intending chiefly Sir Robert Cottons Library and conversing with learned men amongst whom even in those his younger years he was in great esteem In his after-years he was acquainted with the rarities in other Nations There was scarce a choice Book in any eminent persons Library in France Italy Germany or Rome it self but he had his way to procure it or what he desired transcribed out of it so that he was better acquainted with the Popes Vatican than some that daily visited it The Puteani fratres two learned men in Paris holp him much with many Transcripts out of Thuanus and others between whom and him many Letters passed Now though the reading of the Fathers all over was a vast work yet the pains he took out of the common road of learning in searching of Records and all the Manuscripts he could get throughout Christendome together with the knotty study of Chronology and Antiquity was equal with if it did not exceed the other Many Volumes he also read onely to attain to the knowledge of the use of words in several ages as Galen Hipocrates c. and most of the Records in the Tower of London Besides there was scarce the meanest book in his own Library but he remembred it even to admiration and had in his head readily whatsoever he had read The first Church-preferment which he had was given him by Archbishop Loftus a little before his death which was the Chancellorship of St. Patricks Dublin unto which he took no other Benefice In that place Mr. Camden found him when he was writing his Britannia Anno Christi 1607 and in his observations concerning Dublin saith of him Most of these I acknowledge to owe to the diligence and labours of James Usher Chancellor of the Church of St. Patricks who in various learning and judgement far exceeds his years In this preferment though the Law required not his preaching but onely in his course before the State yet would he not omit it in the place from whence he received his profits and though he endowed it with a Vicaridge yet went he thither in person viz. to Finglas a mile from Dublin and preached there every Lords day unless he were detained upon some extraordinary occasions and the remembrance that he had been a constant Preacher was a greater comfort to him in his old age than all his other labours and writings His experiments in Prayer were many and very observable God ofen answering his desires in kinde and that immediately when he was in some distresses and Gods Providence in taking care and providing for him in his younger years as he often spake of it so it wrought in him a firm resolution to depend upon God in his latter dayes what ever extremity he might be brought into Anno Christi 1607 when he was twenty seven years old he commenced batchelor of Divinity and immediately after be was chosen Professor of Divinity in the University of Dublin At first he read twice a week and afterwards once a week without intermission throughout the year going through a great part of Bellarmines Controversies In this employment he continued thirteen or fourteen years and was a great ornament to his place Three Volumes of those his Lectures written with his own hand he hath left behinde him and it would be a great honour to that University where they were read and benefit to many others if they were published When he performed his Acts for his degree Latine Sermon Lectures Position and answered the Divinity Act he wrote nothing but only the heads of the several Subjects putting all upon the strength of his memory and present expressions as also he did his English Sermons His readiness in the Latine Tongue was inferiour to none in these latter times which after seventeen years disuse from the time that he left his Professors place appeared when he moderated the Divinity Act and created Doctors to all mens admiration The Provostship of the College of Dublin falling void he was unanimously elected thereto by all the Fellows he being then about thirty years of age but foreseeing that upon the settlement of Lands belonging to it and the establishing of other matters he should be much impeded and distracted in his studies he refused it and so another was sent out of England to fill it The revenues of it were very considerable whereby we may see how mean and little the things of the world seemed in his eyes even in those his younger years About this time the Irish Prelates especially Dr. Hampton his predecessor in the Sea of Armagh had obtained King James his grant for reducing Ireland to the same Ecclesiastical Government of the Church of England the principal occasion whereof was this The English Prelates a little before had used a great deal of severity against the Non-conformists their High Commission and other Courts and Canons had driven many worthy and learned men into other Countries and some of them went into Ireland the Irish Bishops being weary of this resort are desirous to advance their power to the same height with the English Hierarchy combined together and obtained King James his Commission to Sir Arthur Chichester Earle of Belfast a famous Souldier and prudent Governour who was at this time Lord Deputy and bore the Sword there eleven years together with very much honour and esteem in that Nation For the effecting of this a great Assembly of the whole Nation was convened In the Commission the King required them to consult with Mr. Usher whose learning judgement and esteem would much conduce to the promoting of that work But if he approved it not the King required that they should proceed no further for that he would not be the author of any Innovation amongst them This reserve troubled the Prelates exceedingly and therefore they resolved to carry it closely the Kings Letters to them they transmitted from one to another but acquainted not Mr. Usher with them intending to surprize him when the Assembly was met they should come prepared and fortified he would be taken on the sudden Howbeit God that intended him for so great a good at that time in crossing their design that many faithful labourers in his Vineyard might not by this their power be displaced by a special Providence gave him some light though but very little into the matter and the manner was thus Mr. Usher going to visit one of them found him perusing the Kings Letter but upon his coming he laid it down in his window closed at both ends onely there was an open place in the middle and as they were discoursing together Mr. Usher glancing his eye upon it espied his own name and some other vvords about himself of which he could not pick out the meaning but yet he judged them to be of importance as Discipline Ireland England c. Mr. Usher thought it not prudence for him to take notice of those hints neither could
opportunities and it was his usual custome to spend Saturdayes in the afternoon in these duties Amongst other sins he much bewayled his too much love to humane learning which made him as glad when Munday came that he might renue his studies as he was when Sabbath day came wherein he was to apply himself to the service of God and it cost him many tears that he could not be more heavenly-minded at that age At fiftten years old he had made such a progress in the study of Chronology that he drew up in Latine an exact Chronicle of the Bible as far as to the Books of the Kings which did not much differ from that of his late Annals excepting his enlargements by some exquisite observations and the Syncronismes of Heathen story About this time also he was much afflicted with a strong temptation which moved him to question Gods love to him because he was so free from afflictions which was occasioned by some inconsiderate passages which he met with in some Authors and long was he under some trouble before he could get rid of it Before he was Bachelor of Arts he read Stapletons Fortress of the Faith and therein finding how confidently he asserted Antiquity for the Popish Tenets withall branding our Church and Religion with novelty in what we dissented from them he was much troubled at it not knowing but that his quotations might be right and he was convinced that the Ancientest must needs be best as the nearer the Fountain the sweeter and clearer are the streams yet withall he suspected that Stapleton might mis-report the Fathers or wrest them to his own sense and therefore he took up a setled resolution that in due time if God prolonged his life and health he would trust onely his own eyes by reading over all the Fathers for his satisfaction herein which work he afterward began at Twenty years old and finished that vast labour at Thirty eight strictly tying himself to a certain portion every day what occasions soever intervened Whilst he was Batchelor of Arts he read divers of the Works of the Fathers and most Authors which had written the Body of Divinity both Positively and Polemically in consuting the Popish errors and had read many of their Authors also by which means he was so well acquainted with the state of those controversies that he was able to dispute with any of the Popish Priests as he often did with the principal of them Anno Christi 1598 The Earle of Essex newly coming over Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and being chosen Chancellor of the University of Dublin there was a solemn Act appointed for his entertainment and Mr. Usher being then Batchelor of Arts answered the Philosophy Act with great applause and approbation About this time his Fathers intention was to send him over into England to the Innes of Court for the study of the Common Law which was a great trouble to him yet in obedience to his Fathers will he assented and resolved upon it but it pleased God that his Father shortly after dyed viz. August the 12. Anno Christi 1698 so that then he being at liberty to make choice of his studies devoted and applied himself wholly to Divinity and thereupon was chosen Fellow of the College being before uncapable of taking the Oath which was required of all Fellows at their Admission viz. that the present intent of their studies should be for the Profession of Divinity unless God should afterwards otherwise dispose their mindes And here again was an other occasion of disturbance to his mind ministred to him For his Father left him a good estate in land but finding that he must have involved himself in many Suits of Law before he could attain to the quiet enjoyment of it to the interrupting of his other studies he gave up the benefit of it to his brothers and sisters suffering his Uncle to take Letters of Administration for that end resolving to cast himself upon the good Providence of God to whose service in the work of the Ministry he had wholly devoted himself not doubting but he would provide for him yet that he might not be judged weak or inconsiderate in that Act he drew up a note under his hand of the state of all things that concerned it and directions what to doe about it When he was nineteen years old he disputed with Henry Fitz-Simonds a Jesuit in the Castle of Dublin as himself acknowledgeth in his Preface to his Book called Britanno-mochia Ministrorum the occasion of which Dispute was this The Jesuit by way of challenge as it was interpreted gave forth these words That he being a Prisoner was like a Bear tyed to a stake but wanted some to bait him Whereupon this eminent man for so he was though very young was thought fit and able to encounter him though at their first meeting he despised his youth as Goliah did David Mr. Usher proffered to dispute with him about all Bellarmines Controversies for which a meeting was appointed once every week and it fell out that the first subject proposed was De Antichristo about which they had two or three solemne Disputations and Mr. Usher was ready to have proceeded further but the Jesuit was weary of it yet gives him a tolerable commendation and much admired his abillities in such young years concerning which he saith There came once to me a youth of about eighteen years of age one of a too soon ripe wit scarce you would thank that he could have gone through his course of Philosophy or that he was got out of his childe-hood yet was he ready to dispute upon the most abstruce points of Divinity And afterwards the same Jesuit living to understand more of him saith that he was A catholicorum doctissimus the most learned of such as were not Catholicks being as it seems unwilling or ashamed to call him Heretick Anno Christi 1600 when he was about twenty years old he commenced Master of Arts and answered the Philosophy Act and was chosen Catechist of the College in which office he went through a great part of the Body of Divinity in the Chappel by way of Common place and Ministers being scarce at that time there were three young men of the College chosen out and appointed to preach in Christ Church before the State One was Mr. Richardson afterwards Bishop of Ardah who was appointed to preach an Expository Lecture upon the Prophesie of Isaiah every Friday Another was Mr. Welch afterwards Dr. of Divinity who was designed to handle the Body of Divinity on Sabbaths in the forenoon the third was our learned Usher who was to handle the controversies for the satisfaction of the Papists on the Lords dayes in the afternoons which he did fully and cleerly alwayes concluding with some emphatical Exhortation that it tended much to the edification and confirmation of the Protestants in their Principles as many of them in their elder yeares have
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
was of their own Country and neighbourhood The Kings spirit was too great to like of conditions from his Subjects yet his wisdome prevailed to take into consideration the condition of his affairs He considered that Christian was now in Norwey That Winter was newly begun That the Norwegians were inclined to assist Christian And that if the Dallcarles should be further provoked the issue might be doubtfull He therefore dissembled his displeasure and sent them a Governour according to their desire But at the end of three years he raised an Army and seized upon the chief Authors of this rebellion and put them to death and further to bring down the pride of the Dallcarles he seized upon their liberties and so levelled them with the rest of the people This was the first malignant design against the Government of Gustavus in favour of the cause of the deposed King which like a Granado firing in the air spent it self before it fell but it proved not the last For soon after the King of Denmark died leaving Christian a prisoner to the Lords of Denmark who differing in their opinions as to the election of a King spent two years in an Interregnum during which time some sought to promote the Son of the deceased King which was but a child and therefore more capable of counsell and herein the Bishops joyned Others acted for the Duke of Holst and some were for restoring Christian then a prisoner to the Crown again This was one summons to the King of Sueden to look about him and kept him off from punishing the Dallcarles for the matter about the Bells But there was another thing that was no less dangerous though the effect was not like to be so sudden and that was this About this time there was a change of Government in Lubeck from the Popish to the Lutheran way which although in it self it suited well enough with the King of Suedens mind yet in such alterations there is commonly one man more active than the rest who in such alterations of Religion becomes an instrument of altering the Government And such an one the Lubeckers had fitted for the purpose His name was Woolweaver a man whose education was answerable to his name Him they made Consul of the City and he being gotten up was blown higher by affecting popularity and undertaking to be a Protector to the poor who were now much encreased in the City the principal cause whereof he alledged to be the King of Suedens abridging them in their priviledges contrary to his agreement made with them when they assisted him in his Wars as also that he had countenanced trade from and with the Hollanders and other Nations for a remedy whereof Woolweaver counselled them to endeavour to draw the Danes to joyn with the Lubeckers against all trading with Sueden from without the Baltick Sea But the Danes told them that they thought it not meet to conclude in things of that nature till they were better settled in their Government and were ageeed about the party that should be their King And finding it more necessary to keep good correspondence with Sueden because of the endeavours of a party amongst themselves to advance Christian to the Throne again they acquainted the King of Sueden with the designs of the Lubeckers Woolweaver stormed at this and without blushing faces about and propounds to the King of Sueden to joyn with him against the Hollanders But Gustavus his counsel was rather to manage well the matter concerning Denmark than to enter into new engagements For saith he the Danish affairs are as a Sea of many currents wherein if you steer not an even course and keep not constant watch you may be in danger of Shipwrack and therefore as imbarked in one and the same Ship with Denmark let us bend our whole counsel in the speedy settlement of the Government thereof so as may best conduce to the concurrent interest of both Nations Woolweaver finding himself thus disappointed in both these places grew angry and like one lifted up from below lifted up his thoughts higher than his wits served him and in his carere vaunteth that as he had advanced Gustavus to the Throne so he would pull him down again and thereupon entertained correspondency with the Runnegadoes of Sueden which Gustavus being quickly sensible of he seized upon the persons goods and priviledges of the Lubeckers in Sweden The Lubeckers also dealt in the like manner with the Suedes in Lubeck Wool-weaver in the mean time aiming at no less than the Crown of Sueden held private intelligence in Sueden and stirred them up to civil broils that might busie the King at home and first he prevailed with the Earle of Hoy who had married the Kings sister and being a person of great interest he prevailed with the people especially with those of Smalland to disaffect them towards the King which done the Earl withdraws himself his wife and children to Lubeck under pretâ—nce for his health sake but being there arrived he was made Commander in chief of all the disaffected Suedes who repaired unto him It s the usual fate of great men seldome to be contented with their present state they think that either their own merits are not rewarded enough or their inferiours too much and so through discontent striving to be higher they fall lower The Earle of Hoy thought it not enough to be the Kings brother by marriage and Lord Lieutenant under Gustavus in Sueden but he must become General of a party of discontents under Woolweaver against his King his brother his kindred and Country and what he gained thereby will afterwards appear In the mean time many retire to him out of Sueden principally by reason of the disturbances in Smalland which himself had kindled before his departure thence and which afterwards were fomented by a company of lawless persons who had combined themselves against the Kings Justices there and carried themselves with so high an hand that it came to blood even to the slaughter of the Kings Lieutenant in that Country and when the King had suppressed them by force of Arms yet they maintained a kinde of theevish War till they could retire themselves to the Earle of Hoy whose party being thus increased waited all advantages which occasioned the King of Sueden to stand rather upon his watch than upon his defence for they did him no harm God having provided other means to clip their wings without the labour of the King of Sueden For Woolweaver according to his design being strengthened by these aides soon imployed it about his principal work which was to settle his Neighbours the Danes in a fitting posture for his purpose For the present condition of Denmark was this The Nobles were divided as was said before about the election of a King divers were for John the son of the former King though a childe and that principally upon the
p. 157. l. 11. r. dayes for life p. 233. l. 31. r. knowing for know p. 312. l. 4. r. wrote for wroughâ— p. 318. l. 25. r. jure humanâ— juris humanâ— p. 342. l. 17. r. bury for bâ—y l. the last r other for to her p. 315. l. 8. r the restless for restless the p. 369. l. 17. r. Sabboth for Sabbath l. 27. r. Lubeckers for Lubecks p 435. l. 21. r. the soâ—l for the sould p. 439. l. 7. r. Mâ—t. 6. 3. for Mâ—t. 3. 6. p. 443. l. 11. r. which for when p. 451. l. 15. put in by that l. 24 pâ—t in he p. 452 l. 13. pâ—t out used and put in to p. 457. l. 3. put in of p. 468. l. 29. r. you for yours l. 529. l. 11 r. breeding for being Mr. JOHN CARTER The LIFE and DEATH OF Mr. JOHN CARTER Who died Anno Christi 1634. MAster John Carter was born at Wickham in Kent near Canterburie about the year of our Lord 1554. He was descended but of mean Parents yet were they Religious and of good report who not being able to maintain him at the University wholly upon their own charge there was one Mr. Rose a rich man in Canterbury who taking notice of his Piety in those his tender years of his ingenuity studiousness and proficiency in all School-learning even beyond the pitch of a Grammer Scholar and finding him hopefull and likely to prove a precious instrument in the Church of Christ he took him into his care sent him to Cambridge and contributed such sums of money to him from time to time as were needfull He was admitted into Clare-Hall and was Pupil to Dr. Bing a famous Civilian and Master of that House Presently after his first admission into that House he was taken notice of as one of singular Learning and ripeness for his years Amongst the rest that were of his year he had a Theam given him to make upon this Subject Frugalitas virtutum maxima and when the young Students brought in their Theams the Lecturer took and read them and when he came to Carters Theam he stood and paused awhile and at last said before them all Here is the best Theam that ever I read and gave him some money for his encouragement and highly commended his Industry and always after cast a favourable eye upon him and sought opportunities to do him good When Mr. Carter had taken his degrees of Batchelor and Mr. of Arts his Tutor Dr. Bing out of his singular love to him for his Piety and Learning gave him a Chamber in his own Lodgings where he continued a year or two which conduced much to the compleating of him for the work of the Ministry and all the while that he continued a gremial in the lap and bosom of his Mother the University he held constant Meetings with divers of his famous Contemporaries and that every week as with Dr. Chaderton Dr. Andrews afterwards Bishop of Ely Mr. Culverwell Mr. Kewstubs and divers others whom God raised up and fitted to send forth into his Harvest to gather his Corn then ripe for the Sickle into his Barn At their meetings they had constant Exercises first They began with prayer then applied themselvs to the Study of the Scriptures one was for the Original Languages anothers task was for the Grammatical Interpretation anothers for the Logical Analysis anothers for the true sense and meaning of the Text another gathered the Doctrines and thus they carried on their several imployments till at last they went out like Apollos eloquent men and mighty in the Scriptures and the Lord was with them so that they brought in a very great Harvest into Gods Barn Mr. Carter would not run before he was sent though he was so excellently qualified for the work he durst not venter upon the exercise of the holy work of the Ministry till he had not only an inward but an outward call also viz. an assignation approbation and solemn admission by the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie When he was ordained the Bishop who in those days was primus Presbyter or Praeses seeking to oppose him asked him this Question Have you read the Bible through Yes said he I have read the Old Testament twice through in the Hebrew and the New Testament often through in the Greek and if you please to examine me in any particular place I shall endeavour to give you an account of it Nay said the Bishop if it be so I shall need to say no more to you only some words of Commendation and encouragement he gave him and so with other assistants he Ordained him Anno Christi 1583. the Vicaridge of Bramford in Suffolk near Ipswich fell void and Mr. Rose of Canterbury beforementioned procured the Presentation thereof for Mr. Carter of the Dean and Chapter of Canterburie in whose Gift it was The Salary at first was only twenty Marks per annum but afterwards the Church raised it to twenty pound per annum and that was the most that ever he had there yet he accepted of it and being setled in it he set himself to do the work of Christ faithfully with all his might as a workman that needed not to be ashamed Every Lords day he preached twice very powerfully and Chatechised the younger sort He also preached a Lecture every Thursday to which multitudes from Ipswich and other adjacent places did resort And God gave such success to his Ministry that by his labours many sons and daughters were from time to time begotten unto God Many precious Christians that remain unto this day acknowledge that their Conversion was by Mr. Carters Ministry Before his Sermons he made but a short Prayer and that always in the same words After Sermon he used to be large and full and expressed himself with great variety of phrases and with much fervency and always he concluded with the Lords Prayer He was very diligent in visiting the sick especially the poorer sort and he never went to the house of any poor creature but he left a Purse-Alms as well as a Spiritual-Alms of good and heavenly advice and prayer No poor body ever came to his door that went away empty his wife also looking to that as carefully as himself Every Saturday throughout the whole year he gave the Milk of his Cows to the poor of the Town and indeed he gave more to the Poor every year then the Revenue of his slender Vicaridge came to in the whole yet God so blessed him that whilst he was in Bramford he quickly paid Mr. Rose of Canterbury all the money that he had disbursed toward his Education in the Uuniversity and before he left Bramford he purchased about twenty pound per annum Gods blessing only makes rich He had but two sons and he brought them both up in Learning and maintained them in the University in good fashion He
speak out at least not so often as he would have had it In his Ministry he never strove for vain glory nor of men sought he praise disdaining to stoop to the lure of popular applaus and therefore he ever shuned those more gay and lighter flourishes of a luxuriant wit which like beautifull weeds make a fair shew at a distance but stink neerer hand wherewith the emptiest Cells affect to be most fraught Like those who for want of wares in their shops set up painted boxes to fill up empty shelves He fed not his flock with airy dews of effeminate Rhetorick which a masculine Orator would shake off from his pen and lips as St Paul did the Viper from his hand nor yet with the jerks and quibbles of a light spirit which he ever abhorred as the excrementitious superfluities of frothy brains and unhallowed hearts but he ever led them out into the green Pastures of solid and savoury truths as their necessities and capacities did require He had and alwayes administred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rationall unadulterated milk for Babes in Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and strong meat for grown men He was a wise Master builder who intending to raise a strong and beautifull Fabrick laid a solid Foundation able and sufficient to bear and strengthen all his superstructures He therefore began his Ministry with a pervous and perspicuous handling of such Texts as might discover to his People the Divine Authority sufficiency purity and energy of the holy Scriptures the ten Commandements Articles of the Faith the Lords Prayer the Doctrine of the Sacraments God in Trinity his Decrees Creation Providence of Sin Christ the New Covenant the Fall of Man the Mediator the Gospell Faith Vocation Regeneration Justification Adoption Sanctification Glorification the Church the last Judgment the Christian Warfare and such like All which in process of time he opened and applied sometimes more largely sometimes more briefly but alwayes profitably and sweetly as a workman that needeth not to be ashamed but rightly dividing the word of truth in a practicall way Out of all which in his more mature and riper years greatest strength of parts and depth of judgment he after many serious reviews compiled that excellently compacted Systeme of Divinity in a Catecheticall way which he deservedly intituled The Guid to true Blessedness And out of it he again extracted that lesser Catechisme which he often used with very profitable and delightfull explanations both in his Congregation and Family A most profitable course of teaching and learning the true knowledg of Christ. He went also through many intire Scriptures which doth greatly try and improve a Divine and the more obscure any place was the greater was his diligence with happy success to bring light unto it Difficulties which are Lions in the way of the sluggard proved but spurs to his Industry He went over many of the Psalms as the 1 t 2d 4th 6th 10th 14th 19th 22d 45th 50th 122d 127. The twelve first Chapters of Isay Lamentation the 3d Habbacuk the 3d the Prophesie of Malachy Mathew the 5 t 6th and 7th Chapters All the Examples both of good and bad men in the Scriptures for imitation of the former and detestation of the latter All the Miracles and Parables of Christ All St Johns Gospel an admirable Commentary The twelfth of the Epistle to the Romans the second Chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians the 2d and 3d to the Collossians the 2d to the Thessalonians Chap. 2. The eleventh of the Epistle to the Hebrews the 2d and 3d Chapters of the Revelations with many more besides very many Texts suitable to the times on every occasion being exceeding happy in the choise and prosecution of them Whensoever his Preaching day happened upon January the 17 which was his birth day he still noted his years compleat with this Paenitentiall Epiphonema 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God be mercifull unto me a sinner A memorable evidence of his pious sence of his own unworthiness in the sight of God how much soever he was cried up and esteemed by men No excellency of naturall abilities no eminency of spirituall endowments no acceptation of his labours ever puffed him up but that he still walked in all lowliness and humility towards all men even in his greatest exaltations in the hearts of men Much might be said of his long continued course of Catechising that most profitable and speedy way of implanting knowledg by which he set up so great and cleer a light in his Congregation as will not only discover the wisdom and excellency of the workman and guid their feet in the wayes of truth and holiness who have been enlightned thereby but much facilitate the further polishing of those living stones by succeeding builders His Heavenly and Divine spirit of Prayer seemed to excell all other his excellencies as will be attested by all that heard him in publick or private and that ever knew what a Prayer of Faith elevated to the highest pitch by the Holy Ghost meaneth whether they ever found any to excell him or many to come near him O! those penitent unbowelling confessions earnest deprecations petitions panting-longings and sighings after God and his Grace those mighty powerfull Arguments whereby he set all home feeling Thanksgivings and divine raptures carrying up his soul to Heaven in the sacred flames of his own Sacrifices sweetly perfumed with the Incense of him who presenteth all the Prayers of his Saints on the Altar of Grace He first brought conceived Prayer into use in those parts wherein he was so happy so free from impertinent expressions and unnecessary repetitions so rich in piercing supplications patheticall thanksgivings and gracious wrestlings with the Almighty yea so dexterous to apply himself to prefer all suits and to fit every occasion like an exquisite Archer able to shoot to an hairs breadth and so prompt and full in expressing the very hearts of those that indeed joyned with him in whatsoever they desired for themselves or others as if by a kind of transmigration their souls had passed into his and spake the very bottom of their hearts by his Tongue which their own could not utter And this was such an opening and warming of his hearers hearts before his Sermons and such a sweet closing up of all after his Preaching as added much to the power and profit of all his labours and was to him a transcendent advantage in his whole Ministry And truly his example took so well with all the godly Ministers that heard him that they accounted it their great happiness and honour to follow and imitate him with whom yet very few could keep pace in that most important part of a Ministers work and office whereby they might be the more able to pour out their souls and the souls of their people into the bosom of the Almighty In the Orb of his publick Ministry this fixed Star shined brightly without the least eclipse or
now broken silver Trumpet so long remember that by the space of forty and seven years he ceased not to warn every one with tears Remember what he hath spoken while he lived Remember what he yet speaks being Dead Hold fast the form of sound words which ye have heard of him Hold fast the faithfull word which he hath taught you Hold fast the profession of your Faith without wavering Take heed of wolves Beware of Dogs Take heed of men Men of perverse minds speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them Although the Prophets die yet Gods word spoken by them shall live for ever and will do good to them that walk uprightly and shall take hold on them that obey it not So let us leave our Brother in the Bed of Honour till the joyfull morning of the Resurrection of the just when he amongst them that have turned many unto righteousness shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever The Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance Psal. 112. 6. The issues of his brain and heart made publick were only these First that exquisite and accurate Guide to true blessedness so often reprinted and so highly esteemed by all that read it through with understanding and care Then at several times he gave way to four occasional and select Sermons viz. The Waking sleep The Ministerial Husbandry The Discovery of the Heart and Death subdued That wherein he had taken most pains which since is published in Print by Dr. Burgess and Mr. W. Gregory is an excellent Treatise wherein his main design in very apposite and acutely distinguishing Characters was to lay open not those more apparent and obvious contrarieties of vertues in Holy and vices in wicked men evident unto ordinary capacities upon the first aspect but the more hidden and less discerned difference between the plausiblyâ— seeming vertues of evil men and the real Graces of the truly Godly as likewise between the raigning sins of Hypocrites and the daily infirmities of the Saints which many times even by quick-sighted Spectators are both mistaken In prosecution whereof he first brings forth the Hypocrite in his best dress and attire and then sets by him a Regenerate man living up to his Rule adding the differences between them thereby to unmask the Hypocrite and to detect his Incroachments upon the name and priviledges of the Saints Secondly he sets out a true Childe of God labouring under infirmities and an Hypocrite under the power of sin which cannot consist with saving Grace notwithstanding all his flourishes that so he may clearly distinguish a Christian in black from a Counterfeit in white and between the bewailed weaknesses of the Saints and the wilfull wandrings of the wicked A work no less needfull to all than gratefull to the Soul-sound self-searching Christian that labours for sincerity and the assurance of it But the iniquity of the Times full of Hypocrisie and Atheism hating and hindering such discoveries and by all means discouraging those that would make them together with the Authors constant Imployment even unto the impairing of his strength and spirits in feeding his Flock disabled him from compleating that admirable Piece Sundry other issues of his fertile and excellent wit and curious Invention he left behind him as divers choice and sacred Aphorisms Anatomica Nosognostica Pathologica Therapeutica Physiologica and Prophylactica As also divers Divine Emblemes and Similitudes all eminent demonstrations of his exquisite abilities and profitable improvements of them The Life and Death of Mr. John Cotton who died An. Christi 1652. JOhn Cotton was born at Derby Anno Christi 1584. His Parents were persons of considerable quality and of good reputation Their condition as to the things of this life competent neither unable to defray the expences of his education in good literature nor so abounding as to be a temptation on the other hand unto the neglect thereof and God who had then predetermined this then tender plant to be a Tree of Life for the feeding of many thousands and to be a chosen Vessel to bear his Name before the Nations in way thereunto he inspired his Parents with an effectuall sollicitude concerning the ordering of this their Son in his minority This care in his Parents was quickly above expectation answered in the first-fruits of their Sons proficiency who more and more encreased great hopes concerning him throughout the whole time of his minority wherein he was trained up in the Grammar School of Derby When he was about the age of thirteen he was admitted into Trinity College in Cambridg where his industry was great and his profiting in the Arts and Languages above his equals so far commended him to the Master and Fellows as that he had undoubtedly been chosen Fellow of that College had not their extraordinary expence about building of their great Hall at that time put it by or at least deferred their election untill some longer time From Trinity he was removed to Emanuel that happy Seminary both of Piety and Learning and in that Society the Lord gave him favour so that in due time he was honoured with a Fellowship amongst them when he was elected to it after a diligent and strict examination according to the Statutes of the College wherein this is not unworthy the taking notice of that when the Poser came to examine him in the Hebrew Tongue the place that he made triall of him by was that portion of Scripture Isaiah the 3d wherein the Prophet declaims against the pride and haughtiness of the Daughters of Sion which Text hath more hard words in it than any other place of the Bible within so short a compass and therefore though a present construction and resolution thereof might have put a good Hebrician to a stand yet such was his ability and dexterity as made those hard words facil and easie and rendred him a prompt respondent And this providence is further remarkable about him That whereas his Father whose calling was towards the Law was but obscure and had not many Clients that made use of his advice in Law-matters before it pleased God after his Sons going to Cambridg to bless him with great practice so that he was very able to keep him there and to allow him full and liberall maintenance Insomuch as this blessed man hath been oft heard to say God kept me in the University Being thus advanced he was in the place of improvement beset with Examples as so many objects of better emulation If he slacken his pace his compeers will leave him behinde and though he quicken it there are still those that are before him But he was not only a lover of Labour but Communicative of his Learning and therefore he proved a diligent Tutor and had many young Students committed to his care He was a Didactical-man both able and apt to teach and truly ability to instruct youth argues a Wise man and to be willing to teach
Pastor which suffered much extremity by reason of the persecution of their then prevailing adversaries forcing them from Bermudas into the Desart Continent The sound of whose distress was no sooner heard of but you might have heard the sounding of his bowels with many others applying themselves to a speedy Collection and sending it to them on purpose for their seasonable relief the sum was about seven hundred pounds two hundred whereof he gathered in the Church of Boston no man in the Contribution exceeding and but one equalling his bounty And it was remarkable that this Contribution arrived there the very day after those poor people were brought to a personal division of that little Meal then remaining in the Barrel and not seeing according to man but that after the eating thereof they must dye a lingring death for want of food and upon the same day their Pastor had preached unto them it being the Lords day upon that Text Psal. 23. The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want At such a time the good hand of the Lord brought this succour to them from afar Whilst he was in Old England his eminent piety the success of his labours and his interest in the hearts both of superiours inferiours equals drew upon him much envy and his Non-conformity added thereunto so that he was delivered in a great measure to the will of his Adversaries who gave him not over till they had bereaved him of much of his livelihood his liberty Country and therewithall of the sweet society of lovers friends and many wayes endeared acquaintance more precious to him than life it self Yet the measure of the afflictions of Christ appointed to be suffered by him was not so fulfilled but lo in the time of his exile some Brethren provoked by the censure of Authority though justly not without tears inflicted upon them singled out Mr. Cotton as the object of their displeasure who though above other men declining irregular and unnecessary interesting himself in the actions of the Magistrate and while opportunity lasted endeavouring their healing yet they requited him evil for good and they at least some of them who were formerly companions with him in the tribulations of that Patmos yea respecters of him had taken sweet counsel together and they had walked in the house of God as friends Hence was he with Tongue and pen blasphemed by them for whom he formerly intreated and for whom he both then and afterwards wept and put on sackcloth As touching any Tenet wherein he may seem singular remember that he was a man and therefore to be heard and read with judgement and happily sometimes with favour St. Hierom makes a difference between reading the writings of the Apostles and other men They saith he alwayes speak the truth these as men sometimes erre But no man did more placidly bear a Dissentient than he It contributes much towards the fuller discovery of truth when men of larger capacities and greater industry than others may be permitted to communicate their Notions onely they should use this liberty by way of disquisition not of Position rather as searchers after Scripture-light than as Dictators of private opinions But now this Western Sun hastens to his setting Being called to preach at a neighbour Church he took wet in his passage over the Ferry and not many hours after he felt the effect of it being seized upon with an extream ilness in his Sermon time This sad providence when others bewailed he comforted himself in that he was found so doing Decet Imperatorem stantem mori It is the honour of a Commander to dye standing St. Austins usual with was that when Christ came he might finde him Aut praecantem aut praedicantem either praying or preaching Calvin would not that when the Lord came he should finde him idle After a short time he complained of the inflamation of his lungs and thereupon found himself Asthmatical and afterward Scorbutical which both meeting in a complicated disease put an end to his dayes insomuch that he was forced to give over those comforting drinks which his stomack could not want If he still used them the inflamation grew unsufferable and threatned a more sharp and speedy death If he left them his stomack forthwith ceased to perform its office leaving him without hope of life By these Messengers he received the sentence of death yet in the use of means he attended the pleasure of him in whose hands our times are his labours continued whilst his strength failed November the 18. he took in course for his Text the four last verses of the second Epistle to Timothy Salute Prisca and Aquila c. Giving the reason why he spake of so many verses together because otherwise he said he should not live to make an end of that Epistle He chiefly insisted upon those words Grace be with you all so ending that Epistle and his Lectures together For upon the Lords day following he preached his last Sermon upon Joh. 1. 14. And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we â—eheld his Glory as of the onely begotten Son of the Father full of Grace and Peace Now he gave himself wholly to prepare for his dissolution making his Will and setting his house in order When he could no more be seen abroad all sorts Magistrates Ministers Neighbours and Friends afar off and those near at hand especially his own people resorted to him daily as to a publick Father When the neighbour Ministers visited him in which duty they were frequent he thanked them affectionately for their love exhorting them also as an Elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ to feed the Flock encouraging them that when the chief Shepherd shall appear they should receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away Finding himself to grow weak according to that of James he sent for the Elders of the Church of Boston to pray over him which last solemn duty being performed not without much affection and many tears Then as Polycarp a little before his death said That he had served Christ fourscore and six years neither had he ever offended him in any thing so he told them through Grace he had now served God forty years it being so long since his conversion throughout which time he had ever found him faithful to him and thereupon he took occasion to exhort them to the like effect that Paul sometime did the Elders of Ephesus a little before they were to see his face no more Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the Flock over wâ—ich the Lord hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Particularly he lamented that the love of many yea and some of their own Congregation was grown cold towards the publick Ordinances calling upon them so much the more for their watchfulness in that respect which done he thanked them for their loving and brotherly assistance to
him in their holy fellowship and commended them to the blessing of God His pious Consort and those Olive Plants that sate lately about his Table now gathered together about the Bed of a dying Husband and departing Father This was his last solemn transaction with man in this world Silver and Gold though he wanted not he had not much to give them but the blessing of a righteous Paâ—ent he left with them That Reverend and Godly man Mr. Wilson who excelleth in Love as Mr. Cotâ—on did in Light the faithful Pastor of that Church taking his last leave of him and most ardently praying unto God that he would lift up the light of his countenance upon him and shed his love into his soul he presently answered He hath done it already Brother His work now finished with all men perceiving his departure to be at hand and having nothing else to do but onely that great work of dying in the Lord he wholly composed and set himself for his dissolution desiring that he might be permitted to improve that little remnant of his life without impediment to his private Devotions and divine Soliloquies between God and his soul and for that end he caused the Curtains to be drawn and a Gentleman and Brother of that Congregation that was much with him and ministred to him in his sickness he caused to promise him that the Chamber should be kept private But a while after hearing the whispering of some brethren in the Room he called to that Gentleman saying Why do you break your word with me Not long after being mindful no doubt of that great helpfulness which he received from that aforementioned Brother throughout his visitation he left him with this farewel The God that made you and bought you with a great price redeem your body and soul unto himself These words were his last words after which he was not heard to speak but lying some hours speechless he quietly breathed out his spirit into the hands of him that gave it December 23. Anno Christi 1652. being entred into the Sixty eighth year of his Age. The Life and Death of Dr. Hill who dyed Anno Christi 1653. MR. Thomas Hill was born at Kingston in Worcestershire of Godly Parents and David accounted it his great honour and blessing to be the Son of Gods Handmaid Psal. 86. 16. His Parents dedicated him unto God from his Child-hood designing him to the work of the Ministry and in order thereunto they trained him up in School-learning in the Country and being there well fitted they sent him to Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge where the Rose was not cankered in the bud his youth not corrupted nor debauched as too many are But this morning like that 2 Sam. 23. 4. was without clouds not sullied with any noted miscarriage but on the contrary as it is said of Sampson when young that the Spirit of the Lord began then to move him Judg. 13. 25. So in his then sober and studious behaviour the Sun looked out betimes in that Summer morning and through Gods Grace otherwise than it oft falls out in nature he gave promising hopes of an after clearer day This being taken notice of by the Governours of the Colledge they thereupon after examination had chose him Scholar of the House he as his Saviour still growing in wisdome and stature and in favour with God and man And then after some good time spent in his private studies in the Colledge for his further perfecting and the more happy seasoning of his spirit he went and sojourned with that man of God now also with the Lord Mr. Cotton at Boston in Lincolnshire where by Gods rich blessing upon his most godly directions and example and the society he had with him and other eminent Christians in that place he was much improved and furthered as otherwise so especially in Heavens-way which happily went along with him to his journies end Upon his return from thence to the Colledge it was not long before he was chosen Fellow with general approbation though upon a most strict and double examination more I think than ever was in that Colledge before or hath been since though it still is and ever hath been according to the Statutes very strict and serious and which hath been blessed to be a special means of holding up true worth and learning in that happy Society And now through Gods good hand of providence leading and strengthning him he proved a diligent painful and successful Tutor of very many Pupils and divers of them persons of quality who since have proved great blessings both to the Church and Commonwealth And thus as he was before a pattern to young Schollars so after he was a Tutor no diligence was wanting whereby he might be instrumental to Gods Glory and the good of those who were committed to his charge But this our wise Master-builder satisfied not himself as a Tutor in polishing of builders but as a faithful and painful Minister he laboriously endeavoured to square other lively stones for Gods Temple 1 Pet. 2. 5. and so as he read to Schollars in the Colledge he also diligently and conscionblâ— preached to a neighbour Congregation St. Andrews in the Town so that many poor souls long after had cause to bless God for him Nor was he an Hireling to flye when the Wolf came but when the Plague in this time of his Ministry raged in the Town he still continued with them in his Ministerial employment the better Shepherd he who not onely fed the sound but also healed and bound up the torn and weak of the flock This Alabaster Box of precious oyntment thus powred out filled the whole house with its odour and the sweet fragrancy of it did spread abroad so that now he came to be more taken notice of by many both great and good men and so by some of eminent worth and honour he was called to the Pastoral charge of Tichmersh in Northamptonshire where he laboured faithfully in Gods Harvest for the space of about eight or nine years and partly by preaching and conversing up and down with others but especially with his own Parochial charge he proved a great blessing not onely to that Town but also to the whole Country in every place where he came spreading a good savour and leaving it behinde him During the time of his being at Tichmersh he sometimes repaired to Warwick Castle to that Noble Robert Lord Brook who highly esteemed him and in whose Family he grew acquainted with Mrs. Mary Wilford at that time Governess to the Lady Frances Rich a young Lady of rare parts Daughter to the Right Honourable Robert Earle of Warwick and mutual affections growing betwixt them he was married to her who since his death was re-married to the Reverend learned and pious Dr. Tuckney Master of St. Johns Colledge and Regius Professor in Cambridge my much honoured friend so that she hath
blessing to his Ministry that many of his Auditors though living in other Parishes upon Trial before sundry Elderships have confessed that the first seeds of Grace sown in their hearts were by the blessing upon Dr. Gouges Ministry And indeed herein God wonderfully honoured his labours by making him an aged Father in Christ to beget many Sons and Daughters unto God and to nourish up others in the wayes of righteousnesse thousands having been converted and built up by his Ministry He used also every month to preach a preparation Sermon before the Communion on the Eve before each monthly Sacrament He was eminently laborious and faithful in the work of his Ministry even to his dying day preaching so long as he was able to creep up into the Pulpit As a tree planted in the House of the Lord he was fruitful even in his old age Psal. 92. 13 14. He often used to say in his latter dayes that he could preach with more ease than he could get up into the Pulpit the reason whereof doubtlesse was this because as the encrease of his Asthma dis-inabled him to go so the encrease of his Intellectuals enabled him to preach with more ease than in his younger dayes His preacing was alwaes very distinct First he opened his Text giving the true and proper sense of it then gave he the Logical Analysis of it and then gathered such proper observations as naturally flowed from it and properly and pertinently improved and applied the same by which method his Ministry proved very profitable to his hearers Many have acknowledged that in regard of the Logical resolution of his Text he went beyond all that ever they heard as also in clearing difficult and doubtful places of Scripture as they came in his way And as his method was clear so were his expressions plain alwayes delivering the solid points of Divinity in a familiar stile to the capacity of the meanest As for his life and conversation it was holy and exemplary himself practising what he preached unto others and living over his own Sermons his Doctrine and his practice concurred and went hand in hand together Before these times of Examination of persons before their admission to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper he used to go to the houses of the better sort in his Parish where he appointed a time for them and their whole Families to meet together that he might examine how fit they were to be admitted to that Ordinance yea he appointed sundry small Families to meet together on a certain day that he might make trial of their fitness also and then his manner was not to admit any of the younger sort to the Sacrament till in his judgement he found them fitted for it Though he addicted himself much to his studies and carried himself peaceably yet wanted he not those that did envy and malign him and that took all occasions to do him what mischief they could As in the case of Serjeant Finch his book about the Calling of the Jews which Dr. Gouge only published and the author himself owned it yet for his publication of it he was committed to prison and kept there for the space of nine weeks together King James being informed that the Serjeant had in that Book declared and endeavoured to prove that the Jews should have a visible Kingdome which should be above all other Kingdoms which Doctrin he abhorred he thereupon grew extream impatient Bishop Neal also with others provoked him against the publisher of the Book which so incensed him that he would admit of no Apology Yet after a while Dr. Gouge was moved distinctly to declare his judgement and opinion about that point of the calling and conversion of the Jews which he did in these ensuing Propositions All that I can gather out of the holy Scriptures about this point is 1. That the Calling of the Jews importeth more than a spiritual Calling to beleeve in Jesus Christ and to imbrace the Gospel 2. This their spiritual Calling may be called an outward glorious Calling in regard of the visibility and generallity of it to put a difference betwixt the promised Calling of the Nation and the continual Calling of some few persons For in all ages since the rejection of the Jews some few here and there have been called Thus the Calling of the Gentiles in the Apostles time when Christians had no pompous Civil Government was an outward glorious Calling by reason of the visible famous Church which they had 3. It is probable that at or after their Calling they shall not be scattered as now they are but shall be gathered together into Churches and be freed from the bondage and slavery wherein they have been many years together 4. To give them a Soveraignty over all the whole Church seemeth to me to be derogatory to that absolute Sovereignty which Christ the head of his Church hath in whom the promises of the perpetuity of Davids Scepter of the extent of his Dominion of the subjection of all Nations are accomplished 5. To set down the distinct time place and other like circumstances of their Calling needeth more than an ordinary spirit and implies too much curiosity 6. The point of the Calling of the Jews being no fundamental point of Christian Religion to be over stiff in holding one thing or other therein to the disturbance of the peace of the Church comes near to Schisme Upon which being examined by Archbishop Abbot and his answer approved he was released from his imprisonment Ordinarily in the Summer Vacation he was with his Family in the Country but not so much for his own ease as for the further service of Gods Church for besides his preaching every Lords day in the place where he resided he improved his time for the publication of those his Treatises which are now in Print viz. The whole Armour of God Domestical duties An Explanation of the Lords Prayer Gods three Arrows of the Plaâ—ue Famine Sword upon occasion of those Judgments then raging The Saints Sacrifice of Thanksgiving upon his recovery from a dangerous sickness To which is now added his Commentary upon the whole Epistle to the Hebrews which was the subject of his Wednesdayes Lectures for many years While he was setled at Black-Friers he Commenced Batchelour of Divinity Anno Christi 1611. which was the eighth year after he had taken the Degree of Master of Arts. Anno Christi 1628 he proceeded Dr. of Divinity at which time eight London Ministers proceeded Doctors upon which occasion Dr. Collins the then Regius Professor put up Mr. Gouges Degree and procured it to pass in the Regent-house before he had any notice thereof and without his consent whereby he did in a manner force him to take his Degree yet so as when he heard what was done he readily went to Cambridge and performed all his Acts according to the Statutes of the University as he had done at the taking of
is given to those who in their life-time were Governours of the Hospital of Bridewell one of which number this worthy Doctor was yea and a Benefactor too to that House As also that he should not affixe any Escocheons to his Herse though he was a Gentleman of an ancient Descent as if he had thought that the poverty of Christ was his Patrimony and Coat of Arms and his interest in him his greatest and best atchievement or as if both living and dead he would be as the Apostle speaks cloathed with Humility He was much in Communion with God and contented not himself only with his constant daily and ordinary holy duties but was also frequent in extraordinary exercises In the Bishops times when it was not permitted to keep Fasts in the publick Congregations he was one of those Ministers who frequently holp private Christians in their more retired Humiliations In times of fears and dangers he with divers others had sometimes monthly yea sometimes weekly Fasts whereof many were kept in his own house and others of them in his Vestry which he was observed to perform with extraordinary reverence awfulness of spirit His Confessions were accompanied with much sense of and sorrow for sin brokenness of heart self-abhorrency judging of the creature and justifying of God His petitions were pertinent judicious spiritual seasonable accompanied with faith and fervency like a true son of Jacob he wrestled with supplications and tears as resolving not to depart out of Gods presence without a blessing But there was none like him in Thanksgiving when a man would have thought that he had spent the last drop of his spirits and strength in Confession and Prayer O! how would he recollect is spirits when he came to the work of Thanksgiving wherein he would be so large particular warm and vigorous that in the end of the day when mens affections grew flat he would so revive and quicken them as if the work had been then but newly begun and as if that had been the onely work of the day and herein indeed he may be a pattern to all his surviving Brethren in the Ministry He was very inquisitive after the state and condition of the Church of Christ both at home and abroad that he might accordingly order his prayers in their behalf of whom he was never unmindful in his addresses unto God And when he heard that it went ill with the Church of God in any place like another Nehemiah he sate him down and wept and mourned and fasted and prayed unto the God of Heaven in their behalf His study was as great to advance Christ as to debase himself He used frequently to say When I look upon my self I see nothing but emptiness and weakness but when I look upon Christ I see nothing but fulness and sufficiency When the hand of his body was weak and shaking that of his soul his faith was strong and steddy When he could not hold the Cup at the Sacrament nor scarce carry it to his own mouth by reason of his Palsie hand yet then with a firme anâ— fixed affiance did he lay hold upon Christ and with a strong and eager appetite applied his blood to his soul and his manner was sweetly to breathe forth joyful Thanksgivings for his refreshment by the blood of Christ when he was returned to his house after the Lords Supper yea when he could hardly creep with his body to the place where it was celebrated and was forced many times to make use of the help of others to support him in his passage thither even then did his faith run swiftly and was upon the wing to carry him to Christ. When worldly suports failed him when health and strength forsook him he made Jesus Christ the staff of his old age often professing as his great misery and impotency without him so his holy and humble recumbency upon him Great was his patience under the visiting hand of God especially in his old age when God exercised him with painful maladies Though by reason of the sharpness and bitterness of his pains occasioned by the stone and acuteness of his urine and that Lethalis arundo as he oft called it that deadly arrow in his side which he knew could never be plucked out but by death I mean his Asthma which he got by an excessive cold in attending upon publick imployments Notwithstanding I say by reason of these he was often heard to groan yet never did he once grumble against the dispensations of God Never did he complain of God for his sufferings though oft of himself for sinning He never cryed out A great sufferer but oft A great sinner and yet he would overtake that expression again with the discoursing of and comforting himself in A great Saviour and in the depth of his torments he would say Well yet in all these there is nothing of Hell or of Gods wrath His sufferings were never so deep but he could see the bottome of them and would say Soul be silent soul be patient It is thy God and Father that thus ordereth thy estate Thou art his clay he may tread and trample on thee as pleaseth him Thou hast deserved much more It is enough that thou art kept out of Hell Though thy pain be grievous yet it is tollerable Thy God affords some intermissions he will turn it to thy good and at length put an end to all none of these can be expected in Hell He used often to make mention of the extent of obedience which he said was not onely to endeavour to do what God requireth but also patiently to bear what Gods will is to lay upon his creature as Christ himself though he were the Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered In his greatest pangs he oft used this speech of holy Job Shall we receive good from the hands of God and not evil He often commended his soul unto Christ and used to say I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day When any of his Friends went about to comfort him in those gifts which God had bestowed on him and works which he had wrought by him he would answer I dare not think of any such thing for comfort Jesus Christ and what he hath done and endured is the only ground of my sure comfort Many that came to visit him in his weakness professed that they went away better than they came by reason of those savoury and gracious speeches and expressions that proceeded from him Though towards his latter end his fits of the stone were frequent and sharp having sometimes four or five of them in an hour yet such was his desire to finish that his so much desired Commentary upon the Epistle to the Hebrews that so soon as the bitter pain of his fit was over he still returned to his work making some further progress therein And thus he
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
thereupon presumed that the time was approaching wherein his soul should be married to the Lamb he would not endure to listen to the motion of some who would have advised him to a new entanglement in the world Having thus related his several Marriages in a continued Narrative let us now step back to take notice of some passages in time that went before the last of them Anno Christi 1620 having a justifiable curiosity to see our neighbour Churches in the United Provinces and something of the Spanish Provinces in the Netherlands he took advantage of the Truce between the King of Spain and the Hollanders for a free passage between both Countries Thereupon with his entire friend Captain Joshua Downing and an old acquaintance Mr. Roger Hughs his Mnason whose house he frequented at London he took his voyage taking also along with him a Nephew of his who was a young Student to be a partner with him in his Travels His mother being then alive had some fears lest he being a known and noted adversary to the Popish cause which he had mortally wounded with many and sharp weapons should suffer inconvenience from that generation of Vipers whose violent and virulent malice often prompts them to base course of secret revenge but God was his guide his Sun and his Shield and so prospered his journey that within a months space for they took Boat July the 13 and returned safe August the 14 he had viewed the most considerable places in the Low-Countries In this his travel he gave better satisfaction to the English Church in Middleburgh where he gave way to the importunity of friends who were desirous to hear him as well as glad to see him than he did to the English Papists in Flanders with whom he had divers debates wherein he drove some to a confusion whom he could not draw to a conversion Anno Christi 1642. A violent fit of the Colick assaulted him and brought him to the very brink of the Grave but it pleased God to bring him back again that he might do him further service For the year ensuing before he had well recovered his strength he was called by the Parliament to sit as one of the Assembly which was summoned to be consulted with about Religion where his endeavours for promoting truth and suppressing errour were sincere and serious And his study of peace with modesty was in this remarkable that when his Reasons delivered concerning Christs obedience in order to our Justification wherein he differed from his Brethren could not obtain assent from the major part which determined the Question contrary to his sense his great love of unity imposed upon him silence and wrought likewise upon him resolutions not to publish his discourses upon that subject from Rom. 3. 28. that so he might not publickly discover dissent from the Votes of that Reverend Assembly I wish there had been the like prudence and modesty in some others who profess themselves to differ but in circumstantials During his attendance upon the work of that Convention the Earle of Manchester being acquainted with his great worth and fitness in regard of his Learning of all kindes for Academical transactions offered him the Mastership of Trinity College in Cambridge which is the greatest preferment in that University For that Noble Lord being intrusted by the Parlament with the Reformation of that Academy was not passionately transported with a blinde partiality of mens persons upon any sinister respects but desired to prefer them whom he judged most worthy and most hopeful to do Christ service in that place and therefore being perswaded that Mr. Gataker might both in regard of his gravity and vast Scholastical abilities be a choise ornament to that University and fair copy for others to write by he was very desirous to place him there But this good man though often importuned by many friends to accept of the motion according to his accustomed modesty with many thanks to the Noble Earle refused to undertake that place though of much honour service and outward advantage pleading together with his unworthiness the weakness of his body by reason of age and thereupon his inability to take journies and because he looked upon himself as having one foot in the Grave he humbly desired that a younger man might be thought upon more likely to be longer serviceable than himself in a place of so great eminency and trust And indeed the sense of his own weakness was not a vain presage of his decayes for not long after he was again surprised by the Colick which before had shaken him and made his crazie body less able to endure new conflicts and these were so sharp that his recovery appeared desperate not only to his other friends but even to his Physitians also Yet it pleased God though he chastened him sore not to give him over unto death For his studies which seemed to be his meat and drink in his health were his physick also when he was sick For whilst he was confined to his chamber he prepared for the Press his Dissertation de Tetragrammato and a Grammatical discourse de Bivocalibus and though this for the subject be not comparable to the other yet it may be averred that what he did by the by and for the refreshment of his languishing body and minde was of more worth than the main work of many Students After a long time that he had been a Prisoner in his own house he by Gods assistance recovered so much strength as that he was able to go to Gods house and now he believed himself bound to imploy his Ministerial Gifts in Gods service and therefore he again adventured into the Pulpit where he spent himself so far that he strained a veyn in his lungs for which being then about Seventy three years old he was let blood by which and other good means God was pleased to carry him through that danger When he had recruited his veyns and sinews with fresh abilities he being unwilling to fall under that Woe 1 Cor. 9. 16. for not preaching the Gospel acted more according to the willingness of his spirit than was proportionable to the weakness of the flesh whereupon he fell into a relapse of spitting blood for which he again permitted a veyn to be opened which laid on him a necessity of forbeâ—ring the Pulpit yet would he never forgoe the administration of the Sacraments nor his usual short discourse at Funerals suitable to the present whensoever he was sollicited thereunto though even those shorter exercises of his lungs were painful to him wasted that oil which like a burning light he spent for the enlightning of others The main of his time was now spent in his study and that was not designed as a meer entertainment of himself in a quiet privacy but to the publick benefit of the Church for the present and for posterity as appears amongst other works by those exquisite Annotations upon the
means to make him both a ready and a profitable Preacher Whilst he lived in Rutlandshire came forth the Book allowing Sports on the Sabbath which he refused to read though it was with commands and threatning pressed upon him And afterwards when he was called to give in his answer about a contribution amongst Ministers to maintain the War against the Scots he openly told the Bishop or his Chancellor that his conscience would not permit him to do it This his answer exposed him to the hazard of losing both his Living and Ministry as the times then were whereupon one of his neighbours through misguided love compassionating him and his Family payed the money required and subscribed Mr. Whitakers name without his knowledge This was long concealed from him but when he came to the knowledge of it he expressed his dislike with many complaints and much grief of heart As he had early so he had constant vigorous workings of heart towards the calling and work of the Ministry and that upon this ground because he alwayes wayes conceived that therein a Christian might enjoy most fellowship with Christ and have opportunities of doing him the best service and he often considered Christs speech to Peter If thou lovest me feed my Sheep feed my Lambs Joh. 21. 15 17. He was never so well pleased with any imployment as when he was about the works of his Ministry In the Pulpit he was as it were in his own element like a Fish in the water or a Bird in the air Though many times he went thither halting and full of pain yet did he not manifest any sense of distemper whilst he was in the Pulpit When an Assembly of Divines was to be chosen to consult and advise the Parliament about Ecclesiastical affairs he was for his eminent piety and learning nominated for one and how usefull and advantagious he was to those affairs is well known to all that were Members of that Assembly and when Providence had thus brought him to London he was as Paul 2 Cor. 11. 23. In labours more abundant than many yea than most others Not long after his coming to London he was called and chosen to the Pastoral charge of Mary Magdalen Bermondsey in Southwark about which he consulted with many godly and judicious Ministers and with their consent and approbation accepted of it after which for the most part his task was to preach constantly four Sermons every week two in his own Charge one at Westminster and one at Christ Church London and after he had laid down his Christ Church Lecture at the importunity of the Inhabitants he took up one at Stepney besides his preaching two Lectures quarterly at Michaels Cornhill Adde to these his preaching monethly at the morning Exercises or else he assisted on the Fast dayes in the conclusion of those Exercises besides his many occasional Sermons as for preparation to the Sacrament in his own Church and at Funerals both at home and abroad yea it is truly reported of him that he would never deny any request for preaching and praying if Godgave him bodily ability or other unavoidable occasions did not necessarily hinder him Many week dayes he preached twice even then when he attended the work of the Assembly of Divines to wit the morning Exercise either at Westminster or elsewhere and upon some other occasion in the afternoon of the same day This may minde us of the commendation which St. Paul gave of Epaphroditus Phil. 2. 30. For the work of the Lord he was nigh unto death not regarding his life So it s well known to multitudes that this might fitly be applied to painfull Mr. Whitaker yea many conceived that his painfull diseases which hastened his removal from us were occasioned and encreased by his many constant and indefatigable labours in this kinde And though he preached so often yet were not his Sermons jâ—june wordy empty Sermons but alwayes full of Scripture strength savoury and affectionate as his Auditors can well testfie Neither is this to be wondred at if we consider that he was a universal Scholar both in the Arts and original Languages By much study he had digested the whole body of Divinity he was well acquainted both with the Fathers and School-men An acute and solid Disputant excellently versed in Cases of Conscience and second unto none in his acquaintance with the sacred Scriptures Since our times of wofull desertion and Apostasie both from Gospel Truths and practices he would undauntedly both in private Conferences and in his publick Ministry express his dislike yea his detestation thereof to the faces of them how great soever who too much favoured Heresies Errours and Ranting courses though he knew that thereby he did run the hazard of procuring many frowns to himself He refused to sign and subscribe the late Engagement though thereby he was in danger of losing his Lecture at Westminster and if his Sermons preached there upon Eph. 2. 2 3. concerning mens walking according to the course of this world c. Fulfilling the lusts of the flesh c. could be collected and published it would thereby appear that Mr. Whitaker out of his zeal for Gods glory and love to his Lord Christ was of an undaunted courage and full of Christian magnanimity One further testimony whereof we have in this following Story Since these stormy times began wherein the liberty and livelyhood of Ministers hath been so much maligned and struck at as he was riding with one of his intimate friends by Tiburn which he had not seen or not observed before he asked what that was and being answered that it was Tiburn where so many Malefactors had lost their lives he stopped his Horse and uttered these words with much aflection Oh what a shame is it that so many thousands should dye for the satisfaction of their lusts and so few be found willing to lay down their lives for Christ why should not we in a good cause and upon a good call be ready to be hanged for Jesus Christ It would be an everlasting honour and it is a thousand times better to dye for Christ to be hanged or to be burnt for Christ than to dye in our beds He did often and zealously defend the Office of a Gospel Ministry both in publick and in private and that especially amongst those persons and in those places where as he conceived there was most need In one of his morning Lectures at Westminster this passage came from him with much affection Though said he I have read and heard of some good men who unadvisedly in their passion have persecuted the persons of some godly Ministers as Asa was angry with the Prophet and cast him into prison yet I never knew I never read nor heard of any godly person who durst oppose the Office and Calling of the Ministry And whereas at the end of his Sermon a Souldier expressing himself to be dissatisfied with what he had
Cambridge and proved a prudent and learned man He was afterwards Arch-Deacon of Dublin at which time he was first sent over into England to Queen Elizabeth and the Council with a Petition for preserving the Cathedral of St. Patricks Dublin from being dissolved wherein he prevailed the fruits whereof this his Nephew reaped afterwards being made Chancellor of it and receiving his subsistence from it for many years The second time he was sent over by the Council of Ireland to Queen Elizabeth to procure her Patent for the founding of a College and University in Dublin wherein he prevailed also So that the College of which this worthy person was the first fruits had its being from his Grandfathers motion and his Uncles industry He had a brother named Ambrose Usher who though he dyed young yet was a man of excellent parts very skilful in the Oriental Languages who had translated the Old Testament from the beginning to the Book of Job out of the Hebrew into English which is still preserved under his own hand but upon the coming forth of the New Translation in King James his time he desisted from making any further progress therein Our James was taught first to read by two of his Aunts who were blinde from their Cradles and so never saw letters yet were they admirably versed in the sacred Scriptures being able suddenly to have given a good account of any part of the Bible At eight years old he was sent to the Grammar School where he had the happiness to meet with two excellent Schoolmasters Sir James Fullerton afterwards Leger Ambassador in France and Sir James Hamilton afterwards Lord Viscount Clandeboise who was Usher of the School These two learned men were sent over by King James out of Scotland upon an other design though they were disguised in this imployment And indeed they came very opportunely by the good hand of Gods Providence for this youths founding in learning at such a time when there was a great defect of learned Schoolmasters which he often acknowledged as a special mercy of God to him therein At ten years old was the first time that he could remember to have found in himself any evidences of his saving conversion unto God which was instrumentally wrought by a Sermon which he heard preached upon Rom. 12. 1. I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God c. About the same time also meeting with some notes taken from famous Mr. Perkins his Works being not then printed concerning the sanctification of the Lords day proved through Gods blessing so effectual with him that ever after he was the more strict in the observing of it About the same time also he read over St. Augustines Meditations which so affected him that he wept often in the reading of them This young yet hopeful plant thus inuring and accustoming himself to secret duties in his tender years the Devil that grand enemy of our salvation thinking to nip him in the bud assaulted him with divers terrours and affrightments both sleeping and waking hoping thereby to discourage and take him off from the same But he with St. Paul betook himself to prayer with earnestness to be delivered from these Satanical delusions and assaults and at last was heard in that which he feared by being freed from them and strengthened against them with more than ordinary courage and comfort which made such an impression in him as that he could not forget it to his old age The Devil now finding that he could not be affrighted out of his course of godliness made use of another engine which was to allure him with the bait of pleasure some of his friends teaching him to play at Cards wherewith he was so much delighted that it began to prevail over his love to his book yea it came in competition with his love to God and care to serve him which being seasonably by Gods Spirit discovered to him he presently gave it over and never played afterwards At twelve years old he was so affected with the study of Chronology and Antiquity that reading over Sleidans Book of the four Empires and some other Authors he drew forth an exact Series of the times wherein each eminent person lived and during the time of his abode at School which was five years he was throughly instructed in Grammar Rhetorick and Poetry wherein he so excelled and with which he was so delighted that he was fain to take himself off lest it should have hindred him from more serious studies At thirteen years of age he was admitted into the College of Dublin being the first Student that was initiated into it and as it seems it was so ordered upon design by the Governours thereof upon their observation of his pregnancy and rare parts that it might be a future honour to the College to have his name recorded in the Frontispiece of their Admission Book and so accordingly he was the first Graduate the first Fellow the first Proctor c. At the same time Sir James Hamilton hitherto Usher of the School was chosen Fellow of the College and thereby became his Tutor who oft-times admired his accuteness and proficiency whereby in a short time he equalized his Instructers Here he first began to study the Greek and Hebrew Languages in both which he afterwards excelled and made himself in a little time Master of the Arts most of which he modelled in a method of his own especially that of Musick At this time the education and helps which that College afforded were very eminent For though at first there were but four Fellows yet the Tongues and Arts were very exactly taught to all the Students who were divided into several Classes Each Tutor read Aristotles Text in Greek to his Pupils yea each Fellow read three Lectures a day at each of which there was a Disputation maintained either upon the present or the precedent Lecture and sometimes they were ordered to dispute More Socratico On Saturdayes in the afternoon each Tutor read a Divinity Lecture in Latine to his Pupils dictating it as they did all other their Lectures so deliberately that they might easily write after them to their great benefit and advantage At fourteen years old he was judged fit and admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and his usual custome was the afternoon before to retire himself in private and to spend it in a strict self-examination and deep humiliation for all his sins wherein he had such enlargements of heart that a stream of tears flowed from his eyes which afterwards he oft recalled to minde both as a provocation and censure of himself When he was of elder years there was a certain plâ—ce by a water side whither he oft resorted sorrowfully to survey his sins and with floods of tears to confess and bewail them wherein he found so much sweetness and communion with God that he thirsted for such comfortable
acknowledged Having thus preached for a while as a Probationer he refused to continue it any longer having not as yet received Ordination He also scrupled to be as yet Ordained by reason of his defect of years the Canons requiring twenty four and he being yet but twenty one But by some grave and learned men he was told that the Lord had need of his labours and so upon their perswasions and importunity his age being dispensed with according to some former presidents he was ordained at the usual time the Sabbath before Christmas day Anno 1601 by his Uncle Henry Usher Archbishop of Armagh with the assistance of some other Ministers The first Text that he preached publickly upon before the State after his Ordination was Rev. 3. 1. Thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead which fell out to be the same day upon which was fought the Battel of Kinsale which being a day specially set apart by prayer to seek unto God for his blessing and assistance in that engagement and being his first fruits after his entrance into the Office of the Ministry God might in a more than ordinary manner make his labours efficatious and prevailing the rest of that Epistle to the Church of Sardis he finished afterwards It was well known that if the Spaniards had gotten the better that day the Irish Papists had designed to murther the English Protestants both in Dublin and other places but especially the Ministers Hence said he arose a tentation in me to have deferred my Ordination till the event of the Battel had been known that so I might the better have escaped their fury but I repelled that suggestion and resolved the rather upon it that dying a Minister and in that quarrel I might at least be the next door to a Martyr The Spaniards being as was said before overthrown at Kinsale and the hopes of the Irish as to that design being frustrated they began generally to subject themselves to the Statute which was now put in execution in their coming to Church and that it might tend the more to their profit the Lord Lieutenant and his Council desired the Ministers at Dublin so to divide themselves that in imitation of what he had already begun at Christ Church there might be a Sermon on the Lords dayes in the afternoon at every Church upon those Controversies St. Katherines a convenient Church was assigned for Mr. Usher who removed accordingly and duely observed it and his custome was that what he had delivered in one Sermon he drew it up into Questions and Answers and the next Lords day several persons of note voluntary offered themselves to repeat those Answers before the whole Congregation which made them more clear and perspicuous to the Popish party It pleased God by his and the labours of others of his Brethren in the Ministry not only in Dublin but in other parts of the Kingdome that the Papists came so diligently to Church that if they had any occasion to absent themselves they used to send in their excuses to the Church-wardens and there were great hopes in a short time to have reduced the whole Nation to Protestanisme But on a sudden the execution of the Statute was suspended and the power of the High Commission Court then erected and used onely against the Papists was taken away whereupon the Papists presently withdrew themselves from the publick Assembles the Ministry was discouraged all good mens hearts were grieved and Popery from that time forward encreased till like a great Deluge it had overflowed the whole Nation Upon this the spirit of this holy man like Pauls at Athens was exceedingly stirred in him insomuch as preaching before the State at Christ Church upon a special solemnity he did with as much prudence courage and boldness as became his young years give them his opinion of that abominable Toleration of Idolatry making a full and clear application of that passage in Ezekiels Vision Chap. 4. 6. where the Prophet by lying on his side was to bear the iniquity of Judah for forty dayes I have appointed thee saith the Lord each day for a year This said he by the consent of Interpreters signifies the time of forty years to the destruction of Jerusalem and of that Nation for their Idolatry and so said he will I reckon from this year the sin of Ireland and at the end of the time those whom you now imbrace shal be your ruine and you shall bear this iniquity wherein he proved a Prophet For this was delivered by him Anno Christi 1601 and Anno 1641 was the Irish Rebellion and Massacre and what a continued expectation he had of a great judgement upon that his Native Country I saith Dr. Bernard can witness from the year 1624 at which time I had the happiness first to be known to him and the nearer the time approached the more confident he was of the event though as yet nothing that tended towards it was visible to other men The Body of Divinity which is printed in his name is highly commended by Mr. Downam who set it forth and so it is by a stranger Ludovicus Crocius who much desired that some English man would turn it into Latine for the benefit of forreign Churches but it was not intended by him for the Press It was begun by him in publick but finished some years after in private in his Family constantly instructing them twice a week unto which persons of quality and learning resorted and divers of them took Notes whereby several Copies were dispersed abroad some imperfect and mistaken and many passages are in it which were not his neither is the whole so polished as his other Pieces which were published by himself and indeed he was displeased that it came forth without his knowledge yet understanding how much good it had done he connived at it Shortly after the aforementioned defeat given to the Spaniards at Kinsale the Officers of our English Army gave 1800 pounds to buy Books for the College Library at Dublin then Souldiers were advancers of Learning the ordering of which was committed to Dr. Challoner and this Lord Primate who made a journey into England on purpose to buy Books with it He then met with Sir Thomas Bodly who was buying Books for his Library at Oxford and they were very helpful each to other in procuring the rarest Pieces In his journey he visited Mr. Christopher Goodman who had been Professor of Divinity in Oxford in King Edward the sixths dayes then lying on his death-bed at Chester and he would often repeat some grave and wise speeches that he heard from him After this he constantly came over into England once in three years spending one moneth at Oxford another at Cambridge in searching the Books especially the Manuscripts in each University amongst which those of Corpus Christi College in Cambridge he most esteemed the third moneth he spent at London
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
Protestants also must have born some share To consider hereof a great Assembly of Papists and Protestants of the whole Nation was appointed in the Lord Deputy Faulklands time The place of their meeting was in the Hall of the Castle in Dublin At which time the Bishops by our Lord Primates invitation met at his house where he and they drew up and unanimously subscribed a Protestation against the Toleration of Popery A Copy whereof because it deserves perpetual remembrance is here inserted The Judgement of the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland concerning the Toleration of Popery which is applicable also against the Toleration of other Heresies The Religion of the Papists is Superstitious and Idolatrous their Faith and Doctrine erroneous and Heretical their Church in respect of both Apostatical To give them therefore a Toleration or to consent that they may freely exercise their Religion and profess their Faith and Doctrine is a grievous sin and that in two respects For 1. It is to make our selves accessary not onely to their Superstitions Idolatries Heresies and in a word to all the abominations of Popery but also which is a consequent of the former to the perdition of the seduced people which perish in the Deluge of the Catholick Apostacy 2. To grant them a Toleration in respect of any money to be given or contribution to be made by them is to set Religion to sale and with it the souls of the People whom Christ our Saviour hath redeemed with his most precious blood And as it is a great sin so also a matter of most dangerous consequence the consideration whereof we commend to the Wise and Juditious Beseeching the Zealous God of Truth to make them who are in Authority zealous or Gods glory and of the advancement of true Religion zealous resolute and couragious against all Popery Superstition and Idolatry Amen Ja. Armachanus Mal. Cashlen Anth. Medensis Tho. Hernes Laghlin Ro. Dunensis c. Georg. Derens. Rich. Cork Cloyne Rosses Andr. Alachadens Tho. Kilmore Ardagh Theo. Dromore Mic. Waterford Lysm Fran. Lymerick This Judgement of the Bishops Dr. George Downham Bishop of Derry at the next meeting of the Assembly which was April the 23 1627 published at Christ Church before the Lord Deputy and Council in the middest of his Sermon with this preamble viz. Are not many amongst us for gain and outward respects willing and ready to consent to a Toleration of false Religions thereby making themselves guilty of a great offence in putting to sale not onely their own souls but also the souls of others But what is to be thought of Toleration of Religion I will not deliver my own private opinion but the judgement of the Archbishops and Bishops of this Kingdome which I think good to publish unto you that whasoever shall happen the world may know that we were far from consenting to those favours which the Papists expect After he had published it the people gave their votes with a generall acclamation crying Amen The judgements of the Bishops prevailed so much with the Protestants that now the Proposals drove on very heavily and after much debate of things the L. Deputy finding the discontents of both parties encreasing desired our Lord Primate as the fittest person both in regard of his esteem in the Assembly and being a member of the Council and therefore concerned in promoting of the Kings business to sum up the state of things and to move them to an absolute grant of some competency that might comply with the Kings necessities without any such conditions with which upon their answer he would cease moving any further which upon very little warning he did with much prudence according to his double capacity of a Privy Counsellour and a Bishop A copy of which Speech desired of him by the Lord Deputy was immediately transmitted into England But it not being prevalent with the Assembly to induce them to supply the Kings wants it was dissolved Not long after the Lord Deputy Falkland being called back into England when he was to take Boat at the water side he reserved our Lord Primate as the last person to take his leave of and fell upon his knees on the sands and begged his blessing which reverend respect shewed to him gained a greater reputation to himself both in Ireland and England and indeed from his younger years the several Lord Deputies had alwayes a great esteem of him It was no small labour to him to answer those many Letters which came to him from forreign parts and our own Nations upon several occasions some for resolution of difficulties in Divinity others about Cases of Conscience and practical subjects Twelve of the most eminent Divines in London who at his being here were wont to apply themselves to him as to a Father as Dr. Sibbs Dr. Preston c. between whom and him there were most entire affections wrote to him for his directions about a Body of practical Divinity which he returned them accordingly He much endeavoured the augmentation of the maintenance of the Ministery in Ireland and for that end he had obtained a Patent for Impropriations to be passed in his name for their use as they should fall but it was too much neglected by themselves whereby his desires were frustrated He preached every Lords day in the forenoon never failing unless he was disabled by sickness in which he spent himself very much In the afternoons his directions to Dr. Bernard his assistant were that before publick Prayers he should Catechize the youth and that after the first and second Lesson he should spend half an hour in a brief and plain opening the Principles of Religion in the publick Catichisme and therein he directed him to go first through the Creed at once giving but the sum of each Article the next time to go through it at thrice and afterwards to take each time one Article as they might be more able to bear it and to observe the like proportionably in the Ten Commandements the Lords Prayer and the Doctrine of the Sacraments The good fruit of which was apparent in the common people upon their coming to the Communion at which time by ordeâ— the receivers were to send in their names and some account was constantly taken of their fitness for it His order throughout his Diocess to the Ministers was that they should go through the Body of Divinity once a year which he had accordingly drawn out into fifty heads When any publick Fast was enjoyned he kept it very strictly preaching alwayes first himself and therein continuing at least two hours in a more than ordinary manner enlarging himself in prayer the like was done by those that assisted him in the duty His expences for Books was very great especially whilst he enjoyed the revenues of his Archbishoprick a certain part whereof he laid aside yearly for that end but especially for the purchasing of Manuscripts and other Rarities
Parliament Anno Christi 1639 he preached before the same Auditory on Deut. 33. 4 5. And Moses commanded us a Law even the Inheritance of the Congregation of Jacob and he was a King in Jesurun when the heads of the people and the Tribes of Israel were gathered together Both which Texts as they were pertiment so were they handled with rare Judgement and eminent Learning The Lord was pleased to make his Labours very successfull some few instances whereof I shall here set down some of which I had from my Reverend Friend Mr. Stanly Gower the last from my own knowledge A Lords eldest son who from his cradle had been trained up in Popery but was of excellent parts and learning was at last prevailed with by his Father to sojourn for a while with this learned Prelate in Drogheda The prudent Prelate studied nothing more than how he might take him by craft as the Apostle did the Corinthians 2 Cor. 12. 16. and therefore did not presently fall into discourse with him about his Religion but recreated himself for a time in discoursing with him about some Philosophical questions and Schol-points in which studies he perceived the Gentleman was well versed and took much delight in them This he continued till at last he gained so far upon his affections that of his own accord he moved some discourse about matters of Religion and then finding him studious he did not presently go about to instruct him in the Truth but sought to puzzle him with doubts about his own Religion By this means the Gentlemans conscience began to be awakened nor were his scruples removed though he had recourse to a Monastery hard by where they were debated so that at last he came with tears to the Learned Primate for satisfaction and he promised to deal faithfully with him but saith he those whom you trust do not so for they will not suffer you to see with your own eyes nor to understand the Scripture but according to their Churches Commentaries Then did he advise him to go amongst them and to ask them whether he that understood the Originals might examine their Interpretations and to bring him word what they said Accordingly he did so and brought him word that they were divided in their judgements Then did the learned Prelate wish him no longer to trust to their implicit Faith and he would demonstrate to him how much they perverted the sense of the Scriptures and abused the writings of the Antient Fathers whilst they sought to make the world believe that the Fathers and Councils were wholly for them and against us And if saith he you distrust your own learâ—ing and reading and will make choice of anyother who you think can say more I will make this good which I have said before the best of them all This was an introduction to much confidence which the Gentleman had in him and it pleased God after much temptation which he had to the contrary as he confessed to direct him to betake himself to prayer after which time he acknowledged that he understood more of the way of truth both when he conferred with the Primate and when he meditated apart than ever he could attain to before and the issue was that he came into the Church unlooked for of the Primate and after Sermon made a confession of his Faith offering to seal the truth of it if they pleased to admit him by receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which was then to be administred The Papists especially the Priests were so enraged hereat for losing such an one of whom they conceived so great hopes that they made much disturbance insomuch as the Gentleman for safety was sent over into England to Oxford that he might decline their fury and the forces of the City were raised to prevent the present danger and the Lord Deputy hearing of it sent a Troop of Horse and as it was said thereupon dissolved one of their Monasteries Another was this The Lady Falkland about the time of the late Queens coming out of France to be married to King Charles turned Recusant and on a time was gotten into the company of Father Fisher Father Sweet and Father Swetnam in Drury Lane and by some means or other Dr. Featly and Mr. Gataker were procured to meet them there the Lord Savil brother to this Lady as he also was going that way accidentally met with Dr. Usher and intreated him to go along with him to this meeting the Bishop consented and by the way requested the Lord Savil at their first entrance privately to give notice to his Sister the Lady Falkland that she should take no notice of him and saith he I will do the like to the Ministers and as for the Jesuits I beleeve they know me not at all At their first entrance they found them engaged about Image-worship the Jesuits denied that they gave them Divine worship the Ministers were proving that they were no fit mediums to worship God by After they had tugged at it and were wearied and ready to give over that Question Bishop Usher said But Gentlemen pray you tell me do not you give them Divine worship they answered no How then said he will you be tryed they answered By the Council of Trent Indeed said the Bishop that Council doth require the giving of worship to them but who shall expound what that honour and worship is and assure us that it is not Divine Will you be determined by Thomas Aquinas they said Yes Then was the Book sent for and he turned presently to that place where he concludes that the same reverence is to be given to the Image of Christ as to Christ himself and by consequence seeing Christ is adored with the worship of Latria his Image also is to be adored with the same worship Now said the Bishop have you any higher worship than the Latria that you give to God Upon this one of the Jesuits whispered to the Lady Falkland to know his name that thus disputed she answered that he was a Country Minister No quoth the Jesuit there is more in him than in both the other Try him said she further That Question being laid aside that of Free-will was taken up the Bishop sate silent as before whilst the state of the Question was canvassed between the Ministers and Jesuits and much ado there was about it so that they had like to have broken off without coming to any issue the Bishop seeing that said Gentlemen if you will give me leave I will bring you to the point in difference presently by this similitude If you make Free-will to be the Horse I will make Grace to be his Rider Now true it is my Horse can go of himself but he knows not whither I intend to go Besides he is dull and tyred and I spur him on my spur doth not properly go but it makes my Horse to go You may easily apply it But the Jesuits had enough
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
be too much taken up with quaint and Historicall flourishes there is a sensible decay of the power of God amongst us An Exotick or strange tongue in the publick Congregation whatever men think of it is set out as a sign of Gods displeasure 1 Cor. 14. 21 22. It feeds such humors as should rather be purged out It had no good effect in the Church of Corinth Mens wits will waxe wanton when they be not over-awed by the plain power of Gods Word When Preachers keep not close to the very words of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 6. 3. and to the Doctrine that is according to godliness but love to be tampering with another Doctrine though not with another in the main but even in the manner of delivery only as when it savours too much of the pomp of humane eloquence saith Calvin when it differs from the stile of the Holy Ghost saith Danaeus the people be in danger of turning aside to vain jangling to perverse disputings desiring to be teachers and such like matters The Gold upon the Pill may please the eye but it profits not the patient The Paint upon the Glass may feed the fancy but the room is the darker for it The Sword of Gods Spirit can never wound so deep as when it 's plucked out of these gaudy Scabbards Nakedness deforms too too many in these dayes but it is the best garnishing and Ornament the truth can have A sober dress best becomes a grave Matron There be words as well as things which the Holy Ghost teacheth 1 Cor. 2. 13. The Arrows fetched out of Gods own Quiver will pierce the deepest and make the people fall the soonest under Christ. The weakness of God is stronger than men Pauls weapons were mighty The sincere milk of Gods Word will make Christs Babes to grow best This curious age is too too much given to the affectation of words and phrases and cadencies and holy Dr. Sibs was wont to say that great affectation and good affections seldome goe together The swelling words of vanity may tickle the ear tip the tongue and please in matters of discourse but when it comes to push of Pike they afford but little comfort Mr. Capel had another manner of wisdome than that of words He was an able Minister of the New Testament not of the letter but of the Spirit that hath given doth give and will give life 2 Cor. 3. 6. Having this hope then he used great plainness of speech and by the manifestation of the truth he commended himself to every mans conscience in the sight of God and thereby hath so well seasoned the Country where he lived that the fruit of it without doubt will remain and be seen many years after His Prayers were lively and fervent He was a man that had a very large measure of that Spirit of grace which is a Spirit of Supplication He was so well fitted with abilities to open his mind to God as if with blessed Bradford he had been almost ever upon his knees He could tell his own errand or any other mans at the Throne of grace with as good freedome and to as good purpose as any man living He would not be rash with his mouth when he came before God nor set out what he had to say there with painted eloquence or Court-like complement but his mouth used to be filled with such savoury Arguments as very well became an humble Suppliant He was far from those battologies and miserable extravagancies that too many prayers are stuffed with He would pour out his soul to God at all manner of times upon all manner of occasions with all manner of Prayer and Supplication and with that admirable variety of all sorts of quickening and feeling meditations that it would even ravish the hearts of those who had the happiness to be partakers with him therein Yet for all this he was clear in his opinion for the lawfulness of the use of set Forms of Prayer according to the tenet of all our best and most judicious Divines and according to the practice of all Churches even the best reformed saith Mr. Rogers now and in all former ages So saith Mr. Hildersam yea and Mr. Smith himself saith upon the Lords Prayer though as then he was warping and afterwards wandred far in the wayes of Separation that it was the practice of the ancient Church and of all the Reformed Churches in Christendome of the Churches immediately after the Apostles nay saith he of the Church in the time of the Apostles as may probably be gathered out of 1 Cor. 14. 26. This hath also been the practice of the best lights that ever were set up in the Churches of Christ. It is very well known that the flower of our own Divines went on in this way when they might have done otherwise if they had pleased in their Prayers before their Sermons Nay Mr. Dod himself would seldome end his devotions in his own Family but with the use of the Lords Prayer Nay yet more Mr. Cartwright Hist. Christ. p. 3. p. 535. thinks it very probable that Christ his own self made use of a set Form at meales It is not good to cast stones of offence in the way of our weak Brethren who being of meaner parts want ability memory and audacity to conceive Prayer especially before others that they be not taken off from nor disheartened in this so comfortable and necessary a service of God nor may we lay a trap or snare for our own feet Who knoweth what times may pass over him If God should plunge us into the Ditch and leave us labouring in the noose the loftiest of us all may be faign to take relief from and to make use of these poor contemptible props and crutches as some deem and call them When the soul is so troubled that it cannot speak but Chatter only like a Crane and Swallow Psal. 77. 4. When it is so full of grief that it can do no more than sigh and groan and make a confused noise as Psal. 55. 2. it will then be glad to catch at any thing to give it self vent by Dr. Harris tells us of a second Bradford that in time of his distress was fain to adopt Mr. Bradfords words and to spread them before God as his own because he had said more for him as he thought than he could say for himself I knew saith mine Author a rare and eminent Divine indeed that would be as often upon his knees as any man that ever I conversed with that would sometimes be in such damps that had no more to set before God to give his heart ease by than the words of David in the one and fiftieth Psalm Well might then this knowing Divine of ours that had been so tossed with tempests be tender of that that might be so usefull for poor trembling hearts in a stormy day Get to God therefore as thou canst Sad judgements be upon our people Spirituall
improper in matters of Religion they savour of singularity breed rents and divisions between Preachers and people and take off the minde from things more essential Learned men have observed that Hereticks gat great advantage by the unwary speeches of the Fathers Some of Calvins expressions that were not so well pondered have done no great good to some in our times Nestorius fell into his Heresie by defending an improper speech of his and Eutyches thinking to mend it fell into the other extream Dr. Thomas Tailor speaks much to this point to very good purpose in his Progress to Holiness p. 134 135 154. and concludes that if we will keep the faith of our Fathers we must keep the words of our Fathers Our Mr. Capel was a man of a single heart He was with Jacob Gen. 25. 27. a plain man i. e. A downright honest man as the Original signifies A very Nathaniel an Isralite indeed Joh. 1. 47. in whom though there was some infirmity yet there was no guile He had much of the wisdome that is from above and was as far from Hypocrisie as most men living If all others were of his temper Momus had no need to complain of the want of a window into any mans breast He was what he was indeed and in truth without dissimulation He was very high in his conformity to those Primitive Christians Act. 2. 46. and left a brave President to all that would be what they should be in this particular We of this doubting and deceitful Generation had need to look about us and see what was here set before us in very legible Characters that we may learn to be more above board in our dealings We are faln into an age like that of the Prophets wherein every one hath too much of the Hypocrite We may well cry Help Lord for the faithful fail with a double Heart and double tongue do they speak The most be for all Tides and Times as mutable as the Weather-cock For any manner of Mode so as they can serve their own turns by it Some can be any thing but what they should be We have need to beware of men where every brother will supplant The Hypocrite with his mouth destroyes his Neighbour Prov. 11. 9. It is indeed good to be wise as Serpents but withall we should be innocent as Doves Though it be just with God that the deceiver shall be deceived and some like it well yet is it not just in those that do it They that turn aside to crooked wayes shall be led forth with the workers of iniquity Psal. 125. 5. Plain dealing is a Jewel yea though it be in sin as this acute man tells us in his â—entat Part. 3. It s a dainty fine thing in our confessions repentance and in all wherein we act He that useth it what ever men say or think shall neither live nor dye a beggar Downright honesty is the best policy It is delightful to God Prov. 12. 22. and it will be a comfort to us 2 Cor. 1. 12. This is our rejoycing and we never eat â—ur meat with more gladness than when we do all with singleness of heart Act. 2. 46. Mr. Capel was a very useful man in his life He was with Melancthon born for the common good and lived for the publick benefit of the whole Country Whilst he was at his Pastoral charge he gave himself fully and wholly to Reading to Exhortation and Doctrine and his profiting appeared unto all men so that he was generally and that justly reputed a man approved of God rightly dividing the word of truth It is well known what pains he took and to how good purpose during the whole time of his abode there which was about one and twenty years He preached constantly twice every Lords day and besides preached a Lecture constantly every week though he had but an infirm body till by reason of sickness he was taken off And then besides his Sabbath-dayes work he preached onely upon the Festival dayes His lips were touched with a coal from the Altar It may truly be said of him as it was of Musculus that his words pierced like a two-edged sword He could when he pleased be a Boanerges a son of Thunder but his bent was most to be a Barnabas a son of Consolation He was a true Evangelical Preacher and comforted many a drooping heart by his labours in publick and gave abundance of satisfaction in private to many troubled spirits that used to resort to him out of all Countries both far and near He also shewed himself to be a Tree of Gods own planting by bringing forth more fruit still in his age When the times were such some flying so extreamly high the Ceremonies being pressed with rigour and grievous penalties inflicted that he being tender in matters of Conformity must needs quit his Pastoral charge which was Novem. 27. 1634 he betook himself then to his little Cell as Samuel did to his Ramah that had never been looked upon if he had not come thither no more than Islebium and Bretta if not for Luther and Melancthon and there he had more health and cheerfulness of spirit than formerly which he improved well for the publick advantage For There he fell upon the Practice of Physick He indeed had bent his studies that way before hand foreseeing what would follow yet would he do nothing in that kinde it not being his Calling so long as that great work of the Ministry lay upon him But when he had quit the more special tye of the care of mens souls he then took himself to be at more freedome and having a License sent him by the Bishop of Gloucester to authorize him he fell upon the cure of mens bodies and being of great sufficiency his fame was quickly spread abroad He was looked upon as a very Trismegistus or a second Aesculapius He could do much at the diving into a disease and in applying such medicines as were proper and fit Not like some that will be tampering with that Profession and give their doses at adventure He was quick yet in cases of difficulty and danger he would weigh things well In desperate diseases he would adventure far according to the rules of Reason what he gave should be safe He mixed all with his own hands he would stoop to the meanest and serve all at an easie rate His Receits amounted not to the half nay not to one quarter of a common Apothecaries Bill He was blessed by God with great and good success and had resort especially towards his latter end out of his own and other Countries so that he had not leasure to sit at his own meals in quiet Yea many times he was quite tired out till God called him to rest His words were seasonable and savoury His tongue was a Tree of life His lips fed many Whosoever came near him should have something dropping if he did but
Erbery a Sectary and his associates Mr. Harris was unwilling that this challenge should be entertained having observed that disputes of that kinde send away each party more strengthened in their opinions than when they came thither yet his brethren being of another minde they desired his concurrence at least so far with them as to begin the work with prayer This he condescended unto and the Disputation proceeded and the issue was that all were censured some for speaking others for their silence in which latter rank he was willingly placed Not long after came the Chancellor of Oxon the Earle of Pembroke to visit the University who according to the custome bestowed Degrees upon some of the Schollars and amongst others Mr. Harris was admitted Doctor of Divinity who yet neither thought himself the better Schollar nor the better Preacher for this new honour and had it not been that he was loath to sleight the favour from his betters he had refused it having learned That an empty hand from a Prince and a naked title from his Chancellor must be counted an honour At this time many Headships of Colleges before made void were now to be supplied and Dr. Harris professed that seeing it was noised abroad that these Reforming Preachers came thither to play their own game viz. to thrust out others and to invest themselves with their places he therefore resolved to keep to his old course namely to stand silent without opening his mouth for any Headship at all and presently the best places were all disposed of neither was any thing spoken of for Dr. Harris till a Noble man of the other University made mention of him as not fit to be forgotten whereupon Trinity College was assigned to him This some of his Friends much wondered at considering that though he was the meanest in his own eyes yet was he the oldest man and one that had suffered more by the times than any if not than all the rest yet he himself said little to it onely he enquired who was the Head that was ejected and what was the nature of the place for he was unwilling to entertain the proffer if the former Head could finde favour to hold it and thereupon he forbore as long as he could be permitted and as for the place the smalness of the College and the scituation of it gave him great content who desired no more than what would keep him from distractions in his studies and the only thing that he stuck at was because there was a Parsonage annexed to the College But when he understood that its distance from Oxford was not great and the conditions easie viz. That he was required to preach but eight Sermons per annum at it he the more willingly inclined to it though after acceptance he could not satisfie himself under two Sermons a week and so at last there he sate down and took much content in the Fellows of that College betwixt whom and him there was ever a very fair correspondence At the Parsonage he found most of the people though they had been long taught very ignorant and much addicted to their old Customes and which he looked upon as a sad prognostick to the place no sooner did any there look Heaven-ward in any special manner but the Lord presently took him away some few and those very few excepted About this time a motion was made by the Committee at Oxford of removing him to New College which was now void but as the motion began without him so it was stifled by him the rather when he heard that some exception was taken above against him as being uncapable of that place because he was not a Winchester Schollar The truth is as he professed to some of his Friends he rather desired a little than a great College being one who was very much addicted to privacy and his Book which made him often say That if Trinity College were a competency without the Parsonage he would not leave it for any place except it were an Hospital So much had he seen into the vanity and troublesomenesse of the world In his latter dayes journies began to be tedious to him which occasioned some well affected Citizens in Oxford who were moved thereunto by a Sermon which Dr. Cheynell preached unto them to make some overtures to him of reading a Catechisme Lecture or of preaching upon the Principles of Religion which liked him best in one of their Churches in consideration whereof they would maintain him an assistant at his Parsonage The motion was good the exercise needful the onely question was how such a work would be accepted in such a place amongst the Wits and Schollars of the University yet because he had bemoaned himself to God in private bewayling that his comfort was little in the place where he preached and made it his humble sute that God would not lay him aside but finde some imployment for him whilst he had ability to perform it because I say he had prayed thus and this motion presently ensued he durst not reject it but set upon the work wherein the Lord assisted giving him strength even beyond what could be expected from a man of his age and caused his labours to finde great acceptance with his Auditors and thus he continued preaching once every Sabbath at his Parsonage and once in the week this Lecture besides which he preached when his turn came in the University and that both in English and in Latine also Yet we are not come to the end of his labours for having now freed himself from worldly affairs disposed of all his children and having left himself nothing else to do but to prepare himself and his wife for their graves who had lived about fifty years together it pleased God to exercise him in this strange manner His wife who was born of Parents eminently pious had been religiously educated and her self a constant worshipper of God all her time who seldome rose from her prayers with dry eyes was delivered up by God to Satans buffetings and to such hellish temptations and horrors of minde as struck a grief and terrour unto all the spectators which occasioned him often to say That God made appear to all beholders that the best man is no more than the Lord makes him hourly For as the receiving of Grace so the keeping using the comfort and enjoyment of it is all from him which is not onely true in supernatural Graces but in the gifts of Nature also our wits senses phantasies all are in Gods hand nor are the wisest men any thing longer than he pleases to continue them so This good woman was a sad instance of all this whose temptations were so violent so horrid and withall so subtil that they put the ablest and most experienced men to their wits end to answer them and her poor self even beyond her self whilst she was in this perplexed condition sundry eminent Preachers and Professors visited her
and her husband who had been a happy instrument of satisfying many others could give her no satisfaction One day as she was complaining that she could finde no comfort O saith he What an Idol do some make of comfort as if their comfort were their Christ In the middest of these trials he yet took notice of these comforts and mercies 1. That she was kept from blaspheming the Highest for so she stiled God and from hurting her self and others 2. That this affliction awakened him and his children for they esteemed her the most conscientious and innocent amongst them all 3. It put him upon more work than his age could well bear that so he might call out his thoughts upon business and not eat up his own heart with grief and care And lastly it wrought in him an holy despair of all creature-comforts for now he could neither enjoy childe nor friend nor food nor sleep having her continually before him in his eye ear and heart and all friends fearâ—ng to come in sight lest they should wound themselves or trouble her onely continual pâ—ayers were offered up for her upon all occasions which gave hopes that the Lord might yet make her end comfortable and conquest glorious However her Husband would often say That the difference was not great whether comfort came at death or an hour after since comfort would come assuredly But leaving her under a general expectation of a blessed issue in the best time we return once more to her Husband now ready to enter into his Haven of rest After a long and laborious life which could not but be painful to him that underwent it we come at length to his last long and painful sickness which is the usual Harbinger of Death In the Summer he began to droop and finding his decay he sent for two Physitians Dr. Bathurst and Dr. Willis who were well known to him and his by former experiences and eminently known in the University to whom he professed that he used means meerly in obedience to God but for his own part he could live and durst dye His â—hysitians as himself confessed had proceeded so far as Art and Learning could carry them but herein they would lose of their worth that they had to deal with complicated diseases which were seldome removed but most of all with old age a disease which was never cured His first encounter was with a vehement Pleuâ—itical pain in his left side which was attended with a Feavor as also with a great defluxion of Rheume and oppression of his lungs with Flegme and when after divers weeks all these his Assailants seemed well-nigh vanquished through the tender care of his skilful Physitians yet then that enemy which had so long lodged in his bosome brake forth into an Empyema which he expectorated daily in so great a measure for the space of two moneths or more that hereby together with some fits of his old diseases the Stone and Strangury he was not able to speak much to those that visited him And herein indeed it fell out according to what he had often foretold in his best strength viz. That little was to be expected from him on his death-bed which occasioned him to write fearing that his tongue might not then be able to utter it his advice and counsel to his Family many years before his death The truth is he the rather forbore to speak because he perceived that some had a design to make his speeches publick which he was utterly averse to neither would he consent that any thing of his Life or Death should be written Nay he could never be perswaded at any time to fit that his Picture might be drawn so desirous he was that all of him might be buried with him And albeit he spit up those Lungs which he had wasted in the Pulpit yet could not that light of Grace be so smothered under a Bushel but that oft-times the beams thereof would shine forth and himself would breathe forth himself in pithy speeches and savoury discourses In the beginning of his sickness being desired to admit of company he answered I am alone in company it s all one to me to be left alone or to have Friends with me my work is now to arm my self for Death which assaults me and I apply my self as I am able for that great encounter And accordingly he spent his whole time in meditation prayer and reading the holy Scriptures especially the Book of Psalmes the Prophesie of Isaiah and St. Johns Gospel taking exceeding delight in the 10 14 15 16 and 17 Chapters of that Evangelist After which time his nights were long and sleeps short and when he could neither sleep nor sit up in his bed to read his manner was to command others to read to him and then himself would collect the most useful things that were contained in the Chapter explaining such things as were difficult and sweetly feeding upon the rest His constant practice was to exhort such as either visited or attended upon him above all things to get Faith It is saith he your victory your peace your life your Crown and your chief piece of spiritual Armour Howbeit get on all the other pieces and then go forth in the Lords might stand to the fight and the issue shall be glorious onely forget not to call in the help of your General Do all from him and under him On the Lords dayes he would not hinder any from the publick Ordinances for any thing that was to be done about him till Sermons were ended and then he would say Come what have you for me meaning something of Repetition unto which he would attend with such diligence as that he would summe up the heads of every Sermon and say O what excellent truths are these lay them up charily you will have need of them When Friends came to visit him he used to say I cannot speak but I can hear And when he was asked where his comfort lay His answer was In Christ and in the free Grace of God One telling him Sir you may take much comfort in your labours you have done much good c. His answer was All is nothing without a Saviour without him my best works would condemn me Oh I am ashamed of them being mixed with so much sin Oh I am an unprofitable servant I have not done any thing for God as I ought loss of time sits heavy upon my spirit Work work apace assure your selves nothing will more trouble you when you come to dye than that you have done no more for God who hath done so much for you Sometimes he used thus to breathe out himself I never in all my life saw the worth of a Christ nor tasted the sweetness of Gods love in that measure as now I do When he was asked what should be done for him His answer was Do not onely pray for me but praise God for his unspeakable mercy
Thus whilst he condescended to them and they submitted to him both parties were gratified Though he had a numerous issue yet through Gods blessing upon his estate he disposed of them to no mean imployments Many he sent to the Universities some to Merchandise c. To his Sons whom he bred in the University his Rule was Study work more than wages To those whom he bred in the City he would say Do not waste a halfpenny and you will not want a penny And truly so well did they all improve as his advice so their own time and parts that they became Masters of their particular Callings which ministred unto him no small comfort He acknowledged it a great mercy to his dying day that none of his children were blemished either in their bodies or in their reputations He was one of them in whose children that Popish slander concerning the ungraciousness of the children of the married Clergy received a real confutation Many of his Sons he buried in their prime some at home others in forreign parts and some dyed shortly after himself yet all of them gave comfortable hopes to conclude upon a rational charity both by the pious Letters of those which dyed abroad and from that particular account which they gave of themselves who dyed at home that they all meet in Heaven they which survive need not this attestation Amongst the dead there was Mr. Tho. Harris of Magdalen College in Oxford who was eminently learned beyond his age an Ornament to that Noble Foundation whereof he was a member once the joy of his friends and still their sorrow and probably this arrow from Gods hand stuck deep in the Fathers heart to his dying day For his servants there are some yet living that served him in his younger dayes who still bless God that ever they came under his roof where they received the beginnings of Grace and such a measure of knowledge as kept them from warping in the late giddy times Whilst he remained with his antient Flock his constant manner was to keep a Religious Fast before his administration of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper And after he came to his small College he so prudently managed all his affairs that he was both feared and loved Indeed his government there was such as caused a wonder For whereas that College before was famous for factions during his time there was never any complaint made to any Visitors and no marvel for the Foundation there honoured him as a Father and he looked upon and loved them as his Children and accordingly he scaled up his love to them in his last Will and Testament He called Gifts Bribery and hated the very shadow of it Examples are known in the College of Gratuities refused long after faire and free Elections But look upon him as a Schollar and there we have him in his proper Element Though he left the University early and preached constantly yet being of a retired disposition a constant student and endowed with great parts he became Master of all manner of Learning to qualifie a Divine In the sacred Languages especially in the Hebrew he was very exact His Conciones ad Clerum declare him to have been a pure and Polite Latinist His first which was preached and printed long since hath undergone the test and gained the approbation of all knowing men in that Language the younger by full forty years is of as good a complexion and of as vigorous a constitution as its elder brother and it s hoped that in due time it may be made as publick What his abilities in Disputation were hath upon several occasions been made to appear in that College Exercises in the Chappel where oft-times in the unexpected absence of the Opponents himself would ex tempore take up the Cudgels and make good their ground In which Exercises he approved himself a subtle clear and ready Disputant without any grains of allowance either for his age or discontinuance Indeed his chiefest Learning lay where he made least shew of it in publick viz. in Chronology Church-History Councils Case-Divinity and his insight into the Fathers But his parts were best seen in the pulpit His gifts in Prayer were much more than ordinary wherein his affections were warm and fervent his Petitions pithy and substantial his language pertinent unaffected and without Tautologies Oh how would he raise up a dull and sinking spirit How would he warm a cold and frozen heart How would he carry a man out of himself and by degrees mount the soul heaven-ward His Sermons in Print are well known to the world and his works praise him in the Gates The particular excellencies of Nazianzen Basil Chrysostome Austin Ambrose Bernard seemed all to conâ—enter in him He taught Rhetorick to speak in our Mother-tongue and without falshood or flattery he may be stiled The English Orator His Doctrines carried light with them and his Uses heat His Reproofes were weighty and his Exhortations powerful But enough of this lest we hear as he did who spake much in commendation of Hercules Quis unquam vituperavit who ever dispraised him yea what either Christian or Schollar but approved or commended him If you would know the worth of his Sermons read them though read they come short of what they were when preached yea read them again and again and endeavour to read them with the same spirit they were preached and you cannot but acknowledge an excellency in them Amongst other his excellencies in preaching which were many these were not the least that he could so cook his meat that he could make it relish to every pallate He could dress a plain discourse so as that all sorts should be delighted with it He could preach with a learned plaineness and had learned to conceal his Art He had clear Notions of high Mysteries and proper language to make them stoop to the meanest capacity His way in contriving and penning his Sermons was this 1. He so contrived the parts of his Text and points of Doctrine as might afford him most scope in his Application wherein his and indeed a Sermons excellency doth consist and therefore he used to say That in a Sermon he contrived the Uses first He did often handle the same Texts and the same Points and yet still would pen new Applications which might be most suitable to the quallity and condition of the Auditory 2. In penning when he once began he would never take Pen from paper nor turn to any Book till he had written all All his younger dayes for about twenty years together he wroâ—ght all and could without much difficulty preach the same verbatim He was wont to say That he had a fluid and waterish memory I can said he quickly remember any thing of my own and as quickly fâ—rget it again Yet questionless his memory was vast and tenacious for though sometimes he had but short Notes in his Bible and that
Danish cruelty and oppessions he endeavoured to perswade and encourage the Citizens to stand out in defence of the Liberties of themselves their wives and children and not to trust to the fair words and glozing promises of the Danes but rather to endure a little hardship for a time assuring them that the face of affairs would be shortly changed The Citizens willingly hearkned to him but some mercenary Souldiers raising a muteny had thought to have slain him But the plot being discovered the muteny was suppressed and Gustavus advised for his safety to withdraw himself into his own Country and there to obscure himself till a more convenient time should enable him to carry on his design He knew this journey would be full of difficulty and danger For his Way lay through Smalland where the Danish Emissaries were very active to draw the Suedes to moderation and to submit to the Danish yoke yet through it he adventures but with much grief of heart to see the Country people so miserably deluded insomuch that he could not forbear but told them That they should consider the cases of many of their Country-men who had as fair promises from the Danes yet met with nothing but miserable bondage Adding that there was much less danger in standing the push of the Danish Pike than in committing themselves and all that was dear unto them to so broken a Reed as their fair words which had not only failed but mortally wounded the Liberties of their Country-men who had given credit to them Say what he could divers Suedes of the better rank in those parts being pre-ingaged to the Danes perswaded the people otherwise saying That the Danes aimed onely at the suppressing of such of the Suedish Nobility as combined themselves against the Kings Government But as for the people the King was resolved to win them and that they should never need to fear want so long as Salt and Herrings lasted But if they would not be prevailed with they were all but dead men except speedily they forsook their Country and fled Gustavus finding the people hereby so affrighted that they had rather be slaves with quiet than hazard themselves in War he found it not convenient for him to stay any longer there whereupon he secretly departed to Terno amongst his own Tenants and having there provided himself of necessaries he went thence to Refsnass his Fathers house where he concealed himself for the most part of that Summer yet at length he adventured to discover himself to one that had been a faithful Friend to him and once was Archbishop of Upsal but in those troublesome times had been laid aside and now was retired to a Monastery at Gripshâ—lm This man being now grown old was fearful and willing to be quiet though upon hard conditions wherefore he disswaded Gustavus from stirring alleadging the great advantage that the King had having an Army in the Field and the Towns generally under his command affirming that the King desired nothing more than to ingratiate himself with the people for whose assurance he had granted Letters of Grace and a general pardon and therein particularly mentioning Gustavus himself wherefore he advised him to give credit to the King and to submit to his Government And for my part said the old man I dare engage to procure from the King a special full and free pardon for you if you shall desire it Gustavus heard him with silence but liked not his undertaking For thought he this old man may hope hereby to screw himself into the Kings favour Neither indeed did he like to adventure himself upon the Kings promises wherefore he resolved to wave this old mans counsel and to retire himself back to Rafsnass All this while the King continued in the siege of Stockholme where we formerly left him endeavouring partly by force partly by messages of Grace to get possession of that City For which end he first confirmed the agreement which his General had made with the Lords in the Field and then granted a General pardon and Act of Oblivion for whatsoever former faults Then sent his hearty commendations and fair promises to the people in the Country by the Suedish Lords that were of his party yet in many places it met with little or no respect at all Nevertheless in continuance of time by the often droppings of his good words serious Proâ—â—ses Protestations Execrations Letters Patents and Declarations under the Kings hand and seal an entrance is made into the hearts of the men at Stockholm the Gates at length are opened and the King admitted entrance and acknowledged by all to be their lawful King and then was Crowned and solemn Feasts were held for all sorts of people both Suedes Danes and Germans This was a fair morning but who knows what a great-bellied day may bring forth The King all this while was contriving the ruine of the Suedish Nobility and now he hath them in one place within walls and a sufficient guard upon them But it must be done under the fairest pretence that may be for the thing it self was ugly and ill-favoured Hence it was first resolved that a Treason should be supposed to be plotted by the Suedes to massacre the Danes and therefore the Danes as in their own defence should assassinate the Suedes but this was thought dangerous and might in the event turn to the destruction of the Danes in so populous a City and who knows what men in despair may do Then another way was propounded viz. That the King must look upon the Suedish Lords as under the Popes curse and sentence of Excommunication and to draw forth the Kings justice with more colourable zeal the Archbishop of Upsal who had procured that sentence must openly accuse the Suedish Lords as excommunicated persons for Treason against the King robbery of the Church and as spoylers of the dignity and estate of the Archbishop and therefore he must demand Judgement against them And this was approved of And the better to draw these Suedish Lords together a Feast is appointed the third day after the Coronation at which also the Germans and Danes were present and then before them all the Arcbishop of Upsal though unwillingly when he saw what would be the event steps forth before the King and accuses the Suedish Lords of injury done by them to himself both in person and estate and demanded â—atisfaction for his damages The King liked not this charge as not being home enough and therefore told him that he forgat the Popes sentence the crime of Treason and his own place who ought in zeal to the Church to have demanded punishment upon the persons offending After which he commanded the Guards to seize upon the Suedish Lords and as some Writers say shewed them so much mercy as to let them live till the next day and in the interim he set Guards upon all the avenues to the City that none might be suffered to depart
knowing how necessary peace with one another would be a mutual Treaty is propounded by the King of Denmark and in order thereto the King of Sueden propounded an interview wherein he stood not upon punctilio's but proffered to come to the King of Denmark in some convenient place upon security of a safe conduct which the King of Denmark granted as soon as it was demanded The place of meeting was Ancona in the confines of Scania where in the presence of the Lords of both Nations an interview is had and after mutual salutations and complements the King of Denmark spake of the miseries and calamities that had befaln both the Nations for divers years last past declaring their present dangers also by reason of the continual contrivances of Christian their late King which saith he will be much heightned if our discords should continue For my own part therefore I am for peace with Sueden upon just and honourable tearms Gustavus answered that he held peace between the Nations convenient and commendable and was willing to hearken thereto upon equal conditions The King of Denmark began with proposing the continuance of the union of the three Northern Kingdomes according to the Articles of Calmar which said he were confirmed by the Oaths of the Deputies of all the three Nations yet he desired not the change of the present Government of Sueden but onely that Gustavus should acknowledge him Superiour Gustavus secretly disliking this proposal answered modestly that for his part he was unwillingly drawn to accept of the Suedish Crown That he could wish that both Nations could flourish under one head But said he the agreement of Calmar is dissolved by the misgovernment of the late King and if the Danes could not all this while gain their expectations by force of Arms much less can they think it rational for the Suedes to yeeld up by Treaty the Liberties of their Country which are dearer to them than their lives as the late Wars have demonstrated Neither can himself who is sworn to maintain the Liberties of his Country allow of such tearms much less advise his people to consent thereto Yet for my own part though I will not be a subject yet I desire to be a friend true and faithful to the King of Denmark and am ready to gratifie him in all things agreeable to equity The King of Denmark perceiving hereby the unreasonableness of his former demands tells the King of Sueden in plain terms that himself was desirous of a firm peace and league with him if Sueden would be content with its antient limits and would yeeld up what in these late Wars they had gained from Denmark especially the Dukedome of Bleking The King of Sueden answered that himself valued the peace of both Nations beyond that petty Dutchy and therefore he would consult with his Lords about it and accordingly it was assented to But the proposal about the Isle of Gothland proved more difficult It was in the possession of the Danes but claimed as belonging to the Crown of Sueden yet at last they agreed to lay that debate aside till a more convenient time and thus peace was concluded between these two Kings as well for the Hans-Towns as for themselves against Christian the deposed King and all the Suedish Captives in Denmark were set at liberty and such of the Suedes as formerly had any particular interest in Denmark were restored to their right About this time a spiritual disease was newly breeding in Germany which soon grew to be almost Epidemical in those Eastern parts Gospel-light was newly sprung out of Popish darkness discovering the very bowels of the Romish Religion to be a meer garbage of pride and covetousness To prevent which the Devil raiseth up another light or a thing as like to light as himself is when he is transformed into an Angel of light He found the people as desirous to gain their Civil as their Religious Liberties This he colourably helps on by a company of Professors pretending to a more pure light and perfect way of holiness by a second Baptism suggesting that men of light must walk according to their light and that they were bound by no other Law and so needed neither Magistracy nor Ministry Nay those Ordinances savour of Antichristian Tyranny Hereupon they rose and ran up and down Germany and like the waves of the Sea swallow up and bear down all before them till dashing on a Rock they break themselves in pieces But before this storm two drops fall upon Sueden by the coming over of two men with the Holland Merchants during the interview of these two Kings These were Melchior Rincus and Knipper Dolling who arriving at Stockholme instill new principles into the people whence followed that entring the Churches down go Images and Organs and all such things as they will call monuments of Idolatry They made also publick invectives against publick Worship and the Clergy as Antichristian suggesting that it were better to have none at all Gustavus the King returning to Stockholme finds much need of his presence and understanding of the tumultuous Reformation and the sad principles taken up he commits the two Evangelists to prison and afterwards banished them but their poison was not so easily cured The news of this Reformation at Stockholme spreads far and wide over the Kingdome and liberty was so welcome to all being newly crept from under a Tyranny that even good Government is brought into question and the King saw no way to pacifie the storm but by casting overboard to the people somewhat to keep the Whale from overturning the Ship and finding that he must adventure a breach with the Pope who had lately sent a special Legate the Cardinal de Potentia with Authority to enquire of the bloody Massacre made by Christian at Stockholme thereby to vindicate himself of so horrible a crime and that the Legate upon examination had judicially pronounced sentence that nothing was done therein by Christian but what was just and right he therefore told the people that he would visite all the Churches in his own person and make a reformation by the advice of learned men and accordingly the King in person visited all the Churches throughout the Nation and informed himself of the state of them but coming to Upsal he was opposed by the Archbishop and Canons whereupon a Disputation was appointed wherein the King himself would be President After which he summoned all the States of Sueden to meet to whom he related what he found in his Visitation requesting their help in directing some moderation in the work of Reformation in Doctrine and the worship of God and in calming the violence of the Catholick Clergy which were such desperate enemies to it as also in regulating their abuse of the Church-maintenance which they spent in pride and luxury which ought to be imployed for the saving of peoples souls Their
account of Religion which his Father had changed into the Lutheran way and they hoped the sonne would the rather uphold it This the Bishops smelt out and sought the advancement of the Popish Religion and therefore would have the Government managed by Administratorship and in their own names they published Injunctions wherein they required all the Lutheran Preachers to depart out of the Country by a day prefixed This being like to fall heavy upon the Cities of Hafnia and Malmogia who yet were loath to make a breach they prevailed to have the Government by Administratorship advanced and withall invited Christian Duke of Holst to be Administrator for John the former Kings son but he disclaimed it Then they had recourse to and prevailed with the Duke of Aldenburgh who professed the Doctrine of Luther to accept thereof who thereupon came to Hafnia with a party and when he was there perceiving many whisperings about the restoring of their deposed King the Duke to gain the greater party declared his willingness for the resettlement of him whereby he won much upon the common people For Christian drove on the same trade in Denmark as he had formerly done in Sueden flattering the people into a party against the Lords which as an Historian saith is the ready way to Tyranny Woolweaver though he was more passionate than wise takes this opportunity and sides with the Duke of Aldenburgh and prevails with him to engage against the Duke of Holst who had divers of the Lords of Denmark that joyned with him to make him King but in this the Duke of Aldenburghs expectation was frustrated for he lost the day and was beaten out of the Field by the Duke of Holst And now was the Duke of Holst brought upon the stage to act his part for the Crown of Denmark thereby to procure his own rest and safety and observing that the King of Sueden was left out of the play he invites him to bear a part in the Game for Woolweavers sake The King of Sueden well knowing his own interest made little difficulty of the matter and though Woolweaver endeavoured to stop that muse by a fair message yet the King would not so be perswaded but told the messengers of their Masters entertainment of the Suedish Runnegadoes and so dismissed them and being informed that the people in Denmark sided with the Duke of Aldenburgh for their deposed King he thought it not fit to dally any longer but forthwith falls with an Army into the Danish Territories and possessed himselves of divers places for the use of the Duke of Holst The Danish Lords also seeing which way the current ran and themselves deserted by the people joyned with the Duke of Holst and engaged him for the Crown in good earnest In the mean time the Duke of Aldenburgh seeing what interest he had with the common people thought all safe and therefore took his ease and enjoyed his pleasure But the Duke of Holst did not so he sent the Danish Lords into Jutland with an Army who soon settled that Country and from thence marched into Fionia where in one Battel all the Duke of Aldenburghs hopes were dashed and the Earle of Hoy was sacrificed to the King of Suedens pleasure the Archbishop of Upsal also and divers other disaffected Suedes were slain in the Battel The news hereof coming to Lubeck made Woolweaver once more tack about and hearing that Suanto the son of Steno Stur sometimes Governour of Sueden was in the Duke of Saxonies Court he suborned a messenger to him as from his Mother to meet her at Malla where it was said she waited with convenience for him Hereupon he repaired to Malla where instead of meeting with his Mother he was met with by a Troop of Horse from Lubeck who offered him in the name of the City great honours if he will be advised by them and so by surprisal they conveyed him to Lubeck where he was saluted by Woolweaver the Consul with great expressions of joy who minded him of the unsetled state of the Northern Kingdomes and of the private disaffection of the Suedes to their King Adding that now there was a fair opportunity offered to him to recover the Government of Sueden which place was so famously managed by his Ancestors That Lubeck had an Army in readiness wanting onely his consent to be their Leader That it was expected that he should now shew himself worthy of such Progenitors But Suanto had sworn Allegiance to Gustavus and meant to observe it and therefore refused the proffers and demanded liberty to depart or else that Woolweaver would shew cause why he was detained Prisoner Woolweaver seeing no good was to be done told him that he was no prisoner and that it was free for him to go when and whither he pleased only earnestly desiring that where ever he went he would retain a favourable opinion of the City The King of Sueden being informed of these passages was thereby sharpened in the pursuit of the Duke of Holsts interest upon the main land of Schonen and in a short time brought all the Country to submit to him onely the City of Malmogia and some other neighbouring Castles held out for the Duke of Aldenburgh from whom they expected relief and accordingly the Duke with the Duke of Oldenburgh and the Duke of Mecklenburgh joyning all their strength together resolve to adventure all upon the issue of one Battel with the King of Sueden wherein their Army was utterly and irrecoverably overthrown so that within a few dayes all the Country was wholly for the Duke of Holst which but a week before was quite of another temper Haffnia had now been besieged above half a year by the Duke of Holst which City was only left as the gleaning of the War and wherein the last strength of the Dukes of Aldenburgh Oldenburgh Mecklenburgh and of the City of Lubâ—ck was now contracted All this while Christian the deposed King had time enough to try the curtesie of the house of Burgundy but none of that house would stir in his behalf and which was more unhappy for the besieged the affairs of Lubeck were faced about to the Reer For the Hans-Towns in their general meeting perceiving that the affairs of Lubeck had for these five years last past been wholly swayed by Woolweaver under a pretence of Religion and that the City by that means was brought into such difficulties that they knew not how to come off either with credit or safety they therupon concluded according to the counsel sent by the Emperor to the City that the former Government should be restored at Lubeck not at all medling with the matter of Religion and because they would salve the credit of Woolweaver they commended him to the Government of Bergeridoffe Woolweaver was not therewith contented and therefore at his departure out of the City vowed revenge and the Senate at Lubeck being now changed considering the restless spirit
of Woolweaver were as little satisfied as he and therefore sent messengers after him who finding him upon his journey in the Territories of a Prince who owed him no good will they procured him to be imprisoned and afterwards charging him with Treason against the State of Lubeck he was put to death and quartered And now Lubeck was setled upon its old basis and flourished again leaving this lesson to such as would be States-men That miscarriages in Government are not reformed by altering but by establishing the Government Haffnia now after a years siege being tired out with the miseries of War was surrendred upon tearms not altogether so honourable for the Duke of Holst as might have been expected whereupon the King of Sueden told the Duke that being privy to his own engagements in the Dukes behalf he little expected that such an agreement should ever have been made by the Duke without his knowledge and in one thing not without his consent For said he why should I be excluded out of this agreement and you thereby to engage your self not to aid me in case I should not agree with the Lubeckers upon just tearms The Duke pleaded that he was necessitated to it to gain the present surrender of the City as also that the importunity of the Lords and his neighbour Princes drew him thereto nevetheless he assured the King that if he would send Ambassadours he should finde that he should not receive any damage thereby And accordingly the King did send Ambassadours but the Lubeckers could never prevail to have a resettlement of their priviledges in Sueden as they desired so that in conclusion there was onely a bare truce concluded betwixt them and the King of Sueden for five years Thus are the three Northern Kingdomes brought once more into a settlement and turbulent Lubeck was calmed and the Captive King in a manner twice captivated and now if not quite hopeless yet less hopeful than ever formerly England indeed was allied and had done what it thought meet and possibly more than was meet For Ambassadours were sent from hence to draw the Lords to a Treaty but they liked not to adventure their necks upon purposes and promises The Emperour did less either judging Christians person despicable by reason of his unworthy carriage to his Queen and Lords or the Lords were more wise and wary than to adventure upon a second trial of their late Kings curtesie unless they were compelled thereto by force To do which the Emperour had neither time nor money to spare though the opportunity lay as fair to do his brother a good turn as he could desire if he had intended it And lastly though the common people did what they could yet they effected nothing It s many times seen that Providence doth advance some particular persons of the meanest rank to be instrumental in the publick Government but never puts the Government into the power of such which would be the speedy way to confusion as appeared in those very times by the Earthquakes in Government raised by the Anabaptists in Germany wherein though the issue was abortive yet it came to that growth as made the greater Powers to tremble And now the time of Suedens rest was come where both King and people might have leisure to injoy their several lots The King had hitherto acted the Souldiers part very well and now he must try his skill in a peaceable Government wherein I shall onely set down the brief Contents of many Laws and Acts of State which shew rather the disposition of the Government than the several actions thereof The King now at leisure taking into consideration that the fewel which maintained the Civil War was now spent and that the people who had been trained up to the toyl of War were fitter for labour than leisure and considering also that a time must come when a Commonwealth reduced by War must be governed and maintained by peace he now applied himself to acquaint his people with matters of profit drawing them to Mining Husbandry Fishing and Merchandize all which were much advanced by the Kings own ingenuous contrivances and by encouraging the laborious banishing idleness punishing vagabonds and wanderers he found a way to make the Sea to serve the Land the Land to serve Men Men to serve their Nation the Nation to observe their King and both Nation and King to serve God and thereby he laid a far better building of Sueden than Augustus did of Rome of whom it was said That he found it of earth and left it of stone The people likewise soon found the sweetness of this Government and were not far behinde in requital of the Kings favour to them They had now lived twenty years under his Government and in a good measure found the benefit of peace though bought with their sweat and blood in a long War but how sad would it be if the last breath of the King should put an end to their happiness The Council therefore at their meeting taking this into consideration that the Government of Sueden by Election was alwayes uncertain and seldome effected without deceit and discord and oft-times at the price of the peoples blood that it is of short continuance depending upon the life of one man and prejudicial to the publick good For that in such cases Kings will deplume their subjects to feather their own nests to keep their young ones warm when themselves are gone and that it were far better for the people to be sucked by one Leech which in time might be satisfied than by the change of many who will but increase the pain and suck without satiety That the advancement of one Family to the Throne would be a cure to all this and a preparative to a wining aspect from it upon the people and of a due respect from them to it and so of a kind of conjugal affection between both against the Marriage day That it is a means to suppress the turbulent aimes of ambitious men who croud into the Throne though of all others they be most unworthy Besides that it secureth the present Government in the peaceable possession of him that enjoyes it And that upon these and such like grounds Augustus and other Roman Emperours who wanting issue used in their life times to adopt and declare their successours in the Government and trained them up for that service nor did they finde it dangerous either for themselves or their successours so to do That the people at the siege of Stockholme offered to settle the Government upon the King and his children when at that time he neither had any nor was married But now that he is married and hath children and hath given such large experience of his love industry and faithfulness in adventuring all that he had even to his own life to vindicate the honour of his Country What acknowledgement can be sufficient for so great a merit less than the
further happiness upon earth than to maintain what he had gotten yet was he once over-reached by the Livonians who proffered to commit themselves to his protection which he refused yet when they were much endangered by the Muscovites he sent aid unto them who engaging too far and the Livonians hanging behinde the whole burden was left upon the Suedes who finding the Muscovite too heavy for them and the Livonians heartless or faithless withdrew their assistance betimes and made their own peace It s a usual policy amongst Princes to be slow in advancing their eldest Sons who are to succeed them into places of Government and not without cause for in such cases especially in times and places of darkness their designed successours if well gifted by nature or education may prove heads of parties and factions and thereby put the present Governours to much trouble the one being looked upon as the rising the other but as the setting Sun Yet it seems more prejudicial to the people to have a raw and unexperienced Governour set over them who knows not how to govern himself And therefore if Ericus had been more experienced in Government he might have proved either more advised by the overruling direction of his Father or else he would have discovered himself so far as that he would never have been trusted and so many troubles might have been prevented which ensued afterwards But it is vain to call back things which are already past the time draws on a pace which must determine the work of this great King He had now governed the Kingdome of Sueden long and had seen many changes in other Nations as well as his own and yet must outlive one more in Denmark before he leaves the world For about this time died Christian the third King of Denmark by whose decease the Kingdome was put to the hazard of an other Election which concerned Sueden not a little for Christian the captive King was yet alive and had another fair opportunity to try the curtesie of the Lords of Denmark But they being unanimous for the choice of Frederick the Son of the Duke of Holst him they Crowned and Christian was still set aside Unhappy man that having lived a prisoner seven and twenty years in his own Nation could not in all that time by his carriage gain a better opinion amongst the Nobility of Denmark but that still he remained under the note of an impenitent and obstinate Tyrant It is the opinion of wise men that the breach between a King and his people is like the Divorce between a man and his wife never to be made up again and yet the difficulty lyes not in any determinate judgement or rule upon the Case as that of Divorce doth and therefore comes not within the compass of impossibility but in the distemper of the parties by ambition on the one side and jealousie on the other both hard to be cured yet the first leading the way to the second if that be first allayed the second may be cured And this Christian might have observed in the example of Carolus Canutus his corival in the Suedish Throne who having been Crowned King and fought successfully against the Danes and Norwegians ruled somewhat too imperiously for which he was ejected out of his Throne and yet afterwards being re-admitted he ruled in that manner that he dyed satisfied with honour and the love of his people But Christian was of another temper he would fain come again into the Government but not under restraint nor with submission nor by leave nor with the love of his Nation but still depending upon a forreign interest and the power of the Emperour he was looked upon as an enemy and his return as that of the unclean spirit that would render the latter condition of the Nation sevenfold worse than the former For he that is a King indeed though wrongfully rejected will still bear the minde of a King to desire the peoples good and will endeavour to deserve their love But he that depends upon the forreign interest of such as are professed enemies to a peoples Religion and Liberties disowneth interest in his people and therefore cannot rationally expect any re-acceptance if that Nations Religion be right either by the leave of God or liking of the people Now whether Christian took conceit at this Election seeing no hope of ever gaining a better condition than for the present he was in Writers mention not but he dyed presently after even within one moneth of the death of Christian the third and in the Seventy eight year of his age And Gustavus out-lived him and all these changes well-nigh two years seeing his people in a settled condition for Justice Religion and Peace amongst themselves and with all their Neighbours thriving in Trade industrious in Husbandry Skilfull in improving the benefit of their Mines Potent both at Sea and Land and himself blessed with repute and honour both from his own people and strangers Successfull in all his affairs and leaving a numerous posterity behind him And having lived seventy years and thereof raigned thirty eight years he gave in charge to his children to endeavour the peace and to maintain the liberties of their Country but especially to preserve the purity of Religion without the mixture of humane inventions and to live as brethren in unity among themselves All which also he left as a memorial â—ealed up in his last Will and so he resigned up his spirit to God Anno Christi 1562. So lived Gustavus or Augustus for the name is the same which perhaps minding him of imitation made him exceed his patern His aims out reached the Roman Empire and were higher than the world His difficulties and dangers greater His enemies more desperate by conjuncture of the Devils His labour and industry not unlike His success beyond all even to wonderment If he came short of Austustus in his time of Government wherein the difference was not much yet he exceeded him in the manner It being with such an excellent temper of Monarchy with popularity He preserved the peoples liberty with the honour of a King and common security without pride of Tyranny The people living as well under the King without servitude as in a popular estate without sedition and yet he attempered all with just liberty of conscience and the true worship and service of God which he owned as the chief Diamond in his Crown and conveyed all to his successours by a better and more enduring settlement than Augustus did or could attain unto His worst enemies never publickly taxed him with any crime but covetousness And Thuanus a Writer of credit in those times gives no countenance thereto Nor did the Patrimony left by him to his children hold forth any such thing and therefore if any such thing were it was for the service of the state of Sueden wherein if he spared not others it s confessed by all that he spared not
36. that then every man shall be judged Jude 15. and every secret thing shall be brought to light Rom. 2. 16. and that the judgement will be most just and so confessed by all Rom. 2. 5 6. why then should I fear the last Judgement seeing he shall be my Judge who is my Brother Advocate and Redeemer He that was willingly judged for me will give no hard sentence against me yea he hath already absolved me from my sins and given me the earnest of his Spirit and the seal of the Sacraments and I have judged my self that I may not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. 32. I do beleeve that the glory of Heaven is unspeakable and incomprehensible by us here on earth 1 Cor. 2. 9. that is it eternal Matth. 25. 45. and that it is the gift of God proceeding onely from his free Grace not our merit Luke 12. 32. his free gift bestowed onely upon the Elect Rev. 21. 27. O that I could by the effectualness of contemplation behold the greatness of this felicity which is provided for me yet as I can conceive it I cannot choose but long to be absent from hence that I may be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. whos 's admirable beauty I shall clearly see and know as I am known and that with a perfection both of holiness and happiness such holiness as will not onely free me from all sin but from all possibility of sinning such happiness as that ceasing from all labour and sorrow I shall enjoy an eternal Sabbath and shall be free to all the treasures of Heaven and with the fruition of Gods glorious presence shall enjoy the sweet society of all the glorified Saints and Angels And all this as it is unuterable so it is unalterable For as I cannot be disappointed of it because it is certain so I cannot be deprived of it because it is eternal How then should the hope of the future life but swallow up the afflictions of the life present and why should I fear Death when being dead I shall be so blessed Yet was not her Faith elevated so high but that she could readily apply it to promises of an inferiour degree For as she trusted in God at all times as David teacheth Psal. 62. 8. so did she in all things whether temporal or eternal In straits and difficulties for the affairs of this life she had that ready at hand Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass Psal. 37. 5. If at any time she was sinisterly censured by any one her faith applied that promise to her heart He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy judgement as the noon day Psal. 35. 6. And whatsoever it were that came upon her as a cross her faith was either as a wreathe betwixt her shoulders and it that it did not pinch her or a remover of it from her self to him who was best able to bear it by vertue of that Warrant Psal. 55. 22. Cast thy burthen upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee and that done her faith which teacheth to keep an eaven pace with the promises not making haste Isa. 28. 16. by anticipating the time of accomplishment taught her soul to wait upon God as Davids did Psal. 62. 1. to effect his own work at his own time in his own way and manner wherein she would not prescribe any thing at all By this daily exercise of her Faith she gained a great deal of freedome and lightsomness of spirit which admirably appeared in her deportment upon great disappointments of that which was her own due and unexpected payments unto others when she hath seen no way of supply for the present occasions she hath believed that Gods providence would effect what her forecast could not when she was not wanting in the use of means and that he could furnish her with that which should be sufficient albeit for the present she saw not how nor by what means it would come to pass and therefore when she had done what belonged to her duty in the affiance of her Faith she rested quiet and remained cheerful and slept neither the less nor the worse for it and that which confirmed her confidence the more was that she still found by experience that God was most worthy to be trusted That her Faith was as good as it was great appeared by the effect of it in her Devotion and Piety which was suitable to her knowledge of God and her faith in him by both which as she had a clear apprehension of him so none had more dear and devout affections to him or more assured signs of such than she as appeared in these particulars She was frequently and fervently conversant with God besides the publick in her private supplications and therein was he most favourably familiar with her for he sent forth his Spirit into her heart whereby she cried Abba Father Gal 4. 6. The Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zach. 12. 10. which enabled her in an extraordinary manner and measure to pour out her soul into his bosome and though she duely esteemed of the solemn prayers of the sacred Assemblies whereof a learned and pious Divine said that never any one prayed well privately who contemned or neglected the publick prayers of the Church and never sleighted or censured set forms of Prayer yet could she and that excellently well conceive Prayer and vary her Petitions as the present occasion did require Yea in this Devotion she was so abundant in apt and pertinent expressions that indeed it was admirable that one so silent in her common conversation with the world should be so fluent and eloquent in her entercourse with God Nor was she more copious in speech than fervent in spirit For such was her holy violence in Prayer as that she seemed not to knock at Heaven Gate for another to open it but to make a battery upon it her self and to break in by the powerful importunity of her supplications Her service also of God in this kinde was no dry Devotion but steeped and drenched in showres of tears and though her prudence used as much privacy as might be herein yet such a singular gift could not be hid from her servants and some secret female friends who sometimes when they were sick or possessed with fears or pains of child-birth they would move her with importunity to pray with them and when she yeelded to them and God to her by answering her request they were apt as there was cause to impute the good effect to her fervent supplications A female friend of hers who was her bed-fellow in London for many weeks together and thereby was a partaker of her daily Devotions professed that she was so plentifully furnished for utterance of her requests to God that she never wanted variety of meet words to be presented unto him but when a surcharge of sighs and
come upon her back she said indeed little with her tongue but her eyes spoke much because she was loath to conrradict him whom she was bound to obey and at last she submitted to his will though against her own not onely because that habit was no better than others of her rank did wear but because it was a testimony of her Husbands love and of her own loyal subjection to his will wherein she followed the advice of Bishop Hall in his Contemplations It is not saith he for a good wife to judge of her Husbands will but to execute it neither wit nor stomack may carry her into a curious inquisition into the reasons of an enjoyned charge much less to a resistance but in an hoodwinckt simplicity she must follow whithersoever she is led as one that holds her chief praise to consist in subjection following her Husband as the Israelites did the cloudy Pillar which when it stood they stood when it went they followed And indeed it was no marvel that she was so obsequious to her Husband for amongst her papers were found special directions which she had drawn out of the Scripture for her conjugal affection and behaviour towards her Husband which were these which follow under this Title Duties which concern me in particular I must submit my self to my Husband as to the Lord Eph. 5. 22. I must account him my Head Eph. 5. 23. I must be in subjection to him in all things as the Church unto Christ Eph. 5. 24. I must get his consent even for those times that I set apart for Religious duties 1 Cor. 7. â— 10. I must walk pleasingly towards him 1 Cor. 7. 34. When by his death she was loosed from the Law of her Husband she would have returned to a meaner habit but because it was suitable to the place which she held in the City as having been wife to him who had been twice Mayor of Chester and divers times a Burgâ—ss of Parliament and for that God made such good things neither onely nor principally for the use and wearing of the wicked but for his children and that it might not be imputed either to singularity nor nigardize she made no remarkable change in her attire and indeed to keep down pride she would not eat the bread of idleness Prov. 31. 27. but willingly wrought with her hands as that vertuous woman did vers 13. and readily descended to such homely offices as were meet for the meanest of her servants Notwithstanding such excellent gifts and graces wherewith God had inriched her soul her mind was not lifted up to vaunting or vanity nor to the undervaluing or envying Gods gifts in others but in lowliness of minde she esteemed others better than her self Phil. 2. 3. disavowing her own praise though those that gave it thought it much less than her due and advancing others far before her self though in gifts they were far below her and no marvel for she was not as those who are far more curious to know the faults of others than to correct their own but an exact enquirer into her own life a severe censurer of her own imperfections and failings and as for others she observed them most for that which was best in them to make her self more holy by imitating them therein and more humble for that wherein she fell short of them She often presented and arraigned her self before Gods Tribunal to bring her self down in submission as guilty before him begging pardon on her knees at his hands and she came the lower by comparing her own faultiness infirmity and misery with his infinite Purity Power and Majesty in comparison of whom All Nations are but as the drop of the Bucket or the small dust in the Ballance Isa. 40. 15. which made her to think of him with admiration and love and of her self with detestation and loathing and when she took notice of any good thing in her self she boasted not of it even because she had received it and that of Gods free gift making it a Memento of thankfulness to him that gave it her knowing that he might have passed by her and given it to another and that he might be provoked to take it away from her if she should take any of that glory to her self which was due unto him alone She alwayes held this for a Maxime that if it be good to be esteemed vertuous and most desire to be so esteemed than to be so indeed is much better for the substance of a good thing is alwayes better than the semblance of it therefore she was so sincere in her whole course that she hated the least appearance of Hypocrisie She was one of those whom David blesseth for their integrity Blâ—ssed are they who keep his Testimonies and seek him with their whole heart Psal. 119. 2. Her love was without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. She loved not in word or in tongue onely but in deed and in truth 1 Joh. 3. 18. and this appeared in that she made her deeds of charity and good will alwayes better than her words whereof she was so chary that some blamed her for want of affability which being objected to her she said I like not the lavish language of some who have their mouthes full of complemental curtesie to every one though their hearts be shut and contracted when their mouthes are so enlarged and if they have love enough within to maintain such liberality of words without I like my own heart the worse that it is not so ready to attend upon my tongue as on the sudden to minister cordial affections meet for such frank and friendly expressions She used rather to let her friends see her love by her works than to hear it by her words Her Constancy also was very remarkable by which her spirit was stedfast with God and her heart stedfast in his Covenant as the Israelites should have been but were not Psal. 78. 8 37. Her faith was grounded and settled Col. 1. 23. so that she was not carried away with divers and strange Doctrines Heb. 13. 9. much less with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 14. But what she was for faith and godliness from her first conversion the same she was in all places at all times and in all companies But for the measure or degree of Grace she was not as a stake in an hedge which grows not but as a plant in the Garden that springeth up no dwarf in Gods house but one that by spiritual nourishment and daily exercise of her graces grew up apace towards the stature of Christ and as it s said of the path of the just Prov. 4. 18. She shined more and more unto the perfect day So that she was best at last and most heavenly minded when she had the least time to tarry on the earth She was a loyal and obedient Wife a careful and kinde though not a found Mother a gentle and beneficent Mistress a
good and a charitable neighbour and a true and constant friend Towards her latter end she fell into some bodily distempers wherein she had fits or trances like the embrions of death which by a gradual failing of her spirits left her at last unable to speak or move yet without any great alteration in her countenance which by some was conceived to be a spice of the Mother it was short and not sharp for she felt no pain yet when she returned to her self she found that she was commonly more feeble than before Upon the Munaay sevenight before she dyed was the first assault given which set Deaths pale colour upon her face and fingers from the middle joynts towards the ends her nails turned to a blewish black which being rubbed a while returned again to their former complexion and she remained that night indifferent well the next day her disease appeared in the form and quality of a kindely ague and so continued mostly tâ—ll within three or four daies before her end then it turned from an intermitting Ague to a continual Feaver that afflicted her with extream burning and other pains which commonly accompany such a disease especially when it rageth most as it doth towards the latter end During her sickness having the free use of all her faculties her soul no doubt was exercised in holy meditations for whâ—h she had kept in store many particulars of importance to be remembred at her departure out of this world Her desires were strong for a speedy dissolution so that she implored God with the request of David Psal. 38. 22. Make haste to help me O Lord my salvation and Psal. 40. 13. Be pleased O Lord to deliver me O Lord make haste to help me And this she desired that she might have a joyful meeting with him and fruition of him after whom her soul longed even then when her life was most lightsome and her condition most comfortable And now the time drew near that her desire was to be granted in that kinde which she most desired by the power of death to pass to the Authour of life which she did in such a calm manner that when she was thought to be but asleep she was found to be dead on Friday August the 17. Anno Christi 1638. The Life and Death of Mr. Ignatius Jurdaine who dyed Anno Christi 1640. IGnatius Jurdaine was born at Lime-Regis in the County of Dorset Anno Christi 1561. And when he was yet young he was sent by his Friends to the City of Exeter to be brought up in the profession of a Merchant and from thence being about fifteen years old he was sent into the Isle of Garnsey and God by his good providence having brought him to that place did also there effectually call and convert him by his Grace So that from that time he resolved to be like that wise Merchant in the Gospel Mat. 13. 46. to part with all for that Pearl of great price whereas others did make it their great work and highest design to get the pelf of the world and to load themselves with thick clay Hab. 2. 6. And in testimony of his thankfulness to God he left by Will a considerable Legacy to the poor of Lime where he was born and to the poor of Garnsey where he was new born God seasoning his heart with Grace in his younger years the general course of his life did for the future relish of it according to that of Solomon Prov. 22. 6. Train up a childe in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it For as he was trained up in Religion from his youth so he continued not only in the form and profession but in the life and power of it until his old age and death In the whole tenour of his life his piety was most eminent and indeed there have been few observed to hold such constâ—nt and close communion with God as Mr. Jurdaine did It was his constant practice for many years together even to his old age to arise between two and three of the clock in the morning and that even in the coldest seasons of the year and to spend the time in secret meditation and prayer until six a clock which was the appointed time for his Morning-sacrifice in the Family at which time he was called from his secret devotions to the exercise of Religious Family-duties And if at any time he had over-slept himself as he accounted it and did not rise until four a clock he would much bemoan himself for the loss of so much precious time wherein he might have enjoyed sweet and comfortable communion with God Surely had he not experimentally found much sweetness in this his spiritual converse with God as David did Psal. 104. 34. he could not have continued so constantly therein And having thus awaked with God in the morning and renewed his acquaintance with him day by day it s no marvel that he did walk with him all the day long after In all his affairs and dealings his care was to walk very exactly and sincerely according to St. Pauls direction Eph. 5. 16. But though in all things he studied to approve himself to God and to walk as in the sight of God 2 Cor. 2. 17. yet could he not escape the malicious censures of men who charged him to do all in Hypocrisie He well knew that he had the imputations of dissembling and hypocrisie cast upon him by men void of charity and sincerity but the testimony of his own conscience did more comfort him than the uncharitable censures of men dejected him and he used upon that occasion to take up the words of Job Till I dye I will not remove mine integrity from me Job 27. 5. Many have oft heard him to profess that he would not willingly commit a sin to get a world though the evil which he would not do that did he as Rom. 7. 25. as it is incident to the best of men yet did he bewail it with grief of heart The sincerity indeed both of his intentions and actions hath been questioned by some who were not ashamed to say that under colour of doing Justice when he was a publick Magistrate and providing for poor he robbed the poor and helpt to keep his own house which was due to the poor But for that falshood that was thus charged upon him there were none that could ever better clear him from it than himself not onely his conscience witnessing for him before God but his books wherein he kept an exact Record of all the money which he received by way of mulct from Swearers Drunkards c. according to the Law and the Officers that distributed the money testifying his integrity before men so that might truly say with Jacob Gen. 30. 33. My righteousness shall answer for me and so it did herein both before God and men Nay he was so far from depriving
the poor of their right that he added much of his own distributing sixpences and shillings even when he had no money in bank He had not onely the testimony of his own conscience and of good men for his upright and just dealing but even of such who had little goodness in them A prophane Gentleman jeeâ—ing at his heavenly discourses another of good quality though of little piety replyed Well Gentlemen you may laugh at him but on my conscience he meaneth well and whosoever of us goeth to Heaven shall meet Mr. Jurdaine there He was a man that made conscience of all the duties and exercises of Religion both in private and in publick His frequent discourses of Heaven and the way thereunto and assurance of his interest therein did declare that his heart and conversation were much in Heaven He used 〈◊〉 take occasion to confer of spiritual and heavenly things with all sorts of men that he conversed with One should seldome hear him speak but of heaven and heavenly things His heart was so full of heaven that he could not but utter and breath it forth in his discourses with men and especially with those whose hearts and faces were towards Heaven When he was at Table receiving his dayly food he did usually minister occasion of holy discourses and diverted vain and unprofitable talk to such edifying speeches as might minister grace to the hearers according to that exhortation Eph. 4. 29. He took occasion from earthly things to speak of heavenly as from the sweetness of the creatures to speak of the infinite sweetness which is in God from feasting on earth to the sitting down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of heaven Matth. 8. 11. and feasting with God and his blessed Saints there And when the Table-cloath was taken away he would often say In heaven there is no taking away here we are soon satisfied and cloyed but there will be such a feast that we shall be continually delighting our souls with it without any cloying And his manner was to close his meals with singing some short Psalm He delighted much in reading good and holy books and especially that Book of books the sacred Scriptures wherein he most delighted and thereby shewed that he had the property of a godly man set down Psal. 1. 2. 119. 97. The word of God was his meditation all the day long yea both day and night He did not onely read the Bible above twenty times over but he read it with special observation as appeareth by the Asterisks and marks in the Bible which he used making particular application to himself The like course he took in reading over that usefull Book of Mr. Rogers his seven Treatises and other practical books wherein he was very conversant and his collections out of several Authours do abundantly testifie And he took so much delight in reading that voluminous and excellent Book of the Acts and Monuments of the Church that upon occasion he told a Friend that he had read it seven times over His zeal for God and his glory and against Idolatry prophaneness and other evils whereby God was highly dishonoured was most eminent and remarkable He was a man of an Anti-Laodician temper he had well learned the Apostles direction Rom. 12. 11. To be fervent in spirit serving the Lord and not the time He was far unlike Ignatius Loiola the Founder of the Order of Jesuits who was a man of fire that was set on fire by â—ell to promote the cause of the Prince of darkness but he had an holy fire kindled in his heart from heaven whereby he did burn with zeal for the advancement of Gods glory and an holy indignation against sin and errour He would if it had been possible have burnt up all the dross and fiâ—th that corrupted the Truths of God and that was contrary to the wayes of holiness and therein he was very like to Ignatius the Martyr Neither did his zeal carry him beyond knowledge like that of the Jews Rom. 10. 2. when in his zeal he used often to cry out Fie upon discretion For he condemned only that counterfeit pretence of discretion which was taken up and pleaded against true and regular zeal And truly if carnal discretion be set up and cried up like the worldlings Idol it is the part of true Christian zeal to cry it down He was a very strict and conscientious observer and sanctifier of the Christian Sabbath or Lords Day He did then rise very early as on other dayes if not earlier and called upon those in his Family to rise early on that day saying This is Gods day and as we do expect that our servants should rise early to go about our work on our dayes so God expects our early rising on his Day to go about his work and service And he used carefully to attend upon Gods holy Ordinances The feet of them that dispenced the Gospel were beautiful in his eyes as Rom. 10. 15. more beautiful than their faces to many others He was one of those Saints that sate down at Gods feet to receive his word Deut. 33. 3. as Disciples used at the feet of their Teacher implied Act. 22. 3. and he was very desirous and willing to learn of any that came with the Lords message unto him He was a Mâ—ason an old Disciples Act. 21. 16. yea a Disciple when he was old It never came into his heart to cast off Ordinances no not when he had attained to an high measure towards perfection He was a constant writer of Sermons even when he was old and that not for his own benefit alone but for the good of his Family to whom he did constantly repeat the Sermons And if he found himself overtaken with drowsiness in hearing the word an infirmity incident to age his manner was to stand up and to rouse up himself that he might hear the more attentively He knew that Religion consisted not in hearing repetition and profession but in practice and therefore his care was to digest his hearing and knowledge into an holy conversation His love was so great to the Ministry of the word and the Lords holy Ordinances that he did intirely love and affect all faithfull and painfull Ministers though their gifts were but mean but he could not away with a lazie Ministâ—r though he was never so learned Where fidelity and learning meet together in one Minister Oh! how highly would he reverence him And being desirous not to go to Heaven alone but to draw others with him his usuall course was when he went with his Family to Gods house to make an exhortation to his children and servants that they should consider into whose presence they were going and whom they were to hear even that great God to whom they were to give an account of every word which they should hear and therefore he required them carefully to store it up for their practice and
forget to acknowledge Gods goodness in bestowing any of these outward things upon him He found by experience that they were but uncertain riches 1 Tim. 6. 17. And that they had wings and would fly away Prov. 23. 5. But he did not run crying after them as they use to do who set their hearts upon them whereas he saw and acknowledged Gods hand as well in taking away as in giving as Job did Job 1. 21. and therefore was quiet and content having experimentally learned in some good measure that excellent lesson with St Paul I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content Phil. 4. 11. By vicissitudes and changes of estates God did exercise his faith patience and contentation Having passed through the severall inferior Offices he at last ascended to the highest place of honour in the City to be Mayor there wherein as hath been shewed he demeaned himself as became a Christian Magistrate and his ambition therein was highly to honour God who had thus honoured him And afterwards he was twice chosen to be a Burgess of Parliament wherein his zeal for God and against the corruptions of the times was abundantly manifested He was a great stickler to have the Bill passed for the punishment of Adultery with death but those times would not bear it Surely some of the Lawmakers knew some speciall reason for it When he made a motion for the passing of that Bill one or more of the Members in the House cried out Commit it Mr. Jurdain commit it upon which a great laughter was occasioned whereupon he presently said unto them in a zealous manner like himself Do you laugh when a man speaks for Gods honour and glory Upon which there was a more than ordinary silence in the House The Bill was at that time laid aside but in a following Parliament it was called upon by the name of Mr. Jurdains Bill He was also as it 's said the first man that promoted the Bills for the more strict sanctification of the Sabbaths and against Swearing Yea God did not only advance him to places of honour and dignity in the eye of the world but gave him an high place also in the hearts of his people and therein God made good his promise 1 Sam. 2. 30. Such as honour me I will honour His name was very precious in the esteem of those that knew his worth both whilest he lived and since his death Indeed it is confessed that he was a by-word unto many and that his name was taken up by way of reproach but it was by such as were upbraided and reproved by his holy and gracious conversation And he valued not their reproaches knowing that his Lord and Master did suffer much more in this kind and that this was but a Chip of that Cross which as he was commanded he was willing to bear Yea he was well content to drink of this bitter Cup after his Master and with him he despised the shame Heb. 12. 2. which the men of the world cast upon him Nay he accounted it his honour to suffer shame for the Name of Christ as the Apostles did Act. 5. 4. But some there were that brought shame upon themselves whilest they thought to cast contempt and scorn upon him Amongst other instances this one was remarkeable That being chosen Burgess for the Parliament not without much opposition and going up to London to clear the Election at which time there was an accusation sent up against him by a man of no mean place and power That he was the Host of the Schismaticks Whereupon some presumed that he would have been sent back with disgrace and accordingly there was a Sermon prepared by one to jeer him at his return this being his Text Psal. 114. 5. What ailed thee thou Jordan that thou wast driven back Thus men of prophane spirits will dare to make the sacred Word of God to serve their own base lusts and ends But Mr. Jurdaine instead of being driven back was confirmed in the place to which he was chosen and so shame was cast into the face of this wicked scorner and his Sermon or Invective rather proved abortive And as Mr. Jurdaine stood up boldly for God so did God stand by and for him and assisted him and carried him through many troubles and dangers that did threaten and even compass him about One act of Gods providence amongst many others was most notable in delivering him out of trouble He having done an act of justice as was hinted before in punishing an unclean person whose offence was aggravated by some hainous circumstances being moved with an holy indignation against the offence he went as it seems besides the letter of the Law in some circumstance Whereupon some friends of the person punished being stirred up with fury for the disgrace that reflected upon them without weighing the dishonour that was done to God and the foul blot that was cast upon Religion resolved to prosecute him to the uttermost for it wherein they put him to great charge and trouble by prosecuting him in the Star-Chamber and when the cause was to come to a finall determination it was much feared by many of his friends and through the boastings of his adversaries that some heavy censure would have passed upon him to his crushing if not to his utter undoing But when his friends on earth failed he flees to Heaven for succour and defence and cried unto God in Davids words Psal. 22. 11 19. Be not far from me O Lord for trouble is near for there is none to help O my strength hast thou to help me And he set apart the evening and a great part of the night by fasting and Prayer to engage God of his side who hath the hearts of all men even of the greatest in his hands to turn them as he pleaseth Prov. 21. 1. And behold the next morning he received a reall and gracious answer from Heaven being not only acquitted but commended by the Lord Keeper God stirring up the hearts of divers in that high and arbitrary Court to speak for him Thus the Lord was a very present help to him in the time of trouble Psalme 46. 1. After he was thus through Gods mercy freed and returned to his house he piled up the Books and Papers of all the proceedings in that troublesome and vexatious business under his Cupboard in his Parlour which was the place to which he did often resort and where he had that daily sweet and heavenly communion with God aforementioned and being asked the reason why he left so many Books and Papers to lie in that manner His answer was These I keep in my sight as memorials and monuments of Gods mercy in freeing me from my troubles Many other particulars might be instanced in but by that little which hath been said you may guess at the great worth of this holy man Only give me leave to adde the observations and testimony
of Mr. Thomas Manton who knew him well who speaks thus of him Mr. Ignatius Jurdaine may in some sense be stiled the wonder and Phoenix of his age and place of abode concerning whose piety and frequent communion with God his constant heavenliness his charity in giving lending and entertaining his doing justice with impartiality and diligence we have already heard and therefore give me leave only to suggest a few other passages and observations 1. That for his temper he was a man of a raised zeal and heroicall spirit one of those rare examples which the Lord giveth the world now and then and therefore his actions are not to be measured by an ordinary standard 2. Seldome or never did any come into his company but he would discourse with them about holy things asking the younger sort how they did hope to be saved The more grown if they professed Religion whether they had any assurance which if they denied he would tell them that he was even ashamed of them In good earnest would he say I would study the Promises and go into my Closet and lock the door and there plead them to God and say that I would not go forth till he gave me some sense of his love 3. His entertainment at his Table was free and sufficient but frugall and sober If his Wife at any time excused the slenderness of it he would say Brown bread and Kennel water is good fare with the Gospel I have oft heard him say so There is somewhat a like saying of Mr. Greenhams and possibly Mr. Jurdaine might borrow it thence it suiting so well with the temper of his spirit 4. A formall man had once preached a Sermon at the Cathedrall about Heaven the discourse was for the most part frothy and beneath the dignity and worth of such an Argument Mr. Jurdaine was present as well as my self After Sermon I went to his house being to receive a Letter from him to Oxford and after many good instructions he asked me if I had been at the Sermon that morning I told him yea And did you said he hear those wonderfull things which God hath provided for them that love him And so he readily picked out all those passages which were any way subservient to use and profit It was wonderfull to me to see how an holy heart could draw comfort out of any thing The Sermon as Mr. Jurdaine repeated to me was another kind of Sermon and seemed to be savoury and spirituall I remember with what warmth and vigour he spake of it even till this day and hope that I shall never forget it 5. This is not to be forgotten his sending a Letter to the late King and expostulating with him about setting forth the Book concerning sports and recreations on the Lords dayes which was inclosed in another to the Bishop of Exeter to desire him to convey it and notice being given to the Bishop that Copies of it were divulged possibly by the Transcriber he thought he could not conceal it with safety and therefore carried it to the King who when he had read it in a great anger said He would hang him But the Bishop a pious man fell upon his knees and besought his Majesties pardon alleadging That God had not a better servant nor his Majesty a better Subject in the whole Land When the Bishop returned from his moneths attendance Mr. Jurdaine went to visit him and after civilities past the Bishop said Ah Mr. Jurdaine would you put me upon so hot a service You know there are many eyes upon me meaning the Archbishops party who suspected him as a favourer of Puritans Yea my Lord said Mr. Jurdaine there are eyes upon you the eyes of God and his holy Angels to see how you discharge your duty and office as the Kings Chaplain and Bishop of the Church 6. Now and then when he had leasure he would usually go to his neighbours shops and admonish them to take heed that the cares of the world did not deaden their spirits to heavenly things telling them if they had many thousands it would not still the cry of conscience purchase the least favour from God nor so much as ease the pain of the teeth or keep off one fit of an Ague yea if money were thrown to the Dogs they would not so much as smell at it 7. He would often perswade his Fellow-Magistrates to a liberal provision for the poor and when they would ask him where they should have money He would answer God will provide rather than the poor shall want let us sell our Gowns 8. When he did distribute money to the poor with his own hands in a time of great infection and some asked him if he were not afraid of the Plague What said he afraid of Gods Visitation Let us fear rather the Plague-sore of our owne hearts 9. In his troubles in the Star-chamber when one told him he was sorry that the Lord Keeper was against him He answered I have a greater Lord Keeper than him The Lord is my Keeper I shall not be afraid 10. It is not amiss to set down what others thought of him I remember a godly man observed him that in every business though he advenfar the Lord carried him through with reputation and so compared him with another of great parts who though godly was alwayes toiled in every undertaking Drunkards and frequenters of Ale-houses were afraid of him He was their usual Bugbear their memento in the middle of their excess was Its time to be gone Mr. Jurdaine will come by and by The ordinary sort of men were convinced of his integrity insomuch as carnal and vicious men at a time of election of Burgesses for Parliament would say one to another If you choose any choose Jurdaine he will be right for the Commenwealth and will do the City service He was twice chosen Burgess for the Parliament and once Mayor of the City and once Deputy Mayor in a time of great Infection by the Pestilence The Reverend Minister that preached his Funeral Sermon amongst others had this expression Look upon his Will and you will think him the richest man in the City Though many exceeded him in estate but few or none in making provision for the poor Delinquents seldome went from him without conviction A Noble mans servant that had scorned him being brought before him and convicted for having sworn rashly three times Mr. Jurdaine demanded his Fine and shewed him the hainousness of the sin with which the man was calmed and though he came from his companions braving yet he returned with the acknowledgement that he was a good Justicer and when they asked him what Jurdaine did to him he answered He gave me good Law and fair words I have heard above thirty years ago that some godly persons in Exeter were convented before the Bishops Court for keeping some private dayes of Humiliation whereupon Mr. Jurdaine went to the Bishop who was a godly man to
into that better world which she so much longed after often professing that there was nothing that could tempt her to wish for life but the breeding up of her little ones which yet now she was the less solicitous about because she could leave them in the hands of their tender and careful Father not doubting as old dying Jacob said when he was blessing the two Sons of Joseph Gen. 48. 15. 16. That that God which had fed her all her life long untill that day and the Angel which had redeemed her from all evil would bless them And now finding her self arrested by the messenger of Death and her body like the house of Saul growing weaker and weaker but her soul like the house of David waxed stronger and stronger took higher flights and made nearer approaches to God that gave it When her Husband came to her as he did frequently he continually admonished and minded her of the gracious Promises of mercy in Christ and of faith in him and desired her to be strengthened and comforted in them Her answer was she was comforted in them she found the comfort of Gods Spirit in her and verily believed she should see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living Psal. 45. 13. Ever and anon saying I am comforted Gods Spirit is in me which makes me endure my sickness and more pains than you can think of so comfortably as I do When she knew of none by her usual prayer was Lord look down upon me in thy mercy Lord forgive me my sins Lord assist me with thy holy Spirit Lord thou hast assured me of the forgiveness of my sins Lord assist me still with thy holy Spirit And many times passing the whole night without sleep she spent that time in these and the like heavenly prayers and ejaculations in which her Husband and those which attend her continually still found her when they came to her Never man had a more faithfull dear and loving Wife or more carefull of what concerned him than himself and more tender of any thing said or done against him than if it had been said or done against her self And when he seemed to lament the loss he should have if God took her from him She meekly answered We came not into the world together and therefore may not look to go out together When he replied that it would be much better for their children if he went first as by the course of nature was most likely she said that he could do much better for the children than she could and thanked God for that she could now leave them with him For the space of three weeks she kept her bed and about a fortnight before her death being surprized with a fainting fit in which she was like to depart and thereby perceiving that earth would suddenly return to the earth whence it came that her soul might be the better winged and prepared for a return to God that gave it she deâ—ired that all the Family might be called up and joyn in prayers with and for her At which time observing the grief and passion of her Husband and those that were present expressed plentifully by tears from their eyes she besought him and them not to grieve and lament for her happiness About that time a Reverend person coming to visit her Husband he solicited him to enlarge that great act of favour unto him by a greater act of charity to his wife by visiting her also whom God now visited with sickness as also to pray with and administer some comfort unto her which he most willingly condescended unto and having taken a strict account of her faith in Christ and hopes of a better life he left her with his Fatherly benediction top full of comfort and when she was afterwards told that he came out of respect and kindness to visit her Husband she said No but God had sent him for her comfort often acknowledging the consolations which she had found by him When any came to visit her in the time of her sickness at the parting she desired them to pray for her and often sent Messengers and caused Letters to be directed to her friends in London to pray for her for that she was now preparing for another world When she was sometimes desired for her childrens sake to chear up her self her answer was that to leave them did not trouble her because she was assured that God would provide for them adding that she would willingly leave Husband Children and all to go to Christ which was just the minde of that blessed Martyr Ignatius Befall me said he what will or can so I may enjoy Jesus Christ my Love my Life that was crucified for me or rather St. Pauls case expressed in that most elegant Barbarisme Phil. 1. 23. Desiring to be with Christ which is multo magis melius much more better And now finding the day of her life wasted to the evening and ready to dye into night on the Lords day before her death she desired the prayers of the Congregation in the Parish where she lived being well assured as she said that many good people would pray heartily for her After which some coming to visit her and exhorting her to patience and to remember the afflictions of Job she answered that she had had her part in his afflictions God having given her Luctuosam foecunditatem as St. Jerom said of Laeta a sad and sorrowfull fruitfulness taking away seven of her children in their minority so that she as Hanna spake in her song 1 Sam. 2. 5. that had born seven waxed feeble yet she comforted her self with this hope that they were in Heaven before her and hoped that they would be Lamps to lead her to heaven for she assured her self that they followed the Lamb whithersoever he goeth and for those two which were yet alive she thanked God for that she saw no ill qualities in them Besides she said that God had taken away her goods from her but had given her patience which to her was of more value and she esteemed it above them all knowing that God was able to restore all when he pleased She often acknowledged Gods goodness to her in sending her a milde sickness and not taking her away with some sudden stroke as he did the wife of Ezekiel Chap. 24. 16. or by some tormenting disease as he is pleased to visit some of his dear ones acknowledging the wonderful mercy of God to her therein A week before her death she called her eldest Daughter to her being to go from her to School at Putney and putting her hand on her shoulder she said to her I give you that blessing which my Mother gave me at her death The God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob bless you and then added the blessing which Aaron by Gods own appointment was to give the children of Israel The Lord bless thee and keep thee
Ministry and Neighbourhood round about who by their concourse at her Funeral shewed plainly in what an high estimation she was amongst them and that her good Name was like a precious Oyntment powred forth The hope of Glory was that sovereign Cordial which abundantly revived and satisfied her spirits whilst she lived and now her hope is turned into fruition and her faith into vision All her sorrows and sighings are turned away and her imployment is without the least tediousness without interruption and intermission to sing Hosannahs and Allelujahs to him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever more This Life was drawn up by my Reverend and worthy Friend Dr. Henry Wilkinson principal of Magdalen Hall Oxon. The Life and Death of Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson who dyed Anno Christi 1654. Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson was born of godly Parents of an ancient and well reputed Family of the Gentry in Devonshire Her Father was Mr. Anthony Gifford her Mother Mrs. Elizabeth Cottle and by them she was religiously educated during her minority After which she lived with an Aunt an old Disciple above twenty yeares together where she had many prizes put into her hands to get wisdome even many spirituall advantages for her eternall good But considering that no helps of education nor any means could prove effectuall without divine influences it pleased the Lord out of the riches of his mercy in a signall manner to vouchsafe a blessing to all those helps for the good of her soul and to crown all endeavours in order thereunto with good success She was observed from her childhood to be very docile very willing to learn industrious in reading of and swift to hear the Word of God preached She was very carefull to remember what she heard and took much pains in writing Sermons and collecting speciall Notes out of practicall Divines She had the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit with that she was eminently adorned She looked not as too many do upon gaudy and vain dresses as any ornament She neither liked them nor conformed to them but went in a grave decent and sober attire She was humble gentle tender-hearted and full of bowels of compassion remembring such as were in bonds as if she had been bound with them Heb. 13. 3. She was of so affable sweet and courteous a disposition that she gained abundance of love and respect from all those that conversed with her and by this means she was the greater gainer by all good conferences It was her usuall custome to move good discourse and ofttimes she turned the stream of other impertinent talk into something which was solid and tended unto edification and that ministred grace to the hearers She kept a Diary of Gods dealings with her soul and of other various dispensations that she met withall She was much busied in prayer meditation and self-examination She would often desire her Husband and others of her acquaintance to deal plainly and impartially with her For said she I would not be deceived with a formall profession nor with a temporary faith Perhaps through affection you may judge far better of me than I deserve wherefore I desire you to sift and search me throughly for I like such plain dealing best of all and those are my best friends which deal most plainly with me In process of time after a carefull watching over her heart and frequent addresses made unto the Throne of grace she found returns answerable to her prayers and desires God gave her a large measure both of parts and graces She was able not only to assert the truths of God but to convince gainsayers She abounded in love faith meekness humility and the rest of the graces of the Spirit insomuch as she became a Christian of the higher Form a tall Cedar of Libanus a grown solid and excellent Christian It pleased God for the triall of her graces to exercise her very much in the School of affliction Insomuch as ten years before her death she was one time reckoned with another at least half the time sick But God ordered this sickness of her body to be a medicine for her soul. For the spirit of prayer was much set on work hereby and her faith love and patience did appear and shine the more eminently Out of the Furnace she came forth as gold purified seven times so that the rod and staff correction and instruction went together and by these fatherly chastisements her soul did thrive more abundantly When she was able she neglected not the frequenting of the publick Assemblies they were her delight and she was a professed adversary to the withdrawing from the publick Congregations of the Saints Both them and the godly and Reverend Ministers of the Gospel she had in high esteem and reverenced them all her dayes And when she was not able to go to the publick Congregations she used to spend her time in reading prayer and meditating at home and imployed her friends to read to her and pray with her Such as were stable and sincere Christians were her delight Those she accounted more excellent than their neighbours She would often say that She valued no friends like to those who were friends to her soul. Concerning her deportment and carriage to her Relations for such as are reall Saints shew it in their severall capacities never was a Wife more full of sincere love and respect to an Husband whom she loved entirely and was as entirely beloved by him Her affection to her children was very tender She was carefull to Catechize instruct and to train them up in the fear of God and upon her Deathbed amongst many other excellent counsels and instructions she added this charge as from a dying Mother that they should remember that they had a Mother who would not allow them in any sin She was carefull also to instruct her servants and to teach them the fear of the Lord. Indeed she was ready and willing as opportunity was offered to do good unto all and as need required gave unto them both corporall and spirituall food She had a large heart and improved it to do a great deal of good in a little time Insomuch as the poor the sick the afflicted and the unexperienced to whom she was very mercifull and usefull whilest she lived had a very great miss of her when she was dead In brief she was one of those Worthies of whom the world was not worthy And yet to give a further Character of her I will here set down a Narrative copied exactly out of her own hand-writing of Gods gracious dealing with her soul as it follows word for word It pleased the Lord out of the riches of his grace to remove me from an ignorant place where I was born and to bring me very young into a Religious Family And when I was about twelve years of age upon the reading in the Practice of Piety concerning the happy estate of
the godly and the miserable condition of the wicked in their death and so for ever unto all eternity it pleased the Lord so much to affect my heart with it as from that time my heart was wrought over to a desire to walk in the wayes of God But at that time I fear I did not go upon a right principle for I then did not eye the glory of God in it but only my own safety that it might be well with me for ever But quickly after that I had but begun to set my face towards Sion I was set upon with many temptations and perplexities in my thoughts which were very troublesome to me at all times but especially when I was alone the consideration whereof brought such an horrour upon my conscience insomuch as I did not know what to do That little I had whether from education or from the light of Nature caused a striving in me continually against those thoughts of Atheisme which were most terrible unto me I was sensible that it was a fearfull sin to have any such thoughts to lodge within my brest but I desired from my soul to be freed from them and had continuall reasonings within me against them and yet still for a long time I was troubled but could not acquaint any with my condition I did not think that it was so with any other as it was with me In this strait when I knew not which way to turn me even there did the Lord extend his compassion towards me in my greatest extremity in directing me to read Calvins Institutions and especially that part that treats of the Creation Whereupon the Lord was pleased to give in such satisfaction to my soul concerning those things about which I was troubled as that from that time forwards I was not violently assaulted in that kind But no sooner was I freed from that trouble but new ones sprang up For the very remembrance of that horrid sin of Atheisme left such a terrour upon my spirit as made me fear that I had committed that sin against the Holy Ghost and so my condition seemed to be not only for the present but in my apprehension then for ever most miserable All other sins though never so great I knew upon true repentance were pardonable but this sin that I lay under the fear of I knew out of the Word of God should never be pardoned which caused many sad fears upon my spirit known to God alone For the removall of these fears the Lord in mercy directed me to the reading of Mr. Scudders Works where are laid down the marks of that sin Upon perusall whereof the Lord was pleased to satisfie my misgiving heart by a clear manifestation to my soul that I had not committed that sin and so assured me that though my sins were great yet were they pardonable which put me more chearfully upon the use of such means as the Lord had directed me unto And having satisfaction given in concerning this particular there was a great burden taken off from my spirit Although I found no grace in my heart nor discovery of the love of God unto my soul yet in that there was but a possibility there was a ground of comfort administred to my heart which I formerly feared that I should be shut out from But still my fears remained that I was not one of those in particular for whom Christ died The more I looked into mine own heart the more I saw of sin and Satan discouraging me from having any hope that the Lord should accept of such a vile sinfull wretch as I was who had entertained such sinfull thoughts I likewise thought how small the number was of those that should be saved in comparison of others and my repentance I feared came short of that which was required in the Gospel As for faith I could not find the least measure of it in my soul with many other sad discouraging thoughts But when I was most perplexed with fears and doubts even then did the Lord graciously dart in some beams of his reconciled countenance as I was reading something in Mr. Scudders Christian daily Walk c. which the Lord set home upon my soul and brought into my soul so much joy and comfort at the present as neither my tongue nor Pen can express But this joy remained not long for I quickly lost the sense of it yet the remembrance of it was sweet unto me at all times But after this all my former fears returned afresh again upon my heart only I had a door of hope opened that when God saw it best for me he would return and renew his reconciled countenance unto my soul in the clear light and apprehension thereof and this was when I was about sixteen years of age After which time the Lord did exercise me with various dispensations For for two years space I was by providence cast upon a place where I heard very little powerfull preaching small helps for the good of my soul but what the Lord was pleased to give in by the use of private means But his power and abundant mercy was much seen in that time that though I had not much comfort yet the Lord was pleased to keep up my spirit in a way of depending upon him and my fears were less at that time than formerly when I had more helps So gracious was tâ—â— Lord unto me in keeping me alive in a time of famine After this through Gods goodness I was sometimes under the preaching of a powerfull Minister Mr. Bateman of Ockingam who was Crowned with the conversion strengthening and building up of many souls unto whose preaching the Lord gave me such a blessing as I seldome if ever went away from hearing him without comfort Though I came to hear him with many doubts upon my spirit yet the Lord so ruled and directed him as if his Sermons had been only concerning my particular and he fully acquainted with the whole condition of my soul. Sometimes the Lord directed me to some supporting Promises upon which I relied But those Promises which were made to Believers though I highly prized them yet I durst not apply them to my self fearing that I had no interest in them But that Promise Prov. 28. 13. He that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall find mercy And that 1 Joh. 1. 9. If we confess our sins he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And the Promise is 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but for the sins of the whole world and the Invitation Isa. 55. 1. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price together with
the rest of the Chapter all those places the Lord often made a stay unto my soul And afterwards the Lord so blessed one means or other unto me insomuch as I was kept from sinking and falling into such horrour as many of the people of God sometimes fell into But yet my fears and doubts were so many as that my comfort never lasted long If the Lord did but hide his face I was troubled No longer could I beleeve then I found new strength given in that the Lord would ever have mercy upon my soul. The sense of Original sin and Actual transgressions in their filthiness and guiltiness caused my fears yet to remain upon my spirit my faith then seemed very small if I had any which I much questioned I durst not then say Lord encrease my faith but I could cry earnestly Lord work faith in me I found much dulness and deadness manifold distractions in duties so that God might justly have withdrawn himself from me for ever yet notwithstanding all my uneven walking with God he was graciously pleased to manifest his mercy unto my soul. When I was stricken with such weaknesses as I apprehended might quickly have ended my life I fell into a great fear At the first finding my heart to sink the Lord was pleased to gâ—ive me so much respite as to pour out my soul before him desiring strength and support from him to keep up my spirit and to make me willing to submit to his dispensations and the Lord graciously answered my prayers in that he removed all my former doubtings and fears all the time of that sickness which was long and so dangerous that neither I nor others expected my life The Lord then cleared up my evidences for Heaven and gave me in so much comfort against the apprehension of death as I never had in all my life before Other like trials of the Lords love I found still when I was in the greatest extremity and stood most in need of help from him insomuch as at such times I have hoped that I should never again have questioned the love of God to my soul But I have found it otherwise by sad experience For when these impressions were worn of I have been ready to call all in question again concerning my poor soul. It made me oft to think of that which was laid to Solomons charge that he forgat the Lord that had appeared to him twice I found it the hardest thing to believe that ever I went about But this wavering condition could not satisfie my soul for the Lord giving me sometimes a glimpse of his love made me long after fuller enjoyments of it so that I was carried out with a restless impatience to beg that the Lord would take away the heart of unbelief from me which did both dishonour him and hinder me from that peace which the Lord was willing that his people should enjoy My heart then being brought unto that frame I was more willing than ever I was before to impart my condition unto some spiritual Friends whom I desired to deal impartially with me acquainting them with the whole condition of my soul how far the Lord had carried me on and at what I stuck and still as new objections did arise I laboured to get satisfaction Being convinced that I had too much prejudiced my self in that I had not sooner made my condition known to some who were able to give me advice This way of communicating my condition I found the Lord blessed unto my soul insomuch that my hopes were more confirmed my fears more removed my faith more strengthned and by the hearing of such Sermons and reading such Books as came closest unto the conscience and were most for trial of ones spiritual condition I found the greatest benefit by and received the most comfort from them Formerly I had many fears that I was not one of them who had an interest in the Election of Grace But the Lord afterwards put into my heart to enquire whether I had those Graces of his Spirit wrought in me which none but his own elect people could have Upon the strictest searching into mine own heart the Lord was pleased after many years of fear at last to evidence unto my soul that there was a change wrought in my heart will and affections notwithstanding the remainders of sin and corruption which still encompassed me about being confident that he that had begun this good work would not leave it unfinished unto the day of Jesus Christ and the Lord was pleased to set home divers Promises for the strengthning of my faith to wit those which set down the Everlasting Covenant 2 Sam. 23. 5. The Everlasting love of God Jer. 31. 3. Joh. 11. 13. The certainty of the Foundation 2 Tim. 2. 19. The certainty of the Promises 2 Cor. 1. 20. They are all in Christ Yea and Amen and that the children of God have eternal life promised unto them and that none shall be ever able to pluck them out of Christs hands Joh. 10. 28. Then for divers years the Lord was pleased to stay me to lead and guide me till he had set my feet upon that Rock which is higher than I from whence I trust that I shall never be removed And now my hearts desire is to ascribe that measure of hope and comfort which the Lord hath given me at any time onely unto the praise of the glory of his Grace who hath made me accepted in his Beloved which is so great a mercy as I can never be thankfull enough for nor walk answerable thereunto I know when I look into my heart there is matter of fear that the Lord will withdraw the influences of his comforts from me But that which I rest upon is the free mercy of God in Christ expecting performance of his Promises made Rom. 6. 16. Sin shall not have dominion over you because you are not under the Law but under Grace And Ezek. 36. 25. that he will sprinkle clean water upon me and that he will give me a new heart and put a new spirit within me that he will take away my stony heart and give me an heart of flesh being perswaded that the Lord will keep me by his own Power through faith unto salvation And now that I may have all the Graces of the Spirit strengthened and encreased in me which I finde that I stand in continual need of It is the desire of my soul to be a partaker of the Lords Supper which through the blood of Christ onely I have right unto This is the particular account of Gods gracious dealing with this godly Gentlewoman considering there was no administration of the Sacrament in that Parochial Congregation where she lived and used formerly to receive it nor any Pastor at all to officiate there she being desirous to enjoy that great Ordinance and that after a pure way of administration sent this aforementioned Narrative
to the Reverend Dr. Harris living then in the University who admitted her to the participation of the Lords Supper in that publick Assembly where he administred it Now let us see also a Letter written by Dr. Harris concerning this godly Gentlewoman whom he highly honoured upon the occasion of his communicating the aforesaid Letter of hers to a friend Do not saith he think it lost time to read over this Narrative It was penned by this gracious woman upon a serious occasion what time she was to give an account of her self at her admission to the Lords Supper The discourse is plain but pregnant of instruction I alter nothing in the thing I onely take notice of the persons therein mentioned As 1. God 2. Satan 3. The parties self All which offer matter worthy thy thoughts First in Satan thou seest his most ordinary way and method in tempting His first attempt is to blow out all light left in the soul and to quell all thoughts of a Deity if possibly he can that so no room at all may be left for God If that cannot be but the conscience will be sometimes talking then his next work is to question and argue the case whether indeed there be such a person as God such a thing as the soul such a book as the Bible such a place as an Heaven or Hell and if he cannot gain such a conclusion from the soul then in the third place the Question is What manner a one this supposed God is And first whilst thou art in thy natural state he represents God made all of mercy and when thou art under mercy all of vengeance and fury there was no place for fear and here none for hope There sin was an inconsiderable thing and beneath Gods cognisance here sin is unpardonable and beyond Gods mercy In both estates he labours the destruction of Faith now in the threats then in the Promises In the first estate you must never yeeld to self-despair no spit in his face that shall once question thy belief in God without the least doubting What not believe my Maker with all my soul What once doubt or suspect him I defie him and the foul fiend that shall say so On the other side when once converted what hast thou to do with the Covenant of Grace and Peace That is bread for Children not for Dogs Hypocrites for such as have sinned against the Holy Ghost as thou hast done and at this bay he holds the soul for some space and eftsoon recruits his forces and renews his Interrogatories thus Thou within the Promise Thou a believer Canst thou say darest thou say that thou hast faith It may be thou darest not deny it but what is that to the point Thou darest not affirm it though partial enough to thy self Be advised by me who loves plain dealing and let not thy false heart and these fawning Preachers befool thee unto destruction Thus the Devil up and down first and last thus he proceeded with man at the first and though sometimes he shifts hands and findes out new wayes yet here lyes his road for the most part and this is the first party here named Now in the second place what doth God It must be granted that he permitteth these Hellish Scullions to scour his Plate and to fit the vessels of honour for their Masters use and they as glad of the office bestir themselves they dawb their vessels and render them as foul and ugly as they can but when they have done their work God takes his Plate out of their hand to their no small grief and in the mean while God goes along with the temptations and in them all supports his poor servants now more immediately by his own hand prompting their Petitions darting into their souls some glimpses of comfort minding them of some Promise to be sure yeelding them some secret hope something or other which draws them along still more or less 2. Now more immediately by men and other means sometimes he directs them to some special Book or Treatise which fits their case and holds soul and life together at present sometimes he sends an Interpreter one of a thousand that shall rip up their misery and shew them their misery and shew them their remedy and at last fetches off his Captives even then when Satan began to crow and cry victory that extremity being Gods opportunity and this is usually though not ever Gods way Now look upon the third concerned the party tempted what doth he He sticks often in the birth fool as he is his first work is to keep the Devils counsel confess and be shamed for ever the Devil is true to him and he will be as true and never peach he travels with a wofull burden of sin guilt horrour but if thou lovest thy self saith the Devil keep thy own counsel trust not God nor man But if the Preacher doth force him to a confession and he can hold no longer then he makes forth but fair and softly First he makes many offers goes and comes and something he would say but is loath he begins afar off and then stops begins again and then stops again takes another day and then comes again with a purpose of uttering all and when he comes to his friend either all is quiet for the present and the pang over or else if he hangs still on the rack then he drops out somewhat but reserves the worst and so is little the better because he comes not to the bottome quickly or if he speaks out all yet there is another rub in the way how can I tell whether this parties testimony be true or no his judgement and affection being right He shews me promises but knows he or I whether those promises do belong to me He speaks of a Christ but what is that to me if he be none of mine He talks of believing seeing is believing It is a senseless thing to trust to anothers goodness when I have nothing of mine own to believe mercy whâ—n I feel wrath shall I not believe mine own eyes And thus after a world of Sermons Sacraments Conferences the poor soul hovers and findes no rest or satisfaction till God be pleased to work him to these things 1. To a resolution of imparting himself to some godly friend and of speaking his whole heart to some one or other 2. Of resting in Gods bare word without the assurance of sense 3. Of accepting of Jesus Christ without any Ifs and And 's notwithstanding his own unworthiness 4. Of waiting upon God and hearkning when he will speak peace and when he is brought thus far that he will be beholden to a Commuinon of Saints and will take Gods word without any farther surety and owe all to Christ though he can contribute nothing and in despight of all suggestions and discouragements will stick to the peace of Christ and look for all his peace in that way saying Though he kill me
The Bishops refuse to submit He resigns his Kingdome to the States Note The Nobles oppose the Bishops They request him to reassume the Government The Temporalties of the Bishops given to the King The Bishop of Hincopeâ— flies The Clergies pride abated Gustavus is crowned Reformatiou carried on The Kings piety Satan rages So do the Bishops And others that affected Popery The Kings courage The Mutineers disagree Some flye Others put themselves upon triall Are cast and condemned The Kings prudence Another interview of the two Kings The Kings marriage His Piety He preferrs godly Bishops Reformation carried on The Bible translated King Christian invades Norwey policy Some Suedes revolt to him Others were more wise King Christians foolish credulity He is made a prisoner Note The King of Sueden meets with new troubles 〈…〉 Tumults about Bells Subjects treat with their King The Kings policy He punishes the Rebels The King of Denmark dies An Interregnum there Reformation of Religion in Lubeck Woolweaver a turbulent person The Danes refuse to joyn with Woolweaver So doth Gustavus Woolweavers pride The King and Woolweaver fall out The Earl of Hoyes treachery Pride goes before a fall Divisions in Denmark Gustavus joyns with the Lords of Denmark The Duke of Aldenburgh beaten Woolweavers treachery against Gustavus Suanto's fidelity Aldenburgh beaten Woolweaver is hanged and quartered Haffnia surrendred The King makes a truce with Lubeck Note The King of Suedens Prudence The Crown of Sueden is made successive and why The Crown is entailed upon Gustavus his Family Gods blessing upon his Family Christian resigns his Crown Gustavus his Posteâ—ity Gustavus grows famous Note Policy of Princes The King of Denmark dies Another chosen Christian the Tyrant dies Gustavus dieth His Character Her parentage Her conversion The manner of it Her excellent parts Heavenliness Her prudence In her speech In her silence Her holy communication Her wise demeanâ—ur Her faith The confession of her faith Her Faith Her Comfort Her frequent Prayers Her fervent Prayers Her prevalent Prayers Her holy Speech Her Humility Her love to Gods children and to the Church of Christ. Her love to the Word and Sacrament and House of God Her weanedness from the world Her frequent Fasting Her abstinence from Sports and from Marriage Her weanedness from the world Her bounty to the Ministry Her desire to dye Why she desired Death Why she feared not death Her thankfulfulness Her universal obedience Her love to God Her Charity Her love to her neighbours Her Sympathy Her Patience Her Modesty Her Humility A good Wife Her preferring others before her self Her Sincerity Her Constancy Her growth in Gâ—ace Her sickness Her Death His Birth and Education His Conversion His holy life His early rising to converse with God He is slandered and vindicated His heavenly Conversation His much reading His Zeal His Prudence His strict observation of the Sabbath His love to Ministers His desire to have others saved His Assurance His joy unspeakable How he maintained his Assurance He stirred up others to labour for it His desire of death Yet carefull of life His heavenli-mindedness His Justice His Impartiality Examples of it A great reformation wrought by him His Courage He reforms the prophanation of the Sabbath His zeal and courage His mercy to souls His justice He restores Use-money His Charity His hospitality How God honoured him He is chosen Mayor and Burgess of Parliament His courage He is reproached by the wicked The power oâ— prayer His Prudence His Sickness His Patience His death His Funeral Her Parentage Her Marriage Her removed to Blackfriers Her love to Gods House Her retiredness Her weakness Her holy life Her Meekness Her Sickness Her patience Her Comforts A loving Wife Her Faith She begs Prayers Her Afflictions She blesseth her Children Her Devotion Her Death Her Parentage Her timely Conversion Her Piety Her Humility Her Meekness Her Pâ—udence and Gravity Her love to the Saints Her Courage Her frequent prayers 〈…〉 Her Family government Her Charity Her Sickness Her holy speeches Her Character Her Death Her parentage and education Her timely conversion Her piety Her growth in grace Her afflictions sanctified Her Relative duties The time aâ— manner of 〈◊〉 conversion Satans malice Gods mercy Satans subtilty Gods mercy Her comfort and joy Gods mercy in want of meanâ— Gods providence Her faith in Promises Her fears and doubts Her prayers answered A hard thiug to beleeve She imparts her condition to Christian friends And findes comfort Her self-examination Her faith Her thankfulness Satans method and subtilty Gods mercy to his own Mans folly She dyed daily He Patience Her holy speeches Her sickness Her joy unspeakable Her Death