come upon her back she said indeed little with her tongue but her eyes spoke much because she was loath to conrradict him whom she was bound to obey and at last she submitted to his will though against her own not onely because that habit was no better than others of her rank did wear but because it was a testimony of her Husbands love and of her own loyal subjection to his will wherein she followed the advice of Bishop Hall in his Contemplations It is not saith he for a good wife to judge of her Husbands will but to execute it neither wit nor stomack may carry her into a curious inquisition into the reasons of an enjoyned charge much less to a resistance but in an hoodwinckt simplicity she must follow whithersoever she is led as one that holds her chief praise to consist in subjection following her Husband as the Israelites did the cloudy Pillar which when it stood they stood when it went they followed And indeed it was no marvel that she was so obsequious to her Husband for amongst her papers were found special directions which she had drawn out of the Scripture for her conjugal affection and behaviour towards her Husband which were these which follow under this Title Duties which concern me in particular I must submit my self to my Husband as to the Lord Eph. 5. 22. I must account him my Head Eph. 5. 23. I must be in subjection to him in all things as the Church unto Christ Eph. 5. 24. I must get his consent even for those times that I set apart for Religious duties 1 Cor. 7. â— 10. I must walk pleasingly towards him 1 Cor. 7. 34. When by his death she was loosed from the Law of her Husband she would have returned to a meaner habit but because it was suitable to the place which she held in the City as having been wife to him who had been twice Mayor of Chester and divers times a Burgâ—ss of Parliament and for that God made such good things neither onely nor principally for the use and wearing of the wicked but for his children and that it might not be imputed either to singularity nor nigardize she made no remarkable change in her attire and indeed to keep down pride she would not eat the bread of idleness Prov. 31. 27. but willingly wrought with her hands as that vertuous woman did vers 13. and readily descended to such homely offices as were meet for the meanest of her servants Notwithstanding such excellent gifts and graces wherewith God had inriched her soul her mind was not lifted up to vaunting or vanity nor to the undervaluing or envying Gods gifts in others but in lowliness of minde she esteemed others better than her self Phil. 2. 3. disavowing her own praise though those that gave it thought it much less than her due and advancing others far before her self though in gifts they were far below her and no marvel for she was not as those who are far more curious to know the faults of others than to correct their own but an exact enquirer into her own life a severe censurer of her own imperfections and failings and as for others she observed them most for that which was best in them to make her self more holy by imitating them therein and more humble for that wherein she fell short of them She often presented and arraigned her self before Gods Tribunal to bring her self down in submission as guilty before him begging pardon on her knees at his hands and she came the lower by comparing her own faultiness infirmity and misery with his infinite Purity Power and Majesty in comparison of whom All Nations are but as the drop of the Bucket or the small dust in the Ballance Isa. 40. 15. which made her to think of him with admiration and love and of her self with detestation and loathing and when she took notice of any good thing in her self she boasted not of it even because she had received it and that of Gods free gift making it a Memento of thankfulness to him that gave it her knowing that he might have passed by her and given it to another and that he might be provoked to take it away from her if she should take any of that glory to her self which was due unto him alone She alwayes held this for a Maxime that if it be good to be esteemed vertuous and most desire to be so esteemed than to be so indeed is much better for the substance of a good thing is alwayes better than the semblance of it therefore she was so sincere in her whole course that she hated the least appearance of Hypocrisie She was one of those whom David blesseth for their integrity Blâ—ssed are they who keep his Testimonies and seek him with their whole heart Psal. 119. 2. Her love was without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. She loved not in word or in tongue onely but in deed and in truth 1 Joh. 3. 18. and this appeared in that she made her deeds of charity and good will alwayes better than her words whereof she was so chary that some blamed her for want of affability which being objected to her she said I like not the lavish language of some who have their mouthes full of complemental curtesie to every one though their hearts be shut and contracted when their mouthes are so enlarged and if they have love enough within to maintain such liberality of words without I like my own heart the worse that it is not so ready to attend upon my tongue as on the sudden to minister cordial affections meet for such frank and friendly expressions She used rather to let her friends see her love by her works than to hear it by her words Her Constancy also was very remarkable by which her spirit was stedfast with God and her heart stedfast in his Covenant as the Israelites should have been but were not Psal. 78. 8 37. Her faith was grounded and settled Col. 1. 23. so that she was not carried away with divers and strange Doctrines Heb. 13. 9. much less with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 14. But what she was for faith and godliness from her first conversion the same she was in all places at all times and in all companies But for the measure or degree of Grace she was not as a stake in an hedge which grows not but as a plant in the Garden that springeth up no dwarf in Gods house but one that by spiritual nourishment and daily exercise of her graces grew up apace towards the stature of Christ and as it s said of the path of the just Prov. 4. 18. She shined more and more unto the perfect day So that she was best at last and most heavenly minded when she had the least time to tarry on the earth She was a loyal and obedient Wife a careful and kinde though not a found Mother a gentle and beneficent Mistress a
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
spoken came to him in private and asked him whether he meant this of the Ministry of England as now constituted He returned him this answer Although I will not justifie the calling of every individual Minister in the Church of England as you dare not justifie the Saintship of every member in your Independent Congregations yet I will be ready when and where you please to maintain the Office and Calling of Englands Ministry at this day And that he continued unmoved and unchanged in his judgement and esteem of the Ministerial Calling to the last may be manifested by this passage in his last Will and Testament which is here set down in his own words and written with his own hand For my Son Jeremiah my desire is that he be bred a Scholar and that the Lord would spiritually incline his heart freely to give up himself to the Lord to serve him in the work of the Ministry which Calling and Imployment though now despised I do esteem above all others in the world and do commend it to all mine that if the Lord bless them with Sons they would commend this Calling to their Posterity And truly this deserves seriously to be considered whether there be not herein much to credit and encourage the Ministry of the Gospel that a learned man and so eminent for piety who also had throughly studied the Controversie of the times and had heard and read what could be said against the Ministry should yet upon his Death-bed give such a Testimony unto it when he daily expected to make up his account before God and also give such great encouragement to his Posterity to addict themselves to this calling now even now when such disgrace is cast upon it and when the Ministers setled maintenance is threatned to be taken from them And may not those men who knew Mr. Whitakers worth be hereby awed and moved to take heed how they oppose or slight that Calling of men whom he living and dying judged to be so highly honoured by God himself To this also adde that it was an Ordained Ministry which he thus valued which appears by these two lively Testimonies 1. In that he joyned with that Classis whereof he was a member in Ordaining of Ministers 2. In that he had an hand in the Book not long since published by the Province of London in the defence of such a Ministry not onely by his assent to it but also by his assistance in drawing it up As Mr. Whitaker loved God dearly so God loved him which he manifested by those grace wherewithall he enriched him and truly love tokens are real Messengers of his love that sendeth them and what surer signs can we have of Gods love then when he bestows upon us the Graces of his Holy Spirit Now of these the Lord had given him a more than ordinary measure and besides what hath been said before there were five Graces more which were very Orient and shining in his Crown 1. His tenderness of heart Who ever knew a man of a more melting frame of heart before God whether in Confessions Petitions or Thanksgivings Is there any one living that can say that I have at sometimes joyned with him in Prayer and he shed no tears How did his own sinfulness though it was no more than the ordinary imperfections of the fairest Saint upon earth the evils of the times and the testimonies of Gods displeasure breaking out upon us break his heart into pieces We may truly believe that for the space many years he did never come off from the serious consideration of these things with dry eyes and how many thousands be there of Gods children that would account it a sign of much love from Christ if they could finde such thawings in their frozen breasts 2. His meekness of spirit with which precious Jewel he was richly adorned Who ever saw him transported by passion on a fire through foolish anger or disgused by discontent Though his zeal would waxe hot and burn in him for God and his Glory yet he was a man of a cool spirit and meek like Moses in all his own concernments and this he hath often manifested in a remarkable manner when disputing with men of dissenting Principles and opinions yet his spirit was so even that their unhandsome provocations could not discompose him and drive him into passion 3. For his Patience he may well be called a second Job Many who saw him under those racking pains in his last sickness so frequently reiterated and so long continued were confident that God did put him and keep him in his Furnace to be a pattern of patience unto Posterity It is confessed that he did roar many times till his throat was dry but who ever heard him speak any one word of murmuring or discontent because of Gods afflicting Providence He himself indeed would sometimes through tenderness of conscience charge himself of impatiency because he made a noise in his extremity but that expressed onely Natures sensibleness not sinful frowardnes and when accusing himself causelesly he was minded of Christs roarings yet free from all sin he would be silent I confess indeed that in his desires to be dissolved he would take up Jobs complaint Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in soul which long for death but it cometh not and dig for it more than for hid treasures c. For my sighing cometh before I eat and my roarings are powred out like waters Job 3. 20 24. But he alwayes concluded with submission to the good pleasure of God When he had been asked how he did this was frequently his answer The Bush alwayes burning but not consumed and though my pains be above the strength of nature yet they are not above the supports of Grace 4. The Lord was pleased to vouchsafe him such a measure of the Spirit of Grace and Supplications that his soul was never out of tune for that service Most of his words when he was under torment were holy complaints and prayers to God It will not be impertinent or unprofitable if I here set down some of them O my God help Father of mercies pity Do not contend for ever Consider my frame that I am but dust My God that hath made Heaven and earth help me Oh give me patience and inflict what thou wiâ—t If my patience was more my pain would be less Dear Saviour where are thy bowels why dost thou make me an astonishment to my self and others Why dost thou cover thy self with a thick cloud that our prayers cannot pass Blessed is the man that endureth temptation Lord this is a sad temptation stand by me and say It is enough Am I not thy servant Consider Lord that I am thy servant O these bitter waters of Marah Lord drop sweet comfort into these bitter water of Marah O the blood of sprinkling Lord the blood of sprinkling Lord That
Gal. 6. 10. Do good unto all but especially to the houshold of faith She indeed shut up her charity from none that had need of it but she enlarged it chiefly to such as were of the faithfull Her love and charity was very intire and great to her friends yet not so confined to them but that she reserved a competent measure for them that dealt unfriendly with her or that were enemies to her If there was any unkinde difference between her and any one though she enjoyed the freedome of her judgement to think as there was cause yet would she not suffer her affections to be estranged from them but was ready to do them good if power and opportunity did furnish her for it She requited love for hatred pity for spight â—riendly offices for offensive usages She bare ill will to none She hated nothing but that which is worse than nothing Sin and that she hated in all and most of all in her own soul. As her Charity was evidenced by doing so also by suffering If any tribulation were upon others or imminent over them she was like minded with her Lord and Master according to that of the Prophet Isa. 63. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflisted She did passionately sympatize in the sufferings of her fellow-members If it was ill with the Church or any particular Saints it was no better with her Charity made her suffer as much by inward affection as they did of their enemies by outward affliction Her Patience also was very remarkable For though her apprehensions were quick enough to conceive any thing tending to the disturbance of peace and patience yet she enjoyed such a calmness of spirit as could hardly be turned to a storm If any were injurious towards her her tongue could more readily pray and her eyes weep for them than with looks or words of indignation or disdain set upon them If she were angry at others which was very seldome it was sin their sin that was the cause of it If news came to her of any losses in her estate as sometimes there did of great ones yet was she never put out of temper with those ill tidings having these considerations ready at hand to quiet her heart It is that God that gave all that now taketh away some why should I take it ill He would not have me to be in love with nor to relye upon uncertain riches which were never true to any that trusted them but upon himself and I willingly renounce them to rest upon him He can if he see it good recompence the loss in the like or some better kinde If he take more there will yet be many poorer than my self and if he take away all my goods he can give me content without them for he is All-sufficient and so though I have nothing I may be as possessing all things 2 Cor. 6. 10. The world and I must part and whether we be unstiched by parcels or torn asunder by taking all at once all is one to me that which he chooseth is best for us both for his owne glory and my good if I grudge not against him but willingly as I pray give way to his will By bodily sufferings her patience was exceedingly tried both for the truth and strength of it For of some of her children she had long painful and very perilous labour but that which exceeded all was a long and sore sickness to which were applied very rough and irksome remedies so that she suffered not onely the anguish of her disease but many things also of the Physitians as that woman in the Gospel Mark 5. 28. and had it onely been pain and torment it had been more tolerable but it was accompanied with a strange infirmity and deformity Her jaw being faln she could not bring it up towards her upper jaw Her mouth was drawn awry towards her ears so that with much difficulty both to her self and others her food was conveyed through so crooked a passage to her throat which might have caused the greater discontent to her minde because it was the shipwrack of much beauty and comeliness which until then was seated in her countenance and whereof she kept remarkable impressions to her dying day yet shewed she admirable patience under this great affliction to which her heart was brought meekly to submit and concerning which she said that if it pleased the Lord still to continue her a spectacle of deformed misery she would not repine at his doing or her own suffering but would willingly abide it until he freed her body from the disease by health or her soul from her body by death Her Modesty also manifested it self by her shame-faced estrangement from sin and vanity concerning which vertue in her it may be said that it was rather sometimes too much than any time too little and it shewed it self divers wayes 1. In her look which was habitually composed to a modest and gracious gravity so that against any thing that was unseemly to be said or done she carried a severe rebuke in her very countenance or if any were so immodest as to speak or do any thing before her not becoming Christianity her modesty made some supply to their want of it she would blush for them 2. In her Speech whereas some would have vaunted themselves or made some vain-glorious shew of such sufficiency as was in her she rather shadowed her own light with a dark Lanthorn and therefore in that wherein she was a teacher she carried her self as in the person of a learner rather asking questions than making resolutions or giving rules and directions unto others 3. By her Silence For as St. Ambrose saith Thoughâ— silence be a rest to other vertues yet is it a chief act anâ— exercise of Modesty yea her pace her habit and he whole behaviour was a lesson of modesty which together with her other vertues wrought a kinde of awfulness in her person so that those that had not grace to do well in private were more afraid and ashamed of an appearance of evil in her presence than in the sight of many a Magistrate As for Humility she made great account of it she studied it seriously and got it so by heart that there was no need of Art to make profession or ostentation of it Solomon makes contention the proper effect of pride Prov. 13. 10. So peaceableness is a sure sign of Humility and this she shewed in that she could endure contradiction reproaches and other trials of Humility without a quarrel or breach of peace with any being still ready to deny her self and to yeeld to others so far as with a safe conscience she could Once a new Gown being brought her to put on and presented as a gift from he Husband wherein his kindness had put him to more cost than she wished to make her more fine than she desired to be she humbly besought with tears that it might not
Plato satth St. Augustine Height of place ever addes two wings to sin Example and Scandal whereby it soars higher and flyes much farther Oh therefore how cautious should Rulers be lest they be partakers of other mens sins 1 Tim. 5. 22. They have enough of their own to answer for Potentes potentèr torquebuntur Let them take heed lest the iniquity of their heels of those that follow them at heels doth compass them about Psal. 49. 5. And as the evil examples of Great ones are very pernicious so are their good examples very profitable Such as were the Kings of Judah such were the subjects like Prince and like Priest like people Before Vespatians time the Romans were grown to great excess and profuseness in their apparrel houshold stuffe and attendants having by their Conquest of the East learned the Eastern vices and though many good Laws were made against it yet could they not be restrained But so soon as he came to the Empire being a sober moderate and temperate Prince himself all that former vanity grew out of fashion I am not ignorant how some of late have endeavoured to bespatter and to bring an Odium upon the Names of some of our former Worthies whose Lives I have formerly published as though they were Fanaticks Anabaptists because they would not have their children baptized by Popish Priests enemies to the State Traytors c. But the memory of them shall be blessed when the names of these their traducers shall not This is no new thing Indeed it s an old trick of the Devil and his instruments to belye Gods Children and to represent them in the ugliest hue they can devise thereby to make them the more odious Thus Doeg dealt by David The Priests and Prophets by Jeremy The Persian Courtiers by Daniel and his Companions Amaziah by Amos Hamon by the whole Nation of the Jews Tertullus by Paul And the Heathen Idolaters by the Primitive Christians whereof you may see many Examples in my Mirrour p. 44 45. But though the credit of the Saints may be Flyblown for a season and somewhat obscured yet as the Moon wades out from under a cloud so shall their innocency break forth as the light c. Psal. 37. 6. Buried it may be in the open Sepulchre of evill throats but surely it shall rise again A Resurrection there shall be of Names as well as of Bodies at the farthest at the last day But I fear to exceed the length of an Epistle and therefore I shall conclude with the words of the holy Apostle St. Paul The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all So begging your prayers I rest From my Study in Thredneedle-street Octob. 10. 1661. Yours to serve your Faith and further your Joy SA CLARKE Vpon this Book of Lives VVHo e're shall please to cast a glancing-eye On these unpolish't and rude lines which I Expose to publick view may chance t' admire A womans hand should dare so to aspire But why should man and wife divided be Who long have liv'd in love and unity For mine own part I do not know the reason Except a womans verse be out of season Indeed I almost blush thus to be seen Amongst so many Worthies as have been Famous for Learning give them but their right Yet let me dare 'mongst them to throw my mite Of these Examples sure I am there 's need To back our faith and strengthen us indeed Against such traps and nets as now are spread To catch Gods people in the wayes they tread Yet if these Worthies rather chose to dye Than known Truths to betray or once deny Then let us tread their path which path is blest That when we dye we may with them have râ—st And now to him that wrote this Book Due praise and thanks I give And pray that it may never dye But when he dyes may live To the Reverend c. Upon his Book of Lives VVIll not the rest of mankinde blush for shame When they shall read what under every name Is there related may not Ushers graces Raise conscious blood into our modern-faces He honour'd more his Dignity and See Then they did him God send more such as he May not Crook Whitaker and painfull Hill Shame Drone-vinedressers who want skill or will May not or rather will not every story Uâ—bâ—aid the present age and stain our glory When those that are not over-vicious shall Run hazard to be styl'd Fanatical And these much more whom you present to view May probably be call'd Fanaticks too For Moses and the Prophets are despised Apostles and Evangelists not prized What wonder then if those whom here you raise Even from the dead to guide in holy wayes Shall be reproached scorned and neglected And that example which they gave rejected Yet Sir your piâ—us labours sober men Will prize and praise God for your happy Pen Whereby that prâ—cious treasure once contain'd In earthen vâ—ssels now broke by deaths hand Is for our use preserved iâ— good part And we therewith enriched by your Art Let them who would your labours rightly prize Endeavour to untwine these mysteries Candles put out yet shining bright and fair Cities demolished yet standing are Salt turned into dust yet seasons much Uncanonized Saints yet truely such J. C. The Names of those Divines and Others whose Lives are contained in this Volume MR. John Carter who dyed Anno Christi 1634. Mr. Samuel Crook who dyed Anno Christi 1649. Mr. John Cotton who dyed Anno Christi 1652. Dr. Thomas Hill who dyed Anno Christi 1653. Dr. William Gouge who dyed Anno Christi 1653. Mr. Thomas Gataker who dyed Anno Christi 1654. Mr. Jeremy Whitaker who dyed Anno Christi 1654. Dr. James Usher Primate of all Ireland who dyed Anno Christi 1655. Mr. Richard Capel who dyed Anno Christi 1656. Dr. Robert Harris who dyed Anno Christi 1658. In the second Part. Gustavus Ericson King of Sueden who dyed Anno Christi 1562. Mrs. Jane Ratcliffe who dyed Anno Christi 1638. Mr. Ignatius Jurdaine who dyed Anno Christi 1640. Mrs. Margaret Duck who dyed Anno Christi 1646. Mrs. Margaret Corbet who dyed Anno Christi 1656. Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson who dyed Anno Christi 1654. Being sometimes occasionally absent from the City these faults have escaped the Corrector which I pray thee mend with thy Pen before reading of the Book PAge 29. line 4. read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 33. l. 8. r. strenuous for pervous p. 77. l. 1. put in when so ne c. p 87. l. 1. r. conscionably for conscionable p. 91. l. 4. put out an p. 129. l. 15. put out was p. 140. l. 1. put in of l. 20. r. her for his p 144. l. 22. put in occasion p. 149. l. 20. r. familiarly for familiarity p. 150. l. 29 r Bishops for Bishop p. 156. l. 23. r. strange for strong
argues a good man For goodness is communicative And such was his Academical dexterity that he could impart as Scaliger speaks the felicities of wit to his hearers so accomodating and insinuating the matter in hand as that his Pupils might both perceive their profiting and taste the sweetness of that wherein they profited Thus by his School-stratagems he won the hearts of his Pupils both to himself and to a desire of Learning they were each to other as the Prophets and the sons of the Prophets his Pupils were honourers and lovers of him and he was a Tutor a Friend and a Father unto them The manner of his Conversion according to his own relation was thus During his residence in the University God began to work upon him by the Ministery of Mr. William Perkins of blessed memory But the motions and stirrings of his heart which then were he suppressed thinking that if he should trouble himself with matters of Religion according to the light he had then received it would be an hinderance to him in his Studies which then he had much addicteâ— himself unto Therefore he was willing to silence those suggestions and inward Callings which he had from Gods Spirit and did wittingly defer the prosecution of that work until afterwards At length as he was walking in the fields he heard the Bell tolling for Mr. Perkins who lay a dying whereupon he was secretly glad in his heart that he should now be rid of him who had as he said laid siege to and beleagured his heart This became matter of much affliction to him afterwards God keeping it upon his Spirit with the aggravation of it and making it an effectual means of convincing and humbling him in the sight and sense of the natural enmity that is in mans nature against God Afterward hearing Dr. Sibs then Mr. Sibs preaching a Sermon about Regeneration wherein he shewed First what Regeneration was not and so opening the state of a meer Civil man Mr. Cotton saw his own condition fully discovered which through Gods mercy did drive him to a stand as plainly seeing himself destitute of true Grace all his false hopes and grounds now failing him and so he lay for a long time in an uncomfortable despairing way and of all other things this was his heaviest burden that he had wittingly withstood the means and offers of Grace and mercy which he found had been tendered to him thus he continued till it pleased God to let in a word of Faith into his heart and to cause him to look unto Christ for his healing which word also was dispensed unto him by the same Doctor Sibs which begat in him a singular and constant love to the said Doctor of whom he was also answerably beloved That which frist made him famous in Cambridge was his Funeral Oration for Doctor Some Master of Peter House which was so accurately performed in respect of Invention Elegancy Purity of Stile Ornaments of Rhetorick Elocution and Oratorious beauty of the whole as that he was thenceforth looked at as another Xenophon or Musa Attica throughout the University Some space of time intervening he was called to preach at St. Maries where he preached a University Sermon with high Applause from the Academical Wits insomuch as the fame of his Learning grew greater and greater And afterwards being again called to preach in the same place as one Oration of Pericles left his hearers with an Appetite after another so the memory of his former accurate Exercises filled the Colleges especially the young Students with a fresh expectation of such Elegancies of Learning as made them flock to the Sermon with an Athenian Itch after some new thing as to the ornaments of Rhetorick and abstruser notions of Philosophy But his spirit now savouring of the Cross of Christ more than of humane Literature and being taught of God to distinguish between the Word of Wisdom and the Wisdom of Words his speech and preaching was not now with the enticing words of mans wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power The disappointed expectation of the Auditory soon appeared in their countenances and the discouragement of their non-acceptance returned him unto his Chamber not without some sad thoughts of heart Where yet he had not been long but lo Dr. Preston then Mr. Preston knocks at his Chamber door and coming in acquainted him with his spiritual condition and tells him how it had pleased God to work effectually upon his heart by that Sermon After which Dr. Preston ever highly prized him and both fully and strongly closed with him which real Seal of God unto his Ministery much comforted his soul far above what the present less acceptance of the Auditory had dejected him or their former acceptance had encouraged him His Concio ad Clerum or Latine Sermon which he preached when he proceeded Bachelor of Divinity which was after he had been at Boston about half a year was very much admired and commended His Text was Mat. 5. 13. Vos estis sal terrae quod si sal infatuatus fuerit quo salietur Ye are the salt of the earth but if the salt hath lost its savour wherewith shall it be salted In handling of which Text both the weight of the matter the elegancy of Phrase Rhetorical strains grave sweet and spiritual pronunciation rendred him yet more famous The like did his answering of the Divinity Act in the Schools having a very acute Opponent Mr. William Chappel to dispute with him So that in Cambridge the name of Mr. Cotton was much set by Unto this earthen vessel thus filled with Heavenly Treasure the Inhabitants of Boston in Lincolnshire made their address saying Come and help us And in that Candlestick the Father of Lights placed this burning and shining Light To whom he removed from Cambridge about the twenty eight year of his Age. At his first coming he met with some obstructions from the Diocesan then Bishop Barlo who told him that he was a young man and therefore unfit to be set over such a divided people Mr. Cotton being ingenious and undervaluing himself thought so too and purposed to return to the College again But some of his Boston Friends understanding that one Simon Biby was to be spoken with who was neer to the Bishop they presently charmed him and so the business proceeded without any further trouble and Mr. Cotton was admitted into the place after their manner in those days Two things are here not unworthy our observation which Mr. Cotton would sometimes speak of to his Friends First That in the beginning of his Ministery he was exercised with some inward troubles which much dejected him And indeed good spirits are much bettered by their conflicts with the worst of spirits Spiritual Preachers are often trained up in the School of temptation So true is that Theological maxime Meditation Prayer and Temptation make a Divine This Dispensation of the All-wise
profession of the truth but unto a more opportune place for the profession of it When Mr. Cotton arrived at New England his manner of entrance unto them was with much blessing For at his first coming he found them not free from troubles about setling the matters both of Church and Commonwealth At which time being requested he preached before the general Court His Text was Haggai 2. 4. Yet now be strong O Zerubbabel saith the Lord Be strong O Joshua the son of Josedek the High Priest and be strong all ye people of the Land saith the Lord and work For I am with you saith the Lord of Hosts And the Lord working mightily by this Sermon all obstructions were presently removed and the spirits of all sorts as one man were excited unanimously and vigorously in the work of the Lord from that very day In order whereunto the Court considering that all the Members of that Republick were also Church Members and therefore to be governed according to the Law of God they desired Mr. Cotton to draw an abstract of the Judicial Laws delivered from God to Moses so far forth as they were of Moral i. e. of perpetual and universal equity which accordingly he did advising them to persist in their purpose of establishing a Theocraty i. e. Gods Government over Gods people From this time it was a usual thing for the Magistrates to consult with the Ministers in hard and difficult cases especially about matters of Religion yet so as notwithstanding occasional conjunction Religious care was had of avoiding confusion of Councils After which time how usefull Master Cotton was to Old England to New England to Magistrates to Ministers to People in Publick in Private by Preaching by Counsel and resolving difficult questions all know that knew him and consequently saw the Grace of God so evidently manifested in him In the course of his Ministry in New Boston by way of Exposition he went over the Old Testament to Isaiah the 30. The whole New Testament once through and the second time to the middle of Hebrews the 7th Upon the Lords Days and Lecture Days he preached through the Acts of the Apostles the Prophesies of Haggai Zechariah Ezra the Revelations Ecclesiastes Canticles the second and third Epistles of John the Epistle to Titus both the Epistles to Timothy the Epistle to the Romans with other Scriptures The presence of the Lord being with him and Crowning his Labours with the Conversion of many Souls and the edification of thousands Besides these aforementioned Labors he hath many pieces in Print which being well known need not be here enumerated His youth was unstained whence he was so much the more capable of being an excellent Instrument in the Church in his elder days He that will do good in the Church must have a good report of them which are without lest he fall into the reproach and snare of the Devil 1 Tim. 3. 7. St. Augustine tels us that A good life is requisite in respect of our selves but a good name is requisite in respect of others We may be good men if we have a good Conscience but we are not like to do much good if we have not a good name He was a general Scholar studious to know all things the want whereof might in one of his Profession be denomitated ignorance and piously ignorant of those things the nescience whereof made him more Learned Deservedly therefore is his praise great in all the Churches that he not only gave himself to the acquiring of Learning but exceeded many that had done vertuously therein He excelled in the greater part of the Encuclopaidia Those which best knew his goings out and his coming in cannot but give a large testimony to his Piety He was a Saint above many of the Saints manifestly declared in the Consciences of the Godly amongst whom he walked to be the Epistle of Christ known and read of all men In his house he walked with a perfect heart He was an example to the Flock clothed with love and humility amongst his Brethren One of a thousand in respect of his worth But as it is reported of Dr. Whitaker as one of the multitude in respect of his facile and companion-like behaviour Both ability and modesty in such a degree are not ordinarily to be found in the same man Others with much affection beheld the beauty of his face whilest himself was as one who knew not that his face shined He was a Father Friend and Brother to his fellow-Elders and a shining Light before all men He well knew that a Bishop ought not to be defective in the well government of his Family He must be one that rules well his own house In conscience whereof he himself rising betimes in the morning as soon as he was ready he called his Family together which was also his practice in the evening to the solemn worship of God reading and expounding and occasionally also applying the Scriptures unto them alwayes beginning and ending with Prayer In case of sin committed by child or servant he would call them aside privately the matter so requiring laying the Scriptures before them and causing them to read that part which bore witness against such an offence Seldome or never correcting in anger that the dispensation of godly Discipline might not be impured or become less effectuall through the intermixing of humane passion He began the Sabbath on the Saturday evening and therefore then performed Family duties after Supper being larger then ordinary in Exposition after which he Catechized his children and Servants and then returned into his Study The morning following Family worship being ended he retired into his Study untill the Bell called him away Upon his return from the Congregation he returned again into his Study the place of his Labour and Prayer unto his private devotion where having a small repast carried him up for his dinner he continued till the toling of the Bell. The publick service being ended he withdrew for a space into his aforementioned Oratory for his sacred addresses unto God as in the forenoon Then came down repeated the Sermon in his Family prayed and after Supper sang a Psalm and towards bed time betaking himself again to his Study he closed the day with Prayer Thus he spent the Sabbath continually In his Study he neither sate down unto nor arose from his Meditations without Prayer Whilest his eyes were upon his Book his expectation was from God He had learned to Study because he had learned to Pray An able Student is a Gospel Student because unable to Study without Jesus Christ. The barrenness of his Meditation at some times yea though his endeavour was most intense upon a good matter convinced him whence it was that his heart musing upon the same Subject at another time his tongue became as the Pen of a ready writer As he was not comparatively wanting in parts
thereof It is true he had an advantage above many in his natural constitution and it's influence from his education heightened intellectuals and moralities was not inconsiderable but that which gave the being of meekness which sanctified and perfected all was the Grace of Christ. He was of an accute apprehension and therefore sensible of but yet so little in his own sight that he was not easily provoked by an injury Sensibleness of dishonor done to God by sin or of what the offender had done unto himself by sinning left such impressions upon him as that his taking notice of any injury done unto himself was not usually taken notice of He had well learned that lesson of Gregory It is better many times to fly from an injury by silence than to overcome it by replying It was Grynaeus his manner to revenge wrongs by Christian taciturnity If inferiors expostulated unnecessarily with him he would patiently hear them and give them a brotherly account pacifying their minds with a gentle grave and respectivâ— answer Take one instance in this kind instead of many unto one of his hearers then sick of singularities and therefore the less able to bear sound Doctrine following him home after his publick labours in the Congregation and instead of better incouragement telling him that his Ministry was become either dark or flat He gently answered Both Brother without further opening his mouth in his own defence choosing rather to own the imputation than to expostulate with the Imputer Disputations are great trials of the spirits of intelligent men Hooper and Ridley were patient Martyrs but somewhat impatient Disputers The Synod held at Cambridge in New England as matters were then circumstanced was unto this good man an hour of temptation above what had ordinarily befaln him in his Pilgrimage yet such was his eminent behaviour throughout as argued in the consciences of the Spectators singular patience and left him a Mirrour for the temperament mildness and government of his Spirit Pious meekness fits for Church Society Yet though he was so gentle meek and flexible that men might perswade him above what could be expected usually from a man of his worth in the things of God he was steadfast and unmovable The Sanctuary cannot want the fire that is from Heaven neither may it be touched with the fire that is from Hell Gentleness of disposition when actuated by Christ makes us so much the more acceptable and profitable unto man But if the Spirit withdraweth his assistance we fall short of reaching Gods ends and the seasonable suppressing of exorbitancies If this good man had alwayes had that voice sounding in his heart which one wished that mild Lantgrave of Hessen might have heard from the Smiths forge Duresce duresce Utinam Lantgravius durescat Happily there are that think some disorders disturbances and irregularities might by Gods blessing have been prevented But ordinarily and in matters of greatest weight the Lord was with him Though his forbearance was both observable and very imitable in things that concerned himself yet he could not forbear them whom he knew to be evil An experience whereof he manifested some Heterodox spirits by their specious discourses about Free-Grace and subtle concealings of their Principles so far deceived him into a better opinion of them than there was cause as that notwithstanding they fathered their Errors upon him in general and abused his Doctrine to the countenancing of their denial of Inherent Grace in particular yet was he slow to beleeve these things of them and slower to bear witness against them But so soon as the truth herein appeared to him hear his own words taken out of his Letter to Mr. Davenport The truth is saith he the body of the Island is bent to backslding into Errour and Delusions the Lord pitty and pardon them and me also who have been so slow to see their windings and subtil contrivances and insinuations in all their transactions whilst they propagated their opinions under my expressions diverted to their constructions Yea such was his ingenuity and piety as that his soul was not satisfied without often breaking forth into affectionate bewailing of his infirmity herein in the publick Assemblies sometimes in his Prayer sometimes in his Sermon and that with tears He was a man of an ingenuous and pious candour rejoycing as opportunity was offered to take notice of and to bear witness to the gifts of God in his Brethren thereby drawing the hearts of them to him and of others to them and that to the encouragement of them and the edification of many He did not think himself a loser by putting honour upon his Fellow-labourers but was willing that they should communicate with him in the love and esteem of the people He was not only a son of Peace enjoying continually the feast of a good conscience with serenity and tranquillity of affections at home but also a peace-maker quallified by the graces aforementioned to be a choice Instrument in the hand of the Prince of Peace amongst the Churches where if any difference arose Mr. Cotton was ready being called thereunto to afford his help for the composin of them and had a singular faculty and ability therein by reason of that excellent wisdome and moderation of spirit which God in Christ had given him whose blessing also did ordinarily crown his endeavours with good success He was one the reality of whose profession gave many cause to bless God for the kindness of the Lord shewed unto all sorts by him His portion in the things of this life exempted him from being an object of envy in that behalf yet behold Quantum ex quantillo so much communicated out of so little we may not here be altogether silent concerning the Grace of God bestowed upon him whereby according to his power yea above his power he was benificent unto others but especially to those of the Houshold of Faith The Gospel opened his heart his lips and the doors of his house He well remembred that Scripture There is that scattereth and yet encreaseth and there is that withholdeth more than is meet but it tendeth to poverty As also The liberal soul shall be made fat Amongst others his Fellow-labourers in the Ministry were entertained with peculiar contentment By one instance see his spirit in the rest A certain Minister who had gotten into the fellowship of that eminent man Mr. Arthur Hildersham and many other godly Preachers being acquainted with their secrets betrayed them into the Prelates hands This man coming afterwards to Boston and meeting with Mr. Cotton this Gaâ—us had not the heart to speak to him nor to invite him to his house which he said he never neglected to his knowledge to any stranger before much less to any of his own order Some years since there was brought unto Boston a report of the necessity of the poor Saints at Sigataea a little Church whereof the Reverend Mr. White was their faithful
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
tears put her Prayers to a pause When the heart is full of love the mouth is filled with praise of a person most deservedly and most dearly beloved whereof we have an example in this vertuous Gentlewoman who when time company and occasion did invite her to communicate to others the good matter which her heart had indited of God she used her Tongue as the pen of a ready writer Psal. 45. 1. And when she had that great King for the subject of her speech she spake of him with such hearty and savoury relishes of sacred delight and reverence and with such an affectionate force as if her soul were ready to leap out at her lips into the ears of others to kindle the same holy fire in their hearts who heard her which burned in her own bosome longing as David did that others might taste and see the goodnâ—ss of the Lord Psal. 34. 8. that they might be Rivals with her in her Religious love and glad she was when any sinner was converted or any already called better enabled to promote the glory of God and that was the end which she principally aimed at in her godly discourse of him In giving vent to her heart in this duty she could spend her spirits with great delight both to her self and to those choice friends who had opportunity to hear her when just occasion was ministred unto her and yet when she had spoken best she found matter of complaint in her own expressions as being too faint and too flat and so far below that which was meet for the Majesty of the great God insomuch as all the acceptation which she desired of him was but to pardon her presumption as the errour of her love for taking upon her to speak of his Excellency and the weakness of her spirit and speech which made her fall infinitely short of doing him right in the publication of his praise Another evidence of her dear affection unto God was the great love which for his sake she bore to whom or whatsoever had any near relation to him according to that 1 Joh. 4. 21. He that loves God must love his brother also and he must love him rather in a direct than in a collateral line as Gods childe rather than as his brother more for Gods sake than for his own The dearest degree of love belongs to those persons and things which are nearest to him and to such she bore a sincere and singular good will As to his Saints with David Psal. 16. 3. and to his true Religion and worship both at home and abroad the happy progress and prosperity whereof was with her as Jerusalem with David preferred above her chiefest joy Psal. 137. 6. and it was a great affliction to her heart to hear any ill tidings of any good man or any good cause She highly prized Gods word and in the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper she felt such a sweet refreshing as might make amends for the severity of her frequent fasting so that for her part and portion of it in respect of the common sort of Communicants she might say I have meat that ye know not of Joh. 4. 32. Dainties which infinitely exceed whatsoever delighteth or pleaseth a sensual pallate For the house of God she shewed her self just of Davids minde when she said I have loved the habitation of thy house the place where thine honour dwelleth Psal. 26. 8. and How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord Psal. 84. 1 2. If by any imperious impediment she were kept from the Church as by sickness in her body c. her soul was love-sick by her longings to be there and whereas many women take a little occasion to absent themselves from it she would many times force her feeble body to carry her soul to the Sanctuary though the day before she were confined not only to her chamber but to her bed whereby though she hazarded her health yet it pleased God so graciously to accept of her zeal to his House that she was never the worse for those pious adventures She kept a great distance from doting on the world which St. James condemns as enmity to God Jam. 4. 4. Though while she lived she could not choose but be in the world yet did she so love her dear Lord Jesus Christ that for his sake she was exceedingly estranged from the world which appeared 1. By her estrangement from sensual delights which she shewed by her frequent fasting from meats and drinks By her abstinence from such sports and pastimes as before her conversion she had been too immoderately addicted unto and by her fiâ—m resolution to forbear Marriage after her widowhood and to rest in that condition wherein she might best attend upon the service of God Indeed her love and delight in communion with God made her mindeless of meat and careless of provision for the flesh Well she knew that though fasting makes the body weak as David saith My knees are weak through fasting and my flesh faileth of fatness Psal. 109. 20. yet it strengthneth the spirit and maketh it vigorous in conflict and victorious in the event yea fasting and prayer make a potent combination which is able to drive the strongest Devil out of his usurped possession as Matth. 17. 21. These two she used not onely as weapons against the Devil but as wings to elevate her soul God-ward and heaven-ward yet herein was she observant of our Saviours rule Mat. 17. 18. that she fasted without an appearance of fasting onely the next day it might be discerned by her faintness she having spent her spirits in spiritual exercises the day before For those sports and pastimes wherein formerly she had taken too much contentment she not onely abstained from them but much complained of her vanity in them Her eyes which before were used to behold them with delight now shed tears of shame and sorrow that formerly she had set her minde so much upon them and now she imployed them in the more frequent and affectionate reading of the holy Scriptures wherein she took more delight than she had done before in the most pompous Spectacles set out to take the eyes with gazing and the minde with wonder And as for Marriage her heart was so devoted to her Lord Christ that though she had divers fair invitations to it by such as both for profit and credit and other considerable respects were worthy rather to be desired than denied yet she resolved not to change her condition in that kinde and that not onely in love and loyalty to her former Husband but that she might be more free to serve God according to that of St. Paul 1 Cor. 7. 34. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in body and spirit but she that is married careth for the things
not to say My Father or my Master would not afford me time for if they did he would protest against them in the day of Judgement And as he was going to the Congregation on the week-dayes he would often finde some of the Country people that were come early to the Market and then would ask them where they did live and when they answered five or six or more miles off he would thence take occasion to shew them how vain a thing it was to pursue the world and to neglect the care of their precious and immortal souls and would ask them how they could rise so early to get the world and not rise as early to get interest in Jesus Christ and to attain the favour of God and assurance of eternal happiness And then looking back upon his Family he would say to them You see here how these people can rise betimes to get a little part of the world and you will hardly rise early to get the assurance of the favour of God which is far better than the whole world As he returned from Sermons he would be speaking to them that went with him of what they had heard exhorting them to be mindfull of it and to put it in practice and when one of the company was troubled hearing him to press such things upon them told him that he had heard many good Sermons at St. Peters the Cathedral but never heard one at the great Conduit before he presently replied Sirs are ye troubled to be put in minde of the word of God I pray God the time come not when you are in hell that you wish you had not onely practised the Sermons which you heard at St. Peters but had received good counsel from the Word at the great Conduit also Thus by his diligent attending upon and carefull applying the means of Grace and Gods blessing upon them he attained a very great measure of assurance even to a kinde Plerophory such as the Apostle speaks of 1 Thess. 1. 5. Much assurance and Col. 2. 2. Full assurance of understanding by which he was carried as with full â—ails to holy duties And truly if we connsider the measure continuance and constancy of it there are few Christians that have attained the like Assurance was much in his tongue and in his heart it was that which he earnestly laboured for and obtained by fervent prayer and diligent use of the means God gave him the Testimony and Seal of the Spirit and so assured him of his eternal love in Christ as also of his Adoption and eternal happiness in Heaven God gave it him as part of his reward for his sincere and faithfull service At sometimes he had more than ordinary comforts and incomes of the Spirit for the strengthning of his Assurance As for instance At a time he being at a Sermon and attending heedfully to those discerning and differencing marks of uprightness which were then laid down and one mark being more powerfully pressed and coming fully home to his condition he being in a deep and serious meditation and reflecting upon himself and finding it to be truly in him it seemed to him as if one struck him upon the shoulder encouraging and saying Be of good cheer thou art the man upon which he had presently such inward joyes and ravishings of spirit as were unexpressible And as by diligence he obtained so he carefully kept his assurance by frequent trial of himself and his spiritual estate towards God he used to try himself by all the marks of sincerity which he found in the Scriptures heard by the Ministry of the word or read in the books of godly Divines and thereby he did clear up his evidences for heaven and he did not onely try his estate by some marks but he kept a narrow watch over his heart and wayes and thereby his assurance was preserved and he kept it for a long time together even for thirty years and more and being asked whether he never met with any temptations of doubting of his estate towards God he gave this answer That he had been and often was sorely assaulted by Satans temptations which were set against his Faith and Assurance and that he had been foiled in respect of the application of some particular promises but he was not thereby driven from his hold-fast of Christ or from the assurance of his interest in the Covenant of Grace yet still he acknowledged that his assurance and all his ability in spiritual things was through Christ that strengthened him as Paul Phil. 4. 13. As he had this assurance himself so he was alwayes forward to stir up others to labour for it there were scarce any that he met with if he supposed that their faces were heaven-ward but he would be questioning with them about their assurance blaming them if they did not diligently seek after it and encouraging them to labour for it And when some did ask him how they should get it he gave them this answer that they should importunately seek it of God and not give him any rest till he granted it unto them I would said he lock or bolt my Chamber door and beg it of God and never give him rest till I had obtained it and then he advised them that they should daily try themselves by some marks and he often mentioned three that he used to try himself by 1. A sincere desire to fear the name of God as Nehem. 1. 11. 2. A sincere endeavour to do the will of God in all things required as Psal. 119. 6. 3. A full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord as Act. 11. 23. and these he did not onely speak of but pressed them with much earnestness as longing that others should partake of that high priviledge and heavenly gift with himself If he met with any Schollar and such an one especially as applied himself to the study of Divinity his usual question to such was What evidence have you for heaven You Schollars have the best opportunities of all men for the getting of assurance you are still looking into Gods book and into other good books and should acquaint your selves with your spiritual estate towards God and so have a greater measure of assurance than others The like course he took when he met with any others as occasion was offered or if he found none he would take it of himself Once when he was a Parliament man being at London and coming accidentally into the shop of an intimate acquaintance a man of great estate and imployment and an Alderman of the City he expressed his wondring at so great trading for the things of the world and thereupon demanded how he could in the midst of such wordly business attend the weighty affairs of heaven His Friend answered that he hoped he looked after the good of his soul. Mr. Jurdaine replied How can you attend upon the worship of God every morning His Friend answered that though he
Ministry and Neighbourhood round about who by their concourse at her Funeral shewed plainly in what an high estimation she was amongst them and that her good Name was like a precious Oyntment powred forth The hope of Glory was that sovereign Cordial which abundantly revived and satisfied her spirits whilst she lived and now her hope is turned into fruition and her faith into vision All her sorrows and sighings are turned away and her imployment is without the least tediousness without interruption and intermission to sing Hosannahs and Allelujahs to him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever more This Life was drawn up by my Reverend and worthy Friend Dr. Henry Wilkinson principal of Magdalen Hall Oxon. The Life and Death of Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson who dyed Anno Christi 1654. Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson was born of godly Parents of an ancient and well reputed Family of the Gentry in Devonshire Her Father was Mr. Anthony Gifford her Mother Mrs. Elizabeth Cottle and by them she was religiously educated during her minority After which she lived with an Aunt an old Disciple above twenty yeares together where she had many prizes put into her hands to get wisdome even many spirituall advantages for her eternall good But considering that no helps of education nor any means could prove effectuall without divine influences it pleased the Lord out of the riches of his mercy in a signall manner to vouchsafe a blessing to all those helps for the good of her soul and to crown all endeavours in order thereunto with good success She was observed from her childhood to be very docile very willing to learn industrious in reading of and swift to hear the Word of God preached She was very carefull to remember what she heard and took much pains in writing Sermons and collecting speciall Notes out of practicall Divines She had the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit with that she was eminently adorned She looked not as too many do upon gaudy and vain dresses as any ornament She neither liked them nor conformed to them but went in a grave decent and sober attire She was humble gentle tender-hearted and full of bowels of compassion remembring such as were in bonds as if she had been bound with them Heb. 13. 3. She was of so affable sweet and courteous a disposition that she gained abundance of love and respect from all those that conversed with her and by this means she was the greater gainer by all good conferences It was her usuall custome to move good discourse and ofttimes she turned the stream of other impertinent talk into something which was solid and tended unto edification and that ministred grace to the hearers She kept a Diary of Gods dealings with her soul and of other various dispensations that she met withall She was much busied in prayer meditation and self-examination She would often desire her Husband and others of her acquaintance to deal plainly and impartially with her For said she I would not be deceived with a formall profession nor with a temporary faith Perhaps through affection you may judge far better of me than I deserve wherefore I desire you to sift and search me throughly for I like such plain dealing best of all and those are my best friends which deal most plainly with me In process of time after a carefull watching over her heart and frequent addresses made unto the Throne of grace she found returns answerable to her prayers and desires God gave her a large measure both of parts and graces She was able not only to assert the truths of God but to convince gainsayers She abounded in love faith meekness humility and the rest of the graces of the Spirit insomuch as she became a Christian of the higher Form a tall Cedar of Libanus a grown solid and excellent Christian It pleased God for the triall of her graces to exercise her very much in the School of affliction Insomuch as ten years before her death she was one time reckoned with another at least half the time sick But God ordered this sickness of her body to be a medicine for her soul. For the spirit of prayer was much set on work hereby and her faith love and patience did appear and shine the more eminently Out of the Furnace she came forth as gold purified seven times so that the rod and staff correction and instruction went together and by these fatherly chastisements her soul did thrive more abundantly When she was able she neglected not the frequenting of the publick Assemblies they were her delight and she was a professed adversary to the withdrawing from the publick Congregations of the Saints Both them and the godly and Reverend Ministers of the Gospel she had in high esteem and reverenced them all her dayes And when she was not able to go to the publick Congregations she used to spend her time in reading prayer and meditating at home and imployed her friends to read to her and pray with her Such as were stable and sincere Christians were her delight Those she accounted more excellent than their neighbours She would often say that She valued no friends like to those who were friends to her soul. Concerning her deportment and carriage to her Relations for such as are reall Saints shew it in their severall capacities never was a Wife more full of sincere love and respect to an Husband whom she loved entirely and was as entirely beloved by him Her affection to her children was very tender She was carefull to Catechize instruct and to train them up in the fear of God and upon her Deathbed amongst many other excellent counsels and instructions she added this charge as from a dying Mother that they should remember that they had a Mother who would not allow them in any sin She was carefull also to instruct her servants and to teach them the fear of the Lord. Indeed she was ready and willing as opportunity was offered to do good unto all and as need required gave unto them both corporall and spirituall food She had a large heart and improved it to do a great deal of good in a little time Insomuch as the poor the sick the afflicted and the unexperienced to whom she was very mercifull and usefull whilest she lived had a very great miss of her when she was dead In brief she was one of those Worthies of whom the world was not worthy And yet to give a further Character of her I will here set down a Narrative copied exactly out of her own hand-writing of Gods gracious dealing with her soul as it follows word for word It pleased the Lord out of the riches of his grace to remove me from an ignorant place where I was born and to bring me very young into a Religious Family And when I was about twelve years of age upon the reading in the Practice of Piety concerning the happy estate of
the godly and the miserable condition of the wicked in their death and so for ever unto all eternity it pleased the Lord so much to affect my heart with it as from that time my heart was wrought over to a desire to walk in the wayes of God But at that time I fear I did not go upon a right principle for I then did not eye the glory of God in it but only my own safety that it might be well with me for ever But quickly after that I had but begun to set my face towards Sion I was set upon with many temptations and perplexities in my thoughts which were very troublesome to me at all times but especially when I was alone the consideration whereof brought such an horrour upon my conscience insomuch as I did not know what to do That little I had whether from education or from the light of Nature caused a striving in me continually against those thoughts of Atheisme which were most terrible unto me I was sensible that it was a fearfull sin to have any such thoughts to lodge within my brest but I desired from my soul to be freed from them and had continuall reasonings within me against them and yet still for a long time I was troubled but could not acquaint any with my condition I did not think that it was so with any other as it was with me In this strait when I knew not which way to turn me even there did the Lord extend his compassion towards me in my greatest extremity in directing me to read Calvins Institutions and especially that part that treats of the Creation Whereupon the Lord was pleased to give in such satisfaction to my soul concerning those things about which I was troubled as that from that time forwards I was not violently assaulted in that kind But no sooner was I freed from that trouble but new ones sprang up For the very remembrance of that horrid sin of Atheisme left such a terrour upon my spirit as made me fear that I had committed that sin against the Holy Ghost and so my condition seemed to be not only for the present but in my apprehension then for ever most miserable All other sins though never so great I knew upon true repentance were pardonable but this sin that I lay under the fear of I knew out of the Word of God should never be pardoned which caused many sad fears upon my spirit known to God alone For the removall of these fears the Lord in mercy directed me to the reading of Mr. Scudders Works where are laid down the marks of that sin Upon perusall whereof the Lord was pleased to satisfie my misgiving heart by a clear manifestation to my soul that I had not committed that sin and so assured me that though my sins were great yet were they pardonable which put me more chearfully upon the use of such means as the Lord had directed me unto And having satisfaction given in concerning this particular there was a great burden taken off from my spirit Although I found no grace in my heart nor discovery of the love of God unto my soul yet in that there was but a possibility there was a ground of comfort administred to my heart which I formerly feared that I should be shut out from But still my fears remained that I was not one of those in particular for whom Christ died The more I looked into mine own heart the more I saw of sin and Satan discouraging me from having any hope that the Lord should accept of such a vile sinfull wretch as I was who had entertained such sinfull thoughts I likewise thought how small the number was of those that should be saved in comparison of others and my repentance I feared came short of that which was required in the Gospel As for faith I could not find the least measure of it in my soul with many other sad discouraging thoughts But when I was most perplexed with fears and doubts even then did the Lord graciously dart in some beams of his reconciled countenance as I was reading something in Mr. Scudders Christian daily Walk c. which the Lord set home upon my soul and brought into my soul so much joy and comfort at the present as neither my tongue nor Pen can express But this joy remained not long for I quickly lost the sense of it yet the remembrance of it was sweet unto me at all times But after this all my former fears returned afresh again upon my heart only I had a door of hope opened that when God saw it best for me he would return and renew his reconciled countenance unto my soul in the clear light and apprehension thereof and this was when I was about sixteen years of age After which time the Lord did exercise me with various dispensations For for two years space I was by providence cast upon a place where I heard very little powerfull preaching small helps for the good of my soul but what the Lord was pleased to give in by the use of private means But his power and abundant mercy was much seen in that time that though I had not much comfort yet the Lord was pleased to keep up my spirit in a way of depending upon him and my fears were less at that time than formerly when I had more helps So gracious was tâ—â— Lord unto me in keeping me alive in a time of famine After this through Gods goodness I was sometimes under the preaching of a powerfull Minister Mr. Bateman of Ockingam who was Crowned with the conversion strengthening and building up of many souls unto whose preaching the Lord gave me such a blessing as I seldome if ever went away from hearing him without comfort Though I came to hear him with many doubts upon my spirit yet the Lord so ruled and directed him as if his Sermons had been only concerning my particular and he fully acquainted with the whole condition of my soul. Sometimes the Lord directed me to some supporting Promises upon which I relied But those Promises which were made to Believers though I highly prized them yet I durst not apply them to my self fearing that I had no interest in them But that Promise Prov. 28. 13. He that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall find mercy And that 1 Joh. 1. 9. If we confess our sins he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And the Promise is 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but for the sins of the whole world and the Invitation Isa. 55. 1. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price together with