greek wherein the Bishops excellency lay and both of them so long Greeked it till they were both gravelled for want of words whereupon they both laughed and so gave over The Bishop going in to the Archbishop in his report as Mr. Harris expressed it set him up as much too high as the Chaplain had set his Fellow too low The Archbishop hearing the Bishops testimony was content to admit Mr. Harris but upon condition that he might have Hanwell which was easily assented to by Sir Anthony having before designed it for him and Mr. Dod also was present to testifie his concurrent desire the only stick with Mr. Harris was that he was fearful to succeed so famous a Divine which answer was not pleasing to the Archbishop though at present he courted Mr. Dod. A new Pastor being thus placed at Hanwell and withall Drayton being furnished with a godly prudent man Mr. Scudder there were now three neighbours who were linked together not onely in judgement and affection but also in affinity for Mr. Harris married Mr. Whatelyes sister and Mr. Scudder his wives sister and these three for a while met weekly together and by turns translated and Analysed eâ—ch his Chapter till multitudes of publick imployments caused them to desist Not long after there befell Mr. Harris his wife upon the birth of her first childe a long and sore affliction which was as Mr. Dod told him but to season and fit him for his work and Mr. Harris himself would oft say that he had been quite spoyled had he not thus been taken down for young Ministers know not what ground they tread on till God layes them flat This and some other clouds being blown over the weather seemed now to clear up and his people began to relish his Ministry and much comfort he found in the neghbourhood of many godly Ministers on one side he had Mr. Cleaver a very solid Text-man on the other Mr. Lancaster a very humble and self-denying man who though by birth he was a good Gentleman and had sometime been Fellow in Kings College in Cambridge where he had read sundry publick Lectures and made many Speeches and as Dr. Collins that Master of Language used to say delivered himself in as pure Latine as ever Tully spake having no other Notes to help him but what he wrote upon his own nails yet this good man thus accomplished with all learning contented himself with a Living that was not worth 40 l. per annum and in his preaching made no noyse of any learning at all When I was young I knew this Mr. Lancaster he was a very little man of stature but eminent as for other things so especially for his living by Faith His charge being great and his means so small his wife would many times come to him when she was to send her maid to Banbury Market to buy provision and tell him that she had no money his usual answer was Yet send your maid and God will provide and though she had no money yet she never returned empty for one or other that knew her to be Mr. Lancasters maid either by the way or in Banbury Town meeting her would give her money which still supplied their present wants But above all his Neighbours Mr. Harris still most respected Mr. Dod and concerning him was fully of Mr. Cartwrights minde that he was the fittest man in England for a Pastoral Office he was able to speak to any mans capacity he was never out of the Pulpit for all his discourses were Sermons which he intermixed with such variety of delightful expressions and similitudes as would take with any man The truth is he was a very eloquent man both in English and Latine and so facetious and pithy that Mr. Harris used to say often That if all his Apothegmes were gathered together they would exceed all that Plutarch had written in Greek and others since his time in Latine had published For some years Mr.
unto me and in particular that he hath kept Satan from me in this my weakness Oh how good is God entertain good thoughts of him How ever it be with us we cannot think too well of him or too bad of our selves And this sense of Gods goodness was very deeply imprinted upon his heart to his very last and therefore in all his Wills this Legacy was alwayes renewed Item I bequeathe to all my children and to their childrens children to each of them a Bible with this Inscription None but Christ. Being upon a time visited by two Reverend Doctors his choice Friends who before they prayed with him desired him to tell them what he chiefly requested He answered I praise God he supports me and keeps off Satan beg that I may hold out I am now in a good way home even quite spent I am now at the shore I leave you tossing on the Sea Oh it is a good time to dye in Yet when his end approached nearer being often asked how he did He answered In no great pain I praise God onely weary of my unuseful life If God hath no more service for me to do here I could be gladly in Heaven where I shall serve him better freed from sin and distractions I pass from one death to another yet I fear none I praise God I can live and I dare dye If God hath more work for me to do here I am willing to do it though my infirm body be very weary Desiring one to pray with him and for him that God would hasten the work it was asked whether pain c. put him upon that desire He answered No but I now do no good and I hinder others which might be better imployed if I were not Why should any desire to live but to do God service Now I cease from that I do not live By this time the violence of his distempers disabled him and the advice of his Physitians was that he should forbear speech yet he called upon those which attended him to read some part of the Scriptures to him constantly especially he put one of his Sons that was with him to pray frequently and whilst his life and speech lasted he used to conclude all the Prayers with a loud Amen The nearer he approached to his end the more he slumbered Once when he awoke he found himself very ill whereupon calling for his Son he took him by the hand and said Pray with me it is the last time in likelihood that I shall ever joyn with you and complaining to him of his wearisomeness his Son answered There remains a rest To whom he replied My Sabbath is not far off and yours is at hand ere that I shall be rid of all my trouble and you will be eased of some At length his ruinous house which onely inobedience to the will of God had held out beyond his own desires and all mens expectations from the heighth of Summer till the depth of Winter comes to be dissolved About Saturday in the even he began to set himself to dye forbidding all cordials to be administred upon what extremity soever and gave his dying blessing to his Son who onely of all his children was present with him and upon his request enjoyned him to signifie when he had opportunity to that Country where he had lived longest that he lived and dyed in that Faith which he had preached and printed the comfort whereof he now found Something else he began to speak but his distempers interrupted his purpose and from that time he never entertained any discourse with man onely he commanded the eight Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans to be read to him And herein God was exceeding good to him in the return of those Petitions which had been put up for him that afternoon by those two eminent Divines and his dearest Brethren before mentioned For whereas his great distempers gave occasion to fear his death would be exceeding painful yet did it prove so easie that his Son and other attendants could but guess at the particular time of his departure His breathings were easie and even his eyes open and full of water till at the last having lifted them up towards Heaven they closed of themselves and his soul without the least motion of resistance of the body entred into everlasting rest whilst those whom he left behinde were entring upon the day of their rest For then began he a perpetual Sabbath in Heaven when they began theirs on earth betwixt twelve and one on Saturday night December 11. Anno Christi 1658. He dyed in a good old age and full of dayes having overlived fourscore years His loss was much bewayled by the College by the City and whole University of Oxford He was as all that knew him confessed a man of admirable prudence profound judgement eminent gifts and graces and furnished with all qualifications that might render him a compleat man a wise Governour a profitable Preacher and a good Christian. First look upon him as a Christian for that was his and is every mans greatest Ornament He was a man that had much acquaintance with God much communion with him in private meditation and prayer accounting those his best dayes wherein he enjoyed most converse with him In the time of his sickness one asking him how he did oh saith he this hath been a sweet day I have had sweet communion with God in Jesus Christ. He was not like them who are all for promises and priviledges though in the mean time they neglect duties He made them his exercise but not his Christ He was much in those severe parts of Religion as private Humiliation Mortification and Self-denial whereby he gained the conquest over himself The truth is he was as far as is consistent with humane frailty Master of his corruptions passions reason appetite language and all The Lord was pleased to work upon him in the Primrose of his life though he certainly knew not either the Preacher or Sermon whereby he was converted His course was in the dayes of his strictest examination to set down in writing his evidences for Heaven sometimes in Propositions from Scripture other sometimes in Sylogismes and these he often subscribed to in a Book that he kept for that very purpose But these evidences were best read by others in the course of his life by his exact walking with God in piety charity humility patience and dependance upon him He was far unlike to those who sit in Moses Chair and teach what themselves practise not He had well digested that Fathers precept to Preachers Either preach not at all or live as you preach His life was a Commentary upon his Doctrine and his practice the Counterpane of his Sermons What was said of that precious Bishop Jewel was true of him That he adorned a heavenly Doctrine with a heavenly life In a word he did vertere verba in opera he lived Religion whilst many onely make