is offended and I burne not This fruit of his compassion and tender affection to Gods children did more especially appeare when he heard of heavy newes out of Bohemia Hungary Germany the Palatinate c. He was then so affected therewithall as good Nehemiah was when he heard by Hanani one of his brethren that the remnant of the Iewes were in great affliction that the wall of Ierusalem was broken downe And afflict him also and the gates thereof were burnt with fire For then he sate downe and wept and mourned certaine dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven 3 It did also no lesse evidently appeare His compassion in visiting the sick by his diligent and carefull visiting of the sicke and such persons and families as had some more heavie and extraordinary hand of God upon them He was held and reputed one of the best spirituall Physitians in all the countrey If any were troubled in conscience afflicted in soule for sin molested by Satan terrified by Gods judgements Happy then was he that could get M. Bruen to come unto him his very presence was some ease and refreshing unto them as to that godly and worthy Preacher M. Dickons on his death-bed His godly exhortations wholesome admonitions divine instructions sweet words of comfort but especially his faithfull and fervent prayers were many times as so many gracious remedies against their grievous miseries and maladies And to speak as the truth is as his gifts were rare and paines great in the performance of these duties so was the issue and successe thereof through the blessing of God many times answerable and effectuall either for some full release or some reliefe in due season Hereof he hath witnesses enow over all the countrey and many he hath written downe of such and such mercies obtained of God by his good meanes for such and such persons the glory where of he doth ever in great humility ascribe unto the Lord giving him all hearty thankes and praise that would manifest his great mercy grace power and goodnesse to so weake creatures by so weak meanes His antipathy against profanenesse Now as he held a holy Sympathy with the godly so had he a great antipathy against the profane both persons and fashions customes and courses of the world He knew well that the fashion of this world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever He knew well also that not onely he himselfe but all true Christians are forbid by the holy Apostle In garish fashions to fashion or conforme themselves to this world and injoyned to be transformed in the spirit of their minde that they may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God And therefore he could never be brought into any love or liking of the garish foolish vaine and new-fangle fashions of the world in attire or other ridiculous gestures and formall complements of the profane of this world but did in his heart abhorre them and in his life utterly shun and avoid them Being once at an high Sheriffes feast where there were some Lords Spirituall and Temporall as they are called and many other Knights and gentlemen of great place there was an health begun by one of the Lords In profane customes as in drinking of healths to the Prince which after the manner was entertained and maintained with a great deale of ceremoniall solemnity As it went along and drew neare unto him many observing what he would say or doe he cast out in a moderate manner some words of dislike to this effect Here is a solemne service to the Prince yet did he never require it nor will ever give you any thankes for it And when one pressed him to pledge and drinke to the Princes health he made this milde and gentle answer onely You may drinke to his health and I will pray for his health and drink for mine owne Nos cramus pro salute imperatoris c Tertull ad Scapul c 2. and so I wish you may doe for yours And so he put it off and passed it over never sorting with them nor yeelding to any one of their solemne ceremonies in that act He did beare a more generous minde than to be brought in subjection unto every idle fancy and foolery or to conforme himselfe unto the humours and customes of profane men The policy and power of Satan in healthing Certainly in this drinking of healths as now it is practised at our gentlemens tables there is the very power and policy of Satan set a work in them as to take up the time of their repast with such vanities and provocations to sin and to draw them to delight themselves in such base works of the flesh after the humour and pleasure of carnall men that all memory and mention of God or goodnesse may bee kept out and that no speech of the word or works of God at all may be had amongst them M. Bolton his Directions to wilke with God pag. 200 201 202 203 c. Had I not beene well prevented by the godly labours of a reverent and worthy Divine and my ancient and faithfull friend M. Bolton who hath spoken much both out of the Fathers and other good Authors against this drinking of healths and that to so very good effect and purpose I had taken a little more pains at this time to provide some rods of rebuke for this sinne purposing to whip it and scourge it round about the table in the sight of our bowzing gentleman that take such and so much pleasure in it But now I forbeare and referre them to his Booke praying them to read advisedly what he hath written learnedly of this matter CHAP. LVIII NOw to proceed As this godly Gentleman had and held an antipathy against all vaine and foolish fashions and humours of the profane men of the world so did he especially against the profane customes and corruptions usually maintained in great houses His antipathy against the profane customes and corruptions of great houses He offereth a remedy so as he had an holy indignation against them and would not spare where he had any hope to speed to admonish his friends by word or writing for the reformation of the same He knew it was written Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sinne upon him An evident proofe of his carefulnesse and faithfulnesse in this kinde he hath left us under his own hand in a portion and part of a letter directed to a Gent. one of his neare cosens His words be these The comparison I used was with M. Wilbraham of Woodhey to whom God gave repentance two or three yeares before his death by the Ministery of my B. H. His godly Letter for Christian admonition and reformation I have often compared you Cosen to Thomas Wilbraham whom the people of
so much against him Si vult Regina me exulem agat in exilium Domini est terra plenitudo ejust si vult secare secet Chrys Ep. Cyriace Epise Tom. 5. idem passus est Isairs si vult in pelagus mittere Ionoe recordabor c. If the Queene will have me banished let her banish me the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof If she will cut me in peeces let her doe so The Prophet Isaiah suffered the same death If she will cast me into the sea I will then remember Jonah if she will throw me into a burning fornace the three children suffered as much before me Such like courage and resolution had this Gentleman against his naturall afflictions as Chrysostome had against violent persecution So that now he was able with valiant David to goe forth in the name of the Lord even against Goliah of the Philistims And grew resolute with Paul not to reckon his life deare unto him whatsoever afflictions might befall him so that he might fulfill his course with joy Act. 20.24 Ro. 8.18 Accounting all the afflictions of this world to be unworthy of the glory that shall be revealed and never fainting for any sorrow because although the outward man did perish and decay yet was his inward man renewed daily 2 Cor. 4.16.17 and all the afflictions of this life were but light and momentany to him that had an eye to the eternall vveight of glory laid up in heaven for him CHAP. LXI IT was observed by many of his friends His graces much increased in his old age both at home and abroad that in his declining dayes when he faw he was drawing on towards his journeyes end his faith was exceedingly increased his hope and rejoycing in God much enlarged his love and zeale wonderfully inflamed his affections towards God and the godly Theodosius senior aetate sed valìdius fide Amb. de Obit Theod. more holy and heavenly and his motions towards heaven more quicke and lively Much like the Elements and other such naturall bodies which the nearer they draw to their proper places are ever more violent and speedy in their motions till they come unto them So was it with this Gentleman for his spirituall estate the nearer he drew to wards his proper place his mansion house 2 Cor. 5. 1 Ioh 14. 2. Phil 3.13 Act. 20.24 Heb. 12.1 prepared for him in the heavens the more eager his desires were and his motions more vehement to dispatch his journey with all good speed to finish his course with joy and to runne out the race with patience vvhich vvas set before him Those that hee planted in the house of the Lord Psal 92.14.15 shall flourish in the courts of our God They shall bring forth fruit in old age and they shall bee fat and flourishing His laft dayes his best days Their last dayes shall bee their best dayes and their last vvorkes their best vvorkes and their fruit shall bee more and better at the last than at the first Isay 61.3 Such a tree of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord vvas this godly Gentleman whose fruit did not faile whose leafe did not fade no not in the winter of his age Psal 1. Ier. 17.8 Psa 92.13 14. Phil. 3.13 but did ever flourish in the courts of our God He was of Saint Pauls resolution forgetting those things which were behinde and reaching forth unto those things which are before he pressed towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus His Resolution and courage against all assaults And casting out as it were his gantlet of defiance against all the most sharpe and dangerous assaults that might encounter him and be made against him he challengeth them all as Paul did Who shall separate me from the love of Christ Shall tribulation on distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword Shall sicknesse or sorrowes feares or terrors pains or aches fores or swellings miseries of life or pangs of death so prevaile against me Nay in all these things I shall be more than a conquerour through him that loveth me And so from Pauls resolution he grew unto Pauls perswasion J am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. His hope and expectation Phil. 1.20 21. And from this perswasion to an earnest hope and expectation That in nothing hee should bee ashamed but that with all boldnesse as alwayes so now also Christ should bee magnified in his body whether it bee by life or by death For to him to live was Christ and to die was gaine Being now thus setled and resolved in patience and confidence to beare all afflictions and indure all grievances which might be either as fore-runners or attendants on his departure and dissolution It seemed good unto the Lord to visit him with sicknesse and that after this manner as his faithfull yoke-fellow hath reported and fent me in writing from her owne hand Her words be these CHAP. LXII His first sicknesse and visitation I Call to mind some words which he spake unto me alone at that time when it pleased the Lord to visit him which was upon the day after the Sabbath That morning he arose exceeding early and having beene in private prayer with God as his usuall manner was he performed afterwards this duty in the whole family This being done he went as he was accustomed into his Studie untill dinner time And having dined he went into his Study again And then it pleased God about an houre or two after to visit him as it were with an Ague after the manner of a shaking and so withdrawing himselfe thence into his little parlour he laid him down upon his bed Then said I unto him Sir I feare your early rising hath done you hurt Then he replied If you had seene wife such glorious things as I saw this morning being in private prayer with God â—ide Posâ—d de vita Aug. c. 27. you would not have said so For they were so wonderfull and unspeakable that whether I was in the body or out of the body with Paul I cannot tell Thus it hath pleased the Lord least I should be too much exalted by this glorious sight to give mee with Paul a buffet in the flesh All which things he spake with exceeding great joy unto me Non probo quod â—esero vix fas est credere visis Saepe Satan tali in lumine lucc nocet The like report of the like ravishing in spirit and such glorious sights which he saw not long before he himselfe made unto some of his friends after he had beene one day in private prayer with God in his grove The particulars
mercies A Booke of remembrance Cap. 47. The hand of God upon the Boy of the Northwich Satans malice Gods mercy First his fits and passions Secondly his gestures and actions he was brought unto the Bishops The Bishops Licence for a private fast for his release Thirdly his Speeches Cap. 48. his private Invocation Not confined to one place his time for Private prayers Seven times in a day Powerfull in prayer his private fasting Tender prayers and hard knee The matter of his private prayers Sinnes of Sion Sinnes of the time Praise and thanksgiving Cap. 49 his imitation of his heavenly Father every day Cap. 50. his conversation in the world First A resolution against the world Secondly Gods presence Thirdly Striving against sinne Fourthly Desiring to doe good Fiftly lust dealing Sixthly Take all to the best Seventhly watchfulnesse Eightly To be sparing in speech Ninthly Renouncing all worldly fashions and humours Tenthly Peaceable Eleventhly Contentednesse Twelfthly To keepe our peace with God Cap. 51. First he endeavoured to be pure First pure in heart Secondly Pure in hand Thirdly Pure in tongue Cap. 52. Secondly peaceable A Peacemaker Cap. 53. Thirdly Gentle not by nature but by grace Many of the Fathers very Passionate Yet well accepted of God and good men his bearing and forbearing In meeknesse like Moses In mildnesse like his Master Christ Many of a cruell and bloudy disposition Cap. 54. Fourthly Easie to be intreated Iudge W his testimony of Master Bruen We easily intreated to his Cost But some so hard they will give nothing no nor pay their own duties Cap. 55 A Branch of the crue vine A Tree of Righteousnesse full of good fruites towards all he did mourne for sinners he did contemne contemners his bounty to poore Christians for supply of their wants Cap. 56. he was rich in good workes his hospitality for Gods Children his Provision for his table in plenty and variety Hee would not endure any ryot or excesse No quaffing no drunkennesse nor healthing in his house His charity to his poore neighbours First for their bellies His Dole dayes twice a weeks In the time of dearth almost every day his bounty in giving and lending mony or Corne Secondly mercyfull to the poore in cloathing their bodies also Thirdly provision he provides for them out of his owne Purse yearely Fourthly Protection hee pratects and defends them Fifthly Advice and as he is able doth plead for them Cap 57. His fruits of faith and love to others also In his harmony in judgement with the best In his sympathy with the godly in every condition Heavie newes of the Church did 〈◊〉 affect him and afflict him also In his compassion in visiting the sick His antipathy against profanenesse In garish fashions In profane customes as in drinking of healths The Policy and power of Satan in healthing Cap 58. It is Antipathy against profane Customes and corruptions of great houses He offereth a remedy His godly letter for Christian Admonition and reformation His good opinion and estimony of Tho-Wilbraham Esâ—… his indignation against sin His love and care to reclaime the sinners His joy in such as were converted Cap. 59. Fruits of mercy towards his Tenants He was a mercifull Land-lord Cap. 60. He departeth out of this world 1. Preparation 2. Resolution 3. Confidence 4. Constancy 1. His preparation for death His more speciall preparation in ten speciall duties 2. His resolution to beare the sharpe occurrents of it Cap. 61. His graces much encreased in his old age His last dayes his best dayes His resolution and courage against all assaults His hope and expectation Cap. 62. His first sicknesse and visitation 3. His confidence of an happy exchange 1. His evidence 2. His assurance for it His confidence cause of his comfort Cap. 63. His diligence and conscience in frequenting Gods house His chearefull going to Church Singing of Psalmes by the way Some much delighted and some much bettered by this melody His early comming to Church His reverend and holy carriage in it His dinner time he bestowed wel in the Church The evening sacrifice he performed in like manner Their returne home-wards and mutuall care to doe good Cap. 64. His private evening exercise full of life The great joy hee had in the Sabbath and fasts His thankfulnes for one Sabbath more Weary of the world He makes his Will So he was more free and more fit for heavenly things Cap 65. He had Milke for Babes that came to visit him and stronger meat for strong men His godly admonitions to both he commends unto them his owne experience and example Cap. 66. Fourth Head His constancy in Religion even unto the end Great strength in great weaknes His comfortable and savory speeches His consolations exceeding his afflictions S. H. B. came to visit him His gracious words and exhortations unto him His sonne and heyre came unto him His good counsell unto him His desire to have his heyres follow his steps That being dead hee might as it were live in them againe And that Religion might never dy not decay in that Family Cap 67. Mr. L. And my selfe came to visit him Ianuary 16. 1625. His patient waiting for release His consolations still abound without all trouble of minde or conscience We rejoyced in his joy prayed with him and for him His care for prayer in the Family Mindfull of M. L. A heavie parting Cap. 68. Some ever ready to pray with him Diverse desire a blessing from him Hee prayeth secretly himselfe other gracious people pray with him His last prayer His last end A FAITHFULL Remonstrance of the holy Life and happy Death of JOHN BRUEN of BRUEN-STAPLEFORD in the County of Chester Esquire CHAP. 1. JOHN BRUEN of Bruen-Stapleford in the County Palatin of Chester Esquire was either by consanguinity or affinity linked and allyed to many of the most ancient and worshipfull Houses and Families of that Countrey His Father a worthy Gentleman of his time descended of many worthy Ancestors The Lord having continued their Race His birth and blood from father and established that Family in their own Ancient Name Place House and State for many Generations A blessing I confesse of no extraordinary note yet the more remarkable because even in these parts many Families that have flourished in great pomp and pride for a season and have thought that their houses should continue for ever Psal 49.11 12 13. and their dwelling places to all Generations and for this end called their Lands by their own names have yet been cut short of their hopes and their lives both together had their posterity swept away as dung and their names overwhelmed with the ruines of their houses their root being rottennesse and their blossome vanishing into dust Isal 5.24 as the Prophet speaketh to the same purpose This Gentlemans father was first married to a sister of Sir John Dones of the house of Vtkinton from whom the Lord with-held the fruit of the womb His
the Hare the Hawke ceise upon the Partridge if now one beast bite and devoure another if any of the foules of the aire doe rend and teare one another all this is but the fruit of our sinne which can never be rightly rejoyced in so long as the root whence it sprang is to bee mourned for Vnlawfull to take pleasure in it This then is my opinion which yet I submit to the censure of sounder judgement I think it utterly unlawfull for any man to take pleasure in the paine and torture of any creature or delight himselfe in the tyranny which the creatures exercise one over another or to make a recreation of their brutish cruelty which they practise one upon another CHAP. X. GOd of his goodnesse hath given us liberty I grant to take the labour of some Gen. 9.2.3 Strab. Geo. l 5. p. 151. and the lives of others for our use As wee have the flesh of some to feed us the fleece to cloath us the strength and speed of some other to case us and both in peace and in warre to relieve us And as he hath appointed them to serve us for our use and comfort Polyd. de Inven. l. 3. c. 2. c. 5. Opusculum horrend de Feris Arg. 4. so hath he allowed us meanes and instruments some naturall some artificiall to bring them to our bent and fetch them into our hands Hence it is that we may warrantably use the naturall faculties and qualities of some of the creatures which are more familiar unto us for the overtaking and taking of those which being without our reach and compasse are either unwilling to come neer to do us good or ready still to stand out to doe us hurt So may we use and that not only for our profit Retia ad apros ursos lupos capien Authem l. 2. de Feudis § Nemo but for our pleasure also so it bee in Christian discretion and moderation the speed and swiftnesse of the Greyhound to course the Hare the sight and flight of the Hawke to take the Partridge the sent and sagacity of the Hound to hunt the Deere the nimblenesse and subtilty of the tumbler to snatch up and cony-catch the Cony Plutamb de curiosit even when hee seemes but to dally and sport with her And many other such naturall helpes may we use for our sober refreshing and delight as well as for our profit and benefit yet still with this caution and condition Neither in the enmity or cruelty of or towards the creatures that we take no pleasure nor delight either in the enmity of the creatures one against another or in their cruelty when they tire upon and teare one another much lesse that wee please our selves in their paines and not content to take away their lives once only unlesse we sport and delight our selves by torturing and tormenting of them to make them dye many deaths together in one also I saw once a Gentleman being about to feed his Hawke pull a live Pidgeon out of his Faulkners-bag and taking her first by both wings The example of cruelty to the creature rent them with great violence from her body and then taking hold of both leggs pluckt them asunder in like manner the body of the poore creature trembling in his hand while his Hawke was tiring upon the other parts to his great contentment and delight upon his fist This Act was held by some that stood by to bee somewhat too cruell and unmencifull both because of the torturing paines hee put the Pidgeon unto and for that hee seemes much to delight in the doing of it It was lawfull for him no doubt to have taken the life of the Pidgeon and to have given her warme flesh to his Hawke for her supper which he might have done by plucking off her neck to procure a speedy and prevent a lingring and tormenting death whereof the foresaid Gentleman being lovingly and respectfully admonished hee made presently a resolute or rather an obstinate answer viz. That might peradventure have given his Hawke some contentment but this he did with delight for his love unto his Hawke and for his owne pleasure Stiffenesse in opinion without judgement and fond affection without moderation breed no sound resolution neither in nor for the truth but rather obstinate and strong opposition against it Even in taking away life where the act is lawfull there may be mercy shewen and so it may be done more lawfully because it is done mercifully and in the same act there may bee much crueltie and so the act for the man and manner is made unlawfull because the actor was unmercifull in the doing of it Polyd. de Jnvent Rerum l. 2. c. 11. l. 3. c. 5. Authent l. 2. de Feudis §. Nemo retia sua aut laq It is lawfull to kill a Bird with a Bolt to strike a Deere with a Bow to shoot at Foule with a Peece to take Fish with Hookes and Nets to set Toyles for Foxes and lay grins and snares for wild and hurtfull beasts but to take pleasure and delight after wee have their lives in our hands to peek out their eyes to breake their legs to pierce their brests with Bodkins their bodies with Pikes or Swords and so to lend them a little use of their life onely to linger and lengthen out the paines of their death this is brutish cruelty to a brute creature and is no small argument of a bloody minde and a bad disposition if we will give any credit either to the light of nature amongst the Heathen Quintil. l. 5 c. 9. Erasm ad Episcop Basil 15 22 or to the Word of God amongst Gods people I have read in ancient Writers and so Erasâ—â—â—… doth report that he had done that the Magistrates amongst the Grecians observing a young boy to take great pleasure and delight when he had taken young birds to prick and peck out their eyes with Pins and Needles held him worthy to dye for his sporting cruelty because they did conjecture that such a cruell disposition and naughty humour in a childe might very dangerously breake out into some brutish and bloody practices if ever he should come unto his strength and riper age And this seemeth to bee the meaning and intent of the holy Ghost Deut. 22.6 Ex. 23.19 Deu. 14. â—â— when the people of God were forbidden if they found a Birds nest to take the damm with the young and to see a Kid in his mothers milk lest being accustome to deale cruelly and unmercifully with birds and beasts Gal. in Eâ— cap. 23. â—â— they might grow on to some savage inhumanity and bloody cruelty to wards men also and that because as a learned man saith Quia his initiis ad crudelitatem in homines itur ideo non incommode haec crudelitas in belluas M. Cartvv in Pâ—ov 12.10 inhumanitatis cujusdam peragitur Because by these beginnings of brutish
the next place commend themselves unto God in humble and hearty prayer making their requests knowne unto God 4. His humble and holy prayer with thanksgiving in all manner of supplications with thanksgiving which hee usually performed with that power and feeling fervency and sincerity faith and humility as the spirit of grace gave him understanding and utterance and their severall occasions and other necessities did require that hee was oftentimes much admired of them that heard him and by his holy petitions and gracious affections did much refresh the hearts and cheere the spirits of many of his neighbours and friends which joyned with him Gen. 32.26.27.28 Hos 12.4 Hee would so wrestle with God by prayers and teares like Jacob that hee would not let him go untill like an Israel he had by praying and weeping prevailed with him The fruits of which his holy desires and endeavours were so remarkable in that family whether hee prayed against sinnes or sorrowes or sought unto God for grace and good things that seldome did they meet againe to pray but they had some new and fresh cause of praise and thanksgiving unto him that had heard their prayers Having alwayes matter of praise as well as cause of prayer A godly and an holy course in prayer which I wish were as well performed as it is well worthy to bee observed Namely Not only to consider wisely what we ask in prayer but to observe carefully how wee speed after it for in so doing as we should still be stirred up and provoked to new praises so should wee be quickned and encouraged to seeke unto our God againe by continuing or renewing the same or the like prayers and requests unto him This was the practice of holy David that man after Gods owne heart who having called upon God Psal 41.1 did patiently wait upon him for hearing and diligently observed what successe he had and as hee found the fruit of his prayers did thereupon come againe into Gods presence with new and fresh praises Psal 66.17.19.20 I called unto the Lord saith he with my mouth and he was exalted with my tongue Verily God hath heard me he hath attended to the voice of my prayer Blessed bee God which hath not turned away my prayer nor his mercy from me CHAP. XXIV THus did he exercise himselfe and his family unto godlinesse every morning His evening exercise and after the duties of the day and their naturall refreshing and repast in the end thereof hee called them again to the like service and sacrifice in the evening which hee very religiously and constantly performed much after the same manner saving thaâ— then he tooke some more paines with them having more liberty In opening and applying the word and better opportunity so to doe for then he ordinarily instructed and taught his family out of that portion which hee tooke in the Chapter read at that time unto them propounding and applying some wholesome doctrine profitable for their godly edification as the tenor of the Scripture best served 2 Tim. 3.16.19 whether to convince any errour or to confirme the truth to rebuke any sin and to instruct in the way of righteousnesse to comfort the heart under hope in doing well and settle the soule by faith and patience in suffering ill This was his holy defire and delight to edifie his family in faith and love For the use of his Family and to traine them up in the true knowledge and feare of God so acquainting them with their duties towards God and man Tit. 2.10 11 12. that living soberly righteously and godly in this world they might beautifie their profession and adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour alwayes and in all things All which his godly paines and practices in the instructing of his family out of the Word of God as a pastor and teacher in his owne house Crowned with a blessing from God albeit they were through the blessing of God crowned with good successe at home yet were they much maligned reproached opposed and questioned abroad and that not only by the vulgar fort but even by some of our masters in Israel whose negligence was much rebuked by his diligence their prophannesse checked by his holy duties their government in their families not onely obscured but blemished Opposed much by some men of the world but blemished by the comely order and beautie of his government in his family which was so farre advanced above some of theirs as ever Bethell was above Bethaven Sion above Shilo or the Temple of God above the Temple of Idols Which malignity of the world His fortification against such assaults and enmity of godlesse persons against godly and good duties when he well observed and wisely considered of hee began to fortifie his building both for his judgement and practice as Nehemiah did the wales of Jerusalem against the assaults of Gods enemies which he did very faithfully and effectually by his painefull collections and observations which he made out of the Scriptures For justifying of his judgement and practice in thus teaching of his family and by the expositions testimonies and examples of godly and good men records of antiquity and evidences of worthy Writers and witnesses to the truth of God all sutable to the doctrine of our Church to justifie his course and stop the mouthes of all such as without any just cause did open them so wide against it I have seen and read what hee hath collected and set downe to this end and purpose under his owne hand which I approve of and like so well for his choice and paines in binding up together so many sweet and wholesome flowers of heavenly doctrine By his collections and observations out of godly and good authors for his owne confirmation and other mens satisfaction that I could have been well contented to have set downe these his collections and observations at large concerning this point of the masters duty in teaching and instructing his family in the feare of God and faith of Christ and in opening and applying some portion of the Scriptures to their mindes and hearts for that end but that I much feared lest my labour and paines herein at this time might be held not so needfull and lesse pertinent seeing many godly mens bookes are filled with the same or the like instructions since that time justifying the same point and practice and that the bulk and body of this little booke would swell too bigg if I should bring in another Treatise to stuffe up the bosome and brest of it CHAP. XXV And yet not usurping upon the Ministery Nor by aprivate spirit But by godly and good meanes Homines discunt prius quod doceant ab alâ—o accipiunt quod aliis tradant Amb. Coster us in eins Vita Amb lib. 1. de Offic. c. 1 NOw because some may mistake both him and me in this businesse as imagining
Buttery was open and free for any Gentleman Servingman Countreyman so farre as they kept themselves within the lists and limits of moderation and sobriety But as for excessive drinking quaffing carrowsing drinking and pledging of healths and the like shamefull disorders even unto beastly drunkennesse in great houses the order and manner of his family was knowne so well No quaffing no drunkennes no healthing in his house that of those which did come unto it seldome or never was there any so impudent and shamelesse as would give him or his servants any just occasion of offence or grievance by such lewd behaviour and misdemeanour in such things Thus far of his hospitality towards strangers one of his sweet fruits of grace and mercy His charity to his poore neighbours First for their bellies His dole dayes twice a week In the time of dearth almost every day Now let us looke yet for more fruit in his charitable bounty towards his poore neighbours The necessities of the poore in their hunger and cold for want of food and raiment did ever marvellously affect and afflict his heart And as he had a mercifull heart to pitie them so had hee an open both heart and hand to relieve them He did usually to his great expence and cost fill the bellies of great multitudes which out of his owne and other Parishes did twice a weeke resort unto his house for that end And in the deare yeares he made provision for them almost every day in the week and would many times see them served himselfe both to keep them in good order and to make an equall distribution according to the difference of their necessities amongst them His bounty in giving and lending Hee had his purse ever ready as the poore mans boxe or coffer to give and sometimes to lend freely to those that would borrow and pay again his admonition was remember your promise keepe your day and pay againe if you will borrow againe And if hee saw any willing Money but not able to pay what they borrowed he would rather forgive the debt than exact it But if he found any to deale fraudulently and falsly with him either denying the debt or pleading repayment or pretending some kinde of satisfaction as one dealt with Spiridion the Bishop of Cyprus Sozom. hist Ecel l. 1. c. 11. to whom hee had lent some measures of corne hee would then rebuke them sharpely and take heed of lending to such deceitfull persons any more In the time of a great dearth Or corne fearing that divers of his poore neighbours were in great want as having neither money nor meate Hee tooke an opportunity when the most of his family were gone abroad to a publike exercise of religion to call for the keyes of the Store-house where the corne lay and presently hee sent into the towne to such persons as were the greatest needers willing them to bring their baggs with them which they did without delay and so to supply their wants hee gave them freely and with a cheerefull heart some fourteene measures of corne amongst them at that time Now as hee was carefull to fill their bellies 2 Merciful to the poore in clothing their bodies also Job 31.19 20. so was hee mindfull of clothing their backes and bodies also He was loth to see any as Job speaketh perish for want of clothing or any poore want covering Yea the loynes of the poore did blesse him being warmed with the fleece of his flocke or clothed by the cost of his purse It was his ordinary manner every yeare against Winter 3. Provision He provides for them out of his own purse yeerly to send some foure or five pounds to Chester to make provision for the clothing of the poor which seeing it could not reach unto all he wisely divided amongst severall families to such this year as had none the last and to such the next year as had none this Now as these fruits of his mercy and charity were manifest in the provision which he made for the poore 4. Protect He protects and defends them so were there some others as conspicuous in the protection which he sought and found for them For hee might truly say in some good measure he had done as Job did and found the like blessing that he found Iob 29.12 13 15.16 17. I delivered the poore that cryed the fatherlesse and him that had none to helpe him The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me and I caused the widdowes heart to sing for joy I was eyes to the blinde and feet to the lame I was a father to the poore and the cause which I knew not I searched out And I brake the jawes of the wicked and pluckt the spoile out of his teeth Thus was hee a protector of the poore to deliver them out of the hands of those that were too strong for them He was also as a counsellor to defend their righteous and just cause 5. Advice He counsels them and as hee is able doth plead for them Prov. 31.8 5. and to plead for them and applying himselfe to that counsell which Bathsheba gave to her sonne Lemuel He opened his mouth for all that were in danger and distresse as they came unto him Hee opened his mouth for the dumbe to judge righteously for them and to pleade the cause of the poore and needy as they had occasion to use him CHAP. LVII NOw as hee was full of these fruits of charity and mercy towards rich or poore His fruits of faith and love to others also In his harmony in judgement with the best so was he plentifull also in good fruits of faith and love in his sympathy with the godly and in his antipathy against the profane of the world 1 He held ever a gracious harmony in judgment and opinion with all such both Divines and Professors of Religion as were most found and entire in the knowledge and acknowledgement of the Truth And this he did with great confidence and resolution 3 Ep. Ioh. 4. and with much rejoycing in the Lord as he saw the truth to prosper and flourish in his dayes 2 He had also a religious sympathy in affection with the Churches and children of God in every estate and condition In his sympathy with the godly in every condition Rom. 12.15 Heb. 13.3 Psa 122.6 Psal 137.5 6.2 Cor. 11.28 29. Heavy newes of the Church did much offect him He had learned of the blessed Apostle that it was his duty to rejoyce with them that rejoyce and to mourne with them that mourne He remembred the afflictions of Ioseph even in the midst of all his owne comforts and contentments and preferred the peace of Zion and the prosperity of Ierusalem before his chiefest joy The care of all the Churches about him was daily and continually upon him so that he might say as Paul said Who is weake and Jam not weake Who