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
leave a sweet savour and relish upon their spirits and whole converse To give you a true and full Character of his whole deportment in few words He was a good and a faithfull Steward in his Masters house alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord a Pillar in the house of his God never weary of his Lords work but best pleased when he had done most service His conversation was immaculate and unblameable His behaviour uniform and universally pious He was grave without austerity pleasant without levity Courteous without dissembling Free in discourse where he might profit yet reserved where he saw cause He was seldom the first speaker although he was best able to speak He loved usefull discourse but abhorred froth and babling He was witty without vanity facetious without girding or grieving of others He knew his place yet was not insolent Resolute he was but not wilfull He maintained his authority but was not haughty A great Master he was of his own Passions and Affections and thereby abundantly furnished with the more abilities and embellishments that most attract and maintain the dearest love the deepest reverence and highest respect He was a great admirer of Learning and Piety in others though they were far below himself in both His affections were above though he were below He conversed more with Heaven than with earth while he remained on it and is now a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a Royall Diadem in the hand of his God as being an ornament unto Heaven it self He lived in the world seventy five years within one moneth in which long race he saw many sad changes and sore storms beating hard upon the Church tossed with tempests and not yet at Anchor But never was David more distressed for his dearest Jonathan than this man of Bowels was for the calamities of the dear Spouse of Christ. He was most incessantly inquisitive after the Churches estate in all Countries A sad lamenter of all her afflictions A daily Orator and mighty Advocate for her at the Throne of Grace and never enjoyed himself but when he descried her under sail towards some Creek or Haven wherein she might find comfort and rest being much in Prayer and Fasting for her full reformation and perfect deliverance Some good hopes whereof he conceived in the prosperous atchievements of the Great Gustavus Adolphus late King of Sweden semper Augustus But when he by the sad and unsearchable providence of the only wise God suddenly and untimely fell in the full carier of his victories and of the Churches hopes and that the Christian world was by his fall hurled from the height of so great expectation he continually mourned over the unhappy setting of that glorious Northern Starre as a sad presage of all the inundations of miseries since befallen and that still are rising higher and higher upon the Church of Christ the quick and deep sence whereof lay close upon his heart to his dying day Neither was he without his sufferings and dangers in our uncivil Civil Wars He was affronted by rude Ruffians and bloody minded Souldiers who tyranized over him in his own house not permitting him quietly to enjoy himself and his God in his private study to which he often retired not only from their insolencies but from their Blasphemies Even thither would they pursue him with drawn swords vowing his instant Death for not complying with them in their bloody engagements Yet it pleased that gracious God whom he had so faithfully served to preserve him for further service and to make that an hiding place for his preservation which they intended for his slaughter house and after all to bring him to his end in peace When he had faithfully served his Generation by the will of God in the Gospel of his Son for above forty seven years he was gathered to his Fathers in a good old Age full of Days and Honour by a blessed and happy Death the certain result of an holy life Decemb. 25. Anno Christi 1649. the day formerly used for celebrating the Nativity of his great Lord and Master the Lord Jesus Christ. The last Testimony of the Peoples great love to him must not be forgotten by any that desire to preserve his precious memory in their hearts with honour This amply appeared by their great lamentation and mourning for him in his sickness and at his Death and sad Exequies His Funeral was extraordinarily celebrated not only by the voluntary confluence of the greatest number of people that ever crouded into the spacious Fabrick of that Church and by many hundreds more there assembled about the door which were unable to get in But by multitudes of Gentlemen and Ministers all striving to out-mourn each other standing about his Hearse with tears recounting his excellent Labors his fruitfull Life their great profiting by him as sometimes the widows about Peter weeping and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them every one aggravating their griefs and losses in his gain and striving who should honour him most in bearing his Body to the bed of Rest. The Testimony given him at his Interment by him who performed that last office of love with many tears and which he knowingly spake from his long and intimate acquaintance and conversing with him almost forty years together take with you for a close in that Ministers own words out of the Pulpit Although said he Funeral Orations are commonly either the vain flourishes of mercinary tongues or the weak supports of an emendicated fame and since good mens works shall praise them in the gates it is but to light a candle to the Sun and since bad mens works cannot be covered with so thin a daub It is but to paint arotten Post. Yet some Testimony is due to such as having obtained a more eminent place in Christs mystical Body the Church have also been instruments of more than ordinary good to his Members Samuel died a Judge a Prophet a Great man a Good man in Israel and all the Israelites were gathered together to honour his Obsequies and lamented him and buried him 1 Sam. 25. 1. To say nothing then of so rich a Cargazoon so full a Magazine so rare a subject of all commendable qualities and admirable endowments were a frustrating of your eager expectations To say little were a wrong to him that deserved so much to say much were both a derogation from his merits that may challenge and an imputation upon your Judgements and affections that will acknowledg more due than I can now deliver Nevertheless since the memorial of the Just is a sweet perfume give me leave to strew a few of his own flowers upon his Herse and I will discharge your Patience His holy Life and consciencious courses his constant Labors thrice a week in the Ministery of the Gospel unless in times of sickness or necessitated restraint for the space of
Duties Deaths Advantage The benefit of a good Name and a good end Abrahams Decease Jeroboams Sons Decease Christian Constancy crowned by Christ. All these are Printed in one Volume in Folio The Decease of Lazarus in 4o. St. Stevens last Will and Testament in 4o. A Defence of Mr. Bradshaw against Jo. Cann in 4o. Gods eye on his Israel in 4o. A mistake removed and Free-Grace c. in answer to J. Saltmarsh in 4o. Shadows without Substance a Rejoinder adversus â—undem in 4o. Mysterious Clouds and Mists c. an Answer to J. Simpson in 4o. Mr. Ant. Wottons Defence in 8o. A true Relation of Passages between Mr. Wotton and Mr. Walker in 4o. An Answer to Mr. Geor. Walkers Vindication in 4o. A Vindication of the Annotations on Jer. 10. 2. in 4o. A Discourse Apologetical in 4o. Marcus Antoninus Imp. cum Commentario in 4o. De Novi Instrumenti Stylo Dissertatio adversus Psochenii Diatribam in 4o. Cinn us sive Adversaria Miscellania Lib. 6. in 4o. De Baptismatis Infantilis vi efficatiâ Disceptatio inter D. S. Wardum Tho. Gatakerum in 8o. T. G. Stricturae in D. Davenantii Epistolam in 8o. De Tetragammato in 8o. Ejusdem vindicatio adversus Capellum in 8o. De Bivocalibus Dissertatio Philologica in 8o. Animadversiones in J. Piscatoris L. Lucii scripta adversaria de causa meritoria Justificationis cum responsione ad L. Lucii Vindicias in 12o. Fran. Gomari Disputationes Elencticae de Justificationis materiâ formâ Elenchus in 8o. Stricturae in Barth Wigelini Sangallensis de Obedientia Christi disputationem Theologicam in 8o. The Annotations upon Isaiah Jeremy and the Lamentations which was his work in the great Notes upon the Bible Adversaria Miscellanea in qibus Sacrae Scripturae aliorum Scriptorum lux redditur Edente Carolo Thome Gatakeri filio Fol. The Life and Death of Mr. Jeremy Whitaker who dyed Anno Christi 1654. JEremy Whitaker was born at Wakefield in Yorkshire Anno Christi 1599 In which place also he was trained up in the Grammar School and it seems that the Lord betimes did draw forth his love towards himself for even whilst he was a School boy his affections did flow out towards those who were most religiously disposed in whose company he used frequently to go eight or ten miles to hear a wakening-soul-warming Sermon he used also to joyn with them in Prayers and other holy exercises and duties and being able to take Sermon Notes both understandingly and largely he was very helpful to those private Christians in repeating what they had publickly heard being from his child-hood full of affections in whatsoever business he undertook Thus this Plant of Gods own setting did both blossome and put forth fruit quickly which Providence did afterwards make a very fruitful Tree Whilst he was at the Grammar School though his Father endeavoured often and earnestly to divert his thoughts from the Office of the Ministry yet was he unmoveable in his desires to be a Minister and he never afterwards repented of this his choice but would all his life long upon all occasions magnifie that his Office insomuch as he hath often been heard to utter this speech I had much rather be a preacher of the Gospel than an Emperour and when a motion was once made to him to be the Head of a College in the University he readily returned this answer My heart doth more desire to be a constant Preacher than to be the Master of any College in the world When he was sixteen years old being well grounded at the Grammar School he was sent to the University of Cambridge and admitted a Sizar in Sydney-Sussex College where he soon discovered and was taken notice of and much valued for his pregnant parts and Scholarship At twenty years of age he Commenced Bachelor of Arts and a while after he was sent to Okeham the chiefest Town in Rutlandshire there to teach the Free-School At that time there was one Mr. William Peachy the Minister at Okeham a godly man and a painful Preacher of the Gospel and eminent for his skill in the sacred Languages who dearly loved and highly valued our Mr. Whitaker from his first acquaintance with him which he manifested by proffering to him his Daughter in Marriage as Mr. Whitaker hath since told some of his Friends he was the rather inclined to accept of the motion because she was the Daughter of a pious painful and learned Minister of the Gospel and occasionally hath told his Friends that he was the better pleased with his choice because of that relation About four years after his coming to Okeham he married Chephtzibah the Daughter of the said Mr. Peachy by whom God gave him four Sons and three Daughters All his Sons he designed for the Ministry but it pleased God in his life time to take one of them away whilst he was a Student in Cambridge the other three survived and he lived to see two of them Ordained and set apart for the work of the Ministry the third he appointed to be educated for the same work Having staid about seven years at Okeham he was removed to a Pastoral charge at Stretton in the same County where he continued about the space of thirteen years Whilst he continued School-master at Okeham he undertook and preached a weekly Lecture there besides many Sermons which he preached occasionally in neghbouring Congregations And during his abode at Stretton besides his Pastoral imployment wherein he preached twice every Lords day he also constantly preached his weekly Lecture at Okeham and was a principal prop to hold up some other Lectures in the Neighbourhood His manner also was to set apart every Holy-day if there were but one in the week as a day of seeking God in reference to the necessities of the times and no man was more free and frequent in assisting in dayes of Humiliation in private both in Rutlandshire and in the adjacent Counties whensoever he was called and invited thereunto Such was his love to Christ that his publick imployments though many and great did not take him off from attending his Family duties nor from more private exercises of communion with God his ordinary course in his Family was together with Prayers to expound some part of the holy Scriptures and that twice every day besides other parts of Scripture which he daily read in secret so that usually he read all the Epistles in the Greek Testament twice every fortnight yea when by reason of extremity of pain and weakness he could not read himself he herein imployed others for his help Hence it came to pass that he was a man mighty in the Scriptures like unto Apollos Act. 18. 24. as was observed by all that conversed with him or that heard him preach or pray and this course he earnestly commended to the practice of his dearly beloved eldest Son as an excellent
are Apothegmes It is not worth the name of wisdome that may be heard only and not seen Good discourse is but the froth of wisdome the pure and solid substance of it is well-framed actions And according to this we may commend her conversation for prudence in practice above that which she shewed either in the use or restraint of her tongue For as St. Jerom saith She taught others more by her example than by her speech much more then by her silence She was a woman of a well composed spirit discreetly advised framing her affairs by good direction of grace and reason without any direction of humour or passion which bare no sway over her at all and very seldome had any shew or appearance in her but when her discretion told her it was fit to make use of them for due advertisement to others and then she would order it with such moderation as that neither her words nor her looks nor her gestures carried any colour of contradiction to her prudence and piety So that her wisdome was a protection to the reputation of her piety against all scornfull reproaches Yea it was a promotion of the Christian profession to more estimation in her person and for her sake And though she was singularly gifted yet was she far from their disposition who think they do nothing well unless they be singular and though she had less to do with worldly matters than most would have had in her condition yet therein also she gave that proof of prudence which Solomon observeth Prov. 14. 1. A wise woman saith he builds her house For she was very provident in managing her Family affairs both whilest she was married and when she was a widow also Now from her Intellectuall parts let us pass to her Morall and we shall find that though she had a very good head richly stored with ingenious and religious notions yet she had a far better heart more abundantly furnished with excellent graces whereof we will single out some 1. For her faith which is the hand that turneth the key to unlock the storehouse of divine beneficence This appeared by a Paper written with her own hand wherein she did set down the Articles of her faith in full plain and perspicuous terms with pertinent proofs of Scripture to every point and then she maketh particular application thereof to her self as thus I do believe the Scriptures to be the very Word of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Pet. 1. 21. and I have found them so to me by the witness of Gods Spirit which I have felt testifying of them and by the unutterable comfort which I have received by them wonderfully refreshing my heart when it was in the deepest distress whereby God hath made them so good unto me that I account them better than thousands of gold and silver Psal. 119. 72. I do believe that God made man at first after his own Image Gen. 1. 26. which Image did chiefly consist in knowledge and holiness Eccles. 7. 29. Eph. 4. 24. and out of admiration of this Image I do long for that time when I shall be satisfied with it Psal. 17. 15. I do believe that all mankind hath sinned 1 King 8. 46. and that the nature of man is stained with sin from the birth Psal. 51. 5. I know and must acknowlegde that the cause of all the afflictions which do befall me in this life is in my self and I know no cause to murmure at my crosses when I look upon my sin I do believe that Jesus Christ is God and my God Psal. 68. 20. and in that he is a God and my God it doth exceedingly comfort me For he is full of grace to supply my wants a Counsellor to direct me in my doubts Almighty to defend me and an everlasting Father to love pitty and bear with mine infirmities and to spare me a Prince of peace to perform reconciliation with his Father for me and to fill me with the peace which passeth all understanding and that he will establish and order me henceforth and for ever I do believe that the Passion of Christ was by the eternall decree and appointment of God Act. 2. 23. and that his sorrows were sustained for our sins and for our sakes so as he bore all our iniquities 1 Pet. 2. 24. and that in his own person he fullfilled and finished all sufferings needfull for our salvation 1 Pet. 3. 18 and that his Passion so grievous as cannot be imagined is a sufficient price for the sins of the world Joh 2. 29. therefore why should not I be willing to suffer any thing for his sake that hath suffered so great things for me and say with St. Paul God forbid that I should rejoyce in any thing but in the Cross of Christ. I will for ever trust in him and relie upon him as the life of my life and as to me both in life and death advantage and having such a proof of the infinite love of God to me in not sparing his own Son but giving him up to death for me shall I ever doubt of my freedome from condemnation such a price being paid for the discharge of my debts by such a surety I do believe that Christ overcame sin death the grave and Hell and rose again from the dead ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God in Majesty Rom. 1. 4. and that he hath purchased his Church by his bloud and that he is a Lawgiver to his Church Jam. 4. 12. which is gathered by his voice Joh. 17. 9. seperated from sinfull society with the world For she is an holy Church Eph. 5. 25. yet dispersed over the world for she is Catholick Eph. 1. 10. and though Catholick and dispersed yet but one Eph. 4. 4. knit unto Christ by an indissolveable union Col. 1. 18. And I am sure that I am a member of this Church For I am called out of sinfull communion with the world by the voice of the Ministers of Christ who are in his stead and seperated from it by the power of the Word and I do relie upon Christs merits for righteousness and salvation I do not delight in the society of the wicked but in theirs who fear him whom I love with sincere affections as the most worthy people of the world and whatsoever I want of an holy life yet I do not live after my old evil conversation but I constantly endeavour to be more and more holy What thanks shall I give unto God who hath called me out of darkness into his marvellous light and saved me from the common condemnation of the world O the depth of the love of Christ unto me I do believe that there shall be a generall Judgement Psal. 9. 8. that Christ shall be the Judge a visible Judge in his humane nature Act. 17. 13. that it shall be at the last day but the precise day and hour is not known to any man or Angel Mat. 24.
I so much love When she enjoyed the greatest portion of temporal or spiritual comfort yet would she never say Master it is good to be here as Matth. 17. 4. but making that but a step for an higher ascent she rather inferred It is good going hence For if on earth there be so much good how pleasant and desirable is Heaven the joyes on earth to those that are there are but as the earth is to Heaven little and low dark and heavy Why I do not fear Death I fear not Death because it is but the separation of the body from th sould and that it is but a shadow of the body of death Rom. 7. 24. whereas the separation of the soul from God by sin Isa. 59. 2. and of soul and body for sin is death indeed I fear not Death because Death is such an enemy as hath been often vanquished and because I am armed for it and the weapons of my Warfare are mighty through God and I am assured of victory I do not fear Death for the pain of it for I am perswaded I have endured as great pains in life as I shall finde in Death and Death will cure me of all sorts of pains and because Christ dyed a terrible and cursed Death that any kinde of Death might be blessed to me and that God who hath greatly loved me in life will not neglect me in death but his Spirit will succour and strengthen me all the time of the combate I do not fear Death for any loss For I shall but lose my body by it and that is but a prison to my soul an old rotten house or ragged garment nay I shall not lose that neither for I shall have it restored again at my Saviours second coming made much better than now it is For this vile body shall be like the Body of Christ and by death I shall obtain a far better life And as an incentive of Divine love she prepared a breviate of Gods principal benefits to her self for meditation on her Death-bed and for thanksgiving to God which was this How shall I praise God 1. For my Conversion 2. For his Word both in respect of my affections to it and the wonderful comforts I have had by it 3. For hearing of my prayers 4. For godly sorrow 5. For fellowship with the godly 6. For joy in the Holy Ghost 7. For the desire of death 8. For contempt of the world 9. For private helps and comforts 10. For giving me some strength against my sin 11. For preserving me from gross evils both before and after my calling c. She shewed her holy love to God by conforming her practice to his Precepts according to that Joh. 14. 15. If you love me keep my Commandements She thought nothing too much that she should stick at if God commanded or forbad it nothing so small but his Word was able to give it weight enough to bow down her neck to the obedience of it If it was a greater matter that he required of her she considered that he was a God infinitly both great and good and that unto her who had and would do for her ten thousand times more and greater things than she could do for him If it were a little thing she conceived that the contempt or neglect of it would aggravate her guilt as Naamans servants said to their Master If the Prophet had bidden thee do some great matter wouldst thou not have done it How much rather when he saith unto thee wash and be clean 2 King 5. 18. the less the duty is the more is the disobedience if we do it not for thereby we extenuate the Authority of the Almighty and such as sleight it in a little thing will not regard it in a greater She was therefore very precise in every point which God required the perâ—formance of By this means she still increased in holiness and sanctification and kept a greater distance from great offences according to that of St. Jerom Non cito ad majora progreditur qui parva formidet who so is afraid of a small sin will not easily grow bold on those that are greater Her love to God was strong as death Cant. 8. 4. yea and much stronger so that Death could not affright her for she desired daâ—ly to look death in the face nor could it hurt her more than she was content to endure For though it was not likely that she should go through the narrow wicket of Death and not be pinched in her passage yet was she well contented with it seeing it was the ready way to come to God whom she so much longed to behold Her Charity was very chary of the credit of the absent towards whom she would not suffer either her tongue or her ears be guilty of any wrong or robbery of their reputations She never imposed false crimes or feigned faults upon others She never discovered their secret sins or aggravated those that were known She never denied dissembled nor diminished the vertue or good parts of any Though her hatred of sin was such as became a sincere Christian yet knew she how to distinguish betwixt sin and the sinner and setting a severe dislike on the one she reserved as charity required love or compassion for the other Her Charity was regular according to the Rules of Scripture which she set down in a paper with quotations of Texts for her direction in four particulars 1. I must give readily Job 31. 16. Prov. 3. 28. 1 Tim. 6. 18. 2. I must give secretly Matth 6. 3. 3. I must give liberally 2 Cor. 8. 12. 9. 6. 4. I must give cheerfully 2 Cor. 8. 12. It was answerable also according to her own ability and others necessities She had rather give a little to many since the number of the needy is very great then a great deal to a few and she so ordered her charity that she might still be able to exercise her hand that way and not as some who give so much that after a while they can give no more And upon extraordinary occasions if she were not magnificent the let was not in her minde but in her means Her Charity was vigorus and so cordial that what she gave was alwayes without grudging knowing that God loves a cheerful giver 2 Cor. 9. 7. yea she was so cheerful herein that she bestowed nothing upon her self with more readiness than she did upon others whether it were towards the maintenance of the Ministry or in giving Almes to the poor and yet herein did she follow the rule of our Saviour Matth. â— 6. Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth for she was many times as close in giving her own as a Thief would be in taking away from others so that none did more good deeds with less shew or sound of words than she For the object of her charity she took her direction from the Apostles precept
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
yet will I trust in him I will wait and hearken to him when I say he is thus far proceeded Satan may now go shake his ears and receive his answer Its God that justifies who shall condemn Oh! Hell where is thy power Oh! Death Oh! Devil what is thy Commission It s not my meaning to prescribe to God any one way of working but this is the way he often takes with his children and this we may finde exemplified in this foregoing Narrative touching the conversion and procedure of this Saint so far as she hath commented upon her own life Now for her death I will tell thee whâ—t my observations were thereabout 1. I finde that God began with her quickly and called her hence before she was aged and that is mostly his method where an early harvest is intended a timely seeds-time is promised they live quickly and live apace who ripen betimes so was it with her who was seldome out of action after her entrance but gained as much time in so little a time as any I knew 2. I observe that death came not all at once upon her she was yearly dying some years before she dyed her last and thus death was made familiar to her I have seldome known any of her age that was less amazed at the speech and thoughts of death so good a thing it is to know experimentally what it is to dye beforehand 3. Observe how Gods power triumphs in weakest vessels It is a thing I have often thought on that godly women for the most part dye more confidently and comfortably than do good men the Lord trampling upon Satan in them and in her very eminently 4. Her patience was remarkable in the midst of sore pains which frequented her in the beeding and bearing of children yet then her speech was I fear not pains I fear my self lest through impatiency I should let fall any unfitting word It is a blessed frame when pain seems light and sin heavy 5. I plainly saw in her the power of Grace beyond nature 1. When life and death were both laid before her her speech was this I am at my Fathers disposal howbeit of my self I rather incline to death than life 2. Whereas her affections were very strong both to her loving Husband and children insomuch as it was conceived that the last farewell would go very near her when she should part with so precious and dear Friends she was so much taken up with the thoughts of Christ that she seemed not to stick at any such relations Nay thirdly she seemed wholly to forget her natural self for being intreated to favour her body and speech in regard of the lowness of her spirits after some pause she brake forth into these words Shall I for this poor carkass be wanting to my souls comfoâ—t and my Saviours praises Let me have your prayers still and God his praises yea pray not onely for but with me Which being done she overflowed with comfort and in that condition I left her and that stream of comfort led her not long after to the Fountain where are Rivers of joy for evermore Thus lived she a most profitable life Thus dyed she a most fruitfull death God so turned this his servant that living dying and after death she should be fruitfull Thus will God honour those that honour him To him be all honour to Eternity Amen Now it may be usefull to make mention of her last sickness especially eight weeks before her death All her discourses were savoury tending to edification Many good Christians came to visit her who all if it were not their own fault might reap some spiritual benefit from those many excellent speeches which proceeded out of her mouth And the counsels she gave to her Relations and other friends were tempered with gravity and affection She accustomed not her self to affectation of high-flown phrases but held fast the form of sound words She was an old Disciple and her grave and sober language accordingly discovered her so to be From the very first of her last sickness her apprehension was that she should dye shortly and her longing desire was to be dissolved and to be with Christ. She often repeated those words of Job There the weary go to rest and those words in the close of the Revelations Come Lord Jesus come quickly upon the approach of her death whereof she was very sensible she asked her Husband what Promises of assurance were a firm ground for her to bottome upon He named Joh. 10. 28. And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Likewise he added Rom. 8. 33. 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is ever at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us He added vers 38 39. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor â—â—ings to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. These said she are sweet promises That morning she dyed she desired her Husband to read the 17 Chapter of John which Chapter that eminent holy Scotchman Mr. Rollock caused to be read to him when he was dying after that was read she was ravished with great joy and expressed her self accordingly Her Husband and two other Friends prayed with her After the last Prayer was ended she said My flesh and my heart faileth Her Husband answered her That God was the strength of her heart and her portion for ever He would never fail her She returned an answer which were the last words which ever she spoke to him He will never fail me About an hour after she resigned up her spirit unto God who gave it and her last words were I have finished my course She slept in Jesus December the 8 Anno Christi 1654. To her to live was Christ and to dye was gain She lived much desired and dyed much lamented Her name is like precious Oyntment powred forth She lived holily and dyed comfortably and now partakes of those joyes which eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither can enter into the heart of man to conceive even those things which God hath prepared for them that love him Divers Epitaphs were made at the Death of this rare Gentlewoman I shall onely insert two which were made by two Reverend and Learned Doctors On the Death of that worthy Gentlewoman Mrs. ELIZABETH WILKINSON E-re while Dear Consort I was leas'd to thee Wise now to Christ for perpetuity L-iving with thee was sweet with him far best I-n earth joy 's mixt with pain in him all rest I-wrought I suffer'd much in a few years L-ife now rewards
used to do and came out of his Bed-chamber into the Hall and after Prayer he called for his ordinary breakfast which he used before he went to Church for still he held his resolution for Preaching which was an Egg he took it into his hand but alas it would not down whereupon he said to his daughter Eunice I am not able to go to Church yet I pray thee lead me to my Bed I will lie down a little and rest me So he rose up out of his chair and walked up and down she supporting him and when he came to the Parlour door before he put his foot over the threshold Oh Eunice saith he What shall I do Put your trust saith she in that God of whom you have had so much experience who never yet did leave you nor forsake you Yea saith he the Lord be thanked So he gathered up his strength went to the Bed-side sat down upon it and immediatly composed himself to lie down He lifted up one of his Legs upon the Bed without any great difficulty laid down his Body and rested his Head upon the Pillow His Daughter still stood by expecting when she should lift his other leg upon the Bed thinking that he had been faln asleep and she was not mistaken for so he was It proved his last sleep and before she could discern any change in him his soul had taken its flight into heaven even into the Arms and embraces of his Blessed Saviour whom he had faithfully served all his life long being about fourscore years old He intended a Sabbaths labour for Christ and Christ gave him rest from his labour even the rest of an eternal Sabbath When his daughter began to speak to him and to lift him she found that his breath was departed yet was there not any change in his countenance at all his eyes and his mouth continuing in the same posture they used to be in his sweetest sleeps Thus the Lord gave unto his faithfull Servant the desire of his soul and a return of his Prayers such an easie passage as that his death could not be discerned from a sweet natural sleep Not many days before his death he called his daughter and said to her Daughter Remember my love to my Son John I shall see him no more in this life and remember me to the rest of my children and Family and deliver this message to them all from me Stand fast in the faith and love one another This was the last message that ever he sent to them He ended his life with a Doxology breathing out his last with these words The Lord be thanked When he had thus yielded up his Spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father his daughter Eunice dispatched away a Messenger to his Son John at Norwich for so had her Father given order before he died that his body should not be put into a Cofsin till his Son John came and God carried him through the journey in hard weather so that through Gods good providence he arrived at Belsted early on the Tuesday and going into the house of mourning he found the Body of his deceased Father still lying upon the bed they uncovered his face and sweetly he lay and with a smiling countenance and no difference appearing to the eye between his countenance alive and dead only that he was wont to rejoyce and to bless his Son at their meeting and now he was silent His son fell upon his face and kissed him and lift up his voice and wept and so took his last leave of him till they should meet in a better world February the 4th in the afternoon Anno Christi 1634. was he Interred at which time there was a great confluence people from all the parts thereabout Ministers and others all taking up the words of Joash King of Israel Oh my Father my Father the chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof Good Mr. Samuel Ward that famous Divine and the glory of Ipswich came to the Funeral brought with him a mourning Gown and offered very respectfully to have preached his Funeral Sermon now that such a Congregation was gathered together and upon such an occasion But his Son and daughter durst not give way unto it for so their Father had often charged them in his life time and that upon his blessing that there should be no Sermon at his burial For said he it may give occasion to speak some good of me that I deserve not and so false things may be uttered in the Pulpit Mr. Ward rested satisfied with this and accordingly did forbear But the next Friday at Ipswich he turned his whole Lecture into a Funeral Sermon for Mr. Carter in which he honoured him and lamented the Churches loss to the great satisfaction of the whole Auditory Gloria fugentes sequitur Glory is like your shadow follow it and it will flie away from you but she from it and it will follow you And so it proved with Mr. Carter He was most eminent for Humility Humble he was in his habit and humble in all his deportment For though his Gifts called him before great men yet his most ordinary converse was with those of an inferiour rank in whom he saw most of the power of godliness So that he might truly say with David Psal. 119. 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy precepts He wrote very much but he left nothing behinde him save what is Printed and his Exposition upon the Revelations and a Petition to King James for the taking away of burdensom Ceremonies out of the Church Nothing else but a few broken Papers which he regarded not Probably he burnt the rest when he saw his appointed time draw neer meerly out of a low opinion of himself and his own gifts He avoided all things that might tend to outward Pomp and ostentation He would have no Funeral Sermon He left order in his Will not to be buried in the Church but in the Church-yard where he and his wife that glorious pair he interred together without so much or rather so little as a poor Grave-stone over them He had learned of Christ to be meek and lowly in heart He was humble in his Life and humble in his Death and now the Lord hath highly exalted him He kept a constant Diary or day book in which every day he set down Gods extraordinary dispensations his own actions and whatsoever memorable things he heard or read that day He cast up his Accounts with God every day and his sins were blotted out before he came to his last reckoning his day of refreshing came and he rests from his labours Plus vivitur exemplis quam preceptis saith Seneca Examples of the dead are Sermons for the livâ—ng He was a true child of Abraham and the blessing of Abraham fell upon him I will bless them saith the Lord to him that bless thee and I will curse
retrograde motion somewhat above forty seven years A long time for such a Lamp to burn as he did but his long continuance ministred a fair opportunity of bringing many stragling sheep into Christs fold the great â—hepheard of our souls Once indeed the last Bishop of that Diocess gave a stop to his Tuesdayes Lecture but God in mercy to many set it on going again and cast him that interrupted it out of his place while this painfull and faithfull labourer went on with his work So much for his publick Ministry come we now to his private carriage His whole Life was exemplary Take him as a Christian raised by his Ministeriall function to the height of a Beacon upon an hill and so his light was great and his smell very fragrant He not only kept himself pure and unspotted of the world but his light so shined that both good men glorified God by seeing his good works and wicked and foolish men had their mouthes stopped by his good conversation in Christ and were even enforced to give in testimony to it maugre their malice against his holiness and worth In his Family towards the Wife of his bosom he walked as a man of knowledg wisdom and great tendeness of love Towards the rest of his houshold as David professed he would do in the 101 Psalm and as a Bishop of Pauls description 1 Tim. 3. and Titus 1. Yea towards all as a worthy pattern of love zeal humility meekness temperance patience gravity and of every good work What his constancy and diligence was in his studie the fruits of the great and long travell of his mind his Works which praise him in all the gates of Sion do speak to all the world beyond that can here be spoken of him For when all is said that can be spoken of him so much cannot be said as his own industry speaks In his more vacant hours he was far from being idle or unprofitable Such as had the happiness which was never denied to any that desired it to partake of his private discourses never returned empty from his full magazine if they brought but vessels capable of the overflowings of his rich mind and heart Very many excellent Lights in the Church have lighted their Torches at his Coelestial fire Many young Schollars have been marvellously improved by his prudent and pious directions and encouragements in their studies which now are become excellent instruments in the Church of Christ. If after his preaching he found no mention made of his Sermon by which he might collect that probably some benefit had been reaped by it he would be much dejected as if the fault had been in his preaching even then when he seemed to excell himself rather than in his hearers and used to say that if he had preached better they would have profited more If any Christians came to him for resolution in cases of Conscience or for counsell in straits or for comfort in spirituall desertions or for healing of a wounded spirit as God had given him an excellent spirit of discerning to judg of their condition and of the most seasonable applicatives and an exquisite dexterity to speak a word in season to the weary and fainting soul so he was never shie coy or difficult to be spoken with nor lofty or supercilious to any to whom he gave access but shewed forth all tenderness pity and compassion to them he heard them fully and patiently and wisely administred to their severall distresses and ' ever sent them away as it s said that Titus Vespasianus did his suitors not only not grieved but very well satisfied and abundantly comforted He was very bountifull to his kindred that needed it and then most when their necessities swelled highest He was very charitable and open handed to the poor members of Jesus Christ And albeit his charity shined most to those of his own flock yet was it not shut up from strangers but he was very liberall to them also as he found occasion Yea when he went abroad to bestow the Gospell freely upon other Congregations adjacent such poor as he found to be hearers unless they were known to him to take up hearing as a cloke to cover their idleness and neglect of their callings never went home empty handed but he alwayes warmed and cheered them with his bounty as well as instructed them with his Doctrine How much he was given to Hospitality Gentlemen Ministers Neighbours Strangers and the Poor must needs give in such an ample testimony as will hardly be credited by such as knew him not and are strangers to a bountifull heart He spared from himself to administer unto others minding more the wooing of many to receive benefit by his Ministry some of whom might perhaps at first follow him for the loaves than to lay up largely for such as he should leave behind him and choosing rather to be at a continuall charg to encourage men by his bounty than to suffer them to be unprovided for when they came to partake of his Ministry When he conversed with Ministers his Humility usually put him into the place of a learner but in learning he taught and by teaching he learned more He was so good and skilfull a Chymick that he seldom parted with such company till he had gotten something by them yet were they sure to be the greatest gainers and he alwayes accounted it the best bargain when others were gainers by him His constant and continuall preaching seldom allowed him the much desired opportunity of hearing others but when he could enjoy that benefit he greedily laid hold of it and then would this painfull Bee gather Hony from every Flower making a good use of the meanest gifts and improving his own rich Talent by dipping it into theirs Nor was he ever heard to slight or disparage the labours of any the least of his Brethrn that sincerely endeavoured to bring in souls unto Christ but alwayes he encouraged them and as he found cause informed and directed them and that in a prudent and taking way to their great advantage In his mirth to which he sometimes unbended himself to recreate his overwearied mind that with renewed strength he might return to his more serious and severer studies he strictly observed the bounds of honesty civility modesty and the gravity of his place well considering that the least dead fly in the Apothecaries choisest Oyntment causeth it to send forth an unpleasing savour The Table was usually the place of his greatest liberty in this kind yet even there he would still interlace mirth with some sprinklings of a more serious wit which might instruct as well as exhilerate and make cheerful and contained all within the limits of sobriety without biting sarcasmes or unbeseeming scurrility And usually he closed all with reading some portion of Scripture and giving some short and profitable instructions thereupon which might administer Grace to the hearers and
hands the Patronage was supposed to rest some of the Religious Inhabitants valuing the means of Grace above all their other outward enjoyments cast their eyes and thoughts upon Mr. Gataker to gain whom to their own intreaties they added the mediation of his good Friend Mr. Richard Stock who when he had by many reasons remonstrated unto him that God did give him a clear call to that place whose honour and Ordinances might suffer prejudice by the intrusion of an unworthy man if he should refuse the call he at last suffered himself to be perswaded and prevailed with to undertake that charge which being represented to Sir Henry Hobart the Kings Atturney General by Mr. Randolph Crew afterwards Lord Chief Justice Sir Henry that before favoured other pretensions to gratifie some Tenants of his in that Parish yet now did readily imbrace the motion concerning the setling of Mr. Gataker there according to his own contentment and withall wrote a Letter to the Bishop for the removal of all obstructions that lay in the way or that might hinder his acceptance of the presentation of Mr. Gataker which being signed with all the hands of the three brethren who had right to that Advocation was tendred on his behalf The report of this his removal was no welcome news to many of that Honourable Society who would fain have retained him and some of them offered an enlargement of his maintenance for an argument to keep him and others of them represented the consistence of both imployments by the help of an assistant But he that made not his Ministry a meer trade of living here as Gregory Nazianzene complained that some did in his time and too many do in our times would not multiply his burdens when he deemed himself unfit for the least and would not suffer himself to be wrought to any other resolution Therefore Anno Christi 1611 commending his former charge to the Grace of God he betook himself to the sole attendance of that Flock of which now the Holy Ghost had made him the Overseer and his industry in the discharge of his duty there was both constant and great notwithstanding that he was almost perpetually troubled with the head-ache wherewith God had exercised him from his very youth and for which he had only this poor comfort from his Physician Dr. Goulston his singular good friend with whom he communicated his studies upon Galen and to whom he contributed his assistance for the Edition of some parts of Galen who often told him that the incurable disease of age would be the onely remedy of his distemper because together with the abatement of natural heat his indisposition would grow less vigorous and violent To the work of his Ministry in publick upon the Sabbaths he added a Catechetical weekly Lecture on Fridays in the evening which was designed by him to lay the foundation of saving knowledge in the hearts of the children of whom a certain number every Lecture day did give an account of their knowledge by set Answers to Questions delivered out to them aforehand for their instruction this course of holding a form of sound words agreeable to the Doctrine of the Gospel consigned in holy Writ of what importance it is we may gather from that ignorance and those errours which have invaded the Church in these our times which mischiefs can hardly be imputed to any thing so much as to the neglect of that usefull duty of Catechizing But that exercise was performed by him with such an accurate and methodical explication of the whole Body of Divinity that Christians of riper years and of long standing in Christs School did resort to be partakers of those discourses wherein their well-exercised senses did find not only milk fit for babes but also solid meat suitable to grown men in Christ. This course he continued till he had compleated a pefect Summary of Divinity and gave it over when he saw that the least part of his Auditory consisted of those for whose sakes he principally intended this work his Parishoners being grown at least to a neglect of his free labours in that kinde Mr. Gatakers constant retirement in his study caused him to make choise of an help meet for him that might oversee his Family which was a necessary act of prudence and therefore not long before he left Lincolns Inne he married the widow of Mr. William Cupp to whose two daughters he was so providently kinde in their education that he disposed of them in marriage to two Divines of note in the Church and continued such a fatherly love to them and theirs that the world mistook them for his own children That wife dyed in child-bed of a son that did bear the Fathers name who after that he had seen the most remote parts of the world wherewith we keep commerce returned home to his Father and dyed in peace The same motive still being in force he after a decent interval of widow-hood chose for himself the daughter of a Reverend Minister Mr. Charles Pinner who was brought up in the worthy and religious Family of Mr. Ellis Crisp brother to Mrs. Pinner and it pleased God to give him a Son by her whom in process of time he dedicated unto God in the work of the Ministry but immediately to take away the mother so that the mothers Funerals and the childes Baptisme were celebrated together Thus our wise and gracious Father tempers the cup for his children lest they should surfet upon earthly enjoyments as they might easily do if they were unmixed with occasions of sorrow Then did Mr. Gataker remain for many years in a disconsolate condition till at last he adventured and married a Gentlewoman of a very considerable Family being sister to Sir George and Sir John Farwell and a good esteem for knowledge and piety By her he had three children whereof a son and a daughter were carried to the ground before their mother but the third yet lives to walk by the light of her Fathers life and Doctrine This his third wife being of a contemplative minde fell into a consumption which so wasted her body that her soul took its flight from thence into Heaven Last of all he took to wife a Citizens widow whose comfortable conversation he enjoyed for the space of four and twenty years but without any issue by her His love to her was one motive that induced him to remove out of his Parsonage house into another habitation of his own revenue For supposing that she might survive him he would make a convenient provision for her that she might not be subject to the curtesie of another for her removal and that affection extended it self in his great liberality to many of 〈◊〉 kindred that were in need of help and support from him and that both in her life time and since her decease He survived her two years within a few dayes and because he numbred his dayes with wisdome and
blood which extinguisheth the fire of thine anger O that it might allay my burning pains I am in a fiery Furnace Lord be with me as thou wast with the tâ—ree Children and bring me out refined from sin when I have sailed through the Ocean of these pains and look back I see that none of them can be wanting I flye unto thee O God hide me under the shadow of thy wings till these terrible storms be overpast 5. God added Humility as a Crown to all his other Graces which yet shone bright in the eyes of all that were acquainted with him Indeed he was cloathed with Humility And hence it was that he would converse so familiarly with the poorest Christians and with them who were of the lowest parts for knowledge even with babes in Christ. This his ordinary expression of himself before God did clearly demonstrate his great humility Poor worm Sinful wretch O pardon my transgressions for they are very great Hereupon he would weep much when he was told how much he was prayed for wondring at Gods goodness that so sinful a wretch and worthless a creature should have so much interest in the hearts and prayers of the people of God And his language in his Will speaks how little he was in his own eyes the words are these I desire that at my Funeral there may be no pomp but that so poor a worthless wretch may be privately laid in the ground And as his Graces were many so were his Comforts many and great which God vouchsafed as singular manifestations of his love to this his dear Servant and Childe O what Kisses of Christs Mouth and what imbraces from the Arms of his Love were bestowed upon this Saint of the most High He enjoyed all along his afflicted condition an uninterrupted assurance of Gods Fatherly love in Christ. In his addresses unto God he constantly claimed propriety in God calling him my God and my Father His inward peace and joy were the support of his heart under all his grievous and grinding pains he was confident of mercies mixtures with all his greatest distempers not at all doubting of the sanctification of them to him through Grace Thus he spake many times in his applications unto God Consider and save me for I am thine How long how long Lord shall I not be remembred yea I am remembred blessed be thy Name This is a fiery Chariot but it will carry me to Heaven Blessed be God that hath supported me hitherto and he that hath delivered will yet deliver Thou Lord never forgettest them that put their trust in thee Alwayes when the extremity of pain was over he would with smiles speak of Gods mercies Though trembling took hold upon him when his violent pains began yet would he with confidence say Now in the strength of the mighty God I will undergo these pains O my God put under thine everlasting Arms and strengthen me Many times he told a bosome friend of his that notwithstanding all his rentings and roarings from which he expected no deliverance but by death he would not for a thousand worlds change estates with the greatest man on earth whom he looked upon as in a way of sin and enthraled thereto And this much bespeaks Gods Fatherly indulgence towards him that Satan could never shake his confidence nor assault his hopes all the time of his irksome irksome distemper And this was further very remarkable that he counted all these inward cheerings the fruits of Prayers that were made for him though God saw cause to deny that ease and recovery to his body which was so much begged and withall he valued those spiritual cordials and refreshings far beyond deliverance from the Gout and the Stone yea and Death it self These things are the rather mentioned to prevent that discouragement or offence which some may be too apt to take at the violence and continuance of his wasting and tormenting pains notwithstanding his own godliness and the uncessant prayers both ordinary and extraordinary which were made unto God in his behalf for he found the sweet fruits of them in his own bosome even when he felt the continuance and increase of his bodily grief Another thing very remarkable in holy Mr. Whitaker was his love to his fellow Christians he was a man made up as it were of love His delight was in the Saints upon earth whom he esteemed most excellent and their society was a constant cordial to his spirit His frequent visits of them that were in trouble and his stirring up of others to the like practice were testimonies of this his cordial love which indeed was not verbal but real He was also abundant in works of charity few men of his estate did equalize him therein He would often say It is a brave thing when a man together with a full estate hath a charitable heart Sometimes upon special occasions he hath given away all the money that he had in the house It was not unusual with him to give twenty shillings to a poor Saint and he had many experiencences of Gods gracious returns in such cases By his last Will he gave twenty pounds to the godly poor of his own Parish There were two Cases wherein his loves were most enlarged to the people of God whereof you may take these two Instances The one when the sufferings were publick He often told an intimate friend of his that Englands late breach with Scotland and the blood that was shed together with other sad consequences thereof had taken such impression upon his heart that the sorrow would never be removed till his death and the sufferings both in Holland and in England in our late Sea-sights were an heavy burden upon his spirit The other Case was in respect to the inward perplexity of such as were afflicted in minde having moved a special friend of his the week before his death to bestow a visit upon one in that condition the very morning before his death when speech was grievous to him in respect of his great weakness he asked him whether he had remembred the party that was troubled in spirit which was a remarkable evidence of his strong love to such And besides what hath already been mentioned I might here set down his many wrestlings with God to prevent the flood or troubles which he apprehended the Protestant Churches were now in danger to be overflowed withall as also his compassionate respect to Congregations in the Country which were like sheep wandring upon the barren mountains without a Shepherd And as his love sâ—owed forth to the Saints so was theirs no less towards him Not to speak of the many frequent and friendly visits of godly men and women in the Neighbourhood round about him there was scarce ever heard of any man that was so much prayed for both in publick and in private both upon ordinary and extraordinary occasions as he was There was no particular case so frequently so
Who did so meekly entertain all three Thus many Deaths Gods Israel did inclose The Sea before behinde a Sea of Foes On either side the jaws of Mountains high No way from Death but unto Death to flye Not to destroy them but to let them see The power of love which then would set them free Thus Jobs four Messengers which did relate The doleful story of his ruin'd state And his three Friends which acted Satans part He on his flesh and these upon his heart Who by disputing him unto a curse Would make his spirits torments the far worse Were by Gods wise disposal sent to show The strength he on his Champion would bestow Thus Painters put dark grounds where they intend To overlay with finest gold and lend By deeper shadows lustre to that face On which they mean their choisest skill to place Thus workmen season much with Sun and wind Those greatest beams which must the building binde Whilst smaller pieces haply are put in When they come bleeding from the wood and green Oft where is greatest grace God's pleas'd to send Great conflicts those great Graces to commend As the six-fingred Giants sword did bring The more renown to little Davids sling The vanquisht Lion and the conquered Bear Prepar'd that holy Head a Crâ—wn to wear The Angel wrestled first and then did bless And made the greater servant to the less Pain was too great for thee Gods grace for pain And made the greater serve the less again Thy pains serv'd thee for glory and did fit The Head on which a Crown of life must sit This is Gods method to fetch joy from grief To turn our sorrows unto our relief To save by killing and to bring to shore By the ships planks which was quite broke before And thus a barren womb first took the seed Which did six hundred thousand people breed That seed too must from knife and Altar rise And be before a fire a Sacrifice Great Preacher of thy Heavenly Fathers will Thy tongue did many ears with Manna fill Thy life out-preach't thy tongue O blessed strife Thy sickness the best Sermon of thy life Before each Doctrine must be prov'd a new Thine end was one great proof that all was true Before thou preach't by weeks but now by hours Each minute taught thy mourning Auditors Each patient groan and each believing eye Was a new Sermon in Brachygraphy When Nature roars without repining words Grace in the mouth when in the Bowels swords In midst of torments to triumph o're Hell To feel Gods Arrows yet his Praises tell Through thickest clouds to see the brightest light In blackest darkness to have cleerest sight And with our Lord to cry My God My God Upon a Cross under the sharpest Rod. This is indeed to preach this is to show Faiths triumph over Natures greatest wo. Then welcome fiery Serpents scorching sting Which did thee thus to th' Brazen Serpent bring Then welcome Whale which though it first devour Renders at last the Prophet to the shore Well might'st thou bear the stone which Death did throw Who had'st the white Stone the new Name to show Well might'st thou be with such an ulcer calm Whose soul was heal'd before with Heavens Balm When spirits wounds are cur'd though Nature groan An heart of flesh can heal a back of stone Let conscience have her feast and let flesh roar This pain shall make the others joy the more As many times those Flowers most fragrant smell Which nearest to some noysome weeds do dwell Thus have you seen the Forge most clearly glow On which the Smith doth drops of water throw Keen Frosts make fire the hotter and deep night Causeth Celestial Lamps to shine more bright And by a dear Antiperistasis The Childs distress sweetens the Fathers kiss A wounded body yeelds to a sound soul The joyes of this do th' others pains controle As in the day that the Sun beams appear All other lesser Stars do disappear When Heaven shines and Divine love doth reign The soul is not at leasure to complain Internal joyes his heart so well composes That they have judg'd their flames a bed of Roses Mr. Gataker Mr. Whitaker But what shall England do from whence are lopt Two if her richest Acres to Heaven dropt By loss of these two Acres she 's more poor Then if sh 'had lost an hundred Lordships more 'T were a good purchase to gain these agen By giving to the Sea all Lincoln Fen. Two little Mines of Gold do far surpass Huge Mannors where th' whole vesture is but grass Learn we by them what all men will once say One Pearch of Heaven 's worth the whole Globe of clay ED. REYNOLDS D. D. The Life and Death of James Vsher Dr. of Divinity Arch-Bishop of Armagh Primate and Metropolitan of all Ireland who dyed Anno Christi 1655. ALexander the Great commanded that no man should draw his Picture but Apelles the most exquisite Painter in the world and that his Statue should not be made in brass by any one but Lysippus the most excellent Work-man in that kinde So truly the Life and Death of this great and good man is fit to be written only by the ablest Pen that can be found Dr. JAMES USHER James Usher was born in Dublin the Metropolis of Ireland in the Parish of St. Nicholas January the 4 Anno Christi 1580. His Father Mr. Arnald Usher was a student in the Law one of the Clerks of the Chanchery in that Nation and a person of excellent parts and endowments His Mother was Mrs. Margaret Stainhurst who in her later time was seduced by some of the Popish Priests to the Roman Religion they taking their opportunity whilst this her Son was upon some occasion in England and they by their subtilty had engaged her in such vows that when her Son came back he could not possibly reclaim her which they have often boasted of in Print yet her Sons hope was at least upon her Death bed to have prevailed for the reducing of her to the Truth But it pleased God that she dyed suddenly at Drogheda when he was absent at Dublin whereby to his no small grief those his hopes were frustrated and disappointed His Grandfather by his Mothers side was James Stainhurst whose Christian name he bore who was chosen three times Speaker of the House of Commons in the Irish Parliaments in the last whereof he made the first motion for the founding and erecting of a College and University in the City of Dublin He was also Recorder of that City one of the Masters of the Chancery and a man of great wisdome and integrity His Uncle was Richard Stainhurst a man famous in France and other Nations for his great learning which he manifested in several Books published by him one of them when he was eighteen years old between whom and this Reverend person there passed many learned Letters His Uncle by his Fathers side was Henry Usher who was trained up at
of the world how she may please her Husband 2. She had so chosen God for her portion and set up her rest in the riches of his love that she had but little minde of the worlds riches She knew that riches may be had and well used of the Religious and that poverty alone commends no man unto God as St. Jerom speaks yet did she not dote upon them but though she was competently careful and frugal as Christ prescribeth Joh. 6. 12. Gather up the broken meat that nothing be lost and though she was provident as the Apostle requires 1 Tim. 5. 8. If any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own hosue he hath denyed the faith and is worse than an Infidel yet withall beleeving that of the Prophet David Psal. 37. 16. A little that the righteous hath is better than the riches of many wicked and as conforming her self to that of St. John Love not the world nor the things of the world 1 Joh. 2. 15. She often besought of Almighty God rather to make and keep her poor than to suffer her heart in any sort to sink down from her Maker to dote upon Mammon She was one that could very well finde in her heart to honour God with her substance as Prov. 3. 9. She was as cheerful in her layings out for him as any Miser could be in his layings up for himself and when she heard of the irreligious Parsimony of some towards the maintenanance of the publick Ministry in that City of Chester she hath professed that she had rather be at all the charge of all the common contributions her self if her estate would bear it than that God should be grumbled at or his service poorly prized or the wages of his work unwillingly paid Another undoubted testimony of her true love to God was in that she so much desired to dye out of a fervent affection to him insomuch that she feared a long life would keep her too long from the enjoyment of him being therein like unto David in those ardent aspirations of his As the Hart panteth after the water Brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God my soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before him Psal 42. 1 2. That which worldlings are most afraid of that she so much wished for that her friends were fain to plead with her to be pleased with life though she not being contented with their Arguments contended against them by contrary reason shewing first why she did desire to dye Secondly why she was not afraid of Death and hoping that it would not tarry long she had in readiness some special matters to be remembred at her Death which she left in writing under her own hand and are as followeth First Why I desire to dye I desire to dye because I want while I live here the glorious presence of God which I love and long for and that sweet fellowship of the Angels and Saints who would be glad of me as I am of them and would entertaine me with unwearied delight I desire to dye because while I live I shall want the perfection of my nature and be as an estranged and banished person from my Fathers house I desire to dye because I would not live to offend so good a God nor to grieve his holy Spirit For his loving kindness is better than life it self And he is abundant in mercy to me and it doth lye as an heavy load upon my heart many times to think of dipleasing him I desire to dye because this world is generally infected with the plague of sin and some have this Plague-sore running upon them and I my self â—m tainted with the same disease so as whilst I live here I can be in no place nor in any company but I am still in danger of being infected or to infect others and if this world doth hate me because I endeavour to follow goodness how will it rejoyce if my foot do but slip Therefore how woful would my life be unto me if I should give occasion to the world to triumph or blaspheme in respect of me I cannot choose but desire to dye when I consider that sin like a leprosie hath so corrupted me that there is no soundness in me my minde my memory my will and affections yea my very conscience is still impure in every faculty of my soul there is a miserable mixture of vile infection which makes me aweary of my life and all this is the worse because it is incurable and inseparable companion of my life so that I can go no whither to avoid it there is no business that I can dispatch that concerns my happiness without a muteny in mine heart though Gods works be all fair works yet there are in my nature many defects insufficiencies mistakings and transgressions so that I may say with David Innumerable evils have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold on me so that I am not able to look up Psal. 40. 12. I therefore desire Heaven for holiness rather than for happiness that I might sin no more I desire that condition wherein I may most glorifie God I desire to dye because of the Devils malignant and uncessant assaults I can stand no where before the Lord on earth but one Devil or other is at my right hand and must of necessity enter into conflict with them and their temptations and be buffeted and gored by them which is a thousand fold worse than Death More easie it is to wrestle with Flesh and Blood than with those Principalities and Powers and spiritual wickednesses and great Rulers of the world For they are subtle and cruel and and like roaring Lions they go about seeking whom they may devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. I desire to dye because by Death I shall rest from the hard labours of this life I desire to dye because nothing in this world can give me solid and durable contentment I am less in liking of life and have more desire of death when I consider the misery that may come both on my body and estate and fearful alterations may come and wars may come and all the desolations and terrours which accompany them and I may be left in the hands of the sons of violence Besides I daily suffer the loss of my friends who were the companions of my life and means of much contentment unto me and those whom I lose by my life I shall finde by my death and enjoy in another world unto all eternity And for my children it doth not trouble me for that God which hath given life and breath and all they have while I am living can without me provide for them when I am dead my God will be their God if they be his if they be not what comfort would it be for me to live my life would be exceeding bitter unto me if I should see them dishonour God whom
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